Retirement village takes environmental initiative into their own hands

Residents of the Olivedale Retirement Village have taken the initiative to reclaim the land beside their property with the aim of turning it into an environmentally sustainable parkland.

The collective of residents has put together more than R450 000 for the initiative to reclaim the land that is part of their property.

The area will be a big park filled with attractive features and birdlife for residents to enjoy with their families, all under high security.

Resident Andrew Stewart said, “We will be hollowing out the dam and turning it into a beautiful water feature, and we will be promoting as much indigenous growth as possible. We are in the process of eliminating all the alien species including blue gum trees and black wattle and replacing them with native species of plants and trees.”

Stewart added that the stream that ran through the land and into the Braamfontein Spruit would be well taken care of.

Residents of the village have started the process of removing the excess tree and plant growth and removing the trash and rubble from the land and the stream.

A great concern for the residents is a large number of displaced people who make use of the area to sort through and burn collected trash.

Stewart said, “This area is highly vital to the community. Homes, schools, business and industry all surround it.

It is for this reason that its upkeep and security needs to be addressed. The smoke and the gasses that come from the burning of the trash, especially in the winter, fill our homes.

For some of the residents here, this is very dangerous.

“The very reason why this retirement village was built is that this is a quiet and beautiful environment, and we have taken the initiative to bring it back to its former glory.

It is our hope that we will not be alone in this initiative and that city council will help us.”

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