Blairgowrie Recreation Centre opens tentatively despite snags
Dangling electrical wires, no locks, leaking toilets and no soap are just a few of the snags.
Blairgowrie Recreation Centre has finally opened, and there are still a few issues that need tending to, but most community members are happy to make use of the facility again.
The centre officially opened again on October 3 – 15 months after it was closed for repairs and maintenance.
This was supposed to be a four-month renovation, but there were problems with the contractor Johannesburg Development Agency placed over the project, then further delays in terminating the contract and finding a new contractor.
Also read: New contractor to be appointed for Blairgowrie Recreation Centre maintenance
“I am happy to be back after the renovation,” said Blessing Nyanhanda, who teaches home schooling at the centre.
“They did not change the room we use, but the rest of the centre needed renovations.”
Maria Black, who runs a Rummikub group that plays together weekly, agreed that the renovations were needed.
“There is, however, no soap anymore so we have to bring our own soap to wash dishes now,” she said.
Robyn Tserpes of Dancefun agreed that there were a number of snags that still need to be resolved. Because of these, she and her dancers could not use the hall.
Ward 102 councillor David Potter said the gardens are also still in desperate need of attention and the community may have to sort it out themselves to have them looking decent for summer.
“It is unfortunate that public funds continue to be wasted on badly implemented and managed projects and I trust that the City of Johannesburg has learnt a lesson with this and other projects,” he said.
However, Potter was happy to see the facility in use finally.
“It was a joy seeing the faces of the Rummikub club members at their first catch-up after so long. Thank you to the many users who raised concerns and give inputs.”
The JDA, in a media statement responding to questions from the Randburg Sun, said the major work is complete
“The JDA and the client, Community Development Department, went to the site to monitor the remaining works undertaken,” the statement read.
“There are still some outstanding minor works that the contractor must attend to before we issue the practical completion certificate. [Then] the contractor will have 90 days to fix or remedy any snags and work. Before the final completion certificate is issued, between October 2022 [and] December 2022, the contractor will be liable to fix and correct the work that is not up to the required standard.”
Some of the snags include:
- Two doors in the women’s toilets do not fit properly.
- One of the men’s toilets has a leak.
- Bathrooms have no soap or paper towels.
- The storeroom’s security gate has no lock. Residents have had to use their own lock for the gate, to keep equipment there.
- Air conditioners in the hall are now so loud people say they cannot play music or hear themselves speak. They also do not go cooler than 28º Celsius. They worked before the renovation.
- Some electrical wires have been left hanging inside and outside the facility.
- Electrician’s labels have been left lying on the hall’s stage.
- Part of an aluminum strip on the stage is missing.
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