Major tourist attraction planned for Helikon Park

The Randfontein Local Municipality has big plans for the dilapidated bird sanctuary in Helikon Park.

The bird sanctuary is mostly known for its beautiful and unique birds. Most of the birds are endemic – native or restricted to the area. The community uses the area as a bird watching spot and also for school field trips.

In this area, there is a natural river stream surrounded by industries and residential areas. The stream collects rain water and serves as a collection port for excess water from residential areas.

It attracts both fauna and flora which makes the location an attractive place to visit, however, due to it’s locality, it is being used as a dumping spot for contaminated water from local industries.

The water has become toxic while both aquatic animals and plants are battling to survive in the current environment. In addition to this, exotic invader plants have began to grow in this area. Most of the birds have vanished as a result of the harsh environment they have been exposed to.

The Randfontein Local Municipality is looking into revamping the entire area and in doing so, they believe that they will have the remainder of the birds, remove the invader plants and create jobs in the process.

The revamp will include:

• Nursery

• Training facility

• Restaurant

• Picnic area

• Bird watching facilities

• Environmental education centre

R12 million will be pumped into the project which is sponsored by the department of environmental affairs.