Eroding bridge at Duck Pond gets a make-over
Some 11 cubic metres of specially prepared ready-mix concrete supplied by 3Q and pumped into the shuttering box that was constructed by Mantella
SECUNDA – Two local companies came to the rescue of the Secunda Duck Pond over the weekend of 7 and 8 September.
Mantella Trading Pty (LTD) and 3Q Concrete pitched in to repair the eroding dam wall and the bridge above it that was collapsing due to the deterioration of the wall.
After learning about the problem that the Secunda Steamers were facing, Mr Kobus Engelbrecht from Mantella, a service provider that is constructing underground seals for Sasol Mining, decided to make this a priority task.
“We live in Secunda and my children enjoy visiting the Duck Pond.”
He approached Mr Inus Labuschagne, a committee member and environmental coordinator of Ward 30, with the idea that the company would repair the erosion damage to the bridge and prevent further damage and the total collapse of the train bridge.
“This is a good place for the community and was worth saving,” he said.
Mr Labuschagne said he noticed that erosion around the support pillars of one of the miniature rail-bound track bridges caused extensive damage to the pillars over the past few years.
Mr Engelbrecht also extended the invitation to participate in this community project to Mr Nelis Moll from 3Q Concrete and Mr Lourence Fraser, 3Q Concrete area manager in Mpumalanga.
The companies cast a concrete block around the pillar that was collapsing.
Some 11 cubic metres of specially prepared ready-mix concrete were supplied by 3Q and were pumped into the shuttering box that was constructed by Mantella in the same way that they are doing shuttering underground in the mining environment.
Mr Frans Pretorius, chairman of the Secunda Steamers, said he was extremely thankful for the help.
AfriForum Youth also indicated that they would help by clearing another part of the dam to help combat the erosion.
The Secunda Steamers has a huge event coming up in October.
They will be the host of the national steamers convention on 27 and 28 October when stream train enthusiasts throughout the country will be in Secunda to show their trains.
Also read:
https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/120678/disaster-is-only-a-rainfall-away/
