Despite the negative publicity surrounding the project, the rehabilitation of the Princess Mine Dump is well into its first five-month phase.
The mine dump is one of the oldest dating back to 1888. In 1955 mining ceased and in the 1970s above-surface operations also were ceased. This means that the community has been sitting with the problem for the past 40 years.
The project initially was marred by labour issues, the unhappiness of the community and a tragic death, but according to Councillor Gert Niemand the public now should focus on the positives.
“The community won a court case in 2006 where the City of Johannesburg was identified as the third respondent and was ordered to address the nuisance of the dust. Unfortunately things stagnated until 2011,” explains Niemand.
“In 2012 though the free-flowing acid mine drainage (AMD) became the catalyst that set the project in motion. What the public need to understand is that up until now the AMD followed the natural contour lines of the area. This means that it flowed via the easiest routes through the residential areas of Davidsonville and the surrounding factory sites. A very high acid content ended up in the wetlands. Now with the rehabilitation of the dump it will be channeled properly and will end up in the wetlands only after it has been through a self-maintaining sub-drainage system that will filter the drainage.
“The paddocks have to be restored and a retaining wall between the flats and the dump has to be errected. This will have a huge positive environmental impact on the greater area that currently is being affected,” says Niemand.
Some of the benefits that the community will reap once the mine dump has been rehabilitated completely includes:
• The AMD will disappear completely, being channeled underground.
• The park will be clean and children will be able to use it again.
• The dust nuisance in the winter and sludge in the rainy season will be minimised.
• There should be a huge decrease in illnesses that was associated with the problem.
• The factory sites that was non-operational due to the AMD flow will become economically viable again.
• The area will be more eco-friendly and ultimately cleaner.
• The area will be vegetated and therefore be esthetically more pleasing.
In the meanwhile the project also has created various employment opportunities for local residents. The project is expected to be finished by 2017.
