CRISIS: Hartbeespoort Dam needs you
The team only has sufficient funds to clear about 10 percent of the infestation, and it is predicted that at the current rate of growth, the dam will be 90 percent covered by December this year!
Hartbeespoort Dam is in crisis!
The infestation of water hyacinths that has plagued the dam for years has once again grown out of control.
According to the Hartbeespoort Dam Rehabilitation Steering Committee, the dam is currently 40 percent covered in the invasive plant, which doubles in size every two weeks or so.
The clearing of the water hyacinths is an extremely costly endeavor; one that is being undertaken almost entirely by the residents and local businesses.
“We are heavily reliant on donations from the public in order to save our dam. We would like to spread our reach throughout Gauteng as many people enjoy the dam over weekends for recreational purposes,” said Rudy Joles from the Hartbeespoort Dam Rehabilitation Steering Committee.
The public can get involved in several ways.
An important collection at the moment is that of 2L cold drink bottles.
According to Joles, the water hyacinths move around the dam extremely quickly, as the wind changes direction. This makes the clearing process even more difficult and time-consuming. The bottles will be used to create buoyant nets around the plants to keep them in one area while they are being cleared. The bottles will also make the nets more visible for other dam users.
Caxton Local Media has offered various offices in the Gauteng area as collection points for these bottles. Please find a list of drop off points listed below. Please note that the bottles MUST have their lids on them and the labels removed.
The public can also get involved by making monetary donations towards the rehabilitation project. Banking details can be found here. At the moment, the team only has sufficient funds to clear about 10 percent of the infestation, and it is predicted that at the current rate of growth, the dam will be 90 percent covered by December this year!
The time to act is now – before it is too late!
Should you wish to donate bottles, please drop them at one of the following Caxton Local Media offices:
- 1187 Cornelius Street, Weltevreden Park
- 368 Jan Smuts Avenue, Craighall Park
- 61 Van Der Walt Road, Brakpan
- 48 5th Avenue, Springs
- 20 Sydney Road, Boksburg
- Corner 14th Avenue and O’Rielly Merry Street, Benoni
- 1 Eaton Terrace, Terrece Building, Alberton
- 126 Monument Road, Kempton Park
- 25 Main Road, Fishers Hill, Germiston
- Shop 18A Greenstone Crescent, Greenstone Hill
- 32 Orpen Avenue, Lydiana
- Corner General Pienaar and Ham streets, Witpoortjie
