As the mid-year mark rapidly approaches, it feels like the year has flown by in the blink of an eye.
Ward 102 councillor Lucinda Harman took the opportunity to update residents on her ward’s progress and current status.
Harman is known for her dedication and hands-on approach and shared several key achievements and ongoing projects that marked the year’s first half.
“The past months have been pretty much focused on elections, and together with a lack of budget and funds, service delivery from entities has been a struggle and very slow.”
She elaborated that the Public Green Spaces Action Days have been ongoing, and it was envisaged that they would continue until the end of the year.
“This is headed up by Ward 102 environmentalist Pauline Dickson and is efficiently and also City Parks assisted, even though they were busy preparing for winter fire breaks.
“These action days have been the efforts of a few residents who strive to assist City Parks in their endeavour to keep the public spaces cleared of alien growth, among others, with an additional aim to have the areas used once again as commuter belts and for recreation.”
The councillor mentioned that it was heartwarming to see how many elderly people enjoyed sitting in these spaces, particularly at the Krom Wetland/Park. “The monthly action days have so far serviced the following green spaces: Krom Wetland/Park, which is ridding the watercourse of the Spanish reeds that block the course, causing soil erosion; and Bryn Fern Wetland/Park, which is more complex as it has not been attended to for many years.”
She added Bryn Fern Wetland/Park had many issues, the most difficult being the removal of lantana and bramble.
“This is heavy work but we are making some headway. At William Nicol Bird Sanctuary, a lot of work has been done by City Parks in removing some lantana but also in re-coppicing poplars.”
She pointed out that she had also organised multi-entity clean-ups across the ward supported by Pikitup and would be continued monthly.
“Dickson will be arranging lectures on indigenous versus exotic trees and plants and hydroponic and waterwise gardening. What she needs is all residents association details so that she can run this project across the entire Ward 102.”
Harman detailed that the scoffling of main arterial roads had been ongoing by the Augmented Field Services Unit and not the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).
“I am hoping that JRA will get started with road maintenance, fixing reinstatements, and potholes in the next few weeks.”
She concluded by emphasising that Bryanston, in particular, had been plagued with water issues due to burst pipes or other major issues for some months.
“There are unsightly and undrivable roads that have been reported to both Joburg Water and JRA, yet are still unattended. The solution would be replacing the ageing infrastructure which will require significant funds.”
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