Winkle Beach residents grow irate with ongoing sewage outfall
Since the floods the sewage overflow has been continuous, however, for years there has been sewage running into the lagoon on different occasions.
RESIDENTS in Winkle Beach, and Amanzimtoti as a whole, can no longer stand the pungent smell of sewage that fills the air and overflows into the lagoon, and ocean.
A concerned resident, Sarel Taljaard, who frequently looks for answers and action on behalf of the Winkle Beach community said, “A truck sometimes comes out to remove the sewage, but nothing gets done to fix the problem. I was told there was a budget cut and that the nearby pump station was vandalised. But, sewage is edging closer to resident’s back doors. If people fall ill, who’s going to pay their medical bills?”
A vendor, who sells avocados on the sidewalk, said she often goes home with a sore throat and a headache. She added that sales have decreased because the smell chases customers away.
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And, an owner of a nearby accommodation said, “We’ve had people just leave because of the stench. Our business has taken a huge knock.”
Taljaard added that since the floods the sewage overflow has been continuous, however, for years there has been sewage running into the lagoon on different occasions.
“I don’t care what the problem is, we just want it fixed. I also know that our ward 97 councillor, André Beetge, is doing all he can to put pressure on the municipality,” he said.
According Beetge there is, unfortunately, no immediate good news for the town as continued vandalism and theft adds to the problems created by the April flood.
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“The pumps are repaired and replaced, then electrical components or parts of the same pump stations are stolen or intentionally damaged,” he said.
He added that Winkle Beach remains closed and covered in stench as a flow meter for the vandalised Ellcock Road pump station, apparently ordered weeks ago, is yet to arrive in stores.
“We are currently in discussion with both waste water and electricity management in an effort to see whether the meter cannot in the meantime, be bypassed in the interest of the residents and the environmental implications,” he said.
Beetge also said the Amanzimtoti River remains contaminated from the Riverside drift down to the mouth due to the entire electrical control panel being stolen from the Riverside 2 pump station located near the Amanzimtoti Sports Centre.
“Short lived joy at Umdoni Road outside Kingsway High School where the system was commissioned on August 7, yet failing again on August 9, after a foreign object became dislodged and damaged both the non-return valve and pump itself. The pump was removed on August 10, but repairs had to stand over in favour of the Prospecton pumps, causing the death of thousands of fish, to be prioritised.
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Those pumps were replaced on August 16, and work is currently being done to the Umdoni pump to hopefully, resolve the continued outfall that runs along Bernadotte Road and into the river behind the taxi rank, by next week,” said Beetge.
He added that last, but certainly not least of the major problems, is the control board at the golf course that has been stolen. “The sudden demand for control panels, each custom built, has resulted in part shortages and delays in delivery that could take several weeks. All of the above further subject to vigorous budget constraints due to similar challenges across the entire city,” said Beege.
He and his team remain in constant contact with various departments and individuals in an effort to have these and other matters of concern, attended to.
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