Resident disrupts road wash away project
The structure built to secure the road, which is often washed away due to heavy rains, runs about a metre into the resident’s yard.
A PROJECT initiated by the Coastal Engineering Stormwater Catchment Management Department (CESCMD) to resolve a recurring problem of on Coedmore Avenue has come to a halt.
This comes after a resident disapproved of a structure being on his property to solve the road wash away issue. The structure built to secure the road, which is often washed away due to heavy rains, runs about a metre into the resident’s yard.
Ward 64 councillor Gavin Hegter said that the solution came about when the stormwater department eventually managed to secure funding to start the project. There were even funds allocated to replace the resident’s fence.
“This shouldn’t have been done in terms of the Municipal Financial Management Act. The municipality is not allowed to spend money on private property. Previously, I had advised the resident that he needed to put in an insurance claim against the municipality for damage to his property. But he never did that and wasn’t interested in listening.
“We eventually got CESCMD and they did a fantastic job. They have secured the road in the event of future heavy rains. The structure would have also ensured that he and the rest of the community would never be affected again as the road would be safer. Taking the structure away would put the entire infrastructure at risk including the water pipes and the nearby telephone pole which has collapsed before.
READ: Never-ending water woes irks YWP resident
“However, the resident has now decided that it’s in his yard and is untidy and no longer wants the structure. He was happy until they were in the final stages of the project and after workers had replaced his fence. Only then did he decide that he didn’t want it. He also threatened to take the city to court. As a councillor, I don’t have authority over municipal contractors or to instruct them to stop their work,” said Hegter who called the head of CESCMD who after visiting the site, made the call to stop the project.
The structure will be moved a metre back onto municipal property to ensure that it is not the resident’s property. This is going to cost the ratepayers because of one unreasonable resident, who after all his complaining about this ongoing issue decided one day that he no longer wants it,” added Hegter. Soliciting comment from the resident was futile. All attempts to contact him were ignored.
EThekwini Municipality spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela confirmed: “The project is not stopped. A portion of the gabions were placed within a private property and the property owner requested they be moved. Further investigation has shown that it is possible to relocate this portion of gabions outside of the property which is presently being undertaken.”
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