Page 15 - Issue 1 Cornwall Hill

ESTATE LIFESTYLE
ESTATE MATTERS

CORNWALL HILL

FLOODS

By Nicole Zerwick Images by Ivan Muller and courtesy City of Tshwane

fter weeks of relentlessly hot The image below shows the flood plain of the
temperatures and increasingly severe Sesmylspruit along the borders of the estate with the
water restrictions, the recent heavy river shown in blue. The red line is the 50-year flood
rains were a godsend. The flooding and line and the orange line shows the 100-year flood line.
Adamage accompanying the rains was I found it interesting that the flood lines for 50 and
less welcome in around Centurion. 100 years differed so little. I think the level reached is
still open to interpretation, but comparing the lines
The lower-lying regions of Cornwall Hill Estate also to the actual photographs I took during the floods,
experienced flooding and damage. In early December, I am leaning toward the 100-year flood line having
after several days of heavy rainfall, the Sesmylspruit been reached. However, I must confess this may be in
that borders the estate on the eastern and southern part only because it makes my 'Cornwall flood stories'
sides suddenly burst its banks. The roaring of the sound more impressive!
water could be heard from Kelly Bray
Lane. In a matter of hours, the strong
water current had filled the floodplain and
some residential gardens, pushing over
walls and fences. Land’s End and the area
running parallel to Berryhead Lane were
impressively flooded, and many residents
were spotted having a look and taking
photographs.

Opinions were divided as to whether the
50-year or the 100-year flood line had
been reached. I contacted Gawie Jansen
Van Vuuren, Chief Engineer of Integrated
Watercourse Management and Drainage
Control Operations at City of Tshwane to
find out.

Cornwall View • Issue 1 2020 15