Page 24 - FWG September Issue 2024

Estate News

PHASE 2

WATERWAY

PROJECT

he Phase 2 Waterway Project has It was also necessary to appoint an free water flow from the drains is now
been in planning for the past independent environmental officer to possible. A further mainstream function is
three years. It was a lengthy oversee the project. to allow all of the surrounding silted areas
Tand time-consuming process to to drain towards a low point, allowing the
obtain all the necessary approvals. The This project will be done over three years. previous swampland to dry out.
project required an EIA (environmental This extended period is necessary due to
impact assessment), and once this annual estate budgetary constraints and Once the mainstream and the stormwater
was completed and accepted. Further the physical limitations of what can be drains were opened, the entire stream was
approvals were needed from the JRA done in one season. opened, and all obstacles to water flow
(Johannesburg Roads Agency), Joburg were removed. The existing smaller dams
Parks and GDARD (Gauteng Department The first phase is now nearly complete. and weirs in the stream have also been
of Agriculture and Rural Development). This aimed at opening up the mainstream cleaned out, and these should assist as
We were also required to obtain a mining and unblocking and opening stormwater silt traps for any sand that may be present
licence within these approvals as we pipes that lead to the stream. The in the stream water. This should limit the
removed sand from the river course! mainstream was opened to a level where amount of silt that enters the main dam.

Fourways Gardens • 22 • September 2024