Clr Hart’s ward 18 highs and lows of 2019

Ward 18 Clr Heather Hart wished community members and officials alike a happy holiday season.

She recently met with the NEWS to discuss some of her high and lowlights of the past year.

Starting on the highlights, Hart said there were several successes throughout the year which should improve the town.

Hart said during 2019, most of the major roads in Edenvale were resurfaced and upgrades to the stormwater servitudes in town were started.

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“The upgrade to the Illiondale Wetland is still in the pipeline and the upgrades to Horwoods’ Farm are taking shape.”

Hart explained that although Horwoods’ Farm’s upgrades are progressing, she said there are several parks which need to be maintained.

She also said although the Illiondale Outfall Sewer project was completed, sewerage blockages in the Illiondale, Sebenza and Isandovale areas continue.

Elaborating on the wetlands, Hart said a portion of the area has become a dumping ground, to her dismay.

Speaking on the lowlights of 2019, Hart said many community members expressed their frustration regarding the state of Edenvale on social media.

“As a councillor, I am elected to represent the community. I assist by escalating municipal issues, but, unfortunately, I don’t have executive authority over the municipality.”

Hart said overall there are many stormwater drains, roads, pavements which need remedial attention or to be maintained.

“Efforts to get a street-sweeping truck in Edenvale failed, but will be renewed in 2020.”

Hart said the recent water leaks which sprung up across Edenvale identified another concern.

“Water leak sites are seldom properly rehabilitated and further degrading collapses the infrastructure.

“The water leaks also resulted in the loss of millions of litres of water at a time when we should be saving every drop.”

Hart said vagrants and homeless individuals continue to create problems for residents.

“This is due to anti-social behaviour, reluctance to go into shelters or to comply with by-laws.”

She said the initiative to register waste recyclers did not gain much traction during 2019.

“Some are becoming a law unto themselves and stripping material and dumping what they don’t need wherever they want.”

Hart said although there were some low points, she thanked the municipal officials who go the extra mile to assist in resolving service delivery challenges.

Likewise, she thanked the community members who report service delivery concerns and escalate them.

Community members can assist by reporting service delivery issues to the call centre on 0860 543 000 or email call.centre@ekurhuleni.gov.za or use the municipality’s mobile application.

“A special mention must be made of the officials and residents of Elma Park who are driving a pilot project to contain the polyphagous shot hole borer beetle that has the potential to devastate our urban canopy of trees,” said Hart.

“An enormous thanks as well to Bedfordview and Edenvale News for the coverage it has given to this problem and the project.”

“2020 will bring new challenges, and, hopefully, after some rest, we will all be ready to face them with renewed vigour and enthusiasm.”

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