Preparation work for attenuation dams starts

In the months to come, community members can expect increased construction work at Hurlyvale Park.

The construction projects, to be done by the City of Ekurhuleni, will see four attenuation dams created; however, only two will be located in the park.

The remaining two dams will be constructed in Highway Gardens, one near the corner of Cunningham Road and Beverley Avenue and the other in Tarka Park.

Ward 18 Clr Heather Hart said the construction of the dams should reduce flooding along the Eastleigh Spruit by slowing the water down.

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Traditionally, attenuation dams serve as flood protection and flood alleviation mechanisms by slowing down the flow of water during a flood.

Hart said to date only preparation work for the project has started.

She said soil samples were taken at various depths in several locations to determine the types of soil that are in the area.

“It’s rewarding to see the effort and determination of the community start to come to fruition and payoff.”

Hart said she and the community had pushed to get the project started since 2018.

“We should not forget to give credit to the city for implementing the project and getting it started,” added Hart.

Hart said once completed the park should look similar to Oriel Park in Bedfordview.

Eastleigh Spruit has two sources of water, one flowing from Klopper Park and another from Hurlyvale.

Both sources join at Horwood’s Farm, which flows into Eastleigh’s industrial area from behind Edenvale Sports Grounds.

The spruit flows out of Edenvale near Protea Park, where it joins the Jukskei River system.

However, when there are heavy rains an increased volume of water compounded by the lack of attenuation on older properties in the Meadowdale and Tunney areas flows into the Hurlyvale stream and the Eastleigh Spruit.

In November 2016 heavy floods forced businesses to shut down, residents’ houses were flooded, children were washed out of their homes and the floods claimed the life of Caroline Sithole and her unborn child.

In 2017 while on a tour of Meadowdale and Tunney areas with Hart, Irwin Jukes of Edenvale River Watch said when the industrial, higher-lying area was developed little was done to accommodate water run-off.

Increased development in Meadowdale, Tunney and Buurendal did little to assist the flooding in the greater Edenvale area.

In 2018, following heavy rains in March, the city announced through its website that it had ‘raised standards for new developments by requiring the installation of 600mm pipes instead of 450mm’.

“The city also requires that for every hectare of development there should be a 300 cubic metre attenuation point.

“This allows for 300 000 litres of water to be stored at a time, then slowly released to reduce flooding of streams and lakes,” said Hart.

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