VIDEO: Boksburg Lake water rehabilitation project hits a snag

Some of you may have been wondering what happened to the R34m project to rehabilitate the water in Boksburg Lake.
The answer is that the wait for the end of the stench from the polluted water is far from over as the project has, owing to budgetary constraints and contractual issues, been put on hold indefinitely.

Some residents, including community leaders, have expressed their concerns about the deteriorating state of the facility, and questioned the logic of pumping millions in taxpayers’ money into projects that produce nothing of value.

In addition to the R34m multi-phase projects to breathe new life into the lake water, the city has for the past couple of years spent at least over R20m on several projects aimed at restoring the facility after decades of neglect.
However, the poorly tended new features, which have never been used after many years under construction, are already falling apart.

These include a multimillion-rand tender to renovate the boathouse, construction of R2,1m amphitheatre and an estimated R15m multiphase project to install high-mast lighting, landscaping of the park, outdoor gym equipment, braai facilities, paving, installation of park furniture and fencing.

Despite all these features constructed at enormous expense, the public amenity has proven to be a great white elephant the metro is battling to maintain and safeguard against thieves and vandals – who have been systematically reversing the multimillion-rand work done so far.

The Boksburg Advertiser has recently reached out to the metro for comment on these issues:
Update us on the work that has been completed so far
The completed works are clearance, weir, bridge, gabions and litter traps. The remaining works (debris diversion structure, aeration of the lake and further clearance) or the last phase of the project is on hold until budget availability. The completion date cannot be determined at this stage. The completion date of the entire scope will only be known once the budget is available and contractual issues are finalised with a clear programme of works.

It appears that lack of maintenance and security continue to undermine the work done. When is the metro planning to maintain and secure the facility?
The city acknowledges the concerns raised regarding the maintenance and security of the parks facilities. The city has developed a comprehensive maintenance plan to ensure that all facilities receive adequate attention within the available resources. This plan is designed to prioritise urgent needs and to allocate resources efficiently, ensuring the upkeep of these important community spaces.
Regarding the issue of vandalism, the city relies on the expertise of the EMPD for security assessments. The city will begin the process of engaging the EMPD to conduct a thorough security assessment for the facility and the results thereof will determine the levels of security needed to secure the facility.

When can we expect the cordoned-off sections of the amenity to be reopened to the public?
The city is planning the reopening of the park. The media will be advised of the opening date.

When will the metro take the necessary steps to address the polluted water?
The City’s Environmental Management Inspectors will on a continuously basis jointly investigate and enforce applicable legislations contravened by the polluters in terms of polluting the environment.
When will the grass be cut and waste removed from the weir?
The city has deployed EPWP workers to maintain the weir by removing litter and debris that collects at the weir. Work resumed on December 1. The city has initiated steps to manage and rectify the situation within the current resource constraints. The maintenance teams are being allocated as effectively as possible to address the most critical areas, focusing primarily on cutting the long grass to ensure safety and accessibility.

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