Paul Fairall wins Mondi award
FOURWAYS - Environmental consultant Paul Fairall was awarded the Mondi National Wetlands Award for the better management of wetlands through stewardship for actions to conserve wetlands in the long term.
Fairall said, “It is a humbling and rewarding feeling to win this prestigious award. Thank you to the public and friends who have supported me for more than two decades.”
Fairall is chairman of the Jukskei River Catchment Area Management Forum, Gauteng Wetland Forum and board member of the Wetland Society of South Africa. He opposed the PWV 9 toll road that would have damaged 17 wetlands and he is now using his knowledge in opposing the construction of the proposed K56 road through Glenferness.
Fairall is concerned the road will damage the habitat of the giant African bullfrogs that he has fought to conserve in the most rapidly expanding urban area in the country. Yet Fairall’s work is not only centred on Fourways.
Among his achievements was advising authorities on how to control the flooding of the Sandspruit River through Killarney Golf Course, James and Ethel Gray Park and Melrose Arch. He has also helped to stop the development of Huddle Park which is the last of an extensive wetland system in that area.
Fairall was also nominated for a Ramsar Management Award by Marion Laserson and backed by many influential people in the environmental sector. “Paul operates with no fear or favour,” she said.
“His passion, tenacity, ingenuity and perseverance are probably unequalled in the South African wetland community.”
Fairall thanked all sectors of the community, from government, media and the public, for their support over the years. His current work entails curtailing sewage spills into wetlands and rivers, and he is a watchdog on sustainable construction, especially regarding urban drainage of storm water.
Details: Paul Fairall emifula@telkomsa.net
