Forum proposes wetland park
KYALAMI - The Jukskei River Catchment Area Management Forum held a meeting at Cluny Farm to discuss future plans to improve water quality in the Fourways area.
Representatives of the Department of Water and Sanitation attended the meeting and made a presentation to the members of the forum on the role of Catchment Management Agencies which are in the process of being developed by the department.
The aim of the agencies will be to achieve equitable access to water and sustainable and efficient use of water. Chairperson of the Jukskei Forum and renowned wetland specialist, Paul Fairall said the Catchment Management Agencies would give communities the chance to establish committees to deal with the different needs and concerns in the different areas through which the Jukskei river flows.
Councillor Annette Deppe of Ward 93 who was also present at the meeting questioned how the forums, which would be working with the Catchment Management Agencies, would be able to reach their own goals and if they would get financial backing from the department for their proposals and membership drives.
A representative from the department responded by saying that the Catchment Management Agencies have an overarching strategy and they will provide both monetary support and an umbrella regulatory function to local forums. Fairall said the biggest challenge facing the Jukskei Forum was the lack of membership. “Residents can’t just have concern for the river when it’s running reddish-brown,” he said. “They need to be concerned about the river all the time.”
Fairall ended the meeting by proposing two exciting ideas. One being the development of a protected wetland park in Kyalami which would incorporate the existing Cluny Farm wetland. Fairall mentioned that he would need help to bring the Kyalami community together in the implementation of the plan as well as help with the fencing off of the area. Fairall also suggested the creation of two websites to foster community involvement, one being a website for the Jukskei Forum and the other a website to log complaints about sewerage spills around Johannesburg.
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