Assessments paint a bleak picture of rivers
Meetings of the formation of the Palmiet KZN River Valley Conservancy will be held at the Palmiet Nature Reserve Hall on Friday, 19 January.
THE Palmiet River Watch members invite the public for the announcement of the formation of the Palmiet KZN River Valley Conservancy meetings on Friday, 19 January.
Champion and founder of the Palmiet River Watch, Lee D’Eathe, said new hope comes with the Palmiet River Rehabilitation Project, with its action plan listing key issues that need to be addressed including industrial pollution, sewage pollution, fresh water pipe bursts, river-bed scouring and banks collapsing, waste disposal, alien invasive species, land fragmentation and land misuse, and, the poor application of legislation and bylaws.
He said honest assessments paint a bleak picture of the rivers.
“They are polluted with sewage, chemicals and waste, and we simply cannot pretend otherwise. Communities living and working along streams and rivers, particularly the poor folk, are painfully aware of the regular flooding, pollution, poor water quality and of how the aquatic creatures have all but disappeared along with their habitats.”
D’Eathe added that the formation of a conservancy reflects the need for the Palmiet River Valley community to ensure that funding is used effectively and not wasted on approaches that have failed to deliver elsewhere.
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“Our mission is to ensure there is continual, meaningful, significant, sustainable and measurable reduction of the undesirable consequences caused by environmental infractions within the Palmiet River Valley,” said D’Eathe.
He also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to everyone who has been part of the journey toward realising ‘a pollution free environment’ and the vital ongoing support, patience and tenacity shown toward safeguarding the safety and environmental security; and emphasised his appreciation of the hardworking officials, undertaking thankless tasks, often stretched beyond capacity with overwhelming demands, and less than perfect systems, who tirelessly respond to public concerns.
The meetings will be held at the Palmiet Nature Reserve Hall at 10am to 11am; 2pm to 3pm and 5pm to 6pm.
Contact Lee D’Eathe on 083 461 5964 or 031 262 3753 or email businessunusuallee@gmail.com.
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