Key West: dam remains municipal property despite upgrades
Key West Shopping Centre's management says that they are responsible for cutting the grass and general tidiness of the dam and park area.
Following the appearance of a water fountain and noticing newly paved walkways around the Monument Dam next to the Key West Shopping Centre, the NEWS decided to investigate.
In 2012 an article appeared in the NEWS in which the management of the shopping centre said that they were not responsible for the dam when it almost ran dry after a valve had been opened.
Krugersdorp resident Val van der Merwe (64) says that she remembers that at the time when Key West shopping centre started trading, she read an article in which it was mentioned that Monument Dam will become the centre’s responsibility. For this reason she blames them for the dam overflowing during heavy rains that caused the floods on 31 January and 3 February.
Melissa Greyling, the marketing manager of the shopping centre says that the dam and the surrounding Pretorius Park are municipal property and remain municipal infrastructure for the benefit of all.
“The management of the dam, dam wall, safety and water levels are the responsibility of the Mogale City Local Municipality.”
She says that the shopping centre was given the responsibility to keep the grass short and ensure the general tidiness of the dam and park area.
“This includes monitoring the water quality on a quarterly basis and reporting the results to the municipality. This is to ensure that chemicals do not pollute the water.”
Greyling says that the centre decided on upgrading the walkways around the dam, and added additional public parking and general lighting, and has landscaped the interface between the dam and the centre.
“The water fountain, which floats freely on the dam, uses recycled dam water and power from the centre. It is intended to enhance the dam environment to the benefit of the public in general.”
Access to the park is not restricted and the public can move freely between the centre and the park.
She says that Key West prides itself in taking care of the dam area around the amphitheatre.
“At no point the centre has accepted responsibility for the effective functioning of the dam and never has impacted the dam negatively in any manner.”
She refers to a complete environmental impact analysis that was submitted to the municipality and the Gauteng province in 2012.
“This resulted in the approval of an Environmental Action Plan that is strictly adhered to and monitored by independent environmental consultants on a quarterly basis.”
Greyling says that the centre is proud to be associated with the dam and the natural aspects associated with it.
“The dam remains a top priority for the centre. Key West believes that continued public involvement in this asset should be a priority for both the City and private businesses in the area.”
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