The White River Ratepayers Association (WRRA) invites you to join so its voice can be heard on various matters of importance in the offices of the Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM) and the council chambers.
The WRRA represents all residents, both owners and tenants, of White River and surrounds and its main aim is to liaise with MLM to ensure the maintenance of town infrastructure and service delivery.
Issues that it raises include rubbish in the streets, parks, the cemetery, potholes in the roads and pavements, the need to provide public toilet facilities and water supply.
As there are frequent disruptions in supply it is clear that major maintenance to the canal is needed and residents need to be assured that their drinking water is truly potable, the WRRA states. The WRRA is also currently urging the municipality to revive two of the town’s sewage treatment plants to cope with planned expansions in the town, as only one of plants are currently operational.
Problems with town planning are also adressed, like the development of Coltshill 2. This is a proposed high-density township just east of the White River Rugby Club and north of the wetland valley which runs parallel to Impala Street.
The WRRA states that, to date, there has been no indication of provision for infrastructure such as water supply, sewage, schools and medical clinics which would be needed to service a new township of 400 small stands and up to 2 000 new residents.
The environmental-impact process has lapsed due to a delay in the process, but the WRRA has heard that town planning is proceeding and questions the feasibility of such a project.
A similar project in Section 71, just behind the mosque, is also being reintroduced. It was started about 10 years ago, when the environmental assessment found that about half the site was a wetland. The proposal to build approximately 4 000 high- density homes on the stands is simply not possible even without the same issues of infrastructure, the WRRA argues.
The association is also actively engaging with the municipality about a proposed refuse transfer station in White River.
The association is busy re-establishing its relationships with its members by circulating newsletters and bringing subscriptions up to date. The more members they have, the more clout they have and the more authorities will pay attention to their complaints and actions.
If you would like to be kept in the loop about their projects or join them, you can attend their annual general meeting at the White River Primary School hall on September 21 at 17:30 or send an email to slowveld@soft.co.za.
