Saga regarding town’s dump site is finally nearing an end

MARLOTH PARK – The meeting held in town outside the Henk van Rooyen municipal boardroom, on October 26 at 10:00, attended by Nkomazi Municipality management team, Jan Engelbrecht of Esselens Engelbrechts Inc, the Marloth Park Property Owners Association (MPPOA) committee and in excess of 100 residents, might not have been necessary if there was proper communication between the stakeholders and role players.

Following the Nkomasi municipality’s call for public participation regarding the application by owners of stand 3881 represented by Jan Engelbrecht , it became clear that the MPPOA committee and the development team of the retirement village independently and separately applied to the Nkomazi Loal Municipality (NLM) for the same relief. Two separate petitions to local and provincial authorities for a definitive decision regarding the open dump site in Marloth Park had been made.

According to Engelbrecht, only after the public invite for this meeting on Monday 26 October, had been published, it emanated that while Engelbrecht had requested the termination of the refuse works, and the rehabilitation of the existing refuse site, and suggested possible alternative locations for a transfer station, the MPPOA committee had simultaneously demanded the same, except for a different location for the transit site. The MPPOA is of the opinion that the existing locality of the refuse site could be continued as fully functional and well managed. If all environmental and land-use laws are followed, a safe rehabilitation and downscaling of this dite could accommodate the transit centre.

Engelbrecht, when discovering the coincidence of similar applications, advised the development team of 3881, to assume the same position, easing and expediting execution by the authorities of the rehabilitation, and for the works to commence to establish a transfer station on the same site. The owner of 3881 was more than happy to accept this, as their prime concern was the rehabilitation of the existing dump site. Finding an alternative was extremely difficult. Proposals to that end were withdrawn – before the meeting commenced. The existing site was the best option, safe that the whole site was rehabilitated and that the transfer station to be established, will be small, not too visible, hence out of sight, and effective – and there would be ease of access and egress. It is important that the transit station must be well managed.

Engelbrecht explained categorically that while the possible development of the envisaged retirement village did relate to the rehabilitation of the site, it was an independent process and that public comment would have to take place separate to this issue. Public comment and input would be requested in due course. The developer (Krusan Developers) and the land owner of 3881, run that process, it is not done nor commissioned to Esselens Engelbrechts Inc. The owner-and-developer appointed experts to attend to this, and the public invite for the public processes might soon commence. Esselens Engelbrechts Inc is not part to or part of that process. Neither is Fine and Country Lowveld Kruger South.

Engelbrecht comments: “We are grateful for the similar effort that went in by the MPPOA committee. We are satisfied with NLM’s favourable consideration of the matter.” The MPPOA committee and the owner and developer of stand 3881, and the environmental expert appointed by the latter, will liaise with NLM and the appointed consultant, directly, to ensure all relevant matters regarding rehabilitation and the shift over to a transfer station, are well addressed, and the execution of these processes is not stayed and is well managed.

The municipal manager confirmed that the costs of rehabilitation will enjoy the immediate attention of NLM, and be tabled for budget – to be approved by July 2016. The

R1 million that had been available in the 2014 book year has been used to obtain the existing license for the transfer station.

Lack of proper communication by the authorities, by the MPPOA committee and by the owner and developer, could certainly be blamed for the concurrent independent forces striving for the same outcome, and lacking synergising. However, it is clear the matter is overdue and now well addressed. Enquiries about the rehabilitation could be directed to the operational manager of NLM, and/or the MPPOA’s Pat Wilmans, also Engelbrecht.

Municipality will give feed back on the progress to the MPPOA committee and Engelbrecht.

All parties and attendees expressed their satisfaction with the outcome of the public meeting, being that the existing refuse site will be rehabilitated and that it would accommodate a well-managed transfer refuse station. NLM is thanked for its commitment. Engelbrecht and Wilmans expressed thanks one to the other for driving the same merits, independently, to attain the same result.