Development plan discussed at Barberton municipal meeting

The annual review of the Integrated Development plan (IDP) was discussed at the Mbombela Civic Centre, with private stakeholders and organised business participating.

Andy Nuns, chairperson of BURPA, voiced his concerns regarding the dangerously low water levels at the Lomati dam; currently sitting at 21 percent. Nuns explained that stringent water rationing has been implemented for sometimes five hours at a time, every day.

“The Inkomati Usuthu Catchment Management Agency (IUCMA) has actually restricted our water flow from the dam by 30 percent.”

The ensuing result is that the city is struggling to balance the reservoirs. With the demand exceeding supply, there is not enough water to continually fill up the reservoirs, leading to more interruptions. “They switch the water off for five hours and when the water comes out, it is full of air and it bursts the pipes,” Nuns said.

Theo Botha, senior manager of water planning at the CMLM, acknowledged the need for an additional dam that would alleviate Barberton’s water problems. Botha confirmed that they are still on track with the reconciliation and feasibility study to build a regional dam.

“The National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is fast-tracking plans and it is also in the process of appointing consultants to identify dam sites,” Botha explained.

He cautioned that water should be used sparingly, as the construction of a regional dam will not start within the next eight to 12 years.

“We must extend our own day zero by including water conservation and hopefully further investing in those areas.” He stressed that the City will, in the interim, do its own feasibility and reconciliation studies. Botha told the attendees of the meeting that they have recently engaged with the private sector in identifying several dam sites.

Illegal mining was another contentious issue discussed.

“The municipality has done very little to stop this, even after correspondence was sent to them, and it is destroying our tourist function,” Nuns said.

Terry Berrington, a committee member of the BURPA, took issue with law enforcement and road-traffic safety. A proposed one-way in De Villiers and Crown

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Streets, where a one way in each direction will alleviate the traffic congestion and allow for the better flow of traffic, is also on the agenda, Berrington said. He stated that, in his view, the enforcement of bylaws is a problem, as there are not enough traffic officers.

General manager of public safety of CMLM, Lukie Sihlangu, replied that he will look into it and read the correspondences. Berrington spoke to Lowvelder, where he confirmed that Sihlangu wants to meet with him and Nuns next week to discuss the concerns raised.

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“I am happy with the answer, as they will need to do surveys first to see what impact the proposed one-way will have on available parking, which is not an expensive operation, but they will need to put the money aside for it.

“We want to work with him. He must engage with us and provide the necessary manpower. We are noting our submissions in writing and I am sure we will get a response,” Berrington said.