PICS: Town’s maintenance needs pile-up

With a big new mall and other developments on the Dolphin Coast, it is sometimes easy to miss the little things.

The recent rains that hit us left Ballito’s roads mostly in the state they found them, however the weather was not kind to Salt Rock, where the potholes in places are reminiscent of scabs being repeatedly picked off in the same place.

In Ocean Drive in Chakas Rock the old familiar sinkhole has once again opened up and basically eliminated one lane of the road.

However, Leon Groenveld – who lives right below the sinkhole – says it is not only the road that is washing away.

“There is a pipe running beneath the road that just cannot cope with the amount of water that must flow through it when the rains come. It is washing away the road, but it has also almost completely washed away the property next to mine.”

Now Groenveld is worried that as the erosion continues it will eventually compromise the structural integrity of his home.

KwaDukuza municipality did not respond to requests for information on planned repairs by the time The Courier went to press.

Meanwhile, residents of Sandra Road and above in Ballito are still not having an easy time getting to the shops. This is because the stairs which lead from Townsend Park all the way to downtown Ballito (next to RE/MAX) are still lying in a state of extreme disrepair. A popular feature of the town, the stairs are used daily by domestic workers and runners who use it for hill training.

Sections of the staircase have been a crumbling mess since 2007.

Ward 21 councilor Tommy du Toit told The Courier that plans are in place for repairs to begin.

“KwaDukuza Municipality will handle the repairs themselves. I know that materials for the repairs have been ordered and work is expected to get underway soon.”

When exactly he could not say.

However, on a positive note road users driving past Salt Rock beach will have noticed the demolition of the wood structures in which hawkers and informal traders operate.The structures are being removed so that new facilities can be built for the traders. This is a Local Economic Development (LED) initiative.

“LED, in partnership with the UIP, have also upgraded the hawkers facilities on the promenade near Hawkins Road.

“This is a fantastic example of public-private partnerships helping to improve the lives of all,” said LED’s Hlahla Sanga.

Do you know of something needing serious municipal attention? Email allan@northcoastcourier.co.za.

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