HOMEOWNERS at Spring Glade in uMhlanga are yet to be informed about when repairs to the road in the rear of the property on Chartwell Drive will be completed.

Read also: Rehab work continues on Newlands Drive

The complex has been the talk of the town since a massive sinkhole formed on Chartwell Drive after the heavy rains on Saturday, January 13. The stormwater drain failed, and it resulted in a sinkhole developing.

At that stage, the depression was substantial, but with more heavy rain falling on Wednesday, January 17, the sinkhole enlarged, causing the entire section of road in front of Spring Glade to collapse, including part of the opposite bank.

Chairperson and resident of the complex, Arthur Limbouris, told Northglen News that the eThekwini Municipality had confirmed that repairs would take 16 weeks to complete, and, in the interim, residents are accessing their homes through the entrance on Marine Drive.

“There are two entrances to the complex – one on Chartwell Drive and the other on Marine Drive. Only one family’s unit was severely affected, and they moved in with family also living at Spring Glades. That unit has subsequently been repaired. The rest of us are fine. The eThekwini Municipality communicated with us on Wednesday that the contract would be awarded today (January 30), and work will commence on February 5,” he said.

Limbouris said it was his opinion that the stormwater drainage system was not properly maintained in the past which caused the sinkholes to form.

“The sinkhole that is now forming on Marine Drive was repaired at least three times over the last two years. Sewage is now running into the hole which ultimately runs out to the ocean. The stormwater drains on Chartwell Drive were repaired after the April 2022 floods. The drainage systems cannot cope, which is why these sinkholes are forming,” he added.

“These stormwater drains need to get addressed and repaired adequately to deal with the volumes of water. The municipality cannot keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.”

Limbouris said the complex insurance had hired a contractor to remove about 1 350 m3 of sand from the Spring Glade property and Marine Drive following the rain. When the Northglen News arrived at Spring Glade last Thursday, the contractor was still on site.

The City did not comment at the time of going to print.

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