Nearly a year after construction began on the Fairland gabions project, residents say frustration, uncertainty, and fear continue growing as the site remains incomplete ahead of the June 10 anniversary of the project’s launch.

The project, originally expected to take five months to complete, was introduced to stabilise the river system and prevent severe flooding affecting Fairland Estate and surrounding properties. However, with contractor JMS Projects no longer visible on site and heavy machinery, such as graders and TLB’s, absent, residents say communication from Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has fallen on deaf ears.

Read more: Fairland gabions project delay leaves residents fearing devastating floods when the next rains come

For Fairland Estate resident Arlene Mania, the delays have transformed what was once a peaceful greenbelt into what she described as a devastated quarry. She revisited the past, reflecting on how it looked before, with gatherings and events taking centre stage on a patch that now looks like a disaster zone. Rubble and piles of dried-up sand continue to occupy the site, with no bird life and animals to be seen.

The incomplete work has left residents anxious about the upcoming rainy season, particularly after JRA identified the area as a flood risk due to collapsed gabions and blocked river flow.

Resident Brian Bucknall said, while the installed gabions had improved conditions in parts of the river, the unfinished project still poses major risks for downstream communities. “If there were no funds to finish the project, then why start it in the first place?”

Also read: Fears rise of contractor abandoning Fairland gabions project altogether

Bucknall explained that large volumes of storm water from surrounding suburbs and estates flow directly through the river system in Fairland, placing enormous pressure on the area during heavy rainfall. “When floodwater comes through, the pressure is unbelievable. It shoots out at speed and washes everything away. If the project stays unfinished and another big flood comes, the water will run all the way down towards 3rd and 1st avenues and damage more properties.”

He added that residents of Fairland Estate bear the brunt of the flooding, because water naturally collects at the lowest point of the river system. Residents also raised concerns over insurance complications linked to the unfinished state of the project. Homeowners have struggled to secure insurance protection for possible land slippage or flood-related damage because there is still no clear indication of when repairs will be completed.

The delays have also affected daily life within the estate. An open recreational area, previously used for children’s parties, braais, baby showers, and gatherings, has effectively been lost to ongoing construction and instability.

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