Amajuba Park residents grapples with suburban decay

Residents have spoken out on the deterioration with one saying ‘after living in Amajuba Park for over 20 years, it breaks my heart to see how bad the area has gotten.’

“Our roads are filled with potholes, our pavements have been dug up and just left in a devastating mess… there are water leaks all over the show, the grass isn’t cut or maintained and sewage overflows persist,” said the homeowner, opting to remain anonymous.

He added that those living there ‘used to be proud of our surroundings’.

“Our pavements were neat and our gardens were beautiful. Our roads and fields were maintained but over the last couple of years, we have been left to wither away; with no care or effort from the local government to step up and take action.”

Escalating sewage spills have made living there unbearable.

“We cannot open our doors and windows anymore, especially on hot and humid days, because of the stink of sewage. There are other residents who have it even worse than us – the sewage spills are in or right in front of their yards.

“The many fields around Amajuba Park are not maintained which has led to an enormous overgrowth of vegetation especially along Rinoster Avenue.

“This, I believe, has contributed tremendously to crime in our area, as it makes for an easy hideout and escape route for those breaking into our homes,” he explained.

The Newcastle Advertiser recently took a drive around the suburb and had a close-up of the decay.

In some areas, the journalists were forced to drive on the sidewalk to avoid the large and deep potholes. Many areas were overgrown and filled with litter and illegally dumped household refuse and building rubble.

Another observation was that sidewalks had been damaged following multiple water leaks which saw the municipality last year conduct a water pipe replacement project in the area.

An official media inquiry was submitted to the Newcastle Municipality on January 24. However, despite following up, no official response had been received by the time of going to print.

The hidden dangers of extreme vegetation overgrowth:

Although it’s mainly seen as an unpleasant sight, extreme vegetation overgrowth, especially in suburban areas, has several unhealthy and negative impacts on the area.

Here is a look at some of those implications caused by the lack of grass-cutting and vegetation control and why basic service delivery should be at the forefront of the Newcastle Municipality’s priorities.

Environmental implications include:

• Dry and overgrown vegetation is a fire hazard as it is highly flammable, which increases the risks of wildfires, which can destroy buildings and wildlife habitation in the vicinity.
• Overgrown vegetation becomes breeding grounds for pests such as mosquitos, rodents, and snakes, which all can carry over diseases into our homes.
• Overgrowth also increases the growth of what’s known as invasive plants, which can destroy our native plants, leading to biodiversity loss.

The health and safety implications include:

• For those battling allergies, excessive pollen from overgrowth can trigger even worse allergies as well as respiratory problems.
• Extreme overgrowth, such as trees, shrubs, and grass, blocks intersections, road signs, and even sidewalks, which causes an increase in road accidents due to the low visibility.
• Extreme vegetation overgrowth can cause structural damage to driveways, plumbing, sidewalks, house foundations, stormwater drain systems, and roads.

Newcastle Residents Forum demands urgent action on potholes:

The Newcastle Resident’s Forum (NRF) has raised ‘serious concerns’ over what they describe as the municipality’s ongoing failure to repair potholes across town in both residential and business areas.

Matthew Shunmugam and Niel Sooknanan, founders of the NRF, have expressed frustration over the municipality’s lack of response to repeated complaints and promises of action.

The duo argues that the worsening road conditions are causing significant vehicle damage and pose a serious danger to motorists.

“The state of our roads is appalling,” said Shunmugam. “The municipality’s inaction is unacceptable, and we demand immediate repairs to ensure road safety for all users.”

The NRF holds poor budgeting and mismanagement accountable for the neglect, claiming that road maintenance has clearly not been prioritised.

“This neglect cannot continue,” Shunmugam added. “The municipality must take responsibility for failing to provide this basic service.”

The potholes, particularly hazardous at night and during heavy rain, have been linked to several vehicle incidents, including damaged tyres and rims.

The NRF warned that it is only a matter of time before a serious accident occurs due to these road conditions.

In response to the ongoing issue, the NRF has outlined several demands to the municipality, urging them to take immediate steps to address the situation before it escalates further.

The key demands include:

• A clear, actionable plan to repair the town’s pothole-ridden roads.
• An adequate and realistic budget for ongoing road maintenance.
• Prioritisation of the most hazardous potholes for immediate repair.
• Establishment of a transparent and efficient claim process for motorists seeking compensation for vehicle damage caused by poorly maintained roads.
• Confirmation that short-term insurance and public liability cover are in place for affected road users.

“We urge all residents to report potholes and demand accountability,” concluded Shunmugam. “Together, we can push for the safe and well-maintained roads we deserve.”

The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Newcastle Advertiser, a sold newspaper distributed in the Newcastle area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and request an add on our WhatsApp (082 874 5550).