Huge bulk water pipes on the roadside in Faerie Glen – often used by squatters for shelter – have been removed as great strides are being made in the completion of the Garsfontein pipeline project.
Project community liaison officer Jeannie du Plessis said a new contractor had been appointed to take over the crucial bulk water pipeline installation after some contractual problems with the previous one delayed the project for more than a year.
“The old pipes merely left next to January Masilela Drive were removed and the new pipes that are going to be used were placed behind a safety gate,” she said.
“The gate would remain in place even after the project has been completed to stop squatters from going into the Moreleta Spruit area – between the houses on Malabor North Street – to use these pipes for shelter.”
She said she had requested the contractor to erect more security fencing to ensure that the security gate provided even more protection.
“This will make the area much safer and also stop squatters from passing under the bridge into the Faerie Glen Nature Reserve,” Du Plessis said, adding that home owners in the affected area could also better their own security by adding to the gate and fencing.
The keys for the gate would be kept by the Tshwane metro, who must service the area.
Du Plessis said gabions would also be placed where the pipeline crossed Moreleta Spruit.
She said the construction of the bulk water pipeline would not affect residents of Glenwood Village at all.
The new contractor had already opened the ends of the pipes which had been installed by the previous contractor to check the welded connections and to measure the bends to be welded to connect the old existing pipeline to the new one.
“The site will be cleared as soon as they finished the connections and closed up all the pipes,” she said.
On the installation of the pipes in Gary Street and Garstfontein Road, Du Plessis said that tar would have to be lifted in Gary Street to check all the welded parts.
“As soon as this is done, the road will be re-tarred and the sidewalks affected will be repaired. The contractor will work as fast as possible not to inconvenience any of the people on Gary and Tucker streets.”
The connection on the corner of Garstfontein and January Masilela roads still had to be checked and connected, Du Plessis said. Pamphlets had been given to Gary and Tucker Street home owners to inform them about the construction.
In Rubenstein Drive, Moreleta Park, tractors had started digging along the road to make the final connections and to check the pipes laid by the previous contractor.
“They will then also remove some of the pipes that are on the sidewalk next to the palisade of Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve. The ones to be used in the new pipeline project, will remain until used by the new contractor.”
Du Plessis said all the rubble would be removed and a ditch dug to pump extra over-flowing water into the Rademeyer Spruit, would be filled and levelled out with the involvement of Nature Conservation.
Sidewalks in Blouhaak and Rubenstein streets would be repaired, she said.
The project is expected to be completed during June this year. For any information regarding the project, interested parties can contact Du Plessis on jeanniedp@gmail.com.
