Centurion lake now doomed
The Centurion Lake is “sick” and attempts to keep the former major attraction alive, will be far too costly.
The death knell has sounded for the once scenic Centurion lake that has turned into a smelly eyesore.
A report, which would ultimately result in the closure of the lake and the park of which it forms part, was approved by the Tshwane metro council last week.
The report suggested that the much-discussed multi-billion rand Symbio City development will be built among pools of clean water that will replace the “sick” lake.
According to the metro, the lake at the Centurion shopping mall was “sick” and would cost too much to rehabilitate and maintain.
The report was adopted despite the DA opposing the plan.
“In an inner city the open space become an oasis that is used by residents, workers and tourists during every activities.
“An urban oasis offers many benefits to the community by inviting people to stop, sit, eat, play and relax,” DA councilor Clive Napier said in a written objection to the plan.
He said such an oasis added value to the city while providing identity, economic environmental benefits and also a site for cultural activities in the city.
“On these grounds we object the closure of the park. Once developed, the land is lost to future generations,” Napier said.
Since 2012, thirteen objections and two claims against the closure of the lake had been received.
The Centurion shopping centre and the Centurion Lake Hotel both instituted claims for damages against the metro for future loss of revenue should the lake be closed.
The centre claimed R1 billion while the hotel instituted a claim of R300 million for future financial losses, but both claims were declared invalid by the metro and were therefore rejected.
While there were objections against the closure of the lake, some adjacent restaurants, businesses and residents have been complaining for years about the state of the lake and the accompanying bad smell.
Despite regular cleaning operations, the metro report stated, the lake continued to be dirty and smelly. The water quality was so bad that it was impossible to restore the lake to a “blue node”.
The metro report also suggested that the more than R20 billion Symbio City project be built on islands of clean water which would replace the lake and be achieved by diverting the river feeding the lake north of the development.
Symbio City, announced by Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa in 2013, would entail the building of three high rise buildings – one being 110 floors and also the highest building in Africa.
The other two buildings would be 60 and 80 storeys respectively.
“Due to the urban sprawl the lake is faced with major siltation problems affecting the lake’s recreational and aesthetic purpose,” an earlier metro report stated.
Various forms of degradation and pollution from upstream developments, agricultural practices, industrial sources, sewage leakage and non-point source pollution through storm water systems occurred within the Hennops River feeding the lake, resulting in the silting up of the lake and water quality and odour being below desired standard.
The state of Centurion Lake was a direct result of the severe degradation of the Kaal Spruit catchment – a major tributary f the Hennops River in which the lake was situated,” the metro report stated.
“The quality of water has deteriorated to such an extent that the lake cannot be constructively used for any purpose at present,” according to the report.
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