Work finally resumes at Centurion Lake
“In the long run, we will open up the river. One will be able to reach the inside of the lake area with trucks and equipment via a road. It would need to be cleaned up for two to three months each winter.”
Municipal work resumed again at the Centurion Lake last week after a long hiatus.
“I was delighted to see the equipment back at the site again after such a long absence,” said ward 78 councillor Peter Sutton.
“This should already have happened in 2019 but due to the metro being under administration last year, we can only now proceed.
“The rainy season is upon us, and we are pressed for time.”
Sutton said work being done to the lake area at the moment, consists of five stages.
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“The first stage, which was that of the opening of sluices, commenced in February. And during the Covid period, we started desilting the area, which forms part of stage two.”
“During stage two, we will focus on improving the flow of the water. We remove silt and debris that block the flow of the water.”
Sutton said by opening the three sluices, the water level dropped and more volume was created. They will also proceed to clean up the area inside the lake, and litter traps will also be installed.
“In the long run, we will open up the river. One will be able to reach the inside of the lake area with trucks and equipment via a road. It would need to be cleaned up for two to three months each winter.”
“With us expecting rain at the moment, we are cleaning around low water bridges as well. We remove whatever could be in the way of the water flow once it starts raining, should there be any floods.”
Sutton said the metro was committed to this cause and therefore would work on Saturdays and Sundays as well.
Stage three entails opening up the canal on the northern side of the lake, also to improve the flow of the water and to create more volume, Sutton said.
“At the moment the natural flow is blocked on the northern side. We need to get to that before it starts raining.”
“Stage four will commence on the southern side of the lake, at the Centurion hotel’s side. The canal will extend from the parking area to the lake. That way water would be channelled away from the hotel when floods occur.”
Sutton said the stagnant water on the sides is also responsible for the stench surrounding the lake area, which will simultaneously be dealt with.
“Stage five will entail the pro-active, ongoing maintenance of the lake area. Hopefully, in a couple of years, we will have restored the entire area.”
Sutton said he was delighted that the much-needed change to the great Centurion feature can now be made by proceeding with the lake plan which was due to be implemented eighteen months ago.”
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