Long term vision for Centurion lake area discussed

Work on the Centurion Lake area to open up the natural flow of the water is in full swing.

Various meetings with stakeholders and residents have been held since then to discuss the long-term vision for the area.

DA ward councillor alderman Peter Sutton said the current work greatly concerns the original and natural flow of the Hennops River on the northern side into the lake.

“That is on the opposite side of Centurion Mall. For years, this river was blocked and stagnant. This forced the water into the lake area, which had little capacity due to the build-up of silt.

“The end result was that the three-year flood line became a major risk area. We thus re-opened the original path of the river and the river can now flow normally.”

Sutton said those basic improvements will reduce the flood risk around the lake area and are in line with the phases to restore the area.

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Stakeholders of the area met with metro officials on Friday, and an information session was held with residents on Saturday.

“We shared details on the interventions at the lake we are currently busy with as well as the plan going forward,” Sutton said.

Phillip Nel, MMC for Tshwane utility services and regional operations, said the metro had a slow start but is focusing on a conceptualised solution.

“Issues such as silt forming, stormwater interventions, flash flooding and groundwater are all being looked at,” Nel said.

Sutton said stakeholders in the area are bleeding, the vacancy rate is high.

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Others present expressed their gratitude that work was underway, however, enquired about the long-term vision for the area, as well as a timeline. They also raised their concern about the flood line that had been impacted.

The metro responded that a maintenance plan for three years had been put in place and that stormwater experts are assisting the metro. They are looking at rainfall and climate change studies to adapt the stormwater system.

Sutton said a precinct plan was being developed for the area to offer sustainable solutions which are also according to the metro’s budget.

“Sustainability is critical in all decision-making. Within the precinct plan, we plan to address socio-economic, political and environmental issues. We will utilise resources in the spatial economic plan,” Sutton said.

“We also looked at how Bruma Lake solved its problems,” Sutton said.

According to the metro, it was not worthwhile to spend more money on the lake area, unless problems upstream had also been addressed. In this respect, the Kaalspruit wetland system will also receive attention sooner than later.

“We endeavour to involve Ekhureleni as well as Johannesburg to also get involved with work upstream. Problems such as pollution and raw sewage reaching the Hennops River must be addressed. The metro is also looking at installing more litter traps upstream,” a metro official said.

“At the moment our focus remains on emergency work preparing for floods during the rainy season.”

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