Oudtshoorn, 28 August 2024 – The Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality has received approval from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP) for a plan to restore the Grobbelaars River, addressing the damage caused by recent floods. This approval allows the municipality to begin cleaning up and repairing the river, focusing on removing debris and fixing damage caused by flooding earlier this year.
Once the municipality received approval in mid-August 2024, teams immediately began clearing debris from the river and repairing damaged infrastructure near Albert Street. This initiative will be expanded to address additional areas starting in early September 2024. The focus will be on the river stretch from the weir behind the Caves Retirement Village to the railway bridge at Rademeyer Street, divided into six sections to make the work more manageable and is expected to take about three months, depending on budget approval.
There are some challenges with accessing certain areas, making it difficult to assess all the necessary work. Property owners along the riverbank who have experienced damage are encouraged to contact Chris Swart at swartc@oudtmun.gov.za for assistance. The municipality will assess these areas and include them in the clean-up efforts where possible. Private landowners and stakeholders who wish to be part of this initiative are encouraged to contact Chris Swart.
A team led by the Infrastructure Department, Parks & Recreation Department, and the Environmental Office will oversee this project. The budget for this effort is estimated at R300 000, which includes the employment of EPWP workers for the project’s duration. Currently, there is no specific budget allocation, but the Water and Sanitation Department has committed to covering some costs.
It is important to note that this initial phase does not involve tasks such as the removal of alien plants or reeds or the beautification of the riverbanks. These tasks will be addressed once the River Maintenance plan is fully implemented at a later stage.
The successful completion of this project is expected to benefit both the community and infrastructure in an environmentally friendly way.