Officials of the City of Cape Town and members of the newly established Lourens River Catchment Forum met on a walk along the Lourens River, in a bid to discuss the vision for the waterbody and the progress on council’s ongoing flood alleviation project.
The walkabout and casual engagement, which took place at the section of the Lourens River behind the Somerset West Driving Licence Testing Centre in Victoria Street last Thursday 17 August, was attended by officials of relevant municipal departments and more than a dozen community members.
The Lourens River catchment covers 130 km², originating from the Diepgat Ravine and flowing through Somerset West, before entering False Bay. The entire length of the river was declared a Protected Natural Environment in 1997, making it one of the only five rivers with such protection in South Africa.
The mountainous surroundings and bare slopes contribute to orographic rain, which falls in concentrated volumes at short periods, making the river susceptible to severe flooding.
As a result, the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has started implementing flood mitigation measures in phases, as part of the Lourens River Flood Alleviation Scheme.
Alongside this, council has established a platform for community members to make a contribution through the Lourens River Catchment Forum, which has been active since June.
The new forum brings together municipal officials, residents and business representatives from the catchment area. Their role is to work together to address concerns affecting the river, such as water pollution, environmental awareness and maintenance of the river and surrounds.
“We are committed to seeing through the collaborative initiatives spearheaded by community members, which will transform the Lourens River catchment and conserve the environment for future generations at the same time,” said Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee member for Water and Sanitation.
“The City’s ongoing river maintenance and upgrade programmes provide the foundation on which much more can be achieved, with the support of our residents.”
The City has invested in a number of initiatives already implemented at Lourens River. River banks have been reconstructed, alien vegetation clearing is ongoing, and replanting of indigenous vegetation has taken priority.
Said Steven Louw, chairperson of the Lourens River Catchment Forum: “We support projects to improve the conservation of the river as well as owners and residents in the catchment area, as long as they comply with the law in terms of the protected status of the Lourens River. It’s important to maintain rather than reduce the natural state of the river, and to have gone through a proper public-participation process including environmental impact assessments.”
The next phase of the overall capacity upgrade entails a R44 million project that will commence end of this month, which aims to reduce flooding for the safety of residents and infrastructure in a sustainable manner.
This includes the construction of flood alleviation measures, widening and deepening of the river flood plains as well as the rehabilitation of existing alleviation measures and infrastructure along the river in Strand and Somerset West, between Hathersage Farm and Beach Road Bridge Reserve.
