Sewage spills at the Milnerton Lagoon and other popular wetlands across the city due to load shedding have become the new normal.
In light of this, the DA’s Constituency Head for Blaauwberg-Durbanville 2, Cayla Murray, commended the City of Cape Town for their efforts to protect waterways, including Milnerton Lagoon and Diep River, against the risk of stage-eight load shedding.
Murray made this statement on World Wetlands Day celebrated each year on 2 February to raise awareness about wetlands. This day also marks the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands, which was adopted as an international treaty in 1971.
“It is urgent that we raise national and global awareness about wetlands in order to reverse their rapid loss and encourage actions to conserve and restore them. World Wetlands Day is the ideal time to increase people’s understanding of these critically important ecosystems.”
Solutions
Murray says during the Metro Regional Executive Committee meeting Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis outlined that the City had:
- Installed permanent generators at all 26 water treatment plants;
- Installed generators at 110 sewer pump stations;
- Ensured that 62 water pump stations have generators; and
- An extra R17 million has been approved for generators and R132 million for fuel.
“We must ensure that the restoration of Milnerton Lagoon and Diep River are not undermined in the event of stage-eight load shedding. This is amid welcomed news from the City’s 2022 Water Quality Report, which found that the Diep River’s water quality had improved from 44% in June 2022 to 53% in December 2022, with some fluctuation in August and September,” Murray says.
Murray adds she welcomes the efforts taken to date, which have shown tangible results, including:
- The prioritisation of dredging for Milnerton Lagoon to address stench and pollution;
- The appointment of consultants for the draft of a remediation plan which is due to be submitted by April;
- The establishment of the Diep River Catchment Forum; and
- The hosting of Quarterly Stakeholder meetings focusing on Diep River and Milnerton Lagoon – keeping the community informed.
“A further submission has been made to the provincial government on the establishment of the Estuary Management Plan for the Diep River and Milnerton Lagoon water bodies. I look forward to receiving a parliamentary response on the steps taken to date by the provincial minister of local government and environmental affairs, Anton Bredell”.
