Residents will recall that one of the major issues for the KBRRA is the unlicensed, illegal, and inadequate WWTP which was, until April 2023, spewing contaminated wastewater into the Mcantsi river creating a health, safety and environmental hazard for people using the lagoon and beachfront.
After intensive engagements during 2021/22 by the KBRRA Committee with Buffalo City Municipality (BCMM) and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), steps were taken by the authorities and the MHG Developer to further upgrade the ponds and divert the overflow of effluent. Your committee was pleased to report at the AGM in November 2022 that the immediate concern had been addressed and that steps were underway by the authorities and the developer towards a longer term, sustainable solution.
We can now report that BCM allocated funds and subsequently (in the beginning of 2023) appointed two professional engineering service providers to respectively-
• prepare the licence application for the existing WWTP and the activity to pump effluent to an irrigation area on land of the MHG Developer. (None of BCM’s sewerage treatment plants are licenced as required by the National Water Act, 1998. Documentary proof was provided to confirm the prioritisation of Kidd’s Beach “due to excessive community pressure”); and
• determine the treatment capacity of the existing WWTP and to develop proposals for a fit for purpose facility with due consideration the medium to long term requirements to also service the “greater” Kidd’s Beach area.
BCM also indicated that the licencing of the WWTP is subject to prescribed public participation processes, but that relevant Engineering Reports will, at the end of June 2023, be shared with the KBRRA for further consultation.
We have recently been encouraged by the professional and transparent approach of the BCM Sanitation Department’s Management Team to resolve the concerns of the Kidd’s Beach community. As such we also noted a shift in relationship arrangements between BCM and the KBRRA away from confrontation/frustration towards constructive engagement on steps to resolve the service delivery concerns of the community. Going forward the Committee will endeavour to further enhance this working relationship with BCM’s Senior Officials.
Chris Dreyer
KBRRA Committee Member