Rand Water to complete water pipeline project
An unfinished water pipeline work, on the open veld at the corner of the N17 offramp and Rondebult Road, Sunward Park, is still giving residents plenty of headaches.
Residents slammed Rand Water for being negligent and irresponsible, after its workers dug several trenches in the area to lay, it seems, underground pipelines a while ago.
The trenches has been left open since then.
Some of the very disgruntled residents claim that they had tried to have the safety concerns addressed by authorities, but to no avail.
They expressed frustration with the municipality and Rand Water to varying degrees, but nothing has been done.
The development was left half finished with dozens of trenches left open without adequate warning signs, and many of them have not been barricaded.
According to one of the concerned residents who asked to remain anonymous, the project was started in November last year, on a section of about 700m from Rondebult Road to the N17, south-east of the N17/Rondebult intersection, Sunward Park.
“Eleven months have passed since construction was started, and it seems as if it will never be completed as no activity can be seen on this section for the past six months,” says the resident.
The resident’s major concern is the fence that has been removed in the process next to the offramp from the east of the N17 to Rondebult Road.
“This has become a security risk for us (the residents) as access is available to criminals to the area from this offramp.
“A large number of trees were also removed without regard to the environment.
Sunward Park ward councillor, Bruce Reid said no complaints or concerns about the hazardous trenches have reached him.
In reaction to the open trenches, Rand Water says is at an advanced stage to appoint a substitute main contractor to complete outstanding work on the unfinished water pipeline work in Boksburg.
According to Rand Water spokesperson, Justice Mohale, Rand Water contractors dug several trenches in different Boksburg suburbs, while laying underground pipelines for water services, a while ago – and have left them open since then.
“The areas include the unfinished water pipeline work in Sunward Park, Libradene, Boksburg South and other areas,” says Mohale.
“The contractor to be appointed to complete the project will commence work before November 30.
“Rand Water acknowledged that it is aware of the trenches being left open after its main contractor appointed to carry out the work abandoned the site in an unsafe condition.”
Mohale says the situation has prompted Rand Water to embark in the short-term process of enhancing safety to the communities and environment.
Mohale states that Rand Water is in the process of appointing a service provider in the next two weeks in an effort to ensure the entire pipeline servitude does not pose danger to those residing in the vicinity.
“The four potential service providers had already inspected the site. In the meantime, Rand Water’s construction crew has been assigned to work on the site to ensure the site is safe, starting firstly in the Libradene area. Rand Water’s construction crew will work jointly with the service provider to make the entire project site safe,” explains Mohale.
Mohale says the crew has already made substantial progress in rehabilitating or securing the site.
“In the next two weeks efforts will be doubled by appointing a service provider that will work jointly with Rand Water construction crew to eliminate safety hazards.
“Rand Water would like to assure the public that the matter has been declared a priority, which is why its own construction crew members were assigned as a stop-gap to secure the trenches while the process of appointing service providers is continuing.”
* There are also several abandoned water pipeline trenches that were left open in Thomas Pringle Street, Boksburg South.
