New development not located on a wetland
Concerned citizens have started asking questions relating to the environmental process with regards to the construction of a new Builders Warehouse on North Rand Road, Bardene.
According to Yolandi Robbetze, a concerned Boksburg resident and an environmental specialist by trade, the construction work is taking place in close proximity to a wetland – one of the most sensitive and valued ecosystems.
“Under the National Water Act 36 of 1998, Section 21, and the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, Section 24, a water use licence and environmental authorisation is required when activities are triggered in the respective acts.
“Was the due legal process followed to obtain a water use licence and environmental authorisation?” asked Robbetze.
“The construction work is within 500m of a wetland, which automatically triggers a water use licence under Section 21 (c) and (i) of the Water Act.”
Robbetze argued that wetlands like this sustain the underground water sources in areas like Boksburg.
“I have observed various non-conformances on this site, for example, the washing of the cement truck on site – cement in liquid form changes the pH of water and hence the concern,” she explained.
Furthermore, Robbetze added it might be argued that the wetland was created due to previous construction activities which were placed on hold and therefore the wetland is man-made/artificial.
“The Water Act doesn’t differentiate between natural or man-made. A wetland is a wetland, no matter how it came to be,” she said.
According to DA ward councillor Ruhan Robinson, who met with city planning on November 16, the property in question is not a wetland.
“An EIA (environmental impact assessment) was done in 1999 and it was established then already that the soil on this piece of ground is not sensitive and that there’s no wetland,” said Robinson.
He added that, in 2007, a developer wanted to build a shopping centre on this site but construction was halted due to the markets back then.
“At that time, a hole was already dug for undercover parking. Over time, the hole got filled with water and someone must have taken ducks there to live,” explained Robinson.
The DA Ekurhuleni spokesperson for environmental development, André du Plessis, said a wetland is a natural pan or dam which originates due to geographical conditions.
“It creates a riparian area – which is of great ecological importance – where specific fauna and flora live and grow,” he explained.
“A riparian area is an area with a specific type of soil which fills up with water when there’s a lot of rain – a man-made wetland does not have a riparian area.”
The building of the new Builders Warehouse is not yet underway; the site development plan is still with city council for approval from various departments.
“All is above board and all steps have been taken to follow the correct procedure with this development,” said Robinson.
