OUDTSHOORN NEWS - The Department of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries nominated the Oudtshoorn Municipality, as part of their Cleaning and Greening project.
The launch of the project was on 17 February, and the Executive Mayor of the Greater Oudtshoorn, was part of these group visits to houses, Spaza shops, and schools to bring awareness of illegal dumping. This also included the planting and caring of trees.
The following sites were identified by the Environmental Health and Heritage Officer, Ambrose Carelse, for the cleaning of the open spaces.
Carelse, in conjunction with officials from the municipal town planning office, conducted site visits to document issues on several sites which have become an eyesore for the community. It should be noted that the sites which were identified, was linked to the proximity of the spaza shops and schools in the areas. The operations on illegal dumping sites will continue and more awareness campaigns will be implemented in the relevant areas of concern. Furthermore, the municipality will be visiting more schools in the time to come.
These sites have been chosen to form part of the Cleaning and Greening Project:
Site 1: Located between Poplar and Ash Street
There are many shrubs on this site, which leads to waste materials being tangled up within it. Parents and children use this path as their main route, to get to the crèche and the High school within this area. The presence of the waste materials, does not only pose a potential environmental issue, but also a health risk.
Site 2: Located on the corner of Ash Street and Wolf Avenue
This is a church site as per the zoning of the property. Resident all around this area is currently using it as an illegal dumping site. Two house-shops are situated across from the site which could be regarded as big contributors to this dumping, the Municipality issued warning letter to these two house shops during the awareness campaign.
Site 3: Located in Leeu Road
Children use this site to play cricket, but due to a lot of dumping, children don't play here anymore. During a site inspection, it was noticed that members of the community were dumping garden - and household waste on the site and this were present at the time of the inspection.
Site 4: Located between 18th Avenue and Lyners Street
A portion of this site is used by the community and informal Netball teams to play Netball on Sundays, however, this is also one of the hotspots when it comes to illegal dumping.
The site is located in between residential houses. It is evident from the constant illegal dumping, that the people who dump on the site do not care about the residents here. Even though there is a municipal bin for household - and garden waste, people dump their waste next to the bin. During the inspection, two young boys dumped boxes next to the bin, which appeared to be from the house shops in the area.
Site 5: Located in Zola Street within the storm-water channel that meanders through the community
This is one of the major illegal dumping sites in the Oudtshoorn area. The Municipality has tried cleaning this area on numerous occasions. At some point, the municipality went in to clean up the area, but some members of the community did not allow the municipality to clean the area. Our children is using this channel as a playing ground which poses major health risks.
The Executive Mayor wants to urge the public and residents to refrain from illegal dumping, and also to report those who are doing so. This can be done by making an affidavit at the SAPS, with all the relevant information (date, time, person’s name, materials dumped, vehicle registration number etc.).
“It is of utmost importance that we eradicate this behaviour and mentality of just dumping without facing the consequences. It is our town, so let us keep it clean and green” Louw said.
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