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OUR NATURAL RESOURCES
by WCDOA pubs
Planning and prioritisation of the projects were done by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture’s (WCDoA) Sustainable Resource Use and Management Programme, in collaboration with the now retired professional engineer Hans King. He was responsible for the design of the groynes and weir.
King said the weir replaces the sand-based weir that the farmer built to get water into his canal. “This project now formalises the arrangement in respect of the water.”
Commenting on the importance of river protection, WCDoA’s Disaster Risk Manager, Jody Wentzel, highlighted that river protection is vital to support ecological infrastructure.
“Protection works are important to secure ecological infrastructure that will also sustain agriculture. The added spin-off is that the two projects created 61 employment opportunities during the construction and rehabilitation phases.”
The construction of river protection works is only possible through a collaborative approach between the various stakeholders, mainly the WCDoA, landowners and water user associations. The successful implementation and completion of the river protection works projects provide sustainable ecosystem solutions that ensure healthy ecosystem functioning.
Speaking at the handover of the R50 million projects, Minister Meyer congratulated the project team consisting of officials of the WCDoA, Ruwacon Engineering and Martin & East for the construction and Casidra for the construction project management.
“We are celebrating the completion of a successful project. Completing the project was possible because competent and committed officials and partners affected the design and scope of the project,” said Minister Meyer.
Local farmer Carl van Lingen also applauded the collaborative approach adopted by the WCDoA. According to Van Lingen the project rejuvenated his faith in government. “We now have a secured river. The risks of hectares being washed away and sludge in the river are now greatly reduced,” he continued.
The River Protection Works Project
The river protection works project restores ecological infrastructure, increases productivity and socioecological resilience and adopts collaborative, integrated catchment management to improve water security and job creation. AP
For more information, contact Giselle Terblanche:
