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KNYSNA NEWS - When the rain comes, especially during times of drought, people usually experience great joy and relief as this precious resource falls down on the parched earth.
Unless, that is, you are a resident of the Brenton-on-Lake area in Knysna.
For more than a week after the mudslides hit the area in mid-November following a spell of torrential rain, Lake Brenton residents were still clearing mud, sand and other debris from their homes and surrounding streets.
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“This is the only serious landslide that we are aware of in the district at the moment," said Hans Ottervanger, senior manager: roads services at Eden District municipality (Eden DM) shortly after the mudslides came down.
“The sediment came down from the Brenton hill, overtopped the main road, and washed into the properties of the community below,” he said.
One of the areas hardest hit by the mudslides that started on Tuesday 14 November and continued through to the next day, was Brentonwood Estate.
The front page article of the 16 November edition of Knysna-Plett Herald (KPH) touched on this issue, showing photos of the mess that the rain and mud brought with it.
The photos were sent in by the Brentonwood Homeowners' Association chair Tony Geldenhuys.
'Fourth time since June fires'
He said this was the fourth time that their homes and streets have suffered damage due to rain since the June fires, and that it is a sign of a much bigger infrastructure failure regarding the stormwater drainage system, a problem they say they have tried over many years to have the municipality address, to no avail.
Geldenhuys, speaking on behalf of the affected community, further pointed out that Brentonwood residents commissioned and currently maintain their own sewer system, as the Knysna municipality has been unable to supply this service.
“Sand flows into our main sewer system because of the lack of a proper stormwater drainage system, and eventually finds its way into our conservancy tanks.
"The submersible pumps we installed are designed to pump water and effluent, not sand or mud.
"We have now, for the second time, had to replace these pumps at a cost of around R26 000,” he said.
What is even more important, he said, is that insurance underwriters are now considering cancelling policies that may cover such damage as the damage is no longer deemed “unforeseen or accidental”.
Geldenhuys said these ongoing mudslides are also taking their toll on the residents – emotionally, physically and financially.
Dolly Raats Road 'collapsing'
He also believes the main road leading into Brenton, known as Dolly Raats Road, is busy collapsing and poses a clear and present danger to all road users.
A municipal official, Geldenhuys alleged, even said that “this is a major crisis and the sooner you get it resolved, the better”.
A despondent Geldenhuys concluded that “no one seems to care, least of all the mayor of Knysna, who promised to come and see the damage from the latest mudslides for herself".
"She didn’t arrive, and this was not the first time.”
Geldenhuys's sentiments were echoed by others in the greater Brenton community.
Dave Davies agrees with Geldenhuys that Dolly Raats Road needs urgent attention and that the degradation of the stormwater drainage system is of great concern.
Although his home was not seriously affected by the recent downpour and mudslides, the road just outside his house, Davies said, is "busy washing away", with a deep trench already visible alongside it.
According to the Eden DM, they are only responsible for stormwater inside road reserves. Photo: Supplied
Bio-sausages 'ineffective'
According to Davies, the environmental sausages placed on the Brenton hills don’t do much to stop the destruction.
“Before the fires we never used to have this problem –maybe just some water flowing through the streets.
"Since the fires destroyed all that vegetation protecting us from mudslides, large quantities of water flowing through the streets and into homes have become a common sight,” he said.
“I have personally experienced the stormwater system problem since I moved here in 2008, but the municipality just allows further development in the area without upgrading the infrastructure, like the stormwater drainage system.
"Homes are being built in the path of the water’s flow, which worsens the issue,” he said.
He also said that this was the third time bulldozers were sent into Brenton to assist with clean-up operations. “The same thing happened after the fires of 2009. The roads remain unsafe and we pay for the damage.”
Issues date back many years
Leonie du Preez said she also experiences continuous problems when it starts pouring down.
“I have records of the communication I have had with the municipality regarding the stormwater issue dating back to 2010,” she said.
On 20 November, in a press release issued by the Garden Route Rebuild Initiative (GRRI) and distributed by Knysna municipality, it stated that teams from Eden DM, assisted by teams from Knysna municipality, were on site attending to mudslides that affected the Lake Brenton communities.
The statement referred to climate change and the recent fires as having exacerbated the risk of landslides, and that these municipalities and the GRRI have worked extensively to address the high risks areas where possible.
Project manager for the GRRI’s environmental management workstream Paul Buchholz said in the statement that erosion mitigation measures, including fibre rolls and fibre blankets that had been installed on other sites in the region, were all performing according to expectations.
This sad looking stuffed rhino found in the mud in the Brenton on Lake area is almost symbolic of what residents have gone through recently.
'Shared responsibility'
KPH then sent further queries regarding residents’ concerns about the lack of an effective stormwater drainage system to both the Knysna and Eden municipalities, as, according to Eden DM, when referring to the Brenton area in general “we see it as a collaborative and shared responsibility of Knysna municipality, SANParks and the Roads Authority with Eden DM as an agent for Western Cape government provincial roads”.
The Knysna municipal response stated that it, together with Eden DM and private landowners are responsible.
“Eden DM’s responsibility is on the main road from the N2 and down to Brenton-on-Lake. Knysna municipality is responsible for the streets lower down and private landowners are responsible for the gated estates.”
According to Eden DM, when asked who will fix the roads and when, civil engineers from the Western Cape government, local government environmental specialists and SANParks are "close to finding a solution for the infrastructure issues".
“The solution may not be as simple as expected, due to compromised infrastructure which is linked to building lines and current stormwater drainage systems.
"Please note that we are facing an unprecedented situation in the Garden Route, this is important to note when criticising efforts being made by all role players,” Eden DM said.
The Knysna municipality referred this question to Eden DM.
'Not enough manpower'
Responding to residents’ claims that Eden DM, along with the Knysna municipality, had not heeded their numerous concerns raised about the stormwater drainage system, Eden DM said there is not enough manpower to address the high-risk areas all at once, adding that “Jersey barriers” have been installed at various locations in the Brenton area to minimise flood and mudslide risks.
“We must remember that we are continuously busy with damage control because of the after-effects of the fire-disaster,” the reply stated.
“Once again, this is not the Knysna municipality’s responsibility. Residents must bear in mind the effect of the recent fires and also the engineering of eco-estates,” said the Knysna municipal response.
What about reimbursement for affected residents?
Eden DM replied, “It would be a preemptive statement by Eden DM to comment on reimbursements and further assistance while working tirelessly to address the needs of residents.”
Knysna municipality also referred this question to Eden DM.
This is just some of the sand/mud cleared from in and around a few homes in Brentonwood, an estate in Brenton-on-Lake.
'Cannot comment'
Regarding insurance underwriters reportedly threatening to cancel residents’ insurance, Eden DM said they could not comment, and Knysna municipality referred this question to Eden DM, too.
What about residents' claims that the sausages are ineffective in preventing mudslides, and its connection to the lack of a properly maintained stormwater drainage system?
According to Eden DM, "stormwater drainage issues cannot be blamed for the effects of floods on the areas affected by the fire, and which have left areas prone to erosion and mudslides".
“Hundreds of bio-sausages have been installed at various locations with the purpose of preventing mudslides and further damage to the environment.
"The bio-sausages do play a role in terms of preventing erosion, it is not a South African initiative, but one that is internationally used in similar situations. The use of bio-sausages is supported by environmental specialists,” Eden DM said.
It added that the Eden DM, however, cannot ensure that these bio-sausages will in all cases completely protect an area, “but it has been effective in many areas".
Mop-up teams attending to mudslides that affected the community of Brenton-on-Lake. Photo: Supplied by Knysna municipality
'There have also been positives'
"We urge the public to look at the good that has been done to date and not to focus on the shortfalls,” the reply read. Knysna municipality said that “currently there is no clear position on this as most of the land that was destroyed by the fires is privately owned".
"This issue can only be addressed if private landowners work hand-in-hand with the local governments and GRRI finding a solution.”
It added that both Eden DM and Knysna municipality are affected by the mudslides originating on private properties above Dolly Raats Road.
The municipality also made a point of stating that it was the only local government to have reacted to initial mudslides on the night in question.
"We were further alone in clearing the area until the Eden DM arrived much later.”
In response to residents’ concerns over continued development despite adequate infrastructure, the municipality said, “All development applications, in terms of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, are assessed by a representative tribunal on an ad hoc, case-by-case basis. Bulk services supply is most certainly also taken into consideration.”
NOTE: Both municipalities failed to address residents' statements that they have been struggling with this problem for years. While focusing on the present mitigation measures and what is currently being done, no reason was given as to why residents' continuous complaints about the stormwater drainage system have been seemingly ignored.
ARTICLE & PHOTOS: STEFAN GOOSEN, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
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