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This World Wetlands Day, I want to commend the City of Cape Town for their efforts to protect our waterways, including Milnerton Lagoon and Diep River, against the risk of stage 8 loadshedding.
During the Metro Regional Executive Committee, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis outlined that the City had:
• Installed permanent generators at all 26 water treatment plants;
• Installed generators at 110 sewer pump stations;
• Ensured that 62 water pump stations have generators; and
• An extra R17 million has been approved for generators and R132 million for fuel.
We must ensure that the restoration of Milnerton Lagoon and Diep River are not undermined in the event of stage 8 loadshedding.
This is amid welcomed news from the City’s 2022 Water Quality Report, which found that the Diep River’s water quality had improved from 44% in June 2022 to 53% in December 2022, with some fluctuation in August and September.
That is why I welcome the efforts taken to date, which are having a have shown tangible results, including:
• The prioritization of dredging for Milnerton Lagoon to address stench and pollution;
• The appointment of consultants for the draft of a remediation plan which is due to be submitted by April 2023;
• The establishment of the Diep River Catchment Forum; and
• The hosting of Quarterly Stakeholder meetings focusing on Diep River and Milnerton Lagoon – keeping the community informed.
A further submission has been made to the Provincial Government on the establishment of the Estuary Management Plan for the Diep River and Milnerton Lagoon water bodies.
I look forward to receiving a parliamentary response on the steps taken to date by the Provincial Minister of Local Government and Environmental Affairs, Anton Bredell.