Umbilo River Cleanup
The Umbilo River Cleanup (in conjunction with the International Coastal
Cleanup) held on Saturday 19th September 2009 was a huge
success. The day was enjoyed by over 150 volunteers who managed to
collect over 320 bags of rubbish from the river as well as remove alien
vegetation and building rubble.
Numerous local sponsors assisted with contributions, including AST
Africa (gloves), Accounting 4 Associates (first aid kits), DSW and the
Department of Water Affairs (skip and extra rubbish bags), Geoff's
Jungle (trees), Jean Senogles (trees), Environmental Resources
Management (ERM) (goody bags), mSinsi Enviro Projects (bakkie
and
labour),
ACF Labels: DLC (cool drinks) Cowies hill Lions (cool drinks) and KZN
Wildlife. Without the help of sponsors such days would not be possible.
Corner Mariannhill and Gillitts Roads:
200 bags of rubbish were collected between Ashley Sports Club and the
area just downstream from the Gillitts/Mariannhill Road intersection.
This from a group of 40 enthusiastic volunteers from the Richmond
Mariannhill Conservancy, St Benedicts School, Westville Boys High
School, Environmental Resources Management (ERM), the DA (ward 18) and
other members of the community, including 2 people who use that part of
the river for washing clothes! Items of interest plucked from the
waters included Hoovers, a washing machine and disturbingly, some used
syringes. A task team also planted a series of 21 various indigenous
trees along the riverbank, after first removing the invasive plants.
Stapleton Road / Paradise Valley Nature Reserve:
There was a fantastic turn out of over 60 people from the Cowies Hill
Lions Club, Pinetown Girls High School, Gelofte School, Queensburgh
Girls High School and other concerned members of the community. Plastic
bottles, plastic bags and chip packets were the main contaminants found
along this stretch of the river, filling up over 50 bags of rubbish.
Donated indigenous plants will be planted over the next few weeks
adjacent to the river.
Waste Water Treatment Works: end of Boom Road:
The joint efforts of the Conservancy of the Umbilo River Valley (CURV)
and the Yellowwood Scouts turned out triumphant, collecting roughly 35
bags of rubbish (made up mainly of plastics) as well as removing
building rubble. Alien vegetation such as Syringa trees and Bugweeds
were partially removed, and the remainder will be done as a separate
project. The most distressing aspect is that the Waste Water Treatment
Works staff appear to not be taking care of their area and there is one
specific area where it looks like they simply throw any rubbish they
have at hand over the fence into the river (such as cool drink cans).
Cracklewood / Queensburgh Caravan Park:
The smallest of the 4 groups was definitely not the least of them. A
group of 9 committed community members split their efforts between
collecting the rubbish and clearing away the alien vegetation. 20 bags
of rubbish were filled, their contents ranging from your daily nuisances
(plastics and cans) to items that were clearly dumped by community
members who could not be bothered to discard of their junk through the
proper channels (carpets, braais, knives, forks and dirty nappies).
Chainsaws and pangas were wielded enabling the removal of alien
vegetation (mostly Syringa trees) and making room to plant various
indigenous trees.
There will be further efforts in each area based on the findings of
Saturday and the needs in each area.
This event was organized jointly by Kerry-lee van Heerden and Alec
Collier of Cowies Hill Lions Club, Bobby French and Brin Meyer of the
Conservancy of the Umbilo River Valley and Mark Liptrot of the Richmond
Marianhill Conservancy.
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