About R40m spent on flood damage
CANDICE BRADFIELD
NDLAMBE’S recess committee recently approved the list of projects to benefit from the R30 670 000 disaster grant for immediate repairs, with a further R10.7-million available from municipal contributions.
Road repairs totalling R27.3-million will take up the majority of the funds. West Beach and Saltvlei roads were the most damaged, and repair projects for those roads amount to R8.5-million each.
The municipality has already spent 80% of its R100 000 contribution towards Saltvlei Road. A further R12-million is needed to repair West Beach Road.
The causeway which links New Rest to greater Port Alfred will cost R3.8-million to fix.
According to the disaster grant funding form, River and Park roads in Bushman’s River Mouth have been completely washed away. Temporary repairs to these roads will cost R2.8-million. The municipality has spent R10 000 on repairs so far. A total of R17.4-million will be needed for further repairs.
Four main pump stations at the Sarel Hayward Dam which supply water to Port Alfred were damaged as a result of the flooding and it will cost R2 220 000 to get these working again. The municipality has allocated R280 000 to this project already.
The access road to Fishkraal water supply in Alexandria needs to be repaired at a cost of R2 150 000. In addition, R350 000 has been allocated from Ndlambe’s budget.
Links Road had many problems that required fixing, including broken water pipes, a damaged main sewer line and exposed electric cables. Together with the repositioning and repair of manholes, this will cost R1 550 000. Ndlambe has spent R50 000 of their R350 000 contribution towards this project so far.
Two new water pumps, which will cost R750 000 in total, are needed to pump water from Medolino Caravan Park in order to access sewer pumps which are currently flooded with water.
For a more permanent solution, a whopping R29 370 000 is required for a storm water system to be implemented in this area.
Pumps, motors and the electrical supply were damaged at the pump station at the Waste Water Treatment Works in Port Alfred. Repairs, which will total R400 000, are needed in order to prevent sewage spills to the estuary and Kowie River.
Work on these projects is due to start today (Thursday January 3).
