After months of no visible working teams on site at the Bayside Canal in Table View, the City announced work at the canal has been temporarily halted due to a contractual dispute.
The project, which commenced in November 2023, was expected to be completed by mid-June 2025. The canal is set for an R87,5 million upgrade to improve Rietvlei’s water quality.
According to the City, the appointed civil contractor formally notified the City of their decision to suspend operations at the end of November 2024, due to contractual matters.
“Despite this recent setback, the project had already progressed beyond the halfway mark before the suspension,” says Zahid Badroodien, Mayco member for water and sanitation.
The remaining scope of work includes the construction of the upgraded stormwater canal to the primary sedimentation ponds, and the bypass canal connecting the secondary treatment channel to the Rietvlei.
“Upgrading the Bayside Canal in Milnerton represents one of the City’s critical investments in improving water quality in the Rietvlei and its surrounding areas. While legal processes are under way to address the temporary suspension of the project, the City wants to reassure residents that we remain committed to ensuring that work resumes with minimal delays,” Badroodien says.
Motorists driving past the canal and surrounding residents raised questions on social media, asking for any updates on the canal and if the City is still planning on completing the project.
“I drive past there every day and saw no work being done,” says resident Lyle Jansen.
Combating pollution
The City says rapid development within the catchment has increased stormwater flow during peak periods, necessitating an upgrade to the canal’s capacity. The upgrade also aims to combat pollution from various stormwater channels that have a detrimental impact on the Rietvlei. This comes after City investigations showed reed growth in the canal hindered flow which caused the past flooding incidents at the Bayside Mall. As a result of development within the catchment area, the need to upgrade the Bayside Canal will cater for increased stormwater flow during peak periods. Upgrades to the canal will also address the major challenges where litter and pollution from various stormwater channels end up in the Rietvlei.
Scope of upgrade
- Lining the side slopes of the canal situated south of Blaauwberg Road;
- providing floating litter booms to remove solid waste from the stormwater;
- constructing parallel primary sedimentation ponds, a secondary treatment channel and reed bed ponds for further treatment to improve the quality of the water;
- constructing a bypass channel;
- constructing laydown areas next to the primary ponds and secondary treatment channel, for access for future maintenance.
