City refurbish Westdene Dam Precinct

18 February 2016

 

The masterplan for the multimillion rand Westdene Dam Precinct upgrade by Johannesburg City Parks & Zoo (JCP&Z) has been approved and the first part of the project is expected to start in a matter of weeks.

 

Announcing the project at a public meeting at the Westdene Recreation Centre this week, JCP&Z’s General Manager for Capital Infrastructure, Reggie Mokalapa, said work would be carried out in two phases.

Phase 1, which is estimated to cost the City R10-million, includes the following:

• Erection of a multipurpose sporting court;

• Building of play areas;

• Erection of Clear Vu security fencing and access gates along the perimeters of the park;

• Refurbishment of the eroded storm water system;

• Creation of a formal entrance area at the Lewes Road side; and

• Building of a cycle lane through the park.

The tender for this phase will be awarded once the evaluation processes have been completed.

Phase 2 is to be allocated R11.9-million in the City of Johannesburg’s 2016-2017 budget. It will include:

• Development of an ablution block and a parking area on the Ash Road side of the dam;

• Provision of lighting;

• Development of a jetty, an outdoor gym and a five-a-side sportsfield;

• Redevelopment of the existing play area; 

• Paving of the Tenby-Thornton Street entrance; and

• Potential widening of the existing walkway along Lewes Road. 

“This is an extremely exciting project and we as JCP&Z are very excited to be nearing the implementation phase,” said Mokalapa.

Some of the local small businesses and co-operatives will also benefit from the project. Several work packages with a combined value of R500 000 under the Jozi@Work programme will be awarded to successful applicants. About 30% of the contract value will go to SMMEs.

Developments within the 100-year flood line will form part of phase two of the upgrade. The Westdene Dam Bus Disaster Memorial will be moved above the 100-year flood line. A memorial water feature is likely to be developed near the current memorial site. The remaining 38 of the original 42 trees planted in commemoration of the victims of the disaster will be retained.

Mokalapa said four additional trees would be planted to ensure there was always a full complement of 42 commemorative trees in the precinct, representing the number of schoolchildren who died when a bus they were travelling in plunged into the dam in 1985.

He said all the trees would be fitted with commemorative plaques.

Ward 69 Councillor Katja Naumann said the entire project was expected to be completed within two-and-a-half years.