Potential Disruptions from Umdoni South Water Pipeline Project – Your Input Needed by 30 June

We wrote to you on 22 May to alert you to a large project proposed by Ugu, known as the Umdoni South Bulk Water Augmentation project.

The project consists of two different phases. The one phase consists of the much-needed provision of water to the Greater Malangeni area. The second phase consists of the refurbishment of the existing water infrastructure in Bazley, Ifafa and Elysium.

This will involve extensive excavation through the middle of Bazley so as to put in a new pipeline close to the existing one. The potential impact of these excavations on Bazley residents will include:

• extensive destruction of valuable coastal forest and natural vegetation (home to our wildlife);
• extended and widespread disruptions within the town, including damage to existing infrastructure (Fibre, water etc); and
• damage to our roads, gardens, verges and driveways.

The disruption to the town could last for months (the entire project is expected to take three years).

Furthermore, the above should be seen in light of the unauthorised and unsupervised clearing of coastal forest between Sezela and Ndesingane, which occurred last year. Most of the protections and assurances stipulated in the current documents were not applied, nor enforced, in that section. This is extremely concerning because if the same gross lack of compliance were to occur in the Bazley section, our town will be irreparably damaged.

We have been in regular contact with the Environmental Consultant for the project (Enviropro) and have spent extensive time considering the Draft Basic Assessment Report (DBAR) and its annexures. Click here to access the report (Umdoni South Water Pipeline DBAR) and all supporting annexures.

Given the extensive documentation and issues involved, we requested an extension of the deadline. The Consultant agreed to a seven day extension – we now have until 30 June 2024 to respond and submit comments before the report is finalised.

From the answers to initial questions we put to the Consultant we can now affirm that:

• Though the project appears to be one project, there are clearly two very distinct sections. The principal project is to provide Malangeni and surrounding areas with a reliable water supply. Some areas will be getting water for the 1st time. This water will be provided from the north via a new pipeline. This is a very welcome development for those communities.
• However, the areas of Bazley/Ifafa/Elysium form a very separate and secondary project to the above. The DBAR refers to us as a “Replacement and refurbishment” project. In other words, our existing infrastructure (pipeline, valves, reservoir etc) will simply be replaced/refurbished. Our supply will continue to be provided from the south, from the Mtwalume Water Works, as it always has been.
• Though the DBAR refers to “replacement” of our pipeline through Bazley, it will not actually be replaced. Instead, a new pipe (of the exact same size) will be laid through the town (mostly adjacent to the old pipeline) and connected into our existing old pipeline and reticulation system.
• The route through Bazley is largely as previously communicated except, as mentioned above, water will continue to be supplied from the Mtwalume Water Works, from the south. The pipeline will come across the Ifafa river (via the bridge) and then roughly follow the existing pipeline through Bazley:
  • Along the east (sea) side of Lagoon Drive past MacNicols and the Bazley T-junction to top of Marine Drive;
  • Cross Marine to join Ridge Road and follow Ridge Rd on the east (sea) side all the way to the T-junction with Reservoir Road.
  • Up Reservoir Rd directly to the reservoir on the top of the hill;
  • From the reservoir the pipeline will follow the gravel road (on the south/bush side) past the guard hut down to Ndesingane car park.
  • The pipeline will cross the Ndesingane river and join up with the new pipeline (which was illegally laid last year) which goes to Sezela.

As we indicated previously, while the project is positive for the Greater Malangeni communities, it is still crucial that we provide comments and suggestions such that we ensure all possible measures are taken to minimise the potentially devastating effects on our town and the greater Conservancy.

The BRA will continue to give its full attention to this important issue. However, we also strongly urge individual homeowners to register as IAPs in their private capacity, and get involved.

Let’s work together to protect Bazley and its natural beauty and biodiversity.