Umdoni Pipeline Project: BRA’s Appeal for a Better Route for Bazley
On January 23, 2025, the Bazley Residents Association (BRA) submitted a formal appeal against the decision by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs to approve the Umdoni South Bulk Water Augmentation Project. While the BRA supports the project’s overall aim of enhancing water services, we have serious concerns regarding the proposed pipeline route, which we believe has not fully considered alternative options that would cause less disruption to the Bazley community.
The main issue lies with the proposed pipeline route, which cuts through approximately half of the town. We argue that this route is both impractical and unnecessarily destructive when compared to a viable alternative we have suggested. Although the engineers made some concessions for the southern half of the route (from Ifafa) and the far northern portion (Ndasingane), they showed little willingness to adjust the central section running through Ridge/Reservoir Rd, despite not providing adequate justification for this decision.
As we continue to advocate for the best solution for Bazley’s long-term welfare, we encourage all residents to stay informed and involved in this important matter.
To read the full appeal, please download it here.
Your ongoing support in protecting our community and environment is invaluable.
Our appeal highlights several key points:
- The alternative route proposed by BRA is 1.3 km long, 40% shorter than the engineers’ suggested 1.8 km route.
- BRA’s route avoids trenching through three roads (Ridge, Bushbuck, and Hilltop), twenty-four driveways, eight meter boxes, two waterways (WC28/WC29), and other services such as fibre optic cables.
- The proposed alternative would be more cost-effective, addressing concerns raised by the engineers regarding “unnecessary expenditure.”
- BRA’s suggested route would also reduce the disruption to vehicular traffic in Bazley, minimizing inconvenience for residents and businesses.
