A dam wall at the George Botanical Gardens, which was damaged in 2021 due to flooding, is being repaired this year.
George, South Africa (25 January 2024) – George Municipality, in collaboration with the Garden Route Botanical Garden Trust, has started the rehabilitation of the dam wall in the Garden Route Botanical Garden after it collapsed during the 2021 flooding.
According to Nosidima Vumindaba, Manager of Parks and Recreation at George Municipality, the Botanical Garden dam suffered damages during the November 2021 flood that affected the George region. The dam wall has been compromised and dam safety was of concern. Failure of the dam wall will result in downstream flooding of established residential areas as well as threatening the livelihood of the Botanical Gardens.
According to Dr Michele Gratz, Municipal Manager of George Municipality, the dam is one of 34 projects approved by the National Disaster Fund to be restored after the floods in 2021. The project costs amount to R3,264,532 with grant funding of R2,436,465 received. George Municipality budgeted for the rest of the funds.
According to Ald Leon van Wyk, Executive Mayor of George, repair work on the dam wall to make it safe is important considering that the features are within a protected area and the Botanical Gardens have daily visitors. Making the dam safe again is to the benefit of visitors and stakeholders who may be affected in the event of dam failure. Van Wyk said George is privileged to have a Botanical Garden and it is a great attraction for locals and for tourists. George Municipality is the owner of the grounds which is maintained and run by the Garden Route Botanical Garden Trust.
Christiaan Viljoen, Curator of the Garden Route Botanical Garden, said the dam had a lot of damage after the flooding, and the water reached the overflowing point, which caused extreme erosion along the natural wall. So much so, that the water flowing in from its natural source had to be diverted. The garden utilizes water from the dam for irrigation purposes and it a significant part in the running of the Garden, Viljoen said.
Bertus Homveld from Phambili Civils, who is the contractor on the project, says they are building a retainer wall of clay layers as part of the reconstruction. When the water was pumped out of the dam all fish, frogs and water turtles were relocated to other areas where they can flourish under the care of aquatic specialists. All environmental authorisations were applied for through Cape Environmental Assessment Practitioners, and endangered trees, including small yellow-wood trees, will be relocated to other areas in the gardens.
Sources: Press Release
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