CASE STUDY

The Parkhaven Pan is situated in Kempton Park, it has been surrounded by industrial and commercial developments. This has interfered with the hydrogical regime and has become a threat to the ecology as well as storm water management of the surrounding developments. The effects of the surrounding developments on the pan were:

• Alteration of hydrological regime - not allowing the pan to dry out seasonally
• Dumping and littering in and around the pan
• Kikuyu Invasion and Alien Invasive Plant Invasion
• Disruption of the fire regime
• Illegal hunting and poaching of wildlife within the pan area
• Threats to the indigenous vegetation and wildlife by encroachment of development and islandisation of their habitat
• Increased threat of flooding of the pan and surrounding properties

Before the management of the pan:

As per the requirements of the provincial government (Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - GDARD) the following measures were implemented to manage the environmental liability and prevent the surrounding land owners from being penalised.

A Section 21 company was established in which all of the commercial properties and private landowners can play a role by making contributions to the preservation and maintenance of this property. We were appointed as the Environmental Managers to manage this green asset and the activities taking place under the auspices of the Section 21 Company. These were:

Removal of historic illegal dumping. Implement alien invasive removal programme. Rehabilitate existing dirt roads. Constructing bioswales within the 10m buffer zone to manage storm water and keep it away from the pan. Implementing storm water measures such as gabion baskets, reno-mattresses and dissipaters. Monitoring commercial sites to provide recommendations on planting of indigenous species and eradication of alien invasive species.

This was done at an affordable rate and we managed the processed involved to minimise administrative costs and time for each of the members of the Section 21 Company. The pan is proudly functioning as it should be with wildlife corridors and proper management of hydrological regimes.

This has benefited both the surrounding land users as well as the ecology of the pan and surrounds.
After setting up the Section 21 Company and managing the green assets for mutual benefit: