Progress report/ documentation and research

Date of work: 1 May 2025

Location: Corner of Main Rd/ Chenel way, until the intersection of Steenberg Rd/ Kerner Close (where the river runs underneath Steenberg rd

Description: Contracted team brought in by Cllr Franklin. Approximately 20 workers spent about 1 week clearing the river in Orchard Village.

(Additionally, a similar sized team spent 3-4 weeks cleaning and clearing the river in Kirstenhof)

- Large amounts of water lettuce and other invasives were removed. Reeds in the river on both sides of Camargue bridge were cut down to water level.

- Selected areas of reeds on the river bank were cut to give access to the water,

- A lot of rubbish, including dumped items such as tyres, were pulled out of the river – the worst area being next to the Steenberg rd bridge.

Before photos:

2- Streams cleaning

We will be documenting all work done on the river and surrounds. This will enable us to make more informed decisions going forward and help provide a future blueprint on the conservation of the river.

After photos:

Date: 1 April (approximately, within 2-3 weeks of accuracy)

Location: The 4 segments of the streams in Kerner Park.

Description: A City of Cape Town team of about 6-8 workers were brought in to clear plants/ weeds which had overgrown the streams in Kerner park.

Work took about 1 week. Mainly spades were used. All vegetation was removed.

Before photo:

1- River clean

After photos:

Date: Started around September 2025

Location: Alongside the river bank, halfway between Main rd and the Camargue bridge.

Description: Several flower beds have been created and mainly fynbos-type plants installed. These have mostly been grown from off-cuts, with a few donations also from the community.

Work has been ongoing on a weekly basis to maintain the gardens.

Before photos:

3- Indigenous garden development

After photos:

4- River clean (pollution)

Clean #1

Date of work: 9 June 2025

Location: Westlake river in Orchard Village – from Steenberg rd to Main rd.

Description: Cleaning of river by hand/ using a garden rake, wearing gum boots. 3 full big plastic bags were collected.

Challenges:

River too deep for gumboots in about 15% of the area. A lot can still be achieved without getting too wet though.
Problem is regular dumping of rubbish into the river at Steenberg Rd bridge.

Photo of rubbish cleared from river (+- 2 hours of work, 1 person)

Clean #2

Date of work: 8 July 2025

Location: Westlake river in Orchard Village – from Camargue bridge to Main rd.

Description: Strong rainfall increased the flow of litter into the river. We did a manual clean-up with two people to clear up the worst of it.

Challenges: Unable to access litter at the Main Rd bridge (western side) - litter remains there.

Photo of rubbish cleared from river (+- 40 minutes work with 2 people)

5- River clean (pollution)

Clean #3 and #4

Date of work: 23 July and 31 July 2025

Location: Westlake river in Orchard Village – from Camargue bridge to Main rd and from Camargue bridge towards Steenberg road (up until newly moved litterboom)

Description: We did two clean-ups in a week - collecting about five refuse bags of litter over the two days. The build up of litter just before the main road bridge (from some storms a few weeks back) is also now out, so the river is probably about as clean as it's been in years!

Hopefully now there will be less coming in due to the litterboom being moved.

Photo of second round of rubbish cleared from river (31 July 2025):

For more on progress, please visit the news page or click on a link below

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July 2025 - Litterboom Moved Up-river

August Activity: Homemade Litterboom and a Pre-Spring Stream Clean

September 2025 - Sewage spill sets back efforts

October 2025 Spring Clean - We spent two Saturdays weeding and cleaning the area around the garden next to the river