Call for borehole at Keurboom Park

WESLEY FORD|Published 1 year ago

The Keurboom Park Association wants to sink a borehole to supply ground water to the Rondebosch park’s “frog and dog pond”.

A civic group is seeking City approval to sink a borehole that will supply ground water to a pond at the Keurboom Park in Rondebosch.

The borehole is part of a project to create a healthy ecosystem at the park, says Keurboom Park Association (KPA) chairman Phil Flockton.

“Our ponds currently hold on to rainwater run off for no more than seven months a year before they dry out and so we need to be able to top up at least one pond during the dry months.”

A borehole was needed to tap groundwater for that purpose, he said, adding that have at least one full pond in the park all year round would be welcomed by both human and animal visitors, including frogs and several bird species.

“We need to build and strengthen wildlife corridors and we need to rebuild our park’s amphibian population.”

The borehole would supply what the KPA refers to as the park’s “frog and dog pond”, and it would be sited elsewhere in the park, not next to the pond.

The KPA has raised the issue with the City’s recreation and parks department.

“We know and accept that, for good reason, the City has firm procurement procedures, and it may not be possible for them to finance this borehole,” Mr Flockton said.

Ward councillor Katherine Christie has offered to spend some of her ward budget on the project.

“The drought years of 2016 to 2018 also taught us the importance of sourcing water to keep our plants alive, and this is a proactive project, which will ensure that during any future droughts, the KPA will be able to water the trees and plants from the pond,” she said.

Mayoral committee member for community service and health Patricia van der Ross said an application to sink a borehole and reshape and resurface the pond was the subject of a feasibility study, but the recreation and parks department supported the request in principle.

“Following the completion of a feasibility study, conducted through a tender, a final decision will be made.”

She said the park experienced drainage problems in summer and there was the potential for stagnant water to pose a health risk.

Meeting at the end of last month to discuss plans for this pond at Keurboom Park are, from left, Keurboom Park Association members Phil Flockton, Fay Linder and Justine Thornton; recreation and parks staff Gavin Esterhuizen and Marwen Martheze; ward councillor Katherine Christie; recreation and parks’ Danie van Jaarsveld; and Rondebosch residents Hadas Tewelde and Tania Morkel.