The Beacon Bay garden refuse site is illegal and is on a list of Buffalo City municipality facilities being monitored for non-compliance by the department of economic development, environmental affairs and tourism.
The department’s spokesperson, Ncedo Lisane, confirmed this, adding that the tipsite’s work permit had expired and that it was operating illegally.
“Notices to this effect had been sent to the city,” he said. “Beacon Bay is just one among the list of facilities that are being monitored for non-compliance and there is support from provincial and national departments of environment to bring all the facilities to compliance.”
He confirmed that a meeting to discuss the refuse site matter took place between the city and the department on Wednesday.
City spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said they chose not to comment on what transpired from that meeting. The department has a bilateral agreement with the city to deal with environmental issues.
Fish Eagle Crescent residents have a city plan that apparently shows that the site is not zoned for a tip, and that it is meant for housing. Yesterday, residents circulated and signed a petition to the city giving BCM two weeks to extinguish the smouldering fire at the tip.
The petition states: “[BCM] is to put out the fire whatever it takes. Buffalo City must either manage the temporary site correctly, according to the law and environmental regulations, or close it and rehabilitate the location correctly.”
Concerned resident Andrew Hoare called for the tip to be moved to the Cambridge Goods Shed, which was suitable as it was in an industrial area.
Lisane said the department had raised concerns with regards to recurring fires on the tip site and the associated impacts.
He said the department would step in to investigate the cause of the fire and would engage with the emergency response unit to deal with the ongoing smouldering fire as a matter of urgency.
Lisani revealed that a service provider had been appointed to deal with issues pertaining to the site’s legislation.
The unnamed service provider will commence with the process from February 1.
Queried about claims of water contamination in the Quenera River, Lisane said: “The issue of the contamination of the river would have to be verified by the relevant department as water in the river would require testing.”..