Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve

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Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve back in business

Penwell Dlamini | 13 July, 2015 07:14

After nearly five months of being closed to the public, the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, near Heidelberg, will be reopened this week.

It was closed in January after management said it could not guarantee the safety and health of visitors because of problems with the water supply due to a burst pipe. The northern water pipeline project in the reserve, after 11 years of construction, is still incomplete.

The project has been so badly managed that the Gauteng department of infrastructure development cannot say how much has been spent on it.

It includes an 80-kilolitre underground reservoir to be supplied by a 14.46km pipeline to a Rand Water source. The water is needed for the Kareekloof area, a section of the reserve designated for recreation, including braaiing.

The initial value of the pipeline project was R8.6-million but contracts have been terminated and new ones signed, making it difficult for the department to estimate the exact amount spent.

On June 16, the first phase of the reserve was reopened, including the main gate, Diepkloof picnic site, the farm museum and day hiking trails - the 4.4km Cheetah and 11.5km Bokmakierrie trails.

The second phase reopens on Wednesday and includes the self-guided game drives and Holhoek picnic site.

[H. erectus]

Hey this sounds exciting, this place just down
the road,...has always attracted me,...never done!!

[Flutterby]

[H. erectus]

MMMhhnnn,... mmhhhnn Suzie!!!!!!

[Lisbeth]

What a mess At least they have finished it, but imagine how much it must have cost only because nobody controls

[Flutterby]

Normal in SA Lis. No proaction, only reaction.