Upper Molweni River Wetland Rehabilitation Project
Mend the Molweni
Progress Report
March 2023
Introduction
The Mend the Molweni (MtM) project was started in 2022 as a focus project of the Hillcrest Conservancy. The
aim of the project was to “adopt” a number of waterway points on the south side of Springside Nature Reserve,
and rehabilitate these so that they no longer were a source of contamination of the headwaters of the
Molweni River. This river begins with a spring and a dried out wetland, and then winds down through
Springside Nature Reserve, out into a D’MOSS area then flows through Everton Gorge and crosses Kloof
Falls Road near the Interpretative Centre in the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, where it is dammed at the
Kloof Falls Picnic Site. After leaving the Picnic Site, the Molweni River drops over the Kloof Falls, the
highest falls on the river, into the Kloof Gorge. It flows along a granite base at the bottom of the gorge
and exits the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve about 500m after Splash Rock. From the reserve, the Molweni
River flows through a fertile plain in Lower Molweni, where it joins the Umgeni River at the Marble
Arches, 16 kilometers from its source in Hillcrest. The Molweni gets a lot of attention along its course,
and thus has the potential to be a completely rehabilitated and clean river in a network of rivers that
are seriously compromised. Patching into the vision of the Transformative Riverine Management
Programme (TRMP), our small project aims to be a model. It aims to model a partnership effort between
civil society, the private sector and the municipality, and it aims to model how rivers can be restored.
This progress report tells the story of a slow start, but steady effort, in which the eight original sites of
the MoM have dropped to seven, and the rest are in various stages of development. The biggest lesson
we have learned so far is that our original dream was very ambitious and that our timelines have had
to stretch to fit the availability of the volunteer team involved.
A reminder of the plan
Our plan is to take seven sites and rehabilitate them in site-specific ways so that, together, they reduce
the contamination of the Moweni River. Each site has its own unique location, characteristics,
complications and opportunities. They are named and shown on the map below.
Figure 1. Map of the MtM
Summary of sites and proposed actions
The following table summarises the MtM plan for each of the nine sites:
Site
Site 1: Springlea
Wetland
Site 2: Springside
Ponds Wetland
Site 3: Tree Park
Wetland
Site 4: Taxi rank
bank
Site 5: RailSpringside
Manor system
Site 6: Springside
mini-weir system
Site 7: 41
Springside Rd
Site 8: Culvert at
Stonewall Bridge
Site 9: SNR weir
wall: A later
phase
Description of actions
Support, and learn from, landowners from Springlea Estate (led by Rod Edwards) in their
commendable efforts to showcase a rehabilitated wetland.
Continue and expand the work that has already been done in this site, as part of the MtM,
by allocating labour resources to clear extensive AIP infestation and replanting with
indigenous and wetland friendly alternatives.
Primary intervention of this project
Restore this wetland using an engineered solution, beginning with completely clearing the
stormwater outlet and properly transforming the wetland into a filtering system, removing
toxic pollution from the stormwater, as well as creating a valuable carbon sink.
4a: On the south bank:
- Clear, landscape and maintain the bank containing the attenuation dam, exposing the
original stone wall.
- Clear the monitor the culvert system.
4b: On north bank:
- Clear bank from roadside (including culvert opening) into SNR.
- Create and maintain a wetland from the culvert opening into the reserve.
It is proposed that HC takes a rational view of this site, doing smaller interventions to begin
with:
- Assess where all the contaminants are coming from.
- Clear AIPs, Clear litter.
- Create a water testing station with signage on complex wall.
- Engage residents of complex, taxi owners, shops in an effort to build a partnership
Rehabilitate the area between the culvert and SNR, by using a nature-based solution to
manage water flow.
- Clear the area of junk and AIPs
- Create a series of small “weirs”, and plant up the area with water-cleaning plants
(arums, juncus, vetiver etc)
7a: On south of Springside Rd:
- Lobby Dept Roads & Stormwater management to engage DSW to prevent sewer spills
into stormwater system.
- Beautify the area between the “managed garden” (opposite nr 41) and the
stormwater culvert. Create a Pollinator Ridge garden and a smaller indigenous patch
(Jenny Dean’s Patch)
7b: On north side of Springside Rd:
- Monitor & keep clear and clean the culvert system.
- Engage landowner of nr 43 and propose a partnership wetland mini-project on the
water course from the culvert into SNR.
Heavy contamination of stormwater drain, at times when Water & Sanitation plant
overflows (just behind panelbeater).
Main actions:
- Monitor W&S plant and report spillages.
- Mobilise St Helier vet and Church to assist to keep water channel clear and clean.
Old weir, damaged by floodwaters, river flowing into property across from SNR gate.
• Design an action plan to rehabilitate this section
Progress to date per site
The biggest achievement so far has been the mobilization of support from inividuals and
businesses to support the efforts of the MtM. This is a key objective of the TRMP and the MTM in
order to build sustainability and local responsibility into the process. The conservancies
movement in eThekwini is all about engaging locals in protecting the natural assets in their own
areas. Projects such as the MtM are ways in which this can be mobilized.
Site 1: Springlea Estate
This beautifully restored wetland takes dirty water at the spring site that has been contaminated
by road runoff, and takes it through 100m of restored and forested land into which a wide range
of water-cleaning plants have been planted. At the end of the property, the stream flows clean
into a small pond, before making its way through other residential properties into the Springside
Ponds area. Rod Edwards has led this project. He has also mobilized the other residents of the
estate to “adopt” the end of Tree Park closest to them, and assist with the rehabilitation of that
area, meeting the effort of the Hillcrest Conservancy team working on the rest of the Tree Park.
PIC
Figure 2. Community-restoration of wetland at Springlea
Site 2: Springside Ponds Wetland
The plan at this site is to radically upscale the maintenance work that has been taking place here for
some years already. The site has a long history, but essentially was privately owned and then handed
over to Council and incorporated into SNR. The area receives flow from the Springlea stream as well as
from another spring located in a private property (8 Shortlands Rd) just to the north of the Springside
Ponds. The landowners at the latter site are (like Springlea) in the process of rehabilitating their
property, removing AIPs and restoring the spring. The Springside Ponds area has been contaminated by
a wide range of AIPs for many years, and efforts of the HC committee to manage this has been more
about controlling the expansion than total eradication. Apart from the large invasive trees, many
elderberry trees, Camphors, Lantana and wild ginger had taken over the site. There are also invasive
reeds in the waterway area. The MtM project has enabled a more concerted approach to eliminate the
invasives.
Site 2 is project-managed by Barry Lang.
Progress so far
So far, an assessment and plan has been developed, and an access path from the Scout Hall has been
cut to enable access for a contractor (Simon Maphumulo from Msenge Landscapes). In November,
Msenge Landscapes spent three days with their team and did a significant clearing, under the guidance
of Barry Lang from HC. As the clearing has happened, so Barry and George Victor have replanted
indigenous plants in the site.
The following set of photographs show the area before and after the clearing exercise.
Before
Figure 3. Before pictures of the Springside Ponds
After
Figure 4. After pictures of the Springside Ponds
As the clearing work settles, and the new indigenous plant material establishes itself, so additional pond
restoration work will take place, making this a very special wetland ecosystem, home to rare frogs and other
fauna and flora. The headstart provided by the MtM will enable this shift from tedious clearing to creative
restoration.
Site 3: Tree Park Wetland
This site lies parallell to and between Springside Road and Inanda Road. The site was “adopted” by HC in
2020, as it was a huge eyesore in the middle of Hillcrest, and represented a great bopportunity to develop
a managed park-like area for local residents. In the two years, many gum trees were removed and replaced
with over 60 indigenous trees, giving the area its new name: Tree Park. There is a culvert running from the
edge of Garden Road, under Inanda Road, with an outlet that comes out into the wetland area. This pipe
is often blocked, and the area has become a catch-all site for vast amounts of litter. The litter comes from
people who use the area, passers-by on foot and car, the culvert and wind. It aggregates due to a lack of
care and thus the neglected, mostly dry wetland has trapped large amounts of litter between the sedge
grasses. Some of these layers of plastic and other rubbish are now as much as half a metre deep.
until just over a year ago when the Hillcrest Conservancy "adopted" this space. Since then, a weekly
litter clean-up has been carried out, over sixty indigenous trees have been planted on the site, and
pathways have been created and maintained. The public is encouraged to use the site as a place to walk
themselves and their dogs. The area is now referred to as Tree Park.
This site is high profile, as it is exposed to motorists using Inanda Road, walkers and cyclists using the rail
trail, and visitors to Sam's Social House. The wetland rehabilitation intervention here is the primary
activity of the MtM Project, and is anticipated to take years to complete.
Proposed Action:
As part of the MtM, Hillcrest Conservancy plans to begin the task of restoring this wetland, beginning
with completely clearing the stormwater outlet and properly transforming the wetland into a filtering
system, removing toxic pollution from the stormwater, as well as creating a valuable carbon sink. The
restored wetland would add to the already rehabilitated road/rail reserve. The constructed wetland will
trap litter ready for collection, filter the water through a wetland area, and also act as an attenuation
dam, preventing unmanaged surges in the stormwater that seriously affect the banks on to Springside
Road and erode the streams in SNR.
The entire rehabilitation project will be documented as it evolves, and we hope to engage local schools
in the project, as well as local businesses and concerned citizens. The opportunity to upgrade this
wetland as a public space will set the standard for other such projects in the eThekwini area.
This project will require a significant investment over time. The aim is to develop a plan of action, and
then phase in activities as resources become available.
Site 3 is project managed by George Victor.
Progress so far
A site inspection was made by Geoff Tooley from eThekwini Municipality Roads and Stormwater
department, to advise on the site as well as the impact factors on stormwater management flowing
from the site onto Springside Road and into SNR. It was noted that during the April 2022 floods, there
was significant damage emanating from inadequate systems on and around Tree Park, including damage
to the rail embankment opposite 19 Springside Road resulting in road closure. It was agreed that some
drainage would be necessary to allow for storm water from the mainline track to fall into the drop inlet
here. Cross drainage from the cycle track will be necessary to prevent future accumulation of storm
water at that site.
Subsequent local storm surges have necessitated the need to investigate the possibility of incorporating
some storm water attenuation capabilities given the ongoing damage to Springside Nature Reserve. A
study of this will be needed to ascertain how the area can be shaped to allow for this in the wetland
scenario.
Evidence of laundry grey water pollution was noted in the storm water system – future monitoring to
be done.
Given the scale and complexity of the task, a decision was taken to employ the expertise of professionals
to do the site and feasibility assessment, and develop a plan. Verdant Environmental with the assistance
of GroundTruth, developed a Wetland Creation Plan. The study undertook to address the following:
•
Identify practical wetland creation objectives.
•
Identify practical wetland creation rehabilitation interventions to meet the objectives.
•
Identify the preferred location and conceptual design of the engineering structures by qualified
professional civil engineers.
•
Compile a preliminary re-vegetation plan.
•
Compile a preliminary estimate of quantities for all interventions.
•
Calculate ecosystem services and wetland habitats gains of the proposed plan.
The site is indicated by the following picture.
Figure 5. Site and site characteristics
Verdant Environmental put forward the following objectives for the wetland creation plan:
•
To divert all stormwater flows into a broad, gently sloping basin adjacent to the existing
stormwater drain.
•
Ensure that permanently waterlogged conditions are created within the basin by both
increasing the retention time of water within the basin and reducing infiltration rates.
•
Ensure that water is discharged from the wetland back into the stormwater system is done in
a controlled manner such that erosion risks are mitigated.
•
Facilitate the establishment of herbaceous obligate wetland vegetation communities suitable
to the levels of saturation to be achieved.
To achieve the objectives, the following would need to be done:
•
Intervention 1 – _Earthworks and reshaping.
•
Intervention 2 – _Drop inlet structure at culvert inlet.
•
Intervention 3 – _Re-vegetation plan.
The documents are attached as Appendix 1A and 1B.
As noted above, the task will be phased over time. Aside from commissioning the Wetland Creation
Plan, the site has been cleared on several occasions. The most recent workparty carried out on the
second “birthday” of Tree Park in November, took out over 20 black bags of rubbish. In addition to this,
A large section of the site has been cut and cleared to provide for improved access and to protect newly
planted trees. Some sections of the blocked earth drains were cleared to allow for drying out for future
earthworks. The blocked section of the road pipe was cleared of a silt build-up to allow for water to flow
into the wetland area. A temporary litter trap was installed to catch new litter from the system
preventing it from being carried into the rail culvert.
So far, one public stakeholders meeting has been held on site together with the committee followed by
an article published in the press showing some of the wetland trees and detailing the river management
work to be done.
Site 4a & 4b: The Taxi Rank culvert
This site affects SNR in several ways. There is a complex roads and stormwater management system
that does not meet the use intensity. The hard surfaces around the Pick ‘n Pay and Taxi Rank and
areas on the opposite side of the Taxi Rank have grown extensively in recent years, all discharging
water into the culverts heading towards SNR. The Taxi Rank itself has grown over the years and there
are limited facilities within that precinct. Taxi owners wash their vehicles with dirty water taken from
the culvert system. The even dirtier water then washes back into the system and is discharged into
SNR through the various culverts. From Springside Road, rain offtake adds to the large amount of
water already being managed by just two culvert systems, both of which feed into one area that
discharges into SNR.
The strategy here is to do what is possible within the constraints of the site complexity. Site 4a is
between the rail line and Springside Road. The plan here is to:
•
Clear, landscape and maintain the bank containing the attenuation dam, exposing the original
stone wall, and drawing attention to the stormwater management culvert system.
•
Clear and monitor the culvert system, engaging relevant authorities as necessary.
•
Engage taxi owners and businesses in the area to assist in the management of water
contamination.
On the area between Springside Road and SNR, the plan is to clear the bank, landscape with
indigenous grasses and plants, expose and keep clear the culvert system, monitor the flow and report
to the Roads and Stormwater authorities. Over time we will develop a plan to manage the flow of
water into SNR, using a weir-based approach.
Progress so far
We have engaged Geoff Tooley from Roads & Stormwater
regarding the infrastructural issues affecting this site. He has
advised that the fall of the storm water and the close
proximity to the road, does not permit much in the way of
water purification systems on Site 4a. The “washing
machine” effect of the water flow can be seen in the
attached picture, and will require some remedial work by the
municipality.
Figure 6. Washing machine effect of water flow
The bank has been cleared to a degree, exposing the
stone farm wall. This requires regular maintenance.
As we can, we will “landscape” with low-maintenance
indigenous so that the need for grass cutting is
reduced.
Figure 7. Taxi Rank Bank, showing exposed stone wall
Site 5: Rail-Springside Manor System
This site lies between Springside Manor complex and the rail line behind the Shell Garage/Pick’nPay
precinct. The aim with this site was essentially to clear and monitor the stormwater and sewerage
interface. The area is often the point of contamination and is tied to two other sites of the MtM Project,
namely sites 6 and 7.
Progress so far
The area has been kept clear by consistent brush-cutting by the HC Wednesday workparty.
This is a complex and challenging site. It is extremely degraded and problems arise from multiple
sources (garage, shops, PNP parking bay, taxi rank, vagrants, Springside Manors Complex). Despite the
challenges associated with this site, we will target it in the coming months as this is directly associated
Figure 8. Before pictures of Site 5
with the area we name Site 6, discharging extremely contaminated water into the stormwater culvert
system that flows directly into the reserve. If we can intervene in a way that moderates the volume of
water flowing and the degree of water contamination at this site, then Site 6 will become more of a
water polishing site.
Site 6: Springside Road Mini-Weir System
This site is located between Springside Manor (on the east end) and the property nr 43. It is a waterway
catching stormwater from the system feeding Site 5, from Springside Manor and from Springside Road,
at culvert number BKS069. It is always running. The waterway runs into SNR. The site was selected as
we believe it will be possible to build a multi-weir system, augmented by the planting of “water
cleaning” indigenous plants, creating a small wetland. In this way, the water flowing into the Molweni
in SNR will be free of contamination. This site is being project-managed by George Victor, Bobby Jackson
and Stephen Knight.
The waterway carries much more water than originally anticipated. In heavy rains, the hard surface
runoff results in a roaring rush of water. There are several problems resulting from this escalated
situation, including:
•
Large volumes of contaminated water flowing into the Molweni River in SNR.
•
Bank erosion on either side of the waterway, both next to the road and further down as it flows
into the reserve. This represents a threat to the road and to boundary wall of nr 41 Springside
Road.
•
There are many AIPs contaminating the banks, especially on the side of the Zondi property.
Figure 9. The waterway below the culvert
The plan is to reduce the problems identified by managing the water flow and creating a system to
polish the water through various interventions. To do this we will:
• Create a gabion mattrass to help stabilize the point where the water flows from the culvert and
trap solid waste.
• Create opportunities for oxygenation of the water through bubble action in order to clean the
water soluble contamination.
• Expose the waterway to sunlight by removing shade trees and other AIPs from the banks.
• Create small pools of water using rocks and gabions and tree trunks, planted with watercleaning plants to further decontaminate the water.
• Change the flow of the water where possible to break the direct strength of the flow to inhibit
bank erosion.
• Remove the intense AIP infestation as this is a seedbank resulting in AIP infestations
downstream.
• Regular clearing of solid waste in the gabions and in the waterway itself.
Progress so far
AIP clearing on both sides of the waterway inside SNR has begun, exposing how much there is to do!
A plan was devised, using gabions approximately 1 metre from the fence to bolster the sides and
sandbags top create the weir system. The site and plan were inspected by Geoff Tooley, who has
approved the concept from an engineering perspective. He has agreed to support the request to the
municipality to provide additional work at the pipe outlet.
A call made to the private sector for support resulted in an enthusiastic response from Sefton Fripp from
Fibretex (sandbags) and Daniel Viglieno from Gabion Baskets. The two supporters visited the site and
provided valuable input into the plan. In February, the gabion mattrass and side walls were installed and
the evidence of their effectiveness is already observable.
The landowners from nr 49 (Arthur Leuschke) and 51 (Cyril Zondi) are aware of the project and are
supportive.
Figure 10. Gabion baskets in the waterway
More recently, on 19 March, as part of the eThekwini Enviro Week, a work party
planted two wetland gardens on either side of the weir. These gardens will look
lovely but will also provide a seed bank for water cleaning and bank stabilisation
plants downstream.
Figure 11. Work party planting up the wetland gardens
Site 7a: Pollinator Ridge and Jenny Dean’s Patch & Site 7b: Dalton’s Waterway
This site is located on both sides of Springside Road alongside the railway (opposite Platz Restaurant)
and nr 42-43 Springside Road. The area hosts a stormwater system that comes from two points – one
from behind the KwikSpar, the other from near the Pick’nPay / Shell garage – meeting between the
railway and Springside Rd. At a point south of the railway line there is a sewer line that surcharges
regularly into the stormwater drain 1.
It is likely that the problem of contamination of this waterway in general relates to the oil dumping
from all the restaurants in the “feeder” precinct.
1
Recently on a Saturday morning in December 2022, we were clearing that area, and at about 10h30, for no
obvious reason, a massive quantity of sewerage came barraging down the stormwater drain straight into the river.
The volume was really pumping – possible 1,5 feet deep. The smell was shocking.
This site was chosen for a number of reasons: the landscaping is relatively simple, the site has excellent
visibility to passing cars, cyclists using the adjacent track and walkers; and it builds on landscaping and
maintenance work already being done by Dalton Taylor, who owns the two properties adjacent to the
site. The management of the sewer surcharges is complex, but we believe that there is sufficient
interest from various stakeholders to effect a collaborative approach here, between Departments of
Roads & Stormwater, Water & Sanitation, the commercial centre businesses and the MtM Team.
The aim of this mini-project is to clear existing debris and solid waste, track the sources of contaminants
(dumped solid waste as well as sewerage and chemicals in the storm water culvert system) and create a
visually appealing and environmentally active site to bring awareness to this project. It was decided to
create a managed ridge of pollinator wild flowers along a  50m stretch between Springside Road and
the railway, create a patch of visually impressive indigenous plants near the culvert, and use the culvert
wall to put up educational material.
This site is project-managed by Bobby Jackson.
Progress so far
Jenny Dean Wildflowers was approached for help and she happily provided advice, a sketch for the site
as well as donated some plants and compost. Other plants were sourced from a pile of plants that had
been discarded by a local resident. A “public” work party resulted in the removal of a huge volume of
solid waste from one of the of the stormwater channels. Dalton XX has agreed to be an active member
of this project, extending what he already does to manage the area just above “our” chosen site.
The two areas for landscaping were left
with their existing, largely indigenous,
groundcovers intact and the following
were planted into the area with as little
disturbance as possible: Syncolostemon
densiflorus, Polygala virgate, Aloe
arborescens and A. tenuoir, and
Agapanthus. We plan to add Kniphofia sp.
and Aristea aristata when available.
We also plan to add signage regarding the
site, the whole project and plants and their
pollinators.
Ongoing maintenance of the site is a
challenge that still needs to be addressed,
hopefully by local residents volunteering
their energy and time once they become
aware of the wide benefits to a successful
MTM project. However, through the MtM,
we will provide regular monthly
maintenance sessions.
Figure 12. Planting up Jenny Dean's Patch
Figure 13. Pollinator Ridge taking shape
Figure 14. Pollinator ridge taking greater shape - 18 March
In respect of the stormwater management plan, so far George Victor and Gill Noyce have had a number
of meetings with some of the neighbouring centre landlords. The idea of
setting up a collaboration between them and the municipality for a local
group to take over the management of the sewer pump stations, in the
way that is done by Toyota in another part of Durban. Solving this issue is
critical to the management of water contamination going into the
Molweni in SNR.
Site 7b is a stormwater culvert that feeds water into SNR via the property
owned by Dalton Taylor. Dalton has already crawled into the culvert and
cleared out the significant blockage that was impeding water flow. A
sustainable solution to improving the efficacy of this water flow still needs
to be formulated.
Figure 15. Stormwater channel taking water into SNR
Education and awareness building
This sub-project involves creating information boards to explain what we are doing with the MtM and
why. There will be a “mother” board located at Tree Park with a large information board that explains
the MtM aims and objectives, its alignment to the TRMP and what and where the components are. Then
at each individual site, a smaller set of information boards will explain the aims and objectives of each
sub-project.
The progress of the project is regularly reported on in the Highway Mail.
General activities
The MtM Project aims not only to contribute to improving water quality of the headwaters of the
Molweni, and thereby the rest of the river, but also seeks to engage neighbourhood communities in
caring for “their” natural assets, including rivers. Aligning the MtM with the TRMP was an elaboration of
this commitment. It is always a challenge to mobilise community voluntarism, and our approach has
sought to embrace the nudge theory, which says that the more people see that actions serve their own
interests and concerns, the more likely they are to feel attached to the action. An important part of the
MtM work has consequently been to make the project visible and kbnown to the community, and to
make it useful in some way. The site at Springlea (Site 1) is an excellent example whereby a resident of
the complex has restored a section of the area, creating a beautifulk wetland, for the benefit of the
environment and the benefit of the landowners. This successful project has resulted in other landowners
of that complex choosing to do more. They know what is being done, why and how it adds value to their
lives and their land. In respect of the other sites, we have chosen locations that are visible and
accompanied the water cleaning components with beautification through landscaping in an effort to
attract attention, support and involvement.
So far, we have the active support of a number of businesses in the various sites as well as individuals
from the surrounding community who have assisted in clearing work parties, waterway monitoring and
reporting.