Residents of Ward 3 in Newcastle have raised serious concerns regarding an ongoing deep excavation at the corner of Panorama Drive and Horizon Circle, undertaken by the Newcastle Municipality.
We will engage the Municipality, through the Chairperson of the Town Planning Committee, to ensure that this matter is urgently addressed.
The excavation, which has continued for more than three weeks, reportedly stems from the approval of a residential building plan on land affected by a sewage servitude. This decision has resulted in extensive and costly remedial work, with estimates suggesting that the project could cost the Municipality hundreds of thousands of rands, placing an unnecessary burden on already strained public resources. Serious questions must be asked about how building approval was granted on land subject to such restrictions.
Beyond the financial implications, the excavation has already caused damage to existing infrastructure in the area. Of even greater concern is the potential risk to public safety. Residents fear that the depth and scale of the excavation may compromise ground stability and could result in the collapse of excavation walls, threatening nearby homes and residents, particularly given Newcastle’s history of mining activities.
The project has also caused ongoing disruption to essential services including repeated water interruptions, further affecting the quality of life while the work continues with no clear timeline for completion.
This situation raises critical concerns regarding planning oversight, environmental and safety impact, accountability, and the protection of municipal finances and, most importantly, community well-being. Residents are calling for urgent intervention, a full investigation into how such approval was granted, and immediate steps to stabilise the site and prevent further damage or risk. The DA agrees with this.
The DA calls on the Newcastle Municipality to act transparently, take responsibility, and prioritise both public safety and the responsible management of municipal resources.