Progress made on La Lucia rising main sewer project

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17-10-2025
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Northern Natal News
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After months of concern over raw sewage polluting a La Lucia park and flowing into the ocean, major repair work is finally underway.

WORK to complete the construction of a new R17m rising main sewer pipe along the green belt on Armstrong Avenue is well underway with construction expected to be completed in March 2026.

The work includes the placement of a gabion basket stormwater drain to secure the banks of the valley which the sewer pipe crosses.

For months residents had warned of an ‘environmental disaster’ as raw sewage had formed its own pond in the park adjacent to the wastewater pump station on Armstrong Avenue and then flowed into the ocean at Saratoga Beach as a result of the damaged rising main.

The sewage overflow was a result of damage in the 2022 floods.

Repairs and installation of a new rising main sewer pipe were carried out this year but subsequently failed, leading to hundreds of litres of wastewater continuing to flow into the park and ultimately the ocean.

Ward 35 councillor Bradley Singh has welcomed the project, saying it would solve any future problems.

“The City had repaired the damaged rising sewer main earlier this year, however, because of erosion, and the pipe not being secured, it collapsed. The work being down now is a thorough job and will stop any future sewage disasters. The rising main will be compacted, secured and rerouted. Work to create a gabion basket stormwater drain is also continuing. The gabion baskets are also to stabilise the banks on either side of the green belt to prevent any future erosion.

“The contractors have informed me that they plan on getting most of the protection works done and sewer lines connected before the rainy season and the December shutdown. I’m very pleased to see the progress made but I feel this is what should have been done in terms of repairs the first time the floods occurred. Once everything is secured and the rising sewer main is completed, it should solve future issues. Already the pond of wastewater on either side of the traffic circle near the pump station has dried up,” he said.