Truck dropping water with fish stench on street

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - In the mornings a truck comes from the harbour in Mossel Bay, up Church Street, and discards water with a stench of fish on the street.

The odour lasts long after the truck has passed.

There are a number of businesses on Church Street and it is used by local pedestrians and tourists a great deal because the Tourism Office is on the street, as well as the upmarket Protea Hotel and Café Gannet restaurant.

There are several businesses on the street, which skirts the much-used Bayside Shopping centre and intersects Market, Bland and Marsh streets.

The Mossel Bay Advertiser enquired to the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM). The district municipality deals with health issues such as this in the Garden Route area.

GRDM spokesperson Marillia Veldkornet replied that the district municipal health office was investigating the situation. "The findings will be communicated as soon as the investigation is concluded," she noted.

The Advertiser also contacted Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) regarding the pollution on the street.

'Investigate the incident'

TNPA spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya noted: "We shall investigate the incident and engage the relevant customer to ensure that its operations don't negatively impact the environment and the city.

"We do conduct port oversight, which unfortunately is only limited within port limits, and we also continuously engage our customers to operate in a manner that doesn't negatively impact the environment and the community."

From the point of view of the fish stench affecting pedestrians, tourism and businesses in the town, the Advertiser asked for comment from the Mossel Bay Municipality on Friday, 18 March.

The municipal spokesperson replied: "Several discussions between the municipal manager and other role players have taken place. The municipality's law enforcement officers will be monitoring the area."

However, again, on Wednesday 23 March, a truck came up the street from the harbour, dropping stinking water on the street.

There was a strong stench of fish in the air for several hours afterwards. This takes place at least twice a day - sometimes three times a day. Again, the incident on Wednesday, 23 March, was communicated to the Mossel Bay Municipality, the Garden Route District Municipality and TNPA by the Advertiser.

The TNPA's Soyaya responded: "We shall investigate the matter and engage the customer."

Mossel Bay Municipality replied: "As this is an issue handled by GRDM - pertaining to health, odour or air emission complaints. It was handed over to GRDM and a notice was issued to the responsible persons. Action has been taken in this regard and the situation will be monitored closely."

The stinking water dropped on Church Street.