Safety concerns over deteriorating Southfield canals

Southfield residents are concerned over the deteriorating state of the canals in their neighbourhood, which they say are in dire need of repair.

After years of neglect and battering from winter rains, homeowners are worried that the crumbling canal walls will collapse, posing a threat to their properties and safety.

Despite promises from City officials, repairs have yet to materialise, leaving residents frustrated.

The canals off Southfield run off from Princess Vlei, parallel to Prince George Drive and across the suburb's streets. Properties begin to neighbour the canal as far as the corners of Flintdale Road and Pengem Road, up until Kingsway Road.

Residents say the structure of the canal has been heavily battered by heavy winter rains and is in dire need of repair to prevent the boundary walls of residential properties from collapsing. 

“Some houses along the canal were impacted when we last had heavy rains. There's one house where the boundary wall collapsed due to the water rising in the canal. Council is well aware and there's been talk about sorting it out, but they just haven't done anything,” says Peter Pappas, the Southfield Civic Association deputy chair.

According to Mr Pappas, City officials confirmed repair work was needed during a site visit with ward councillor Kevin Southgate in May 2018. However, the dates for repairs “were not honoured".

The site meeting took place in front of a Monty Road property that had also been earmarked for repair. To date residents say nothing has transpired. To prevent the boundary walls from “collapsing in”, the whole of the canal’s wall needed to be reinforced, not piecemeal repairs, Mr Pappas said.  

Homeowner, Neville Foster showed the Bulletin where the concrete slab on his property has lifted and cracked and a gap between the house and the slab is widening.

Due to the cracks in the wall, Mr Foster, says he closed his backyard pool and now uses it as a veggie garden instead. He is concerned about the wall collapsing due to the sand beneath it collapsing in and fears how this could later impact the structural integrity of his home.

“We had site visits, we had promises, dates set that they are coming to start work but nothing happens.

“I have had people jumping over this wall from the canal. I started raising my fence but I am too scared to put the rest of it up because of the extra weight it will add on the wall.”

Both residents agree the canal has become an easy getaway for criminals.

“These are things you don't think about when you buy their house and now over the years I'm starting to see the cracks around my drain are getting bigger and bigger. I just want to get this fixed up. It's been years and years now,” Mr Foster said.

Ward councillor Kevin Southgate said he has been engaging officials over an extended period regarding the repairs to the Southfield canal. Some temporary remedial repairs have been undertaken in the interim while a plan to undertake the actual repairs can be put in place.

In his correspondence with the City’s Catchment, Stormwater and River Management department, Mr Southgate said grant funding was received but needed council’s approval to begin implementing the project.

“We have received the contractors' quote to do the repairs and once the internal approvals are completed the contractor will establish on site. The program is still on track to complete the works before winter season starts in May 2025 despite the administration delays in the start.”

The City was asked for a response on the delays in repairing the canal but had not replied at the time of publication.