South Mackenzie communities being rejuvenated

The Richmond Hill sign (DPI photo)
The Richmond Hill sign (DPI photo)

Several south Mackenzie, Linden communities are being transformed as a result of a community enhancement project which has led to the establishment of green spaces, the reclamation of bauxite mined land, and other developments.

According to a release from the Department of Public Information (DPI), the project, an initiative of the Community Development Council (CDC) and the Community Policing Group, aims to return the communities to their former glory. It is being spearheaded by Deputy Mayor, Wainwright Bethune, who also functions as Chairman of the CDC and the constituency representative.

Among the communities being impacted are Richmond Hill, Fair’s Rust, Watooka and Noitgedacht. The project is being funded through donations and other means, the Deputy Mayor said.

It was noted that Bethune has been pushing for land reclamation within the communities, due to the effects of years of bauxite mining, which have reportedly left the areas swampy and slushy.

“The overburden from the bauxite mining is used to reclaim these lands, thus extending the boundaries of the communities. Residents can now use these reclaimed lands for farming and other empowering activities,” DPI reported.

It was noted that Constabulary Compound, Industrial Area, as well as the aforementioned communities, benefitted from land reclamation. Furthermore, illegal dumpsites were cleared from the areas.

The Fairs Rust Playground (DPI photo)

DPI related that the establishment of green spaces is also one of the project’s objectives. These spaces will be identifiable by signboards, one of which has already been erected at Fair’s Rust, while the one designed for Richmond Hill is about 90 percent complete.

It was also stated that a play park, which includes a ball field, was refurbished in Fair’s Rust, and that a similar initiative will be done in Coomacka Mines in the near future.

Land reclamation underway (DPI photo)

“My objective is to work in each and every community in the constituency to ensure we have development throughout the entire constituency,” Bethune was quoted as saying, as DPI noted that the community project was birthed following consultations with residents.