Some progress has been made in the fight against large-scale illegal dumping in Erasmus Street near the bird park in Louis Trichardt.

While many residents believe that the bird park could be an attractive spot, should it be safe and well maintained, many people still continue to dump their rubbish there illegally.

A businessman used that particular site as a place in which to dump huge bags of refuse. When a resident living nearby confronted him, he claimed that he had permission from the Makhado Municipality to run his recycling business there.

“I complained to the municipality many times and told the businessman that he could not run his business in the park,” said Ms Diane Bannatyne, whose fence borders the tree park. Much to their relief, the entrepreneur recently stopped his illegal practice of completely ruining the site.

Mr Ian Bannatyne said that taxis and vehicle owners also used the spot as a workshop to repair their vehicles and the place would be full of oil.

With the grass now grown to such a height because of the summer rains, it is not easy to spot whether the illegal practice of utilising the park as a motoring workshop is continuing.

What the Bannatynes do notice is a lot of movement in the area at night. People sleep around the perimeter of their garden.

At the extension of Erasmus Street, evidence was found of people cooking and sleeping there. Quite a large pile of thrash, including baby nappies, was found there.

Nearby residents complain there is currently a bakkie that drops junk right at the edge of the river and it tumbles into the river.

“The area is so beautiful. I had a fish eagle come across to my home. We have bush babies, genets and even a huge leguan of more than two meters that comes and walks around my garden. The birdlife here is outstanding. It is so sad that they don’t make something out of the park,” said Ms Bannatyne.

The Soutpansberg is known as a fascinating destination for bird watching. Increased avi-tourism can “broaden and develop the market as a whole,” states Ms Sarah Venter, founder of the Soutpansberg Limpopo Birding Route.

The Makhado Municipality’s spokesperson, Mr Louis Bobodi, said earlier this month that illegal dumping remains a huge problem. The dumping of refuse in parks and open spaces in town is still a challenge and awareness needs to be created to keep parks clean.

Bobodi urged the public last year through the Zoutpansberger to report people illegally dumping garden or household refuse. A vehicle registration number or home address can be reported to the traffic department or directly to the municipality.