“Conserving our Future”

12 April 2012
Dear Zeekoevlei Resident

NOTICE RE: DRAWDOWN OF ZEEKOEVLEI APRIL 2012 AND SHORELINE MAINTENANCE

The management of False Bay Nature Reserve would like to announce that the Zeekoevlei weir will be opened on the morning of 27 April 2012 (Freedom Day) at 10:00 for the annual drawdown of the wetland. This intervention is carried out for ecological purposes, namely to allow the vlei to be drained of excess nutrients during the winter rainfall period. The lowered water levels also allow for easier access to remove litter and excess reeds from the vlei.

The Zeekoevlei weir will be closed again in early August 2012. During this drawdown period, no public are permitted to conduct any shoreline maintenance activities at Zeekoevlei without obtaining an approved shoreline maintenance plan, developed in conjunction with the management of False Bay Nature Reserve. Any shoreline maintenance activities carried out without the possession of an approved shoreline maintenance plan, or failure to comply with the conditions stated within an approved plan, could result in fines being issued to the landowner.

Shoreline maintenance refers to any alterations carried out along the shoreline, or within the Zeekoevlei wetland. This includes activities such as cutting or digging of reeds, removal or disturbance of soil or vegetation, use of machinery (e.g. bulldozers), planting of vegetation (indigenous or exotic species), any construction (e.g. boardwalks, retaining walls, fishing platforms etc.), or driving of vehicles in the vlei (e.g. quadbikes, motorbikes, trucks or other motor vehicles).

No jetties may be constructed; neither may existing jetties be replaced. A jetty policy will be drawn up in the near future to address existing jetties around Zeekoevlei, but no further jetty constructions will be permitted.

If you wish to obtain a shoreline maintenance plan to carry out any of the above-mentioned activities around your property, please contact the False Bay Nature Reserve office at 021 396 4281, or at zeekoevleinature.reserve@capetown.gov.za A representative from False Bay Nature Reserve will then assist you in developing a suitable shoreline maintenance plan.

This year’s deadline for applications is 1 June 2012, after which no new maintenance plans will be considered for the year. Shoreline maintenance for 2012 may then only be carried out between 1 June and 31 July 2012 after obtaining an approved shoreline maintenance plan. Approved shoreline maintenance plans are valid for five years after the approval date, but maintenance activities may only be carried out during the period specified annually by way of public notice.

False Bay Nature Reserve staff will assist specifically with the collection of reeds removed from the properties of residents who have approved reed maintenance plans. If these residents require such assistance, reeds need to be bundled and placed neatly on the sidewalks of the relevant properties.

Any piles of reeds stacked outside the properties of residents without a shoreline maintenance plan, or stacked on sidewalks in a haphazard manner, or placed on road verges / properties outside of the drawdown period of June to July 2012 will not be collected by False Bay Nature Reserve. This may lead to a fine for dumping. General garden waste or other refuse will not be collected and such waste may not be placed with the reed piles.

During the 2012 drawdown period, members of the local community will be employed to assist the staff of False Bay Nature Reserve with clearing litter from Zeekoevlei and in collecting correctly stacked reed piles from residents who have followed the instructions of their approved shoreline maintenance plans. These workers will be easily identifiable, as they will be wearing reflective vests while on duty.

Aquatic alien plants from within the wetland, such as wandering jew (Commelina species) or water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) may be removed at any time and special arrangement with False Bay Nature Reserve management may be made for collection thereof.

Approved shoreline maintenance plans will inform residents about what activities are permitted around their specific properties and provide guidelines on how such activities may be conducted by the residents. Permission will not be given for cement or concrete structures to be built within reserve boundaries except under extenuating circumstances. In the case of reed or vegetation removal, the approved plans will define the ideal state to which reedbeds and vegetation may be cleared, depending on the nature and structure of individual properties.

Please contact the False Bay Nature Reserve office at 021 396 4281 for any queries related to the drawdown of Zeekoevlei and matters related to shoreline maintenance.

Kind regards
The False Bay Nature Reserve Management Team

When: This Saturday, 10 March 2012 from 2pm – 10pm (please help to spread the word…)

Why: Great music and to support the Barleycorn which has supported Zeekoevlei. They have provided all the music at both ZeekoeFees fundraisers and the recent Bush and Barlecorn music evening at the ZVYC. Without their support we wouldn’t have raised over R7,000 for the nature reserves and Van Blommenstein Recreation Centre.

Bring a blanket & umbrella and join us for another episode in the ongoing saga of what is excellent in local music. Food (incl. vegetarian) & drinks available at venue, or bring a picnic. Activities for kids – jumping castle, face painting and more.

Who: Steve Newman + The Stremes + Black South Easter + Tombstone Pete + Natasha Meister + Sixgun Gospel + Mothercity Mojo + Londi Gamedze + The Brothers Streep + Jenny Eaves + The Philip Malan Trio

Where: Maynardville Open Air Theatre, Church Street, Wynberg

How Much: Adults R60, Members R50, Students & Pensioners R30, Under 12’s free (bargain!)

Getting Tickes: Tickets at the venue or via www.barleycorn.org.za

More Information: Contact Martin on 082-493-1564 or visit www.barleycorn.org.za

THE HISTORY OF THE BARLEYCORN ANNUAL FESTIVAL

It all started in 1975, when a bunch of musicians found it agreeable to meet regularly to jam together, learn from one another & consume beer. Over these past 35 years, the Barleycorn has met almost every week to make what is now a Cape Town tradition & valuable musical resource.

In the early years the music was mostly ‘traditional folk’, with a smattering of Blues, Bluegrass, Country music & Olde English & Irish material containing toxic levels of screeching fiddles. Yes, Bob Dylan covers & political protest songs did appear fairly often, but the Club rapidly developed a reputation as a place where home-grown original material by local composers & performers found a receptive audience, and it is these who have gradually formed the focus of the Club.

By 1977, the Barleycorn had become formalised, with a Constitution, paid membership, a member-elected committee and the commitment that whatever funds were accumulated would be held in trust for the furtherance & promotion of local musical talent. And what better way to achieve this than by staging an annual Festival? The Club would carry all expenses & all income would be split amongst those performing!

The inaugural Festival was held on 12^th April 1980, at the Maynardville Open-Air Theatre, packed to capacity to hear 20 acts perform over 9 hours. The undoubted star of that, our first venture, was the then unknown David Kramer, whose songs, red veldskoen & pork-pie hat captivated absolutely everyone, including members of the press who gave his career a massive kick-start!

And thus has the Barleycorn Festival become an annual event. This year sees us back once again where it all started, at the Maynardville Amphitheatre.

Long is the list of eminent musicians who’ve graced the Barleycorn Festival stage, including Flat Stanley, Freshly Ground, Disu Plaatjies & Amapondo, Steve Newman, Tony Cox … but this is not the forum for a history of SA performing talent, this is to let you know that all these years later, the magic will be repeated on Saturday 10^th March 2012!

When: SATURDAY 3 March
1.00pm onwards
Peninsula Road, ZKV
FREE
Bring and braai family day to celebrate the launch of the renovated community recreation centre which offers various activities Activities include:
Tennis with a guest coach to show the kids some moves
Basket Ball
Volley Ball
Petanque – the French game of boules
or enjoy a gentle stroll along the vlei.

3.00pm gathering for inaugural AGM

Please support this new community initiative

Membership details and information phone 0827 333 500.

Peninsula road in a wet winter

Dear Friends,

Thank you to those who responded with offers of help to refurbish the Zeekoevlei Recreation Club in Peninsula Road and those who have helped in the maintenance of Van Bloemenstein Park. (There seems to be some debate as to how Van Blommerstein should be spelt and in fact who Van Bloomenstein was – any thoughts?). The work has started on the re- fencing of the tennis courts and we trust that that will be completed in time for the Christmas break. The perimeter fence around the club house is not included in this contract so we must do that ourselves. Labour and expertise required there! A big thank you to FOZR who have donated equipment and cleaning materials from their most successful fund raiser the other night at the yacht club. It goes to show how our social events can help to make a difference in the community.

Planting phase 2

A number of people have asked that the fourth court be made into a basket ball court. This is indeed very doable! The main cost there is the poles and hoops themselves. Does anyone have any contacts or is there a basket ball enthusiast who would like to make a generous donation? ( We also need to know who Noel Tunbridge is, as one of the courts is named after him and whether his family still live on the Vlei?)

after the first planting

Weather looks good tomorrow so we will be working in the park again. Please just pop in and have a walk around or better still bring spade rake or hoe and help clear the paths. (Does anyone know who has left a heavy duty goods trolley at Grysbok Hoekie?)

Look forward to meeting you in the park!

John

John Oliver
082 7333500
revjohn@iafrica.com

Please Note: this entry has been entered LATE by MoonDance and the last paragraph applies to Saturday past – how useless is me? please vote… I did get another letter from a resident regarding the park see below

Hi John,

Way back in the days of the Civic Association, I did tell you about van Blommenstein Park. (Note from MoonDance – Seems to be implying that John is suffering from old age)

Van Blommenstein was the Vice Chairman of the now defeunct Cape Division Council who controlled all the non urban affairs/land in the then known Cape Province

Through his actions he made the land (Park) available as public open space so as to never allow any private development on it

Noel Tunbridge is a leading lawyer still alive in Cape Town who gave the founding members of the Zeekoevlei Recreation Club, much assistance on the legal side in the obtaining and constitution of the Club.

He currently lives in a retirement village in Rondebosch.

Cheers

(name deleted to protect the innocent)

I seem to remember a Tunbridge living in the home on Flamingo road that had the squash court on it – anyone confirm this?

park signs

Fluffball – in danger

I was out trying to find a reported squished tortoise when I came across exhibit A in a dangerous position, obviously having left the nest, after consulting the Nat Con people I dropped it out of harms way into the reserve where it did a spectacular face plant, flight not yet being its strong suit. This was on the 4th of November 2011. Skilled Nat Cons people returned it to the nest that evening, however the 2nd bigger chick obviously wanted its own room and the fluff ball has visited the ground often since then only to be rescued by those in the know. Mum bird is keeping a careful eye on the goings on and apparently it is perfectly normal for the chicks to be cared for on the ground. So should the weasels from 100 acre wood try anything – beware, you will be dinner for owlets…

Mum keeping a watchful eye

At one point the chicks were moved or moved themselves much higher in the tree as they were probably getting to much attention, however Exhibit A still attempted flight and on 9-November I found it on the ground near the road again so after further consultation with the pros and to much hooting encouragement from mummy bird, I unceremoniously dropped it back into the reserve, this time it glided rather than the undignified face plant of the previous dumping. The chick clicked away at me as I picked it up and the beak is already looking scary and feathers growing fast -

Safe in the reserve

If you know where these wonderful gifts are – keep the secret safe – IF YOU MESS WITH THEM – BEWARE! It is an honour to live here and have such beauty around us.

The sad part of the story is I did find the tortoise – crushed under the wheel of a car, please drive carefully, you may kill an owl or an otter, a tortoise, turtle or snake…

Pippa and Friends

We had some sad news over the weekend, Pippa the tame porcupine at Rondevlei died on Saturday afternoon. Please could you put word out to the Friends about this, as I know Pippa was much enjoyed by children & families in the community.

Pippa was Loved

Pippa had recently recovered from a bout of biliary for which she received treatment, so we suspect that perhaps she may have had a sudden relapse, however, it could also have been natural causes, given that she was already eight years old.

Goodbye Pippa, we will miss you

We will all miss having Pippa at Rondevlei, where she became quite a personality over the years & a part of our “family”. We would like to thank all her “fans” in the community for all the loving attention & donations of fruits & vegetables she received over the years, for which we are very grateful.

Kind regards
Tamaryn

Enjoy a romantic walk and watch the sun go down!

Many thanks to the residents who have responded to the redevelopment programme for Van Bloemenstein Park and Recreation Centre.(see below). Another ten bags of garbage have been removed from the park! Including the ‘first condoms of spring’ !

The path is now open from ‘Victoria Junction’ to ‘Vlei View’ and the ‘painted ladies ‘ have appeared on all their glory.
Another challenge is the Commelina bengalensis which is destroying the reed beds and must be removed. As an Interfaith activist I hesitate to use the popular name – Wandering Jew – although maybe like the Commelina bengalensis, I can acknowledge the Jewish Community for always being well rooted in their tradition and having a wide ranging influence in their community. If any one wants to join me in the water on a hot sunny afternoon, the Commelina is easy to remove, much like water hyacinth but with a little more of a tug!

Call 082 7333 500 if you can help in any way.( Hackers, gardeners, womblers!)

Stop Press: The tendering process for the replacement of the fencing at the Recreation Centre is well under way.
We hope to have the new fence up by the end of November.!

John

The view from Fisherman’s Rest

The major factor is believed to be a lack of flushing during drawdown resulting from a lack of rain.

The bacterial measurement for September was above the water quality guideline for recreation, as was the algal sample in August. Unfortunately real time data is not available at present. Further advice and clarification has been requested from scientific services. The possibility of more regular testing is also being explored.

In light of this, City of Cape Town Nature Conservation advises all users to avoid contact with the water until such time as advice is received from scientific services.

A second notice will be issued at that time.

Kind regards,
Joshua Gericke
Manager: Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve
Biodiversity Management Branch
ERMD
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 396 4281
Fax: 021 706 2405
Email: ZeekoevleiNature.Reserve@capetown.gov.za