Report on Ward 8 committee meeting February 2021

Report on Ward 8 Committee meeting 8th February 2021

I attended the Ward 8 meeting in February as the Botfriends representative, since there were ongoing Botfriends issues and no one else had been nominated as a Botfriends representative subsequent to my resignation as chairperson.

Matters of concern to Botfriends were

1. Matters arising from the minutes 12/10/2020 – Access control of vehicular traffic to Die Eiland

The recommendation was that access control be implemented to limit access from the parking area (on Public Works land) to the beach area (RAMSAR site) as per National Environmental Legislation. Secondly, that the environmental department of the OSM erect signs indicating that vehicular traffic was not allowed onto the beach area.

Vehicles had been observed, by members of the public, accessing the beach over the Christmas period. The OSM reported that they had limited access from the parking, but no signage had been erected. Apparently, no reports from the public were received and law enforcement could not act without signage. In terms of Covid regulations, access to the estuary in Fisherhaven was not allowed but Die Eiland was not included.

• Matters arising from the minutes 12/10/2020 – Permanent cleaning crew- Fisherhaven

It was minuted that Mr T Marx would draw up a schedule for the crew to be in Fisherhaven once a week. FRA reported that not much had been done as they were being dropped off and left without supervision.

Botfriends reminded the meeting that the minutes were not quite correct, as it had been agreed that Botfriends could offer clearing training and techniques. This crew has been busy in Fisherhaven, but they had made no contact with Botfriends. Their methods of clearing aliens had achieved short-term clearing BUT had in the longer term made the problem worse. No picking up of rubbish had been done even after this had been pointed out to the crew supervisor in Riverside Drive opposite the building site, on Erf 56.

• Storm Water Master Plan Mr D Hendriks to give a follow up at the meeting.

The Master Plan is to be completed soon.

Botfriends raised two issues:

1. The drainage map produced by the OSM Environmental Department (which the FRA has) is incorrect, with some drainage lines 180 degrees out.
2. The existing drainage ditches concentrate storm water rather than using natural waterways and spreading the water. This causes more severe flooding further down in Fisherhaven and sends pollutants directly into the estuary (some which has been pointed out to the FRA).

Mr D Hendriks said these were not matters for the Ward Committee and that we should await the Masterplan from the ‘experts’ at the OSM.

• Membership of Ward 8 committee

Botfriends raised two other issues:

1. BREF should be a member as the estuary is wholly within Ward 8, and there had been no reports from BREF to Ward 8, including that on the massive environmental damage due to the incorrect position of the recent artificial breach of the estuary.

BREF had been invited to become a member years ago, but had not exercised their option. They need to be reminded that they are part of Ward 8.

• The Paddavlei Eco Group (PEG) should also be a member, as their work was mostly to do with environmental concerns within Ward 8. In the past four years, Ward 8 has relied on the author to report on PEG issues.

This needed to change and PEG invited to send a representative to the committee.

• Other environmental issues

No other environmental issues. Botfriends has asked for the last 2 years that environmental issues should be a standing item on the agenda. This was agreed to previously, but has not happened.

The Report on Ward 8 committee meeting February 2021 was posted to Botfriends and FRA Facebook pages

M N Austin (representing Botfriends).

This report is followed by the report on the 15 March 2021 on the same issues