The Cape Bird Club
MINUTES OF THE CAPE BIRD CLUB CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
Minutes of the meeting held on Mon 20 April 2009.
Present: Dave Whitelaw, Gavin Lawson, Felicity Ellmore, Isabella Hayden, Frank Wygold, Doug Harebottle, Cliff Dorse, Suretha Dorse.
1. Strandfontein – Dave has sent Michael Toll information about the sludge pans but he hasn’t replied yet. Michael is supposed to be working on a management plan for the sludge piles.
- Dave will meet with Graeme Cummings next week about monitoring nutrient levels.
- Dave and Joanne have discussed building islands but have decided to put it on hold until the economy improves.
- Victoria Day is overseas at the moment.
2. Paarden Eiland – Maizels cottage – Cliff heard from Bongani Mnisi today that there will be resolution soon. The dogs are still a problem.
- A Zoarvlei management meeting is happening soon.
- Cleaning up the vlei is happening – the church and some schools are helping.
- The Bayview soccer club is empty but Frank hasn’t heard anything from them about issuing new leases.
- Frank is still keen to pump salt water into the vlei to kill alien plants. Cliff has discussed it with Koos.
- Frank has been given notice from the end of April. He has a contract until 30 April 2011. He is meeting his attorney tomorrow night. Cliff could find a secure place to store his equipment if necessary.
- Frank received the Mayor’s Medal for Community Affairs on 16 April 2009.
3. Raapenberg – No TRUP meting for months
- Isabella heard a rumour that the sale of the River Club had fallen through because of the Berkley Road extension.
- Isabella wanted James Cooper to help her with a bird count but he didn’t turn up. Isabella contacted Maya about it but hasn’t heard from her.
4. Edith Stephens – Doug contacted Stacy to suggest she did something during National Bird Week but that week is a problem for her so maybe during the YES program. Doug has organised ringers to be there during the mornings of Bird Week.
- Doug will find out what she thought about the Bird Club Committee’s ideas for event’s/outings – Dave sent her an email.
- Hyacinth has become a problem at Edith Stephens. The roosting birds have moved to Consul Glass. Need to clear the hyacinth and build roosting platforms to encourage the birds to come back.
5. Flaminkvlei – Dave spoke to Kevin Shaw. Province wont consider the EIA until it’s sanctioned by Cape Nature.
- Dave has written to the municipal manager (le Roux) about the plan to move the urban edge to the South of the River.
De Plaat – Gavin received the report on CD. Hasn’t read it yet.
6. Batamsklip – Dave attended the meeting at Pearly Beach.
7. House Crow – they can’t get Starlicide through Elsenberg – need to get it through Pretoria.
8. Dassenberg Development – ROD was issued for the development but it still has to go to council for subdivision permission.
9. Wind Farms – they want to build a huge wind farm (about 200 turbines) near Hopefield. Dave will contact Alwyn Gabriel about it.
10. Koeberg – Still under appeal. The off set option – to buy the farm to the North of Koeberg was left off the report.
11. CBC website – Gavin is going to summarise minutes of our meetings for theconservation section of the website.
12. Conservation Heros – 4 members of this Conservation Committee were nominated as conservation heros at the National Biodiversity Expo at Kirstenbosch.
13. Bird Week Northern Cape Trip – Doug was contacted by Coleen from the Hantam N.B.G to give talks about birds, ringing etc during National Bird Week. Peter Nupen is going as well and they are going to atlas areas around there. The Cape Bird Club is providing R1000 for petrol.
14. Noordhoek Bird Monitoring Group – Doug was contacted by Dianne from Noordhoek – they want to start a bird monitoring group (will also look at plants, reptiles etc). Doug is going to give a talk to them on Wed 22/4.
NEXT MEETING – 6/7 June at Daves other house
