The launch of the Spoonbill at the Zandvlei Nature Reserve –  08 September 2025.

 

On the real first day of spring this year with perfect outdoor weather, the City of Cape Town Biodiversity Dept. along with other branches related to the procurement and receipt of the Spoonbill weed harvester hosted the launch. The first one is named the Cape Shoveller and was launched earlier in the year and can be seen in the photographed in the distance. The hand over by the local designer and manufacturer was attended by the Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews of Cape Town, the local Councillor and Alderman Demetri Qually.
Julia Wood Manager of Biodiversity Management opened proceedings, followed by Kyran Wright the Manager for the Zandvlei Nature Reserves and to which the weed harvesters belong. He explained that both the weed harvesters were procured with lots of design input requirements learned by experience. He highlighted that these machines are a special management tool for conservation work at Zandvlei and potentially other Reserves where its use may be required. The Mayor highlighted the importance of the equipment for the Biodiversity Management and complimented the local Cape Town designer/manufacturers, so that local employment and skills can be maintained in Cape Town.

Members of the ZPAAC (Zandvlei Protected Areas Advisory Committee) and local residents had lobbied the City for 30 years to replace the archaic old machines dating from the 1970’s which were constantly requiring maintenance and breaking down.
The old machines the remaining one at Zandvlei is/was named Kingfisher, see it in operation in 2011 were not designed to cut the Pond weed (Potamogeton pectinatus) the teeth or blades could not be adjusted to the correct angles and depth required. The blades tended to rip the plants out instead of cutting the tops. Zandvlei was always supposed to have 2 machines at all times in case of a break down or maintenance. The 2nd one lingers at Little Princessvlei where small amounts of Pondweed are dealt with annually. Transporting these machines was not conducive, as a specialized road carrier is required and the costs are prohibitive.
The new machines come with a special trailer for road transport. Isgaak Crombie the Kingfisher driver is training Jeremie Tromp (see photos) and Ricardo Petersen to use the Cape Shoveller and the Spoonbill. They have to have a skippers license as well as knowing the complete running of the machine and then understand what they need to achieve for the viability of the Pondweed. It helps to oxygenate and filter the water, which varies from very saline to fresh over an annual seasonal cycle. It grows very quickly in the warm summer season. The Pondweed needs to be cut about 30 cm below the water line so that water craft users can navigate freely in the canals and most of the open waterbody.
A secondary use for the weed harvester is to aerate the water in the canals of the Marina at certain times of the year when the water does not circulate due to prevailing weather conditions.
In the past it has been very interesting what has been found in the cut weed. There have been very small juvenile Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) which the scientists never knew they came this far down the coastline. Many pipe fish and other interesting fish species have been found too.

A secondary use for the weed harvester is to aerate the water in the canals of the Marina at certain times of the year when the water does not circulate due to weather conditions.

The Mayor, Deputy Mayor and staff went for a short demonstration ride on the Spoonbill at the hand over by the representative of the manufacturers. Then a number of City staff who were invited as they had been involved in the procurement were asked to climb onboard for their group photo by the official City photographer.

 

Photographs by Gavin Lawson.

Report by Gavin Lawson.