ZBRRA

10 am Tuesday, 2^nd September, 2008

Darnall Country Club

 

Present. 

Fokko Fokkens (Blythedale Conservancy), Richard Pen Sawer (Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife), Peter Saville (CCF Trust) Truman Buthelezi (Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Harold Johnson), Ryan Dematheis (Ithuba estates)

ZBRRA: Rob Hofmeyr, Neil Wallace, Klaus Achtzehn, Wendy Balcomb

RESIDENTS: Don Cowie, Cliff Hatt, Jasper Pons,

Apologies: Heather Edwards, Selva Vadivellu

 

Neil thanked all those present for their commitment to the revival of the conservancy, and stressed that the association should be enjoyable, if it is to be successful. He added that after the first meeting it was evident that there was enthusiasm to preserve the assets in our area and the conservancy is the right method to do this. Mike Butler of Mtunzini has been very helpful in our fist project – AIP – which is progressing in the village. 

Neil assessed the status of the Conservancy. It was established that

·      Ryan Dematheis was the last Chairman and had been an active Field Manager for the last four years of its existence. According to Jean Lindsay (KZNCA) membership fees were paid up until 2007 – only 2 payments outstanding for 2008 + 09. A resolution was passed in 2005 to close the Conservancy.

·      Committee member, Mr Mark Clewlow had passed away and Mr Basil Hageman was no longer in the area. He had resigned as unable to play an active role on the committee.

·      There is a constitution which Rob Hofmeyr is to peruse.

·      There is R70000.00 in the Conservancy’s account (Ryan is a signatory) Part of this came from the Tugela Conservancy when the two amalgamated.

·      The area of the Conservancy stretched from the Nonoti in the south to Tugela in the north and west to the R101 but to include the catchment area of the Zinkwazi lagoon

 

Jasper Pons suggested that we should consider why the last conservancy failed.

Reasons for this were as follows;

·     The funding from the previous TLC – Zinkwazi Heath Committee fell away when KDM took authority over the village. Funds were not available from KDM

·     Several farms in the upper areas of the Tugela changed hands and the new emergent farmers were not supportive. This resulted in other farmers, whose payments were levied per hectare to withdraw.

·     After Hayden Ferguson left Harold Johnson, there was not further interest from KZN Wildlife. 

 

This negative climate had changed sufficiently to be confident that the Conservancy could once again be successful.

 

·      The enthusiastic support of ZBRRA and Zinkwazi Beach Village residents is welcomed by the farming community as essential for success.  

 

·      Recent and pending legislation giving greater support to Conservation and compelling Municipalities to take responsibility

 

·      Access to donor funding eg. from DEAT through KZN Wildlife

 

·      Renewed support and interest of Richard Penn Sawers and Truman Buthulezi of KZN Wildlife. This is essential to our success

 

·      Our objectives should be manageable, measurable and achievable

 

It was agreed that in order to give direction and simplify communication with the public we should adopt a simple one paragraph Mission Statement. It was agreed that the Balgowan Conservancy mission statement adapted to reflect Zinkwazi Conservancy was excellent and should be adopted:  

OUR MISSION STATEMENT
To support sustainable resource utilization, and to conserve Biodiversity in the Zinkwazi Conservancy for the benefit of present and future generations by stimulating interest and active participation among all residents of the community through communication and education.

     It was further agreed that we needed to expand this with more specific objectives similar to those used by the Mtunzini Conservancy. The following objectives were agreed on with the understanding that the specific wording could be improved on at a later stage:

 

OBJECTIVES

 

1 To promote the conservation of flora, fauna and natural habitats within the Conservancy.

2 To promote public interest and participation in conservation and to educate, inform and advise property owners and residents within the Conservancy.

3 To eradicate invasive alien vegetation and to establish and promote indigenous flora within the Conservancy.

4 To develop and maintain a Linked Open Space System and eco-corridors within the Conservancy.

5 To develop and maintain controlled access to and utilization of our natural assets.

6 To promote and facilitate low impact, nature based eco-tourism in and around the Zinkwazi Conservancy.

7 To monitor development within the Conservancy area, gauge public opinion on issues of environmental concern and participate in environmental impact assessments where appropriate.

8 To comment on matters of environmental concern in the Conservancy area and facilitate the provision of advice and expertise when appropriate

A short Discussion on trails followed:  It was noted that trails had been found to be expensive in maintenance. And we should concentrate on existing trails and not at this stage the opening of new trails.

 

 Existing trails were

(a) The Nkonka Trail north of the lagoon through the coastal forest

(b) The Whale Watch trail on the crest of the dune, south of the village

(c) Along the north bank of the Nonoti

(d) Forest trails, south of the village

(e) Hlogwane (Dhlokweni) forest south of the Tugela Mouth (Seula)

(f) Harold Johnson

(g) Gumbi Trail, west of Harold Johnson

 

Access to trails and similar facilities to be controlled by invitation from the landowner and by arrangement only

 

Watchdog/compliance monitoring Role:

 

It was agreed that developments in the area of the Conservancy should be monitored and the Conservancy should register as an affected party in each case.

It was agreed that a survey of resident’s opinions be conducted.

 

 

Peter Saville suggested that in order to authorize the decisions we were recommending an Interim committee should be elected .

 

Rob Hofmeyr would review the Constitution and inform us if any action is needed to confirm the legality of this move to an Interim Committee.

 

Owing to the large land area and many diverse needs it was agreed that the committee would have an overall coordinating Chairman who would be assisted by

Committee members who would assume responsibilities for each Area or Zone and the projects to be undertaken in them..

 

Klaus was elected and agreed to act as Chairman, Neil as Vice Chairman and Wendy would provide Administration support in her role as Administration Manager for ZBRRA.

 

The conservancy was divided into the following Zones and responsibility assigned to the following Committee members

 

            Zone                                                     Responsibility                            

·      The village                                                   Neil

 

·      Farming community                                  Ryan D

                              

·      The Tugela Biosphere                             Peter Saville in association with a Tongaat Hulett representative. Ian Hunter of Morelands to be phoned to discuss a suitable member from their organization, Paul Russell’s name was suggested

 

·      Estuarine Environment with emphasis on Zinkwazi Lagoon. Ryan (Bruce Jenkins and others to be co-opted)

 

·      Admiralty/Dune face to inter-tidal zone   Jasper and Cliff

 

·      Administration                                              Rob Hofmeyr and Wendy

 

 

·      Resource Liaison                                         Truman Buthelezi/EKZN Wildlife

 

It was suggested to try to get Ann Bindorff involved as she had been a very supportive past member. Wendy to include her on all mailings.

 

It was agreed that each committee member with Zone responsibilities would communicate project proposals together with deliverable objectives and timing plans to the committee via Klaus before the next meting

 

 

AIP Control in all zones

Beach/Dune face and inter-tidal zone conservation

Estuarine management and conservation

Village conservation awareness and education programs

Trails

 

Proposals to be immediately effected:

 

Guineafowl signboard at village entrance to be renewed. We need to establish from KZNCA whether they have a source for signboards we can use. Wendy to phone Jean Lindsay

 

We must pay our membership fees due to KZNCA for 2008/9.  Wendy to arrange with Ryan who has cheque book and signing powers.

 

Cliff offered to compile an Excel matrix to show projects /zones and responsibility along the lines used by Mtunzini conservancy

 

A circular to be sent out to residents to advise that the Conservancy has been revived and to define the different zones and broad project descriptions. Wendy to send this using ZBRRA and extended mail list

 

To register the conservancy as an interested and affected party in the Nonoti development

 

Info on lagoon management guidelines from both Water Research Commission ( Duncan Hay edited document) as well as any other information on the subject to be sent to Ryan to allow him to update on latest thinking on this

.

It was suggested that under the estuarine management portfolio it would be an effective way to assess the Zinkwazi Estuary Status if a group from this committee together with other experts (Coast Watch Personnel?) were to do an inspection tour of the lagoon on a regular basis. Ryan to consider this in his project planning proposals

 

After a short discussion it was agreed that the historic system needs to change. A system of ‘project funding’ rather than high membership fees needs to be applied by the new committee. There is a wealth of funds that can be tapped into for specific projects.

 

General.

Fokko reported that 20^th September was a Beach Clean up day in which local schools will visit our coastline and pick up litter

Ryan reported the use of Gill nets, made in the Nyatigaze area and used on the Zinkwazi, was affecting the population of fish.

Neil reported of great offers of support for the conservancy such as by Gary Prentice.

 

The meeting ended at 12.45 and was followed by lunch

The next meeting will take place at 33 Magai drive, Zinkwazi, at the home of Neil Wallace on Friday 17^th October at 15H:30

 

 

Signed ……………………………………

Klaus Achtzehn………..Chairman

 

 

Date: ……………………………………….