LINK to the Minutes of the Meeting held by the three KBR villages and the Mayor. She agreed that the OM would seriously take into consideration an alternative proposal by the three villages and indicated that she acknowledged that the Viullages within the Kogelberg Biodphere Reserve should not be treated the same as the urban areas, such as Hermanus and Hawston, found elsewhere in the Overstrand. See below also for the Proposed Appendix that would apply to the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve villages if it were to be adopted. This was submitted to the Ward 10 Committee in February 2023. No response has ever been received from the Mayor but the Notice to Erf owners has been somewhat changed and statements made that if there is any problem arising from a Notice the Overstrand Municipality Environment Manager can be called in to advise to ensure that biodiversity is maintained and that the focus is on alien vegetation and an excess of dead wood. It is recognised that some dead wood is important for insect biodiversity and to sustain pollination.
The proposed (NOW adopted by Council Sept 2022) Firewise Vacant Plot Clearing policy is the cause of VERY serious concern to the ratepayers in the transition zone of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. It is essential that the high importance of our natural flora is given due consideration. The empty plots that have fynbos provide seed banks and habitat to insects, birds and animals and are important to the biodiversity that underpins the economy and the future of the Overstrand. We ask that the standards for plot clearing should be very clearly differentiated between those plots that have natural, indigenous vegetation and those that have alien species. You can download the various comments sent on the proposed policy from experts and all the local organisations. The photograph (see below the files) shows what happened in July 2022 when a blanket email was sent to owners requesting them to clear the erven. The problem with that is that in addition to the destruction of existing biodiversity - the result is the serious encroachment of alien species and the ongoing displacement of indigenous vegetation and increased fire risk in the long term. Furthermore the Policy is not in accordance with the intent of Sec 34(2) of the Community Fire Safety Bylaw, P.N 6454 of 2007 and compels a landowner to contravene the law and degrade his/her land against his/her will - see the KBRC submission. See objections also from BB conservancy, PB ratepayers, PBRewilding, Harold Porter, Kleinmond Nature Conservancy, Prof. van Wilgen and the Rooiels organisations. Copy of a Letter of Objection from Cape Nature in 2018 is also included.
A very quick SURVEY was carried out of Rooiels ratepayers in October 2022
106 of those we have email addresses for responded.: In summary the results indicated that
95 percent of the 106 respondents do NOT want the fynbos cut down to 500mm (0.5m) - they want to retain the fynbos preserved and intact.
97% of the 106 respondents want to see alien invasive plants cleared from empty erven and road reserves
89% would like to see deadwood removed (some wanted deadwood retained for the ecological processes)
106 of those we have email addresses for responded.: In summary the results indicated that
95 percent of the 106 respondents do NOT want the fynbos cut down to 500mm (0.5m) - they want to retain the fynbos preserved and intact.
97% of the 106 respondents want to see alien invasive plants cleared from empty erven and road reserves
89% would like to see deadwood removed (some wanted deadwood retained for the ecological processes)
Please go to LINK to the Minutes of 5th Dec 2022 meeting with the Mayor and some OM officials
In response to that meeting and as tasked by the Mayor, the Group proposed to the Overstrand Municipality that there should be a special Appendix to apply to registered Conservancies within the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Furthermore that the Notice needs to be amended to ensure that the fynbos and biodiversity of the area is not undermined. Below the Appendix and Notice as proposed by the group and submitted to the Councilor in February 2023.
In response to that meeting and as tasked by the Mayor, the Group proposed to the Overstrand Municipality that there should be a special Appendix to apply to registered Conservancies within the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Furthermore that the Notice needs to be amended to ensure that the fynbos and biodiversity of the area is not undermined. Below the Appendix and Notice as proposed by the group and submitted to the Councilor in February 2023.
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The primary argument is that the policy that was adopted by the Council in September 2022 fails to understand maintaining fynbos at 50cm will cause, not only permanent plant and animal species loss, habitat destruction and promote fast growing invasive alien plants to establish, but also devalue property values and undermine the economy of the Overstrand. Furthermore that it is inappropriate to indiscriminately remove 50 percent of the fynbos which is what is included in the most recent proposed Notice to go out in September 2023. The Policy itself remains unchanged and we have had no Ward feedback or discussion on the Appendix.
Each of these organisations have separately and together been sending numerous letters and made personal requests to Mr. Lester Smith, to their Councillor, to the Mayor and to the Overstrand Municipality advising them of the very serious impact on the environment if this policy does not take account of the importance of the fynbos to biodiversity in the Kogelberg Biiosphere Reserve, which we are all part of.
Some adaptations have been made so that the Firewise Vacant Plot Clearing policy, in response to our objections, e.g. it does now emphasise invasive alien vegetation. But the new draft Notices still have provisions inimical to the preservation of healthy fynbos and will affect the ecology of the area. The Appendix proposal does include some management of fynbos but the focus is on the alien vegetation which has been proven across the Western Cape to be particularly hazardous as fire accelerants.
Some adaptations have been made so that the Firewise Vacant Plot Clearing policy, in response to our objections, e.g. it does now emphasise invasive alien vegetation. But the new draft Notices still have provisions inimical to the preservation of healthy fynbos and will affect the ecology of the area. The Appendix proposal does include some management of fynbos but the focus is on the alien vegetation which has been proven across the Western Cape to be particularly hazardous as fire accelerants.
The Policy enacted in September 2022 and all the arguments against its implementation within the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve
| policy_for_creating_and_maintaining_fire_wise_vacant_erven.pdf |
The Notices for the enforcement of this policy require that the fynbos on empty erven be cut and maintained to less than half a metre. This is inimical to the preservation of biodiversity and in particular will be very bad for the proteacea, euclea and many other shrubs that grow much taller than this policy allows. It will have an impact on the pollinators and the entire ecology if this policy is to be rigidly applied. You can download the Policy as presented to Portfolio Committee and subsequently shared with some of us. This, we understand, is what was passed at the Mayco meeting on 26th September and by Council on 28th September, 2022. We are told that they were advised by our Councillor that Ward 10 are against this policy.
According to Cape Nature who also objected -- there should not be any clearing of indigenous vegetation -- they proposed a focus on Alien Invasive Species (AIS) which are the most serious fire risk in the Overstrand -- and they negatively impact biodiversity.
"The Overstrand region provides habitat for many species of conservation concern and protected species. In terms of NEM:BA, both the TOPS and the AIS Regulations would be relevant to vegetation clearing on properties. Further, although brush-cutting of firebreaks does not trigger NEMA, it does have a negative impact on biodiversity, particular when an entire property is brush-cut on an annual basis. Therefore, apart from firebreaks, landowners should not be obligated to clear indigenous vegetation. The Overstrand is characterised by fire-driven fynbos and renosterveld ecosystems; the fuel load and fire risk of which are exacerbated by AIS. In terms of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA 1983) and NEM:BA AIS Regulations (2014), all landowners are required to implement an alien invasive management plan. Therefore, as outlined in the policy, CapeNature is in support of the clearing of Alien Invasive Species."
"The Overstrand region provides habitat for many species of conservation concern and protected species. In terms of NEM:BA, both the TOPS and the AIS Regulations would be relevant to vegetation clearing on properties. Further, although brush-cutting of firebreaks does not trigger NEMA, it does have a negative impact on biodiversity, particular when an entire property is brush-cut on an annual basis. Therefore, apart from firebreaks, landowners should not be obligated to clear indigenous vegetation. The Overstrand is characterised by fire-driven fynbos and renosterveld ecosystems; the fuel load and fire risk of which are exacerbated by AIS. In terms of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA 1983) and NEM:BA AIS Regulations (2014), all landowners are required to implement an alien invasive management plan. Therefore, as outlined in the policy, CapeNature is in support of the clearing of Alien Invasive Species."
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The above photograph shows a plot that was cleared as a direct result of an email sent out by the Overstrand Municipality requiring the owners to clear their plots. This is inimical to the future of the area.
An email was sent on the 7 July by the Overstrand Municipality to ALL the owners of vacant erfs in Betty's Bay entitled: POLICY FOR CREATING AND MAINTAINING FIRE WISE VACANT ERVEN IN URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS OF THE OVERSTRAND MUNICIPALITY. The email went to all vacant plots instead of only to the selected owners of vacant plots deemed to be a fire risk. Furthermore it did not make it clear that it is alien species that must be cleared nor that it is very hazardous to clean clear since that will encourage alien vegetation to replace the fynbos that was there. Alien vegetation is far more of a fire hazard.
The message began with: Kindly be advised that we have received a complaint regarding your vacant erf/plot in Betty’s Bay. The complaints received refer to the Policy for Creating and Maintaining Fire-wise Vacant Erven in The Urban and Suburban Areas of The Overstrand Municipality.
An email was sent on the 7 July by the Overstrand Municipality to ALL the owners of vacant erfs in Betty's Bay entitled: POLICY FOR CREATING AND MAINTAINING FIRE WISE VACANT ERVEN IN URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS OF THE OVERSTRAND MUNICIPALITY. The email went to all vacant plots instead of only to the selected owners of vacant plots deemed to be a fire risk. Furthermore it did not make it clear that it is alien species that must be cleared nor that it is very hazardous to clean clear since that will encourage alien vegetation to replace the fynbos that was there. Alien vegetation is far more of a fire hazard.
The message began with: Kindly be advised that we have received a complaint regarding your vacant erf/plot in Betty’s Bay. The complaints received refer to the Policy for Creating and Maintaining Fire-wise Vacant Erven in The Urban and Suburban Areas of The Overstrand Municipality.
The Betty's Bay Conservancy sent proposed changes to the notices sent to Erf owners in future to avoid this happening in future so that the focus is more on alien trees and deadwood with a requirement to retain at least some of the indigenous fynbos. The changes proposed are highlighted in yellow
| requested_changes_highlighted_for_notice_to_maintain_a_fire_wise_property__sent_to_om_in__august_2022.docx |
