REFUSE ON BEACH : HELP!

We have had really strong north-westerly winds which have deposited the first load of refuse from across the bay. Conditions have been aggravated by very heavy seas and refuse has been ground to fine bits, lying on the sand and mixed up in mountains of kelp that have washed up on the "small beach" to the west of the slipway.

Some folks have already been picking up big plastic bottles which are still whole, but:

APPEAL:   We need all who can to take black bags down there and pick up / rake together the small bits of plastic and polistyrene. If the bins are already full, please take your bag home with you. Rooiels and all the animals in the ocean thank you in anticipation of helping to clean up.

MINUTES OF THE ROOIELS CONSERVANCY AGM
 HELD AT 17H00 ON 19 DECEMBER 2015

1.  OPENING AND WELCOME:  Anuta Scholtz welcomed everyone.
2. APOLOGIES:  Du Toit Viljoen,  Di and Janne Dagh, Jan Glazewski, Linda and Duncan Hiles, Mr and Mrs Waddell, Helen Jones, Alison Ayre,  Janette Yeats, Koos Smit, Doris Jansen, Lynn Fryer, Tom and Bob Baigrie, Lynn Harris, Ivan and Lee-Ann Becker.
3. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF 29.12.2014 : proposed by Sandra Yeo and seconded by Jill Lockley.
4. FINANCIAL REPORT:  See enclosed.  A donation was received from BotSoc for hack equipment.   Mark Butler is retiring after 4 years – huge appreciation extended to him.
5. ANNUAL REPORT:   See enclosed
6. PROJECT REPORTS:

6a.  Leopards:  Jill, Wolfgang and Duncan have regularly monitored the cameras in the cave, frequently capturing pics of Scott during his visits there.  The otters were captured on camera on the concrete path to the river but the camera was subsequently stolen.  Plans are being made to secure another camera at that site.  Thanks expressed for donations received.
6b.  Wolfgang reported on the seals;  their numbers have been reduced from approximately 170 to 30, probably due to Orcas or sharks.  He regularly organises walks to view the seals.  A lot of tortoises have been spotted through RE – pamphlets available in the eco-centre.  Klipspringers have been sighted on the rocks along Roella Rd with red wing starlings acting as tick birds!

1. MANDATE TO INVESTIGATE AMALGAMATION OF REC WITH RERA:  Anuta explained that should such a merger occur, REC’s status with CapeNature will not be affected.  A show of hands confirmed this proposal.Geoff Harris made the following formal proposal: “ I want to formally propose that the incoming committee investigate and pursue the amalgamation of REC with RERA.  There are so many overlapping areas which can (and have in the past) become bones of contention between the two entities.  If a way can be found that accommodates both entities under one umbrella organisation, it is my belief that our Rooiels Vision will be better served in future.  The other factor is very simply that RE has a dearth of willing volunteers to serve on both organisations and avoiding duplication is almost impossible.”

The following question was asked:  What precipitated the breakaway from RERA?  The thinking was that RERA was more political and conservation matters should be separate.  Both organisations have approximately 78 members with almost 100% duplication between two organisations.  Geoff Harris cautioned that we maintain our status in the Biosphere Reserve and that we still have two voices on the various local bodies.  A number of people volunteered or were proposed  to serve on a working committee to ensure the above and to drive the amalgamation process:  Estelle Raymond, Jenny Stark, Kay Leresche, Geoff Harris, Debbie de Vries, Maurice Boshoff.  It was also proposed that the Pringle Bay Ratepayers be consulted as they have gone through this process.  Decisions taken at this AGM should be taken to the RERA AGM on 22 December 2015.

1. ROOIELS WEBSITE:  Eneth Kruger and Anuta met with Jeremy who runs the RE website and owns the domain name and who is not a RE resident which has time implications in uploading new content. There are a lot of practical problems;  bottlenecks, cumbersome navigation, ease of use etc.  Eneth proposed that we start up a new community website so that local organisations can have freer access and let the other one be used for tourist purposes. Costs could be shared by all village organisations who would be responsible for uploading their own content. After much discussion, Mark Butler proposed that we first investigate with the current website holder whether the current website can be rejuvenated before we split off and form a new site. Marti Louw offered to investigate the status of the domain name she has with an eye to transferring it to the community.
2. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION.

9a.  Maurice Boshoff asked what happened to the waste station.  Anuta replied that it was a municipality initiative to remove it as far back as 2011.  REC was involved as they had to clean up and also deal with the baboon problems resulting from the station.  Keith Moir congratulated REC on the process.  Rats were becoming a problem and baboons frequently raided it.  Flies have been considerably reduced at the local businesses since the removal.  Maurice mentioned that the bins at the slipway are now overloaded.  Anuta replied that every transition has problems but they can and will be overcome.
9b.  Geoff proposed a vote of thanks to Jan Glazewski for taking down the pine trees on his property with Pierre Kruger’s able help.
9c.  Jenny Stark commented on the increase of bottlebrush and fountain grass in the area.  Kay Leresche proposed that we raise funds to get these two above removed.  SANBI refused us permission to go in and remove the bottlebrush but a team of theirs has recently been working on the area of infestation.  Anuta proposed that we prioritise which alien species are the worst before tackling them.  Jenny recommended that everyone get involved and remove seed heads as they go on their walks. Hakea and pine trees are spreading over the smallholdings. An appeal for younger hackers to join us.

1. VOTE OF THANKS:  Three members are leaving – Mark Butler (Treasurer), Mary Comrie (Secretary),  and Margie Ellis.  Grateful thanks to all three for their service on REC.  Thanks were also given to Wolfgang Steinbach for his work on many projects, to Jill Lockley for her continuing work on the public gardens, to John Charalambous  for his contributions both artistic and practical, to Sandra Yeo for the many jobs she undertakes, to Janette Yeats (who is very ill at present), for her immense info, knowhow and hard work - REC couldn’t function without her - (an email to be sent to her), to Evette Weyers for keeping the hack group going, to Keith Moir for filling the bottles of poison for the hacks, to Kay Leresche for advice and getting the Nature Reserve weeded.
2. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE:  The following people indicated their availability:  Jill Lockley, John Charalambous, Janette Yeats, Sandra Yeo, Marieta Human, Anuta Scholtz, Marti Louw, Evette Weyers, Estelle Raymond.  It was proposed  that the above be elected en bloc, and this was approved.  A vote of thanks was proposed for all the excellent work done by Anuta this past year.  The 2015 edition of the Breeze was highly commended.
3. ADJOURNMENT: the meeting was adjourned at 18h45.