The following extract is from recent items published in the Hout Bay press.

Some concerned residents will be pleasantly surprised to see that conservation activity is taking place both above and below Princess Bridge. The Hout Bay River Forum has swung into action to commence the first stages of what is hoped to be a continuing process to conserve and improve our river eco-system.

The adage - "If you don't use it - you will loose it" could never be truer and unless we create imaginative ways to realise the potential of our natural areas for the benefit of the entire community they will be lost forever and any advantage will by default be given to developers or those motivated by profit or self interest usually to the disadvantage of the community as a whole.

Wetlands are the most threatened of all eco-systems world wide and this eleventh hour action could be the reprieve sorely needed to start to place our natural environment higher on the agenda in a community whose natural endowment has been ravaged by inadequate planning and ill considered development for many years.

Messrs Chittenden, Nicks & Partners will be presenting a concept plan in due course to which the community will have the opportunity to give input. It is expected that initial funding will be directed to the rehabilitation of the area between the Princess Bridge and the Beach but ultimately rehabilitation work above the bridge and into the Wetlands area will be undertaken.

In addition a foot bridge is to be constructed at Longkloof Weir to give long overdue pedestrian access across the river which was lost when the new weir was built much to the inconvenience of pedestrians and cyclists who had used the route for years.

It is encouraging to see that with a spirit of co-operation, rather than confrontation, between the authorities and the community, positive moves can be made for the benefit of all; a refreshing trend which somehow has evaded us in the recent past. We will continue to work for the community in this respect and wish the hard working participants in the process every success.

The turgid plume of water from the river entering the bay as a result of heavy rains in the last few days is a reminder that the cleansing and sponge effect of a rehabilitated wetland cannot come soon enough and a reminder, to those who would encroach onto the 50yr flood plain, that nature has a way of getting its own back. We can also expect a substantial increase in run off from the Orange Kloof area where SAN Parks have removed large numbers of alien trees.

We will be keeping those of you who have internet connectivity in touch with the progress on the river at:  ww.heritage.org.za/orgs/houtbay/

D.C.
99/06/26