We had our annual general meeting in the Community Saal on 19 April. Thanks to all who attended.
Here are the minutes: Duiwenhoks Conservancy AG meeting minutes 19 April 2025
Wilhelm de Beer of the GCBR gave us a fascinating talk on the GCBR. Wilhelm is the Coastal Extension Officer from Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve in our area but also has long interest in Vermaaklikheid. Click here to see it: W de Beer GCBR Duivenhoks 2025-04-19
A reminder that we will have our AGM in the Community hall on Easter Saturday morning.
Please attend – it’s our only opportunity to gather as a community and focus on the issues that matter to us all.
We’ll update this post soon – but in the meantime, save the date: 19 April.
We had an interesting AGM on Easter Saturday in the Community Hall. Thanks to so many for attending!
The committee gave feedback on progress during the year; Justin gave an overview of our current thinking on the Conservation Management Plan (CMP) process to evaluate and map the conservation items within the Vermaaklikheid area to protect and conserve the space and the delicate balance of heritage buildings, development needs and environment. If you would like to see it, please click here: Conservation Management Plan (CMP) AGM 2024
We were lucky enough to have Linda Fletcher, Sustainability Manager, and Rita Liebenberg, Gouritz Corridors and Restoration Programme Manager from the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) share information about who they are, and what they do. We are so grateful to Linda and Rita for taking time off to do this work in the middle of a long weekend.
Linda Fletcher, GCBR Sustainability Manager
Rita Liebenberg, GCBR, Gouritz Corridors and Restoration Programme Manager
If you would like to see Linda’s presentation, please click here: Linda’s GCBR presentation.
Other AGM updates related to alien clearing, fire and chipper, finances. The 2024/5 committee was voted in with no changes. Thanks to the team for doing the hard work as volunteers.
The minutes have been finalised and are available for viewing here: AGM minutes
Many thanks to Anthony and Bibi Black for providing tea and coffee, it was much appreciated!
Finally, a request to please pay your 2024/5 subscription of R500. We rely entirely on the community to fund our operations.
Banking details are: Duivenhoks Conservancy, Standard Bank, Rondebosch, Branch code: 02500911, Account no: 075577623
Heritage Western Cape (HWC) received our application to register as a conservation body in April 2023, in terms of Section 25(1)(b) of the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999. HWC recently informed us that our application was approved at their Inventories, Grading and Interpretation Committee (IGIC) meeting.
This creates an obligation for Hessequa Municipality to consult and engage with us and seek input as both an interested and affected party and Conservation Body for any development in Vermaaklikheid area.
Any applications for change in land use, consent use, building work, road or infrastructure works needs to be provided to us to comment on. We would then provide input to owners wishing to do work in our area of high conservation value.
We have a historical building guideline document, drafted by Paul Andrew and Professor Julian Cooke. This was used previously for all building development work applications. If you have any questions, please drop a note on duiwenhoksconservancy@gmail.com.
Thanks to all who attended the AGM on 8 April 2023.
Good engagement for future activities; will send minutes to our email list.
Please join us for the Duiwenhoks Conservancy AGM at 10am on the 8th April 2023 in the Community Hall.
We will share some of what we have been working on in the past year, and would love to get your input into what we do in the future.
Thanks to all who attended our virtual AGM earlier this week.
Aileen Anderson, who manages the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy, shared some of the lessons learnt in protecting rivers and landscapes. Bertus Hayward and Hendrik Visser of the Hessequa Municipality gave us an overview of the process of developing a development plan for Vermaaklikheid (more below).
John Thorne resigned as chair, a position he has held since 2013. Josie Borain is our new chair, with Anthony Black remaining as vice chair. Sarah Ward and Mandy Zeelie resigned, and Justin Cooke was welcomed as a new member. John, Rooken Podesta & Margaux Newdigate remain members.
Vermaaklikheid Spatial Development Framework
“An SDF indicates which type of development should be allowed in a Municipality, where it should take place, and how such development should be undertaken to ensure the best outcomes for people, natural resources, and economy.”
Bertus Hayward, Hessequa Municipality Manager: Spatial and Economic Development and Hendrik Visser, Hessequa Municipal Manager outlined the process of setting up a Spatial Development Framework. Sarah Ward initiated this process and Justin Cooke will represent the Duiwenhoks Conservancy going forward. The aim is to establish development guidelines for Vermaaklikheid.
Public participation is an important part of this process – so you’ll be hearing more on this.
Draft SMART
In addition, Hessequa has sent all interested parties a notice that they intend to consider the Draft Municipal Smart EconomicDevelopment Strategy [SMART strategy]. The draft SMART strategy presents four characteristics of local government i.e., maximising social and economic growth, integrating and coordination, democratising development and leading and learning.
The draft SMART Strategy is available on request and on the Hessequa Municipal Website and at all the Municipal Libraries’ computers. A work session is planned for 11 May 2022 at 14h00 via Teams and comments can be submitted on/before 23 May 2022. Interested parties should contact Bertus Hayward bertus@hessequa.gov.za
Finally, some rain! So here’s a lovely splash of local April colour – Brunsvigia orientalis.
It’s time for our annual general meeting. We will be meeting via Google Meet on Tuesday, April 12 at 4:00 pm.
Aileen Anderson, who manages the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy, will talk about her success in protecting rivers and landscapes in the current economic climate.
We also need to appoint a new chair as John Thorne is stepping down after nine years of service to this community. Thanks, John, for all the energy you’ve put in over the years.
Send Duiwenhoksconservancy@gmail.com a mail if you wish to be included in the meeting.
