|
Closing Northern Farms & De-proclaim the Diepsloot Nature Reserve
Which is the correct Information??
There is now 4 stories here, you decide what is the true story!!!
Dear Friends
I am devastated to see that the government are looking at closing Northern Farms. The following 2 articles explain what is going on. If you have ridden at Northern Farms (on horses or bicycles), or have heard about it and are
planning to ride there, or if you care about the environment, please take note and object or comment via e-mail or phone. (The details are below.)
For me it's not only about space to ride and cows and jobs. It's a very important conservation area. It's one of the few remaining Highveld Granite Grasslands, with plenty of indigenous fauna and flora. I think that we really need to conserve the unspoiled space that we still have so that the animals, insects, birds, small reptiles etc. have got space to exist. Unspoiled, open space in endangered and so are many of the creatures that belong there. We need to preserve it. There are only 3 days left to comment - the closing date is the 18th.
Johannesburg Northern Farm under threat
The future of Northern Farm, bordering the Rhenosterspruit Nature Conservancy, hangs in the balance. Joburg Water has given notice that all farming activities must be terminated within the next few months. That involves selling the 2 000-strong herd of Bovelder cattle, all the farm equipment, including nine centre pivots and other irrigation systems which presently irrigate 350 hectares of grazing, mealies and other crops. Some 70 contract staff are being laid off.
The reason given is that farming is not part of Joburg Water's core business. Joburg Municipality is touted to take over but it is unclear how Northern Farm will be utilised in future. About 20 mega litres of water from Northern Works' sewage treatment plant are presently circulated through the farm's dams before flowing into the Jukskei River. A major issue is what happens to these dams, wetlands, water courses and extensive irrigation systems through which this water flows, without regular upkeep.
Notice has also been posted for an application to de-proclaim the Diepsloot Nature Reserve which was proclaimed in 1960. This nature reserve includes both Northern Farm and Northern Works, on both sides of the R114 and the N14. There is also an application for a major housing development south of the N14 highway. The public has until March 18 to put in comments on both these applications.
Send comments to Samantha
Bush of Nemai Consulting:
samanthab@nemai.co.za
Ask to be registered as an Interested & Affected Party (I&AP) to ensure you are kept updated.
Apart from agriculture the farm's open spaces and trails are enjoyed over weekends by thousands of mountain bikers, birdwatchers, hikers and horse riders. About 300 birds have been identified on the reserve which is part of SA Bird life's birding route. A full Olympic standard equestrian course is used for annual shows.
Diepsloot Nature Reserve De-proclamation - Northern Farms
The Johannesburg Property Company has commenced the EIA process towards de-proclaiming the southern part of the Diepsloot Nature Reserve (Northern Sewage Works) with the intention of developing extensions to the Diepsloot
Townships on the property. Advertisements for de-proclamation of the nature reserve and establishment of the township were published simultaneously in the Fourways Review of 17 February 2010.
Comments must be submitted before 18 March 2010.
Please register as an interested or affected party (I&AP) and send objections or comments to:
Samantha Bush
Nemai Consulting
Tel 011-781-1730
Fax 011-781-1731
samanthab@nemai.co.za Now here is an other e-mail, but it's different. Here it is - don’t know where you got the original email from (I got it from Joan) so don’t know if you were on the email list
Fyi – u may distribute if you like
Thanks
Bonnie
Hi Joan
Just to put things into perspective for you. Northern farm is not closing down – the JB water management has made a choice to focus on core business which is filtering the water from the sewerage works and this will continue as the main focus. What they are putting a stop to is the other farm works like the crops of mielies and oat hay and the cattle farming. The NFRUG (northern farm recreational user group) will continue to use the farm as per our lease agreement, including horse riding, cycling, hiking, birding, etc etc.
The de- proclaimation application is for the southern portion of the northern farm. This is the section from the N14 highway south – which includes the current clubhouse and the offices and the school etc etc - (all of it is pretty built up already)
The northern section of the farm (from under the bridge) will remain in use for water filtering and NFRUG activities.
SO it is important to participate by objecting to de-proclaim the southern portion BECAUSE I believe you cannot de- proclaim only a section and thus it would mean that by default they would de- proclaim the northern section too and we don’t want that!!
Our Chairman, Simon Nash has circulated a notice to the users of NF I will ask him to forward this to you.
Regards
Bonnie Debbo
Director of NFRUG
Dear Mr Alan Munro,
Please find attached the Background Information Document which provides details on the proposed Diepsloot Ext 8 project and the Environmental Authorisation Process being undertaken by Nemai Consulting.
Should you have any queries, please contact me at the details provided.
Kind Regards,
Sonja van Eden
Nemai Consulting
Tel 011-781-1730
Fax 011-781-1731
Background Information Document for the EIA Process for the Proposed Diepsloot Ext 8
|
Dear Mr Alan Munro,
Please find attached a Background Information Document (BID) for the proposed De-Proclamation of the Southern Section (Section South of the N14) of the Diepsloot Nature Reserve. The BID clearly indicates that the Northern Section of the Nature Reserve (Section North of the N14) will remain untouched.
Should you have any queries, please contact me at the details provided.
Kind Regards,
Sonja van Eden
Nemai Consulting
Tel 011-781-1730
Fax 011-781-1731
Background Information Document for the Proposed De-Proclamation of the Southern Portion of the Diepsloot N
|
PS: From all 4 stories I still would like to know the truth as a point of, what is the Gauteng Gov doing or more so do they even know what they are doing. This is not only a working farm, but also grows food and now they are closing down that side and 70 people will be out of work????!!!!!!
I think that SA's change of guard has lost every thing and if we do not stop them now there will be NO SA. Send your comment to alan@honystable.com
|
