Zandvlei trust

 AGM - 18 May 2011.

There was a flurry of activity behind the scenes getting ready for the evenings event. Lighting the fire pouring the drinks warming the snacks. 42 members and friends came along for the evenings procedings. The fire kept the autumn chill out. Sharon McCallum and Julie Dunkerley were away so it was all hands on deck.

Lighting and stoking the fire                           .                Pouring the sherry and warming the snacks in
                                                                                    the kitchen.

Annual subscriptions being paid at the desk. Joyce Brandt and her son were at the entrance table.

Renewing aquaintances and catching up.

The meeting started with the apology about the minutes from last year not being available, due to Julie Dunkerley's having to fly to the UK on Monday due to a sudden death in her family. The situation will be rectified on her return and the minutes will be on the website for review, and circulated to any member requesting them. This was accepted by the meeting.

David Muller reading his Chairmans Report. He is an actor by profession so he is usually
provoking people for reactions to what he says.

Some of the audience listening to the humerous part of the Chairs Report.

More of the audience being entertained......

......and more amused members. 

Read the Chairs Report for 2011.

Gerrard Wigram reading his Treasurers Report.

Lucia Rodrigues reading the nominations for the         Guest speaker Louise Stafford setting up her Powerpoint
incoming Committee.                                               presentation.

The new Committee for 2011 - 2012 elected and accepted are;

Chairman - David Muller
Vice Chairman - Sharon McCallum
Secretary - Julie Dunkerley
Treasurer - Gerrard Wigram
Exco member - Lucia Rodrigues
Exco member - Joyce Brandt
Exco member - Muriel Darke
Exco member - Peter Kruger.

Then a break for snacks and something to drink before the evenings presentation.

Friends from Hout Bay and Llandudno Heritage Trust,             There was scrummy food to eat as well. Supplied
Janice and Dave Cowley with David Muller.                             by and thanks to Pick 'n Pay, Capricorn Park.

Prof Timm Hoffman and Robin Burnett in discussion, obviously things botanical.

Louise introducing her presentation on the new deptartment Early Detection and Rapid Response Project based at the Westlake offices.

She started with the prime causes for the decline of local fynbos areas, as the urban sprawl and development Cape Town has and is experiencing. 
She gave a brief background why the unit has been started. It has a developed a management plan, which has been introduced across all deptartments within the City as well. Lousie gave us hope that for the first time in the City of Cape Town municipality there is inter departmental co-operation and recognised responsibility to address the invassives plant species. 
There are small trained units, who are tackling issues as they are reported and accessed by the experts, with a scientific background who understand the the bigger picture of the habitats and ecosystems. The teams are deployed to clear waterweeds, terrestrial plants and also deal with animals and birds. National funding is available and close co-operation and consultation with national, provincial and local government takes place. She gave some background on the House Crow project and how it is progressing.

The Gutteral Toad is a serious threat to the local endemic Western Leopard Toad population.

We saw the teams deployed in the waterways removing invassive parrots feather and hayacynith, with before and after photos. It is well understood that follow up treatment and removal of regrowths is required to reduce the seed bank over time. The Westlake and Keysers Rivers have been worked on and showing vast improvement.

After a very interesting presentation we are ever hopeful for the future control of invassive species within the City Metropole.

The Early Detection and Rapid Response Project team can be contacted in office hours
 on 021 712 1434 or 021 712 1944.

David presenting Louise with some of the Capes best as a token of thanks.

Thank you to the City officials who gave up their time to attend the meeting Chanbre Rhoda (EDRRP), Dave Curren (Parks dept), Tarryn Rosenrode (EDRRP), Louise and David.
Louise asked them to attend so they may answer any questions the audience may have.