Zandvlei trust

 Celebrating GZENR on 28 March 2007. 

ZVT members, friends and City of Cape Town ofiicals came to celebrate the proclamation of the Greater Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve (GZENR) at the Zandvlei Sports Club. This was a special social occasion attended by more than 70 people. Most stayed to see the Al Gore "Inconvenient Truth"  DVD kindly arranged by John and Sandra Fowkes. Thank you to Jeremy Main from the Climate Systems Analysis Group, University of Cape Town brought all the equipment for the show.

Councillor and Mrs Qually, Suretha van Rooyen      Julia Wood and Erika Foot
and Clifford Dorse

This is the culmination of a long protracted process to gain recognition and legal status for the water body of Zandvlei including the cannals of the Marina da Gama and identified surrounding land components. GZENR is an urban Local Authority Nature Reserve within the City of Cape Town.

Gabby Perez and Cassy Sheasby                      Russell and Judith Sher 

Prof Dennis Davey, Cherry Giljam and Julia Wood      Prof George Ellis and Sharon McCallum 

Mary and Ken Williams with Joan Wigram                   Erika Foot, Michael  Hoarau, Kareemah Jacobs and
                                                                               Farrah Feldman

All the previous Zandvlei Nature Reserve Managers were present Clifford Dorse, Erika Foot, and Farrah Feldman. Cassy Sheasby the present Manager as well. Thank you to all of you.
They all had input and influence to the process and this needs to be acknowledged. Julia Wood the Manager of Nature  Conservation and Biodiversity for the City of Cape Town encouraged and contributed together with Clifford to this process in a dynamic and 'ground breaking way'. Thanks also go to Joy Garman - Environmental Management who drove the process while it was with Cape Nature for their legal ratification. Natalie Newman was also involved before Joy.
Thank you to Councillor Qually for Ward 64 who assisted where possible in the process hearings and for decison making at sub council and full council meetings.

Thank you also to Cherry Giljan for the Marina Home Owners Association she had continuous input all along the way. Thank you also to Vincent Marincowitz and Una Hartley during their terms of Chair for Zandvlei Trust and being involved with the process.

Vicki Leitner in discussion                                   Sharon, Pat McEwan and Joan

The preliminary process was to have local civil society input at sub council level before it was approved at full council level, then on to Mayco (Mayoral Advisoty Committee) for City approval, before it was submitted to Provincial level for the MEC of Environment Taseem Essop for final consideration and approval and the proclamation in October 2006.

Vonnie Morris and Bowen Boshier serving drinks           Peter and Toni Joubert, Cheryl Barratt and Sharon  

Els Dorrat and Sharon again                                     Alex and Henk Schreuders with Vincent Marincowitz

Farrah, Kareemah, Anita Flockhart, Erika and Michael     The Shers with Robin and Pat Burnett

From the practical side, there is now one authority for the area, instead of 5 different divisions!! 
A significant achievement for the City and civil society. For those who live on the water and adjoining the reserve areas you now live beside a Nature Reserve.