The theme for the Friends of the Liesbeeks AGM this year was ‘Jewels of the Liesbeek’, a collection of photos from friends and committee members. What follows are just some of the animal and plant ’Jewels’ captured during the daily Maintenance Project activities along the River. Click more to view photos.

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The Friends of the Liesbeek were there to witness the interests of a group of remote controlled sailing enthusiasts. Its another fantastic way to use the river for recreational activity. All agreed that if this activity grows it could have all sorts of benefits especially in improving the Observatory section of the Liesbeek. Already the Maintenance Team have plans to remove the weed in this part of the river and to assist the sailors in creating a stretch of water that will hopefully attract many more sailors.  Thanks to Neil, Colin and Alan for demonstrating the potential to use the Liesbeek for sailing. It certainly attracted the attention of the passing public.

Neil standing alongside his model yacht (below)

At the end of 2009 the Liesbeek Maintenance Project team and volunteers from the South African Breweries (SAB) constructed three signs along the Liesbeek trail. The signs were made using rocks from the area, cement and wooden ‘plinths’, which had been cut from fallen Oak trees along the river.

Construction of sign opposite Josephine Mill in Rondebosch

SAB volunteers and David Nyalathele with finished base of sign at Alfred stream in Rondebosch

The idea was to then attach a perspex sleeve to the wooden ‘plinth’ into which laminated signs could be placed and changed at ones discretion. These perpex sleeves were ready and attached at the beggining of 2010.

David Nyalathele attaches perspex sleeve

The finished product

The Liesbeek maintenance Project team will be constructing more signs along the trail from the end of July 2010, and will be looking at other creative ways of doing so.

A big congratulation must go out to the Liesbeek Maintenance Project team and the Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area team for coming forth in the State of the environment competition. Well done to you all.

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State of our environment competition

During September 2009, the Liesbeek Maintenance team were involved with the preparation for the State of our environment competition to be held at the Two Oceans Aquarium in October 2009. Participants had to identify every day environmental issues that affect them in their daily lives. They could either write a story or use visual effects, such as photos, a movie or a display to depict these environmental issues.

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Bring family & friends & some refreshments and we’ll walk and talk our way down river on

Monday 16 March 2009 at 17h30
Meet in Winchester Road, Bishopscourt below the Good Shepherd Church
Dr Kevin Winter will lead us down to the Riverine Park

Wednesday 18 March 2009 at 17h30
Meet in the Newlands Pool Carpark
Di Mellon will lead us to Roslyn Road Park

Limited return transport will be available.
Dogs with poop scoops welcome.
No charge.

Queries: Liz or Dave on 021-671-4553

Attached as a PDF are the minutes from the 2008 AGM

There is an increasing sense among government officials, politicians, developers and public in general that Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are not working as well as they could and are limited in their intended outcome at best. A variety of reasons are often given. The Friends of the Liesbeek cite a lack of commonsense and a failure to follow public participation processes as key elements of the growing frustration with EIAs. Recent experience of the Friends with the development of the double storey parking facility attached to the Rondebosch Village shopping centre is a case in point.
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