WHITEWATER/ADVENTURE PARK PROPOSAL – OPPOSITE FIELD & STUDY PARK
The FOFS Committee met and agreed with my opinion expressed in the previous newsletter. The Proposal covers the bank opposite with a 3m high concrete pool with rapids, and turbulence channels, pool etc for fun seekers as well as water sport training at international level.
There is insufficient parking on the site hence the area shown IN the Park as a Parking area. It will operate 7 days a week and they estimate 67,000 visitors a year! That spells the end of our peaceful oasis and we have no doubt that a move will be made onto our side of the river, besides the parking area already shown on the Proposal photograph.
We have heard they are busy getting “their ducks in a row” behind the scenes re. access, etc and they need the ‘buy-in’ from the community. FOFS is dead against this proposal and will do all it can to oppose it. We undertook to “Preserve, Protect and Promote” this precious green lung in our midst and have been doing so for 11 years.
BE AWARE OF THIS THREAT TO OUR PARK AND SPREAD THE WORD. JOIN FOFS AND HELP US SAVE OUR PARK FROM BEING OVERTAKEN. WE HAVE GOT RID OF 4 OTHER ATTEMPTS SO FAR FOR CHUNKS OF THE EXISTING PARK FOR DOGGY DAY CARE AND A HUGE WOODEN MAZE.
PARK NEWS
With Christmas coming Events in the Park are being booked and we expect the numerous Burial Society Picnics plus more users for picnics etc. So far Big event on Nov. 24th . 300 people. We have had 5 extra braai stands put in the Park – 3 below the first field and two extra the second. 56 trees have been planted, thank you Parks. The guards keep an eye on those in the Park and we have had no crime since they arrived.
The inner road urgently needs to be re-tarred. We have tried for years to deal with potholes etc. This is Parks responsibility but pleas fall on deaf ears.
I need to do the annual low trim of all the trees but I just cannot work in this heat. We have advised Parks that the toilet facilities are inadequate with increased numbers and big functions must bring in portable extra toilets.
The squatters cause no problems and are willing to work in the Park and do river clean ups. Lisa Lowenthal is now dealing with them. NOTE they were established on that W. Bank long before FOFS took over managing the Park. We INHERITED them. The water agreement is we give them water they do not come into the Park or damage the vegetation. It is an ongoing problem which we have had to make the best of a bad situation until a solution can be found. A suitable Devlopment on that bank for the Park will have them moving on – as in George Lea. You don’t SOLVE the problem you MOVE IT – we have had some from G. Lea now come to us. We have no jurisdiction over them
MARKET
This gets bigger each time and frankly with the Café Functions as well the Parking and traffic is a huge problem. I have told Parks that the toilet facilities are now inadequate. Big Events must now bring in extra toilets.
DECEMBER – I AM AWAY IN AUSTRALIA
CONTACT ARTHUR HAMMOND – 082 903 7623
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