Theewaterskloof Council and Municipal Manager

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GREYTON CONSERVATION SOCIETY. PO BOX 48. GREYTON 7233 Telephone: Alastair Nelson (Chairman): 076 528 8907

The Society is a non-profit organisation. Registration Number 003-407-NPO Heritage Registration Number HWC/RCB/01/10

22 April 2021

Theewaterskloof Council and Municipal Manager

Request for increase to budget for Greyton Field Guides for Draft Budget 2021-2022 Permanent posts for Greyton Nature Reserve

The Greyton Conservation Society hereby requests TWK budget provision for the full time employment of 2 permanent employees by TWK to support management of the Municipal Greyton Nature Reserve. As well as the 2 permanent employees, 2 casual workers are required to ensure that shifts are covered 7 days a week and during leave periods.

Alternatively, GCS requests an increase for the currently employed 4-man team from R150/day to R200/day.

Greyton Nature Reserve

The GNR is 2070ha in extent and includes the mountain catchment area responsible for our water sources from the Gobos and the Noupoort rivers. The GNR is part of the Riviersondered Complex and thus falls within the Cape Floral Kingdom World Heritage site. The GNR is the gateway for the Boesmanskloof overnight hiking trail, and has a network of 9 marked and maintained day hiking trails. These trails are of considerable recreation value and play a major role in attracting tourists to Greyton. They are also important to residents and school groups.

The aesthetic value added to the village of Greyton by the surrounding mountains makes Greyton a special and desirable place to live and to visit. The Reserve belongs to the Theewaterskloof Municipality. Most of the management of the Reserve including trail maintenance, trail signage, invasive alien removal, access control, security patrols and the management of problem animals is carried out by the Greyton Conservation Society (GCS).

This work is agreed with TWK through the Greyton Nature Reserve Advisory Board (GNRAB).

GCS does this work through its fundraising initiatives which includes donations from residents supporting the Baboon Monitor programme that GCS manages. TWK contribute through casual labour contracts for alien clearing and field guides. Although this goes a long way towards making the various projects sustainable, GCS believes that more support from the municipality is needed. The best way to achieve this would be in the form of permanent employment of two staff for the Reserve.

Benefits of a permanent team are outlined below.

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Security

The safety of our residents and visitors walking in the mountains can no longer be guaranteed.

A number of violent attacks in recent years call for extra caution and without decisive action our mountain may become a no-go area. Further, the Reserve does not have facilities for picnics - there are no ablution or seating facilities. Still, some people try to bring alcohol into the Reserve.

This will destroy the calm atmosphere and purpose of a quiet retreat, and see a decline in the use of the Reserve. Visible patrols and access control is required 7 days a week. The current GCS team has radio contact with management and with security companies in the village and can thus play a role in extending security and control into the Reserve.

Tourism

The Boesmanskloof 2-day overnight hike starts and finishes from the GNR with 6kms of trail in the GNR before entering Cape Nature property. This hike is an attraction to the village and our portion of the trail must always be in good condition for our visitors.

Two annual events make use of the reserve for their routes. The Greyton Brew Run attracts about 400 participants and the Greyton Mountain Marathon 2-day event launching this year hopes to attract 200 runners. These participants spend money in the village and are likely to return for more after the events.

Greyton is a small village that relies almost entirely on tourism for economic activity. Of the

“things to do” the reserve must feature in the “Top 3” along with the Market and the Mountain Bike trails.

Problem Animals

GCS manages and contributes to the funding of 5 field guides that among their duties ensure that problem baboons do not raid homes and bins. Thus far Greyton has avoided the problems with baboons that have happened elsewhere in the Western Cape where unmanaged troops have had a significant negative impact on the urban environment. Greyton would be particularly hard hit as tourism is the lifeblood of the town and the benefit is felt throughout the ward. City of Cape Town and Overstrand both have multi-million Rand baboon monitoring and management projects, whereas Theewaterskloof and specifically Greyton currently do not have to budget for baboon management.

Job security and job creation

Currently GCS together with TWK employ 4 people on casual wages plus GCS pays a 5^th member of the team. GCS raises funds for about half of the annual cost of the team and TWK pays the other half by means of a casual wage. These staff have no job security as the funding may dry up at any stage. Also, as the program is dependent on funding the program and its benefit to the community may be lost at any stage.

Tasks of the permanent employees

The duties of the Reserve field guides would include trail clearing and maintenance, alien

vegetation clearing in the reserve, security patrols, access control, law enforcement and guiding the visitors on the most appropriate trails and view points for their needs.

GCS have managed the field guide program since August 2017 thereby reducing human wildlife conflict and complaints directed at the municipality.

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Conclusion

GCS appreciate the support that TWK give the GNR in the form of casual wage contracts but hereby request the TWK to employ 2 full time field guides plus 2 casual workers to work at the Reserve. Failing this we request an increase for the 4 currently employed casual workers from R150/day to R200/day.

A Nature Reserve of the size, status and importance of the Greyton Nature Reserve requires full-time staff to make sure that it is properly managed. It is part of a world Heritage Site, it attracts toursits to the village, and it is used by residents and school groups. TWK needs to ensure that it remains a safe and well looked after asset for tourists and locals to enjoy. GCS is committed to continuing to support TWK achieve this.

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