Newsletter, May 2024
We are happy to acknowledge Daren of HostFaddy as our newly appointed webhost who upgraded our website and consolidated our email addresses after our previous system was no longer able to fulfil the function of bulk emailing (of Newsletters and / or general email notifications).
After much research, the Committee chose to appoint Host Faddy, based right here on the KZN South Coast, to take over our digital processing, rather than an international option.
Hence, we are now once again excited about the delivery of the Newsletter to all our registered email holders.
Please accept our apologies for the receipt of any duplicate emails received, and by the same token we will now also be to track any undelivered emails.
=The Leisure Bay Conservancy was established in January 2012 after having been a part of the Leisure Ratepayers Association (and similarly named organizations) for many years before.
=Our area extends from the N2 in the west to the Indian Ocean in the east, and from the Thongazi River in the north the Boboyi River in the south.
=The aim of the Conservancy is to protect and preserve the natural environment of Leisure Bay.
=The committee is group of committed volunteers.
=We have an active group of residents who are volunteers, and some occasional volunteers – we thank you all!
=The Conservancy’s only employees are our 3 workmen who work a total of 5 man-days a week.
=We rely on donations and fundraising as we have no other income.
Any amount at any frequency is greatly appreciated.
Our bank details are:
Nedbank
Acc name. Leisure Bay Conservancy
Account number: 1029656436
Branch code 180005
Please use your name and lot number as reference, and we thank you in advance.
=Join us on whatsapp; 082 857 3363. Only nature-based subjects are discussed.
=Join us on Facebook,Leisure Bay Conservancy
=Visit our website www.leisurebayconservancy.co.za
=Our email address is leisurebay123@gmail.com
=Sincere thanks to the photographers whose photos are used in this newsletter – most come from our active WhatsApp group.
<>Doing Alien Invader Plant control in the Admiralty Reserve, specifically Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia), Indian shot (Canna indica), Wild ginger (various Hedychium species). We use herbicides to the minimum. Here we thank Greenways Garden Services for carting away what cannot be left on site.
<>Maintaining our sea paths and entrances to the beaches and shoreline
<>Maintaining the Leisure Bay Firefly Sanctuary, situated at the bottom of Torquay Avenue, in the Peter Pan / Kidds Beach parking area
<>Assisting homeowners, Treefellers and others to obtain permits from DFFE iro protected trees
<>Advising and informing residents of our activities and environmental issues on social media
<>We attended the Annual General Meeting of the mother body of conservancies in Kwa Zulu Natal, Conservancies KZN, as well as the quarterly meetings of the conservancies in the Ugu District Municipality region. It’s heartening to know that we all have similar challenges!
<>We held our Annual General Meeting in December 2023 where the Chairman’s and Treasurer’s reports were presented and discussed, and the new committee members were proposed (and seconded and accepted).
The current committee is listed at the foot of the newsletter.
The Chairman’s Report contained many of the points mentioned here below. The Chairman, Jenny Koen, stressed the Leisure Bay Conservancy Committee’s strong intention to continue their good working relationships with the other organisations in Leisure Bay. She also thanked the other organisations: the Ratepayers Association, the Neighbourhood Watch and Looking After Leisure Bay for their work through the year (we all strive for the good of Leisure Bay). Unfortunately no representatives of the other organisations were present.
Financial report from Kevin Heard, Treasurer, for the year 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023
We received in donations and fundraising R64,600
Our expenditure totalled R73,486
Deficit for the year R8,886
Major expenses:
Wages R48,175
Webhosting an conversion to new webhost R8,988
UIF and WCA updated R4,789
<>Last winter, there were two incidents of mischiefmakers painting symbols and so on, onto the rocks on the shoreline. A wonderful group of volunteer residents helped us remove it - so appreciated
<>At the end of September we held a quiz night, and winners received donated prizes. Our thanks to the donors and the organisers!
<>On 16 September we participated in the International Coastal Cleanup, with a great turnout of volunteers who we thank.
<>For two days and nights after the International Coastal Cleanup, high seas destroyed the wooden walkway at the entrance to Kidds Beach.
With the Leisure Bay Ratepayers Association’s help and support including a generous donation of gum poles, one particular resident's expertise, our workmen doing the heavy work, more help from residents doing the finishing touches, it was rebuilt in a couple of weeks at minimal cost, using the original timber for the base and a few gum poles for the railings.
<>The April rain event (195mm in a few hours) caused water runoff damage, washing away the sand underneath this same walkway, leaving a cavern underneath it! We removed some of the wooden planks, then carted loads of rocks, stones and building material then packed the filler into the gap, then replaced the slats, leaving it stronger than it was before.
<>Between Christmas and New Year we hosted an outdoor music event, when the versatile local live band gave us a relaxing break from the frenzy of the Festive Season.
<>Since the unprecedented pollution event of the second week of January which affected the coastline at least as far north as Hibberdene and as far south as beyond Port St Johns, our workmen, volunteers and others have spent untold hours picking up plastic and polystyrene from the beaches and the rocks. It was by far the worst such pollution event that anyone we spoke to has ever experienced. It looked – literally – as though a town’s rubbish dump has been washed onto the shoreline.
<>The owners (or prospective owners) clearing or wanting to clear their property before building. So often building doesn’t happen, and all that’s achieved is loss of habitat and a property forever changed as these cleared stands usually become infested with alien plants.
<>We urge anyone wanting to build, to start preparing only after receiving their approved building plans from the Municipality.
<>Another issue is people buying vacant stands online. So many vacant stands are unsuitable to be built on or need specialised building methods, being very wet, so it’s important for the buyer to SEE what he/she is buying.
For the sake of the environment, let’s all practice the Rs
Refuse
Reduce
Reuse
Repurpose
Repair
Rot
Recycle
Let’s enjoy them before they return to the Antarctic region towards the end of the year.
Office bearers
Jenny Koen Chairman Tel: 082-857 3363
Kevin Heard Treasurer Tel: 066-147 7150
Margaret Heard Secretary Tel: 063-754 9256
Ordinary members
Jacques de la Harpe Tel: 071-288 7905
Kelly Faught Tel: 073-179 2497
Nicky Shear (co-opted)
Steve Botha
Liebe Steyn
