Minutes

September 15, 2009

2:00-2:30PM

Knysna Municipality

PURPOSE of MEETING:

The executive committee of the Phantom-Homtini Nature Conservancy met with Clr Eleanore Bouw-Spies, executive Mayor of Knysna to share, inform and exchange information on the garbage/litter problem in Rheenendal and recycling opportunities. The meeting was also organized to inform the Lady Mayor about the conservancy and to establish a working rapport with the municipality for present and future projects concerning their departments

POINTS DISCUSSED:

§ The chairman of the Conservancy, Howard Butcher, introduced the conservancy and provided reasons for wanting to meet with the Executive mayor

§ The Lady Mayor was interested to know more about the conservancy’s objectives and projects

§ Secretary of the conservancy, Petra ten Velde, briefly presented on the conservancy’s geographic layout, members, objectives, mission statement, and projects

§ Issues and concerns around litter/recycling were raised

§ The Lady Mayor admitted that there are currently no proper measures in place for recycling

§ She also stressed that there is very little awareness amongst all sectors of the community about recycling

§ She also stated that the Knysna recycling depot is not working efficiently and alternative approaches need to be considered

§ The Lady Mayor was unaware of the fact that the truck picking up garbage in Rheenendal did not have a recycling compartment in it anymore

§ The Lady Mayor is initiating a “Green Summit” meeting whereby all major role players (Tourism Board and local businesses) will discuss ways to make Knysna a “greener” town

§ Garbage and recycling will be discussed as well

§ The Lady Mayor invited the conservancy to join this meeting

§ She stressed the need for the conservancy to work with the Keurhoek community as well

§ The Green Summit meeting will most probably be held in the Community Hall in Keurhoek

§ A group called “Rotar Act” is currently working with 18-35 year olds on projects- and the recycling could be a good project for them to involve in

§ The Lady Mayor support the conservancy’s endeavors in recycling and if successful, could inspire other communities

§ If the conservancy requires bins we must put a request in and this could be organized

CONCLUSIONS:

§ The Lady Mayor has provided contact details of a community development officer working in Keurhoek as a point of contact for the conservancy

§ The conservancy will make contact with the development officer, Eunice Lodewyk, to start up dialogue on ways to work together

§ The Lady Mayor asked the conservancy to have clear objectives and possibly proposal for projects to bring to the meeting

§ The Conservancy will await invitation to the Green Summit meeting which is planned for the end of September

§ The conservancy will make a request for bins after careful discussion with Stacey and other interested members

§ The Conservancy will provide the Mayor with a copy of the power point presentation on the conservancy

§ The Lady Mayor will provide the conservancy with the Minutes of their last meeting regarding garbage so that the conservancy is up to date for the Green Summit meeting