PRESS RELEASE                                                                                                 13 June 2002

CITY OF CAPE TOWN GIVES BLESSING TO EXTENSION OF ZANDVLEI NATURE RESERVE

A proposal to expand the Zandvlei Nature Reserve at Muizenberg from 22 to 200 hectares has received the full support of the City of Cape Town.

Councillor Brian Watkyns, Executive Councillor for Planning and Environment, said the Zandvlei River Mouth is the only functioning estuary in False Bay and an important fish nursery for 21 species of salt water fish.

“Many threatened species of flora and fauna are also found in the estuary, and I have given my total support to this worthy project,” he said.

The extension of the reserve will include the Westlake Wetlands, the area between the railway line and the existing Zandvlei Reserve, Wildwood Island, Park Island, the Zandvlei Mouth and water surface, Bath Road, the sensitive area along the Keyser River, and the restoration area at the confluence of the Langevlei and Sand Rivers.

The proclamation of the extended reserve will make it a local authority reserve which gives it greater legal standing.

Councillor Watkyns said the project was going ahead with full community and stakeholder participation.

“Apart from its conservation worthiness, Zandvlei also fits in well with our Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy which has, as a priority, the conservation and protection of biodiversity,” he said.

Included in the extended reserve will be multi-use recreational facilities.

“Hopefully we will be able to secure national and international funding to assist with the upgrading of the Reserve,” Councillor Watkyns said.

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