Catch and release at dam discouraged

■ Joe Dreyer

Jetty 3 might soon be restored to its former glory. This after an announcement earlier this week that a new contractor was appointed by the Department of Water Services (DWS) – and not the Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) – to manage the facilities.

Artorius Leisure was appointed as the DWS lease holder on Tzaneen Dam and Jetty 3. The contractor have since closed down Jetty 3 for renovations thereby declaring Jetty 3 a construction site as of the 22nd of March this year.

According to Artorius Leisure the renovations will be done in different stages and will include the construction of the new ablution facilities, a new gate with its own guard house, repairing the access road, landscaping the picnic areas, and the construction of new braai areas.

“There will be limited movement on site during the construction period,” said Thabo Ramopai in a statement. “Upon completion of the project we will be charging entrance fees at the gate thereby invalidating the permits previously issued by the municipality.”

The entry fees have been set at R100 daily to launch a boat, R30 per adult person per day, R20 per vehicle and R20 per child. The annual, or seasonal tickets are available at R1 500. “We will be introducing the previously approved boat wash bay at R25 per boat and details regarding this will be communicated when we reopen. Annual fishing permits will be available upon meeting all the fishing clubs operating at the dam. We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused during