www.garnerproperties.co.za SELLING · BUYING · LETTING Shop 1, Nieuport Building, Recreation Road, Fish Hoek
082 900 3116 · 021 782 4908
E-mail: post@peoplespost.co.za
Tuesday 4 October 2011
Tel: 021 713 9440 Fax: 021 713 9481
STILL AROUND: This shark was spotted yesterday (Monday) at Fish Hoek Beach at 14:30. Read more about last week’s shark attack on page three. Photos: Maria Wagener
A new take on natural fun DALEEN FOUCHÉ
T
HE Table Mountain National Park unveiled its revamped activity permit, which allows unlimited year-long access for a particular activity to parts of the reserve, at a press conference on Wednesday. The My Activity Permit is a restructured management tool to ensure that the impact of activities within the park is properly managed, and that the extraordinary biodiversity of the park is protected. But the debate on the revised permit system was already in full swing before the unveiling last week. In a letter to People’s Post (“Give my dog its own permit”, People’s Post, 16 August), Roy Phillips asked whether it would not be more practical to give dogs a permit instead of people. This way, he argued, a family would not have to buy several permit cards, but only one for the family dog. In response to this debate, and to a request made by the Friends of the
Dog Walkers (FDW), the TMNP will now further investigate possibilities for family and couple permits for dog walking in the park; this would offer a discount for each member of a family applying for a permit. But Merle Collins, spokesperson for the TMNP, says this structure is still to be completed. However, Collins says the TMNP will engage with the Scarborough and Kommetjie Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Associations to offer discounts to residents who only walk their dogs on their local beaches and do not use other park facilities. Collins says residents will be informed of the discounts once they have been finalised. The cost of the activity card is determined by the impact the activity is deemed to have on the park, and ranges from R135 for a dog-walking permit to R280 for a horse riding or line fishing permit. Park manager Paddy Gordon said during the press conference that some activities are prohibited in some areas of the park, depending
on the sensitivity of the environment. For instance, dog walking is not permitted at Cape Point. He said this zoning scheme was developed through the analysis of several years’ worth of research. Gordon further explained that a permit holder would not have to pay fees for entering the park when engaging in the permitted activity, but would need a My Green Card or a Wild Card to access the park otherwise. The TMNP recently launched its My Green Card (“Go green and get access to save”, People’s Post, 2 August), which costs R80 and allows 12 entries into the park for one year. Gordon said dog walkers and people partaking in other activities are increasing every season, with over 110 000 dog walkers, 52 000 cyclists and about 80 000 trail runners visiting the park in a year. He said the TMNP’s first priority is to protect the biodiversity of the park, but it also realises the need to make the park accessible to people – hence the restructuring of the permit system.
PARKLANDS - 021 556 0538
TOKAI - 021 713 3138
cnr Main & Tokai Rd’s (next to KFC)
RUGBY WORLD CUP FAN
Leonardo Park, Main Rd, Parklands (opp. KFC @ circle)
SALE LESS 10%
Asked how the permit system would be enforced, Gordon said the park relies mainly on residents to police themselves. He said people need to sign a code of conduct when they apply for a permit, acting as an agreement between the park and the permit holder. Even so, he warned that the rangers on patrol in the park check for permits, and that repeat offenders would be fined. Gordon said the revamped permit system was developed in consultation with various interest groups, such as Paddle Power and the FDW. The card is available at Boulders Beach, and the TMNP offices in Westlake and Tokai. The TMNP is also negotiating with Cape Town Tourism to make cards available at its outlets. For more information call (021) 701-8692, email tablemountain@sanparks.org or visit www.sanparks.org.
TYGERVALLEY - 021 910 4131 102 Edward Rd, Tygervalley (next to Nando’s)
LUKE BUNK
L-Shape - R3199Standard - R2299-
KAYLA BED R2299-
ON ALL STOCK
www.kidz-city.co.za
kidz-city@vodamail.co.za
24 SEP - 09 OCT 2011 EXCLUDING MULTI BUNK
MULTI BUNK R7999-
AMY BED R1699-
with underbed R2999-
ROXY BUNK
L-Shape - R5499Standard - R4999-
PIGEON HOLE UNIT