GUIDELINES FOR BUILDERS. DEVELOPERS & HOMEOWNERS

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REMOVING SAND OR OTHER MATERIAL FROM THE LAGOON (Regulation 9)

You may only remove material from the Lagoon if you have written permission from SANParks. This includes dredging, pumping or mechanically digging out "sand, soil or stones from the water area."

You may not "deposit, dump or throw any sand, soil, stones or other material" into the water area, nor may you build any retaining walls or weirs in the water area.

JETTIES, BUOYS, ETC. (Regulation 9)

Jetties, docks, piers, landing stages, landing floats, buoys, anchor buoys, markers, rafts, fences or obstructions, bridges, ports, roads or crossing may only be erected on or constructed within the water area with the written permission of SANParks. These structures may only be erected "in accordance with plans, specifications and conditions" approved by SANParks.

BUILDING RUBBLE (Regulation 11)

You may only dump waste material - including such things as building rubble, garbage, effluent, fish offal, fuel or foodstuffs - in the water area if you have written approval from SANParks.

SANPARKS RIGHT TO INSPECT PROPERTY (Regulation 18)

Officers and employees of SANParks - and persons nominated by SANParks - may enter any property within the Lake Area at reasonable times in order to perform inspections, investigations or tests necessary for ensuring compliance with the Act.

SANPARKS OFFICIALS (Regulation 30)

No one may "hinder, trouble or obstruct" any SANParks employee or any person who is delegated to ensure compliance with the Act or its regulations whilst he or she is executing his or her duties. It is illegal to refuse or "fail to obey or to comply with" the Act or its regulations - or to "fail to obey or to comply with" any request or instruction issued in terms of the Act or its regulations.

PENALTIES (Regulation 32)

The courts may fine or imprison any person who is found guilty of contravening or failing to comply with the Act or any of its regulations.

DESIGNING FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY

All the energy we need comes, ultimately, from the sun. The sun drives both photosynthesis and the water cycle - the basic processes which sustain all life. It has always done so and thus, for the modern, industrialised world, it was the motive power from which ancient plant matter created today's fossil fuels. In any one day, however, the sun provides 20,000 times more energy than the entire planet needs, and this is why the gasses of the Earth's atmosphere are so important - because they filter out unwanted and harmful excess radiation.

Unfortunately, though, our use of fossil fuels is damaging these atmospheric gasses and this threatens the sustainability of life on the planet. This, together with the knowledge that the world's stock of fossil fuels is fast being depleted, motivates the search for alternative energy sources - and for innovative designs for energy-efficient buildings and communities.

"Traditional housing all over the world shows great sensitivity to local climate in their design and use of local materials. So why do we now carry on building the same matchbox houses on little plots anywhere and everywhere?

Here in Knysna, as in much of South Africa, our housing design has, in the past, taken little account of the realities of our climate. It gets cold and damp here in winter and hot in summer, and most of our buildings are designed to take best advantage of the view - which is, because of the shape of the land, generally to the south. Yet, by applying the principles of 'passive thermal design' (allowing and using climate and topography to dictate natural heating and cooling) and by thinking in terms of alternative energy sources.

DECLARED WEEDS AND INVADER PLANTS

Various exotic plants have infested the Knysna area - including black wattle (Acacia melanoxylon), rooikrans (Acacia Cyclops), gums (Eucalyptus spp.), hakea(Hakeasalicifolia), Port Jackson willow (Acacia saligna), etc. Invaders were originally imported to South Africa as ornamentals or for fanning or dune stabilisation. In this country, however, they have very few or no natural predators, and they can therefore reproduce without restraint. This result is that they have colonised large tracts of land, almost to the exclusion of the natural, indigenous vegetation. Their thirsty habits also threaten our scarce water resources.

The control of declared weeds is subject to the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (Act 43 of 1983). Initiatives to eradicate them include the use of biological control (by, for example, the introduction of insects which prevent or limit normal sexual reproduction) and mechanical control (removing the invaders by hand or machine).

The law requires landowners to take responsibility for invasive alien plants on their properties, and SANParks personnel are available to advise on control and eradication of unwanted weeds. (such as solar water heating) we can make our buildings much more energy efficient and thus limit our reliance on damaging fossil fuels.

Here are just a few of the many factors which can be considered when designing new buildings, townships or business nodes:

• Position buildings to collect as much energy from the sun as possible (especially during winter);
• Wide roof overhangs keep the sun out in summer, and, if properly designed, allow it in during winter;
• Cross ventilation helps natural cooling;
• Thick walls of rammed earth or stone help to maintain even temperatures in all seasons;
• Free-standing houses lose heat from all sides: row housing, semi- detached houses and double story houses help to insulate one another;
• Most heat loss in buildings occurs through the roof. Insulation is thus vitally important;
• Pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods reduce reliance on motor vehicles and provide easy access to public transport.

A little thought goes a long way when it comes to creating energy efficient buildings - and the good news is that these buildings are cost- efficient, too. And, of course, they're a lot healthier for their users - and for the environment.

-Sarah Ward The Energy Book for urban development in South Africa.

WHAT IF I NEED TO FELL INDIGENOUS TREES?

The National Forests Act, 1998 (Act 84 of 1998) protects all indigenous forests, including partly degraded forests, and it is illegal to fell or disturb forest plants unless you have a license to do so.

'Forests' are generally considered to be stands of trees with contiguous crowns, although the Minister may declare areas with trees whose crowns are not contiguous to be 'forests' for conservation purposes. The Minister may also declare any species to be especially protected - which he has done in the case of the white milkwood (Sideroxylon inerme) - and he may protect individual specimen trees which are important to culture or conservation (please note that special protection includes the products of protected species, and it is thus illegal to trade in the timber of the white milkwood).

Licenses for felling and removal of indigenous trees are issued by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Demar Centre, Knysna - telephone 0443825466.

RESOURCES & BIBLIOGRAPHY

Henderson, L: Alien Weeds And Invasive Plants - A complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa.
Published 2001 Plant Protection Institute of the Agricultural Research Council.
ISBN: 1-86849-192-7

Ward, Sarah: The Energy Book for urban development in South Africa.
Published 2002 Sustainable Energy Africa.
ISBN: 0-620-29328-4.
www.sustainable.org.za

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