THE contract for the construction of the Skuifraam Dam near Franschhoek is due to be signed next month between the Department of Water Affairs and the Cape Town metropolitan council.

The dam will be financed by a levy on water which will be imposed from 1 July until completion in 2007.

Prior to the development of the dam, a monitoring study of the Berg River is being undertaken to establish the current natural state of the river.

This three-year study (which began in October) aims to establish the baseline conditions in the estuary and river.

Anchor Environmental Consultants CC (AEC) and the Freshwater Consulting Group (FCG) have been appointed by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DWAF) to conduct this Baseline Monitoring Programme for the Berg River. 

All interested and affected parties, especially riparian land-owners within the Berg River area are requested to co-operate with, and facilitate the specialists in their various sampling procedures. 

This may include providing access to land, information or advice about the area or permission to install various small pieces of equipment. The co-operation of land-owners in this area will assist in collecting thorough, accurate data. 

Many specialists have already commenced with sampling, and others will be doing so shortly.

This study is a condition of the EIA authoridation for the construction of the dam.

The overall objective of the Baseline Monitoring Programme is to decide the natural and present state, including the natural and present state, including the natural variability of those chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the river, and its hydraulically linked systems (estuary, floodplains and groundwater) that are most likely to be affected by changes imposed after the construction of the Skuifraam Dam. 

The programme aims to develop a conceptual model of ecosystem functioning, both past and present, particularly describing the links between the flow regime and other ecosystem components. 

Specific objectives of the Baseline Monitoring Programme are to describe the water resource of the Berg River, its biological characteristics (seaweed, invertebrates, fish, riparian vegetation): its hydrological, hydraulic and fluvial geomorphological characteristics, including habitat characteristics, its chemical and physical characteristics, groundwater occurrence and chemistry and social and recreational aspects of the water resource (dam safety and recreational activity).

Six baseline monitoring sites along the river will be established for geomorphological and hydraulic and sediment transport calculations, of which five will be sampled for biological (seaweed, invertebrates, fish, riparian vegetation) and water chemistry monitoring.

At the end of the baseline monitoring period, a final report will be compiled that describes the monitoring programme as implemented, modifications to the programme made during the course of the project and results of the Baseline Monitoring Programme in terms of describing the Berg River system as a whole, prior to the onset of construction. 

The report (to be delivered to the Department of Water Affairs by 31 December 2005) will include conclusions and statements from the various experts regarding the natural variability observed in the system during the baseline monitoring period and from historical data, and its relevance to ecological sustainability.

Overall project management will be undertaken by Anchor Environmental Consultants and will be the responsibility of the Project Administrator, Dr Barry Clark. 

Ms Geordie Ractliffe, of the Freshwater Consulting Group, will be the Technical co-ordinator, responsible for all aspects relating to the acquisition, collection, analysis and dissemination of data.

For enquiries, contact Dr Barry Clark on bclark@botzoo.uct.ac.za or tel 685-3400.

DIE burgemeester van die Boland Distriksmunisipaliteit, Clarence Johnson, het onlangs 'n besoek aan Zaanstad in Nederland gebring om oor samewerking te praat. Hy was vergesel van die munisipale bestuurder, Kam Chetty.

'n Memorandum van Voorneme is tussen die twee munisipaliteite gesluit. Hulle sal in die toekoms veral saamwerk rondom ekonomiese ontwikkeling, behuising en organisasie-veranderingsbestuur.

Johnson het in 'n gesprek met burgemeester Ruud Vreeman van Zaanstad genoem dat die Nederlanders op hul beurt by Boland kan kers opsteek oor gesondheidsorg.

Hy het veral verwys na vigs- en TB-programme wat internasionale erkenning geniet.

Van die programme en projekte sal in plek geplaas word deur private besoeke deur lede van die Suid-Afrikaans Nederlandse Kamer van Koophandel deur direkte investering in behuising.

* The Boland mayor has signed a co-operation agreement with the Dutch town Zaandam.

THE Directorate Veterinary Services in the Western Cape Province would like to take this opportunity to bring to the notice of all horse owners/carriers that the policy regulating AHS control and control over the movement of equines (horses, donkeys and mules) and zebra into and within the AHS Controlled Area of the Western Cape Province (WCP), has been revised due to the EU Decision of 27 July 2001 and Animal Diseases Regulations of 21 September 2001.

The new, smaller AHS Protection Zone, now comprises the magisterial districts Clanwilliam, Piketberg, Ceres, Tulbagh, Worcester, Robertson, Montagu, Caledon, Hermanus, Bredasdorp and Swellendam and excludes all districts to the north and east of these.

The new entry/exit points on the main routes are the N7 between Clanwilliam and Klawer at Trawal, the N1 between Touwsriver and Matjiesfontein and the N2 between Swellendam and Heidelberg.

Thus movements that could previously take place without any requirements now require certification and permits.

Should you require further information regarding AHS Control measures please contact the State Veterinarian of the Boland region on tel 808-5253.

THE first speaker from the United Kingdom will open the Nederburg Auction in Paarl on 12 April.  

Allan Cheesman (53) has worked in the wine trade for Sainsbury's supermarkets for over 30 years where he was Wine Buying Director.

During this time Sainsbury's increased in size to 480 stores in the UK, customers to 10 million a week and wine sales from just 84 000 to over 3 million bottles per week.

Sainsbury's pioneered the sale of wine through supermarkets in the UK in the 1970s and remains one of the leading retailers of wine in the UK with a reputation for quality own brand and for popularising and demystifying the category to consumers.

Over the past two years Cheesman has led Sainsbury's into bringing over 80 wine-literate off-licence managers onto the shop floor to help and advise customers.

In 2002 Sainsbury's was named "Supermarket of the Year" by the International Wine Challenge and "Wine Retailer" by Off-Licence News in 2003.

Last year he was named winner of a Lifetime Achievement Award by Off-Licence News and has also received a number of other awards. He has retired and is now wine consultant to the company.y000000

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