After months of halted maintenance, including the removal of biomass from Little Princess Vlei due to the Leopard Toad mating season, work has finally resumed on restoring the vlei to a “pristine condition”.
Last year, People’s Post reported that biomass could not be removed due to the start of the Leopard Toad breeding season.
Ward 72 councillor Kevin Southgate said the maintenance of Princess Vlei and Little Princess Vlei has been a collective effort.
“During September and January, we were not permitted to work in the water due to the leopard toad breeding season which is why it looks so untidy.
“The breeding season ends around the end of January which is why it is so important to have a maintenance schedule in place, if not, the water body would be overgrown and unpleasant during summer.”
He added that recreational users were also not happy when they were not able to enjoy activities such as fishing and canoeing.
“Having obtained permits to fish recreationally to then not be able to make some people unhappy. We have lots of people who do recreation fishing.”
Once the Leopard Toad breeding season came to an end maintenance work officially started.
“Once the season was over we started with maintenance and the contractor came in with mechanical equipment. It has taken us quite a while, the biomass is currently being removed and Princess Vlei is being restored to a pristine condition.”
Southgate further explains that there have been some species, identified at Little Princess Vlei, that have to be protected.
“Unfortunately there was an incident reported of fish dying but that was a result of something in the water.
“We had the water tested before and there was nothing wrong with the water quality. We have managed to clean up the area and hopefully it would all be completed by the end of this month.”
To ensure regular maintenance and clean-ups at the vlei Southgate says he has requested a maintenance plan from the Department of Recreation and Parks.
“We have been busy for six weeks now, maintenance has been done at both Princess Vlei and Little Princess Vlei.
“I’ve asked the department for a maintenance plan going forward for regular clean-ups, litter barriers and a team that can do regular manual cleaning to go into the waterbody with a boat and equipment to prevent the build-up of excess litter.
“We are also trying to get the responsibility moved from the Department of Recreation and Parks to Biodiversity.”
Meanwhile, a concerned resident, Debra Hetherington, said much-needed action was taken to save Little Princess Vlei, which is an important heritage site.
“The entire vlei was invaded with alien plant species from the bottom of the vlei to the surface. Bird species, fish and endangered leopard toads dying and becoming more extinct.
“My brother who lives close by became very alarmed and concerned with the rotting of Little Princess Vlei. He is into nature and you could not even put your canoe in the water.
“My brother was at his wits’ end and very concerned because he enjoys the bird life and he just did not know what to do. I contacted all the departments and I am just pleased to see all the changes and that something is being done.”
