First published 17 May 2001

Here comes the water... and the Premier of the Western Cape!

Premier of the Western Cape, Gerald Morkel, Cabinet Ministers and senior officials , visited Thesen Islands on Monday 14th May 2001, reported the Knysna-Plett Herald.

After a presentation of the re-development of Thesen Islands at the Sales Centre by Chris Mulder, they were taken for a tour of the work in progress. They then had lunch at the Knysna Oyster Company on the Island.


A view of the waterways looking towards the Heads.








The visit coincided with the opening of the Phase 1A waterways to the lagoon. This long awaited event took place at low tide on Monday when the earthen wall separating the waterways from the lagoon was carefully removed. To slow down the flow of the water into the waterways, water was pumped into the waterways to equalize the level of the lagoon and waterways, prior to the removing of the wall. The incoming tide then slowly filled the waterways for the first time, witnessed by an excited group of workers.



A view of the waterways looking towards Knysna.






The whole process took place under the watchful eye of Pieter Badenhorst, the Environmental Control Officer, who is tasked with ensuring that the redevelopment takes place within the guidelines laid down by the Department of Environmental Affairs.


The tidal flow around the islands promises excellent natural circulation. The CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) have used a state of the art modelling system developed by The Danish Hydraulic Institute to assist with the design and layout of the waterways.
With a team of 240 local workers, the construction of the waterways proceeded quickly. 70 metres of the natural stone packed gabions waterway sides were completed daily. The top edges of the gabions, above the inter-tidal zone, are planted with indigenous groundcovers. The sides will be planted with inter-tidal plants from the onsite nursery. The bottom of the waterway is the existing fine white sand. The average water depth of the waterways is 1.6 metres. Waterfront properties have a private timber jetties, with stairs down to the water.


A view from a jetty on Plantation Island towards Jubilee Island. A typical jetty is on the left.

The first phase of the re-development, now 80% sold out, is scheduled for transfer in mid June. The second phase, already 50% sold out, will be complete in November 2001. To date, 177 stands have been sold.

A number of owners are planning to start building their homes immediately. Many of them will be spending Christmas, 2001, on Thesen Islands.