First published June 8, 2002
On Ferry Island, looking south towards The Heads. The platform in the freshwater pond will soon house a gazebo
Park and Bird Reserve Layout Plan Unveiled
After three visits of a few months each, Don Austin, a respected former head professor of Landscape Design & Urban Architecture at Texas A&M University received his doctorate) recently completed the layout design of the 11 ha Park and Bird Reserve. It promises to be a natural wonderland.
After three visits of a few months each, Don Austin, a respected former head professor of Landscape Design & Urban Architecture at Texas A&M University received his doctorate) recently completed the layout design of the 11 ha Park and Bird Reserve. It promises to be a natural wonderland.
The large freshwater ponds will be a haven for water birds -the small freshwater vlei at Avocet Close (in Phase 1) has had over a dozen Yellowbilled ducks visiting at a time. The small hill west of the Bird Reserve will offer great views over the Islands and the Lagoon. At 6 metres above mean sea level, it will be the high point of the Islands. As a comparison, a waterway stand is approximately 2.8 metres above MSL.
Reflections off the water in the early morning sun.The home in the foreground was recently sold. It was on the market for R2,950,000
More Stands on Plantation Island Released
Many of these slightly elevated stands (3.4m above MSL) have lovely long views over the Parkland or Bird Reserve towards The Heads and Leisure Island. The group of 8 smaller stands north of the Clubhouse will be released when the designs for the homes are completed. These stands will be sold with concept plans for "Harbour Houses".
Many of these slightly elevated stands (3.4m above MSL) have lovely long views over the Parkland or Bird Reserve towards The Heads and Leisure Island. The group of 8 smaller stands north of the Clubhouse will be released when the designs for the homes are completed. These stands will be sold with concept plans for "Harbour Houses".
"Highest Tide in 50 years"
You may have heard or read about the big storms along the Cape coast in late May 2002 and the damage caused. Here in the Knysna area, the damage was limited to the caravan park at Buffelsbaai and flooding on Leisure Island and parts of lower Knysna town.
According to some old locals, this was the highest tide in 50 years. It was caused by a combination of events happening at the same time - spring tide, a cold front and strong westerly winds. On Leisure Island, to quote the Knysna Plett Herald, "streets were flooded and in some cases sea water washed into low level garages and homes. Small boats moored in the area were stranded on pavements."
No problems were experienced on Thesen Islands in part due to the raising of the Islands by an average of 1 metre. The nine years of planning that was put into Thesen Islands translates into practical benefits for all Thesen Islanders!
You may have heard or read about the big storms along the Cape coast in late May 2002 and the damage caused. Here in the Knysna area, the damage was limited to the caravan park at Buffelsbaai and flooding on Leisure Island and parts of lower Knysna town.
According to some old locals, this was the highest tide in 50 years. It was caused by a combination of events happening at the same time - spring tide, a cold front and strong westerly winds. On Leisure Island, to quote the Knysna Plett Herald, "streets were flooded and in some cases sea water washed into low level garages and homes. Small boats moored in the area were stranded on pavements."
No problems were experienced on Thesen Islands in part due to the raising of the Islands by an average of 1 metre. The nine years of planning that was put into Thesen Islands translates into practical benefits for all Thesen Islanders!
The inter-tidal plants along the sides of the waterways, which are submerged at high tide, create a natural look. This view is north towards the town of Knysna.
Causeway Bridge Construction Started
The new bridge, which will be similar in design to the smaller arched bridges linking the Islands, will allow boats to pass underneath it. A section of the causeway will be removed and replaced with a bridge that will be approximately 40 metres in length, with a 25 metre water flow opening.
At the end of May 2002, construction started on the Causeway Bridge. The completion date is November 2002.
The new bridge, which will be similar in design to the smaller arched bridges linking the Islands, will allow boats to pass underneath it. A section of the causeway will be removed and replaced with a bridge that will be approximately 40 metres in length, with a 25 metre water flow opening.
At the end of May 2002, construction started on the Causeway Bridge. The completion date is November 2002.
According to calculations done by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the water opening in the bridge will restore the historical flow to the Ashmead channel. The building of the bridge will be a huge plus for the ecology of the lagoon and has been widely praised by environmentalists. Professor Brian Allanson, Chairman Executive of the Outeniqualand Trust said: " We look forward to it. It is a very positive contribution to the upper Ashmead channel. The increase in the water flow will improve the water quality." Gerhard Nieuwoudt of the local consulting engineers for Thesen Islands, Nieuwoudt and Hofmeyer, added that a 2.5 meter landscaped cycling and pedestrian pathway will make walking and cycling across the causeway and bridge a safer, more pleasurable, experience.
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