"Sadly the ponds have many water birds, some who are permanent residents whose home is rapidly drying up. This is a warning of what could happen to the humans who have made their homes on Thesen Islands if they don’t start storing water. "

- excerpt from my letter to the HOA on 30 November 2023.

Here is the letter:

Dear Paul,

I trust this message finds you well. I am following up on my email to you on 6 November, which is appended below, along with the response from Elfrieda Loubser on 10 November, 2023. Please share my reply with the trustees.

Elfrieda's response primarily reiterated the challenges and reasons behind the reluctance to pursue various water projects, as mentioned in the first board communiqué of 2023. I find this response disheartening, given the urgent need for proactive measures, especially in light of the escalating water crisis in Knysna.

The inadequate water harvesting practices across Thesen Islands have become a growing concern for me. I strongly believe that the HOA should play a pivotal role in addressing this issue by setting an example. Specifically, showcasing rainwater harvesting at the clubhouse would embody a 'lead by example' strategy.

Our dependency on the municipality for water becomes increasingly precarious, considering their ongoing challenges in waste collection and sewerage pump maintenance. With water restrictions already in place due to insufficient town water supply and no immediate plans to increase storage capacity, our reliance on small dams filled by river pumping poses a significant risk. Yet the cash strapped municipality, desperate for more income, is still approving a block of flats in lower town, a mall in Main Street, houses, RDP housing and who knows what other developments.

In summary, we face a critical situation with inadequate water supply, managed by an inefficient cash strapped municipality, and a growing demand for water. This is a pivotal moment that demands immediate action and collective responsibility.

Whenever I can, I encourage residents to reassess their water usage and actively explore rainwater harvesting options. But in my immediate area where 3 houses have undergone extensive renovations, no water tanks have been installed and one has a new irrigation system (use prohibited by the water restrictions). This underscores the need for a proactive approach from the HOA.

Possible practical solution: Introduce an HOA requirement mandating water harvesting for every renovation project exceeding a certain threshold. This can be a first step in ensuring sustainable water practices within our community.

Clubhouse

I recently installed a 4,750L tank (DG height limit) adding to 2 existing 5,000L tanks. As I needed to harvest the remaining roof area, mainly the garage which was at the opposite end of my property from where the tank could fit, I needed about 70m of pipe plus numerous couplings to thread it around the established plants and house. The cost of all the materials, reinforced concrete slab, tank, pipe & couplings, 4 leaf catchers, wood for hiding fence was R18,400 (Total roof area harvested is now 218 sq m; 69mm rainfall to fill. Ideally, I need more storage but there’s no space). 

By my rough measuring, I estimate the clubhouse to have over 600 sq m of roof. One square meter of roof receiving 1mm of rain delivers 1 litre of water. 10-year average rainfall on Leisure Island is about 680mm. Year 2023 to October is 799mm!

On the west side of the clubhouse in the lower landscaping there is space to install 8 x 5,000L tanks, 40,000L capacity.  40,000/600 = 67 mm of rain to fill. (8 x 5000L tanks are for discussion purposes here. Given the roof area to be harvested, more tanks should be installed. 5000L tank costs about R5,500)     

Using my costs as a guide, each tank with 70m of piping and couplings will cost about R18,400.  8 x R18,400 = R147,200  So for about R150,000, we could get 8 tanks on slabs with 560m of pipe and couplings. 70m of pipe and couplings cost me R6,000 and I’d think 560m is more than is needed. 

Plus add a pump. An energy efficient variable speed pump, the DAB E.SyBox Mini 3 is now R15,000. So about we’re at R165,000 plus contractor’s costs.   

The clubhouse will be water self-sufficient. And a low-pressure pipe (least expensive type of piping) can be run from the tanks taking most of the water to the most accessible pond.  

Ponds

The current predicament with nearly empty ponds, following a R2 million investment, is disheartening. Sadly, the ponds have many water birds, some who are permanent residents whose home is rapidly drying up. This is a warning of what could happen to the humans who have made their homes on Thesen Islands if they don’t start storing water. 

The initial ponds were likely designed to be fed by run off but are the new ones? Can we investigate how we can get runoff?  At the north end across the road there is a swale with a drain in it. When it rains, masses of water runs down the drain into the lagoon.  What about a sump pump and some piping to run the water into the top pond? There is electricity at the capped borehole.

In closing, the current state of our water resources requires urgent and strategic action. I implore the HOA to consider these proposals seriously, given the immediate and long-term benefits they can bring to our community.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. 

Sincerely,

Ken Rutherford

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Email – 6 November 2023

Dear Paul

From 1st Board Communique 2023 (30 January 2023):

" Three of the key issues raised at the AGM by Members were discussed and given the go ahead for further investigation and costing.

1.   A feasibility study will be undertaken to assess alternative water sources including another borehole, additional rain water harvesting and a possible RO (reverse osmosis) plant. The ponds, the golf course and gardens with the lack of rain are of concern. As an interim measure, it will be investigated whether possible to collect rain water from the Club House roof and feed the ponds. Quotes are also being obtained for additional storage tanks for water harvesting at the maintenance area as well as the clubhouse."

 Please give me an update on the points mentioned above. 

---------------------------------------------------- 

Email – 10 November 2023

Dear Ken

Thank you for the e-mail dated 6 November 2023.

Some feedback as requested:

A number of contractors were approached to do a quote on water harvesting at the Clubhouse. These varied from R 100 000.00 to R 365 000.00 and for this to be a cost-effective solution we need to be able to harvest more than 20 000 litres. An underground tank was considered, but this will add to the cost. The tank also needs to be outside of the peripheral contaminated area.

 Additional storage tanks were purchased and added to the maintenance area.

 A RO plant was considered but other than not having space for the structure, SANParks will not consider the suggestion.

 The alternative location identified for a possible borehole is on Barloworld property and they will not support such a project. There is also no guarantee that potable water will be found at the drilling location.

I hope this answers some of your questions.

Please feel free to contact me should you have any other queries.

More on the Design Guidelines....

IMPORTANT ARCHITECTURAL BACKGROUND FOR THESEN ISLANDS TRUSTEES – 11 July 2022  

(Sent to Trustees in July 2022, now shared with members)

By Ken Rutherford, with input from Gray Rutherford

The Thesen Islands Design Guidelines (TIDG) are sometimes seen by the uninformed as an arbitrary set of rules restricting a member from enjoying his property.  Regrettably this attitude has been given credibility over the years by some trustees who have, either from a lack of understanding, or willfully, undermined the TIDG, or have stood by while their fellow trustees have. Those opposing major changes, like myself, have been dismissed as fuddy duddies clinging to the past. And worse.  

As I have done on my blog over many years, I want to make the case for the preservation of the TIDG: They play a vital role in safeguarding the unique environment and lifestyle we all enjoy.  For this to happen we need informed trustees who want to serve as guardians of Thesen Islands. I am optimistic that we now have such a group guiding Thesen Islands, hence this letter. 

Here is an excerpt from the current Coral Gables Design Guidelines, a city in Florida, USA, incorporated in 1925, almost 100 years ago. It was and remains a planned community based on the popular early twentieth century City Beautiful Movement and is known for its strict zoning regulations. The city was developed by George Merrick, a real estate developer from Pennsylvania, during the Florida land boom of the 1920s:

‘The single-family regulations, as well as the design and performance standards in the Zoning Code, seek to ensure that the renovation of residences as well as the building of residences is in accord with the civic pride and sense of stewardship felt by the citizens of Coral Gables. By preserving the community character of the Gables, the Zoning Code safeguards both individual property values, as well as the quality of life that best serves the collective interest.’   

This is the cornerstone of the Thesen Islands Design Guidelines; to “best serve the collective interest” of the members. Put another way, the TIDG are there to protect members, most specifically by regulating what the neighbours can build and where on their properties. While the member may feel his enjoyment is diminished by a rule, if he is allowed to ignore it, the neighbours will often pay the price. As when the rules are subverted by ill-considered, often illegal, changes to the TIDG. Or simply not enforced.   

The ongoing fight on Thesen Islands is to build more, bigger and cover more of each erf. Such as when a recent group of trustees, thankfully now all gone, tried 3 times to overturn the limits on the size of house allowed.  But the TIDG have been subverted by stealth, and this has been going on for many years.  

UPDATE: The following section refers to actions by the previous board of trustees that thankfully the current board had the sense to withdraw and revert to Design Guidelines Revision 2019, stamped by KM 17 August 2020.  

By boldly calling the designs on the HOA website the “Residential Design Manual 2021 – First Edition” when the first edition of the TIDG was in 1998, the trustees who wrote and approved this “First Edition” arrogantly assumed the right to subvert the TIDG. The look and feel of Thesen Islands is under threat yet again. 

The process that apparently now has them at the Knysna Municipality (KM) for stamping is flawed.  Members were not allowed input on the proposed changes. The changes are not “minor” in terms of the constitution. Prior to the AGM the HOA could not provide a document highlighting the changes, and they still cannot.  The draft minutes of the AGM do not even record the answer by the trustee in charge of the portfolio when asked to explain the changes to members. But from the audio, it was not a comprehensive answer.  They must be withdrawn from the KM immediately.  

In short, when the previous trustees tried to increase bulk, they were defeated as they told the members of their plan, so they used a different tactic this time. They didn’t tell the members what the changes were. UPDATE: Withdrawn. 

{But} Neither do the current TIDG (Revision February 2019, stamped by KM 17 August 2020) “best serve the collective interest”. To pick two examples:

Less Privacy, Less Open Water

They mean less privacy for neighbours as building lines are ignored such as allowing a deck to be built closer to the neighbour and further towards the waterway. This new assault on the front waterway building setback means your neighbour’s deck can now stretch a few metres further out to the waterway, obscuring your view of the waterway and giving you a front row seat to watch their next social gathering.   Then, if there is a bit of open water in the front of his property, he will be allowed to install a 2nd jetty. So you liked your waterway view? Well, it's now hidden by a bigger deck, another jetty and boat.   

Houses on the waterways are close together with the only open space being the waterway in front of them. Yet we are allowing the decks and jetties to multiply and the decks move closer to the waterway?  It is vital that this encroachment of the waterways be stopped immediately. For the record, my house is not on a waterway.

Merit Approvals

The word “merit” is used 17 times as opposed to 4 times in the previous version (Revision March 2014, KM stamped 25 May 2015).

The Guidelines have many rules that are effectively no longer rules as they can be ignored if there is “merit”. Whose merit? The merit of the member wanting to sidestep the rule or the “merit” of the neighbouring members who could  be negatively affected by the side stepping?  

 If we want to have a harmonious community (and perhaps legal action) this way of granting approval must be avoided.  The Guidelines need to be clear and consistent and apply to all members equally, not in grey areas of  “merit” approvals. 

By the way, Westford Bridge Estate has recently removed what was an “waiver of the guidelines” or “merit” clause of approval from their design manual.  They don’t work.

Judged by the standards of Coral Gables, these changes FAIL to “preserve the community character and safeguard both individual property values, as well as the quality of life that best serves the collective interest.”    

Some background on Gray. Gray, as a partner in the Thesen Islands Development Company, compiled with several architects the original TIDG for Thesen Islands and was the first chair of the DRP for about 4-5 years. As a partner in the Belvidere Estate development, he also co-wrote the Design Guidelines for Belvidere Estate and was chair of the DRP there. He recently reviewed and updated the Architectural Design Manual for Westford Bridge Estate.  

Let's stop killing the birds at the ponds

 

Look they are slow. Yes, they do wander onto the road. Yes, they walk funny. But that's why we need to drive SLOWLY when we are passing the 2 ponds.

Make a conscious effort to slow down when driving in the area of the 2 ponds. A few seconds is not going to make difference as to what time you get to Woolworths, ile de pain, PEP or wherever you are going or getting home. 

Drive in the middle of the road when the road is open so you have a better chance of not driving over a Moorhen, Black Crake or Coot.

Look where you are going, not at your passenger. Or phone. 

Be especially vigilant at dusk. A black bird is not that easy to spot.  

It is sad to see dead birds in the road. When, with a little bit of care, it can be avoided.   

Let's make an effort to look after the beautiful birds of Thesen Islands. 

And that includes our owls. Don't use poison. Despite the PR, there is no safe one, I am told. Yes, it easy to drop poison around the place but do the right thing and use a trap. You more than likely have a gardener who can handle it for you, if you are squeamish. 

Use a trap.  These ones, available from Agri, work very well: