The City of Cape Town has obtained a permit to conduct open burning of vegetation at the Wave’s Edge Wetland at Table Bay Nature Reserve during April or May 2012.
The burning is planned for favourable weather conditions and is intended to remove accumulated dry reeds and bulrushes. The City is presently working in the wetlands to cut and remove bulrushes that are a source of discomfort to residents as a result of wind dispersed seeds in the area.
The integrated management of bulrushes includes burning, cutting, removal and herbicide application. The removal of dry flammable material by means of a controlled burn will reduce the likelihood of future uncontrolled wildfires.
The area lies between the R27 Otto du Plessis Drive, Marine Drive and Wave’s Edge, Table View. The burn will be conducted in terms of a permit for controlled burning issued by the City’s Subcouncil 1. The City’s Environmental Resource Management Department’s Biodiversity Management Branch will ensure that the procedure is conducted safely and efficiently.
The burning will take place on a suitable weekday between Monday to Thursday either next week or in May, and will be completed within the course of one day. Neighbouring residents and land owners will be notified of the exact date of burning by a letter-drop in their mailboxes. Measures will be put in place to direct traffic away from any smoke and ash.
For safety reasons, surrounding residents are advised to keep their windows shut while burning takes place. Flammable items such as gas canisters should be removed from outside areas and laundry should be taken off washing-lines to prevent odour contamination from the smoke. Sprinklers may be used to dampen gardens as a further precautionary measure.
The City manages more than 30 nature reserves and natural areas. Some of these reserves require the use of a natural fire regime – without which our unique and irreplaceable indigenous vegetation would not be able to regenerate.
The Table Bay Nature Reserve comprises various vegetation types, including Cape Flats sand fynbos, Cape Flats dune strandveld and Cape lowlands freshwater wetlands, which must burn occasionally to stimulate new growth and to remove flammable dead plant material.
For any queries, please contact Air Pollution Control at 021 590 1419.
For more information on the City’s nature reserves, visit www.capetown.gov.za/naturereserves.
