Dogs at Noetzie

This is not a recent photo, but gets a message across. The sandplovers had a bad year this year, dogs, people, genet, stormy high seas. Just after the chicks are born, they are able to run, but not fly- and this is when the dogs get them. After watching the parents guarding their nests so steadfastly, it is tragic when we see their efforts come to nothing- when their chick dies as a result of one unsupervised or unleashed dog roaming the beach. (posted by Mlou)

An amazingly spiky weird fish, (bad for bare toes), a morning moon, a perfect wave and some long shadows. Noetzie is so beautiful. We rescued a young loggerhead turtle from rough sea this weekend, hope to return him to a safe habitat soon. Hopefully he wont get eaten by something ......

Noetzie Conservancy Stealth Cam

The Noetzie conservancy has acquired some stealth cameras to monitor and record wildlife. These are some of the first images recorded April/May 2009

Sign on Knoetzie Road

We found this sign along the Knoetzie road at Hlalani, May 2007- This really shows the disparity, and if it does nothing else, perhaps it will make people even more aware as we drive to the beautiful Knoetzie -our Knysna gem of natural unspoilt heritage. Well done Derek Vosloo.

Noetzie beach saga takes a new turn as barriers remain

Noetzie beach saga takes new turn as barriers remain

Photo: INLSA

December 07, 2006 Edition 1
Jo-Ann Bekker
KNYSNA: The public's right to access municipal steps to Noetzie beach is still in the balance.
Pezula Private Estate yesterday announced that it would appeal to the high court to overturn a court order requiring the developers to immediately remove all barriers and signs barring the public from a private road that crosses Pezula's property and leads to the steps.
Applicant Julian Beth Gosling, acting in her private capacity as a fourth-generation Noetzie homeowner and on behalf of the public, said she had taken the stamped order, which was made final on Tuesday, to the Sheriff of the court early yesterday morning.
www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3579596

Developers ordered to allow public access to beach - Cape Times

CAPE TIMES
Developers ordered to allow public access to beach

Photo: INLSA

December 04, 2006 Edition 2
Jo-Ann Bekker
KNYSNA: An interim interdict ordering Pezula Private Estate to allow unfettered public access across its land to municipal steps leading to Noetzie beach was issued by the magistrate's court here on Friday

http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3574708

Protest - Die Burger

Inwoners knip Pezula se draad by Noetzie-trappe
tisha steynKNYSNA. – Sowat 400 mense het gister deelgeneem aan ’n protesoptog om hul misnoeë te kenne te gee oor die sluiting van die historiese toegang tot Noetzie-strand.Omgekrapte inwoners, lede van die vissersgemeenskap, Rastafariërs van Judas Square wat die strand dikwels gebruik, en lede van die Guardians of the Garden Route (Gog) het gister omstreeks 10:00 oor die strand gestap tot waar Pezula, ’n luukse gholfontwikkeling-maatskappy, ’n versperring van skadudoek en draad opgerig het, het me. Wendy Dewberry, ’n ontstoke inwoner, gister gesê.Volgens Dewberry is die optog gelei deur me. Peggy North (75), ’n bekende kunstenaar van Kaapstad, “wat haar kinderdae op en af op dié trappies (by die strand) deurgebring het”.Me. Julie Gosling, ’n direkte afstammeling van George Rex, het die draadversperring met ’n tang afgeknip en die groep is na Pezula se hekke, waar die wagte vir hulle toegang verleen het, het Dewberry bygevoeg.Gosling het blykbaar op eie koste regsadvies ingewin oor die gemeenskap se regte.Daar gaan namens die gemeenskap ’n spoliasie-aansoek gebring word omdat Pezula eie reg gebruik het toe hulle die trap gesluit het, het dié regsverteenwoordiger gesê.“Die optog was rustig en kalm. Ons het met niemand van Pezula se bestuur gepraat nie, en daar is nie ’n brief of memorandum met griewe oorhandig nie,” het Dewberry gesê.“Ek het dit nie teen Pezula nie, maar teen die munisipaliteit, wat toegelaat het dat Pezula die trappe toemaak.”Mnr. Gary Muller, bestuurder van bemarking- en sportfasiliteite van Pezula, wou nie kommentaar lewer nie.“Pezula wil in hierdie stadium niks sê nie.”Hy het beloof om later in die week te reageer op skriftelike navrae.

Protest - Cape Times

South Africa
Resort blocks path to beach

Marchers cut through fence in protest over Notzie access
September 26, 2006 Edition 2

Jo-Ann Bekker

http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3454090

Noetzie: Protesters cut through a fence barring access to the beach here
during a march organised by the Guardians of the Garden Route (GoG) and
Knysna subsistence fishermen yesterday.

The fence was erected in May by Pezula Private Estate, which owns several
castles on the Noetzie beach, the neighbouring Sparrebosch golf course and
the Pezula hotel/spa and luxury residential resort. Initially Pezula said
access to the municipal-owned steps leading to the beach would be closed
for safety reasons while the adjacent castle was renovated, but it recently
stated that its road leading to the steps would "remain closed to the public
indefinitely".

The Heritage Weekend protest began in the Noetzie car park, where the
chairman of the Knysna Subsistence Fishermen Committee, Donald
Kemoetie, told cheering protesters: "We were here first. Long before
Sparrebosch or Pezula. It is in our culture to catch and eat fish, to take our
children and show them how to collect bait and put a hook on a line, and
where the best fishing places are."

Placard-carrying marchers took the only route available to the coast - a
steep concrete road - and walked along the beach, past a handful of houses
and castles, and back up the flight of 116 stone and concrete steps until they
reached the newly erected fence.

Fifth-generation Noetzie homeowner Julie Gosling used wire cutters to cut
through 20 strands of thick wire and shade cloth. "I felt proud," she said
afterwards.

Pezula staffer Russel Banks, flanked by security guards, took photographs
of protesters as they surged through. The crowd then continued up the
concrete road on Pezula's property towards the public car park. Pezula
security guards unlocked the controversial high steel gate with rolls of razor
wire on the top to let people through.

Protesters then trudged up the steep provincial road to the entrance of
Pezula's Noetzie offices. GoG member Debbie Henley climbed to the top of
a remote-controlled gate to display her poster: "Access to land for need not
greed".

This was GoG's third annual march, and it reflected the range of groups that
make up the alliance. Concerned individuals and environmental groups like
the Noetzie Conservancy, Wilderness and Lakes Environmental Action
Forum and the Rastafarian House of Judah were present, along with land-
rights forums such as the Southern Cape Land Committee, Southern Cape
and Karoo Restitution Forum and Forestry Indaba.

However, the majority of protesters were adults and children from Hornlee
supporting the subsistence fishermen.

The Knysna Community Forum was the only political party with a visible
presence. Kemoetie is also a town councillor.

Protest March - Die Berger

Inwoners knip Pezula se draad by Noetzie-trappe
tisha steynKNYSNA. – Sowat 400 mense het gister deelgeneem aan ’n protesoptog om hul misnoeë te kenne te gee oor die sluiting van die historiese toegang tot Noetzie-strand.Omgekrapte inwoners, lede van die vissersgemeenskap, Rastafariërs van Judas Square wat die strand dikwels gebruik, en lede van die Guardians of the Garden Route (Gog) het gister omstreeks 10:00 oor die strand gestap tot waar Pezula, ’n luukse gholfontwikkeling-maatskappy, ’n versperring van skadudoek en draad opgerig het, het me. Wendy Dewberry, ’n ontstoke inwoner, gister gesê.Volgens Dewberry is die optog gelei deur me. Peggy North (75), ’n bekende kunstenaar van Kaapstad, “wat haar kinderdae op en af op dié trappies (by die strand) deurgebring het”.Me. Julie Gosling, ’n direkte afstammeling van George Rex, het die draadversperring met ’n tang afgeknip en die groep is na Pezula se hekke, waar die wagte vir hulle toegang verleen het, het Dewberry bygevoeg.Gosling het blykbaar op eie koste regsadvies ingewin oor die gemeenskap se regte.Daar gaan namens die gemeenskap ’n spoliasie-aansoek gebring word omdat Pezula eie reg gebruik het toe hulle die trap gesluit het, het dié regsverteenwoordiger gesê.“Die optog was rustig en kalm. Ons het met niemand van Pezula se bestuur gepraat nie, en daar is nie ’n brief of memorandum met griewe oorhandig nie,” het Dewberry gesê.“Ek het dit nie teen Pezula nie, maar teen die munisipaliteit, wat toegelaat het dat Pezula die trappe toemaak.”Mnr. Gary Muller, bestuurder van bemarking- en sportfasiliteite van Pezula, wou nie kommentaar lewer nie.“Pezula wil in hierdie stadium niks sê nie.”Hy het beloof om later in die week te reageer op skriftelike navrae.

Noetzie

Noetzie

South Africa
Resort blocks path to beach

Marchers cut through fence in protest over Notzie access
September 26, 2006 Edition 2

Jo-Ann Bekker

http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3454090

Noetzie: Protesters cut through a fence barring access to the beach here
during a march organised by the Guardians of the Garden Route (GoG) and
Knysna subsistence fishermen yesterday.

The fence was erected in May by Pezula Private Estate, which owns several
castles on the Noetzie beach, the neighbouring Sparrebosch golf course and
the Pezula hotel/spa and luxury residential resort. Initially Pezula said
access to the municipal-owned steps leading to the beach would be closed
for safety reasons while the adjacent castle was renovated, but it recently
stated that its road leading to the steps would "remain closed to the public
indefinitely".

The Heritage Weekend protest began in the Noetzie car park, where the
chairman of the Knysna Subsistence Fishermen Committee, Donald
Kemoetie, told cheering protesters: "We were here first. Long before
Sparrebosch or Pezula. It is in our culture to catch and eat fish, to take our
children and show them how to collect bait and put a hook on a line, and
where the best fishing places are."

Placard-carrying marchers took the only route available to the coast - a
steep concrete road - and walked along the beach, past a handful of houses
and castles, and back up the flight of 116 stone and concrete steps until they
reached the newly erected fence.

Fifth-generation Noetzie homeowner Julie Gosling used wire cutters to cut
through 20 strands of thick wire and shade cloth. "I felt proud," she said
afterwards.

Pezula staffer Russel Banks, flanked by security guards, took photographs
of protesters as they surged through. The crowd then continued up the
concrete road on Pezula's property towards the public car park. Pezula
security guards unlocked the controversial high steel gate with rolls of razor
wire on the top to let people through.

Protesters then trudged up the steep provincial road to the entrance of
Pezula's Noetzie offices. GoG member Debbie Henley climbed to the top of
a remote-controlled gate to display her poster: "Access to land for need not
greed".

This was GoG's third annual march, and it reflected the range of groups that
make up the alliance. Concerned individuals and environmental groups like
the Noetzie Conservancy, Wilderness and Lakes Environmental Action
Forum and the Rastafarian House of Judah were present, along with land-
rights forums such as the Southern Cape Land Committee, Southern Cape
and Karoo Restitution Forum and Forestry Indaba.

However, the majority of protesters were adults and children from Hornlee
supporting the subsistence fishermen.

The Knysna Community Forum was the only political party with a visible
presence. Kemoetie is also a town councillor.