OUDTSHOORN NEWS -  The maintenance and management of the Grobbelaars River remains an urgent matter, particularly in light of the recent floods that once again highlighted the vulnerability and importance of the river system. 

To address the long-term maintenance and management of the river, the Grobbelaars River Maintenance Management Plan (MMP) has been established, bringing together various role players, of which the private sector forms an important component. 

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has established an MMP steering committee whose first meeting was hosted by Cango Wildlife on 17 August. 

Following that meeting, the committee invited stakeholders and community members to a sector representative election meeting, during which representatives from various sectors would be elected to help carry the river’s maintenance and management planning forward on behalf of their respective sectors. 

The meeting, which was scheduled to take place on Tuesday 8 September, has now been postponed to Monday 21 September, at 18:00 at Cango Wildlife. 

Douglas Eriksen, CEO of Cango Wildlife and private sector co-ordinator on the MMP steering committee, said the postponement was decided upon to ensure that all sectors are properly represented and that the election of sector representatives could take place fairly. 

“The management of the entire river is of utmost importance, and Cango Wildlife is hosting the meeting in its capacity as private sector co-ordinator on the committee,” he said. 

He encouraged anyone with an interest in the future of the river to attend the meeting, either in person or online.
“Anyone with a stake in the river’s future, whether you farm along it, run a business nearby, or live and work in the area, is welcome to attend. We don’t take this lightly. We know [the postponement] asks for your patience after the momentum we’ve built together, but getting full representation matters more than keeping to the original date,” Eriksen said. 

Members of the various sectors are also invited to nominate sector representatives before 12:00 on 21 September. 

Nominations can be submitted online via the designated nomination form, which can be found at Grobbelaars River MMP: Sector Representative Nomination. 

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