Restoration of Our Timber Shed
Johann Jacob Jerling obtained a contract to build a timber shed near what is today the ski-boat launching beach, where the huge boles could be stored until it was possible to ship them out. This “Houtschuur” had to be 200 feet long, 22 feet wide and 13 feet high and all the woodwork had to be of yellowwood.
Johann Jacob owed this considerable betterment of his fortunes to the strong demand for timber for a variety of purposes at the Cape, where it was needed for the construction of wharves, bridges, ox wagons, buildings and other essentials. Today the timber shed, twice partially restored in the past 200 years, is a National Monument and among Plettenberg bay’s oldest historical sites. The walls were made of huge blocks of stone, fitted together without any cement. The strong but untrained workers used only a simple block-and-tackle to fit the stones into place. The sturdy walls were then covered with a slightly sloping reed roof to keep the timber dry. Unfortunately one clause in Jerling’s contract specified that the timber work must be of yellowwood, timber that is not durable for any length of time, when exposed to the elements. Within only 16 years it was reported by the next official to come this way that the reed roof had fallen in, and that the yellowwood lintels were collapsing, especially on the south side under the koppie. This meant that the structure had soon become a useless building.
On the 29th of September 2010 the Plettenburg bay local municipality appointed a historical precinct advisory committee to give proposals for the restoration and preservation of the timber shed. At the council meeting on the 8th of December the committee’s proposals was favorably agreed to by the municipality. The next step for the committee is an appeal to the National Heritage council for approval of the restoration of the timber shed.
The plans for the restoration of the timber shed are as follows: Stone from the fallen walls will be used for reconstruction. This work must be done by a skilled stonemason, so that the restoration work is identical to the original stone walls. This is possible, and can be seen on site. In 1983, reconstruction of the southern wall was done, and it is a perfect match to the original wall. The original roof was a flat roof and was defective from the start. Thus was decided that the roof will be reconstructed as a “modern” flat roof, using locally treated timber and modern technology, with a touch of the old use of “vleiriet” for esthetic purposes. Resulting in a modern flat roof that will not leak and that will only be visible from above.
Making the building user friendly will require for it to have a floor. The original opening will be upgraded and doors and shutter will be fitted, once again local timber will be used. It is planned to reconstruct the doors and windows so that they reflect the style used in the 1700. Hinges and other iron work will be done by local blacksmiths or the steel industry. On the inside of the doors and windows, weather doors and windows will be fitted to contain the elements.
We want to stress that all of the above is visualized and by no means the final plans. There are many talented people in Plett, and we would like to have the communities input through the whole restoration process
We Endeavour to source all material for this project from local interested parties ei.
Timber, from timber industries; Sand from sand quarries ect.
Initial response to this project was overwhelmingly positive. It is our aim to handle as little cash as possible. But cash will still be needed.
After the restoration process is finished we, the people of Plett will be the custodians of a beautiful historical venue set in one of the most envied sites in South-Africa. It will be user friendly, and can be used for a number of activities such as: Cultural exhibitions, Art, Seminars, wedding venues ect. On the side maybe a tea garden with pre-prepared goodies by local cooks in a botanical garden setting, can be opened to the public. No kitchens, no extractor fans, no smells. As this is a nonprofit venue all revenue generated must solely go to the upkeep of the building and local children’s or other charities.
A few last comments from the committee: We want to stress once again that this is only guidelines, we want to be transparent in all that we do. We are non Racial, non political and non profitable.
We would like your participation, comments and proposals. This could become the most talked about project in South-Africa. We can do it!
Contact:
ijerling@xnets.co.za Tel: 044 533 9011
Japanese Volunteers planting in South Africa for the people and the planet.
On 6 November 80 volunteers from Japan will visit South Africa to plant trees and food gardens in disadvantaged communities in the Western and Eastern Cape, including the planting of 2 000 indigenous trees to rehabilitate some of the Tsitsikamma forest.
These volunteers are on a tree planting and food gardening goodwill mission to South Africa coordinated by the 'Wonderful World Tree Planting Festival', a Japanese based organisation, Food & Trees For Africa (FTFA), South Africa’s greening, climate change action and food security social enterprise since 1990, and The Green Ticket, who are involved in a rehabilitation project in Tsitsikamma region in co-operation with South African National Parks.
Leading the Japanese group are Earthwalker Paul Coleman, who has walked over 47 000 km, through 39 nations spreading the environmental message, Hiromitsu Noriyasu (Tentsukuman), a well known Japanese comedian.
The event showcases the importance of volunteerism and cultural exchange and builds on FTFAs message of “One can make a difference”. The Japanese volunteers of The Wonderful World Tree Planting Festival will plant more than 3 000 fruit and indigenous trees, shrubs and a variety of medicinal and nutritional plants in the form of food gardens for disadvantaged communities. Most of these trees and gardens are sponsored by the Japanese visitors and other individuals in Japan.
This well organised tour features speakers from around the world, a very popular Japanese rock band, Funkist, bungy jumping from Bloukrans bridge, a trip to Addo Elephant Park, a tour of carbon neutral Backsberg Wine Estate, who have just launched the Tread Lightly campaign, a visit to Cape Point, tree plantings and food gardens in Khayelitsha, Klapmuts, Ocean View, Zwide and Motherwell.
This new form of eco/voluntourism enables people to individually take the positive actions that they wish to see in this world, in places where their actions are much appreciated. Throughout the trip an effort will be made to introduce to the Japanese the various aspects of South Africa including its natural beauty, biodiversity, its people and its cultures.
This is the second South African tour of the group following the successful journey FTFA organised last year to Gauteng and the Royal Bafokeng Nation. Out of these two trips, $250 000 has entered the local economy, through such expeditures as entertainment, hotels, transportation, shopping and food, with $30 000 directly invested into the trees and gardens planted and created.
For more information please contact info@thegreenticket.org or see www.trees.co.za, www.earthwalker.com and www.thegreenticket.org
Desalination Plant will bring welcome relief to dry Southern Cape
Following the worst drought in 138 years in the Southern Cape with no immediate respite in sight, Plettenberg Bay has been declared a disaster area. Specialised water treatment company and subsidiary of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies, VWS Envig, has been awarded a turnkey contract to the value of R32 million by the Bitou Municipality to design, build and maintain a desalination plant able to deliver two million litres of potable water per day to alleviate the crisis.
Sea water will be abstracted from seven boreholes at a depth of 12m each, sunk close to the landmark Beacon Isle Hotel. The beach sand will act as a filter, followed by other pre-treatment phases, upon which the water will be treated by seawater reverse osmosis membranes.
After considering various options and taking into account factors such as the eco-sensitive zones on the pristine coastline, cost, land availability and infrastructure, it was decided to build the plant on a tennis court belonging to the Municipality at the hotel, where much of the pipe work and electricity supply is available
“Originally water was to be extracted from Robberg beach, but due to shallow rock barriers, the holes did not produce enough water. Test results have indicated that the salinity of the water from the current abstraction point will be in line with the expected and falls within the scope of what the plant can treat,” explains Pierre Fourie, Project Manager, VWS Envig Paarl office
Abstracting out of the estuary and discharging into the sea are two major environmental concerns that VWS Envig are faced with. “We have opted to discharge the brine into the sea at the Blinders, where the tides and wave action over the rocks will ensure a good mix and no significant adverse effect on the environment. Over the next year, we will be drawing regular water samples to monitor the situation and to ensure that we minimise the negative impact on the estuary. This will enable us to act proactively,” says Fourie. |
