Glen Austin Conservancy group seeks to protect wetlands and Bullfrog Pan
Dave Allanby, Glen Austin Conservancy group chairperson, says they need to work with the mother-body, Gara, about pan preservations.
The Glen Austin Conservancy (GAC) group chairperson Dave Allanby says environmental preservation remains their key focus this year.
He said some of their plans for 2025 are to beautify conservation areas, eliminate alien vegetation, combat illegal dumping, and protect the wetlands.
He also added that there was a dire need to maintain and enhance the rural, agricultural atmosphere at the Glen Austin Bird Sanctuary, also known as Bullfrog Pan.
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Allanby said this during the AGM held at Cresset House in Glen Austin on March 1.
He was selected for the third time in a row as the chairperson and will be assisted by Judy Bird as deputy chairperson.
Christiene Morris and Angela van Antwerpen were voted as treasurer and secretary respectively, and Cedric Bessit as a specialist consultant.
Olivia Bamford, Lesley Allanby, Theo Heymans, and Jasman Van Heerden are non-executive members.
“The committee are all volunteers who seek to enforce residential trends and collective bargaining strength, with a key focus on pan protection and environmental preservation,” said Allanby.
He said this kind of project needs funds for maintenance and enhancing the rural agricultural atmosphere.
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Allanby added that they needed to work with the mother body, Glen Austin Resident’s Association (GARA), to develop a greenpoint for the future infrastructure and environmental plan.
“Key focus needs to be about pan preservation – fauna, flora, and the bullfrogs, in particular. Unusually high water levels precluded most normal maintenance, and, as such, probably contributed to reduced sightings of the giant African bullfrog,” said Allanby.
He concluded that illegal dumping in the pan, as well as other areas in the suburb, remained a concern.
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