Drakensberg Cable Car
In our response to the feasibility study we will definitely be responding to the implications that hikers are mainly responsible for the state of Ntonjelana Pass, for example. While hikers do contribute to erosion, the slant presented in the document creates a false picture of what is really going on out there. The argument that the state of passes is justification for building the cable is weak and flawed. Furthermore elsewhere in the document it talks about promoting hiking both at the bottom and top of the cable way. In the interview with City Press this particular issue was discussed in detail but unfortunately didn't get printed.
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
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Unfortunately work has been getting in the way of my reply, but that erosion of the passes thing also really bugged me. They talk as if we are solely responsible for erosion. Its almost as if they are saying that rockfalls like the one on Cleft Peak are also our fault.
At first they almost had me - I though of the horrible erosion on Mashai Pass and how many people use the pass. Then I remembered that it isn't even on the same side of the river as the path.
Also, do they really think that the locals will use their cablecar instead of the passes? After all, they are by far the biggest users of Berg passes. Perhaps a year pass with a free we-will-not-ask-for-a-passport-or-check-your-bags concession card should be given to them?
Anyway not a lot of things make me really angry, but this is one of them. It usually stems from people blaming me (or a group of people in which I am included) for something out of my control
I see on the poll we are up to 175, another 25 to hit my goal. Still only 11 pro votes.
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www.bdlive.co.za/business/transport/2013/08/01/not-enough-feet-for-drakensberg-cablewaySabine Lehmann, MD at the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company, said while any new attraction would be a lift for tourism, “you have got to be careful that the attraction is appropriately sized and priced for its area”.
“All cableways are dependent on two things: the capital investment — which is major, and the number of feet you can get through your doors,” Ms Lehmann said.
She said cableways required continual and substantial maintenance investments running into tens of millions of rand, “so it is really important that you have a good understanding of how many visitors will come through the door”.
“I think the visitor numbers (in the Drakensberg) … are too small” for the project to cover its costs, Ms Lehmann said. She said an attraction such as a boardwalk or treetop walkway “could be just as attractive for a fraction of the cost”.
Highly significant words coming from the MD of Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company...
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
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I mean the introduction mainly tries to explain how bad the invasive trees are and implies that the cableway will solve the alien tree problem. Its just a bunch of trees in an abandoned quarry, good firewood, shouldn't be in a report of this scale as I believe it introduces bias.
Mweni is one of the wildest areas of the berg. I hope it isn't disturbed.
I shared the poll with the MCSA Magalsieberg section facebook group as well as Exploratio (University of Pretoria's adventure club), hope we get to 200.
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Guardian wrote: I would like to know what the obsession is with the clump of wattle trees throughout the report?
I mean the introduction mainly tries to explain how bad the invasive trees are and implies that the cableway will solve the alien tree problem. Its just a bunch of trees in an abandoned quarry, good firewood, shouldn't be in a report of this scale as I believe it introduces bias.
It reminds me of an episode of How I Met Your Mother where they talk about "the company that makes the green fuzzy stuff on tennis balls, of course they are a big company, so they do other stuff [visuals of weapons and cutting down forests], but mostly they like the public to focus on the green stuff"
I get the feeling that the report identifies hikers as the villains and the cableway as the solution to the evil environment destroyers that are the group known as "hikers". Seeing as we are their biggest opposition, they have to make us look bad so that our views are discredited.
I also was annoyed by that. Yes they are doing a bit off good - fixing R74 and rehabilitating an old quarry. But why do we need a cablecar for these things to happen?
Guardian wrote: I shared the poll with the MCSA Magalsieberg section facebook group as well as Exploratio (University of Pretoria's adventure club), hope we get to 200.
Thanks - I see we have passed 200 today (and still only 12 votes in favour).
From here it's still a case of the more votes the better, but I am very happy to see we have had such a large reply. Over 200 becomes something we can quote and will carry some weight.
Ps. Also thanks to K-Way SA for sharing the poll earlier today
Added at 7:55PM: EKZN has also shared the poll on their fb page.
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I am encouraged to see the participation in the Facebook poll picking up. Lets keep this up and pass on the message! Its a great way to spread awareness about the proposal and to get people thinking and talking.
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
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Bergbok wrote: Yes, it is totally rediculous to say that hikers are responsible for erosion in the passes. Rain and snow causes much more erosion than hikers. It just shows how little they know.
Agreed look at what happened to Tseketseke Pass and the Xeni River leading to Cockade Pass during flash floods. nature can change an area so quickly. Those comments about hikers causing erosion and litter made me livid.
Selous
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A further deterrent would be that, should the cableway fall into disuse, the owners be responsible for removing all structures and returning the environment to its previous state and bearing the cost thereof. There will need to be some guarantee that funds will be available to achieve this.
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