Lions want pride restored to Paradise Valley Nature Reserve

THE Lions Club of Cowies Hill members have raised their concerns at the minimal maintenance done to the Interpretive Centre, situated at the Paradise Valley Nature Reserve, and the actual reserve, due to ‘lack of resources and funds’.

The centre was built by the Lions Club and officially opened by the then-Minister of Nature Conservation and Traditional Authorities, the late iNkosi Nyanga Ngubane, on August 19, 1994.

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It is one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by the Lions Club of Cowies Hill.

“It was a joyous moment as the reserve was one of the last unspoilt areas of indigenous bush remaining in the Pinetown area. It was home to numerous species and indigenous birdlife,” said membership chairman Bronwyn Paijmans.

“Water pours in whenever it rains as the thatch roof of the Interpretive Centre needs major maintenance. It has had huge holes for many years,” she said.

Inside the clubhouse, the members have resorted to placing buckets to try to catch some of the rain, which have to be emptied after every heavy downpour.

One of the toilets in the hall, which the club members use, has also been out of order for several years.

According to Paijmans, one of the Cowies Hill Lions repaired it on many occasions, but it reached the point where it needed major repairs or replacing, so he couldn’t do it anymore.

Lions Club of Cowies Hill president Lyn Botha applauded the staff for the wonderful work they carry out with their very limited resources.

“The staff at the reserve do an amazing job, given their limitations. They attempted to repair the bridge over the Umbilo River which was washed away by the April floods. The bridge was the only way across the river and to be able to walk along the trails and get to the waterfall. They used poles and planks that they managed to retrieve after the floods.

“This was subsequently washed away in one of the recent storms,” said Botha.

The boma was also washed away during the floods and was also repaired by the reserve staff using resources retrieved once the river subsided.

“The main entrance walkway collapsed, and they have been unable to repair it due to the lack of funds.

“Recently, the reserve staff took it upon themselves to rebuild the walkway using donations of rocks and sand and builders fill from building renovations being done in the area. They need cement in order to complete the walkway, and the Lions have donated 15 bags of cement so that the staff will be able to start concreting it. They will still need an additional 20 to 30 bags of cement. The new walkway will be wheelchair-friendly when it’s completed,” said Botha.

Mayor’s visit

The Lions said it puzzles them that nothing has been done since the mayor’s visit in December.

“He publicly said that the reserve is a major local tourist attraction, and all the repairs should be completed as soon as possible, otherwise ‘heads will roll’. Needless to say, nothing has been done since then except for work done by the reserve staff,” said Botha.

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Currently, the Cowies Hill Lions Club is the only Lions Club in the whole of the Highway area and one of the few Lions Clubs with their own clubhouse left in South Africa, which is the reason the members are very worried and upset about the neglect and lack of maintenance at the reserve by the municipality.

“We admire what the staff are doing, and we, as a club, are doing whatever we can to assist so that we can maintain ‘our home’,” added Paijmans.

Lindiwe Khuzwayo, eThekwini Municipality’s head of communications, said the City is aware of the state of some parts of Paradise Valley Nature Reserve.

“The intention is to effect repairs as soon as budget becomes available,” she said.

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