VICTORY No 1 : DO NOT OBJECT !!!! (AUGUST 2009)

RULING/AUTHORIZATION HANDED DOWN BY Govt. Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Developement(GDACE/GDARD)

To the Meci Committee, and all of our 900 Helpers, Members and supporters and friends...get the word out ...the attached notification from SIVEST/GDACE IS A....Victory!!!

IT IS A VICTORY FOR MECI AND ANYONE EVER INVOLVED WITH THE PROTEST TO SAVE OUR FOREST GOING BACK TO 2004!!!! READ WHY....

Heartland desperately wanted to construct a road through the forest (option 1 of there application), but wanted us to believe otherwise. They always played down this fact, so as not to alert anyone to the start of the destruction of the forest, which after 80 years has now been identified by Heartland as an alien water thief !!(Bedfordview and Edenvale News Wed 12th August).

Dwaf Forestry refer to this forest as a forest planted by a visionery that should be preserved. Who would know better?...a developer or a conservation specialist from Government.

MECI applauds and supports this ruling by GDACE handed down and signed by Dr S T Cornelius, (option 2, which approves the upgrading of the existing Valley road and intersection improvement, and effectively denies the building of a new road through the forest). SEE PAGE 6/8 CLAUSE 1.9 of the Authorization.

Heartland we believe will object to this ruling but MECI hopes that GDACE/GDARD will take cognance of our support of this upgrade of Valley Road, and also recognise our absolute and resolute objection to any shop going up in that forest.

Please fax your support and thanks for this ruling direct to GDACE/GDARD : 011 333 0620 (attached for your convenience...SORRY...NO EMAILS)

Well done and thank you to all of you.

Kindest Regards

Allan Bartram and Nigel Woodward

Co Chairs of MECI

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VICTORY No 2 : WONDERFUL NEWS !!!! (SEPTEMBER 2009)

It has been confirmed by the buyer of the St Francis Forest, Balwin Properties that they have withdrawn from the sale agreement of the St Francis Church Forest.!!!

No reasons have been given but the news is encouraging in that the support to save the forest it appears has bourne fruit, and as the organisers of MECI, and on behalf of our whole committee we wish to thank you all sincerely.

We are still awaiting news from the government on the EIA status of the property and as soon as more details come to our attention we will let you know what is happening.

Allan Bartram                                                                                                                                                                 Nigel Woodward

083 477 8990                                                                                                                                                                082 904 0871

CoChair                                                                                                                                                                          Co Chair

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VICTORY OF SPORTS !!!! (OCTOBER 2011)

MODDERSQUASH COURTS RELAUNCH

APOLOGY

Good Day to all of thoseinterested in squash. My sincere apologies, about the late arrival of this mail to you, well after the launch dates. This is unforgivable but MECI is not on the Heartlands Christmas Card list and I missed this message on our web portal published on 7-14 Sept.

NEGATIVE

One must I suppose askwhy The owners have let the club become so run down for so long. Would it not have been much simpler, just maintaining what they advertised to buyers in Modder and what we all enjoyed over many decades. Re-launching the club or any facility now, on a piecemeal basis after a total melt down is extremely difficult. Ask any poorly run municipality boss

NEGATIVE

My on-going concern is crime in the area and I would encourage any members of the squash court to consider this and ask about the security. This is a wild country and it requires a combined security strategy, which I do not believe is yet in place.

VERY POSITIVE

Anyhow, to those who may not be aware, it seems indeed, that after so many years of decay and dereliction, and many emails to the property owners of Modderfontein, that they are doing something about the Modder Squash Courts. MECI has been very vocal on a relaunch of the whole club but this is a start and must be commended, and we would encourage anyone interested in squash, to make contact with the numbers on the attached flier. You will notice unfortunately that a pub upgrade is not on the agenda….at this stage, but I hope this might follow shortly.

Many thanks and regards

Allan Bartram

MECI

083 477 8990

allan@hst.co.za

DOING IT FOR YOU!