Tsitsikamma community reels as SANParks cans canopy tours

[Toko]

And this is how it obviously will work



Tsitsikamma community reels as SANParks cans canopy tours

THE community of Storms River Village has been dealt a major blow as one of the town's biggest employers will soon be forced to end operations after 15 years, leaving more than 90 families without income.
Eco-adventure company Stormsriver Adventures and its Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour operation - involved in fighting poverty and uplifting the community since it was established in 1998 - have been told by South African National Parks (SANParks) that their concessionaire contract would no longer be extended and that they would have to vacate the land by June 30. The property on which they operate is state-owned land.
SANParks did not divulge any details about the future of the project other than that it would be in their interest to continue with a similar operation.
Stormsriver Adventures, well-known for its canopy tours and other adventure activities, have over the years created 43 direct and more than 50 indirect jobs, in a community plagued by poverty and unemployment. When the contract ends in just short of three months, all these locals will be unemployed.
Garden Route National Park general manager Jill Bunding Venter said Stormsriver Adventures’ concessionaire contract had expired in 2010 already and had been extended annually while SANParks was in the process of registering the project with National Treasury in terms of section 16 of the Public Finance Management Act.
This process has now been completed, which means that SANParks can now manage the tender process.
“Stormsriver Adventures had been aware of and had been consulted with extensively via this process,” said Bunding Venter.
She added that the land would now go out on tender and was subject to a public participation process to comply with National Treasury regulations. “The tender will be advertised and anyone, including Stormsriver Adventures, may apply.”
Bunding Venter said it was in the interest of SANParks to continue to provide access to current and additional activities in the area.
But Stormsriver Adventures staff members are reeling, as the company has played a massive role in poverty alleviation - not only through creating jobs, but through various other charity projects.
Over the past decade Storms-river Adventures has spent about R3-million on skills development in the eco-adventure tourism field. They also run a school feeding scheme through which they provide 220 primary school children with a meal four times a week.
Other community initiatives include clothing distribution, HIV/Aids awareness, small business development, support of local crafters, and animal welfare. They also do their bit for the environment and run a recycling initiative.
The company ploughs about 60% of their annual turnover back into the community and has received many accolades for its work, including multiple responsible tourism awards.
Owner Ashley Wentworth said it was a very emotional week after informing his employees - who he describes as “family” - about the decision by SANParks.
“Stormsriver Adventures is currently in discussions with SANParks regarding legal issues surrounding intellectual and property rights of the Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour,” said Wentworth.
He added that Stormsriver Adventures had only been allowed to operate the canopy tours on an annual license permit basis since (this part of the businesses) first opening in 2001.
“This license has not been renewed by SANParks and the parties are in discussions around the basis for a formal tender process that will allow the operator a long-term operating permit for the business.”
Garden Route Media

Author: Yolandé Stander

[Flutterby]

Why kick them out and then say they can submit a tender to do exactly what they have been doing for 43 years? I have my thoughts but better keep them to myself!

[Mel]

I also don't get why they would ban years of expertise to start all over again.
Plus, what about employing the local communities that is a claimed aim when
justifying development in other parks. It'll take some time until they maybe have
an income again...

[Richprins]

They see something working and then take it for themselves if it's not a tender they have already "awarded"...so as to make money. End of story. Same is going to happen with OSV's in Kruger.

If Stormsriver Adventures get the tender, without some miraculous payback agreement, I'll walk naked down Koraalboom Street here in Nelspruit!


Another excerpt from the 2022 Management Plan:


If you’re not wildly adventurous, you can still
scale heights with tree-top tours through the
forest canopy

Do they think we are stupid?
Disgraceful!

[Sprocky]

.Gov at it's best!!!

Take (steal) what works and run with it, make it your own. Don't give a damn about what you are supposed to be doing!! (0)

[Toko]

Sanparks reacts to closure of Treetop Canopy tours

07:32 (GMT+2), Tue, 16 April 2013


Sanparks reacts to closure of Treetop Canopy tours
SA National Parks has rejected reports suggesting that it is forcing the closure of the Treetop Canopy Tours in its Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park.

This followed the news that Sanparks would not be renewing the concession to Storms River Adventures which managed the venture as part of a long-running private public partnership.

Sanparks Garden Route Regional General Manager, Jill Bunding-Venter, says reports doing the rounds are not only factually misleading but are placing SANParks reputation at risk.

She says the Public Finance Management Act requires that when a when a Public Private Partnership term comes to an end, the opportunity should be put out on an open and transparent tender.

Bunding-Venter says they will also do everything possible to prevent the loss of around 90 jobs.

Here is the full statement:



SANPARKS REACTS TO ACCUSATION OF FORCING CLOSURE OF TREETOP CANOPY TOUR WITH DISMAY

South African National Parks (SANParks) would like to clarify reports that it is forcing the closure of the Treetop Canopy Tours managed by Storms River Adventures in its Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park.

This according to the Garden Route Regional General Manager, Jill Bunding-Venter, who said the reports doing the rounds are not only factually misleading but are placing SANParks reputation at risk. “The fact of the matter is that SANParks as a public institution has to follow the National Treasury regulations as far as Public Private Partnerships (PPP’s) are concerned.”

“In an attempt to address project continuity and protect jobs SANParks has in fact renewed the contract which ended on the31 December 2004 on several occasions and cannot by law continue with the practice. This was specifically done to ensure that no jobs were lost and seamless product offering continues. In essence SANParks has done all in its power to accommodate the current service provider as well its reputation.” Despite ongoing negotiations and legal processes, the parties are yet unable to reach consensus on a structured way in which a tender process could be undertaken without halting operations.

She said as prescribed by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) when a PPP term comes to an end, the opportunity should be put out on an open and transparent tender. The management of the indigenous forests is a function that was assigned by the then Department of Water Affairs and Forestry to SANParks and the permit issued to Storms River Adventures has expired. Typically opportunities relating to state assets cannot be given out in perpetuity. “This is the case for all projects even where the private sector has to invest large amounts of money for e.g. in the Lodge Concessions, restaurants etc. It should be noted that the current service provider will not be excluded from bidding for this opportunity - in actual fact they would be encouraged to partake in the bidding process.”

SANParks would like to further state that due processes will be followed to ensure that no jobs will be lost. SANParks would also like to see a scenario where the current operations will continue to run uninterrupted until a new service provider is appointed, provided the current operator does not continue to obstruct the process of rolling out the tender. In the event that the current service provider is not successful, SANParks envisages that there would be a seamless handover of the current workforce to the new provider as per Section 197 of the Labour Relations Act.

SANParks wishes to state that it values the contribution that this particular responsible tourism venture has brought to the local economy and is committed to ensuring that this successful tourism product continues into the future.

The shop within the Stormsriver Restcamp has successfully gone through the PPP process and it has been re-awarded to Tiger’s Eye. Other opportunities in the area which are being put out to tender include the Tsistikamma Restaurant (to be concluded by 24 July 2013), Black Water Tubing to be advertised on 18 April 2013, Canoeing, kayaking and paragliding in the Wilderness Section, with the Timber Harvesting Concession already successfully implemented.

[H. erectus]

All would seem very legit from the cuff, though

with the Timber Harvesting Concession already successfully implemented.

Cannot quite figure why this was tossed into the equation!!??

Not the right place for such a remark....

[H. erectus]

Now the Hansa's can just rush through BC,

[Bushcraft]

but change to SANParks wrote

[Richprins]

Thanks, Toko!

My ideas in red!


Sanparks reacts to closure of Treetop Canopy tours
SA National Parks has rejected reports suggesting that it is forcing the closure of the Treetop Canopy Tours in its Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park.

This followed the news that Sanparks would not be renewing the concession to Storms River Adventures which managed the venture as part of a long-running private public partnership.

Sanparks Garden Route Regional General Manager, Jill Bunding-Venter, says reports doing the rounds are not only factually misleading but are placing SANParks reputation at risk. SP reputation has been at risk for many years now, due to decisions by their top executives, not the men and women on the ground. That is why this parastatal organisation is slowly turning into more of a huge complaints department, reacting to media rather than being proactive.

She says the Public Finance Management Act requires that when a when a Public Private Partnership term comes to an end, the opportunity should be put out on an open and transparent tender.

Bunding-Venter says they will also do everything possible to prevent the loss of around 90 jobs.

Here is the full statement:



SANPARKS REACTS TO ACCUSATION OF FORCING CLOSURE OF TREETOP CANOPY TOUR WITH DISMAY

South African National Parks (SANParks) would like to clarify reports that it is forcing the closure of the Treetop Canopy Tours managed by Storms River Adventures in its Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park.

This according to the Garden Route Regional General Manager, Jill Bunding-Venter, who said the reports doing the rounds are not only factually misleading but are placing SANParks reputation at risk. “The fact of the matter is that SANParks as a public institution has to follow the National Treasury regulations as far as Public Private Partnerships (PPP’s) are concerned.” This statement must be firmly placed in the memory banks of all involved!

“In an attempt to address project continuity and protect jobs SANParks has in fact renewed the contract which ended on the31 December 2004 on several occasions and cannot by law continue with the practice. Why now suddenly after decades...the "law" changed years ago, if that is what you are referring to? This was specifically done to ensure that no jobs were lost and seamless product offering continues. Rubbish! This was done so as SP and potential tender friends could get a bigger financial benefit.In essence SANParks has done all in its power to accommodate the current service provider as well its reputation.” Despite ongoing negotiations and legal processes, Don't start with the legal process threat again...we do not buy it and if a court case were involved it should be sub judice and you may not make any of these comments. We are not intimidated anymore! the parties are yet unable to reach consensus on a structured way in which a tender process could be undertaken without halting operations.

She said as prescribed by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) when a PPP term comes to an end, the opportunity should be put out on an open and transparent tender. The management of the indigenous forests is a function that was assigned by the then Department of Water Affairs and Forestry to SANParks and the permit issued to Storms River Adventures has expired. Typically opportunities relating to state assets cannot be given out in perpetuity. “This is the case for all projects even where the private sector has to invest large amounts of money for e.g. in the Lodge Concessions, restaurants etc. Typically SP can do what they want, in terms of NEMA, provided the NEW ministry approves it, which is exactly the point! The private sector does not need to invest any money here, so don't understand?It should be noted that the current service provider will not be excluded from bidding for this opportunity - in actual fact they would be encouraged to partake in the bidding process.” They don't seem to be "encouraged' at all, otherwise they would not have pleaded for help?!

SANParks would like to further state that due processes will be followed to ensure that no jobs will be lost. How? SANParks would also like to see a scenario where the current operations will continue to run uninterrupted until a new service provider is appointed, provided the current operator does not continue to obstruct the process of rolling out the tender. If the current operator is obstructing the tender process, that should be a massive cause for legal procedure, as stated above, in terms of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), and should once again be sub judice until proven either way? In the event that the current service provider is not successful, SANParks envisages that there would be a seamless handover of the current workforce to the new provider as per Section 197 of the Labour Relations Act. What SP "envisages" has not always turned out to be the result...see KTP cycle challenge, hotels, strikes, poaching etc. so we won't hold our breath...

SANParks wishes to state that it values the contribution that this particular responsible tourism venture Whoah! Isn't this venture obstructing justice? has brought to the local economy and is committed to ensuring that this successful tourism product continues into the future.

The shop within the Stormsriver Restcamp has successfully gone through the PPP process and it has been re-awarded to Tiger’s Eye. Other opportunities in the area which are being put out to tender include the Tsistikamma Restaurant (to be concluded by 24 July 2013), Black Water Tubing to be advertised on 18 April 2013, Canoeing, kayaking and paragliding in the Wilderness Section, with the Timber Harvesting Concession already successfully implemented. So what? What does that have to do with this case? Tiger's Eye have been involved with SP for far fewer years. Also, the timber concessions have nothing to do with tourism, so irrelevant in this case.[/quote]