Building Guidelines
The Nature's Valley building guidelines.
A guide to assist in the design and submission of building plans for Nature's Valley buildings
General
The main reason people are attracted to Nature's Valley is because of the beauty of nature that exists.The people who live in Nature's Valley understand that we are but visitors in this wonderful creation.
We are the guardians of this wonderful place and want to maintain and preserve it.
May all who visit here be filled with enjoyment and wonder at the beauty of Nature.
Understanding that we must preserve
and maintain the natural environment as much as possible influences the design
and construction of the buildings in Nature's Valley.
It is with this in mind that these guidelines have been made available to draw
from when designing a new structure or modifying an existing one.
General guidelines
- Let the building blend into its environment by choosing materials the are complementary to the natural surroundings.
- Design and place your building carefully to avoid cutting down trees (You have to have a permit to cut down trees anyway)
- Take care when enclosing your property with fences and avoid surrounding walls all together.
- Use complementary paving for driveways and walkways.
- Take your neighbour into consideration and avoid blocking his view.
Please remember that by destroying this "Nature reserve" the attraction
will disappear and the value of property will drop.
Plan preparation and submission
- Discuss your ideas with the N.V.R.A. before you start with the design.
- Obtain the required municipal submission forms from the N.V.R.A .office.
- Discuss and educate your architect on the Nature's Valley requirements.
-
Submit your plans to the N.V.R.A. for scrutiny and approval
(Please supply all your contact details and get a reference number) - The N.V.R.A. will inform you when your plans can be collected.
- Submit your plans and pay the plan submission fees at Bitou Municipality.
- The N.V.R.A. will inform you when the plans have been approved.
The National building regulations and the Zoning scheme regulations apply
CopyRight©2003-2004
Prepared maintained by C.P.S. 1 - 031215 NatVals
Regulatory functions according to the National Forest Act (NFA) (Act no. 84 of 1998):
Forests/ Protected trees DWAF is responsible for all regulatory functions according to the NFA on State Land as well as Non State Land. It is a criminal offence for anyone to cut, disturb, damage or destroy a protected tree or any indigenous, living tree in a natural forest, or remove or receive any such tree, except in terms of a licence, which is issued by the Department under certain conditions. Section 7 of the NFA provides for the prohibition of the destruction of living indigenous trees in any natural forest without a licence. Anyone contravening this prohibition, is guilty of a second category offence, and can be sentenced to up to 2 years imprisonment, or a fine, or both.
This provision is a significant addition to conservation legislation, in that, for the first time in the history of forest law, not only State indigenous forests are protected, but now also all indigenous forests on private land, communal land and any public land.
All types of indigenous forests occurring in this area are included, also coastal scrub forest.
Protected trees like Stinkwood, Yellowwood and Milkwood, are protected under Section 15 of the NFA and provides for the prohibition of the destruction of these trees without a licence. Anyone contravening this prohibition, is guilty of a first category offence, and can be sentenced to up to 3 years imprisonment, or a fine, or both.
Applications for a licence can be made or contraventions reported to the Forestry Office in Knysna.
Cobri Vermeulen is responsible for the enforcement of the law, at tel. 044-382 5466 or 0828028631