I have just received this email: " There has been much speculation about the future of Northern Farm of late. As the Northern Farm Recreational User Group, we are obviously concerned about the situation but would like to put issues in perspective. Firstly, contrary to the e mails doing the rounds at present, it is only the southern side of the nature reserve for which deproclamation has been applied, not the whole nature reserve as reported. Whilst we have an environmentalist conducting an investigation into the existence of any environmentally sensitive areas within the intended area for deproclamation, we point out that this area, south of the freeway and predominantly south of the R114, has in any event been occupied by the sewerage works and overflow of residents from Diepsloot and is not used by the recreational or environmental groups in any form or fashion. <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> NFRUG has registered as an interested party and lodged a document recording our activities and use of the club house area south of the freeway but north of the R114. We shall continue to participate in the process of deproclamation in order to protect the interests of the user group. On the question of Johannesburg Water stopping farming activity we are again concerned about the impact that this will have on the farm and of course its recreational use. We have engaged with Johannesburg Water, and are engaging with Johannesburg Property Company to establish their intentions and ensure that the user groups interests are protected. This will be a long process and we see no merit in signing petitions or protesting until such time as we have established that there is in fact a need to protest. We shall keep the user group posted on developments and request that all interested parties register for the newsletter on the Northern Farm website in order to facilitate ease of communication. Regards Simon Nash"
