The Brackenridge Environmental Sub-Committee was established in May 2023 and superseded by the Brackenridge Environmental Management Committee (EMC) in November of that year.
The original Sub-Committee was formed in response to a motion proposed and unanimously adopted by members present at the 2023 AGM of the Brackenridge Home Owners Association. This motion had called on Brackenridge to intensify its efforts towards the protection and enhancement of the unbuilt natural environment within our eco estate. This space constitutes a unique shared asset of some 70 hectares – an asset that is jointly owned by all residents.
The role of the Environmental Subcommittee was to (a) advise the Board on environmental matters and (b) to enable Brackenridge residents to actively engage in the preservation and enhancement of the Estate’s commonly owned natural environment. The Subcommittee was represented on the Board by Mr. Nico Westraat, the holder of the Board’s Landscaping and Building portfolio.
The inaugural sub-committee comprised of three Brackenridge residents and two ex officio members:
- Dr. Deborah Constant of 1 Erica Heath
- Mr. Steve Harcourt-Cooke of 8 Orchid Valley
- Dr. Chris Meister of 50 Protea Dale (Chair)
- Mr. Boet Grobler, Brackenridge General Manager – ex officio member
- Mr. Nico Westraat, Trustee – ex officio member
2024 – 2025 EMC members
At the 2024 AGM our Trustee ex officio member Nico left the sub-committee. His role was taken up by the newly elected Board of Trustees member Adrian Smith.
- Dr. Deborah Constant of 1 Erica Heath
- Mr. Steve Harcourt-Cooke of 8 Orchid Valley
- Dr. Chris Meister of 50 Protea Dale (Chair)
- Mr. Boet Grobler, Brackenridge General Manager – ex officio member
- Mr. Adrian Smith, Trustee – ex officio member
2025 – 2025 EMC members
Boet Grobler resigned as General Manager of Brackenridge Estate and left us on 28 February 2025. Beginning in January 2025 Brackenridge’s Operations Manager Eldred Britz regularly attended the EMC meetings. Eldred serves as the ex officio representative of Brackenridge MAnagement in an interim capacity, until the appointment of a new General Manager.
The resulting composition of the EMC was as follows:
- Dr. Deborah Constant of 1 Erica Heath
- Mr. Steve Harcourt-Cooke of 8 Orchid Valley
- Dr. Chris Meister of 50 Protea Dale (Chair)
- Mr. Eldred Britz, Brackenridge Operations Manager – ex officio member
- Mr. Adrian Smith, Trustee – ex officio member
Following the AGM of April 2025 – where new Board members were elected – and subsequent to the appointment of a new General Manager the composition of the EMC then changed to the following:
- Mrs. Lynn Biesheuvel of 22 Bitou Glade
- Dr. Deborah Constant of 1 Erica Heath
- Mr. Steve Harcourt-Cooke of 8 Orchid Valley
- Mr. Mark Dicey, General Manager – ex officio member
- Dr. Chris Meister of 50 Protea Dale (Chair)
- Mr. Paul Owen of 22 Watsonia Heights
- Mr. Steve Ritky, Trustee – ex officio member
- Mr. Basel Hughes, Trustee – ex officio member
Dissolution of the old Environmental Management Committee and establishment of an Environmental Monitoring Committee
The above committee served until 31 July 2025 when it was dissolved by the Board. In October 2025 it was then replaced by a newly established Environmental Monitoring Committee.
Standing Members of this Environmental Monitoring Committee (EMC) as at October 2025 were:
- Kelyn Whitehead – Brackenridge Environmental Control Officer
- Mark Dicey – Brackenridge Estate Manager
- Steve Ritky – Trustee, Brackenridge
- Hugh Basel – Trustee, Brackenridge
- Anya Minnie – Bitou Environmental Officer
- Rudi Martin – Plett Environmental Forum
Consultants (to assist as needed): - Cape Nature – Henk Niewoudt / Megan Simons
- SCFPA – Dirk Smit / Japie Hendricks
- DFFE – Paul Gerber