FISH HOEK VALLEY RATEPAYERS & RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION (FHVRRA)CHAIRPERSON: Janet Holwill, P.O. Box 22125 Fish Hoek 7974 Tel: 021 785 1328 Cell: 082 920 7306 Email:jholwill@iafrica.com
NOTICE OF QUARTERLY GENERAL MEETING
CIVIC CENTRE, FISH HOEK, THURSDAY 27th MAY 2010 at 19h30.
PROPERTY RATES OBJECTIONS AND REBATES
The Special Meeting organised by FHVRRA on April 15th was an event not to miss. With an attendance of close to 200, the featured guest speaker, Director of Property Valuations Mr. Christopher Gavor, accompanied by staff from the City Valuations Office, had his work cut out to handle a vocal audience with plenty to say.
Many good and well considered points were made by the audience and a number of property owner queries were handled on the spot by Valuations staff armed with laptop computers online.
Mr. Gavor would have left the meeting in no doubt that the Fish Hoek populace is alive and kicking here in the Deep South!
Rates rebate: The time for objections re-property valuations finally closed at the end of April.
However, please note that there is a rebate system for rates. Anyone whose income is less than R8000.00 per month is entitled to apply for such a rebate.
The amount is calculated on a sliding scale from R8000.00 to R3000.00 income per month. At R3000.00 per month you are entitled to a full rebate. Please apply at the municipal offices for more details.
SHARK MATTERS, ALERT SYSTEM REVISITED.
As a result of further questions from concerned residents and others, the whole shark prevention system is being re-evaluated.
The comprehensive report addresses some important issues and some of the points are highlighted here.
-New and better signage will be put up, especially along Jager’s Walk.
-Communication between the shark spotters and the lifesavers has been improved.
-Personal shark shields will be encouraged, but these are not suitable to be used in a long line.
-The concepts of building a tidal pool, concrete “dolosse” barricades, shark fences and the sealing of Fish Hoek Bay are being re-investigated.
The cost of building a tidal pool would be extremely high and, as it falls within the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected area, it is unlikely that permission would be given. There are also concerns that a hard infrastructure may well cause increased coastal degradation and cause erosion problems on the beach, plus dangerously increasing holes, rips and gullies for swimmers.
After evaluating many ideas it has been agreed that, at present, the shark spotting programme is still the best option.
Information is constantly being gathered from and pooled with many other concerned bodies e.g. KZN Shark Board, Australian Shark Boards and Shark Researcher bodies.
LICENSING AND DRIVER’S TESTING CENTRE.
The Licensing and Driver’s Testing Centre is slowly coming on. At present they are altering the old plans office at the Civic Centre to accommodate offices for this facility.
Dare we hope that it will be up and running by the end of this year?
SIGNS ARE GOOD FOR OU KAAPSE WEG
Following several recent road closures on Ou Kaapse Weg due to serious accidents, the FHVRRA have suggested that electronic signage be placed at each end of the Kaapse Weg to help motorists avoid having to go up to the top and then turn around to go back down again, having been confronted by another road closure.
It is hoped that, with clear warning, motorists will be able to plan an alternative route quickly to help avoid and ease the terrible traffic jams. The Council have indicated that they think this is a good idea.
There are only 3 signs for the 90Km/hr. speed limit over the 10Km. distance. Going north, one after the Noordhoek turnoff and one after the Silvermine turnoff. Going south, one shortly after the Steenberg junction. There are speed limit signs when approaching each sharp bend, but no limit signs after exiting the bends.
Further suggestions could be to reduce the general maximum allowed speed to 70km. /hr., with 60Km. /hr. at the Silvermine turnoff. Then to place a 70Km. /hr. speed limit sign at every 2km. mark or so in each direction. This would be a clear and visible message not to be ignored.
TRANSPORTATION ACTION, LET’S GET MOVING
The Simon’s Town Civic Association is increasingly concerned about the railway line between Fish Hoek and Simonstown, which has been closed for repair for some time. Most trains are currently terminating at Fish Hoek.
It appears that the Metrorail plan is to reclaim some land in the area towards Simonstown around the Lower North Battery area, in order to shore up the section of the line which is being washed away.
The impact of this major engineering work, which would extend the land out into the sea by some 12 metres, has yet to be properly assessed. Public Participation and Environmental Impact issues are yet to be settled.
The relief buses running between Fish Hoek and Simon’s Town are, in the meantime, causing unwanted traffic congestion problems.
The whole wider issue of transport in the Far South needs to be considered much more energetically. We shortly hope to be looking at these problems and the solutions to them together with the authorities.
On the subject of Fish Hoek Station, we learn that there is a planned upgrade on the cards. This will include gravelling the space in front of the station building itself, plus improved parking facilities to encourage Park ’n Ride.
The toilets on Sunnycove station are due to be closed because of vandalism and security problems.
PERSONAL SECURITY: 10 GENERAL SAFETY TIPS.
Your personal safety needs to be your top priority at all times. There is no telling when you might fall into harm’s way. Here is a selection of common-sense suggestions, with acknowledgements to various security services companies. This list is not exhaustive; it is rather intended to highlight the importance of personal safety awareness.
1. Be aware of the emergency numbers available to you should you need help.
2. When leaving your house for long periods, don’t mention it on your answering machine.
3. Test your alarm system, if you have one, at least once a month and report any fault immediately. Inform the security provider that you are testing the system before starting.
4. Where possible, install outside security lighting that can be controlled remotely from inside the house. Also consider putting outside lights on to a day/night switch or demand lighting, which is activated by a motion detector.
5. Try to reduce bush or foliage in the vicinity of your driveway, as these are good hiding places.
6. Remotely operated gates are preferable, as you don’t have to leave the safety of your vehicle in order to get inside your property.
7. Install a safe for valuables. A wall safe is a good start, but is not the very best for money or documents, as they are not fully fireproof.
8. Add an emergency number to the speed dial function of your telephone or cellphone.
Your local Emergency Number is: 021 782 0333
9. Avoid carrying large sums of money.
10. Do not wear extravagant jewellery in public.
Electricity Tariff Increases over the next 3 years.
Are you switched on to what is really going on?
On the 25th of February 2010, new Eskom electricity tariff increases were announced. It was thus finally made public by The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) that they have approved 3 Eskom tariff increases, covering the years 2010, 2011 and 2012. These price increases are all about Eskom meeting their required income levels over the period.
The tariff increases on standard average prices were announced as follows:
2010/11: 24.8%. This makes the average Eskom electricity price 41.57c per kWh.
2011/12: 25.8%. This makes the average Eskom electricity price 52.38c per kWh.
2012/13: 25.9%. This makes the average Eskom electricity price 65.85c per kWh.
The first increase already took effect on 1st of April 2010, which is the start of Eskom’s financial year. These increases follow the 31.3% increase in Eskom tariffs from 1st of July 2009.
Municipalities buy the electricity from Eskom and will put on significant additional markup, plus VAT, onto the Eskom rates. This makes the increases in tariffs much greater to the final consumer than those published for Eskom.
For example, at 1st July 2009, electricity supplied to one consumer in Fish Hoek jumped from 47.38c per kWh to 64.44c per kWh, an increase of 36%, excluding VAT. Literally overnight.
This consumer is on the “Domestic High” tariff, which applies if consumption averages over 800kWh per month. It also attracts a daily service charge of R3.40 plus VAT. That’s an average of around R116.00 outlay per month right there!
If an average of 400 – 800kWh per month is used, the tariff charge is 77.37c per kWh plus VAT, but there is no service charge.
Municipal tariffs to consumers are complex and are subject to different levels, depending on consumer consumption circumstances. Check your own Electricity Account to see where you stand.
Where does this all lead to? It means that we must be much more conscious of our daily power consumption. It is imperative that we must look at alternatives and try to find the most cost effective use of our electricity.
Saving electricity: To help with this complex exercise, here is a good place to start, if you have the facility:
The City of Cape Town official website has most helpful information on..
HOW TO REDUCE YOUR ELECTRICITY ACCOUNT. Go to www.capetown.gov.za/en/electricity/save/Pages/default.aspx
You can also go to www.electricitymonitor.co.za/articles.html for comprehensive information on where the really big problems really are and suggestions as to what to do about it.
Exco Portfolio Holders for the year 2010.
Your EXCO Committee has been appointed for 2010. Here is a list of members and the portfolios they will be handling:
Janet Holwill, Chair: Planning, zoning, departures, public liaison, draft legislation, etc.
Steve Perrett, Vice Chair: Planning, zoning, departures, CPF, etc.
Allen Rose-Innes: Planning, zoning, departures, draft legislation, etc., membership and treasury.
Graham Child: Environmental and amenity issues, including the beach, sports fields, etc.
Rowland Dale: Attendance at selected Subcouncil monthly meetings, general public transport.
Flip Rossouw: Neighbourhood watches, Sun Valley and general traffic issues.
Bob Lockyer: Community Police Forum, neighbourhood watches and the Emergency Control Centre.
Peter Kempster: General Meeting convenor (including guest speaker), newsletter, marketing and Seaside Cottages.
Yann Mouret: Security.
Pat Schultz: Secretarial.
DIARISE OUR NEXT MEETING DATE: Thursday 27 May 2010. That’s our up-coming Quarterly General Meeting at the Civic Centre, at 19h30.
Do you know what is going on in your local community? We do, so why not join us?
** Our 3rd Quarterly Meeting for the year will be on Thursday 26 August 2010**
PLEASE NOTE: SUBSCRIPTIONS
Annual Subscriptions (R50 per household for 2010) became due in January 2010.We appeal to members in arrears for 2009 (R50) to pay these outstandings together with their 2010 subs. Members unable to afford the subscription fees are advised to contact the Association’s Chairperson (Tel: 021-785-1328), in full confidence and no obligation, to discuss a reduced fee.
Subs can also be posted to P.O. Box 22125 Fish Hoek 7974, or paid at the following establishments: Regal Cycles, Weavers, Pennylane (Valyland) and Thundercloud Music (Sun Valley Mall). Please make out cheques to: “Fish Hoek Valley Ratepayers & Residents Association”.
The Fish Hoek Ratepayers and Residents Association.
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Hi,
The council did some road works – replacing water pipes in Carmichael Rd. They started, I think, in December last year but they have not finished yet. It is almost as if they forgot about the outstanding work to be finished off. The road is in a terrible and dangerous condition. Can you please take this matter up with the council?
Kind regards,
Johan