Minutes and portfolio reports (January 2022)

Minutes of EXCOM – MARINA DA GAMA ASSOCIATION held on 11th January 2022 at the Offices of the MDGA at 18h00  

Welcome to all with no apologies. Present – Patrick Mc Kenna, Paul Higgins, Richard Midgley, Nick Bode, Graham Barratt, Peter Allen, Ulf Martz, Dominique Erasmus, Tharwah Davids

Unanimous Approval of Minutes of 14th December 2021

3 Portfolio reports
3.1 Treasurer
Bank Balances
3.2 Communications
3.3 Waterways
3.4 Events
3.5 Archcom
3.6 Standards
3.7 Infrastructure
3.8 Parks and Gardens
3.9 Security
3.10 General

      4)   Matters Arising

            A)   Debate on Policy for Distressed Members – ongoing and proposals to be redrafted

            B)   Subscription increase 2022 10% – R70 to R770 – unanimously approved

            C)   Appoint Tharwah Davids as added signatory on Debt Collecting Summons’s – unanimously approved

            D)   Salary Increase Robbie and Marcia unanimously approved according to inflation and performance

            E)   Traffic Calming measures – Exco voted unanimously for UM/DE to continue engagement with City on calming measures – Battleridge, Shearwater and Eastlake Drive

            F)   Vrygrond Housing Development – MDGA submitted objections and suggestions to consultants – await response

            G)   MDGA interactions with CoCT regarding Kingfisher, Sewerage leaks. Many residents have been inundating the Office with suggestions as to what should happen. – We are very well represented on ZPAAC – and ZPAAC are busy compiling a detailed and comprehensive Legal Directive against the CoCT – regarding all matters of Waterways – sewerage spills, human errors and unacceptable maintenance of Pump Stations. We believe this is the correct forum to air our grievances and to demand City action. As a  CoCT Statutory Body, with multi-party representation, credible professionals with sound technical abilities, reformatted into a lively working body – now meeting Monthly – this body includes the CoCT as well as all surround residential bodies and carries far more      weight than an individual body like the MDGA.

            H)   DE has complete set of event permits – and after studying – will be shared so we are well prepared with correct documentation for the events planned in 2022.

            I)    GB – Standards have cleaned up a lot of longstanding incidents – cars standing on streets, painting and repairs over December NB suggested a checklist for incidences – date reported action withing 48 hours etc.

5)   Date of next meeting – 8th February 2022 at 18h00 at MDGA Offices

PORTFOLIO REPORTS

WATERWAYS – NICK BODE

This has been a trying time for all Marina Da Gama residence!! When one should be outside enjoying the holidays, enjoying the waterways, enjoying the summer sun, we were forced to stay indoors and off the water. 

This was due to the unpleasant sight of the copious amounts of algae that had built up due to the high nutrition content caused by all of the sewage spills, that the Vlei has experienced, over the last six months. In these trying times a few residents joined hands and tested out new ways in clearing the algae with the help of Kyran and his team from Zandvlei nature reserve. We had to do this as the Kingfisher was not allowed to be used because of red tape from SAMSA. 

With the algae accumulating daily, a biological disaster had to be saved. Zandvlei Nature Reserve pushed hard against SAMSA again and again explaining how important it was to get the Kingfisher back out onto the water and as soon as possible. Zandvlei nature reserve applied for an exemption and at the last minute an exemption was granted under new rules and requirements. This fantastic news means the Kingfisher has been seen out and about clearing the waterways yet again. 

They are clearing out all of the worst affected areas first and once those areas are relatively clean, they will start working from the south and making their way north as the prevailing wind will keep pushing the floating algae to the northern shores. Residents are still encouraged to keep clearing their 2 m.

A massive thank you to Kyran and his team for working over the holidays with the Marina Da Gama Association and other volunteers at manually removing the algae with nets, rakes and even their hands! 

The Vlei / waterways remain closed and I’m sure after the first ZPAAC meeting of the year we will get the latest E.coli which we will share with you ASAP

COMMUNICATIONS – PATRICK McKENNA

The Communications team had a busy festive season keeping residents updated with various events online and through our email newsletter. Our Facebook group is becoming a well-used platform among members expressing concerns about the algae situation; as such, it demands constant monitoring.  

Throughout 2022, we will continue to create and publish content for all our communication channels: the website, blog, email newsletter and Facebook.

Meanwhile, we are in the process of finalising the design and artwork for printing the residents’ welcome booklet.

INFRASTRUCTURE – ULF MARTZ

• Overview

Activities during December 2021 involved submission of comments to the Environmental consultant involved with the Vrygrond Housing Development.

• Asset Management

CoCT Procurement of new weed harvester – See Waterways Report.

Still awaiting asset register in terms of municipal services from the CoCT.

• Roads and Stormwater

Various correspondence addressed to the CoCT relating to the Marina da Gama Road conditions and status of the M3-M5 link were sent to City officials.

• Infrastructural Development

Zandvlei Expressway/Parkway (M3-M5) link road, refer to the CoCT Southern District Develop Plan:

Attendance to City’s Draft IDP 2022 scheduled on 12 January 2022.

Vrygrond Housing Development – comments submitted.

• Bridges

The BMS city asset register for MdG will need to be obtained.  

• Water and Sanitation

The recent malfunctioning of sewer pump stations has contributed to spillage in the Zandvlei waterways as reported at the ZPAAC meeting held recently. This has contributed to the increased algae growth – refer to Waterways Report.

• Electricity Supply

Load shedding by ESKOM continues to have an impact on the CoCT sewer pump stations’ operations.

Road accident in Uitsig, resulting in a resident’s wall being damaged has been recorded. Introduction of Traffic calming measures to be applied for with the City of Cape Town.  

• Pedestrian Flows

The high pedestrian flow on Eastlake Drive using the roadway is considered hazardous for motorists. Consideration to provide appropriate sidewalks should be addressed with the CoCT.  A formal submission will be prepared.

STANDARDS – GRAHAM BARRATT

There will be no report for Standards for above meeting.

What little happened in Dec. up to closure of MDG office will be included in the Jan. Report for    8th Feb. Exco meeting.

SECURITY – PETER ALLEN

       Triggers received – 46
       Vehicles involved – 16

       Alleged Crime Types:

• Burglary residential
• Drug Dealing
• Poaching
• Gang Affiliation
• Robbery Armed
• Robbery Business
• Robbery Common
• Robbery residential
• Suspicious MV

       Outcome:

• 25 Triggers; the vehicle was out of the area before SSP’s arrived
• 19 Triggers; the vehicle was followed out of the area by SSP’s
• 1 Triggers; the vehicle was involved in an accident
• 1 Trigger; the vehicle left on a Flatbed Tow Truck

Uitsig	Coot Dr	ATT HB	20.12.21	During the past five days	No	Client saw this morning that someone tried to force open the sliding door. She was last at the sliding door five days ago.
Park Island	Park Island Way	Theft	15.12.21	Between 20h00 and 21h00	Yes Muizenberg	Wallet stolen from desk

EVENTS – DOMINIQUE ERASMUS

Both the kids party and the bridge fair carols were a great success in December 2021. Feedback      from residents have been mostly good. R2490 was raised for the park, we need to decide where that will be spent please. 

I have applied for necessary forms from COCT for stage and food truck permits, so that they will be in place before our next large event.

We welcome thoughts on doing a “Marina Ultimate Braai Master event” in March? Perhaps at the Camp grounds or permitted braai area in Marina.

PARKS AND MAINTENANCE

Gardeners on leave until 10th January – whereby we expect another year of advancement with    Gardens and the Beautification of our Public Open Spaces. We expect the year to bring boreholes, and spray systems to irrigate some open spaces, starting in Uitsig and moving south.

TREASURER, COMPLIANCE AND LEGAL – THARWAH DAVIDS