WATERWAYS – RALPH RICHARDS
Zandvlei Mouth
Closed 12 Apr, opening 3 May, closing 10 May. After 10 May the opening and closing controlled by Reserve Management and dependent on rain, tides and storm conditions.
Operation of Weed Harvesters
Cape Shoveler last spotted in The Reach on 18 Mar. The weed harvester’s operation have been limited due to the low levels of floating algae but will be back in action on 15 April to remove remaining dying rooted matter.
Litter Collection at Nets and Grids in Sand River
8 bags collected from the nets on 29 Mar. A majority vote by MDGA has allowed a donation of R 5000 to Zandvlei Trust for repairs to the nets.
Sewage Spills
None reported.
Signage
The signage on bridges has been placed on hold until approvals have been received from CoCT to use logos.
Water Quality
No water chemistries from CoCT. Visual observations indicate water quality good, and volumes of floating algae substantially reduced.
Liaison with Stakeholders
None
SAFETY AND SECURITY – ROBIN CARLISLE
Crimes for the period.
All the incidents occurred in or near the shopping centre. The availability of alcohol at the bistro is a magnet for drinkers avoiding the shebeens/taverns. The violence attendant on the first incident is concerning. The Excom needs to consider its options.
| East Lake | East Lake Centre | Att Robbery | 10.03.24 | 20h40 | Yes Muizenberg | Deep Blue Officer attended to a Panic at Marina Pub and Bistro re people fighting. Upon his arrival, and after stopping the fighting, the six guys that were the trouble makers turned on the Deep Blue Officer and wanted to rob him of his firearm. They did not succeed. |
| East Lake | East Lake Dr | Att Burglary | 10.03.24 | Early morning | No | Suspect/s tried to force garage door and pedestrian gate open |
| East Lake | Eastlake Dr | Att Burglary | 01.03.24 | Unknown | No | Suspect jumped into yard over wall, but jumped out when resident made alarm |
| Fishermans Quay | Tower Quay | ATT Theft out of MV | 21.03.24 | 01h28 | No | 2 x Suspects tried to break into vehicle parked in Tower Quay. Deep Blue arrested them before any damage was done, suspects handed over to SAPS |
| Park Island | East Lake Dr | Theft | 27.03.24 | Unknown | Yes Muizenberg | Suspect/s stole a bicycle, a suitcase and an aluminium trolley from the yard |
Marina Guardians.
A meeting was widely advertised and convened on 18th March 2024. It was agreed nemo contra that the Marina Guardians be, and they are hereby, reconstituted.
Key areas for action are: –
– to identify and strengthen areas where we are most vulnerable. Agreed that an Uitsig security group be constituted at a meeting to be held on 22nd April to reinforce the work already being done in Uitsig. Also to give urgent attention to the 5 non-functioning cameras on the North wall.
– agreed that the Battleridge, Cannon Island and Fishermans precincts consider a CID. They will meet to consider this on 15th April.
– the need for the MDGA to increase its financial contribution to security must be a high and early priority.
Agreement on our expectations of the service providers.
Eighteen cameras were bought by the MDGA and are monitored by Deep Blue. A further 10 were installed by MDGA. No provision was made for the maintenance of these cameras and most were poorly installed. Currently, 5 are not working.
Thus early progress has already been made, and mostly it is driven by the precincts themselves.
TREASURER – JONATHAN WALTERS
This month’s finances comprised the usual expenses, but also certain annual renewals like our Sage accounting package. The bank has a healthy positive balance with surplus funds due to many settling the new financial year’s invoice that was recently sent out. It must be remembered that funds are received as an annual income which is spread over monthly expenses and requires careful planning. However, the forecast done at the beginning of the financial year anticipates no cash flow problems. The auditing process will begin now to secure audited financials in preparation for the AGM.
ARCHCOM – PAUL HIGGINS
Archcom meeting was held on 09 April attended by Gordon Hart, Ulf Martz and me.
One new plan was submitted and approved.
We met with the owner and his draftsman of a plan deemed not to be representative of what is existing. We explained what amendments needed to be carried out to be compliant with the Design Manual. They agreed to the changes and will resubmit their amended plans
EVENTS – VALERIE BENSON
Past events:
23 March 2024 Free Vegetable Growing talk @ 11am at the Marina Pub and Bistro by Fulufhelo “Abraham” Sithole. About 20 Marina residents, some with their gardeners, attended and loved the presentation.
Pending events:
4 May 2024 Free Vegetable Growing talk @ 12pm at the Marina Pub and Bistro by Fulufhelo “Abraham” Sithole
TO BE ORGANISED LATER IN THE YEAR
2024 – “Anything Floats” competition
STANDARDS – DEMETRI QUALLY
The Standards Portfolio progress will be published at the end of the month.
PARKS AND GARDENS – VALERIE BENSON
FISHERMAN’S QUAY POS – a resident has complained that the MDGA Gardeners have been there and it needs attention. Went to view the area and most of the verges are private verges and need to be dealt with by residents. There is a very small POS which I have asked Andrea to see if they can attend to it and also possibly the slipway area
UITSIG PENINSULA – a resident has complained that the POS are getting very sandy and asked if the irrigation system is working. It does work and is working but only a portion of the park is covered by the irrigation system. When it is windy, the water simply blows away.
A new flower bed has been dug by the MDGA Gardeners close to Uitsig Road / Oudevlei Road. They tidied front entrance and main park as usual and cut back trees damaged by strong winds.
PARK ISLAND – the same resident raised the issue of sandy POS in Park Island but there is no irrigation system there. Some PI residents are watering the beds the MDGA Gardeners have created or were there already.
COMMUNICATIONS – LISE CARSWELL
- Newsletter published twice a month
- Residents’ communications responded to
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES’ LIAISON – LATHIF GAFOOR
- the Irish have historically been involved in the establishment of crèches in Vrygrond.
- The Vrygrond Community Development Trust in partnership with Freeland Projects aims to establish a safe house by renovating two existing identical buildings into a place of safety
- To this end the VCDF has partnered with the Irish funders who have now completed the renovations. They sent in a team from Ireland, males and females working tirelessly in accomplishing the task within weeks. On their return to Ireland they will again engage in fund raising for future projects in Vrygrond
- The house will accommodate twelve disadvantaged children in a temporary shelter as a result of abandonment, neglect and abuse. The ultimate aim Is to promote community integration, education and holistic development for these kids
- the marina is blessed with people who have backgrounds in councilling, Trauma and other skills who could help with their skills in uplifting the lives of these kids
- In thanking the Irish I reconnected with the past living under apartheid and the doors that Ireland 🇮🇪 opened to us in admitting us to their universities especially in the field of medicine. Ironically many on completing their studies returned with Irish partners. I also thanked them for their unstinting support for South Africa’s case at the IJC
TAXI UPDATES
- the Social Justice Movement were successful in assisting the VRYGROND TAXI ASSOCIATION for the allocation of drop off and pick up bays at the Tokai shopping centre a while ago
- local government is in the process of the presentation of the draft concept design which will be presented in June to the VCDF for a revitalised taxi rank in Vrygrond.
