To the new members of the Betty’s Bay Ratepayers’ Association (BBRA), a big welcome! We are thrilled to have you join us and look forward to getting to know you better. Our association is a place where members can share their thoughts and ideas, offer solutions to community challenges and be part of the effort to resolve some of these. We believe that everyone has something valuable to contribute, and we encourage you to participate in our discussions and activities. We hope that you will find our community welcoming and supportive. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to help and support you, within reason, in any way we can.
THANK YOU to those who have generously donated to our community association. Your contributions and membership fees help us to continue to provide high-quality interventions and support for community projects that are both uplifting and engaging. We hope that you will continue to support our efforts in the future.
BANK DETAILS
Account Name: Betty’s Bay Ratepayers Association
Branch: ABSA Hermanus
Account type: Cheque
Account Number: 4066616439
Our Ref: Your Surname & Erf Number or your erf number and the portfolio you wish to support (BBNW, BEST etc)
THE MARKET: Please support our markets as this provides us with an opportunity to meet and greet as well as to exchange a few rands for goods and services. We had an interesting addition to our last market in that the Pickleball court was officially opened, and we had an enchanting number of vintage cars present. We are in talks with BMW for the next event. I am pleased with the way the markets are going. This initiative is run by Shameez Joubert, principal of the business portfolio of the BBRA, and her team.
PICKLEBALL: We have also introduced the recreational game of Pickleball – the first court in the Overstrand – through the Community Development Portfolio of the BBRA. Although we opened the court at the last market the court is not quite ready for use. We need to let the paint cure properly and then to paint the white lines. There has been a tremendous amount of interest shown in the game. A club will be established and anybody that is a paid-up member of the BBRA (R100 per year per person) may draw the equipment and use the court. You may invite your friends and family to join you. Here is the official link to our page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552318258200&mibextid=ZbWKwL
DRAADBAAI BOARDWALK: We are busy with the formal applications for land use. Liezel Bohdanowicz is our lead applicant and advisor for this application. The application is somewhat challenging and cumbersome because the boardwalk will encroach on both Overstrand land and Cape Nature land for this build. I must add that the Overstrand Municipality (OM) have been a tremendous help. Stay strong, Liezel! Once the application process has been completed, we will come back to the community for help with the building of the boardwalk. We thank Jock’s Bay Hardware for their offer of help.
THE CRASSULA COMPLEX: Liezel Bohdanowicz, our portfolio principal for Conservation, is working on developing a walk-through garden in the land bordering the Crassula Hall. It is our intention to develop the Crassula Gardens in the vast space next to Crassula Hall up to Diastella Rd. We are currently busy with an application to lease this ground from the OM for the next nine years and eleven months. A very generous and involved member of our community has pledged to provide us with two experienced gardeners each month to work the Crassula Gardens and surrounding area. We are also happy and excited to have Jan Briers on board for this project. There are lots more on the cards of course. All we need is more membership and community participation.
BASS LAKE: There is so much happening in and around Bass Lake area this year – much community engagement. This is extremely healthy and encouraging. I am convinced that the community of Bass Lake will be able to expedite plans and fixes for the short, medium, and long term. It is my intention to learn from what transpires within the Bass Lake zone as a way forward for the entire village. Each zone in our village has its own personality and dynamic and is best served by its own members. Therefore each zone will need to have representation in the BBRA committee.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP: We have 7 Zones in Betty’s Bay and for this reason I invite people to become representatives and leaders of their respective areas to represent them on the BBRA sub committees. As our village develops, the dynamic and workload becomes more intense for the few volunteers we have. It would be nice to share the load as far and wide as possible to be more effective and relevant. Please consider becoming a community leader.
THE TEAM: Bar any mishaps and unforeseen circumstances I have finalised the BBRA Team for 2024 as follows:
EXCO
Amund Beneke Vice Chairman Sunny Seas
Hannelie Coetzee Treasurer Stony Point
Karon Scholefield Secretary Stony Point
Wayne Jackson Chairman Stony Point
Meet the Portfolio Principals.
Wendy Lucas IT and social media Silversands
Viv von der Heyden Editor of the newsletter Jock’s Bay
Claudele Jackson Crassula Hall Stony Point
Jorika Rabie Betty’s Bay Volunteer Fire and Rescue Team Stony Point
Rob Boyd Betty’s Bay Emergency Support Team (BEST) Central
Wayne Jackson Betty’s Bay Neighbourhood Watch System Stony Point
Amund Beneke Stormwater and Roads Sunny Seas
Graeme Mc Gill Water and Sewage Stony Point
Liezel Bohdanowicz Conservation Central
Shameez Joubert Business Rondevlei
Karon Scholefield Property Development Stony Point
Cheryl Gleeson Social Development Central
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
We need some young blood to take over the reins as the Neighbourhood Watch operations co-ordinator. If you think you are up to it, please contact me on 082 928 1260. We also need a rep for Bass Lake and Jock’s Bay.
So, what is new in the crime prevention space? We have acquired a state-of-the-art drone, DJI Air 3, with all the bells and whistles. The drone is going to be working in many domains to ensure Betty’s Bay gets the maximum use and benefit out of it. We will use the drone as an immediate response to complaints about suspicious activity in your area. A drone will be sent to get a fix on the suspects (flight plan). The drone pilot will find the individuals and direct our MVs to the individuals. On too many occasions we are called out to incidents and when we get there the suspects are no longer to be found. We want to be more effective in locating them.
The standard that we have adopted is as follows. On take off the pilot will ascend to an altitude of 100 metres then proceed to the target area. Once the pilot has located the target, the drone will descend to an altitude of 50 metres and accumulate video footage of the target. Once the MVs have arrived and the persons on the ground have taken control then the drone will withdraw to the landing pad on the same flight path. The drone will also be used to identify new pathways through the fynbos as potential approach and escape routes and in anti-poaching operations to comb the shoreline from time to time as well as the mountain side, to find plant thieves. It will also be used to identify the state of fire breaks and overgrown spaces, road conditions and stormwater damage and in conservation efforts to understand our space and the animals that live in it with us.
To date we have 68 cameras across Betty’s Bay placed in strategic places for maximum coverage to assist us in crime prevention. Unfortunately, we could not get the appropriate site to cover Main Beach parking and the intersection of Myrica/ Morea, nor Luckhoff. We will endeavour to find other willing home-owners in order to cover these spaces.
The first roll-out of camera monitoring by the community will take place in Sunny Seas. This system is 80% complete. There are 13 members who will be briefed and ‘loaded’.
Note that you and I are responsible for our own safety and security. We have structures in place as primary and secondary back-up systems to support you. Please keep your children close to you at all times!
THE BBRA NEWSLETTER: I would like to see our local business community benefit through advertising in our monthly newsletters. A business card size advert, to be placed in the newsletter each month as well as on our website, will cost R1000 per year. Ratepayers and residents may also submit articles to be added to our newsletter, with the approval of the exco and/or the editor. All inputs must reach the editor no later than the 15th of each month.
PARTY HOUSES: Please report these houses to Law Enforcement on the Law Enforcement Complaints line 028 313 8996 and safety issues on 028 313 8980. At the same time report the issues to your security company and to me on 082 928 1260.
PAAC: The Stony Point Marine Protected Area Advisory Committee has met for a second time and at this meeting the scientists studying the feeding patterns and food sources of the penguins and the commercial fishing routes have made us aware of a disastrous situation developing for the penguins. At some point it might be necessary for us as a community to stand together in protest to protect the fishing grounds of the penguins. I will keep you informed.
LIVING ON THE EDGE: Don’t forget to include your edges and pavements in your gardening plan as we strive to do as much as possible ourselves in every sphere of our lives here in Betty’s Bay.
MY PET HATE: I am not comfortable with pleading with people all the time but for the sake of all of us here in Betty’s Bay and for my sanity, please do the following!
- Always keep your dog on a lead when you are in a public space. Everywhere except your garden.
- Pick up your dog’s poo and take it home with you.
- Please do not throw your dog’s poo packet in the first bin you find on the way home.
- Inform your guests and friends of these rulings here in Betty’s Bay.
- Video or take pictures of people who disregard these rules and report them to Law Enforcement on Law Enforcement Complaints 028 313 8996 or on the Safety Issues line 028 313 8980.
FIRE SEASON: The fire season in the Overstrand begins on 1 November. The Overstrand Municipality Fire Department encourages home-owners to take the following steps to help reduce risks of ignition and the spread of fires to adjacent properties and veld by taking the following fire safety precautions:
- Ensure that your driveway has been cleared of overhanging vegetation and is wide enough to accommodate a fire engine.
- Do not store flammable materials such as gas cylinders below decks or verandas.
- Cut back vegetation and remove debris around your home.
- Where you can, remove/control invasive alien vegetation, such as Port Jacksons.
- Make sure your home is clearly marked with your erf number and house number.
If you see smoke, please immediately contact Overstrand Fire and Rescue on 028 312 2400. Give the erf number or location. Once you have done this inform your community group via Whatsapp and let them know that you have reported it.
SEASONS GREETINGS: As this year draw to its conclusion, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for your support and collaboration throughout this challenging year. You have been a source of inspiration, motivation and learning for me and the TEAM. I am honoured to be part of this amazing community of people. I hope you enjoy the festive season with your loved ones, and I look forward to working with you again in the new year. May 2024 bring you happiness, health, and success in all your endeavours.
Kind regards
Wayne Jackson
LOCAL IS LEKKER
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