Wayne Jackson, chairman of the BBRA gave the following report at the 2023 AGM held on 16 Dec 2023. The report was accepted by all that attended.
Confirmation of our areas
Interaction with OM 2023
- Speed calming devices on Clarence across OM.
- Baboon monitors to replace HWS.
- Extra funding for the Kleinmond administrative office.
- Gambling machines. Our disapproval and disappointment that it was granted.
- Liquor licence for wine boutique. We did not oppose.
- Revised IDP was adopted by OM.
- Overhills footprint. Plans to reduce the footprint and to understand who live in it.
- Unemployment. Consider co-management agreements to remove alien plants from municipal land.
- Adopt a system. Improve selected areas by the community in partnership with OM.
- Court Way. Close part of Court Way as a matter of importance.
- Draadbaai Walkway. Applications are still to be filed.
- Crassula Complex. Work has started on acquiring this space for children’s park and garden.
- Bass Lake. Co-management agreement yet to be filed. Tough area to agree on strategy.
- Building plans and relaxations. In principle we do not disagree on applications unless otherwise advised.
- Way Leaves re Telkom and SONIC clarified.
- Roads and Storm water systems. Better communications and co-agreement strategies implemented.
- Water and sanitation. Current replacement contract has run its course with 100% completion.
- New welcome sign boards were suitably placed by OM.
Membership is open to every ratepayer and resident.
400 paid up members and donations give us encouragement to do more for Betty’s Bay. We could do much better than have 1548 members registered on our database out of a possible 3980 owners.
In a nutshell, we have 13 volunteer members serving on the BBRA with 400 members and donors funding. We hope for more active members and donations to boost our coffers.
Membership engagement
We engaged through our WhatsApp groups, Facebook page, Instagram, our website, monthly meetings, debates, a monthly newsletter, and email.
Achievements for 2023
- BEST
- Pickle Ball
- We understand our communities and have developed a communications system with all.
- We have established a good solution-driven working relationship with the communities.
- We have built a membership base through leadership.
- We have established an effective and self-motivated TEAM of volunteers.
- We have established partnerships and good relations with all stakeholders.
- We are establishing a meaningful business community group and network in BB.
- We installed 4 pink life buoys
Betty’s Bay Neighbourhood Watch has confirmed partnerships with the four security companies for 2024.
69 cameras are now in place which allow us to:
Keep members off the streets at night.
Assist anti-poaching activities.
Keep an eye on domestic and wild animals.
Furnish law enforcement and SAPS with footage post facto.
We are rolling out the camera system to individuals.
We intend to have a control room sometime in the future.
The drone is used for:
Responding to calls from residents.
Assisting with anti-poaching activities.
Terrain monitoring for fire hazards and pathways.
Assisting with rescue operations.
We wish to have a more permanent income and an increase in the number and value of donations.
The volunteer fire and rescue team has done extensive training to be effective in all situations.
They have also been trained as first responders to assist with any medical emergencies.
Plans for the fire station in Betty’s Bay are in progress with land having been allocated for the project.
The most important and urgent activity now is to raise enough funds to buy a new fire truck.
Betty’s Bay Emergency Support Team (BEST) volunteers have established themselves as a necessary component of our community.
They have all been trained to be Level 3 First Aiders.
The BBRA is funding this project through donations.
Roads and stormwater systems
We have established a co-management agreement where weekly meetings are held to discuss work done and work to be done.
We have offered proactive suggestions to OM to speed up breakdown repairs and to minimise other red tape involved in servicing our roads and stormwater systems.
This is an ongoing engagement and early indicators are that community support or relief will have to form part of the solution going forward.
A stormwater plan is on the table and has been discussed in conjunction with our environment portfolio.
Water and sanitation
Our waterpipe replacement programme is complete.
There are fewer pipe bursts and the community is working smartly to assist the OM plumbing teams.
A survey has revealed that leaking septic tanks and the excessive use of the tankers by unregistered holiday houses is a cause for concern as it puts undue pressure on the tanker service which is intended for residents. OM and the BBRA have agreed to highlight these areas of concern to be addressed by the OM legal team.
We have also established this year that our water is of the best quality in the Western Cape which was confirmed by the OM winning the Blue Drop award.
Property and Development we have done a lot of clean up this year.
Successful legal action has been taken against offenders and 30 cases have been taken to court.
65 plans last year and 61 new plans and 73 approvals for renovations this year. 1 year to activate plans or start building.
Influx of people from GP and KZN – inquiries have increased.
All the slow builds have been addressed by OM.
Containers encroaching on municipal land have been addressed with good effect.
2010 Delport Rd – the pink house is in court.
Property 2270 – the municipal courts are busy with that property as well.
3075 Seaview Drive – a bit of a conundrum but hopefully will be sorted soon.
We have in place a host of information leaflets to guide new residents on how to build and live sustainably in our BB biosphere.
A plea to all new owner builders: please speak to Karon on our property portfolio and to the building department at the OM in Kleinmond before embarking on building.
Conservation
Nature-based solutions and the built environment is our focus.
Youth activities are being implemented.
Adopt-a-system concept is in the pipeline with OM.
Court Way to be closed in terms of agreed concept.
Draadbaai walkway to be a future endeavour.
Crassula Complex will be priority number one for 2024.
Roads and stormwater systems oversight.
Water and sanitation oversight.
Dune management to continue 2024.
Community development
We managed to secure and issue 10 laptops to the Mooiuitsig development program.
We managed to secure and issue 5 laptops to Proteadorp for their development program.
We introduced Pickleball to Betty’s Bay
We are planning a children’s park at the Crassula complex.
We intend to assist the Jukskei Club to expand their playing space.
We are planning to develop Crassula Gardens for all to enjoy. (dog free zone)
Crassula Hall
We have added a diesel generator to our inventory.
We installed a new sliding door at the entrance.
We had the roof painted and sealed.
Our fridge has been repaired.
We added two large flowerpots outside (with proteas planted) and one smaller one inside.
The hall is being utilised much more this year than last.
Curtains and pictures of our leadership has been placed in the hallway.
We are creating a sheltered area at the back of the hall for all to use and enjoy.
Business
Established a small business group.
Established markets at the Crassula Hall.
Planning for 2024 is ready to distribute.
Web page and media
A new and improved website is now up and running.
The Facebook page is kept up to date with all relevant information.
The newsletter is distributed every month.
Advertising is accommodated on the page.
The webpage is dependent on inputs from all of us.
Newsletters
We have established an English and Afrikaans monthly newsletter.
The newsletter is dependent on inputs from all of us.
TREASURERS REPORT 2023
The treasurer’s report was adopted by all.
The community also expressed gratitude to the following individuals who received a certificate of appreciation from the BBRA:
- Yvette Grey for starting and managing the R44 group
- Marie Le Roux for keeping us updated with important contact numbers and weeding out the shysters.
- Rob Boyd for his care and assistance to the community over and above BEST
- Kirstie Maree for her innovation at Coffee on Clarence
- Jorika Rabie for selfless support to the community including the provision of short term meals
- Adrian De Kock for his dedication and perfection as treasurer of the BBRA
- Shameez Joubert for the creation of The Market
- Patricia Ackerberg for unselfish service in supplying medical equipment and food parcels to the community.
- Dave Mourant for his dedication to the hacker movement in support of clearing alien vegetation.
- Coleen Johnson for her Superwoman assistance to get BEST up and running.
- Wendy Lucas for the coordination of the Betty’s Bay Park Run, which was selected as the Park Run for Africa in 2023.
AGM 2023
Wayne Jackson