OM MEE TE BEGIN Bedagsaamheid Die nuwe jaar het ongemerk sy loop geneem en hier staan ons alreeds aan die begin van die derde maand daarvan. Die Trustees hoop dat die nuwe jaar suksesvol verloop en dat jul wense besig is om `n werklikheid te word. Before starting this newsletter I was wondering whether it would be possible to suggest a theme for Residents to follow in the year to come. And although I appreciate that we have different backgrounds, surely we are together sharing a residential estate governed by a common set of parameters formalised in terms of a constitution and a set of rules. Maybe we should request the Trustees to take one or more themes from the constitution and rules to promote it to Owners and Residents through the course of the year. Aangesien dit nog gaan tyd neem om hieroor te besin, neem ek solank die vrymoedigheid om voor te stel dat ons bedagsaamheid as tema kies. Ek is nie `n taalkundige nie en weet ook nie wat die herkoms van die woord is nie. Dit is egter `n woord wat `n samestelling van twee woorde is, naamlik bedag en saam. Ek dink die kombinasie daarvan beteken om bewus te wees van die omgewing en mense rondom jou, asook die effek wat jou gedrag en optrede op die omgewing en mense laat. So kan `n vriendelike gebaar of woord van belangstelling lei tot vreedsaamheid en rustige samesyn. Aan die ander kant lei `n traak-mynie-agtige houding oor die nakoming van basiese hoflikheid tot `n verwydering tussen mense en onvolwasse optredes teenoor mekaar. Thus, let us support courtesy as a theme in the interim. Let us always be aware of the consequences of our behaviour on the feelings and needs of those sharing our Estate. Let us start uplifting one another by being courteous.
COMMUNICATION Proposed Mining Activities All Residents and Owners have probably by now heard that African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation (Pty) Ltd has applied for prospecting rights on the farms Annex Langverwacht 245, Haasendal 222 and the remaining extent of Rosendal 249 for the following minerals: Tin Ore, Zinc Ore, Lead Ore, Lithium Ore, Copper Ore, Manganese Ore and Silver Ore. The Trustees acted on behalf of the Home Owners Association by registering as an interested and affected party by the project. Please note that all Residents need to register for their voice to be heard. The HOA only counts as one person in this case. The following comments were compiled and lodged: 1. It will destroy productive and profitable farms and detrimentally affect the food security of the Western Cape. 2. It will cause hundreds of farm workers in the area to lose their jobs and their homes. 3. The invasive character of open-cast mining, both physical and cultural, could destroy the way of life of the community forever. 4. Our greatest fear is that a mining operation would begin and fail and any possible mitigation against full-scale destruction of all forms of life in the region will never be implemented. 5. Has research been done on how the proposed mining activities will effect the property values in the surrounding area? 6. What is the outcome of the above-mentioned? 7. How will the activities effect properties in the region of R1.3m to R5m? 8. What guarantee is there that our property values will not be adversely affected by the activities? 9. Will owners be compensated if their property value is adversely affected? 10. Where will the mine lodge the workers? Within the mine confines or in the surrounding area? 11. Where will the access point to the mine be from Langverwacht Road or from Stellenbosch arterial? 12. Will there be heavy vehicles driving on the residential roads? 13. What guarantee is there that the mining activities will not disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of our estate? 14. How will this be monitored? 15. How will this be enforced? 16. How close to the closest residential properties will the mining activities take place? 17. When are the activities set to commence? 18. How long are they expected to carry on for? 19. We would also like to query the health and safety hazards that the mine poses to the residents of the estates that will border right on the mine as well as the neighboring farms. This is in regards to the pollution of the ground water and fine dust particles released into the air. Is the mine going to repaint our houses because of the dust that is going to go everywhere? Is the mine going to pay the medical bills for people who suffer from lung problems due to the dust that is generated and inhaled? Is the mine going to replace windows and cracked walls of the houses that are damaged due to the vibrations caused by the drilling and blasting equipment? How will this impact the safety of children in the schools in the surrounding area?
20. We would also like to raise the issue of the historical aspect of the Zevenwacht Wine Estate and the threat posed to historical buildings and sites. Zevenwacht and the surrounding wine estate are the first wine estates as you enter the Stellenbosch Wine route. It is the gateway to the wine route as such. The implications of mining on a tourist hot-spot need to be taken into account. Lost tourist revenue and related jobs will have a severe impact on the area and the struggling tourist industry currently under severe pressure due to the economic conditions. 21. There are working farms siding on the proposed area. These farms not only support the wine industry but are also responsible for the production of fresh fruit and meat. The inevitable destruction of these food producing industries will have an impact on the ability of the region to sustain the supply of food to its residents, something that is increasingly becoming a major problem in the country. The effect of the recent unseasonable gale force winds have meant that there is a 30% reduction in the grape yield in the Western Cape. Where grapes and the resulting wine has been in abundance in the past it is becoming scarce due to weather conditions. The mine threatens to put more strain on an already increasingly struggling market. The effects on this market is wide reaching as SA is a major wine producing and exporting country. Uittreksel uit `n artikel in Die Burger van 19 Februarie 2010 Die mynbedryf het die hart van die Bolandse wynstreek en dele van die Kaapstad-metropool in die visier. Wynboere en grondeienaars is omgekrap oor prospekteerreg-aansoeke wat in die Bottelarygebied naby Stellenbosch asook aan die voet van die Tygerberg deur n staatsbeheerde mynboumaatskappy gebring is. African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation (AEMFC) (Bpk.) wil ontginningsregte bekom in onder meer die Bottelaryheuwels-Renostersveld-bewarea, n deel van die Jordanwynlandgoed en die historiese De Grendel-landgoed. Aansoeke hiervoor is ingevolge die Wet op die Ontwikkeling van Minerale en Petroleumhulpbronne by die departement van mineralehulpbronne ingedien. Die publiek kan tot 9 Maart 2010 reageer. Die mynboumaatskappy moet nou n omgewingsbestuursplan indien. Die gebied by Stellenbosch waarvoor aansoek gedoen word, strek oor 4 700ha en sluit in die plase Anneks Langverwacht 245, Haasendal 222 en die oorblywende gedeelte van Rosendal 249. Die maatskappy wil prospekteerregte bekom vir onder meer tin-, sink-, koper-, mangaan- en silwererts. Die beoogde eksplorasie-bedrywighede is in n gevestigde landboustreek en boonop in die buffergebied van die Kaapse Wynland-biosfeerreservaat. Van die eksplorasiegebiede is teen die luukse residensiële gebiede Zevenwacht Country Estate, Zevenwacht Village en Klein Zevenwacht. Effects of tin on the environment Tins as single atoms or molecules are not very toxic to any kind of organism, the toxic form is the organic form. Organic tin components can maintain in the environment for long periods of time. They are very persistent and not fairly biodegradable.
Microrganisms have a great deal of trouble breaking down organic tin compounds that have accumulated on water soils for many years. The concentrations of organic tins still rise due to this. Organic tins can spread through the water systems when adsorbed on sludge particles. They are known to cause a great deal of harm to aquatic ecosystems, as they are very toxic to fungi, algae and phytoplankton. Phytoplankton is a very important link in the aquatic ecosystem, as it provides other water organisms with oxygen. It is also an important part of the aquatic food chain. There are many different types of organic tin that can vary greatly in toxicity. Tributyltins are the most toxic tin components to fish and fungi, whereas trifenyltin is much more toxic to phytoplankton. Organic tins are known to disturb growth, reproduction, enzymatic systems and feeding patterns of aquatic organisms. The exposure mainly takes place in the top layer of the water, as that is where organic tin compounds accumulate. Reageer asseblief voor 9 Maart 2010 Please respond before 9 March 2010 VAN DIE VOORSITTER Algemene Jaarvergadering Ons wil Eienaars nou reeds inlig dat die Algemene Jaarvergadering vir 27 Mei 2010 gereël word. Teken gerus solank die datum in u dagboek aan, sodat u dit kan uithou vir hierdie belangrike byeenkoms waar oor die wel en wee van die Landgoed besin word. The Annual General meeting is the once in a year opportunity given to Owners where they can freely discuss matters concerning their chosen residential estate. Especially this year where the upgrading of the Security will be discussed, it will be wonderful to have a large number of Owners attending. SEKURITEIT Landgoedsekuriteit Die Trustees het goeie vordering gemaak met die opstel van `n strategie om die sekuriteit van die Landgoed oor tyd te verbeter. Die groot werk wat nou voorlê, is om kwotasies in te win ten einde die finansiële implikasies van die strategie te bepaal..
Toegang In hierdie stadium lyk dit asof die beste waarde verkry kan word deur die ingang op te gradeer. Dit sal waarskynlik die vervanging van die valhekke behels met `n tipe wat meer funksionaliteit bied. Dit sal, onder andere, verhoed dat mense onderdeur die valhekke kan kruip. Daarby word pryse ook verkry om die oop dele tussen die valhekke en die geboue toe te maak. Toegang vir voetgangers sal dan deur middel van `n hek wees wat elektronies oop- en toegemaak word. Die ander aspek wat reeds geruime tyd deur Inwoners onder die aandag van die Trustees gebring is, is die behoefte aan `n fasiliteit waardeur Inwoners self verantwoordelikheid neem die toelating van besoekers aan die Landgoed. `n Verskeidenheid stelsels is beskikbaar en daar word tans ondersoek gedoen om die een wat die beste aan alle Inwoners se behoeftes voldoen te identifiseer. Uitnodiging om deel te neem Die Trustees is bewus daarvan dat daar baie kundige mense in die Landgoed woon en doen graag `n beroep op Inwoners om hul kundigheid beskikbaar te stel ten einde die Landgoed te ontwikkel tot `n gesogte adres in die gemeenskap. Stuur asseblief `n epos aan die Bestuurder by piet.steyn@iburst.co.za en reël met hom oor die bydrae wat u kan maak. U kan hom ook skakel by 021 903-9813. Hernuwing van toegangspermitte U is waarskynlik reeds daarvan bewus dat ons weens sekerheidsredes jaarliks nuwe toegangspermitte op 1 Maart uitreik. Aansoekvorms is reeds vir hierdie doeleindes in Inwoners se posbusse geplaas en u word versoek om so spoedig moontlik vir 'n nuwe toegangspermit aansoek te doen. Indien u nie so `n vorm gekry het nie kan u gerus die nodige aansoekvorm by Sekuriteit kry. Onthou dat persone met afstandbeheerders ook vir toegangspermitte aansoek moet doen. Noodnommers / Emergency Numbers Ambulance / Ambulans - 10177 Fire / Brand - 107 / 021 480 7700 Police / Polisie - 021 903 0333 / 082 777 6589 Thunder Force - 076 811 4017 / 021 905 0333
FINANCE Financial Report Levies We have been very successful in reducing the outstanding levies over the last few months, the result of which means that we were able to finance the first phase of the paving of the footpaths entirely from the collection of long outstanding levies. Our levies in arrears have decreased to R48 917. Of the levies in arrears, R39 815 is of a long term nature - over 30 days. These levies are being monitored by the Trustees and followed up rigorously both by the managing agents and by attorneys. The Trustees have finalised the proposed budget for 2010/2011. The proposed levies will be increasing by 2% to R459 per month. We were able to keep the budget increase low by thorough analysis and deliberation of the expense items on a line by line basis. So as to reduce the chances of budget creep, whereby the levies will go up year by year simply because it is expected to, we examined costs from a zero base and cost the budget based on past results, experience and as far as possible we have fixed future contractual costs by way of quotes. The Estate will be kept at least in as good a shape as it currently is and although the levy increase is small the very efficient management of the Estate has allowed us to cut and maintain costs in a relatively narrow band. Finances The finances are in good order. As at the end of January 2010 the total funds available from our current account as well as our investment accounts are R298 544 which represents 33.88% of our annual budgeted levies and monthly levy coverage of 4.07 months. In calculating the budget for 2010/2011 it was decided that the large reserves be taken into account and therefore certain provisions such as the paint fund were reduced. By doing so we plan to reduce the amount of money coming out the pockets of Owners by way of monthly levies and instead we will utilize excess reserves sparingly where necessary. Should large expenses or improvements be earmarked in the future it will be funded by way of special levies rather than increasing the monthly levies. Once levies have gone up they tend to be sticky and hardly ever come down. That is why we are trying to keep them as stable as can be whilst still maintaining the excellent condition of the estate. Budget 2011 As mentioned above, the proposed budget has been finalised and the proposed levy will increase by 2% to R459. We have changed the format of the budget so as to try and make it more understandable.
Should there be issues or queries regarding the budget then please send them to the Trustees prior to the AGM so that we have adequate time to consider, investigate and formulate a meaningful response. Shooting from the hip at the AGM is not always the best way to go about it. We also welcome any non-budget related inputs you may have regarding the Estate. Electronic accounts We would like to encourage Owners to receive their monthly levy statements electronically in order to save cost. For the 2010/2011 budget the Trustees are considering to introduce a R10 postage fee per month for those Owners not receiving their statements electronically. However it will be put forward at the Annual General Meeting for the approval. MAINTENANCE OF OPEN SPACES Elektriese heining Ten einde die optimale werking van die elektriese heining te verseker, wil ons graag diegene wie se eiendom daaraan grens, versoek om dit skoon te hou van takke en rankers. OUR LIFESTYLE AND RULES Maintenance of private areas In this issue of Gozzip we would like to draw Owners and Residents attention to the stipulations of Rule 8 governing the maintenance of private areas. For as long as a member is the registered owner of a plot the member shall: 1. maintain the property in a neat and tidy condition; 2. maintain in a neat and tidy state that portion of the verge or road reserve between the boundary of the members property and the actual road surface; 3. care for any trees on the property and shall not remove or cut down any trees on the property without the prior written consent of the HOA; 4. establish and maintain a garden in accordance with the standard determined by the HOA; 5. maintain in a neat and tidy condition and in a state of good repair all buildings/structures and walling/fencing erected on the property; and 6. adequately insure all buildings / structures erected on the property and if requested to furnish proof of such insurance to the HOA and in the event of total or partial destruction the member shall within a reasonable time period make good such damage or reconstruct the destroyed structure in accordance with the HOA rules and regulations.
ONTWIKKELING Building matters We have people asking where to take their building plans for municipal approval. They have moved their offices on 1 October 2008 to Parow. Therefore, all Town Planning as well as Building Plan Queries and Submissions, should be directed to the Parow Municipal Office on the corner of Voortrekker Road and Tallent Street in Parow. The telephone numbers where they can be contacted are 021 938-8415 and 021 938-8432. Whatever you want more of, you must be and you must give more of Most people that I know want to be loved, respected and trusted, but tragically, all too few people actually feel this way and this leads to feelings of resentment and unhappiness. So let's look at these feelings. You want to be loved. Well the first thing is that you must be lovable. You must be the kind of person that others find easy to love so you should be kind and considerate. You should be polite and courteous. You should be passionate and fun. The second thing that you must be is to love. You should be the one who treats others as special, who gives compliments and sympathy. Let others know that you love them. You want to be respected. Well first you must be respectable. You must behave in a way that is worthy of respect. You cannot demand respect you have to earn it. You must be the person that others look up to. Second. You must be respectful. You have to treat others with respect if you want them to respect you. Too many people rely on their position as a means of forcing respect and this just does not work. Your position might give you authority but it is your behaviour that earns you respect. You want to be trusted. Well it stands to reason that you must be trustworthy. Your word must be your bond. People must be able to rely on you. Remember that trust is given in faith and earned through experience. To improve all your relationships, remember that whatever you want, you must first be and you must give more of. To live your best life, be true to the YOU that you want to be Change your life from making a living to making a difference Live up to the reputation that you want to have Live with passion Thanks to Johan Campbell at www.motivate.co.za.