P. O. Box 47
Simon’s Town
7995
Compiled by Lesley Shackleton
Property and Development
An ‘Amended Development Proposal’ for the area behind Hospital Terrace has been released. The STCA is concerned that very little publicity has been given to this amended proposal, and has forwarded it to those who are likely to be most impacted by the proposed development and to as many of the original objectors to the December 2004 application as we have been able to contact. A copy has also been placed in the Simon’s Town Library. This amended proposal lacks clarity and detail, and, while reducing the number of units proposed, does not solve any of the issues associated with access and traffic flow. The STCA is studying the document and will be commenting.
We have been notified that the final Environmental Impact Report on the proposed development of a portion of Erf 60 (located west of Glencairn Heights) is available for viewing and comment on the consultants’ web site www.avdsec.com. The STCA and concerned Glencairn residents will be reviewing this, but all are welcome to submit comments in writing to ADVS Environmental Consultants, fax 021 790 2918 by close of business on 13 November 2008. The consultant notes “that while comments received will be submitted along with the Final EIR for decision-making, no responses to the comments will be provided, as directed by the Department of Environmental Affairs & Development Planning.”
Valuations
At last, responding to yet another letter sent to the Mayor, City officials have now offered to have a meeting with the Greater Cape Town Civic Alliance Rates Group. Our focus continues to be trying to get the City to scrap the Sigma CAMA system they purchased from overseas at enormous cost and to get a system that can work effectively in Cape Town, prior to the next general valuation which the City is suggesting they do next year. As the Mayor has publicly said on radio that “heads will roll” if the valuation objections are not all completed as promised, the Rates Group is gathering information to check that everyone who objected has indeed had an answer by the promised end of October. Please, if you have submitted an objection to your 2006 valuation and not received a notification about your revaluation by the end of October, please let the STCA know at the contact details above, or telephone Lesley at 021 786-2308.
Red Hill
Much is happening in the Red Hill community: a survey is being conducted to determine how many people are resident there; burnt trees presenting a danger to newly constructed homes are being removed by the Volunteer Fire Services; the community is planning a major alien vegetation eradication programme; African Impact’s new resource centre is almost complete, and there are a number of empowerment initiatives taking place, including life skills training, market gardening, and provision of support to people with chronic illnesses. We are grateful that an overseas donor has recently provided funding for nutrition for pre-school children. Currently funding is being sought for a new roof for the pre-school. Extremely depressing is the lack of delivery from Province of the R500 relief grant promised to assist each household immediately after the fires. Constant enquires and requests have not yet resulted in the promise being fulfilled.
Navy News
Those interested in News from the Navy (and other Simon’s Town news from the Navy perspective) are encouraged to subscribe to Navy News – particularly as it is currently being edited by one of the
members of the STCA Exco, R Adm Arnè Söderlund. An annual subscription only costs R54. To subscribe or make enquiries either telephone 021 787 4808, fax 021 787 4809, or email editor@navynews.org.za.
Stadco
At the end of September Stadco completed its first year of managing Jubilee Square. Records kept by Stadco highlight the benefit of this arrangement to the town. Key is the increase in turnover of cars in the parking bays: before Stadco management, the turnover of cars was minimal, now turnover is up to 6 cars per day per bay in the season. This opens up more parking for shoppers and visitors who spend money in the town. Stadco have calculated that during the holiday period, each parking bay generates around R500 per day for local businesses, while the 20 minute free parking continues to allow convenient short-term access to facilities for locals.
Recycling
The STCA’s recycling initiative continues to grow from strength to strength. False Bay Recycling reports that since the beginning of August to early October they have collected some 7 tons of recyclables from the greater Simon’s Town area – this is 7 tons of material that is not going into our overloaded landfill sites. We are hoping that when the City gets its recycling initiative up and running sometime during next year, False Bay Recycling will be included in the successful tender with responsibility for the recycling in our area.
Safety and Security
Visible policing is reported to have been excellent with up to four vehicles on the road. Proactive involvement by the police and neighbourhood watches continues to keep our crime levels low, with copper theft and anti-social behaviour by vagrants constituting the majority of safety and security issues. All are encouraged to participate in the AGM of the Community Police Forum which will take place in the Town Hall at 17h30 on Monday 27 October.
News from the City
Amendments to the National Building Regulations came into affect at the beginning of October. One amendment of immediate interest to many of us deals the control of dust and noise:
CONTROL OF UNREASONABLE LEVELS OF DUST AND NOISE
(2)(a) No person shall during the course of any building, demolition or excavation work use any machine, machinery, engine, apparatus, tool or contrivance, which in the opinion of the local authority may unreasonably disturb or interfere with the amenity of the neighbourhood:
(i) on a public holiday or Sunday
(ii) before 06:00 or after 17:00 on any Saturday; and
(iii) before 06:00 or after 18:00 on any day other than those days contemplated in subparagraphs (i) and (i)
The important changes are in bold. Previously there was a list of certain public holidays; it is now all public holidays and the words “UNREASONABLE LEVELS” have been added. Contact numbers for reporting any infringements of this by-law are 021-784-2033 or 072 8632860.
The City also recently released the following
How to report electricity, water and pothole complaints
The City of Cape Town is to appoint another 40 call centre agents by November to assist the current 68 employed by the City of Cape Town to assist the metropole’s 3,2 million residents with municipal queries and complaints.
According to Pearl Nongqongqo, head of the City’s Corporate Call Centre, agents handle an average of about 22 500 queries per week. [STCA comment: At a recent information session for the Far South, we were told that the city had received over 24 000 calls to the call centre from the Far South alone since the beginning of 2008.]
“To expedite the handling of queries, we urge residents to provide full details of each complaint – such as street address, account number and the names and surnames of City officials with whom they have been dealing,” says Nongqongqo.
“To expedite the different types of service queries, the City has established seven dedicated Technical Operations Centres (TOCs), for emergency, electricity-related queries and water-related queries. We also have a dedicated toll free hot line for the Copperheads, the City’s task team dealing with metal theft.
“For quality assurance purposes, all calls are recorded. To track progress on complaints, callers should always ask for a reference number and the name of the agent that they spoke to,” she says.
Please note the following useful numbers for the City of Cape Town:
Accounts and General Enquiries: 0860 103 089
Copperheads Cable Theft: 0800 222 771 (24 hours)
Electricity Faults/Street lights & Enquiries: 0800 220 440
Water/Sewage Emergencies: 0860 103 054 (24 hours)
Metro Police: 0860 765 423 (24 hours)
Fraud Hotline: 0800 32 31 30
Public Transport timetables : 0800 600 895
Roads, Potholes and Stormwater: 0860 103 054 (24 hours)
Traffic Signal Faults: 0860 001 948 (24 hours)
Wastewise (Disposals only): 021 487 2489
STCA Membership
The importance of strong civic involvement in our communities continues to grow. Local and Provincial government are under-resourced and under-staffed. It is important that we monitor what is happening in our area and make our voices heard. The STCA is going to be launching a recruitment drive over the next few months. Please assist us by encouraging your neighbours and friends to join the STCA. Also look out for the Voter Registration drive for the National and Provincial elections next year that the IEC will be holding on the 8th and 9th of November.
Subscriptions
STCA membership fees (R50 per annum per household) will become due on 1 January 2009. Members signing up from November 2008 will have membership until December 2009. Please pay membership fees at the STADCO office on Jubilee Square during office hours. You may also post a cheque made out to ‘STCA’, clearly stating who it is from, to P O Box 47, Simon’s Town, 7995.
For internet banking PLEASE NOTE NEW BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS:
Bank: Standard Bank, Branch: Fish Hoek
Branch code: 036009 Account number: 073815209
Account name: Simons Town Civic Association (Market link savings account)
Please say "Subs and your name" as the sender.
Emergency numbers:
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Simon’s Town Police 021 786-8646 or 8640
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Fish Hoek Emergency Control Centre 021 782 0333, 782-0444
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Fire and Emergency: 107 from Telkom phones
STCA Web Page: http://www.stcivic.info/
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Chairperson: Dr Lesley Shackleton, 021 786 2308
Vice Chair Sir Rupert Bromley 021 782 6400
