Nature's Valley News
September 2004 - Issue 9
Office Hours: 09h00-11h00 Mon./Wed./Thu.
P.O. Box 222 The Crags 6602 Tel / Fax: 044-531 6668 natrpa@worldonline.co.za
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Letter from the Chairman: Gordon Paterson
In this newsletter we would like to explain our policies and objectives on some of the issues that concern you most –
Differential rates, Security and Sewerage.
We need to tell you what we are trying to achieve, what is involved and how we are progressing, so as to encourage realistic expectations.
The reality of life at the interface with a present day municipal organization, is that it requires much time, effort and patience.
We have had to focus on developing networks and partnerships within the municipality and then “working the system”.
Gone are the days of demanding this and that in an effort to get better service delivery or a fair deal for rates.
Having said that, there comes a time on certain issues when one has to make a stand.
The reintroduction of a rates differential for Nature’s Valley is one such issue.
DIFFERENTIAL RATES
The last few years have seen an increase in new legislation, dictating what a municipality can and cannot do.Coupled with more visibility in terms of municipal accounts the current situation suggests that our case for the reintroduction of a differential rate for the Valley has improved.
Many of you mentioned examples from other parts of the country where rates have been adjusted commensurate with the level of services and infrastructure provided.
We want you to e-mail us with as much relevant information and examples as possible.
Our groundwork in establishing a partnership approach to working with the municipality, now allows us to discuss and debate this issue openly and objectively.
This is a big change compared to 4 years ago. In the past we have been unsuccessful in requesting differential rates for Nature’s Valley.
We are fully supportive of a major portion of our contribution being used for cross-subsidisation. But we do not agree with contributing more on a proportional basis than the affluent suburbs of Plettenberg Bay, especially as we have considerably less infrastructure.
SECURITY- André Hamman
It has been quiet on the crime front lately. But it is possible that things will heat up as the weather warms up!
But, two things have happened since you received the April newsletter.
Firstly, the proposed MID legislation that would allow us to levy everyone for the cost of a security system has been delayed.
This system was implemented in Hermanus, but has now been challenged as unconstitutional. It is being looked at again; however, it is unlikely to come into law this year, even in a modified form. This makes it impossible to implement an entrance monitoring and 24-hour patrol system, as had been our initial objective.
The hiccup with the MID legislation is possibly a blessing in disguise. It has helped us to rethink the problem.
There is a difference between crime prevention and crime protection.
Crime prevention is something we expect to get from the SAPS by virtue of paying taxes.
Crime protection is a personal choice and is expensive - paying for an alarm system, for example. Alarm system companies often provide patrols, but they only respond to calls from their subscribers and there are only 120 alarms in the Valley.
The NVRA Security sub committee reviewed the options in the light of the delay in MID legislation.
It was decided to concentrate on establishing a regular SAPS presence in the Valley and to install a monitoring system at the entrance.
The latter can only be implemented when the MID is promulgated.
One way of securing police presence in the Valley would be to provide accommodation for trainee policemen, for example.
For the purpose of clarification: - at a meeting held in April 2004 at Natures Valley, it was decided to investigate the possibility of implementing an entrance monitoring system and a 24 hour patrol.
Any system that was to be implemented had to be sustainable and would require all property owners to participate financially.
The MID system offered a practical solution as this system would allow the Bitou municipality to process the invoice on our behalf, as part of our monthly rates.
This was a practical solution all round. The MID system will go ahead, but not until next year.
Secondly, a Community Police Forum [CPF] has been formed for Bitou.
A CPF is a formal structure within the Police Act, that allows the community based organisations in Bitou to be represented. It is still in the early stages.
The NVRA is an active member of the CPF and we meet with the local police management on a monthly basis and look at ways to support and assist them to operate efficiently.
When it is fully operational it will review the current crime profile and allocate additional resources to hot spots when necessary.
For example the satellite station at Kurland has been reopened. It is staffed by a sergeant and two constables and covers the Crags, Kurland, Nature’s Valley and Covie.
What we do know is that the arrest-to-conviction ratio is badly out of balance and that the Kurland police need a lot of help to improve their administrative efficiency and therefore, their effectiveness.
The CPF will enable the community to support the police with the aim to increasing their efficiency.
So in summary we are pursuing the CRIME PREVENTION AND PROTECTION route by trying to ensure a regular police presence within the Valley and to encourage all property owners to install an alarm system.
The criminals have continued to target the homes, which are not alarmed.
NATURES VALLEY SEWAGE DISPOSAL OPTIONS - Compiled by: FRANS WAGENER
THE SETTING:- Sewage disposal options for Nature’s Valley
- Why does Nature's Valley not have flushing toilets like other towns?
- Do septic tanks and soak always pollute our environment?
- Why do some stands have conservancy tanks?
- Can we benefit from recent developments elsewhere?
- What are the cost implications?
Basically Nature's Valley does not flush like other towns because of what surrounds us:
National Park, steep mountain slopes covered in pristine indigenous forest and fynbos, the lagoon, a beautiful beach and the sea. Having all this beauty so close and surrounding us, means that our township has no room in the Valley for a 'sewerage farm' like most other towns.
And to pump it out of the Valley, will require a pipeline through pristine forest, three pump stations going up the mountain, each with an emergency holding reservoir, power lines to these, also access/service routes.
Then there is the high capital and running costs of a system which must cater for more than 2000 people in season and less that a tenth of that for most of the year.
Before we consider this route, we (and SANParks whose permission would be required), must surely ask: "Is there no other solution? Does the need justify the means?" So, we must look at alternatives.
Septic tank / soak away systems have been the standard system in NV for many years. They may seem dated, but it is recorded on the Internet that 60 million people in the United States depend on them.
Two-thirds of the Valley has deep sand and a water table deep enough below the surface for soakaways to operate well at virtually no running cost, especially if you stick to a few simple rules.
Rules such as not killing the organisms that do the work down there with Jik , cigarette stubs, or other poison.
Some owners even get away with a system designed for a little cottage with one bathroom long after they had doubled the number of bedrooms and trebled the bathrooms.
But the question was whether “sepsoaks” pollute the environment. Some people are concerned about this; others say that our vegetation and the subsurface environment can cope with what is, after all, strictly household effluent only.
There are no industries, even upstream of us. But we need to base our decisions on fact.
Ongoing sampling by the municipality of bore holes drilled towards the lagoon end of town in 1998, contradicts the notion that this system leads to a build-up of groundwater pollution.
At our request nine additional sampling wells were recently installed to cover the rest of NV, so. we shall soon have analytical data for the full length of NV on which to base decisions.
Next, conservancy tanks. They present us with an option in areas where soakaways cannot work due to clay and/or a high water table.
In such areas they have played an essential role to stop sewage-polluted water from entering the storm water drain and from there, the lagoon.
But many have been installed in areas where new evidence may show they are not essential.
Conservancy tanks are unfortunately costly, unpleasant and the municipality is hard pressed to service them during peak periods. During season outside contractors are reported to have charged RI 800 per tanker per hour to help out.
Yes, we can benefit from new technology. Much of the necessary basic biological, chemical, engineering, and earth science expertise to identify and evaluate options, are available amongst NV owners.
We have added to our knowledge from relevant reports, visits to installations, the Internet, equipment suppliers and by studying local conditions. Space does not allow a review of the results here, but a five-page summary is available from your NVRA office for those who are interested in more detail.
Outside specialist consultants have played an important part and will do so in future, but owners have the benefit of an intimate knowledge of local conditions to contribute. With this in mind, a Joint Steering Committee was set up between the Bitou Municipality and ourselves to find the best way to dispose of our sewage.
The committee has been meeting at regular intervals since the beginning of 2004.
A good working relationship has been established and appreciable progress has been made.
Our objective is to arrive at firm recommendations by November 2004.
We do not want to pre-empt the outcome, except to say that the recommendation may include a combination of various sub-options and that impact studies as well as the implementation cost are likely to dictate that implementation will take place in phases spread over two or more financial years, commencing in 2005-2006.
Look for more information in the next Newsletter and at the AGM.
Sewage do’s and don’ts Conservancy tanks:
- Phone 044 531 2057 for the sewage removal service (“honey sucker”) at least 2 days in advance to avoid overflow panic calls.
- If their service is slow or poor, please record details of time and clerk on duty and report to the NVRA office, tel. 044 531 6668
- Spillage presents a serious health risk, please report spillage time, place and tanker no. , to the NVRA office, 044 531 6668. Septic tank plus soakaway systems If your “soak away” is situated in an area where there is at least 1,4m of sandy soil above the water table, you should have trouble free service from your system, provided you stick to the following simple guidelines:
- Don’t overload a system which was probably designed for a certain number of bathrooms, toilets and bedrooms, with two people per bedroom.
- Don’t kill the organisms that need to do the job, i.e. don’t flush or drain chemical disinfectants or bleaches, nicotine, petroleum products, chlorine etc; use only products specified to be safe for use in septic tanks.
- Don’t flush indigestible materials, e.g. plastic bags, sanitary towels, household sweepings, etc
- Use only good quality toilet paper and use it sparingly
- Don’t wash beach sand down the bath or shower drain
- Do boost a system which has been in disuse or in heavy demand by a dosage of a product such as “Sannitree”, “Saniteck”, “Septic Tank Reviver”, etc • In time sediment accumulation will inevitably reduce your tank’s capacity, which must then be pumped out. As a rough guide, a 3-bedroomed house with permanent occupation by 4 people may require cleaning after 3 to 5 years. • Don’t ever allow fluid from your system to seep onto the surface or reach the surface drainage system. Those who do so are guilty of creating a serious health threat.
- In a crisis, call in the municipal tanker to drain your septic tank.
BUILT ENVIRONMENT – Jeanne Biesenbach
What do we mean by Built Environment? It is the opposite of Natural Environment, in other words, it covers every structure we put on this beautiful piece on Mother Earth.
There are rules and guidelines on what we can and cannot do as owners.
It is the NVRA’s mandate, to advise owners who want to build or modify on what the rules are and to encourage them to build structures that incorporate a “sense of place” in the design.
In other words structures that fit in to the forest and dune landscape. “This is an impossible and unrealistic objective”, you may say. Yes - you are entitled to build whatever style you want, but we ask you to take into consideration the material you use, the finishes etc. and very importantly, the position of buildings in relation to the neighbours. Please take your neighbours into consideration in every respect.
We have been waiting for the oft-quoted new building regulations and guidelines for a couple of years.
In the meantime the Bitou Town Planning Department is inundated with plans for approval.
There are over 3000 developments in the pipeline. They range from single residential to multi unit complexes. We are trying to help ease the workload by monitoring the building work-in-progress.
The Community Liaison Officer has authority to go on site whereas we do not. This is helping to fight the culture of unauthorized building activity that has been going on for decades.
We still have problems with contractors, architects and owners in this regard, but we are committed to ensuring that all the building activities in Nature’s Valley adhere to the current legislation and that all parties remain informed. Please support these efforts. Building plans have been received and approved for the following properties:
- 166 Forest Drive 250 St George’s
- 124 St George's Ave
- 79 St Michael’s
- 241 St George's Ave
- 194 St George’s
- 205 St George's Ave
- 23 St Michael’s
Building issues:
We are aware of a number of unauthorised building activities for which no plans have been submitted to and approved by Bitou Municipality.In such cases the Building Inspectorate of the municipality to will instruct the builders to cease all building activities until the necessary plans have been drawn up, submitted and approved.
It is clear that this process can result in problems for owners and builders and will delay the completion of work.
We urgently request all owners to comply with and adhere to regulations concerning the submission and approval of building plans.
Plans are required for all additions or alternations on your property.
POSITIVE INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP
In the May newsletter we described the NVRA workload. We also posed the question; “Would we be any worse off if the NVRA did not exist?” and we motivated a number of facts supporting the role played by the Association.
Your response confirmed that the majority of you think we would be worse off, 53% to be exact.
That is the number of homeowners who now contribute towards the Association. A big thanks.
The increase in membership has been a great vote of confidence.
The membership for the previous three years was less than 30%. Our aim is to increase our membership to as much as 80%, as this will enable us to accurately represent the needs of the community and give us a representative voice in dealing with the Bitou Municipality on behalf of the Nature’s Valley ratepayers.
As outlined elsewhere we would like to put into place a sustainable management structure for the Valley and introduce a “perimeter security system” (in our case a monitoring system at the entrance). At the AGM several of you offered assistance with the membership drive. A number of ratepayers were not present at the AGM, and we ask those who were, to encourage their neighbours and friends to respond by joining the association.
Once again, we invite you to speak to us - let us know if you do not wish to join and what your reasons are.
FINANCE REPORT Clive Harraway / Dick Birkill
At the AGM (Dec 2003) it was agreed to change the financial periods of the NVRA from December to June of each year.
The following financial statements have been completed, audited and are available for inspection at the NVRA office:
- Jan 2002- Dec 2002 (audited)
- Jan 2003 - June 2004 (provisionally) The budget for the next financial year was approved at the NVRA meeting 08/07/2004 and is available for information at the Centrum.
Contributions received until July 2004 R 4, 000
Contributions still required by Jun 2005 R 116 000
While we are aware that most members usually pay in December, it would help the cash flow situation, if you were able to reschedule your payments to July - September of each year.
Please supply us with your e-mail address – that will make communication easier
YOUR DETAILS: (to be mailed back to the NVRPA)
Title : Initials : Surname
Postal Address :
Tel No. ( ) Email :
Erf No. : Amount Paid :
Payment Method : Cheque Postal Order Stop Order Bank Transfer Internet Transfer
(please cross and make cheques and postal orders payable to NVRPA)
NB. Please ensure that your erf number is entered on your deposit slip/stop order/internet instructions for reference purposes.
BANK TRANSFER DETAILS:
Name of account : Nature’s Valley Ratepayers’ Association
Bank : Standard Bank
Branch : Plettenberg Bay
Branch Code : 05 07 14
Account Number : 08 260 9217
Thank you for the following contributions received since the last newsletter:
(At time of going to press):(payments after going to press will be acknowledged in the following news letter)
Erf No.
10, 32, 427, 30, 92, 104, 145, 151, 178, 234, 294, 298, 401, 436, 437, 450
THREE- EIGHTY and THREE-EIGHTY -ONE
Do these numbers mean anything to you?
When Natures Valley Township was laid out the developers, wisely, designated these two erven, (among certain others), as Public Open Spaces.
The geographical constraints of the Valley preclude any further expansion or allocation of such sites.
These large stands are between St. George's Ave and Forest Drive, opposite the Church Hall, and are separated by Nemesia Street. They are mainly neglected and undeveloped.
Apart from some alien vegetation they (and particularly 381) contain lovely mature trees, open glades with ferns and bulbs and low-lying areas, which lend themselves to wetland development.
A major storm watercourse runs through the trees on the southern side - this could possibly become a water feature. Ecologically "The Dell", as some have termed it, forms an important communicating corridor between the forest and the Fynbos Reserve for bushbuck and other creatures.
There are strong thoughts that we should start to "develop", or at least secure these sites, starting with 381, before it is too late. Initial ideas are to mark and open up meandering paths to the glade; a few benches, possibly commemoratively donated, could provide restful spots; alien vegetation must be removed; trees and shrubs will be identified and labelled, and information boards could be erected.
Many other suggestions have been bandied about, but the important issue is to identify this as a need and to get started.
We know that there may be some conflicting opinions about these sites, but once they are re-zoned and developed they are gone forever.
What are your views? Let us know.
JAN BOTHA
Residents of Nature’s Valley were saddened by the news of the death, on 7 July 2004 of Johannes Jacobus Botha - Oom Jan as he was popularly called.
Jan, always immaculately dressed, matched his landmark house of which he was so proud, in St. Michael’s Avenue.
Oom Jan loved to entertain, and many enjoyed his hospitality and his stories.
Jan was born in Johannesburg in 1924, and went to Helpmekaar Hoërskool. There he was renowned for his very many interests such as drama and literature.
After leaving school he attended Stellenbosch University where he studied law, during vacations he worked underground as a miner to be able to remain a Matie.
After graduating he moved to many different places with his wife Mart and their three sons – they were all born in different towns.
He spent a number of years in Namibia before moving to Germiston where he became a well-liked and well-respected magistrate. In 1976 he bought his erf in Natures Valley, but it was only when he was almost 70 years old, and had been retired for a few years, that he decided to come here to build his dream house.
In spite of family ‘head-shaking’ he brought a caravan to the building site and began work in 1993.
He stayed there alone for about a year before Mart moved down to be with him.
He did much of the building himself, and set very high standards for himself and workers. In spite of a flooded cellar, they eventually moved in with a roof over their heads after almost five years of work.
In April 2004 most of the Valley was asked to a high-tea to view his latest pride and joy – a newly completed stinkwood and yellowwood staircase. In answer to a question as to when his house would be completed he replied “Confucius sê mens moenie jou huis voltooi voor dat jy sterwe”. Sadly, he died three months later.
Jan was a man of many interests. He was a collector of books and antiques. He was an avid reader and painter and, as somebody told me, “made the best potjiekos in the Valley”.
However his family were his pride and joy. He devoted himself to them, and in turn they loved and respected him.
To Mart and to his loving family we offer our heartfelt condolences.
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