At a recent meeting it was resolved that members of the BBRA should more regularly be advised of what your Association is doing to promote your interests as a ratepayer. Tydens ‘n onlangse vergadering is besluit dat lede van die BBBV ingelig moet word oor wat die Vereniging doen om jou belange as ‘n belastingbetaler te bevorder en derhalwe hierdie nuusbrief.
Dear member
At a recent meeting it was resolved that members of the BBRA should more regularly be advised of what your Association is doing to promote your interests as a ratepayer.
Membership benefits
Kindly refer to the attached updated list of benefits and feel free to suggest further aspects that the BBRA should attend to.
Collective voice
The BBRA has found that by using the collective voice of its 370 members it can influence the Municipality. Some recent examples include the successful appeal against the granting of a so-called upliftment centre on erf 3054 and persuading the Municipality to grant some relief to the victims of the devastating fire on 11 January. Further initiatives have been launched regarding improved service delivery and communication. Members will be informed of the outcome thereof.
Membership drive
The BBRA realises that by increasing its membership base it enhances its negotiating power. The Municipality cannot ignore the voice of a large number of ratepayers and, if it were to do so, it will be at its own peril. Please remember to renew your membership when notices are sent out in .... and help us by persuading your neighbours and other property owners to join us. An application form is attached.
Strategic Plan
The committee recently conducted a strategic planning exercise to further enhance its vision, mission, goals and objectives and leading towards target date driven action steps. Although not yet finalised it has already had beneficial spin offs.
Fire of 11 January 2019
This disastrous fire, which destroyed 41 houses and badly damaged 28 buildings, had a deleterious effect on property owners, not only in terms of material losses but also on their emotional wellbeing. The trauma of losing your house, your life time treasures representing so many fond memories, your car(s) and gardens is already bad enough but to have fled the inferno not knowing what to expect on your return exacerbated that trauma.
The final evaluation report is still awaited but in the meantime the following lessons can be applied by home owners:
- Avoid dense or tall vegetation in close proximity to buildings;
- Regularly clean all gutters;
- Perimeter walls, paved areas and lawns all helped to protect houses;
- Stockpiled braai or fireplace wood next to a building is a definite no-no;
- Gas cylinders must be properly protected;
- Where possible replace ordinary thin window glass with laminated glass;
- When evacuating a building ensure that all windows and doors are properly closed and switch off the gas and electricity;
- Wooden decks, gates and fences are potential hazards;
- A garden irrigation/sprinkler system may help if activated well in advance;
- Exposed wooden eaves and protruding beams should be avoided;
- Keep and maintain fire extinguishers in strategic places;
- Prepare an evacuation plan including a list of most essential items e.g. ID book, passport, cellphone,computer, basic clothing, toiletries, medication; escape routes and meeting points.
The BBRA requested that affected home owners be financially assisted by way of rebates on water accounts and building plan fees. These requests have been approved in principle and particulars thereof will be made known as soon as possible.
Water upgrades
The Municipality has advised that a R26m tender had been awarded for the upgrade of, amongst others, the Betty’s Bay water network. As soon as particulars regarding the nature and locality of the upgrade become available, this will be communicated to members. The BBRA has been following this project up for the last year and is thus pleased with the progress made. Our request that fire hydrants be provided in areas lacking such hydrants will now hopefully happen.
Reflective street name signs on Clarence Drive
The Municipality has been requested to assist in the placing of reflective street name signs along Clarence Drive. As this is a Provincial road (R44) the Municipality cannot act on its own but it can act on our behalf. With the January fire it again highlighted the need therefor as fire fighters from other municipalities could not find their way.
General
As is clear from the above your Association has been very active in promoting your interests. If you have specific requests or suggestions please send these to our Secretary Adrian de Kock We need your support to become a more powerful voice to promote andenhance the quality of life of all Betty’s Bay residents and property owners!
Documents
Tydens ‘n onlangse vergadering is besluit dat lede van die BBBV ingelig moet word oor wat die Vereniging doen om jou belange as ‘n belastingbetaler te bevorder en derhalwe hierdie nuusbrief.
Lidmaatskapvoordele
Kyk gerus na die aangehegte en opgedateerde lys van voordele en jy kan dan ook ander sake waaraan BBBV aandag moet gee, opper.
Kollektiewe stem
Die BBBV het gevind dat deur van die kollektiewe stem van sy 370 lede gebruik te maak, dit wel die Munisipaliteit kan beïnvloed. Onlangse voorbeelde sluit in die suksesvolle appél teen die toestaan van ‘n sogenaamde ‘upliftment centre’ op erf 3054 en ook om die Munisipaliteit te oorreed om ‘n vorm van hulp aan die slagoffers van die vernietigende brand van 11 Januarie, te verleen. Daar was ook inisiatiewe rakende verbeterde dienslewering en kommunikasie. Lede sal van die uitkoms daarvan ingelig word.
Vergroting van ledetal
Die BBBV besef dat deur sy ledetal te vergroot, dit ook sy onderhandelingsvermoë versterk. Die Munisipaliteit durf nie die stem van ‘n groot getal belastingbetalers ignoreer nie en, indien dit wel sou gebeur, is dit tot sy eie nadeel. Onthou asseblief om jou lidmaatskap te hernu wanneer hernuwingskennisgewings in Oktober uitgestuur word en help ons ook deur jou bure en ander eiendomseienaars te oorreed om by ons aan te sluit. ‘n Aansoekvorm is aangeheg.
Strategiese plan
Die komitee het onlangs ‘n strategiese beplanningsoefening uitgevoer ten einde sy visie, missie, doelstellings en doelwitte te verbeter wat weer tot doeldatum-gedrewe aksiestappe sal lei. Ofskoon dit nog nie gefinaliseer is nie, word merkbare voordele reeds ervaar.
Brand van 11 Januarie 2019
Die rampspoedige brand wat 41 huise vernietig en 28 geboue erg beskadig het, het ‘n erge negatiewe effek op eiendomseienaars gehad, nie net vanweë eiendomsverliese nie, maar ook op hulle emosionele welstand. Die trauma om jou huis, jou aandenkings wat soveel herinneringe oproep, jou motor(s) en tuin te verloor, is reeds erg genoeg, maar om van die verwoestende brand te vlug en nie te weet wat jy by jou terugkeer gaan ervaar nie, het daardie trauma vererger.
Die finale evalueringsverslag word nog afgewag, maar intussen kan die volgende lesse deur huiseienaars ter harte geneem word:
- Vermy digte of hooggroeiende plante naby geboue;
- Maak geute gereeld skoon;
- Grensmure, geplaveide areas en grasperke het gehelp om huise te beskerm;
- Opgestapelde braai- of kaggelhout teenaan ‘n gebou moet vermy word;
- Gassilinders moet behoorlik beskerm word; Waar moontlik, vervang gewone ruitglas met gelamineerde glas;
- Wanneer ‘n gebou ontruim word, maak seker dat alle vensters en deure dig toe is en skakel gas en elektrisiteit af;
- Houtdekke, -hekke en -heinings hou brandgevare in;
- Besproeiingstelsels in die tuin mag help indien dit betyds aangeskakel word;
- Oorhangende en blootgestelde dakbalke moet vermy word;
- Plaas brandblussers op strategiese plekke en laat dit gereeld diens;
- Berei ‘n ontruimingsplan voor insluitende ‘n lys van die mees noodsaaklike items, bv. ID-boek, paspoort, selfoon, rekenaar, noodsaaklike klere, toiletbenodigdhede, medikasie, ontsnaproetes en ontmoetingsplekke.
Die BBBV het versoek dat huiseienaars wat deur die brand geraak is, finansieel bygestaan word by wyse van ‘n korting op waterrekeninge en ook op bouplangelde. Hierdie versoeke is in beginsel goedgekeur en besonderhede daarvan sal eersdaags bekendgestel word.
Opgradering van waternetwerk
Die Munisipaliteit het onlangs ‘n tender vir R26 miljoen toegeken vir die opgradering van munisipale waternetwerke waarby Bettysbaai ingesluit is. Sodra besonderhede van die aard en ligging van die opgradering bekend is, sal lede ingelig word. Die BBBV het die afgelope jaar hierdie projek deurlopend opgevolg en is dus tevrede met die vordering gemaak. Ons versoek dat brandkrane in gebiede waar dit tans nie bestaan nie, aangebring word, sal nou ook plaasvind.
Weerkaatsende straatnaamtekens op Clarence rylaan
Die Munisipaliteit is versoek om bystand te verleen met die aanbring van weerkaatsende straatnaamtekens op Clarence rylaan. Aangesien dit ‘n provinsiale pad (R44) is, kan die Munisipaliteit dit nie op sy eie doen nie, maar dit kan wel namens ons optree. Met die Januarie-brand is die behoefte daaraan weer eens beklemtoon aangesien brandbestryders van ander munisipaliteite nie die strate kon identifiseer nie.
Algemeen
Uit bogenoemde is dit duidelik dat jou Vereniging jou belange aktief bevorder. Indien daar spesifieke versoeke, navrae of voorstelle is, stuur dit gerus na ons Sekretaris, Adrian de Kock Ons benodig jou ondersteuning om ‘n sterker stem te word wat die belange en lewenskwaliteit van alle Bettiesbaai-inwoners en eiendomseienaars kan bevorder en verbeter!