Dear member, Welcome to our September newsletter where we share some of the activities and matters that were discussed at our last meeting. As always, you can obtain further information from our website where more recent news will be placed. To supplement this newsletter and the website we have our own Facebook page. You can find it at: https://www.facebook.com/BettysBayRatepayers Please visit and like!
COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS
This BBRA portfolio under the leadership of Louis Wessels planned the first presentation in a series of talks to be held on 24 March 2020 – and then COVID struck and upset the applecart. We are now back on track. This initiative is to present interesting talks and other activities on a regular basis. Our new data projector and screen and upgraded the sound system will now be put to good use.
Our first speaker will still be Gert Claassen who has a passion for visiting and exploring the most remote parts of the world. His talk is on a lost city that he found in a jungle in Brazil and the origin of which will amaze most people.
Come and join us on Wednesday 11 November at 17h45 for 18h00 in the Crassula Hall!
In order to comply with Covid protocols you are requested to RSVP to Louis Wessels at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We will ensure that all procedures and requirements will be met including social distancing in terms of seating. But remember no mask, no entry. You may however drop your mask, raise your glass and sip the complimentary wine!
The fire season is only one month away!
The municipal fire department conducted a comprehensive survey of all vacant land and of the 700 plus properties inspected 325 have been requested in writing to clear their properties of the vegetation fire load. This may include the total removal of aliens and to reduce the fire load of indigenous plants eg by trimming the height of plants and/or the clearing of dead wood beneath the canopies of plants. All eradicated plant material must also be removed from the property.
Residents who fail to respond to this request will receive a follow-up instruction and ultimately the property will be cleared by the Municipality’s contractors and the costs recovered from the owner.
The Municipality has been made aware of this huge risk and has been urged to reduce the fuel load on all public properties including public open spaces, parks and road verges. Where applicable the Municipality has received a similar warning letter from the Fire Chief.
The Fire Chief is interacting with members of the BBRA and a Fire Attack meeting will be held in mid-October to finalise the “Fire Pre-Attack Plan Map” which will be used in the event of a multi-day fire.
A booklet “Be Wild Fire Ready” concerning fire fighting and evacuation guidelines has been finalised and will soon be distributed to members of the public and also placed on the BBRA’s website.
More volunteer fire fighters are needed. Interested persons younger than 65 may contact Liz Cartwright or Jorika Rabie at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Important Note: There is a telegram group called Betty’s Bay Fire & Rescue as well as a facebook group Betty’s Bay Community Volunteer Fire Fighters where important updates are posted and a “Fire Wise” series will soon start running.
DROP OFF CAGE AT LIBRARY
The weekend drop-off cage will be removed by the end of October and the Municipality’s by-law requiring each household having animal-proofed bins will thereafter be strictly enforced.
CLARENCE DRIVE (R44) SPEEDING
Regular speed checks are being conducted on Clarence drive (R44) in Betty’s Bay. The statistics for September are as follows:
- Speeding offences: 59
- Vehicle checkpoints/operations: 42
- Fines issued: 47
The appointed consulting engineers who are investigating the possibility of creating a circle at the Porter Drive intersection with the R44 will have another meeting with our task team and Municipality. The BB CBD property owners will soon be requested to comment on the advanced draft design.
SPEED HUMPS ON GRAVEL ROADS
There are regular requests from residents that speed humps be provided on certain sections of gravel roads. The BBRA will support such requests but only if all the residents in that area support such a request. In particular the written consent of the property owners in the immediate vicinity of the proposed speed hump is required. The reason being that the deceleration and acceleration is often more disturbing than the “speeding” and furthermore storm water tends to either pool next to such a hump or the storm water is concentrated on one property causing flood damage.
MUNICIPAL COURT
There are currently 25 pending summonses regarding problem buildings that are non-compliant with the National Building Regulations and municipal by-laws. These can only be effectively dealt with in this court. As the progress is unsatisfactory the matter is again being followed up with the Municipality by the BBRA.
REFUSE RECYCLING AND REMOVAL
For waste that can be recycled contact Egon Swarts of Better World Recycling at 076 477 8524/061 385 9246 and arrange for delivery or even collection. Natalie of Butterfly Effect has various innovative ways of recycling waste – from unused foodstuffs to glass, plastic and metal and even old furniture - for the benefit of various charities. Contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Residents are reminded that refuse must be placed on the sidewalk/road verge by NOT LATER than 07h30 on the collection day.
BEACH CLEAN-UP
The BBRA’s portfolio holder for inter alia beaches, Wendy Lucas, led a very successful community initiative to clean our most important beaches on international beach clean-up day on 19 September. A sincere thanks to all participants!
IN CLOSING...
Please encourage your friends to join and strengthen our numbers and voice. Application forms can be found on our website www.bettysbay.info
Address any BBRA related enquiries to Adrian de Kock at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
REMAIN VIGILANT AND HEALTHY!
Beste lid, Waar nodig, sal daar op ons webtuiste meer volledige en onlangse nuusgebeure gevind kan word. Ter aanvulling van ons nuusbrief en webtuiste het ons ook ons eie Facebookblad. Die besonderhede is: https://web.facebook.com/BettysBayRatepayers Besoek dit gerus. Van die aspekte wat tydens die Septembervergadering bespreek is, word hieronder vermeld.
GEMEENSKAPS EN KULTURELE SAKE
Hierdie BBBV portefeulje, gelei deur Louis Wessels, het ‘n eerste aanbieding van ‘n reeks praatjies vir 24 Maart 2020 beplan en toe tref COVID-19 ons! Ons het nou “herstel” en gaan voort met die inisiatief om op ‘n deurlopende basis praatjies en ander interessante aktiwiteite aan te bied. Ons nuwe dataprojektor, skerm en verbeterde klankstelsel sal nou behoorlik ingespan word.
Ons eerste spreker is steeds Gert Claassen – ‘n man met ‘n passie om die minder bekende plekke in die wêreld te besoek en te verken.Hy gaan oor ‘n verlore stad in die woude van Brasilië praat en die geskiedenis daarvan is verstommend – moenie dit misloop nie!
Kom sluit by ons aan om 17h45 vir 18h00 op Woensdag 11 November 2020 in die Crassulasaal.
Bevestig asb jou bywoning per e-pos aan Louis Wessels by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. sodat ons die grendeltydvoorskrifte, met inbegrip van sitplekplasings, kan nakom.
Onthou ook asb –geen masker=geen toegang. Jy mag egter jou masker laat sak, jou glasie lig en die gratis wyn geniet!
Die brandseisoen begin oor een maand!
Die Brandweerafdeling het ‘n omvattende ondersoek by ongeveer 700 leë erwe uitgevoer en 325 eienaars is versoek om stappe te doen om die brandgevaar te verminder.Dit behels die verwydering van indringerplante en die vermindering van die brandlading van inheemse plante deur byvoorbeeld die hoogte te verminder en onder struike skoon te maak.
Inwoners wat versuim om aan hierdie versoek te voldoen, sal ‘n opvolgopdrag ontvang en uiteindelik sal die erwe deur munisipale kontrakteurs op koste van die eienaars skoongemaak word.
Die Munisipaliteit is versoek om die brandrisiko op alle munisipale eiendom soos oopruimtes, sypaadjies en padreserwes te verminder. Waar van toepassing, het die Munisipaliteit soortgelyke waarskuwingskennisgewings van die Brandweerhoof ontvang. Die BBBV is ook in noue kontak met die Brandweerhoof en teen middel Oktober sal die dokument “Fire Pre-Attack Plan Map”, wat ‘n meerdaagse brand strategie bevat, gefinaliseer word.
‘n Brosjure “Be Wild Fire Ready” wat brandbestrydings- en ontruimingsriglyne bevat, is nou gefinaliseer en sal eersdaags onder die publiek versprei word en die inhoud daarvan sal ook op ons webtuiste geplaas word.
Meer vrywilligers, jonger as 65, word vir brandbestryding benodig. Belangstellendes kan Liz Cartwright of Jorika Rabie by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. kontak.
Belangrik: Daar is ‘n telegramgroep genaamd Bettys Bay Fire & Rescue sowel as ‘n facebookgroep Betty’s Bay Community Volunteer Fire Fighters waar belangrike vars nuus geplaas word en ‘n sogenaamde “FireWise” bewusmaking sal ook eersdaags begin.
OORLAAIHOUER BY DIE BIBLIOTEEK
Die Munisipaliteit se beplande verwydering van die houer aan die einde van Oktober 2020 gaan meebring dat huishoudings die munisipale verordeninge oor dierbestande vullishouers strenger sal moet nakom.
SPOED OP CLARENCERYLAAN (R44)
Gereelde snelstrikke word op die R44 (Clarencerylaan) in Bettysbaai opgestel. Die statistiek vir September is:
- Spoedoortredings: 59
- Voorstaandienste: 42
- Boetes uitgereik:47
Die raadgewende ingenieurs wat die moontlikheid ondersoek om ‘n verkeerssirkel by die Porterwegaansluiting met die R44 aan te bring, het eersdaags ‘n verdere vergadering met die BBBV taakspan en die Munisipaliteit. Die meer gevorderde ontwerp sal binnekort met eiendomseienaars van sakepersele bespreek word.
SPOEDHOBBELS OP GRUISPAAIE
Daar is gereeld versoeke van inwoners dat spoedhobbels op bepaalde gedeeltes van gruispaaie aangebring word. Die BBBV sal sulke versoeke ondersteun mits inwoners dit ook doen. Die skriftelike instemming van eienaars naasliggend tot die beoogde hobbel word vereis. Die rede is dat die spoedvermindering en –vermeerdering dikwels meer steurend as die spoed self is en voorts neig afloopwater om daarnaas op te dam of sodanig gekonsentreer word dat dit die laagliggende erf verspoel.
MUNISIPALE HOF
Daar is tans 25 uitstaande dagvaardings rakende oortredings van die Nasionale Bouregulasies en die munisipale verordeninge wat slegs deur hierdie hof doeltreffend hanteer kan word. Aangesien die vordering onbevredigend is, word die aangeleentheid deur die BBBV met die Munisipaliteit opgevolg.
VULLISVERWYDERING EN HERWINNING
Egon Swarts van Better World Recycling ontvang herwinbare afval en sal dit selfs kollekteer. Sy kontaknrs is 076 477 8524 of 061 385 9246.
Natalie van Butterfly Effect herwin of benut afval soos ongebruikte voedsel, glas, plastiek en metaal en selfs ou meubels tot voordeel van verskeie welsynsorganisasies. Kontak haar by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Inwoners word daaraan herinner dat vullishouers nie later nie as 07h30 op die sypaadjie geplaas moet word.
SKOONMAAK VAN STRANDE
Op internasionale strandskoonmaakdag 19 September het lede van die gemeenskap onder leidind van Wendy Lucas, portefeuljehouer van die BBBV se stranddienste, ‘n uiters suksesvolle skoonmaakaksie gehad.
Baie dankie aan al die deelnemers!
AFSLUITING
Moedig asseblief ander inwoners aan om by ons aan te sluit – aansoekvorms is op ons webtuiste www.bettysbay.info beskikbaar.
Rig enige navrae aan Adrian de Kock by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
BLY WAAKSAAM EN GESOND!
