SHELLEY POINT NEWS. A community newsletter dedicated to fostering a sense of community and the free flow of information at Shelley Point

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1 SHELLEY POINT NEWS November 2016 A community newsletter dedicated to fostering a sense of community and the free flow of information at Shelley Point FROM THE EDITOR Hi All As we begin to gear up for another holiday season, I cannot help but reflect on how fortunate we are to be a bit removed from the frenetic hustle and bustle that will no doubt be occurring in all the cities and large towns throughout the country in the upcoming weeks. Don't get me wrong I love the festive season and all that it entails. But when I see photos of the masses of crowds on city streets, in the shopping centers and on the beaches throughout South Africa, I offer up a little prayer of thanks for the relative peace and tranquility that we enjoy at Shelley Point, even in peak periods. Have a wonderful November, Terry - shelleypointnews@gmail.com CONDOLENCES We learned with sadness of the passing of Mr Dirk Kotze of no.6 The Dunes on 17 October Dirk is survived by his wife Christolina and two children. Our condolences to the family. NEW WATER RESTRICTIONS Saldanha Bay Municipality has notified that with effect from 1 st November 2016, municipal water may only be used for irrigating gardens, washing cars, filling pools etc. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between the hours of 6pm-7am. Homeowners who utilize automatic irrigation but who do not reside at Shelley Point should ensure that they make the necessary arrangements to have their irrigation timers adjusted accordingly. There will be significantly increased water tariffs for water usage over a certain level and homeowners exceeding those levels will be heavily penalized. HOMEOWNERS HAVE THEIR SAY Shelley Point or St Helena Bay a possible venue for parkrun? Wikus wanted to know from the residents if there would be enough support to start a parkrun at Shelley Point as he feels that it could be a very successful venue. For those of you who have never heard of parkrun, it is a hugely successful endeavour started in London twelve years ago and has grown to such an extent that it is now the worlds largest sporting event - a total of 1.8 million different people have completed at 1

2 least one parkrun since its inception. In South Africa, 87 parkrun locations are now available throughout the country and between 25,000-30,000 people participate each Saturday at the various venues. What exactly does parkrun do? They organize free, weekly 5 km timed runs on Saturdays all over the world. They are open to everyone, are well managed and are safe and easy to take part in. South Africa parkrun is managed and coordinated by none other than Comrades legend, Bruce Fordyce and if you are keen to know more, check out their website at parkrun.co.za or subscribe to their monthly newsletter. (This issue was subsequently raised at a trustee forum meeting held on 28 October and the general feeling among the trustees was that it would compromise security on the estate and as such, the proposal was not approved Ed.) Anyone available to provide piano or sewing lessons? Sandra would like to know if any of the permanent residents are able to provide piano or sewing lessons for her 13 year old daughter whenever they are visiting Shelley Point on weekends or school holidays. They will provide the piano and sewing machine. If anyone can assist, please let me know at shelleypointnews@gmail.com and I will forward your contact details to Sandra. Food tins Sheena wil graag die volgende goeie raad met die lesers deel Ons woon in Gauteng en het n vakansiehuis in Shelley Point. Mag ek n voorstel, wat jare gelede deur n dierebeskerming organisasie gepubliseer is, met julle deel? Wanneer jy n blikkie wat kos bevat, leegmaak, trap die oop kant van die blik plat voor jy dit in die vullisblik gooi. Wanneer die blikkies op n vullishoop beland lok die reuk van die kos wat in die blikkie was hawelose honde wat dan binne in die blikkie lek. Die blikkie kan om die hond se neus and mond vassit en kan veroorsaak dat die hond van honger sterf. Dit is n baie maklike voorbehoedmiddel wat miskien n hond se lewe kan red. Baie dankie vir n uitstekende nuusbrief. Ons sien elke maand daarna uit! Recycling Niel reports that since the recycling notice appeared in the August newsletter, Arthur Christians who manages the recycling operation in Steenbergs Cove, would like to extend a vote of thanks to Shelley Point residents. Apparently, several of our homeowners have been supporting him by collecting their recyclable items and giving them to him for recycling. This is a very worthwhile venture, so please continue to give him your support - Arthur accepts tins, glass, plastics and cartons (no paper or kitchen waste). All these items can be simply rinsed off and then placed all together in one bag or box and Arthur will do the actual sorting. Anybody interested can contact Arthur at and/or Niel at UPDATE FROM THE SHELLEY POINT BOARD OF TRUSTEES: A number of enquiries have been received from homeowners regarding the rumoured re-opening of the restaurant at the hotel. The Trustees are aware that the Mr. Gert Joubert (the developer) is keen to reopen the restaurant and that he has already done some renovation work in anticipation of this. We are, however, not aware of any definite arrangements in this regard but will advise members as soon as any concrete plans are announced. It has been noted that some homeowners are dumping garden refuse and rubble on vacant lots on the estate. Please note that garden refuse in the shape of grass cuttings, weeds and small branches can be dumped in the skips provided at the workshops for this purpose. Any rubble or garden refuse illegally 2

3 dumped will be cleaned and removed by outside contractors and such work will be at the home owners cost. Blocked sewer lines and water leaks on a home owners property should be reported to the municipality and not the HOA. The HOA is responsible for attending to these issues ONLY on public open spaces. Matters such as street lights not working or neglected open space areas should be reported to Anette at the HOA office. The conduct rules prohibit the storage of boats, trailers, caravans etc. in places that are in the public eye. The HOA has decided to create a number of open parking spaces in the workshop area to accommodate these. Anyone interested in making use of this facility should contact Norman Cowan on ncowan@mweb.co.za Please note that a community forum meeting is to be held at 18:00 on Thursday 3 rd November The venue is the golf club premises. This will provide homeowners with the opportunity to raise issues for discussion at the board of trustees meeting scheduled for the following day (4 th November). Feedback on issues raised at the community meeting and any additional items of interest from the board meeting will be published in the December edition of Shelley Point News. The SPHOA Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2016 is tentatively scheduled for the 22 nd December at 10:00. The venue will be the golf club conference room. This date and time will be confirmed once the documentation for the AGM is distributed. SECURITY REPORT (Ian Mackintosh) October was unfortunately not incident free. On Monday 24 th October at around 18h00, a young lady (not a Shelley Point resident) was mugged on the beach in the vicinity of the small craft harbor. She was rugby tackled, held at knife point and robbed of her phone, wallet, tablet and Go Pro camera. She managed to recover her tablet and camera but the attacker fled with her phone and wallet containing bank cards etc. The victim was slightly injured in the incident. The police were called and arrived promptly and from the description given, the perpetrator was identified. He was arrested on Wednesday 26 th and has been remanded in custody at Malmsbury prison pending a court appearance. This kind of opportunistic crime is difficult to guard against since the beaches are public areas and we do not currently have surveillance cameras everywhere. Residents and guests are advised to avoid walking alone in isolated areas in the evening especially in the area from the car park at the end of 5 th avenue along the beach towards Stompneus Bay. Security patrols in this area will be stepped up as a matter of course. A homeowner identified an important procedural flaw involving ADT and their response to alarm failures. This issue was immediately taken up with the ADT team and the standing instructions dealing with this aspect have been re-enforced. 3

4 We received a note from the Golden Mile Home Owners Association (GMHOA) warning about a criminal gang operating in their area. Their modus operandi is as follows: o They usually operate on weekends between 01h00 and 02h00 especially in foggy conditions. o Rental properties are targeted, particularly where cars are parked and where electronics, wallets and sunglasses are visible through windows in living areas. o A burglar on foot with backpack gains access through unlocked doors / windows no forced entry. Occupants are usually asleep and not disturbed during burglary. All residents and rental agents are advised to be mindful of this issue. A great deal of work has been put into the Shelley Point Security Master Plan (SMP) which is currently under development. A number of discussions have been held with ADT management (and other security experts) to obtain their input. The SMP will be discussed by the Board of Trustees on 4 th November and detailed feedback to members will be provided after this. Aspects of the master plan that can be implemented immediately (without cost to the members) have been identified and include: o The appointment of a full time professional Security Manager dedicated to Shelley Point. The individual has been identified and is expected to take up his appointment on 31 October. o ADT standing instructions and operating procedures are being reviewed and will be strictly implemented. o Site access for contractors, service providers, domestics, laborers etc. will be tightened up considerably. I expect a number of complaints in this regard while the new approach is bedded down. A number of proposals involving the introduction of new technology to enhance security, have been included in the budget to be tabled at the AGM in December. All homeowners are once again advised to ensure that their home alarms are tested regularly and are in good working order. Insurance companies require proof of testing and function in the event of a burglary. Please take time out during November and December to update your personal profile with the Control Room so we know exactly what your contact details and requirements are. Please be assured that the safety and security of residents and owners at Shelley Point remains my highest priority and that we are continuously trying to improve the performance of the system. We do however live in uncertain times and everyone is advised to guard against becoming complacent about security. We must ensure we keep each other safe and secure in our community. PHOTO OF THE MONTH Ons het weereens twee fotos, uit die vele wat ons ontvang het, gekies. Albei sal outomaties in die Leapfrog Properties Foto van die Jaar Kompetisie ingeskryf word. Die prysgeld van R500 kontant word geskenk deur Leapfrog Properties. 4

5 Die eerste foto van die pragtige blomme naby die Oysteratcher is geneem deur Charmaine. missed. The next one is scheduled for Friday 25 November from 5-7 pm. Please bring a plate of snacks to share. Golf: Lus om n rondte te speel? Gesels met Johan B by die klubhuis of skakel hom op Of, epos Johan L by johanbev@mweb.co.za vir meer inligting. Bowls: From all accounts, the Shelley Point bowls crowd have so much fun that the game itself is almost secondary. So, if you want to meet a friendly group of people who don't care whether you are a bowls beginner or a bowls super-star, pop along on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10am and get the ball rolling literally! Bev if you need more information at johanbev@mweb.co.za Tennis: Die tweede foto van rotse op die strand is deur Trevor geneem. Ons wil graag meer tennisspelers op die bane sien, veral noudat die somer en die gunstige weer hier is. Epos Niel gerus by ddt@vodamail.co.za Bridge: Our local bridge club is nearly a year old! And to celebrate, we will be hosting a special Christmas Tournament in December which will be attended by players from all over the Weskus region. As we anticipate that this will become an annual event, a floating trophy will be awarded to the winning pair. For more information about bridge in Shelley Point, contact Terry on didge28@gmail.com SPORT AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES: Monthly Sundowners Get Together With the warmer weather now definitely here to stay for a while, you have no excuse not to attend our very popular monthly Sundowners Social. Definitely not to be Food truck: Het u al hulle ontbyt probeer? Indien nie, besoek gerus die klub op Saterdae vanaf 09h00. Die vriendlike sjefs sal u graag bedien met n smaaklike hamburger, boereworsrolletjie of enigiets lekker teen baie redelike pryse. 5

6 Their diet consists mostly of dry or green grass. Coprophagy, the re-ingestion of fecal material, is common and allows the animal to extract maximum nourishment from fibrous plant food. Microbes present in the fecal pellets, also provide additional nutrients. Shelley Point Spa Please remember that although the hotel is closed, the spa still remains fully operational and the staff and therapists are as friendly and welcoming as ever. For bookings or other information, please contact them on NATURE CORNER Cape Hares are rapid breeders, the females sometimes producing as many as eight litters a year. Interestingly, in their early stages of life, they do not appear to have a body scent and as such, are frequently passed over or undetected by dogs. Common predators here at Shelley Point are mostly birds of prey. They are not considered as a threatened species in South Africa at present and their conservation status is graded as low risk. VASCO SÊ: The Cape Hare (Lepus capensis) This month we feature another one of our prominent Shelley Point inhabitants which we see often on the estate, particularly on the golf course or adjoining bush. The Cape Hare is primarily a nocturnal creature but may also be active during early morning or late afternoon. During the day, they lie up in shallow depressions called forms in the grass or ground and are usually concealed by bushes or scrub. The drab colour of their fur provides excellent camouflage. However, if caught or injured, they will utter a loud highpitched scream. Ek het werklik die onderstaande bekende woorde gespreek. Regtig! Verdade! I am not afraid of the darkness. Real death is preferable to a life without living. Vasco da Gama 6

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