Simon’s Town Civic Association
STCA NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2008
Posted: 16 Dec 2008 10:31 AM CST
P. O. Box 47
Simon’s Town
7995
 stcamail at gmail.com
 http://stcivic.info

Compiled by Lesley Shackleton

As the end of another busy year approaches, the STCA Exco would like to wish all our members a peaceful festive season and a Happy New Year. Many challenges face us as we in the Far South struggle to be noticed among the huge challenges facing the Cape Town Metropole. Your support is essential. The next STCA Newsletter will be issued in February 2009, and we will be holding our Annual General meeting during the last week of February. The date is not yet confirmed as we are waiting to hear from the Mayor’s office as to which date during that last week will suit her best to come and be our guest speaker. A notice confirming the meeting date will be sent out early in February.
Recycling
Because of Christmas and New Year falling on a Thursday, all those areas that have their recycling collected on Thursdays will have the collection on the Wednesday before (24th and 31 December). The total recycling collected in our area as of early November was 21900 kilograms.
Main Road Upgrade
The latest newsletter from Chands, the project managers informs us:
“On the 9th December 2008, both traffic lanes on Main Road were opened to traffic for the holiday period. Both lanes will be open until the 12th January 2009, at which time works will commence on the Southbound carriageway and only one lane will become available and the stop/go operation will resume. Please exercise caution during the holiday period as the road is uneven with a level step between the two lanes. The concrete “New Jersey Barrier” will remain in place to ensure that traffic remains in demarcated lanes.”
“During the initial planning of the Main Road upgrading project in August 2007, discussions were held with the organisers of the Pick n Pay / Argus Cycle Tour. Given the inputs received from the organisers, the commencement of this upgrading project was delayed to accommodate the March 2008 event. At the time, however, the project team communicated to the organisers that an alternative route for this section of the event would need to be found for March 2009…… There have subsequently been further requests by the event organisers to modify the work programme to accommodate this section of the route.……”
“The latest construction programme for 2009 shows that it would delay the project by three to four months. As such, given the fact that the project is currently 12 weeks behind the original schedule, and that the latest programme does not make provision for any delays, the project will not be able to accommodate this section of the race along Main Road. The Cycle Tour organisers have always had the option to use the one available lane or consider an alternative route.
The option of utilising Boyes Drive as an alternative route to Main Road during the 2009 event has been discussed in some detail. However the Cycle Tour organisers feel that there are significant safety issues that are difficult to resolve. The project team have offered their services to assist the Cycle Tour organisers if required.”
Safety and Security
Reported crime for the last month remains low with only four housebreakings over the last few weeks. There has however been a second attempt at breaking in to the ABSA ATM at Quayside. This was not a bombing attempt but a fairly amateurish attempt at cutting into the machine. There have also been reported sightings of very probable ATM fraudsters in the vicinity of the Standard Bank ATM.
With the holiday season, a major policing visibility effort is being carried out. A number of reservists from other areas have been called up for duty in Simon’s Town. Due to budget constraints these are all constables, but our own Inspectors will be working extra shifts, especially over weekends and after hours to ensure effective management. We will thus have up to four vehicles on patrol over this period (as against the standard two).
Traditionally the beaches are targets for theft of and out of motor vehicles so beach goers should take extra precautions. The beach areas will be patrolled, but cars parked along the coastal roads could still be at risk.
Again the police emphasise the need to report ANY suspicious behaviour. We have heard a story of a Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) member who was berated by another member for calling the SAPS and ‘wasting their valuable time’ after a neighbour’s alarm went off. It was apparent he had not attended NHW meetings as the sector commander has repeatedly asked people to call WHENEVER SUSPICIONS ARE AROUSED! This has now been highlighted in a case where a neighbour ignored a late night alarm and went to sleep again when it stopped after 40 seconds. The thief had cut the wire and the victim is no longer talking to his neighbour. In another case, a resident saw a suspicious vehicle ‘prowling’ in the early hours, but ignored it. The next morning a nearby car was found without its wheels!
Simon’s Town Police Station Charge Office 02…
The fire season is again fully upon us, and a first incidence of arson caused a fire on Plateau Road which fortunately was quickly brought under control. Please keep your eyes open and nose alert to any sign of smoke or fire which should immediately be reported to:
Simon’s Town Fire Station 02… or
National Park at Boulders (for mountain fires) 02…
Note that private property owners are responsible for maintaining firebelts on their property and for removing alien vegetation.
Environmental issues
Reports of potentially dangerous rocks in the Glencairn Tidal Pool and in the sea off the seawall at Seaforth are being investigated with the City officials. Both could represent a danger to bathers.
A splinter group of baboons have been sighted on Elsies Peak and monitors are in evidence. Bart, the lonely male baboon, continues to visit peacefully in Simon’s Town. If you walk or drive south towards Miller’s Point, be sure to stop and read the very informative new sign on living with baboons on the sea side of the road, at the south end of the parking area with the tall Norfolk pines.
Property and Development
A letter objecting to the proposed development in Erf 60, alongside Glencairn Heights, was sent by the STCA to the consultants. This emphasised the importance of observing the declared Urban Edge and the fact that the Simon’s Town Structure Plan designates Erf 60 as a Nature Area. A further letter has been sent to the Director: Planning and Building Development Management again demanding a response to our concerns regarding procedures that are not being properly followed in the City’s management of controversial developments (such as the huge new house being built in Gay Road Seaforth).
Of major concern is the recent news that the Provincial Department of Environment Affairs and Development Planning have issued conditional approval for the development of 15 dwelling units on Erf 4053 in the green area behind Hospital Terrace. All the access issues remain unresolved. The STCA will be communicating with the Minister and objecting to this decision in the strongest possible way.
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has issued the necessary Environmental Authorisation for the construction of the Submarine Escape Training Simulator in the West Dockyard.
Red Hill
A Public Meeting on the Dido Valley Housing Project was held in late November at the request of the Red Hill community. Councillor Holderness informed those present that progress on this project was delayed due to planning issues taking much longer to resolve than anticipated. Applications for Planning and Rezoning have now been submitted to the relevant Provincial Departments. Public Participation with all interested and affected parties including Red Hill residents will take place in January 2009. Parties will then have the opportunity to comment on all submitted applications. Once this process starts, regular meetings will resume with the Dido Valley Project Steering Committee.
Red Hill residents expressed considerable frustration with the delays. Increasingly, they are asking whether they will be allowed to stay in Red Hill for the sake of some permanence. Liz Danks comments that this should not be construed as reluctance to move to Dido Valley as currently each toilet and one tap serves five homes. Dido Valley represents ownership and a tap and proper toilet for each shack/house.
Business and Tourism
The STCA welcomes the restructured Simon’s Town Tourism (STT) association and the opening of its new office at the Simon’s Town Museum. Bev Stacey will run the new Office and we suggest you and your holiday visitors pop in to find out more about what the STT has on offer.
The Simon’s Town business community also recently got together in a collaborative workshop with the STT, STCA and other Simon’s Town organisations to network and discuss issues of common concern. Once again management of the vagrants was a key topic with many (constructive) suggestions coming forward.
New Year’s Eve
A reminder: Although the City of Cape Town were not prepared to issue a licence for the formal New Year Party event planned by STADCO those interested are invited to congregate on Jubilee Square at around 23h00 onwards to see in the New Year. This informal gathering will be reminiscent of how Simon’s Town used to see the New Year in before the advent of the “big” New Year parties.
Amenities
A number of people have reported the poor condition of the parking at Seaforth on the old tank site. Unfortunately this ground belongs to the Department of Public Works (who continue to be very elusive to deal with) and thus the City’s departments are not able to effect any repairs or upgrading.
Runciman Drive is once again a viable road under which new water pipes have been installed. Similar work will continue on upper Dorries Drive in the New Year. Remember when reporting amenities issues to the Sub Council Manager, it is preferable to email or fax details of the issue (see what is required below), or fill in a form at the Sub Council Offices in Fish Hoek as this ensures that the complaint gets logged, and put onto a system which also feeds relevant updates to our Councillor. Thanks to those who copy us in on their emails. Feedback when a job is successfully completed is also welcome.
Issues needing the City’s attention should be reported directly to the Sub-council Manager, either by email to  desiree.mentor at capetown.gov.za, fax 021- 782 1185, or by dropping off a note at the Sub-council offices at Fish Hoek (something written on paper is preferable to a telephone conversation).
The following 5 points must be detailed in each report, and each issue must be reported separately, on a separate piece of paper or email.
Date: (of submitting the request)
Category: (Roads, Waste Management, Parks, Water supply, Graffiti, etc)
From: (full name of person submitting the request)
Contact details: (street address, and telephone number, and email if used)
Detailed description of the problem (this must include the exact location – eg not just a street name, but opposite which house number, or which end of a beach)
Please keep Desiree Mentor informed of progress / or lack of progress so that she can follow-up if necessary. If necessary send reminder notes headed “Reminder”. Thanks are also welcomed after a successful job.
Subscriptions
STCA membership fees (R50 per annum per household) become due on 1 January 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 : 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:
Simon’s Town Police: 02… or 8647
Fish Hoek Emergency Control Centre: 02… , 782-0444
Fire and Emergency: 107 from Telkom phones
Roads, potholes and stormwater: 08… (24 Hours)
Water/Sewage Emergencies: 08… (24 hours)
STCA Web Page: http://www.stcivic.info/
Anyone interested in taking part in, or monitoring, ongoing informal “chats” about Simon’s Town
should take a look at:
 http://friendfeed.com/rooms/simonstown

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