News from Residents’
Association of
rahb@houtbay.org.za
www.houtbay.org.za
November 2008
New E
newsletter format
The RAHB have decided to produce the monthly Hout & About in a convenient “e” newsletter for wider distribution. If you know anyone who would like to be subscribed to the monthly newsletter, please contact our webmaster at webmaster@houtbay.org.za.
The Coastal Chronicle is under new
ownership and they have reduced their distribution to the “Rondebosch to
Capt vd
Bergh Transfer
(Copy of a letter
published 12 October)
I wish to inform all NW members that I have been transferred to
Provincial Discipline Management. I was supposed to start today already, but
will stay on until they find a replacement. Due to my experience within the
discipline environment, I expected this to happen for the last 3 years already.
I can’t thank specific people, because there are too many. I wish to
thank all NW
members for their participation since 2005. HBNW
really made a difference in
not NW. The community is NW and it will be you who
determine the success of NW.
With the ongoing problems in IY and Hangberg,
the Police’s focus and their priorities will be to fight drugs, shebeens and violent
crime. The property related crime rate in the Valley will lie on the shoulders
of HBNW.
I wish to remind all NW members that you are only the eyes and ears.
Please refrain
from interfering or taking over the Police’s
responsibilities, because this will damage the NW project. If you wish to
perform police duties, please apply and become a reservist.
Insp Tanya Lesch will take over the NW
responsibilities from me. She is the Social
Crime Prevention officer and NW is falling directly under this component
anyway. I trust she will receive the same support and respect which I received
since 2005.
Thank you.
Capt vd
Bergh
Spare
the terror, pain & suffering of animals next Guy Fawkes
Thankfully the firecrackers of Guy Fawkes are behind us. The celebration
of Guy Fawkes day 5th November has absolutely no
place in
RAHB have also engaged with the City of
Hout Bay
City Improvement District (CID)
There is a local push to establish a Hout Bay CID. This drive comes from the need to ensure
service delivery in
The Hout Bay City Improvement District was registered as a not for gain company in July this year. This cooperative governance model currently takes the form of a voluntary CID.
A voluntary CID comprises a group of committed businesses/ratepayers within a ring-fenced area to provide a top up service to that of the City's (at their own cost).
The
Precinct 1 : From Mainstream shopping area to the beachfront.
Precinct 2 :
Precinct 3 :
Please note, the dead line to implement a CID
is June 2009 when the City assesses the applications for CID's.
If you would like more information, or if
you have comments and suggestions, please contact Andre Jacobs
on 0788 232219.
TOOV?
Perhaps this acronym is becoming commonplace in
Structure
Plan for
An illustrated Structure Plan as discussed in the Sentinel is available
for inspection in the Hout Bay Library. It is emphasised
in the draft that an essential aspect of the Update is that future planning for
The Beach Club
The RAHB has put its
weight behind a drive to prevent the construction of a Hotel and further
residential units alongside the existing Beach Club. The recent coastal management legislation
enacted by Parliament will make any coastal development more difficult in
future but the proposed development flies in the face of this new Legislation,
even to the extent of proposing to develop an hotel on
an erf part of which lies below the High Water Mark.
The Beach Club
development per se has spanned such an extensive period of time, that there
have been several changes in ownership and zoning and environmental legislation
over that time.
The Residents’ Association, has sought legal opinion on the development’s
status. The original development was approved “under a black cloud of public
opposition” before
the EIA regulations made under the Environment Conservation Act were
promulgated in 1997. The new developers
claim that the further development of the area is not subject to the new
regulations made in terms of the National Environmental Management Act because
they claim that the development had already "commenced" before the
introduction of those regulations. In the absence of any case law
precedent on the point, this issue is contentious. A purposive construction of the legislation,
which is appropriate given that the object of the NEMA legislation is to give
substance and effect to the environmental protection right in the Bill of
Rights chapter of the Constitution would support the Residents’ Association’s
contention that the NEMA regulations are applicable to future development of
the area.
Insofar as the intended development includes the development of a hotel on erf 7743, there is NO evidence that any relevant physical activity 'commenced' on the proposed hotel site as there is quite simply nothing at all on this site other than dune vegetation.
The RAHB is advised that the relevant zoning rights in respect of the erf have therefore probably lapsed as the land in question was not utilised in accordance with the rights granted on rezoning within five years of the confirmation of the subdivision of the land on which the Beach Club stands.
Many of the residential erven to be developed are below the 10 yr
flood line of the
Pebble Bed Modular Nuclear Reactor (PBMNR):
Comment on Draft Environmental Impact Report (draft EIR)
The RAHB has submitted a comment on the Pebble Bed Reactor to the
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. The Association vigorously
objects to the proposal and asks for a sensible resolution.
2. The escalation of costs for the PBMR demonstration model is also
of considerable concern. They appear to have increased from
about R1 billion to about R15-20 billion or possibly even much more. Such
excessive underestimation is disturbing and it illustrates the proponents’
uncertainty.
3. Life cycle costs are not factored in
when the proposal is compared with alternatives.
4. Safety aspects: The often repeated
idea that these reactors will be inherently safe is questioned. There are
reports that suggest otherwise. Such critical reviews should have been
made available and included in the draft EIR. Not doing so has skewed the
understanding by “Interested and Affected Parties” and others. The requirement
that the demonstration plant be built first to ‘prove’ its safety is a catch 22
situation.
5. Public Participation: The Public
Participation process may (or may not) have followed the legally accepted route
but the spirit of the law does not seem to have been adhered to in terms of
meaningful participation. The massive document (about 2000 pages) cannot
be read in the time allocated (50 days) and the process has not facilitated the
condensation of this information. That task is the responsibility of the
consultants and officials but it seems that most of them have not been able to
read and assimilate the information either.
6. Various issues: The very relevant economic aspects which were
raised in the first EIA have not been properly addressed. Again, this is
most unfortunate as the cumulative costs will almost undoubtedly far outstrip
the losses incurred to date.
7. No other country is prepared to do the development work for the PBMN
reactor – that says almost more than anything else.
8. Evacuation: Much of the Public
is vigorously rejecting the idea of having the nuclear sites ‘in their back
gardens’ in spite of a lot propaganda being disseminated regarding its alleged
‘safety’. Koeberg also is too close to too many
people so effective evacuation would be impossible should a problem arise.
On an Environmental Note
The RAHB would like
to encourage any new developments or private houses under plan or construction
to explore the options of using solar power installations and other energy
saving devices where possible.
Reducing our
electricity consumption from the National Grid and committing ourselves to
alternate energy sources will in the long term have positive benefits for
everyone.
Erf
The RAHB is pleased to
inform you
that the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
(Western Cape Province) have dismissed the appeal for the application for the Removal of
Restrictions Act and a LUPO appeal lodged against the refusal of a subdivisional
application erf 1810,
Erf 666
The
RAHB has been asked "what is going on at erf 666?"
In October, Chairman Len Swimmer visited the site and photographed trucks
and bakkies and front end loaders in full force going
about their business. This particular
erven is not zoned industrial and the Subcouncil Goodhope on
The RAHB look forward to a reply to their letter addressed to the City
asking for clarity on what action is to be taken against the unlawful land use
activities on the erf.
Olden
Days Cars!
Don’t miss the annual Rotary Car Classics Show on the 23rd of
November. More than 300 cars will be on display in
For more information phone the Rotary man, John Camplin
on 021 790 6525.
RAHB
ExCo
Howard Ball, incumbent for the Portfolio of “Signage” on the Exco has resigned.
The Association would like to thank Howard for his efforts in trying to
bring the proliferation of signage in
(R50 per couple, R30 per individual)
Forms from
Chairperson or Library. Association’s Banking Details:
FNB,
Subscriptions may be paid electronically (please use
your full name as a reference on the payment – to ensure that we correctly
credit your membership as this information appears on our Bank Statement
If you prefer, payment may also
be dropped into our wooden box at the Library (next to the Hall doors) or posted
to our Post Office Box: 27031
Chairperson,
Residents’ Assoc of
Tel:
790-0268, Email: