JOIN IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT

Ready for a fun-filled holiday this December? 

 

We live in paradise - why not enjoy it together?! We hope to have a jolly, jam-packed programme for young and old this year - with indoor and outdoor activities at the Middlevlei recreation centre, games and competitions on our pristine beach and outings further afield, at the Harold Porter Botanical Garden, Fernkloof Nature Reserve and the Penguin Colony at Betty's Bay.

Get involved - see what we have in mind and send in your ideas of preferred activities and offer your assistance and talents as to how you can help make this happen! ALL ideas welcome.

Reply to Megan Campbell, Admin Manager, Meerenbosch - mbhoa1@gmail.com

                                             

                                                                                              

LEVEL 1 WATER RESTRICTIONS - NOW IN FORCE

WATER IS PRECIOUS!

BE VIGILANT AND ADHERE TO THE WATER RESTRICTIONS PLEASE!

The Overstrand Municipality is going to implement Level 1 Water Restrictions in the Greater Hermanus Area, effective from 1 November 2017 until further notice.
Restrictions applicable to all consumers

• No watering of gardens, flower beds, sports fields, parks, lawns and other open spaces is allowed with municipal drinking water, except for:
   - one hour per day, before 09:00 or after 17:00, two days per week.
   - Even numbered street addresses ONLY on Wednesdays and Sundays.
   - Uneven numbered street addresses ONLY on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
• Washing of vehicles and watercraft with hosepipes is only allowed if fitted with automatic self-closing devices.
• No washing or hosing down of hard-surfaced or paved areas with municipal drinking water is allowed.

Automatic exemptions
Watering of plants in nurseries, etc., for commercial purposes, is exempted from the water restrictions.
If alternative water sources are utilized, consumers must ensure that they display the appropriate signage to this effect, clearly visible from a public thoroughfare.
Water Tariffs
In accordance with the Overstrand Municipality’s Tariff Policy, water tariffs will only be increased to the 1st level of water restriction tariffs when the water level in the De Bos Dam drops below 40%.
Applications for Exemption
Customers who wish to apply for an exemption or relaxation of the restrictions can apply to the Deputy Director: Engineering Planning, by emailing a motivation to: depdircomsec@overstrand.gov.za, or post to:
Deputy Director: Engineering Planning
Overstrand Municipality
PO Box 20
Hermanus
7200
Queries can be directed to Ms A Bayley at tel. 028-313 8972 or e-mail to depdircomsec@overstrand.gov.za.
C.Groenewald
Municipal Manager

Safety and Security - OPS contract

Meerenbosch HOA management formed an annual contract with Overstrand Protection Services (OPS) for servicing the whole of Meerenbosch in July 2016. This contract was renewed in June 2017. Members have since been encouraged to have alarm systems installed and linked up with OPS.

The following are important documents relating to our relationship with OPS and the service provided by them.

 OPS Report 2017

All correspondence, reports and documentation may be viewed under Safety and Security.

Bot River Estuary Forum (BREF)

 BREF MEETINGS 2017

For anyone interested in the BREF meetings, CLICK HERE to read all the documentation relating to the meetings held in 2017 to date.

HIGH ALERT FOR WED AND THURS 7 & 8 JUNE 2017

Overstrand Municipality Press release:

Communities urged to be on high alert

Overstrand Municipality, working with all relevant stakeholders, is geared up to deal with incidents of possible disaster as heavy rainfall and abnormal strong winds are expected later tonight.

All emergency services, including Fire and Disaster Management, as well as the offices of all area managers, are working together on contingency plans ahead of tonight’s storm.

Additional staff is also on standby to support/assist where possible and needed.

Loud hailing in all informal settlements will start shortly, and SMS texts alerts will notify residents of expected gale force winds and heavy rainfall.

All community halls across the Overstrand area will made available where necessary, “but it will be best to co-ordinate from one central point, therefore all affected community members can contact our emergency control room at 028 312 2400.

"We will then co-ordinate which community halls to open,” confirmed Marlu Rust, Assistant Chief: Overstrand Fire & Disaster Management.

“The emergency control will co-ordinate, direct and support during emergencies as well as organise, control, and co-ordinate response to meet needs during the incident” he added.

Important telephone numbers:
Fire & Rescue & Disaster Management Emergencies
028 312 2400
Overstrand Municipality's 24 hour Emergency Control Room
028 313 8000 / 8111
Overstrand Switchboard (all hours) 028 313 8000
Day to day law enforcement complaints 028 313 8980

General enquiries and switchboards during office hours (07:45 – 16:30) for the different administrations
Hermanus 028 313 8000
Gansbaai 028 384 8300
Kleinmond 028 271 8400
Stanford 028 341 8500

 

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING - 7 & 8 JUNE 2017

PLEASE NOTE: a detailed, updated weather warning from the South African Weather Service.

Meerenbosch Special Meeting Postponed

The Special Meeting to vote on changes to the Meerenbosch HOA Constitution that was scheduled to take place on Saturday, 27th May 2017, has had to be postponed. The process is taking rather longer than anticipated. We will advise members when another date is set.

KEYS FOR TENANTS / VISITORS

PLEASE NOTE!

As from 1 April 2017, OPS will no longer allow owners to leave keys at the gate for collection by tenants or visitors, since this has created all manner of problems. Meerenbosch management is not supportive of keys being left at at the gate. It is the owner's responsibility to arrange for collection of keys to his/her property with a tenant or visitor directly.  Keys may also not be left at the office for collection - this policy was already in place a long time ago.

BOT / KLEINMOND SYSTEM - REVISED EMP JANUARY 2017

At our Meerenbosch HOA AGM mention was made of the revised draft Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the Bot / Kleinmond System, as presented at the last Bot River Estuary Forum (BREF) meeting in November 2016. This is to bring it into line with legislation brought in since 2008.  The following draft EMP is available for scrutiny below.  It is very important that we give input into this process, since it addresses issues relevant to all estuarine land owners.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0By1Bfri9R_8HdHNsTzJPYWx4TUE 

Please send any comments to Megan Campbell at mbhoa1@gmail.com.

The Do's and Don'ts for Flying Drones - Waar mag ek my tuig hommel?

Here is the link to the official government website - The Law Library of Congress - with all regulations pertaining to drones:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0By1Bfri9R_8Hdy0wcE1LLWJHTXc



This past holiday season saw the first intrusion of drones being flown over our somnolent bird-filled gardens, previously undisturbed by flying craft, other than those of the feathered species, the odd chopper (usually Sea Rescue or Fighting Fire) and once in a blue moon, a boeing having been diverted. This is a gross violation of privacy, a danger to bird life and surrounding buildings, as well as noise pollution.

Be warned that there are very strict rules controlling where you may fly drones and dire consequences for those breaking the rules. Below is the low down on what you can expect if you are reported.

As jy hierdie speletjie wil speel, neem kennis van die reels en die gevolge van oortreding. 

http://www.enca.com/south-africa/you-could-face-jail-or-a-fine-for-flying-drones

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 27-28 JANUARY 2017

Batton down the hatches and plug up the holes! The Western Cape, particularly the Overberg, is in for some heavy rains and localised flooding tomorrow. Warning issued today by the SA Weather Service.

A cut-off low, shown above in Fig. 1, with associated persistent onshore flow at the surface is expected to affect the Western Cape Friday 27 to Saturday 28 January 2017. Rain and showers are expected to start late Thursday night in the south-western parts of the province, quickly spreading eastwards throughout the first part of Friday. The rain clears in the extreme west, but is expected to continue for the day into the evening over the southern parts of the province. Good falls of rain are expected along the mountainous areas of the south coast and adjacent interior, with a possibility of heavy rainfall over the Overberg district, and the coastal regions of the Eden district. Some rainfall is still expected along the eastern parts of the south coast early Saturday morning, after which the system is situated over the Indian Ocean in the south-east and ceases to affect the Western Cape. Read more...