ZBRRA

Minutes of the AGM of the Zinkwazi Ratepayers and Residents Association

                       18^th December 2008,  17H30 at Darnall Country Club      

2    Welcome. Neil Wallace the chairman welcomed members and guests, especially Cln Colin Marsh of the DA in Ballito and Emeric Piltz of Blythedale Ratepayer’s Association.

3    A quorum was established with 50 members, 10 guests and 22 apologies as per register

Matters arising.   The chairman mentioned that the Constitution and the ‘form’ of the Ratepayers assoc were discussed at the previous AGM. Both had been reviewed. Proposals to change the association to a section 21 company had been considered but this and changes to the Constitution were found to be unnecessary. Comment was invited from the floor. Their being none, their acceptance was proposed by Jasper Pons and seconded by Simon Pratt.

Neil thanked his committee for withstanding the months of stress due to conflict in the village. He stressed that 80% of work done by the ward and ZBRRA overlapped and was for the common good of the village. The small amount of conflict arouse due to process or clashes of personalities.   In March he and Vice Chairman Rob Hofmeyr, brought the untenable situation to the attention of the council and Madame speaker, Veli Luthuli. She invited Chairman Neil Wallace, Vice Chairman Rob Hofmeyr and Admin Manager Wendy Balcomb to join the Ward committee which was in tatters due to internal conflict and several resignations. In the interests of unity, this was agreed to. Wendy Balcomb’s and Engela Wium were elected to serve as representatives of Ward 2 and now work together amicably for the benefit of the village. Since June improved communication with KDM and iLembe were evident. Engela was thanked for her efforts in dealing with Umgeni water and Frances Barnard was thanked for initiating and erecting the street signs.

Communications. A user-friendly website was created as an information base for members. This is updated regularly by Wendy. Ward, Conservancy, Security and ZBRRA notices, news, minutes and all types of information is posted onto the site. Neil urged members to make full use of this. Members were asked to advise Wendy is they were not receiving regular communiqués.

Security and Neighbourhood Watch.

Changes proposed by ZBRRA for the independence of the association came into effect this year. The Neighbourhood Watch replaced the Security Fund which was linked to the Ski Boat club. ZNW has its own constitution, bank account and membership. Its Chairman, James Gilleran and committee raise funds to pay Alpha guards to patrol the village at night. ZBRRA will no longer guarantee a contribution of 25% of its membership fee towards the ZNW as they are now self funded through there own membership base. ZBRRA   is committed to contribute towards the maintenance of the electric fence , to fund improved technology for the protection of the village and to provide funds for additional guards during peak holiday seasons

Zinkwazi is better supplied since the installation this year of a new improved cable into the village earlier in the year.

In comparison to many other areas, Zinkwazi has regular provision of services such as refuse removal, Verge mowing etc. Constant monitoring and vigilance of service delivery is necessary if a standard is to be maintained.   This task occupies a large amount of the admin manager’s time. Constant cajoling and encouraging is necessary. Wendy explained that often the staff in KDM did not have the capacity or manpower to carry out the tasks required of them. Colin Marsh endorsed this.

 Bulk water supply – iLembe have contracted supply to Umgeni water for the next 20 years. Borehole pumps have been upgraded and supply lines improved. Reticulation however is of great concern since the pipes supplying water to consumers are old and outdated. Pipes in Magai drive were replaced in November and we are promised that those in Panorama will be replaced in 2009. There were several complaints related to the ineffective performance of iLembe and the fact that reports of leaks were going unheeded for days. Both the Ward and W B on behalf of ZBRRA wrote letters of complaint to iLembe with regard to their poor service through the call centre. Piped water from the Lower Tugela scheme is promised by iLembe by the end of 2010.

Roads. Potholes on P403 were regularly reported by WB. As a result of a good relationship with NPA they are repaired without delay. In the village the Civils department responsible have repaired tar on a regular basis when advised. Magai and several other roads were eroded and need to be resurfaced

Verges were unsightly due to mounds of building material. The building department of KDM is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the by-laws whereby a verge should be free of builders rubble before a verge fee is refunded. Colin Marsh stressed that the building department of KDM was stretched to their limit with the large numbers of developments along the coast. Staff capacity was limited   Ann Bindoff made a suggestion that each person who hires the services of contractor withhold 10% of funds owed until all builder’s waste has been disposed of. The contractor should stipulate how and where this was disposed of to avoid refuse being dumped round the corner in the village or on the nearby farm. Klaus stated that WB had been proactive in encouraging contractors to clean up their act and where they were concerned with their image, she had some success. Ann Bindoff suggested that a list of accredited contractors be drawn up which could be made available on request to prospective homeowners.

Colin Marsh endorsed the fact that the only method of getting tasks completed by KDM was by persistently but pleasantly following up requests.    Neil said that the service of a full time paid admin manager – who also doubles as a ward rep - was found to be the only way to ensure this was done as it involved continuous time and effort daily.

Rates had increased tremendously. Many objections as to the value of property were received by KDM rates dept. A great number of these had been reviewed and adjusted. Neil Wallace said that a major part of our contribution was not spent on our village but went to provide infrastructure and services in the poorly developed townships in nearby areas. His concern is that it should not be wasted.

Town Planning/ Built Environment

Neil said that excellent regulations existed to control building plans. Despite this, mistakes had been made in the village where despite our vigilance, a building was completed which did not comply with by-laws. It was up to all residents to be aware of possible abuse of by-laws and to bring this to the attention of ZBRRA.   ZBRRA were prepared to register as an affected member where relaxation of any by-laws was applied for, in order to keep the village informed. Fighting a court case would normally be the decision of the affected neighbour and not of the association. The assoc. would lodge an objection but it could not fight a court case when it considered that the outcome was unlikely to resolve or reverse the issue.   The KDM was largely at fault as it permitted buildings to go ahead before plans were passed.    N W said that this was one of the goals for next year would be to address a method of being more involved in possible controversial buildings.   WB explained that at a meeting in April of 2007 when the ward committee was first established, she was shouted down by those standing for the ward committee when she stated that ZBRRA as a committee had suggested an independent body be established consisting of architects, environmentalists and informed members of KDM build dept. to vet all ‘controversial building plans’.   The property 130 Nkwazi was the subject of discussion. Neil explained that ZBRRA objected to 130, a special residential property being re-zoned for a hotel in early 2007. Mr T. Brauckmann later withdrew his application. Conflict in the district was rooted in controversy surrounding this building, and the owners objection towards ZBRRA for being a watchdog, during his bid to get his plans passed.

Storm water drains. Ann Bindoff voiced her concern with regard to the storm water drains. It was found that in some villages these have been used by unprofessional plumbers to dispose of sewage. N W said that in Zinkwazi we have no water borne sewage but pollution of the lagoon water by river front houses is of concern. The maintenance of river font septic tanks is of importance. It may be necessary for septic tanks to be moved to behind the houses in order to distance them from polluting the river.

N W said that beside a fence around the car park no repairs had been effected by KDM. KDM under contractor Carlos Mendes have agreed to all proposals from ZBRRA, the Ski Boat club and the ward related to access, ablutions lights and the control of noise by Hantie Plomp. Concern about noise affecting properties behind the beach parking and at Black Rock Park was brought to the attention of ZBRRA by Mr Francois Coetzee and Mrs Ina du Plessis. The proposed lockable boom gate at the entrance to the main beach car park, as proposed in the document, and a boom or gate at Black Rock park should control the situation.

It was explained by NW that this leased building, which belongs to KDM, is the only commercial node in the village. The lease which existed expired and the tenants of both the hardware and a small convenience store have been unsuccessful in getting a renewed lease despite frequent requests and reminders from both the tenants and ZBRRA over the past 2 years. New tenants have opened a small cafe after the closure of Engela Wium’s shop and are trading successfully. The hardware continues to do business. Fish Eagle Est and Driftwood Letting agency occupy offices in the Mini Mall as will ZBRRA for an information and tourist centre. There is also the suggestion of a Laundromat.

Neil thanked Klaus for taking on the revival of the Zinkwazi conservancy - the oldest in the country. He explained that it stretched from the Tugela to the Nonoti.   Knowledge of the history and background to the previous structure enabled Klaus to enlist the support of KZN wildlife, the Tongaat Hulett group, and local farmers. They were relieved that the village under the umbrella of ZBRRA would fall into the conservancy, and would be heavily involved in funding and administration.   It was decided that specific project funding would be responsible for funds. Membership would be free to all ZBRRA members.

The conservancy trust has funds in its bank account. Ezemvelo (KZN Wildlife) in principal has made R160000 available through the DEAT programme ‘Working for the Coast’ This is to improve access to the coast and for the maintenance of trails in the nearby bush.   

The conservancy committee had identified a non-profit programme to improve the environment with the involvement of the residents in the Alien Invader Plant project. The conservancy planned to expose the community to the natural assets in the surrounding area by arranging outings. Weather permitting a guided bird walk through Harold Johnson was scheduled for 10^th January. In February, Kingsley Holgate was to speak on his trip around Africa. Barge trips down the Zinkwazi river to see the barn swallows was to be scheduled. 

Wendy explained that the removal of invaders from vacant properties was going as planned.   17 properties had been cleared with another 15 in line. Costs had been covered by charging residents a nominal fee to cover the cost of labour and chemicals. Donations of trees from local nurseries had been planted on verges in the village with several more to be placed. Donations were called for from residents to re-forest the village. A nursery to provide shrubs and trees for local residents at cost is to be established on the Clewlow farm adjacent to the village. 

7          Finance Richard discussed the audited financial statements. There were no questions. Neil Wallace said that a substantial amount was to be spent on security this year on additional guards over holiday season and future maintenance of the fence. 

Ken Mc Quade was thanked once more for auditing the books. The financial statements were adopted and seconded by Mike Crossmann and Dymock Brett.

There were no new nominations for the committee. The following were prepared to stand for another term. Neil Wallace, Rob Hofmeyr, Ian Masson, Klaus Achtzehn, Craig du Bernard, Richard Armstrong, Nic Ellender, Margo Thiel.   Each had been nominated and seconded. Neil thanked the committee, especially the executive for their support and advice. He stated that he would be co-opting others onto the committee when professional advice was necessary. 

Dymock Brett thanked the chairman for the excellent job he has done over the past year, despite taking over the committee at a very stressful time.

9          The Chairman concluded his report by summarising his view of the way forward for the association. He said that with increasing developments and bludgeoning population along the coast, there would be more pressure on the municipality for services. . Ideally to be more effective, the associations should lobby collectively in dealing with the municipality. They would need to be vigilant if they were to maintain standards. It had been necessary to employ a full time manager to monitor and police rules regulations and by-laws and to develop a good relationship with officials in KDM to encourage this. 

The Chairman wished to ensure increased and improved technology to support security in the village, a greater role in environmental issues to protect our local assets, and an effective role for the ward committee which now largely comprised the ZBRRA committee. There was a need to encourage more members and increased involvement of younger people in the village in playing a part in the association. He saw great strength in a united village which worked with one voice to one end. 

10        Matters Arising.

Pollution of the river banks. Some residents felt that the litter on the river banks could be as a result of dumping higher up the river or around the village on the adjacent farms. 

Dr David Perkins said that the only manner in which the village could be protected from entry along the beach was by the construction of a sea wall. Neil Wallace remarked that this was a difficult and expensive task and that individuals could install alternate barriers such as garden beams, fences etc

Jasper thanked the Chairman and committee for the year’s work and care of the village. Monica Mansfield gave a special vote of thanks to Wendy Balcomb for the amount of time spent on village matters.