​Hi All
Here below is RERA’s measured response to the OM Pringle Bay baboon troop management plan any of us first heard of at the emergency ward meeting on 29 April. Notwithstanding our personal views, the Exco has decided to take a differentiated approach to that of REC in the interests of continuing to improve our relationship with the OM officials we depend on as a community.
You may disagree, and please do feel free, either way, to mail or DM me with your views. We take very seriously our duty to represent you first and then all of Rooiels and its fauna and flora as best we can.
All supporting information can be accessed via the RERA pages of the Rooiels website.
The minutes of our 2nd   Exco meeting, held in late April, just before the ward meeting, will be with you this week.
All the best
Tom
PS Now to check the minutes and then it’s time for a stiff drink I think! And maybe a watch of the Planet of the Apes movie franchise would be appropriate.
 
Tom Baigrie
Chair
RERA Exco 2024
[email protected]
+44 7930572892

Email sent to OM Environmental Affairs Manager and the Ward 10 Councilor 12th May 2024
cc  Chair Rooiels Conservancy, Chair Rooiels Boatclub, Chair Rooiels Outreach, RESA: Peter Koning, Mark Butler and Hilgard Muller
​
​Dear Theresa and Liesl
 
We the Rooiels Ratepayers Association, write in response to the OM paper published at the Ward Meeting on 29th April 2024. Before writing we asked all in our village to give us their views and personally consulted the chairman of the Pringle Bay Ratepayers association to best understand theirs.
 
RERA is keen to ensure that our dialogue with OM is constructive and positive in all matters relating to our village. And in particular that our relationship with OM is such that we can be trusted with advance knowledge and input into any initiative that affects our village and Conservancy in any way. We would ask for your assurances in this regard and regret that you did not feel able to consult with us before this Emergency Ward Meeting. That meant that your referencing the Rooiels Conservancy as a potential new home for the Pringle Bay baboon troop caused shock and anxiety in our village.
 
We in Rooiels are deeply concerned at the impact your programme in Pringle Bay will have on the conservancy and the smallholdings in particular, and our members are monitoring any potential impact on the Rooiels troop and whether there is any increase in the current minimal human-baboon conflict seen in Rooiels.
 
As you know, the Rooiels troop causes far less human division and conflict than has happened in Pringle Bay. We believe that is because the vast majority of people in our village have adapted our human behaviour to ensure that the troop get minimal access to human food, bird seed etc.  Notwithstanding that, our village fynbos is a rich source of baboon food and so they are present daily amongst us. We try to minimise conflict by:
1. Baboon Information Officers, who we train and pay to who work during seasonal peak times in the CBD.
2. Supplying educational material and coaching to new residents
3. Supplying pamphlets and suitable signage to our businesses.
 
While failures and thus conflict happens, it is rare and we feel confident that the evidence is mounting that Rooiels is proving that the best way to manage baboons is to better manage the humans they inevitably interact with when we choose to live on their feeding grounds. We do acknowledge that this is much easier in our smaller community, than it is in much larger ones.
 
We have several times surveyed our village regarding baboons and consistently found overwhelming support for a tolerant and human-behaviour focussed approach.  For our most recent survey please see here. This approach is of course the opposite of that taken by yourselves at the request of the Pringle Bay Ratepayers Association, and while we respect Pringle Bay’s right to determine the way in which they solve their problems, we agree with our Conservancy that the methods you are using are unlikely to work in the medium term, as baboons are cleverer than that (as your paper explicitly acknowledges), and that in the interim your methods are cruel and unnecessary. 
 
In Rooiels we understand that it is we who have imposed ourselves on the biosphere and we owe a duty of care to all those species and individual animals we have impacted. Trying to establish a form of apartheid where one species seeking natural food is kept out of a valuable source of same, or chased through it, is in our view, the wrong way to solve the issues caused by species interaction. 
 
Having said that, we as RERA will make no demands upon Pringle Bay or OM, but rather let your experiment play out. Our colleagues at the Rooiels Conservancy, and other groups whose primary purpose is the protection of fauna and flora, may well take a more confrontational approach, and many of our members will join them in that. We would urge you to take their concerns seriously. For our part we will focus on working closely with OM in maintaining and improving all aspects of life in Rooiels.
 
In that spirit of co-operation and good management, we would ask that you let us share in regular reports on the success or otherwise of the Pringle Bay programme and that these are, where possible, independently verified. In particular we view casualty and birth rate amongst the Pringle Bay troop as being a key indicator of the levels of distress being caused by your programme.
 
We look forward to your response and ongoing effort to do the right thing by all your ratepayers and the animals that have to live alongside us.
 
Yours faithfully
Tom Baigrie
Chair RERA Exco 2024

Dear RERA Members and Rooielsers,


We are pleased that the number of Rooiels Erf owners who are now paid-up members of RERA in 2024 has reached 90! Thank you for your contribution and trust so early in the year!


We hope that many of you can join the upcoming AGM Meeting on 30 March 2024 at 10:30, Pringle Bay Community Hall. At the meeing, members will elect the new RERA Exco while all Rooielsers are invited to attend and engage in the discusisons. If you are not able to join in person, you may participate virtually, or submit a proxy form. Please let us know in advance by writing to [email protected].


Further to the elections, important topics on the agenda include: 

• Land use and infrastructure matters
  
• Development of a possible Special Rating Area in Rooiels
  
• Fire risk prevention and management in Rooiels
  
• Road-calming measure on the R 44
  
• Upcoming work on the RERA Constitution
  

For the Exco election we received the following nominations:

• Tom Baigrie (nominated by Achim Halpaap)
  
• Lesley Lundie (nominated by Ralph Pina)
  
• Nigel Burls (nominated by Peter Koning)
  
• Steven Mullins (nominated by Lesley Lundie)
  
• Pieter Labuschagne (nominated by Piet van Rensburg)
  
• Christoph Weichsler (nominated by Holger Wellmann)
  
  
  

Furthermore, a number of individuals are available  to support the future Exco in various ways. These individuals include:  Anuta Scholz, Mike Mac Carthy, Cari Corbet-Owen, Achim Halpaap, and YoramTchetchik.


Thank you to all for the willingness to stand and to support the future RERA Exco.


If you are interested in reading the minutes of our recent Exco meeting on 19 March 2024, please click here.




Your RERA Exco Team (outgoing)


Achim Halpaap, Chair
Piet van Rensburg and Andre Roothman, Vice Chairs
Lesley Lundie, Treasurer
Tom Baigrie, Secretary
Ralph Pina, REC Representative

The Exco Minutes for November have been posted on the Current Year Minutes Blog

Crayfishing Dates As Follows:16-17 Dec, 23Dec-1 Jan (excluding 25 Dec) and 1 April.Crayfishing Dates As Follows:16-17 Dec, 23Dec-1 Jan (excluding 25 Dec) and 1 April.  Fishing (except for some specific species) and molluscs (mussels, periwinkels/alikreukel, etc) is year round.

You need to have a licence to fish or to collect molluscs (mussels, periwinkels/alikreukel etc) sea worms and sea plants. Kreef (West coast rock lobster commonly called crayfish) have very limited seasons that usually stretch from late November to April but are limited to specific days mostly around Christmas and Easter).

Traditionally the permits were available at a post office.  Currently the online system is working and it is recommended that you register on line and apply for your permit on the Dept Forestry, Fisheries and Environment website.  They have a specific page for permit applications and payment www.fisheries.dffe.gov.za  Go to the Marine Resources page and link to the Fish and other sea animals to access information on how to navigate the online system and learn more about the regulations and the list of species etc. The 2023-2024 season dates for Kreef are given below  - effectively 16-17 Dec, 23Dec-1 Jan (excluding 25 Dec) and 1 April.​

DFFE West Coast Rock Lobster season dates
2023-2024 West Coast Rock Lobster Season – 
” The recreational WCRL season will open on 16 December 2023 and closes on 1 April 2024, with a fishing effort of 12 days as follows:

• 16 Dec
• 17 Dec
• 23 Dec
• 24 Dec
• 26 Dec
• 27 Dec
• 28 Dec
• 29 Dec
• 30 Dec
• 31 Dec
• 1 Jan
• 1 April

(Please note that the version sent to members has photos - see the Full message and past Newsletters on the Link

Welcome to the 4th Rooiels Newsletter of 2023. This issue includes Ward 10 feedback, news from RERA, the Rooiels Sustainable Energy Project (RESEP), and the Rooiels Conservancy. All community organisations are invited to contribute, but not all saw their way open, or were able to, this time.

Bries/Breeze 2023 coincides with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Rooiels Conservancy. Willie du Plooy, the editor, requests contributions that cover REC’s lifetime and initiatives, the personalities, etc. Other contributions would include items about new owners/residents, and those who have passed on or left the village and have left their mark. Please let us have your thoughts, feedback, or questions at [email protected].

We would like to offer the newsletter in both Afrikaans and English, but time and capacity are limited! Instead, for now we offer the option to translate this newsletter into the language of your choice. With the help of Google Translate, you are able to obtain a reasonably accurate translation of the content. To use it, select the option at the top of this newsletter (above the picture banner) to view it in your browser. Then, above the newsletter, you will find links to subscribe, view past issues, translate, etc. Select the translate option to activate Google Translate, and then choose the language of your choice. You may have to select the language option more than once. Of course, you can do it with the previous newsletters as well.


You may also want update your subscription choices in the “update your preferences” link at the end of this email.
Contents

• RERA’s RESEP engages with Pringle Bay & OM
• Are you noticing the difference? Update on community work to maintain Rooiels
• Feedback from Ward 10
• News from the Rooiels Conservancy
• News from RERA
• How to give …

Committee contacts

• RERA: [email protected]
• REC: [email protected]
• RESA: [email protected]

RERA’s Rooiels Sustainable Energy Project (RESEP) engages with Pringle Bay and Overstrand Municipality

Following the Rooiels survey of electricity consumption and renewable electricity generation (download survey analysis), the RESEP team, in collaboration with the PBRA, arranged a meeting with OM’s Stephen Müller (Director: Infrastructure and Planning) and Cllr Clinton Lerm (Chairperson: Infrastructure & Investment) on 19 July 2023 at the OM Offices, Hermanus. The purpose was to understand OM’s plans for sustainable electricity and obtain information on these plans and electricity distribution to the Hangklip villages in general.


The report of the meeting can be downloaded here, but in short the meeting was very informative. It revealed that some of OM’s sustainable energy initiatives, as announced earlier in the year, have stalled, although subsequently RESEP is following up on news that some initiatives may be progressing. The team enquired whether OM would want to take over the villages’ electricity distribution (in theory, yes) and whether OM would be opposed to a 3-village-mini-grid (no). Valuable information about the electricity distribution network that feeds the villages, including Rooiels, was gleaned. The report makes interesting reading, and as an aside, confirms that solar PV systems in the villages do not have to be registered with OM.

A recent report by Eskom confirmed that rooftop “residential and C&I [commercial & industrial] installations have reached 4,411.5 MW of cumulative capacity by the end of June, with around 1.82 GW deployed in the January-June period alone”.

RENR walkway trimming

Ruben & Thomas in Anemone

New curbside road names
Are you noticing the difference? Update on community work to maintain RooielsFor the past months, a small team of dedicated Rooielsers and local gardeners has been working quietly and diligently in helping to maintain Rooiels’ walkways, gardens and road reserves. Many thanks to Ruben, Thomas, Moses, Tania and Kay for supporting this important work “on the ground”. Priority action included: clearing Rooiels street signs, manicuring road reserves (e.g  in Anemone  Rd.), de-weeding the community gardens, trimming vegetation on the wooden walkways in the Rooiels Nature Reserve, and clearing vegetation on walkways, including to the Rooiels Beach/Lagoon to the Point and the walkway from the Village centre to Porter drive along the R44..


Priorities for the period until December include cutting the deadwood from the road reserves; fixing broken boards of walkways (an inventory has  been completed by Ralph and Ivan); clearing vegetation on the path between Porter and CBD; clearing deadwood in the main Rooiels entrance on the north side; and ensuring continuous de-weeding of the Rooiels gardens. Other priorities are being identified and we encourage all Rooielsers to engage in this process (see below).


The community maintenance work is done through volunteer work, and with generous contributions by several Rooielsers. Special thanks to Yoram and Lauretta, Rix and Holger and another couple for their support, including making available local gardeners. All work is guided by a Terms of Reference prepared and announced in April by RERA and the Rooiels Conservancy. Several valuable comments have been received and addressed in the final version, which can be downloaded here.


All Rooielsers are encouraged to engage in this important work. Please share with us any priority work you think is needed, by writing to Achim Halpaap ([email protected]) and/or Ralph Pina ([email protected]) who are coordinating the initiative at RERA and the Rooiels Conservancy. Also, if you are able to donate some days of your gardener, or are available to do some hands-on work, please get in touch with us. More support and hands are needed and very much welcome.

Feedback from the Ward 10 meeting, 18 July 2023Some confusion about meeting times resulted in the Ward 10 Committee meeting on 18 July having to be shortened, in the absence of Cllr Els who was on leave. Consequently, there was only time for OM to give brief feedback on the new baboon management programme plan (OM's statement can be downloaded here). In short, OM Eco-Rangers will be implementing a soft approach, featuring an "early warning system" in Kleinmond, Betty's Bay, Pringle Bay and Hangklip, but not Rooiels where its coexistence model is recognised.



News from the Rooiels Conservancy


The Rooiels Conservancy is on Facebook!The Rooiels Conservancy is delighted to announce the launch of its own Facebook group page. Group membership has grown quickly. Visit and join it to celebrate Rooiels’ nature and biological diversity in a safe social media space, follow local conservation news and keep an eye out for events.

Capturing the wonders of Rooiels’ night skyLocal astrophotographer and resident, Steven Mullins, hosted a successful Astrophotography Workshop attended by 17 enthusiasts, with the Drummond Arms kindly providing the venue. He shared techniques for capturing the wonders of Rooiels’ night sky, which is thankfully unpolluted by light. The subsequent practical outdoor session has had to be postponed multiple times because of the inclement weather. But Steven will announce a date and time in due course. The video of the first session can be viewed here, and the slideshow is here.

Hacking team keeps the momentum Our hacking volunteers turn out every first Saturday of the month. One singular achievement was the clearing of large Rooikrans trees that were infesting the estuary, east of the bridge. The Conservancy also joined forces with the Mountain Club of SA, Stellenbosch section, to tackle the growing Hakea Sericea (Silky hakea) threat on the mountain smallholdings, with the owners’ permission, obtained through the good offices of OM’s Environmental Services department. On Sunday, 30 July a combined team took out 500+ trees and 43 kg’s of seed pods in threatening weather. A follow-up was arranged with the Kogelberg villages’ Wednesday Hacking Group, and 27 of them, including a handful of Rooielsers, cleaned the lower slopes in no time on Wednesday 9 August. Thanks to Chris Geldenhuys and his highly organised team of volunteers!


Rooiela enjoying her last day in Rooiels. Photo: Lesley Lundie
Update on the Rooiels baboon troop The Conservancy, with funding assistance from RERA, deployed Baboon Information Officers (BIOs) in the CBD over long weekends and holidays, to inform and educate customers and visitors. Tragedy struck once more when Rooiela, a 6.5 year-old female baboon, was apparently struck by a vehicle on the R44, had her right leg broken, and had to be put down. The Rooiels Conservancy located the injured baboon and then called in the excellent assistance of OM’s Jill Hendrikse and Liezl de Villiers and their approved veterinary surgeon, to handle the sad situation as humanely as possible. Baboons are protected by law, hence the calling in of the authorities. Once more, the urgency for speed calming on Clarence Drive has been highlighted.


As if to confirm the cycle of life and the resilience of baboons, a new baby male was added to the troop last week. Valtteri was born to Vanellipe on or about the 3rd of August. Valtteri means “leader of the army” in Finnish. As Gavin Lundie has observed, the troop always moves to the Kogel Bay area for births, and this was the case here as well.


The Rooiels baboon troop is still being observed, and statistics are collected for science. We currently have 27 members in the troop. A new alpha male took over our troop last July, with very little conflict. He came from the Oudebosch troop near the Palmiet River area. Joey, one of the Rooiels troop’s young adult males, dispersed and joined the Pringle Bay troop at about the same time, and has subsequently become the alpha male in Pringle Bay. Dispersing male baboons ensure genetic diversity in the various troops.






New addition, Valtteri, at left. Photo by Eric Miller.



The Rooiels Conservancy (REC) has become a member of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve CompanyThe Rooiels Conservancy has become an affiliate member of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve Company, and can thus nominate directors and vote at its AGM. REC joined the Stony Point Nature Reserve and Betty’s Bay Marine Protected Area (MPA) Protected Area Advisory Committee (PAAC). And the REC chairperson has been asked by the Helderberg hiking/mountaineering community to attend the Steenbras Nature Reserve PAAC. Conservation agencies are required by law to establish PAACs for their nature reserves to promote community and public participation in their management. The Conservancy is also establishing collaborative partnerships with neighbouring conservancies, such as the Betty’s Bay Conservancy, which has responded very positively.

Leopard returns Our leopard, Diego, has proven to be elusive, last visiting the river cave in March. But at the end of June he made an appearance again, if only fleetingly, and only triggering one of the three cameras. We had become a bit worried that something had happened to him.


The cave sees plenty of action from the Rooiels baboon troop, and the odd appearances by porcupines, mongooses and spotted genets - not to mention people.


The Rooiels Conservancy has an account on the Cape Leopard Trust’s data portal and uploads leopard observations directly.

News from Rooiels Ratepayers Association (RERA)
As the elected body that represents Rooiels at the Overstrand Municipality (OM) the RERA (Rooiels Ratepayers Association) Executive Committee is working alongside the other voluntary bodies serving our community, including the Rooiels Conservancy (REC),  the Rooiels Security Association (RESA), the Rooiels Boat Club (REBC) and Outreach. All are run by unpaid committed volunteers trying to improve life for all Rooielsers.


Throughout its 2023 term, the RERA Exco team continues to be committed to an open dialogue with all members of our small community,  and with previous RERA committee members and Chairs. Our aim is to facilitate an exchange and better understanding of different perspectives. The Open RERA meeting on 1 April (see minutes here) was well attended and covered many aspects of our work. A second Open Meeting is scheduled to take place in early November (please see below).

RERA remains vigilant about property developments One area we remain vigilant about are property developments which may breach planning restrictions and policies. One challenge we are facing is what we consider an inconsistent implementation of OM town planning procedures and regulations. We engage routinely with the Overstrand Municipality on these matters,  through the Ward 10 Committee and directly with officials, leading at times to some friction. We are working with OM to remedy these discrepancies and are making positive progress.


Concerning the Distillery development, RERA Exco decided not to join a legal case against the OM concerning access to information, due to sensitivities in the village and requests not to do so at the last RERA Open meeting. The status of RERA action/non-action related to various Overstrand Municipality policy matters will be shared shortly. Another planning consent issue (Erf 311) is presented below. In this context, we wish to confirm that there is no membership in common between the private group called Friends of Rooiels and the elected RERA 2023 Exco.


Erf 311 on the  mountain slope continues to cause concern As reported in the RERA email to the village sent on 28 June 2023, RERA Exco had engaged with both the OM officials and the Mayor by lodging an appeal against the consent use permission on erf 311, and by raising concerns about the risks of landslides associated with the excavations on the property. Given lack of positive feedback and results, RERA subsequently engaged with the Western Cape’s Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning to investigate the appeal and the OM decision. OM responded via the Minister’s office that RERA would have to take the matters to the High Court. RERA consulted with lawyers, and it became apparent that an amount of R200 000 would be needed to start such an case, with possible further costs involved. Exco thus deemed it impractical to further consider this option. In the meantime, OM responded to RERA’s letter by sending a consulting engineer to the site who assured us that the site is safe.

Second Open RERA Meeting scheduled for 4 November 2023The first Open 2023 RERA meeting took place on 1 April 2023. More than 60 participants engaged in open  face-to-face and online discussions. Given many important topics of interest and time constraints, RERA announced that a second Open Meeting will take place later in 2023 to discuss a select number of topics in more depth, such as the possible revision of the constitution. We have the pleasure to announce that the Second Open RERA Meeting will take place on Saturday, 4 November 2023. Please mark your calendar! Details on the timing, modalities and a draft agenda will follow.  For all those interested, the final summary report of the first Open RERA meeting can be accessed here.


Changes in RERA Exco and the Rooiels Conservancy Exco: Thank you Eldie! We are sorry that RERA’s Secretary and planning expert, Eldie Brink, decided to resign from both the RERA Exco and the Rooiels Conservancy Exco during July. We would like to thank Eldie for his fine service over decades to the invaluable benefit of Rooiels’ natural environment and people. Decisions to fill the vacant RERA Secretary position will be taken at the next RERA Exco meeting on 2 September.


Emergency numbers

All emergencies: 10177
- from cellphone: 112


Kleinmond Police
021 271 8200
082 443 6069
(when landline unavailable)


DFFE Anti-poaching
(Johan Fouché)
084 408 6158


Snare Free Hotline
076 127 8485


Overstrand Fire & Rescue
028 312 2400


NSRI Kleinmond
063 699 2765



HOW TO GIVE


Don’t forget to pay your membership fees for 2023! Thank you to those who have already paid and a huge thank you to those who have so generously donated additional funds.


RERA and Rooiels Conservancy membership fees remain unchanged:

• RERA: R250 per member
• Rooiels Conservancy: R250 per member

Rooiels Ratepayer’s AssociationNedbank Savings Account
Account name: RERA
Account number: 9 0 1 9 4 6 4 9 2 0
Reference: ERF NUMBER, NAME AND SURNAME
Send proof of payment to [email protected]
Rooiels ConservancyNedbank Savings Account
Account name: REC
Account number: 9 0 1 9 6 4 7 5 1 0
Reference: ERF NUMBER, NAME AND SURNAME
Send proof of payment to [email protected]

Rooiels Security Association - MembershipNedbank Savings Account
Account name: RESA
Account number: 9 0 1 8 3 8 2 1 0 9
Reference: ERF NUMBER, NAME AND SURNAME
Send proof of payment to [email protected]
Rooiels Outreach - DonationsNedbank Current Account
Account name: Community Projects and Outreach
Account number: 9 0 1 9 9 9 6 8 0 8
Reference: NAME AND SURNAME
Send proof of payment to Ivan Becker 083 289 9385

Hack day (just another way to give)

First Saturday of each month, except if
specifically postponed or cancelled due to
weather or conflicting calendar events.


Rooiels Security Association - DonationsNedbank Savings Account
Account name: RESA
Account number: 9 0 1 9 7 7 7 8 2 0
Reference: ERF NUMBER, NAME AND SURNAME
Send proof of payment to [email protected]

Dear RERA Members and Rooiels Residents,


I am pleased to summarize the situation of the distillery application case which was discussed on the Village People WhatsApp forum on 18 July.  I hope that this will clarify some questions, for new residents in particular .


Since 2021, various RERA Exco Committees have engaged in the distillery application matter. It started with a survey by the 2021 RERA Exco, which revealed that a majority of respondents objected to the development, with others being in favour. In 2022, RERA Exco and the Pringle Bay Ratepayers Association (PBRA) filed an appeal against the permit issued by Overstrand Municipality (OM), citing concerns that the distillery is an industrial development in an agricultural zone, which would create potential precedent for future developments.


The 2022 appeal was rejected by OM in early 2023. As no reasons were provided, RERA requested OM to provide reasons and relevant information, in order to be able to better assess the situation and potentially consult its members. The lack of information and reasoning provided by OM is the main subject of the court case filed recently by PBRA with others.  


The 2023 RERA Exco decided with an overwhelming majority, however, not to join this case, taking into account the divided opinions of Rooielsers on the matter. The decision not to join the case is consistent with the pledge made at the RERA Open Meeting on 1 April 2023, that RERA will consult its members and ratepayers before taking any major action, such as engaging in a court case.


On other points raised in the VP exchange, the 2023 RERA Exco will continue its approach to foster open communication and dialogue with Members and residents. Further to the First Open RERA Meeting on 1 April (for the report, please click here), a second Open RERA meeting is scheduled to take place in late October/early November 2023, to discuss important issues in more depth, such as the proposed revision of the RERA constitution, and important Ward 10 matters. We hope that these interactions will be constructive, respectful and based on facts, even if there may be different views on substantive matters. Further information on date and venue will follow shortly. In the meantime, we will continue to keep you informed via Mailchimp and RE Communications.


Concerning the relationship of RERA Exco and Friends of Rooiels (FoR), this topic was extensively discussed at the Open Meeting on 1 April 2023. It was clarified that RERA and its Exco is legally distinct, and has a different membership, from other associations and groups in Rooiels. While RERA Exco seeks to engage with all groups in the village, it respects the autonomy and privacy of each group and their respective approach to engage with RERA.  We can confirm that none of the present RERA Exco members are  members of Friends of Rooiels.


If you have any question or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].


On behalf of the 2023 RERA Executive Committee
Piet vans Rensburg, Chairperson

As per the Constitution members are welcome to attend all Exco meetings - the next meeting is scheduled for Saturday 24 June 2023 at 11 am
Contact: [email protected] if you would like to attend 

See the newsletter with photos read other newsletters -- LINK to Archive

Following on from the recent publishing of the detailed notes of our RERA2023 Open Meeting, we have specific news of progress in our ongoing efforts to preserve our town and its surrounds from the threat of suburbanisation.
RERA is delighted to report that, after many months of lobbying and collaborative working with our Overstrand Municipality (OM) , our efforts to further protect Rooiels and our surrounding nature have achieved real success.


Deep within the recently approved OM’s INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW 2023 TO 2024 on page 50 you’ll find the section on PLANNING FOR ROOIELS. There it states under the title Protection of the Environment: “RENR (Rooiels Nature Reserve): the areas around the coast, at the Kopje and on the Rooiels River estuary (all currently zoned for nature) are to be officially proclaimed as protected nature reserve and included as an extension of the Rooiels Nature Reserve.”


Furthermore, under Protection of the Environment and Character of the Area, the Hangklip Conservation Overlay Zone for protecting dark skies in our three villages is to be adopted and the section also notes that: the RECOZ Heritage Overlay Zone is to be adopted and extended to all of Rooiels.


Contents

• Enhanced protection for Rooiels in the IDP Review
  
• More Feedback
  
• Call for volunteers to tackle Silky hakeas on Klein Hangklip range
  
• How to give …
  

Committee contacts

• RERA: [email protected]
  
• REC: [email protected]
  
• RESA: [email protected]
  

On page141 it confirms that the Rooiels Estuary Management Plan is in the process of finalisation by Province, along with others like the Buffels, Klein and Bot.


And on page 261 it notes that: “Key to the future of Rooiels is to protect the vast environmental resources within and surrounding the settlement. The unique characteristics of Rooiels include its location along the coastline within a pristine natural setting.” “A New Urban Development area (was) proposed on the southern periphery of the settlement (of Rooiels). The land area  (on Erf 324) is ± 1.12ha in extent (and) was included by realignment of the urban edge with the coastal management line. However, the historical subdivision of the project has (now definitely) been cancelled. It is arranged that the area be a protected area. Development of this area therefore (is) no longer an option.”


One could say that a scorecard of the Integrated Planning Review might read:


Nature 5: Urban creep 0!


These rulings have been won by several years of continuous and very diligent Exco effort by RERA and REC and our colleagues in Pringle and Betty’s Bay. The work has at last yielded increased legal and thus real protection for the nature we all live within. We hope this delights you as much as it does your 2023 RERA Exco. We are grateful to the OM executive and their advisers for their farsightedness and wisdom in making these decisions.



More feedback


The recent heavy rains have created significant damage and Betty's Bay and Pringle Bay were/are particularly badly affected putting a strain on OM Kleinmond services.  Reports from the Councillor and OM have been shared on Rooiels Communications and OM are hoping for some assistance from the Provincial Disaster Management team.  They have asked all residents for their patience and understanding as they try to repair damaged roads as soon as possible.


The progress on illegal developments which RERA has raised with authorities is slow, but we are assured, steady. You might be interested to learn that on legal breaches RERA cannot get involved beyond reporting and enquiring. There are relevant legal cases currently on the Municipal Court Roll and some engagement of different agencies with owners to try to rehabilitate the natural fynbos where possible.


The OM have also asked all residents to download the CollabCitizen App to facilitate quicker and more responsive service delivery and to build evidence of demand. You can download the App for free on either Google Play or the Apple Play Store. The requests for Tankers and all other service requests can best be made through the app, which allows you then to track the response and timing of service on the App.


Please note that all service requests relating to your property must be reported either on the CollabCitizen App or directly to the OM Kleinmond (028-271-8400) and a reference number obtained.  If you would like RERA to follow up because of non-response, please can you be sure to provide the reference number. RERA will take up Issues involving general infrastructure or impacting nature (i.e. not related to individual properties) as soon as we are alerted, but it’s vital those directly affected also report it to OM directly, not least to provides additional weight to RERA requests for speedy resolution.


All on RERA 2023 wish you as warm and dry a winter as possible!


Piet and the team


Piet van Rensburg Chair and OM Ward Representative
Andre Roothman Co-Vice Chair
Achim Halpaap        Co Vice Chair
Eldie Brink        Secretary
Lesley Lundie Treasurer
Tom Baigrie
And co-opted member:
Anuta Scholz



REC calls for volunteers to tackle Hakea sericea infestation on Klein Hangklip range
The Rooiels Conservancy is calling for volunteers to tackle the spreading silky hakea infestation on the eastern slopes of the coastal range between the watershed and the R44. We want to mobilise a special team for these hacks which will fall outside the traditional 1st-Saturday-of-each-month hacks. Volunteers should be relatively fit. Contact Gavin Lundie on +27 82 900 3173 if interested.


Photo: Dense infestation on an inaccessible mountain slope.The Guide to Biological Control of Alien Hakea Species, Plant Protection Research Institute.

HOW TO GIVE


Don’t forget to pay your membership fees for 2023! Thank you to those who have already paid and a huge thank you to those who have so generously donated additional funds.


Rooiels has three member-based associations which depend on membership fees and donations. They are the Rooiels Ratepayers Association (RERA), the Rooiels Conservancy (REC)), and the Rooiels Security Association (RESA . All three organisations work for the common interest in Rooiels. The 2023 annual membership fees are R250 for RERA, R250 for REC and R2000 for RESA.

ROOIELS BELASTINGBETALERSVERENIGING:ALGEMENE  JAARVERGADERING 2022
In opvolging van die “Save the Date”-boodskap in Oktober, neem asseblief formeel kennis van die 2022 Algemene Jaarvergadering (AJV) van die Rooiels Belastingbetalersvereniging (REBV)

Datum:     Vrydag 30 Desember 2022
Adres:      Pringlebaai Gemeenskapsaal
Tyd:          10h00 - 11h45

Vier lede van die huidige Uitvoerende Komitee stel hulself beskikbaar vir herverkiesing vir 2023. Die vereiste aantal lede vir die Komitee is ses.

Indien u ‘n persoon wil nomineer om op die REBV 2023 Uitvoerende Komitee te dien, voltooi asb die nominasievorm. Dit sal waardeer word indien die voltooide nominasievorms voor 20 Desember 2022 teruggestuur kan word aan: [email protected].

Indien dit nie vir u moontlik is om die AJV by te woon nie, kan u die volmag voltooi en dit e-pos aan [email protected]. Daar word slegs twee volmagvorms per verteenwoordiger toegelaat.
 
AGENDA

• Opening en verwelkoming
• Toespraak deur Wyk 10-Raadslid, Me Theresa Els
• Verskonings
• Aanvaarding van Vorige Notule
• Finansiële Verslag
• Jaarverslag
• Sake ingedien vir bespreking en mosies vanaf die Vloer  
• Verkiesing van komitee vir 2023

​
ROOIELS RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2022Further to the Save the Date message sent in October, this is formal notice, and an invitation to attend the 2022 AGM of the Rooiels Ratepayers’ Association (RERA)

Date:        Friday 30 December 2022
Venue:     Pringle Bay Community Hall
Time:       10h00 - 11h45

Four members of the current Executive Committee will make themselves available for election for 2023.  The Committee requires six members.

If you would like to nominate a person to serve on the RERA 2023 Executive Committee, please download and complete the nomination form on this link. Please email the completed nomination forms by 20th December 2022 to: rera@rooiels.org.za

If you are unable to attend the meeting and would like a proxy to vote on your behalf, please download and complete the proxy form on this link and email it to rera@rooiels.org.za.  Only two proxies are permitted per person.
 
AGENDA

• Opening and welcome
• Address by the Ward 10 Councillor, Ms Theresa Els
• Apologies
• Acceptance of Previous Minutes
• Financial Report
• Annual Report
• Matters submitted for discussion and motions from the Floor
• Election of committee for 2023

_oOo_


ROOIELS BELASTINGBETALERSVERENIGING:ALGEMENE  JAARVERGADERING 2022
In opvolging van die “Save the Date”-boodskap in Oktober, neem asseblief formeel kennis van die 2022 Algemene Jaarvergadering (AJV) van die Rooiels Belastingbetalersvereniging (REBV)

Datum:     Vrydag 30 Desember 2022
Adres:      Pringlebaai Gemeenskapsaal
Tyd:          10h00 - 11h45

Vier lede van die huidige Uitvoerende Komitee stel hulself beskikbaar vir herverkiesing vir 2023. Die vereiste aantal lede vir die Komitee is ses.

Indien u ‘n persoon wil nomineer om op die REBV 2023 Uitvoerende Komitee te dien, voltooi asb die nominasievorm. Dit sal waardeer word indien die voltooide nominasievorms voor 20 Desember 2022 teruggestuur kan word aan: [email protected].

Indien dit nie vir u moontlik is om die AJV by te woon nie, kan u die volmag voltooi en dit e-pos aan [email protected]. Daar word slegs twee volmagvorms per verteenwoordiger toegelaat.
 
AGENDA

• Opening en verwelkoming
• Toespraak deur Wyk 10-Raadslid, Me Theresa Els
• Verskonings
• Aanvaarding van Vorige Notule
• Finansiële Verslag
• Jaarverslag
• Sake ingedien vir bespreking en mosies vanaf die Vloer  
• Verkiesing van komitee vir 2023

You are able to see the current IDP on this link.  And you can download the Process for the preparation of the new IDP from the attached file.  The draft RERA submission of priorities to be submitted to the Ward are provided below or you can download the file. 

Integrated Development Plan and Ward Priorities --- Draft for Rooiels  September 2022
Rooiels priorities will be incorporated into those for Ward 10, and then they are going to be combined with those of Ward 9 – and together be put forward for the IDP Budget. 
We were advised at the Ward meeting on 19th September this is the approach to be taken in order to provide more lobby power for the two Councillors when they make the case for resources to be allocated to this area.  It appears that the new approach in the Overstrand Municipality is for decisions to move away from the principle of subsidiarity and rather to become increasingly centralised and for budgets to be combined.
 
This is the proposed submission by RERA on behalf of members

1
Maintenance of infrastructure to be prioritised:  roads,  water pipes and infrastructure, stormwater drains
The increased density of permanent residents and more frequent visitors puts additional pressure on the roads, water and other services.  There are certain areas that require particular attention to the stormwater drains both for maintenance and also to upgrade their efficacy.

2
Waste management
Support to ensure that public waste bins are secured, regularly emptied and maintained.  Support to ensure that all residents, especially new owners, are advised of requirements for animal secure waste management.  Special advocacy/enforcement measures to ensure that people renting their homes or guest rooms are not in breach of regulations and their guests are not using the public bins for household waste.

3
Extension of RENR - The areas around the coast, at the Koppie and on the River estuary (all currently zoned for nature) to be officially proclaimed as protected nature reserve and included as an extension to the Rooiels Nature Reserve
It is recognised by the Municipality that the natural beauty of the Overstrand Municipal Area and its abundant environmental wealth are the region's greatest assets.  The vegetation is classified as endangered in terms of the NEMA Act and it is very important to protect as much of the coastal lowland vegetation as possible.  The small Rooiels Nature Reserve and the Harold Porter Botancical Gardens are the only proclaimed nature reserve outside the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve.  This proposal is to extend the proclaimed nature reserve area to also include the Koppie, the coastal belt and the estuary, all already zoned nature.  

4
The Rooiels Heritage Overlay Zone to be adapted and extended to ALL of Rooiels – Rooiels Conservation Overlay Zone (RECOZ)
This is an ongoing request to strengthen the norms of supporting planning and services delivery in ways to conserve nature in Rooiels. Maintain Rooiels as a natural gateway of interest to visitors to the Overstrand, enhance biodiversity and enhance Rooiels’ role as an example of man living in harmony with nature. Rooiels is internationally renowned birding destination.  This unique association with nature increases property values and the attraction of “swallows” and visitors to Overstrand

5
Use/adapt existing OM systems to ensure that all KBR villages’ new owners are aware of local norms and regulations
 Support for educational materials for realtors to share with prospective buyers on the attractions and challenges of living in KBR villages
Rooiels and the other villages in the KBR transition zones all have an important role to play in conserving biodiversity and attracting visitors and new residents.
Both advocacy and regulation is required to ensure that new owners, including smallholdings, are aware of the special situation with respect to the flora and fauna in the area
 e.g realtors required to get signed statements from new owners that they are aware of local norms and regulations.  And OM give new owners handout on transfer with details on advantages and challenges of living here.

6
Capex: Brick paving of the most heavily used sections of roads in Rooiels (e.g. Anemone road 100m;', Rocklands Road 50m; Harveya road 150m; Ocean View where joins Perspicua 100m; Study rd 50m)
These sections of road deteriorate very rapidly and they are heavily used by both residents and visitors.  If they were paved this would reduce pressure on maintenance.  Keeping them brick paved and providing “slowing humps” helps to retain the sense of place, reduces dust on the fynbos lining the roads, and adds to the attraction of Rooiels as a gateway to the Overstrand

7a
Invasive alien plant eradication within Rooiels area – provision of transport to remove cuttings
Rooiels residents invest their own resources in removing invasive alien trees and plants and maintaining the road reserves but they need regular assistance in transporting the cuttings away

7b
Encouragement to smallholdings to uphold the legislation on invasive alien trees
Additional support with the provision of manpower, or enforcement of legislation, especially on the smallholdings for the removal of invasive alien plants

7c
Invasive alien eradication along Clarence drive
Joint operation with Provincial Roads, Cape Nature, City of Cape Town and Overstrand.
It is necessary to start urgently with those areas lightly affected to stop wider spread and support natural fynbos.
Clarence drive is a major tourist attraction.  The biodiversity in the area along the R44 is unique and very fragile.  There are a few places along the road that have been badly invaded.  But in most places to clear the invasive alien trees is still very manageable.  If it does not happen within the next year or two at most, it will become an intractable problem with heavy biodiversity loss and degradation of attraction.
 

8
Capex: Fleet Enhancement
The Kleinmond Overstrand Municipal offices require additional equipment and resources to provide more timely service provision for grading/repairing roads, stormwater drains, removal from alien clearing, etc

9
Capex: Stormwater drains
Cnr Rocklands/Gazania Rd outstanding with budget from 2021/22 still to be done.


10
Capex: Replacement of water pipes
The south side of Rooiels has had the water pipes replaced but the north side also needs attention

You can download the relevant files from the RERA Constitution page or link to the Proposal with Track changes and/or to the version with no changes showing.  Please provide feedback by 24th August 2022 to  [email protected]