Jacana Bay Journal - Issue No. 1

Sunset and view over one of the JB dams from our balcony at No 31 and a crocosmia in our garden

Jacana Bay Journal

- Issue No. 1 -

March 2007

Compiled by Roland von Gogh with assistance from Neil Burnett

vongogh@mweb.co.za
31 Jacana Bay Estate
Meerhof Ext 1

Hartbeespoort


The first Jacana Bay Journal - of many, we hope

This is the first of what we hope will be quarterly newsletters issued by the Jacana Bay (JB) Home Owners Association (HOA). Should you wish to have any news of mutual interest drawn to the attention of Jacana Bay owners, please send this to me for inclusion in the Jacana Journal.

My wife, Jenny and I were the first residents on the estate (Stand No 31) and have now been living at JB for over a year! We have, by and large, thoroughly enjoyed the pioneering experience, especially the prolific bird- and wildlife, the stunning views, seeing our garden and that of the estate taking root and thrive (despite the recent lack of rain and the searing heat) and our leisurely strolls in the indigenous, park-like surroundings. Since December 2006 we have been joined at JB by Ulrich and Karin Muller (No 43) and soon our immediate neighbours, Neil and Rose Burnett (No 32) will be taking up residence. The house of Nancy Bennett (No 48) is at ground floor-level stage and as can be seen from the list below (in which details of ownership, transaction dates and building deadlines are given), there are several other projects at various stages of development. As of February this year there were three properties for sale, all in the northern (single storey) part of the Estate.


Building deadlines

In terms of the contracts of sale at JB, owners are required to start to build on their properties within 2 years of registration date and to complete building within a year of commencement of such building operations. Failure to comply with these contractual terms will attract penalty payments that will accrue to the HOA. The HOA Board of Directors intends applying for an increase in the applicable penalties at the next AGM of the HOA (probably in May 2007). As things stand, it would appear that there will be a substantial amount of building activity at JB this year! Bearing in mind that the planning and approval process (JB HOA Aesthetics Committee, which is rapid and Madibeng Council, tortoise-like) can take 6 months or more, there must be a lot of frenetic, behind the scenes planning activity in progress of which we (the HOA Board) are unaware. We would appreciate it if owners would keep us informed of progress with your JB building projects by corresponding with our HOA Board Secretary, Neil Burnett, (neil@speakersofnote.co.za) or myself (vongogh@mweb.co.za)

Erf old number
Registrationdate
Owner(s)
Start building date
Finish building date

1

RESERVED (Developer)

2
07-Oct-05
Marius & Daniela Familietrust (MEN du Preez)
07-Oct-07
07-Oct-08
3
02-Nov-05
Real Time Investments 213 CC (B Taylor)
02-Nov-07
02-Nov-08
4
15-Nov-05
CH Taylor
15-Nov-07
15-Nov-08
5

E Wepener

6
21-Oct-05
RC & PK Herselman
21-Oct-07
21-Oct-08
7

RESERVED (Robin Vorster)
8
16-Aug-05
HA Mphephu (In final planning stage)
16-Aug-07
16-Aug-08
9
08-Nov-05
G & M le Roux
08-Nov-07
08-Nov-08
10
RESERVED (RV)
11
08-Nov-05
MP Breedt
08-Nov-07
08-Nov-08
12
FOR SALE
13
14-Aug-06
N Lemke (In final planning stage)
13-Aug-08
14-Aug-09
14
SOLD ?
15
17-May-05
JG Walker (Advanced planning stage)
17-May-07
17-May-08
16
RESERVED (RV)
17
FOR SALE
18
FOR SALE
19
12-Dec-06
J Vorster
11-Dec-08
12-Dec-09
20
17-May-05
CJ & G Spalding (Final planning stage)
17-May-07
17-May-08
21
17-May-05
Dunash Properties (A Harris)
17-May-07
17-May-08
22
23-Jun-05
DJ Stanton
23-Jun-07
23-Jun-08
23
17-May-05
E Labuschagne
17-May-07
17-May-08
24
17-May-05
B Winderley
17-May-07
17-May-08
25
23-Jun-05
Letterwise CC (DJF Marr)
23-Jun-07
23-Jun-08
26
17-May-05
WJ Dohmen
17-May-07
17-May-08
27
17-May-05
JM Bronkhorst
17-May-07
17-May-08
28
17-May-05
JGH Lourens
17-May-07
17-May-08
29
17-May-05
A Jerman (Initial planning stage)
17-May-07
17-May-08
30
04-Jul-05
R Richter & M Pretorius & E Pretorius
04-Jul-07
04-Jul-08
31
17-May-05
RG & JM von Gogh (occupied late Feb 2006)
17-May-07
17-May-08
32
23-Aug-05
RJ Burnett (Final building stages)
23-Aug-07
23-Aug-08
33
17-May-05
Dunash Properties (A Harris)
17-May-07
17-May-08
34
17-May-05
Roux Mine Planning CC (YE Roux)
17-May-07
17-May-08
35
17-May-05
LW Marshall (Initial planning stage)
17-May-07
17-May-08
36
30-Jun-05
A Guest
30-Jun-07
30-Jun-08
37
21-Sep-05
R Hammond and C Heeger
21-Sep-07
21-Sep-08
38
24-Oct-05
A Motiizabeh
24-Oct-07
24-Oct-08
39
14-Jul-05
J Dreyer & A Geldenhuys
14-Jul-07
14-Jul-08
40
17-May-05
M & C Jacob
17-May-07
17-May-08
41
17-May-05
M & C Jacob
17-May-07
17-May-08
42
17-May-05
Sweet Dreams Trading 74 (J Kotze & M Burger)
17-May-07
17-May-08
43
27-Jun-05
UT Muller (Occupied December 2006)
27-Jun-07
27-Jun-08
44
17-May-05
WI Erasmus
17-May-07
17-May-08
45
RESERVED (Johan Vorster)
46
22-Jun-05
G Breedlove
22-Jun-07
22-Jun-08
47
17-May-05
E Busi & PE Mmutli
17-May-07
17-May-08
48
05-Jul-05
Artego CC (N Bennett)
05-Jul-07
05-Jul-08

HOA Board of Directors

At the 2006 AGM, a committee of seven members was elected to the Board of Directors of the JB HOA by the quorum of owners that attended the meeting. Thus far, three meetings of the HOA Board have been held with a fourth (and probably last for this financial year) scheduled for Thursday 15th March. The committee members and their relevant Board portfolios are as follows:

Chairman – Roland von Gogh
Secretary and Vice Chair – Neil Burnett
Garden & Watercourses – Johan Vorster
Communications – Roland von Gogh, Duncan Marr and Neil Burnett
Infrastructure, Security and Estate Personnel – Ulrich Muller
Building Regulations and Aesthetics – Dave Marshall
Liaison with Council and other estates in the area – Byron Taylor (resigned November 2006) – portfolio assigned to JV.
Finances – Duncan Marr

Many matters have been or are in the process of being dealt with by the Board, especially with regard to the garden and watercourses, security, lighting, contractors and access control. Specific information on Board activities and achievements will be communicated at the next AGM. For obvious reasons, matters of security and others that might affect property values cannot be published in a newsletter such as this.

Please feel free to contact any member of the Board should you have need of any information, if you wish to share such or if you have matters of concern relating to JB.


Rules for Building Contractors

Problems have been experienced with contractors failing to comply with terms in the JB “Rules of Contractors”. All contractors (who are in turn responsible for any sub-contractor’s adherence to the rules) are required to sign acceptance of the rules and to be familiar with them prior to commencement of the building contract. The owner (or contract manager, if applicable) is responsible for enforcing compliance with the rules and any breach can result in suspension of the contract and disbarment from site of the infringing contractor by the HOA Board. Certain additional rules have been approved by the HOA Board including the requirement that any temporary structures on building sites must be approved by the HOA and must be painted a dark green or sand colour. All sites must be screened by on all sides to a height of 1,8m or more by an approved (by the HOA) material such as bonnox, diamond mesh or shade cloth in dark green or black). Please ensure that you and your contractors are familiar with the rules and that these are adhered to at all times.

Sales and re-sales of property at Jacana Bay

Until 90% of all stands at JB has been successfully sold, Homenet – Pretor has sole agency rights to sell these (Daphne MacKay. Tel: 082 445 8799). No other agency may market and sell property at Jacana Bay until the conditions of sole agency have elapsed and the HOA has advised all owners in writing of this fact. The HOA committee has insisted that marketing and sales of property be done in such a way that resident’s peace, privacy and security is not compromised (view by appointment only and always accompanied by an authorised agent).

Commemorative benches for JB garden

The HOA Committee has approved the request (by RvG) that people be afforded the opportunity to sponsor the placement of park benches (10 in number) at selected scenic places alongside the pathways and at the dams in the communal gardens of the estate. The sites for these benches have been selected and the type of bench will be specified by the Aesthetics Committee. Owners are invited to apply, for a fee of about R500, to purchase a bench in memory of a loved one or simply as a gift, duly acknowledged. In recognition of this, a small bronze or copper plaque, appropriately engraved, would be affixed to the bench chosen by the sponsor. If you are interested in sponsoring a bench upon which you and fellow residents may rest, enjoy the view and pause to ponder then please contact me or Neil Burnett. There are 9 benches still available.

Signage

We have adopted the ‘Utshani” (Zulu for grass) font, used in the title of this newsletter, for the signage and logo of Jacana Bay. Soon, the rather unsightly and currently inappropriate boards at the gate will be replaced with stainless steel lettering, of an appropriate size, as follows:

Jacana Bay Estate (in Utshani font - see pdf mailed to you)

Some road and house signage might also be necessary and we would encourage residents to make use of the “official” font wherever possible and appropriate. Please contact me or Neil Burnett should you like to have the font for installation on your PC.


Broadband and TELKOM connectivity at JB – a nightmare of hassles at an end?

We have tried unsuccessfully for well over a year to get Telkom to connect Jacana Bay to an ADSL and landline telephone link. We who rely on connectivity for business life cannot do with the inferior (slow) broadband service provided by RF link, nor with the similarly transmitted telephone service (from Telkom). Having exhausted every avenue and ‘connection” without any sign of light at the end of the tunnel we (thanks to Dave Marshall) have now secured a proposal from a consultant (ex-Telkom) who assures us that, given the support of all JB owners, he can secure an ADSL/telephone line to Jacana Bay within the reasonably foreseeable future. The fee for this is R9000 (i.e. about R200 per JB property) which is entirely reasonable (payable only upon successful delivery) but it would also require all or most owners stating, in writing, that they will make use of the services provided (ADSL and/or landline telephone). Attached to the newsletter mailed to you is a form that you can use for this purpose. Please complete, sign and return to the HOA on fax number 012 259 0113 or scan and email to neil@speakersofnote.co.za. Should you wish to see a copy of the proposal from the consultant please request one by email to Neil or me.

Post Office deliveries

We have been assured by the local Post Office that mail deliveries will be made, free of charge, to addresses in Jacana Bay. Post will be delivered to the gate house from where residents can collect it when convenient. We will probably install a pigeon-hole system at the gate to make sorting and collection easier. If anyone has such an item that is not in use and would be prepared to make it available to JB, please let us know!

Water and electricity shortages

JB, like all of Hartbeespoort, has been hard hit by water shortages caused by the incompetence of the local authority and exacerbated by the heat and drought as well as by protracted power outages. Meerhof is always the last place to be reconnected (often many hours later) Fortunately there is a borehole on site that helped to keep the garden going but you would be well advised to make provision, in your house planning, for an emergency water supply and standby generator system. Sad - but a fact of life in this neck of the woods!

Fauna and Flora at JBay

As the beautiful indigenous gardens develop and flourish at JB (we lost about 15 trees to frost last winter, a very good score by local standards), so the number of bird, animal and insect species (some rare) proliferates at a very pleasing rate! Since living here we have seen a very large number of bird species, some rare and some interesting animals too! A porcupine, African rock python (1,8 m in length), several cobra species (up to 2m long), various other, harmless, snakes, lizards, toads, frogs, geckos, liguans (likkewane?), meerkats (-katte?), wild rabbits, various mice, rats and gerbils are amongst the clawed and fanged inhabitants of JB, none of which we object to at all as neighbours! As for avifauna, we are spoilt for choice – water, bushveld, raptor and montane environments in close proximity ensure that we have resident and visiting birds in abundance – numerically and species-wise. We await, when the bushes and trees mature, the arrival of thrushes, grey loeries (turacos!), robins and red-billed hoopoes, the latter of which we hear calling from across the road where it is treed. We have regular visits (especially when the aloes and wild dagga are in bloom) from 5 species of lovely sunbirds! In our garden we have a resident stone chat couple – a real delight - and a very aggressive, territorially-bound pin-tailed whydah. We have periodic and most welcome visits from a rambunctious, busy band of arrow-marked babblers that are most welcome here in their apparent zest for life. The house martins and swallows are abundant (great insect controllers – we have had no problems here with the muggies that plague Schoemansville and Kosmos) and are now gathering in large numbers to start their long annual trek northwards. The daily and frequently repeated, cry of the several fish eagles in our area is a particular delight heard when sitting with an early morning cup of coffee on the upstairs verandah! We have even had a pair of African jacanas, just the other day, visit the pond adjacent to and overlooked by our house! The yellow-billed ducks and various other water birds (darters, kingfishers – 5 species here -, cormorants, black ducks, various herons, hamerkops, avocets, plovers etc..) are getting used to Jenny and I and no longer take to startled flight when we approach on our frequent walks along the delightful pathways in the estate! Needless to say, the fish-eating birds are here because of the abundant and rapidly proliferating kurper population in our very healthy aquatic environment at JB, an absolute delight to behold – and maybe worthy of a fly cast to them soon? I have seen fish of 20cm and longer cruising the main pond! Frequently, the raucous and sometimes even frantic, strident calls of baboons are clearly heard here at JB as they deal with domestic and survival issues (leopard predation?) in the Witwatersberge to the immediate South of us and on which Jasmyn is situated. Sometimes, of an early morning or evening usually, we also have visits by non-avian air travellers such as hot-air balloons, paragliders (some motorised), microlights of various configuration, gyrocopters and helicopters.