MISTY CLIFFS VILLAGE ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER - August 2005
Editor: Tim Anderson

SINCE our (relatively) recent blockbuster newsletter the MCVA committee has had another meeting and various arcane telephonic discussions. In keeping with the leadership example set by the Unicity we decided unilaterally and without wider consultation to impose a decision: to provide summaries of our committee proceedings. We do appreciate that this decision might be regarded as retrogressive by the Unicity but, on the other hand, we thought the Misty community would appreciate our courage in stepping out of the new municipal line.

END OF THE ROAD
Our beach-dwelling community will be relieved to see that the vexatious and drawn-out topic of Old Camp Road will soon no longer feature as the dominant thing in our newsletters - unless we have a landslide on the mountain.

Some general MCVA funds have been allocated towards work being done to green the areas left raw by the road works, and in particular the construction camp site. However, it will be some time before there's noticeable coverage. It's a slow job to do this, partly because the welcome rains have been heavy enough to continually wash away our terracing and uproot plants before they've sufficiently taken root. Happily, along the base of the gabion wall supporting upper Old Camp Road's northern arm the regrowth is wonderful - far better than we'd expected, and includes regeneration of established small trees and bushes that had every right to die after we'd punished them with excavations and blasting.

A number of road signs specified by the SPA have still to be erected but the requisition order has to crawl through various departments according to prescribed procedures - you know how it is; it will definitely happen but we can't say when.
By the skin of our teeth it seems we'll be able to make budget on the road cost although there are still concerns about raising sufficient money to finish the rehabilitation and to accumulate sufficient to pay the retention percentage due to the contractor after a year.

A silver lining of a sort is that SPA officials have expressed surprise and pleasure at the success of the road upgrade and have asked us to provide a potted history of the project as a laudable example of a successful public/private partnership. Approved versions of the write-up would be released to the media and included in the Council's internal publications.

The completion of road works on the mountain has left the wooden steps from the main road at the northern end no longer reaching far enough skywards. We built concrete steps to continue access up to the new road level but they are something of a safety challenge to the young, the old and the inebriated. We have called for a quotation on wooden steps. We have also asked for a quotation for wooden steps at the southernmost end of upper Old Camp Road having found it impossible to prevent pedestrian builders (and others who should know better) from taking a short cut down the mountain. Part of the route is over a steep slope highly vulnerable to erosion and it is there that we hope to install steps.

ALIENS PROLIFERATING
Our well-meant proposal to get a low cost clearing of alien bush infestation by having the whole area cleared in a single contract has been shot down. Several owners do their own clearing or prefer to make their own arrangements and don't want to shoulder part of the cost to owners who don't. Others have said outright that they don't care about infestation and/or that we should mind our own business. They don't seem to take seriously how heavily the Council will come down on them shortly. They have been warned! It should be vividly clear that after the excellent winter rain everything floral will flourish when Spring breaks. It's been five years since the last terrible fire and it's too much to gamble on not having a severe fire this coming summer. The bush density is already much greater than it was just before the great 2000 fire.

HASSLES OF BUILDING
We're expecting at least three more housing starts on the mountainside this year and in each case the unavoidable difficulty for the builders will be deliveries of heavy materials and temporary storage of excavated material. The Builders Agreement currently in force will shortly be amended to require builders to first complete sufficient of any necessary excavations to allow on-site storage of materials, and to organize a "just in time" programme of deliveries.

The site restriction problems always cause considerable inconvenience and annoyance to neighbouring owners. Not too much can be done to alleviate the problem, but it has been suggested that a portion of the road camp now being restored could be reserved indefinitely as a way-point for building materials. To this end SPA have asked us to prepare a motivation covering all aspects of concern. If the idea is carried it would be subject to strictly enforced environmental constraints. The dedicated area would be fenced, screened by trees, and there would have to be a plan to manage the situation whenever two or more builders wanted to share the facility. We're working on it.

POLITICS AND BUREAUCRATS
The crucial matter of the mooted Integrated Zoning Scheme and the issue of Overlay Zones is grinding on and we are monitoring it closely. However, there's nothing concrete to report yet. For solidarity and strength we have registered as members of the Greater Cape Town Communities Alliance, which is essentially a collaborative of ratepayers' associations.

COMETH THE TAXMAN
We have registered the MCVA as a Public Benefit Organization and appointed Tony Turner (Erf 70) as the designated Accounting Officer. This step became necessary as the tax collector's net approached us because we received funds (subscriptions) which would otherwise be taxable. We have had to slightly revise our Constitution to enable this (as per mandate granted at the AGM (recorded as Minute 7a and 7b); copies of the revised Constitution will be circulated to owners as soon as possible.

THE INCLUSIVE SOCIETY
We confirm the statement in our previous newsletter that all property owners at Misty Cliffs are considered to be members of the Misty Cliffs Village Association, and as such will receive information about the committee's activities and about other matters that do or may affect the area. We acknowledge that a few (only) owners are evidently just investors having no interest whatever in the progress and development of Misty Cliffs. For the rest, we consider it as being in the community's collective interest that all owners are kept informed, whether or not they pay the voluntary annual membership subscription of R300. However, we do appeal to all to stump up if for no better reason than that the shortfall is presently being carried by committee members in their personal capacities. If everyone paid we could do more, and/or maybe reduce the sub's. Please check that you've paid for 2004/5 and 2005/6 and if not please rush your cheque in favour of the Misty Cliffs Village Association to Lyn Mossop at P O Box 22709 Scarborough 7975. You can make direct deposits to account 90 6640 8798 at Absa Bank, Fish Hoek, code 548 809.

SECURITY
Some guys neatly dressed in Council gear and driving what is actually or in imitation a Council van, have been knocking at some Misty Cliffs doors asking to inspect the electricity meter or water meter etc. On the occasions when this has been checked back with the SPA we were informed that no such group was in the area, nor had such "checks" been authorized or required. Also, meter readers do not work over weekends. The matter has been reported to Scarborough Security Services (SSS). DO NOT GIVE ACCESS TO ANY SUCH PEOPLE - no matter how plausible they seem nor what they're wearing or driving. Do not admit anyone to your property unless you have sent for them. Make a note of the vehicle registration number of anyone you turn away, and pass it on to SSS.

NEWS ITEMS
Please email any thrilling or important news or information for inclusion in the next news letter to Tim at timofpen@mweb.co.za Photos especially welcome - spectacular sunsets, squashed baboons, sea damage, residents caught in the act (don't ask) - you know the kind of stuff the media dish out to titillate us.

COMMITTEE
Now that the road upgrade has been completed committee meetings will in future be held only every two months, the next is scheduled for 29 September. Portfolios are as follows:

Doug Tunbridge (chairman), building approvals 083-250-3452

Tim Anderson (vice-chairman), environmental control, road maintenance and newsletter 072-128-2319

Anni Lehr, assistance with environmental control 780-1251 082-667-7959

Lyn Mossop, treasurer and finance 082-557-4477

Jeanne Maritz, secretarial 780-1483 082-215-0764

Brian Marsh, special projects 874-3529

Leon Morris, Special Area status, GCTCA, community matters 082-415-3343