MISTY CLIFFS VILLAGE ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER - October 2008
Editor: Tim Anderson

BABOONS AGAIN!

TAKE heart, Comrades! The day may be nearer than you expected (if you ever did) when our hairy cousins will no longer warrant front page attention in these newsletters!

As we've explained before, while home owners are responsible for baboons and other animals on their properties, the BMT (Baboon Management Team) is the body that co-ordinates all aspects of baboon management on the Cape Peninsula. Under the devoted management of Jenni Trethowan (whose company is named Baboon Matters) the BMT uses its meagre funds to recruit, train and manage the monitors-cum-chasers who do their best to keep baboons away from houses.

The BMT is supposed to receive sufficient funding from several official sources, including the City, along with contributions from owners and residents. Alas, the total is, at best, much too little to retain and motivate a sufficient number of trained monitors. For the past three years another source has been the Government's poverty relief fund, but the period expired on 30 September and has not been renewed. While it lasted, that provision enabled the engagement of a few more monitors, but the accompanying red tape made the management of monitors very complicated and difficult.

Unfortunately each official source has its own ponderous bureaucracy and the BMT has repeatedly been left with its cash flow lost in the entanglement - leaving monitors suddenly stranded without pay. With this continual uncertainty it is impossible to give monitors continuity of employment. There have also been difficulties with labour regulations which are impracticable for these circumstances. A more recent problem has been caused by a (perhaps understandably) disgruntled monitor who did not understand the complexity of the funding situation and persuaded his colleagues that the problem arose from residents withholding payment.

About a year ago the City undertook to provide funding to replace that from the poverty relief fund and enable the monitoring service to extend to baboon troops in Tokai and Simon's Town. Unfortunately, however, at the time of writing this the City officials involved were still arguing about the conditions and so the money has never come to light. Thus, for the recent past there have been no monitors at all in our area, although fortunately the baboons have focused most of their mischief on other areas - a situation than could change within hours.

The short-term bit of good news is that the BMT has been advised that the City will pay its October/November (only) contribution and will consider its December/June 2009 contribution at the end of October; we sense it will be approved. However, the total sum available remains inadequate and will enable the BMT to watch over only five of the nine active troops in the Peninsula, and there will be no money for uniforms or proper training. We hope it will be possible to keep at least a few monitors active during the festive season, nevertheless, the ongoing uncertainty and inadequacy are exasperating.

Don't hold your breath yet, but a longer-term solution may well be in the offing in the shape of electrifying the existing Nature Reserve fencing. The idea has been successfully tested at the Cape Point restaurant and parking area. A few monitors are still needed - at the gate(s) and at the extreme ends of the fencing. The contractor has given an estimate for electrifying the main boundary fence and this suggests that a far more financially attractive solution is attainable. However, it would be a capital expense, not an operational expense, and no matter how persuasive the figuring might be there would be the usual tediously plodding process before approval might be given, and even then it might not get into the current budgets. There is understood to be sufficient space and food in the Reserve to support all the troops which presently roam around outside it. The matter is being strongly followed up by all the affected parties.

Another and rather intriguing development is an addition to the Protected Areas Act under the National Environmental Laws Amendment Bill which is expected to be passed at the end of November. The addition (Section 49A) states, inter alia, ". . . all animals occurring in protected areas are . . . deemed to be public assets held in trust by the State for the benefit of present and future generations . . . If an animal in public ownership . . . , escapes, the managing authority of a protected area must take all steps reasonably necessary to capture such animal or otherwise deal with it . . . " There is a legal opinion that this addition would compel SANParks to contain baboons within the Nature Reserve (including areas such as Tokai forest), and if this opinion sticks, it would by itself force the provision of an effectively baboon-proof fence, whether or not electrified.

FIRING LINE

Following the copious rains this winter the veld will flourish brilliantly and it shouldn't take long before it's again lush enough to fuel a big fire. As we've reported in previous newsletters there were post mortems after the tragic and calamitous fires of January and February and the findings can be summarised by saying that among the parties involved there was under-preparedness, poor communication, and lack of co-ordination. Positive moves are afoot to enable everyone to do better next time.

We have previously mentioned the need for a local "hit squad" of citizens to act usefully before and after the professional fire-fighters arrive. This is extremely important as fires can intensify very rapidly. To this end we hope that a goodly number of residents from Misty, Scarborough and Redhill will get involved with the VWS - Volunteer Wildfire Service - which is well organized, well equipped, enthusiastically managed and presently is adequately funded.

Volunteers can include people to form links in communications, people to make food and drink for exhausted fire-fighters, people to help run out hoses . . . lots of things. VWS falls under SANParks and provides proper instruction in all aspects; it involves little more than an occasional weekend afternoon, and volunteers from other areas seem to have fun doing this. The first training is scheduled for 9 November and all owners and residents have already been notified by email. The initial training will be done in Scarborough but some later training may take place at the Newlands "forestry station" which is the nerve centre for all wildfires in our areas.

Now and again we hope to arrange "mock battles" involving VWS, SANParks, and various City departments so that come a real fire all parties will be familiar with the action plan. Backing up the plan will be an inspection system to ensure that all hydrants are kept functional, booster pumps are operationally ready, supplementary reservoirs kept full, and all on-site ancillary equipment accessible and in good order. There seems to be a very professional ethos in VWS and we have no doubt that the envisaged hit squad will quickly become proficient and, as a by-product, an enhanced sense of community will be created.

A great relief for the forthcoming fire season is that the City has agreed to fund maintenance of all existing firebreaks. However, this funding will not be granted thereafter and its replacement is a major challenge. At present it seems that this annual cost may have to be born by the 110 landowners whose properties abut onto firebreaks. It is not a straightforward issue and there are several Acts and regulations which affect the matter but tend to be in mutual conflict.

You should know that after the terrible January/February fires which left so many Redhill residents with absolutely nothing, the Provincial Government promised an immediate relief grant of R500 to every stricken household. The money has never come, despite continual prodding. We cannot say if this was bad faith or administrative incompetence, or both. The consequence, however, is nothing but callous and is incredibly negative for community relations. It's perhaps significant that Province has yet to attend a meeting of the Fire Protection Association which includes all landowners, public and private, and is a highly important grouping of interests in our fire-prone area where every year fires cause literally millions of Rands worth of damage and immense distress.

RATES VALUATIONS

After prolonged badgering our City officials have agreed to meet with the Greater Cape Town Civic Alliance (GCTCA) Rates Group to discuss the basis of the next general valuation, mooted for 2009. The GCTCA, which pretty well represents the whole rate-paying population, provided a comprehensive and detailed critique of the costly American Sigma CAMA rating system which was used for the 2006 survey and proved significantly inappropriate to local circumstances. It resulted in extensive inconsistency and large numbers of unfair and/or unrealistic valuations. For rather too long the City resisted admitting this, but to the bureaucrats' credit (and the professionalism of the GCTCA's critique) a more open attitude to constructive criticism has come about. It appears that there are other systems available which would be more appropriate and this will be discussed with the City officials.

CITY SHORT CUTS

The GTCTA has submitted another well-argued document to the City pointing out that at least three proposals by private groups for developments along Kommetjie Road have been approved despite disregard for proper process, including prescribed consultation procedures. We understand that the City's own planning department itself objected to aspects of the developments but to no avail.

CONTACTING THE CITY

According to the head of the City's call centre, about 22 500 queries are handled EVERY WEEK! To cope better with this volume another 40 call centre "agents" should be appointed during November, bringing the total number up to 108. This is very good news and we earnestly hope that all the agents will be kept accurately informed of the extension numbers and other details about the various city departments and officials. Some of us have experienced considerable difficulty in getting to the right person and/or in having messages conveyed to that person. It appears that there is quite a lot of movement in City staff, and the call centre personnel are not always expeditiously kept advised.

In the limited experience we've had, the Ombudsman's office has proved prompt and effective. However, it is overloaded and it's only fair to persist diligently with the "proper channels" before appealing to the Ombud's office.

Meanwhile, do note the following useful numbers:

Accounts and general enquiries: 0860-103-089
Copperheads (cable theft): 0800-222-771 (24/7)
Electricity faults/street lights and enquiries: 0800-220-440
Fraud hotline: 0800-323-130
Metro Police (NOT SAPS): 0860-765-423 (24/7)
Ombudsman: 021-400-5486/7
Transport timetables: 0800-600-895
Roads, potholes and storm water: 0860-103-054 (24/7)
Traffic signal faults: 0860-001-948 (24/7)
Wastewise (Disposals only): 021-487-2489
Water/sewerage emergencies: 0860-103-054 (24/7)

ENVIRONMENT STUFF

With the advent of summer at long last, Greg Shaw's environmental restoration project has stopped for breath. Replanting will be resumed in the autumn as it gets cooler and there's prospect of more rain. Most of the plants seem to be doing well, those few that are not are probably sensitive to Misty's microclimate.

The whereabouts of the owls is something of a mystery and so anyone who spots one of our barn owls or eagle owls should let us know (preferably give Greg a call on 084-443-9722). They are unlikely to have come to any harm and have probably dispersed as they became more familiar with the neighbourhood. Summer should bring about an increase in the small animal population which was badly affected by the fires, so our owls may not have to range so far for food.

Rather to our surprise our request for funds from the City (a sub-council grant) to replace the flight of wooden steps at the south end of upper Old Camp Road has been approved. The steps had been in place only a few months before the fire completely destroyed them. The purpose of the steps is mainly to prevent building and services personnel taking a short cut by scrambling down the hillside causing immediate displacement of flora and subsequent erosion. We will also clear and re-mark the route from the bottom of the steps to the upper bend in the concrete section of the road; this will be additionally useful for access during the approach of a fire.

Greg and his helpers are doing a good job at keeping the place tidy, and this is a difficult thing to achieve at present with a fair amount of building in progress. The main problem, as always, is people who rent or make use of a house and fail to either take their trash away or put it securely in a baboon proof bin. It is UP TO THE OWNER to absolutely insist that trash is dealt with correctly - do not let people use your house again if they are irresponsible about their trash. It's not only the mess that's made, but the fact that it creates an irresistible invitation to baboons, as well as a health hazard in bringing vermin and flies. If you use a third party as a letting agent, please firmly delegate this instruction to that agent.

END OF YEAR PARTY

This now well-established and immensely popular annual event will be repeated this year and the date will be Tuesday 16 December. So far the parties have been held at the Mossop house on the beach but that has now been let to a tenant and we will be using a different venue. It will be a Misty house and we will let you know which one as soon as that's been firmed up. As usual, the Village Association will fund the party, and the good news is that Lyn Mossop, although no longer on your committee, has agreed to organise the catering, but all those attending should bring their own preferred liquids. It will be helpful to hear from you if you're likely to come as we would hate to under-cater and send some poor folk away hungry.

CRIME

Happily crime is not proving a major headache. Up to almost the end of October there had been only two house break-ins in Misty, one in old Camp Road and one on the beach side of the main road. Three parked cars were broken into in Scarborough. We congratulate Scarborough Security Services on their continuing alertness; their frequent visible patrols together with the regular appearance of SARS patrol vans are valuable deterrents. However, the holiday season is approaching and criminals know that holiday makers are careless. Please keep your eyes peeled and notify SSS if you notice anyone or any thing (like a car or van) acting suspiciously,

There are still a lot of houses without clearly visible erf numbers. If you make a panic call for help and the help is a long time coming because it can't find your house, well, whose fault will that be? It could be a life and death matter - not necessarily crime but perhaps an injury or sudden acute illness. The erven are not consistently consecutive in numbering, and in several places adjoining erven have completely different numbers. We plead with you to put up or paint up numbers, preferably reflective, that will stay firmly in position.

Make sure your radio alarm is correctly functional and its battery is in good shape. Most alarms can be programmed to make automatic routine test calls, to your security provider, daily or weekly, by phone and/or radio. This is an important feature.

DEVELOPERS

For some time now we have been keeping an eye on the progress of an application to build a house, or possibly two houses, on erf 974/1. This land is one of three adjoining "farms" which extend over the mountain and become progressively narrower as they near the sea. One of these farms is owned by our friends the Harris family whose house, popularly referred to as the "squash court", is the first in Misty Cliffs as one approaches from the North.

The application mentioned would result in one or two more houses northwards of the Harris house. The applicants are working through environmental consultants and dealing patiently with the various problems (the land is zoned agricultural and presently falls under the jurisdiction of SANParks). Most of the land (extent 40 ha) is above or inland of the M65 and it is presently unclear what the applicant has in mind, if anything, for that portion.

At this stage our concern is not primarily the nature of the house(s) envisaged but the fact that if the process goes ahead as the applicant appears to hope, it would extend what's known as the "urban edge" and could provide an opportunity by precedent for this edge to progress incrementally along the M65 above Witsands, thus creating a highly undesirable "ribbon development". The urban edge is not defined but is recognised as the de facto boundary where urban/suburban usage adjoins agricultural or reserve land. We will keep you informed.

Your committee
Doug Tunbridge: Chairman, Fire Management and Far South Community Forum 083-250-3452.
Tony Turner : Treasurer and Public Officer. 021-780-1511.
Jacqui Parsonson : Oversight of baboon matters and fynbos rehabilitation. 082-948-9488.
Tim Anderson : Secretarial, Newsletter and Fire Management. 021-674-2834.
Greg Shaw : Environmental Officer and Assistant Sub's Collector. 084-443-9722.
David Paterson : New Developments / Building Plan Approval. 021-715-4470.
Robin Frew : Web Site Development and Management. 082-650-2888.
Leon Morris : Jet Ski and Mussel Picking Monitoring. 021-780-1256.