november 2017 newsletter - de wijnlanden …11. building block 12. springbok of de wijnlanden 13....
TRANSCRIPT
De Wijnlanden EstateNOVEMBER 2017 NEWSLETTER
This magazine is produced especially for residents of De Wijnlanden Estate. Although we try our best to make sure that the content of this magazine is correct, we can not be held liable for any inaccurate information published
3. Estate manager’s desk4. Important numbers6. Trustees corner7. Social9. Meet the new Trustees11. Building Block12. Springbok of De Wijnlanden13. Know your De Wijnlanden birds14. New arrivals15. DW Kids16. Snakes, what to do ?17. Water rationing notice
soemdesign082 851 1193
Contents :
Estate manager’s desk :
Dietrich SteenkampEstate manager
074 107 [email protected]
It feels like homeWhen we decided to move back to the winelands, little could prepare me for the true sense of belonging when we arrived at the beginning of October. On my first day, I have been welcomed by our herd of springbok at the clubhouse and it made me feel right at home. I am extremely proud to be part of this community although I know that there is a lot of hard work ahead.
As with any community, there are bound to be tough times, heated discussions and disagreements, but we should not let this detract us from maintaining friendly relationships in this beautiful estate. I am looking forward to meet all the residents and build on our vision together.
I would like to thank our landscape manager, Charnelle Skipp, for her continued support and willingness to always walk the extra mile especially in the last month in the absence of an estate manager.
My door is always open and please feel free to contact me.
Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced. “Kierkegaard”
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IMPORTANT NUMBERS: Estate security 021 843 3450De Wijnlanden intercom number087 828 8555 (Save this number)Estate manager (Dietrich Steenkamp) 074 107 5076Snake catcherRyan Skipp 082 557 1439Jan 078 861 1468 Police10111Ambulance 10177Stellenbosch Medi-Clinic021 861 2000Veterinarian (Tygerberg Animal hospital) 24/7 021 851 5739
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Each home would then still be responsible to source their own approximate 5 litres of drinking water per day.
We are not commencing with building an own reservoir at this stage for the estate, since it remains to be seen how well and what the city will provide, and to predict the overall real timeline to be addressed, based on a real baseline consumption at the estate. This is not yet clear, and everyone hasn’t yet gotten into a conservative mode of water use. In addition, should the city pursue the option of pressurising the water supply system with sea water, then each home would only have to cater for their drinking water separately, since all other systems would work, and each home would have to decide on the level of purification needed individually. It is therefore important to first determine what exactly the city will provide, before the HOA begin to physically invest in own infrastructure, which could take some time to construct. The HOA are monitoring this aspect closely.Each home should ensure that they have an own supply of drinking water, and know where the suppliers of this water are – building a relationship in advance helps to secure access if and when broad demand evolves on the supplier.
Water Tanks & Air Conditioner aesthetics:
A hot and apparently dry summer is predicted this year, and water tanks for water storage are proliferating, which is encouraged. Soon we will also see the air conditioning installations starting again as well! Please remember the aesthetics rules of the estate, and make sure that your air conditioners are not visible from the street elevation, are at ground level, and if they can be seen, that they are covered with a suitable screen. The same goes for water tanks – they should not be visible from the street. In most cases, people have sunk their larg-er tanks into the ground a little so that they do not stick up above their walls, and also painted them to match their houses. This is important since if at sale time there is a problem, you will need to first fix the problem before a transfer can go through, and it is usually much easier to do it correctly during the original installation, than afterwards!
Security Telephone Numbers: With the repair of security systems, a new telephone numbers is in use. You can contact Security on 0218433450 and the number from which Security phone you to alert you about a visitor is now +27878288555. This should be the permanent number from which they will call you – please don’t block it on your phone!!!
TRUSTEES CORNER :
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The estate starts to look forward to the upcoming holidays soon, although we also have to be very conscious of our water restrictions and the changed lifestyle that that must drive for every individual. It is also important to attend to the sudden growth of weeds in gardens and driveways, and keeping the estate aesthetics up to expectation, within the confines of our water situation! We welcome a new baby springbok to the estate, and a whole flock of new ducklings!
Security:
The new security team have started to settle down into the routines of the estate, and their team and ours are doing their best to solve the outstanding issues. Many of the high priority technical issues have been attended to, and we are in a situation whereby the systems are performing to expectation. Some investments are still outstanding to further in-tegrate and improve the technology layer, and the team are taking a careful measured pace on this so as to ensure ongoing operational stability.
Estate Manager:
Our new Estate Manger/Community Manger – Dietrich Steenkamp – has started, and has be-gun by focussing on picking up Security at the operational level, and will soon begin to pick up the other areas of operation as well. We expect to slowly begin to move a number of the processes from the various portfolio areas online, so as to reduce the daily email and phone line burden, which can bog one down to the point of not being able to effectively manage the estate in parallel.
Water Supply:
A number of people have asked about the estate’s water planning, which we also addressed at the recent AGM. The following are our interim approach:We have a borehole, but the water has a high salt and sodium content – it cannot be used for drinking without expensive treatment.Should the need arise, the HOA will facilitate that individual homes could collect this water from the borehole for use in flushing toilets and other domestic uses, to an agreed level, as long as that resource holds out.
De Wijnlanden SOCIAL - Camping Night – Saturday 2 December
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Where: Driving Range Lawn next to the Clubhouse Time: 16h00 (welcome to pitch your tents and light fire earlier) Cost: R150 per tent/familyWhat to bring: Bring & braai your own meat, sides, drinks and camping gear (tents, chairs, sleeping gear, torch, cutlery and crockery, gadgets… etc.)
HOA will provide wood, camping fire, braai & grid, boerewors rolls for the kids and toilet facility.
Need Volunteers to prepare assorted salads (potato/green) – please contact Jacques
Activities/games and some surprises awaits!!!
BOKKE playing Wales @ 16h30!Please BOOK on/before 30th Nov via SMS/FB/EMAIL/PHONE
email : [email protected](Please SPECIFY number of tents, adults & kids)
Payments to Dietrich/add to levies/pay on the day!More Info & RSVP: Jacques: 082 455 2125
083 320 1145021 830 [email protected]
Susan MagnerPrincipal
The Business Centre, 1 Bridgeways Road, Century City
082 926 2836021 830 [email protected]
Inge RellingResident Agent
13 Almond Grove, De Wijnlanden.083 320 1145021 830 [email protected]
Susan MagnerPrincipal
The Business Centre, 1 Bridgeways Road, Century City
082 926 2836021 830 [email protected]
Inge RellingResident Agent
13 Almond Grove, De Wijnlanden.
083 320 1145021 830 [email protected]
Susan MagnerPrincipal
The Business Centre, 1 Bridgeways Road, Century City
082 926 2836021 830 [email protected]
Inge RellingResident Agent
13 Almond Grove, De Wijnlanden.
De Wijnlanden Social
Save the date!!
- Carols by Sunset – Wednesday 6 December
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Ryan Skipp - Chairman and Landscaping Portfolio
I have been part of the HOA Committee for 2 years already, previously focussing on Legal, and directly drove estab-lishing Fibre and Digital services to the estate. My background is in IT and Cloud Technology Service design and development for Global use, and con-sulting into the European Union and Asia on legis-lation and laws to support Technology use safely and effectively. We have been living in the estate for 6 years and have 2 daughters.
Janine Hollesen - Legal
We moved to De Wijnlanden about 2 years ago from Durbanville. I work as an attorney at Werksmans attorneys in their Stellenbosch office, specialising in intellectual property. Having studied at Stellenbosch University and having worked in Stel-lenbosch since qualifying, the move to the estate has made life much easier with regards to travelling time and being close to my son’s school. The freedom of being in the estate in comparison with a suburb, is fantastic and my son loves the open spaces and the security gives me peace of mind.
Henno Stone - Social en Creche
I am a teacher at Curro Sitari. I am married to Annemi and we have a 2 year old boy, Bernard and 4 year old daughter, Mia. Both my kiddies go to De Wijnlanden Kids. We have lived in the Estate for just over 4 years and loving it! We live at 98 Dawn Crescent.
George Moore - Marketing and Communication
Myself and my wife, Elana, moved to De Wijnlanden Estate from Pretoria 4 years ago. I am a pilot for BA/Comair. We enjoy the tranquillity and safety of the Estate.
Vic Prins - Facilities
Myself and my wife, Annette, moved here from the Netherlands 2 years ago. I like the people, camaraderie and the village atmosphere. I am a retired senior executive from an international engineering consultancy. I am currently involved as program manager for the USB of Stellenbosch University on part time basis.
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Meet the new Trustees:
Hardus Greyling - Sport
Carla & I have been living in De Wijnlanden since 2010. I enjoy Mountain biking and the outdoors in general. We have twin 5 year old boys.I am a GM at Distell looking after certain sales channels in Africa & the Middle East.
Eugene Nel - Security
Been living in the Estate since 2007I have been in the Informa-tion Technology Industry for 22 years, have a BSc Hons degree in Computer Science and a Post Grad in Project and Programme Management, both from the University of Pretoria (Tukkies). Occupation - Information Technology Programme Manager
Graham Lee - Finance
I work at Capitec Bank in Digital Solutions. Me and my wife, Helen, first moved into De Wijnlanden in 2004. We have 2 children, an 8 year old boy and a 4 year old girl. We currently stay at De Zalze whilst renovating our house at De Wijnlanden.
Laurie Moore - Security
We moved into De Wijn-landen during July 2015 and owns a house in Dawn Crescent. I am a retired SA Airforce officer and currently the GM of an aviation advisory and training organisation. I am involved in high integrity surveillance and security technologies with a keen interest and involvement in Anti-Rhino poaching. I am married to Lorraine and we have two children Reo (4) and Nova (3). Both our children are en-rolled in DW kids.
Jacques van den Bergh – Social
I am married to Elsanie and we have two daugh-ters, Danielle (8) and Anjah (5). We have been living in De Wijnlanden Estate for almost 11 years. I work for The Coca-Cola Company in the field of research and development (innovation).We love De Wijnlanden Estate for the beautiful spaces it provides, peace and tranquility and loving community always there to support and enjoy <lauriemoore.jpg> memo-rable times.
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Meet the new Trustees:
I want to make changes to my house: Do I need to get formal plans approved ? OR When do I need to get plans approved for alterations or additions to my house ?
OR Building plans for alterations – when and why must I get approval ?
Altering your house to enhance your lifestyle and improve its value is a common occurrence in De Wijnlanden – but do I have to tell the HOA and the Council about my plans and how do I go about it? This article has as purpose to set you on the right track in this regard. Whether you need to draw up a plan in the first place is determined by the City Council of Cape Town – and they have good guidelines in this regard and we provide a link below to a booklet that sets out exactly the procedure. The DW constitution requires owners to follow the rules and design guidelines of the estate and to submit all plans to the Estate Manager for approval. The Estate Manager with the Building Committee of the Trustees will then check your design for conformance with the rules of the Estate.
Alterations that we observe as frequently occurring in De Wijnlanden that DO require plans to be approved by the City Council are: Building of a boundary wall - always
Enclosing a porch - always
Adding braairoom to the house OR Changing the function of a room internally in the house
These changes must also comply with the basic estate rules. These include respect-ing building lines, respecting the coverage of the property (less than 50%), proper drainage and aesthetics – sticking to the Cape Vernacular style - to name a few. Changes that DO NOT require formal building plans (but which must still be in line with the Estate rules) are:
Adding an air-conditioner
Adding water tanks
Small landscaping structures
Important here is that these structures should not be visible from the street and that where placing them in a position where they would be visible is unavoidable, then they should be covered or shielded from view by a structure painted in the same colour as the house. In the end, getting approval for your alterations is a worthwhile step at the beginning of the process where issues can be sorted out prior to them causing friction and cost. Failing to do so may cost you a fine from the municipality and delays when you want to register a sale of the property. Should you be in doubt about your project – please come and talk to us before the time. Give Dietrich a call or mail him at [email protected] we will review your plans and give you advice.In the next Newsletter we will go into the process of how you should go about applying for approval – we aim to make the approval as efficient as possible. In the mean time - happy renovating!
BYVic Prins Dietrich SteenkampFacilities Portfolio Estate Manager
THE BUILDING BLOCKCHAPTER 1
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Our Springbok history begins on the 20th of May 2014, when 4 animals were delivered on the back of a Bakkie from Atlantic Beach Golf Estate, just over three years ago.The four Springbok were 1 ram, 2 does, and 1 lamb at foot, which turned out to be a male. The 2 does still remain and are the matriarchs of the heard still today. Nicknamed The Old Lady and Lady One horn, they have regularly produced offspring making the herd what it is today. Both these ladies gave birth to our first De Wijnlanden born springbok, and at the end of 2014 we had a herd of 6.
During 2015 three more lambs were born and our herd stood at nine animals, during this time the dominant old male started to chase the young males away from the herd, and a bachelor herd started. We now had nine Springbok.During 2016 a few changes started happening, the old male was ousted by a younger ram and the old man became part of the bachelor herd, which spent a lot of time amongst the houses and in the olive groves. We had our first deaths in 2016, two animals died, one in an accident in the fence, apparently being chased by the other springbok and one shortly after birth. Three lambs were born during the year as well, and our total stood at ten at the end of 2016.
As we had more and more males it became apparent that we needed to move some off of the property as they became a nuisance / hazard to the estate, and we were very grateful to Kooberg Nature reserve who agreed to take them and arrange the darting etc. Unfortunately before this happened a tragic accident occurred when a dog escaped and chased the old ram, who ran into a moving car and died on the spot. We also lost a young female which died, seemingly of pneumonia or perhaps snake bite.
On a happier note the remaining four males were successfully re located to Kooberg Nature Reserve, where they are reportedly doing well. Serenity has come over the herd with no dominant male at present and the last birth at the beginning of this month means our herd is now eight. We are actively looking for a newyoung ram to introduce a new bloodline to the herd, we would like to achieve a herd of six females and one male, this would mean that we would need to remove the surplus animals every 18 months or so, and bring in new blood every 2-3 years.We are required by Cape Nature Conservation to have a permit to have these Springbok on our Estate and keep a record of what happens to each animal, they inspect the springbok and our annually and re issue our permit. And so you can see there is some effort required to have these graceful Springbok on our estate. records
Springbok of De Wijnlanden
ByJohn Magner
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One of the iconic sounds of Africa is the cry of the African Fish Eagle, and we often hear them over our estate usually flying high above. Their distinct white head and tail make identification easy.They are found near large water bodies or rivers, being near the Eerste River and a lot of dams we have them nearby. As you would imagine their main food item is fish, how-ever they also take water fowl, especially young chicks. They catch fish in flight, lowering their feet and snatching the fish from the water with their talons. If a fish is too heavy to lift into the air, they will plane it along the surface of the water to the bank!Nest building and raising the chicks is done by both parents, and they will use the same nest for many years.
Know your De Wijnlanden birdsByJohn Magner
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We had a few births in the estate over the past month. Thank you to residents for taking the time to snap a few beautiful shots.
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All the DWK Kids seemed to have had a wonderful holiday after a busy 3rd term and returned to school very excited and refreshed all ready for our 4th and final term of 2017.
We welcomed little Lara Kiewiet to the Eendjies class and she has settled in with flying colours. Lara is already very much loved by all the members of our DWK family both big and small.Our first theme of the term was reuse/reduce/recycle and we were very lucky to get a visit from the Aquarium. They performed a puppet show for the children all about beach clean up which the kiddies absolutely loved and were totally entertained from start to finish.
As you may already know our amazing Mexican themed school fundraising dance is just around the corner on Saturday the 11th of November. It is taking place at Restaurant Barrique. Cost per person is R350 or R700 per couple. The children will also be creating a very special piece of art for the evening which will be going on auction as well as some awesome raffle prizes to be won. Last year was a great success and a very good time was had by all so do yourself a favour and get your tickets now before they’re all gone we would love to see you there . Please RSVP ASAP to [email protected]. Lets FIESTA together !!!The kiddies have also been very hard at work practicing for their annual Christmas Concert which they love. Without being bias I really do feel we have the most talented kiddies at De Wijnlanden School which they certainly prove to us every year. It will be taking place on Saturday the 18th of September 3:30 for 4 on the clubhouse steps so bring your picnics and blankets and enjoy a chilled arvie and awesome show.
We are also extremely blessed to have one of our parents Babette Roosenschoon involved in a wonderful musical project called Little Meastros. Babette and a fellow musician will be coming to perform and interact with the DWK children on Friday the 24th of November which will also include games and singing. Once again we thank you for all your support and welcome all new parents and residents of De Wijnlanden Estate to visit the school at anytime. We have an open door policy and are always happy to show you around.
Yours sincerelyMoira BakerDWK Principle
Aquarium puppet
show
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With “snake season” upon us this is a common question and a fear of many people. Remember this; the snake is just as afraid as you are (if not more so). Respect its wish to be left alone, give it space, don’t interfere with it and you will both be fine.Something that is important for all of us to understand is that snakes are animals like any other. They have basic survival needs just like we do. In the face of a threat, just like us, they will either go into fight or flight mode. Flight mode is always preferred because there is less risk to the snake and can include behaviours like staying completely still and using their camouflage to remain hidden – puff adders are an excellent example of this.There are of course times when snakes do choose to fight. This is called self-defence. If we touch them, hurt them, step on them or do anything that is perceived as an attack by us then they will naturally defend themselves.The idea that snakes go out looking to hurt people is simply wrong. Before they strike, a snake will, more often than not, give some type of warning and display defensive behaviour. Hissing, hooding, spitting and coiling into strike pose are all signs that the snake is feeling scared and or threatened.The best thing to do, is to simply honour the snakes request to be left alone and to increase the distance between you and the snake. If you are very close to the snake, move slowly as sudden movements might give it a fright. When it feels safe to do so, it will move away from you to a place where it feels safer.What to do if you see a snake on your property?Of course, in some cases you don’t want to just leave the snake. You are probably wondering what to do if you see a snake on your property. The principles of leaving the snake alone and giving it space still apply. However, in this situation you need to keep your eye on it and call a professional. Please note that snake catchers usually expect to be reimbursed at least for their petrol and will usually not come out unless the caller can positively say that they can see the snake at the time of the call and you will then be expected to keep your eye on it until he or she arrives.
Herald Snake/ Red-lipped Snake/ Rooilipslang (Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia)
Mole Snake/ Molslang(Pseudaspis Cana)
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A SNAKE
Spotted or Gevlekte Skaapsteker/ Spotted Grass Snake(Psammophylax rhombeatus rhombeatus)
Cape Cobra/ Geelslang(Naja nivea)
4 Snakes we find in De Wijnlanden:
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Numbers to call
Office 021 843 3880/Dietrich 074 107 5076/Charnelle 060 961 2554Helderberg Snake Rescue (Jason) 078 576 8665Elroy Arendse 082 616 0090Justin Collett 083 799 8396Wynand Koen 082 510 3960
SHOULD YOU CONSIDER SELLING, BUYING OR LETTING
CONTACT THE SEEFF TEAM
Kotie Bezuidenhout Cell: 083 286 9461
Office: 021 843 3438
Lara MaritzCell: 083 407 7271
Karen van NiekerkCell: 083 303 8568
Jana Heunis Cell: 074 520 4747
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