Welcome to the final St Francis Property Owners newsletter for 2024
In this newsletter, the St Francis Property Owners looks at private road resurfacing, village security over the season, seasonal guidelines for the Kromme River, and our upcoming AGMs.
How To Resurface Your Own Road With Self-funding
St Francis Property Owners recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kouga Local Municipality (KLM) for residents to implement self-funded road resurfacing.
This initiative has already seen great success, with the residents of Spray Avenue and Moby Dick successfully resurfacing their roads, as well as residents of Beauvalon Place totally resurfacing their streets.
According to Ant Adler, the Volunteer Project Coordinator for the Spray Avenue/Moby Dick project, after much groundwork and problem-solving with KLM, Scribante Construction and residents, the process is now straightforward.
Steps to Resurface Your Road:
1. Contact Lyn Aitkin on mobile: 082 777 5624, Email: info@sfpo.co.za or office telephone: 042 294 0594 at the SFPO, providing details of the road(s) under consideration. The Volunteer Project Coordinator will be the local resident who will represent the homeowners.
2. Arrangements will be made for a site meeting at which a representative from the KLM, the SFPO, the Project Coordinator and the contractor will be present to define the scope of work and allow the contractor to provide a quotation for the specified works.
3. If the local residents approve the quotation, the Project Coordinator will submit the homeowners’ names, erf numbers, and street addresses to the SFPO for inclusion in an MOU.
4. The SFPO will forward and facilitate applications to the municipality.
5. The municipality will prepare a MOU between the volunteers (local residents), the SFPO, and the municipality.
6. After receiving the signed MOU, the Project Coordinator will send the contractor a list of homeowners for invoicing.
7. Works will commence once the contractor has received payment. Alternatively, one or more residents may agree to stand surety for the volunteers, which will allow the work to commence immediately.
8. During construction, the SRA will coordinate roles and responsibilities between the contractor, volunteers and municipality.
9. The Volunteer Project Coordinator will be required to actively manage the process.
By Ant Adler, Volunteer Project Coordinator, Moby Dick Wharf.
KROMME RIVER WELCOMES HOLIDAY-MAKERS
The Kromme Joint River Committee wishes to welcome all visitors and locals to the Kromme River and trusts that everyone will enjoy all the River has to offer over the December/January festive period.
The authorised EIA for the Spit and Beach is still in place and once work commences, sand will be dredged from the River to replenish the Beach. Unfortunately, no dredging will be allowed until the project commences. Due to the ongoing silting of the River, it is important to note that the navigable channels are still extremely narrow and shallow in places. Special care must, therefore, be taken when cruising up or down the River.
The River Mouth keeps changing, and care must be taken when exiting from Ski Canal to the River Mouth and sea or cruising down the River exiting through the Mouth to the sea. Strong currents are present at the Mouth, and it is advisable not to engage in swimming activities in the Mouth and basin areas.
The red and green buoys are there to assist with indicating the navigable channel, but they are only a guide for safe traversing of the River. It must be stressed and pointed out that when cruising up the River from the sea, the green buoys should be on the righthand side of the craft. Cruising down the River towards the sea, the red buoys should be on the righthand side of the craft.
The map below which is also handed out with every application for a River permit, indicates the various travel zones on the River, and more copies are available at the Harbour Office. The guidelines indicated on the map have to be adhered to at all times.
NO WAKE ZONE
It must be pointed out again that the Geelhout River is a conservancy area and a “NO WAKE ZONE” applies to the entire length of this River. Jet boats are also not allowed to use this River or any part thereof. Please adhere to the relevant signs in place.
For the safety of all River users, it has become necessary to implement specific changes during the busy holiday season. The number of boats and kite surfers, windsurfers, foil surfers, paddlers, etc., in the Mouth and Basin area has increased.
It has therefore been decided that the stretch of River from the “pink house” on the Jeffreys Bay side of the Mouth all the way to Ski Canal will be a “NO WAKE ZONE” for all motorised craft. Similarly, from the end of the Ski Canal to the “pink house”, a “NO WAKE ZONE” will also apply. Please strictly adhere to the signs in place from both sides.
NO JETSKIS BEYOND THIS POINT
Jetskis will not be allowed to enter the River past a sign in place indicating “NO JETSKIS BEYOND THIS POINT”. All jet skis must turn right immediately from the end of the Ski Canal towards the sea, and a “NO WAKE ZONE” will apply from the end of the Ski Canal to the Spit, whereafter speed may be increased. Likewise, when jetskis return from the sea, the “NO WAKE ZONE” will be applicable from the end of the Spit to the Ski Canal before turning right immediately into the Ski Canal. Boats exiting or entering the Mouth must also obey this particular “NO WAKE ZONE”.
Blue and Yellow buoys are placed in the Mouth and basin area to indicate a safe area for non-motorised activities, and motorised craft are not to enter these zones.
Please obey the signs in place, and the map below shows the relevant “NO WAKE ZONES” applicable to motorised craft and jetskis.
River Patrol Officers
There will again be River Patrol Officers on duty during the holiday season, and they are there to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy their well-deserved break in a safe and responsible manner. River users are also requested to please refrain from playing loud music and making unnecessary noise as this is causing a disturbance to homeowners along the River.
NB: Please remember the following:
- The skipper’s licence must be available on the craft at all times.
- A copy of the COF must be available on the craft at all times.
- Skiing and tubing may only take place in the demarcated Ski Zone area.
- Tubing, in particular, may only take place in a straight line.
- Cautionary signs on the River must be noted and adhered to whilst speeding in these areas must be avoided.
- “Scurfing” is not allowed on the River as this causes serious erosion of the River banks.
- Refrain from unruly behaviour and/or disturbance.
- Jetskis are not allowed on the River and have to exit from the Ski Canal directly to the sea.
- Jetskis are not allowed to go beyond the sign at the end of the Spit.
The above-mentioned are just some of the by-laws and rules applicable for the use of the River and are there to ensure the safety of River users for maximum enjoyment and holiday fun.
St Francis Bay Security Over The Season
Boots On The Ground will have members stationed at Granny’s Pool, Main Beach, Cape St Francis, and will be patrolling the CBD area. They operate with two shifts, being 6am -2pm and 2pm-10pm.
A Permanent Law Enforcement officer is based in St Francis Bay from 8-5pm.
Life Guards:
On duty at Granny’s Pool, St Francis Main Beach and Cape St Francis daily from 8am – 5pm.
Traffic:
There are two officers and one vehicle. Traffic officers operate over two shifts, 6am -2pm and 2pm -10pm, with standby assistance from 4pm – 6am.
St Francis Drive will be closed during Billy’s Beach between Grand Comoros and Spray Ave for safety purposes from 11 pm -2 am. Cars will, therefore, divert down Grand Comoros and Spray Ave to return to St Francis Drive during these hours.
Important phone numbers.
Law Enforcement
7am-7pm. 042-2002200
7pm-7am 042-2910250
Emergency-Fire etc.
042-2910250.
Season Readiness
There was a ‘Season Readiness’ meeting with the various stakeholders.
In attendance were:
SFPO – Wayne Furphy
CPF – David Truter
Calibre – Paul Middleton
NSRI – Paul Hurley
DVG – Liezl Clause
Law Enforcement – Johnny Hayward
Kouga Fire Dept. – Hennie Van Rooyen
Kouga Electricity – Bennie Bosch
KLM ICC – David Phelan
SAPS – Ettiene Meyer
SPL – Kevern Burger
Kouga Traffic – Sean Williams
Fire & Disaster Management – Dewald Barnard
SFPO AGMs
SFPO Association
The St Francis Property Owners Association Annual General Meeting will take place at 16:00 – 17:00 on Tuesday, 17 December, at St Francis Links.
SFPO NPC
The St Francis Property Owners NPC Annual General Meeting will take place at 17:00 – 18:00 on Tuesday, 17 December, at St Francis Links.
Further Information
St Francis Property Owners Association
Admin Manager – Lyn Aitken
Mobile: 082 777 5624 –
Email: info@sfpo.co.za
Office Telephone: 042 294 0594
Membership Renewal
This is a friendly call to all members to renew their annual membership. It costs only R600 per annum, or R375 if you’re a pensioner.
For all membership details and payment links, please go to – https://stfrancispropertyowners.com/membership/.
There are also ten excellent reasons to join the St Francis Bay Residents/Ratepayers Association.