CRAIGPARK RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

1. Ryan thanked Cllr Gordon Mackay for his support and attending the CRA executive meetings.
2. Thanks
   Thanks were extended to SAPS (Parkview) for their section policing on the Braamfontein Spruit and around the suburbs (shrubs for upgrading the area outside the Police station in Parkview were donated by the CRA and Colourful Splendour Nursery and handed to Capt Kotze); to Caxton (Rosebank Gazette) for all the media support and for sponsorship of the upgrading of the Buckingham/Jan Smuts corner; all the residents of Craighall and Craighall Park, particularly those who had assisted the CRA exec and those who had made donations [see the list of names at the end of the minutes], the Executive committee, businesses in the area including Colourful Splendor Nursery, CSS, ADT, Pick ‘n Pay, Hodges, Scrumptious and Dick Harris, the auditor.
3. The Chairman reported on achievements for the year, commented on problems such as the bottle store which remained unresolved; and outlined project priorities for the forthcoming year. (The full report is available on the CRA web site.)

• A monthly newsletter is compiled and now emailed to well over 1500 people [with a potential readership in excess of 1900], with additional notices sent out when necessary – eg  over the Pikitup strike! Adding to the email list remains a priority.
• A communications conduit/networking: any responses to the newsletter tend to be directed to Wendy McAllister who either responds or sends them on to the relevant party/parties. Queries often mean doing research to obtain relevant information and/or finding an appropriate contact.
• Two – sometimes more - editions of the Crier, the CRA’s hard copy newsletter, are produced annually. Thanks to Dieter Knonieczny of Remax Reality for distributing the Crier. Thanks to Leapfrog for assistance with distribution of the AGM 2011 notice.
• The CRA web site is an important information source. Online forms, ranging from reporting a crime incident to updating details, are there for the convenience of residents. Face Book and Twitter: thanks to resident Brett Lewis who set up the sites. This is a very effective way of posting alerts and updates - anyone can view the CRA page, ie you don’t have to sign up on Face Book. More remains to be done to activate the Twitter site.
• SMS notices and alerts: we’ve had information from other RA’s on free software for bulk SMSes. It’s hoped that a volunteer can be found to run with this project.
• Keeping CRA records up-to-date and following up billing problems and incorrect street addresses is an ongoing exercise. Over the decades errors have crept in to street addresses, aggravated by sub-divisions. Street addresses project: virtually all outstanding queries were resolved. Thanks to Lee Whitfield for assisting with this project.
• External relations: Media communication is ongoing, and exchanges with neighbouring Residents’ Associations are increasing.
• Advertising/marketing is also ongoing.

1. 14 Portland — hearing held on 15^th Feb 2011 after a site inspection. Council did not agree to a business rezoning but permitted – with conditions - its use as a Guest house with 6 guest rooms on the ground floor and family accommodation upstairs for the family and manager. Neighbours are advised to monitor that the permitted usage is adhered to as the building actually consists of 10 en-suite bedrooms and an en-suite manager’s office.
    
2. Taximax—has now been closed down and advertising sign removed. Prefab shack still there. Owner has applied to change the zoning from Res 3 to Parking. CRA has objected.
    
3. 8   Burnside Ave — Council approved rezoning to Res 3 special allowing showroom and offices. Erf 134/711 Craighall, the next stand, is a jungle which a developer bought at an auction. He is now trying to sell it. Note: half the area of the stand is below the flood line. Residents Eric Sobey and Rod Burn are keeping a watchful eye on it.
    
4. Application for a Veterinary clinic on erf Re/170 CHP cnr Athole and Alexandra objected to by local residents and CRA.
    
5. The CRA and local residents have objected to the Johannesburg Property Company proposal to lease a portion of the park on erf 80 Craighall, cnr of Talbragar/Waterfall Avenues, for the establishment of a Telecommunication base station with a disguised monopole, and room for a generator and fuel tank.
    
6. Wine and Liquor @ Craighall bottle store on Lancaster Ave opp. Spar: the current owner is still operating with a conditional licence granted by the High Court. There is now a new license application in the name of Jonathan Mcdonald Waddell. The CRA has objected and advised approximately 40 residents who originally objected of the new turn of events. The building is illegal as it is 6m over the building line; the whole site exceeds the City’s laid down coverage for the site; and there is a shortfall of approximately 65 parking bays. The matter has been in the hands of the Joburg Council legal dept since January 2011.
   
7. KFC—objection to opening this franchise was withdrawn after traffic studies showed that it would not materially affect the access of Burnside road on to Jan Smuts.
    
8. 18 Northumberland Ave applied for the removal of a storm water run-off servitude which runs diagonally across the stand. An open storm water drain exists running down one border of the stand. Not opposed.
9. Proposed B&B on 10 Devonshire Ave. The hearing on 8^th Feb 2011 dealt only with the removal of restrictive condition from the title deed of the property. This reads “The property hereby transferred shall be used for residential purposes only.” A further hearing is necessary to consider the application for consent use as a B&B. The CRA has objected.

1. Streetlights: the situation seems to fluctuate from being very bad to being quite good. At the moment it seems to be reasonable and it would also seem as though the lights are switched off occasionally in rotation as a form of load shedding.
    
2. Potholes: seem to have improved. I have established a very good relationship with Phillip Otto at JRA, who is very helpful within the limits of his budgetary constraints. I think Dial Direct have also been a contributing factor to the improvement in the potholes. We had success with the calming humps in St Albans Road and the road has been resurfaced.
   My compliments go to the residents of Alexander Avenue who have taken up the problem of the potholes in their road and are being successful. I had believed that Hamilton Avenue was being fixed as application was made for money from the Capex to be used. I gather it is still a problem.

3. Illegal Taxi Ranks: the JMPD continues to be somewhat dilatory in sorting out this problem. Fortunately the problem at the corner of Rothesay and Jan Smuts seems to have been resolved. However, there is an ongoing problem on the corner of Buckingham and Clarence and to date the JMPD have not been very helpful in resolving this situation.
    
4. Water leaks: this is an ongoing problem, probably because the water pipes are substandard and whenever a leak gets fixed another leak springs up adjacent to the clamp. Fransie Smal at Johannesburg Water is often helpful and we have had an offer from one of the residents who is an architect to assist with this.
    
5. Trees: resident Ron Creasy did an amazing report on the encroachment of trees onto pavements and streets. This was forwarded to Mr da Gama of the DA and so far no action has been taken, but hopefully City Parks will be able to act on it once the post-election excitement has died down.

• The value of subscriptions collected exceeded that of the previous year. Thanks to everyone who has subscribed.
• Interest earned amounted to R24 276.00.

• Donations were made during the year to Craighall Primary School. 
• R6 440 was spent on cleaning up public spaces.
• Legal fees formed a significant part of expenditure.
• Other expenses included printing, Internet fees and venue hire.

• Several suburb cleanups: Sue requested that residents join in to help. 
• World Cup: Sue and Paulette were very active in getting business owners in Jan Smuts to hang out their flags for the 2010 World cup, even going so far as visiting the Chinese market and buying flags.
• Newcomers welcome: Louise Kelly has joined Sue and is sending welcome e-mails to all new residents, with a brochure of things to do in the area.
• Helping co-ordinate Domestic Watch meetings, held on the last Friday of every month at the Wesleyan Church in Craighall Park. They are run by Penny Steyn who has been doing this for 10 years in 17 different suburbs. Attendees are educated and empowered to play a role in making our suburbs safer. The programme covers security, recycling, First Aid, health issues (TB/HIV/AIDS] and includes guest speakers. Residents are urged to encourage their domestic workers to join.

Forthcoming events and plans:  

• Saturday 11 June - will be combined with the market at REEA, as a "community meet your neighbour, come visit the market and bring and braai".
• Early September - a spring walk for the whole family, including some orienteering and treasure hunts, with prizes.
• A questionnaire is to be sent to all residents to establish what kind of community events people will enjoy.
• Sue is trying to get local businesses more involved in the community. Some local businesses donated snacks for the AGM.  If you have a business and would like to sponsor or part sponsor an event, we would be very grateful.

GENERAL

1. Eric Sobey proposed that we start a street representative network which could report on potholes/infrastructure problems, assist with updating the CRA database and in general promote the CRA. NOTED that Eric undertook to start the project in Alexandra Avenue.
    
2. The Celebrate Life Project organisers requested the CRA to draw attention to a public participation meeting to be held on 25 June 2011 at 09:30 at REEA.  [The project entails planting trees and revamping an area of Delta Park in the vicinity of Marlborough Drive. The organisers will also be arranging mail drops and emails to send out.