SOUTHBROOM NEWS - JULY 2008

A SOUTHBROOM RATEPAYERS, CONSERVANCY & COMMUNITY POLICING INITIATIVE.

This newsletter is intended for ratepayers & residents of Southbroom, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.  Click Unsubscribe if you do not wish to receive it, or click Subscribe if you did not receive it direct.

>> BUSHBUCK TRAIL CONCERT - SUNDAY 3 AUGUST

Come and enjoy your picnic lunch to music in the park at 12 noon on Sunday 3rd of August. Back by popular demand, Robin Ransome's wind & string trio will perform a selection of pieces on clarinet, violin and cello. 

If you would like to join a conducted walk of the trail, arrive at 11h00. Even in winter we are reminded how lucky we are to enjoy such rich natural heritage in Southbroom.

Two paintings will be raffled on the day to benefit Southbroom Conservancy and Crags View Wild Care Centre. Craig Hoskins will also give a brief talk on the important role being played by Southbroom's Enviro-Man, Rogers.

If the weather is  bad, the event will be rescheduled for the following Sunday, 10th August.

>> GARDEN REFUSE TRANSFER STATION

Every effort is being made to ensure improved service at the Southbroom Transfer Station. The Municipal Manager has been advised that the facility has been more closed than open over the past month and it is hoped that the skips will now be cleared more frequently.

We thank Alfred Melusi Mqadi for taking pride in his work. The facility is always neat and clean and the gardens are well maintained. Well done Alfred.

>> FLOOD DAMAGE - KZN 18 JUNE 2008

It took 30 labourers a full Saturday to clear the storm debris from main beach and the banks of the lagoon. Special thanks go to Allan Peckham for the donation of tractor, trailer and around 20 farm workers. Without his help, we wouldn't have known where to start! Sadly, the tidal pool could not be cleared as the debris on the surrounding rocks had been set alight.

Thanks also to those ratepayers who turned out to litter-pick from Main Beach to Umkobi Beach and to Howard Kelly for sourcing the services of a local football team.

The team continued clearing for a further 7 days and were funded by Ratepayers Association. Ratepayers Association also funded the removal of the large tree that had settled in Granny's Pool.

Thanks also to Paul & Barbara Reynolds for clearing the foot path to Shad Rock.

The future of Main Beach tidal pool currently lies in the balance - the ongoing saga of save or remove. It did form part of the global Tidal Surge EIA but will now be run separately due to the possible requirement for further studies from the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs.

PLEASE ... SET YOUR ALARM !

We are sad to report 4 "walk-ins" and 5 "house-breakings" during the past month. Had alarms been set, perhaps the walk-ins would not have happened?

Whilst our crime statistics remain down year-on-year and are lower than those of our neighbours, we all need to harden the target if we are to beat crime in Southbroom.

AND PLEASE ... STOP THE ROCK THIEF !!

The garden at north entrance is losing rocks daily. Rocks that were carried there by ratepayer Libby Cochrane in her tireless efforts to beautify our village. 19 trailer loads of rocks behind her very small vehicle, all the way from Impenjati to Southbroom.

If you happen to see any person removing rocks or plants from public gardens, please stop them or report them to the police.

The majority of public gardens are maintained by your Ratepayers Association for the benefit of the town and it is soul destroying for volunteers when projects are maliciously ruined.

"GOING BATTY"

Main picture:

Bats in the Fever trees on the Southbroom Library traffic circle.

KZN FLOODS - 18 June 08

Main beach - high tide

Main beach - low tide

Granny's Pool - high tide

Golf Club - 10th hole