Greenside Residents Association

Greenside Residents Association AGM 13 May 2015 AGM opens at 19h15. Welcome from outgoing chairperson, Carol Millard, who introduces new Parkview SAPS Colonel, Col. Mohlanga, wishing him every success in maintaining the highest rating in Gauteng, which Parkview Police Station has earned to date. Special Guest Speaker: Wiseman Ndlala from Environmental Health: 
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Introduces himself and discusses his portfolio, which includes noise, air and water pollution as well as pest control and business licences for environmental health. His day to day job entails auditing premises for water pollution and responding to complaints regarding noise, water and air pollution, as well as trade and entertainment licences. Question from resident: Are you able to do anything about noise pollution from traffic? o No, it doesn’t fall within his portfolio Question from resident: What is the number to dial if there are specific complaints? o 078 288 6946 or wisemann@joburg.org.za Question from resident: What time limits are there for noise pollution? o There is no set period for noise, but licence given stipulates that they can not cause noise pollution and if so, then they are not compliant and must be investigated. Question from resident: Do you check zoning when licencing is issued? o The procedure is clear and specific. When an application is made, it must be submitted to town planning and can’t be approved by Environmental Health if it doesn’t have Town Planning approval. If it happens, this is a mistake and not the norm. Question from resident: If it is discovered that the zoning is incorrect, will the licence be withdrawn? o Yes, if the complaint is noise then it’s sent back to department because it’s not compliant. Establishment must comply with all needs. Question from resident: How often do you check establishments? o Our region is quite big and we are shortstaffed. Only one member of staff at the moment. Wiseman is not supposed to check compliance, but does. As he has worked with complaints in the past, he knows that many of them are due to the process not being followed correctly. Statement from resident: Compliments Wiseman who has done sound tests on his behalf before. The repercussions of not doing environmental health tests on Pirates property are apparent now. Question from resident: Are there any guidelines for generator use? In light of load shedding, it is inevitable that generators witll be used, but they shouldn’t violate others’ rights. If you feel that you are being violated, you can complain but try and resolve issue with neighbour first. The size of the generator will affect noise output, but it can be fitted with sound muzzlers. Sound requirements change according to the suburb. Councillor Amanda Forsythe to send guidelines. Question from resident: Air pollution from burning rubbish? o This is a major problem and burning waste is not advisable as it disperses air pollution far. Rather than burning, contact waste disposal agencies. o
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Giorgio Iovino from Vumatel: 
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Thanks to GRA for support. The first phase of homes in Greenside are live and they are part of making history. Vumatel is moving as quickly as possible and if you need to get hold of Vumatel, please do as there are a number of different ways. o https://vumatel.servicezones.net/johannesburgnorthcentral/Greenside o Any construction related questions or concerns to be directly with the project manager Mark Riskowitz 082 497 1843, or you can call 086100 VUMA, email at greenside@vumatel.co.za or visit the shop in Parkhurst, 15 4th Ave. o If any resident wishes to be included on a Fibre What's App group, can contact Greenside Fibre Champions via 082 411 2222 Question from resident: There should be proper signage when pavements are being dug up so that residents know who to contact as there are a lot of contractors in Greenside at the moment. Also, Vuma needs to re‐instate everything as it was. o The rollout schedule is live, posters are up and project managers are on site, so residents should be able to find out who is working there. But point is taken and Giorgio will investigate. Question from resident: Tar has still not been replaced – does this usually take the longest? o If there are any issues with reinstatement, please contact VUMA directly so that they can give feedback immediately. Statement from resident: Congratulates VUMA for professional business and service so far. Councillor Amanda Forsythe: 
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Thanks SAPS Parkview for its support Congratulates GRA – it takes a lot of hard work to keep the suburb a good investment, so congratulations on the hard work. Audit: o GRA was called to meeting to consult and discuss paid parking, and in the meeting discussed the issues that cause extra parking space to be needed. These are zoning and land use issues. Motivated for other departments to get involved and to get node audited. This helped us to target issues to the relevant department. That has taken Greenside from fighting a losing battle to progressing to a healthy situation. Park ‘n Ride: o This has been earmarked for Pirates. Proper fencing and parking levelling would need to be done. This would alleviate the parking pressure. Currently negotiating 
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will colleges that students will park in Park ‘n Ride during the day. Nothing to go forward without public participation. Complete street solution: o The idea is to make the roads and streets friendly to all users with cycling lanes and view points, etc. Managed to secure R6 million for park and ride and complete street solution, and will be seeing movement from 2016. Sir Lionel Philips Park: o Though there were teething problems initially, the gym is now up and running. Hoping in near future to add kiddies play area. The route for Walk the Talk, taking place on the 26th July, has changed slightly and being in a suburb that everyone wants to be in does bring inconvenience. 702 was thinking about doing more social projects out of the area, but Amanda has pitched to them that Sir Lionel Philips park would be an ideal space for a community garden. If confirmed, all would participate in it and there would be one in Melville as well. Integrated Development Plan: o Traffic calming issues will be placed in the IDP. Amanda has called meeting with the JRA and have got permission to do site meetings with their traffic engineer. CID: o Would like to move towards a CID, which entails privatising services in the node. GRA would need to get the precinct plan in oder before the CID can take place as the current precinct plan is outdated and open‐ended. Contact: o Amanda can be contacted best via SMS or whatsapp – 083 227 1797, and to join her mailing group go to groupspaces.com/ward87 Question from resident: Noise pollution from Park n Ride? o Definitely a concern but will consult residents before anything is implemented. Question from resident: Foot traffic from park ‘n ride and will traffic calming measures influence traffic in other areas of suburb? o Going with traffic engineers to give effects of traffic calming and provide best solutions. The road where the resident lives is a natural link between Pirates and node, and was identified as such, but there will be a public meeting before anything concrete. Green solutions? o Amanda has made contact with a company who can recommend solar and other environmentally friendly stuff. Has number of people involved and wants to set up expo at Pirates to showcase them. Project would need a champion, and resident Bookie offers. Question from resident: The Braids road is extremely busy and almost impossible to get out of garage in morning. o Amanda will add to traffic calming list and investigate Question from resident: Where will the complete street solution focus? o Focus has been on Gleneagles and Greenway as they link to Parkview. Design centre has put a lot of effort into designing ways to make Greenside cooler. 
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Comment from resident: The complete Street solution also looks at creative ways for traffic calming, such as making roads wavy to slow down traffic, rather than placing speed bumps on the road. Suggestion that there should be an audit of trees as our trees are aging and there is no succession plan. People are moving in and chopping down trees. o Carol Millard said that many pavement Jacaranda's are diseased with Termite infestation which the council will not treat due to lack of funds. It is up to residents to take action as a community & treat the problem on their own pavement if they wish to save the suburbs Green heritage. The Elms are NOT infested by any disease, as per the cutting down of trees by City Parks 2 months ago, which was halted mid‐
stream by the GRA in Quimet Road. All residents to report on anyone if seen cutting down or trimming trees on pavements or within Greenside properties. o Jane Eagle says that trees are assets of the city and to please let us know if anything is affecting these assets. Mature, heritage trees are protected and often if you just trim one branch, the tree can become unstable. Chairperson Carol Millard gives her report back, which is included in the Committee Reports together with this document. Election Process handled by Councillor Amanda Forsythe 
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All current members (Carol Millard, Bridget Steer, Jane Eagle, Andrew Gaul, Anthony Jossel and Sarah Marjoribanks) to stand for re‐election. o No objections Bridget Steer nominates Shahn Irwin to take on Parks and Gardens portfolio on committee o This is seconded. Anthony Jossel nominates Francois Lensley for committee o This is seconded Councillor Amanda Forsythe calls for those in favour, and whether there are any objections. o No objections. Town Planning Report Back from Jane Eagle, which is included in the committee report. 
Jane calls for volunteers for sub committee to help with the precinct plan. Financial Report Back given from Anthony Jossel. Heritage Report Back from Andrew Gaul: 
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Held first formal meeting on the 14th May. Heritage will be looking at the Heritage Act. If your house is built before 1955 then it is protected. The Heritage Act protects the area and suburb as a whole – you affect your neighbour’s property. There will be a site inspection for every application for a Heritage letter from the GRA. There will be a fee structure as costs are incurred, so the fee will go towards those. GRA members will receive a discounted rate. 
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There will be a Heritage section created on the website so that residents can take a formal route to apply. Every policeman, according to the Heritage Act, is a certified Heritage Inspector. The Heritage portfolio wants to be proactive not prescriptive. Andrew calls for any residents with heritage information on the suburb to please send it through to the Heritage committee so that we can add to the website. Compliance Report Back from Bridget Steer, which is included in the committee report. AGM closes at 21h30.