The NKRA is grateful for the support provided in the 4th Street park by our park sponsors RUSSELL FISHER PROPERTIES and VISION TACTICAL SECURITY and the KILLARNEY MALL, and for the street cleaning services provided by RCS SECURITY SERVICES.

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MINUTES FOR THE MEETING OF THE 2nd NOVEMBER 2022

MINUTES FOR THE MONTHLY PUBLIC MEETING OF THE

NEW KILLARNEY-RIVIERA ASSOCIATION

HELD VIRTUALLY OVER THE INTERNET

ON WEDNESDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2022 AT 18H00

PRESENT:     Wayne Ford (Killarney Village); David Spencer (Brenthurst Court).

1.     WELCOME

  • Wayne opened the meeting.  There were only two members in attendance.

2.     APOLOGIES RECEIVED

  • Kim Robinson (Killarney Hills).

3.     DISCUSSION OF TIME CONSTRAINT

  • We are using the free-version of Microsoft Teams, which imposes a time limit of one hour on our virtual meeting.

4.     STATUS OF OUR SUBURB, AND LIST OF ISSUES REQUIRING ACTION

  • We have seen no progress with the Council repairing the many problems on our pavements. These issues have all been reported to the JRA and the ward councillor.
  • This damage is causing safety issues for the residents, as well as making the suburb look terrible. It was agreed that we would need to consider another repair job of our own if this is not sorted out soon. In the meanwhile, all residents are again asked to assist us in mitigating the visual damage, by keeping the area clean as best we can, and by maintaining simple gardens on the pavements where practical.
  • The security situation is also getting worse as we get closer to the holiday season. Snatching of phones and handbags is particularly serious, and the snatchers often have the support of a car to help them get away quickly. All residents need to be aware of the people around you, as well as of slow-moving cars coming toward you. Most of all, try not to have a phone or device in your hands when you are out on the pavements.
  • Visible policing seems to help, so it is recommended that buildings try to have a guard outside on the pavement, especially in the rush hours, to provide a second pair of eyes when residents are engrossed in their phones. More floodlights in dark areas would be a big help at night, and buildings might consider putting up signs in foyers etc warning residents and visitors to be aware of people walking near them on the pavements.
  • We again discussed the issue of the many homeless people in the area, particularly living on the motorway embankment. The Council is well aware of these people, but legally they cannot relocate the homeless people out of the area unless they have safe alternative accommodation available. The government homeless shelters have limited capacity, and they are currently all full.
  • Regarding the effort to have the Killarney Mall accommodate a proper taxi facility on their own premises, the Mall confirmed that their impending renovation will definitely incorporate a taxi facility. The research and planning has already begun, but the project will take more than a year to complete. No specific timelines are available at this time. The Council has confirmed that the Mall will need to include a taxi facility in any further development in order to get municipal authorisation for any such development.
  • If anybody has any fresh ideas for resolving these various problems, please do share your ideas and suggestions urgently.

5.     PARK PLAYGROUND REFRESH

  • It seems to be agreed that we should purchase additional clean sand to top up the playground area in the park. New playground sand will cost R3200 per cubic meter, including delivery, and we will need at least two cubic meters of sand. We will however wait until the next meeting to give other members time to respond.
  • Following a request from residents, we researched adding a smaller slide onto the main jungle-gym structure, to accommodate the very small children. We have a quote for R25,000. This is considered to be very expensive for this small addition. We can get cheaper structures with slides for less than R2,000, but these are intended for backyards, they are not very robust and they will probably not last very long in the park. There has not been much support for this idea so far, but we will wait until the next meeting to give other members time to respond. Meanwhile, other ideas and designs will be researched.

6.     GENERAL

  • Our virtual meetings have not been well attended thus far. The December meeting will be scheduled for 18h30, which might make it easier for some people to get home in time to join in and participate.

The meeting was closed, with thanks to all who had attended the meeting.

Our next public meeting will be held virtually on

WEDNESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2022 AT 18H30

PLEASE PASS ON THESE MINUTES TO OTHER RESIDENTS IN YOUR BUILDINGS

JMPD call centre hotline number – 080 872 3342

JMPD Control Room – 011 758 9620

City emergency hotline on 011 375 5911

SAPS patrol van – 071 675 6001

If you get no response from the patrol van, please call 10111

Councillor Huggett – by SMS or WhatsApp – 071 785 8068