St Francis Bay Residents Association

As Mike Simms, our Chairman, wrote a detailed account mid-September of issues as they stand in our village this letter is to inform you of various documents of interest that are new to our website.

Many thanks for subscription payments made since I last wrote click here to see payments made to date. We have now decided that any payments made after 1st October 2011 will indicate payment for 2011 and 2012! So come on – cash in on three free months of membership!

A couple of months ago the municipality changed most of their contact numbers click here for their new numbers.

On the subject of valuations, it appears that the Municipality passed the valuations that were reduced by less than 10% of original value but those valuations above this had to go through further approval. Some of these have now been put higher than the original valuation given. These higher valuations are to be back-dated by 18 months! On speaking to Marinda Eksteen, Senior Valuations Clerk today, 4 October, she informs me that objections to this cannot be made until the next property valuations which will be done in 2013. The SFBRA is in the process of objecting strongly to this and will keep you informed once we have any further feedback from the Municipality. Should you fall into this group of people please contact me, as at this moment we don't know how many affected parties there are.

Click here for a St Francis Bay Sector Police Forum update, it effectively highlights current crime incidents in SFB at the moment.

The September Skagen Innovation Center (SIC) Beach Report has just been issued. Click here.

Tony Butler our SFBRA committee member representing the SFB Riparians Home Owners Association reports that approval for the revetments along the entire beachfront has been given. Click here for a copy of this Letter of Approval. For those residents wanting to repair existing or build new revetments in front of their properties they must first contact the SFBRHOA (email: admin@sfbra.co.za). Tony says these revetments to the spit need to move ahead sooner rather than later because of the damage being done to the spit. Click here to see two photos Tony took on 28th September showing the damage being done at high tide.

Click here for an informative up-date on Thyspunt written by Hilton Thorpe.

Port St Francis Harbour Association Association's Administrator Tanya Milner points out the new pier promenade which has been declared open for public use. The Association has now completed works on the top pier to make it safe and user friendly by erecting barrier walls and railings right to the end of the harbour wall. The public are now welcome to enjoy a stroll to the end of the pier and enjoy the breath-taking views across the bay or to look back at the picturesque harbour. The pier is an ideal vantage point to look out for Southern Right Whales which frequently shelter in the bay with their calves.

In closing, do drop me a line (contact@sfbresidents.org.) with comments or suggestions on how the SFBRA could improve our service to residents and business.