Parkhurst
Post
October 2007
Waste Collection Dates
Pikitup - Every Monday. This is the general trash collection
day. Put your black wheely bins out the night before or on the morning
only.
Resolution Recycling - Every OTHER Wednesday Oct 24;
Nov 7/21; Dec 5 & 19): They collect your recyclable waste (i.e. paper,
metal, batteries, printer cartridges, plastic, glass) that you place in
their Blue & Green wheely bins. Info: Cost is R360/year, 011-618-2246
or resolutionrecycling@54.co.za
Mondi Ronnie Bags - Every Wednesday for waste paper
curbside collections.
Membership Subscriptions
We have also decided to out source the collection of annual subscriptions
and advertising for the Parkhurst Post to Jasper Management Services.
They have been successfully collecting subs from other Resident's Assoc
in our area. As we have over 1900 households, it has become a huge job
in managing the collections and renewals, so for an initial set up fee
of R2000 and 10% of the money collected, Jasper will now be handling this
side of running the association.
Members will be asked to bring their subs up to date until the end of
the financial year (December 2007) and from next year all residents will
be invoiced on the same date for the year (i.e. 1 January 2008 for subs
2008). Payments can be made as follows:
Direct Deposit: The Village Residents Association, Nedbank,
Hyde Park 197205, Account Number 1972 069926.
Please use your surname and street address on all direct deposits and
fax proof of payment to 011-789-6139.
Cheque payment: Post to P O Box 412063, Craighall, 2024
OR deliver to Nan Roberts Estates in 4th Ave where you will be receipted
for your payment.
For more info: Jasper Management Service contact details:
Tel 011 789 8267, Fax 011 789 6139, jaspercc@mweb.co.za
Parkhurst Library
The City has put its foot down and banned libraries from regularly selling
items or renting jigsaw puzzles and DVDs. They are allowed to have a monthly
sale which is held on the last Saturday of each month (Oct 27, Nov 24
& a special Xmas sale on Dec 15).
They need still need books and bric a brac for their sales. And they welcome
donations of almost new books for their stock and gift voucher donations
from Exclusive Books.
Info:011-788-4510. Behind in Verity Park, behind the Rec Centre, 5th Avenue,
Parkhurst.
Meter Readings
You can now phone the Joburg Connect Hotline on 011-375-5555 and speak
to City Power to submit your electricity meter reading (take it around
the middle of the month). Or send them an e-mail on joburgconnect@joburg.co.za.
Kleenbin
With the fly season starting up it is a good idea to have your bins professionally
cleaned and sanitized (I bet you or your gardener doesn't scrub the inside
or the bottom where lost of the nasties lurk).
This is one of the best services I use - for a measly R13.68 per week
my bin is left clean inside and out, ready for me to wheel in back in
when I get home from work (they come around on the same day as the trash
collection).
They also look after the bin and repair unhinged lids and wobbly wheels.
There is also have a reduced price for those who have extra bins and will
clean every 2 weeks if you don't have much trash. And they also clean
my blue Resolution Recycling bin every month.
Info: Kleenbin, 011-802-5188, info@kleenbin.co.za.
Resolution Recycling
This great recycling service has changed collection days to every other
Wednesday. I used to get most annoyed when my carefully separated recyclable
waste was emptied by Pikitup into their truck as the collection dates
were on the same day. Info: 011-618-2246 or resolutionrecycling@54.co.za
Winner of Bin Competition
The winner of the Naughty Estate Agents competition was 4th Avenue resident
Alison Bell. She gets a free recycling bin and collection for a year from
Resolution Recycling.
Mondi Curbside Paper Pickup
They are now collecting every Wednesday put out your Ronnie Bags before
you go to work and then play the game of “Where's my empty Ronnie
bag this week?” In the pool, stolen (again!), blowing down the street
or stolen by the neighbours (again!).
Street Numbering
We had a problem from one of our residents about a neighbour on a corner
who was using the incorrect street address. The neighbour was using his
number from the avenue instead of the street which was causing much confusion
as there were then two houses with the same number in the street.
Cheryl Labuschagne, who heads our Public Open Space sub-committee, dis
some digging and came up with following info on street numbering in Johannesburg.
Street numbers are allocated sequentially along a street and is used for
directions, deliveries, council services, emergency services, postal deliveries,
etc. A stand or erf number is the legal property description as it appears
on the title deed.
Street numbers are allocated every 16 m along a street. Often more than
one street number is allocated on bigger stands to take into account later
sub-divisions.
In Parkhurst the opposite happened to some properties in 18-20th Streets.
91 stands were redeveloped as a part of a government housing scheme to
build 60 houses. They built a house on a stand and half, thus in the section
of 20th Street between 3rd and 2nd Avenues, you will find the numbers
60,64 and 66 missing as they had to accommodate the larger stands.
Corner stands are given two numbers; one for each street it is located
on. The actual number used MUST be the number allocated to it on the street
where the MAIN ENTRANCE is located. If you don't do this, then you can
be fined R500 and ordered to put up the correct number.
If you don't display your street number then emergency services might
not reach you on time, your neighbours will get upset by people delivering
things to them that aren't theirs or receiving summons for traffic fines
that aren't theirs, your water or electricity may be cut of incorrectly,
AND you could receive a fine of R500.
More info: Cheryl Labuschagne, 083-637-0394
Illegal Street Signs
The signs that people and companies put up on street poles, trees or on
poles on the side walks are all illegal. Please feel free to remove them
if you see any. I get great satisfaction in spotting and removing them.
I also remove those show house metal estate agents pointer boards that
they leave after 5 pm on a Sunday. They get recycled in a squatter camp
in Pretoria one day I'll get a picture of the shacks and put it in the
Post.
Pensioner Discount at Pick n Pay Craighall Park
The management of the Pick and Pay in Craighall Park have started a pensioner
discount scheme. Pensioners will get a 5% discount from Monday to Friday
(not public holidays). There is no limit, but you must register first.
You will need an ID sized photo, a copy of your ID and you will need to
fill in a form. It will take up to 2 weeks to receive your card. They
are open weekdays from 8am-8pm, Saturday 8am-7pm and Sunday 8am-6pm. Contact
them for more info: 011-781-3412.
Car Parking
We had an incident in one of our steep streets where a parked car didn't
have its hand break applied properly. It rolled down the hill and caused
considerable damage. It is a good idea to park with your front wheels
turned to the side so that if the vehicle rolls, it will end up wedged
into the road shoulder or sidewalk.
Pool Motors
There have been some complaints about pool motors. Because our houses
are so close together and pool motors are usually located alongside the
house in the alley, noisy pool motors that run at inappropriate hours
can be very annoying to neighbours. There are bylaws pertaining to pool
motors and it is illegal to have noisy motors.
So before you start getting visits from the Metro Police and receiving
fines and legal warnings, here is some advice from Darren at The Pool
Yard in Colony, Craighall Park (more info 011-880-7663 / thepoolyard@mweb.co.za).
Noisy Pumps
- Invest in a fibreglass pump housing. Fibreglass material
seems to dampen the pump sound and is also used for generator cover boxes.
- Loud noises from your pump might indicate that the pump bearings
need to be replaced. Get your pump are serviced at the same time.
- Run your pump for 6-12 hours during the day. This is when the sun is
at its hottest and circulation in a swimming pool is crucial.
- Allow the timer to switch off for one hour during the day this assists
the pool cleaner pattern and also rests the pump for a while.
- Make sure your timer does not run continuously this is not only bad
for your pump, but it can also be unfair on your neighbours.
- Invest in a pump which runs quietly like the Pentair Wisperflo this
is a much quieter pump.
- Plant shrubbery around your swimming pool pump this also assists in
dampening the sound coming from your pump.
- Move your pump and filter to a better location this is possible by extending
and re-routing piping.
- Line your pump with foam or Polystyrene, make sure you line the outermost
sides, but not near the electrical box.
- Build a brick enclosure around your pump system, this can also be cladded
to make it look better.
Getting Your Pool Ready
And while we are on pools - here are useful some tips on getting your
pool ready for summer.
- Do a long backwash and rinse this cleans the sand. Change your sand
if it has not been done in two years. Your filter cleans the sand which
helps with filtration and circulation.
- Top up swimming pool water level.
- Empty all baskets: Weir, Pump and Pool Skim.
- Brush the walls this will loosen any algae spores.
- Test the water make sure your Stabilizer levels are sufficient 40-100
ppm/ 80-100 ppm for a salt chlorinated swimming pool. Stabilizer maintains
chlorine levels in your swimming pool.
- Purchase a new floater or make sure you have chlorine tablets.
- Shock dose your swimming pool with granular chlorine (1.5 cups for a
50 000 litre pool).
- Check TDS to see how saturated/clean your swimming pool water is.
- Make sure pH is between (7.4-7.6) as chlorine only functions effectively
in this pH.
- Service your pool cleaner, this will aid in picking up dust, leaves
and spring berries.
- Clean mosaics with a mosaic cleaner remember to read the instructions
carefully as the chemicals in these products can burn skin and cause irritations.
- Remove all bubble blankets/covers.
- Trim any shrubbery hanging into the swimming pool.
- Clean the paving around swimming pool.
- Replace pool seal beams (Lights) for those spring parties.
- Replace baskets/pump lids.
- Check chemical balance every week - six weeks at your local pool shop.
Arwen Corsets
Have you ever looked up at the block of flats opposite the Jolly Roger
while sitting in your car waiting at the 4th Avenue and 6th Street traffic
lights? Then you have probably noticed Arwen's saucy corset bedecked mannequins
perched on the 1st floor balcony. Having got my attention, I thought it
would interesting to meet with their creator.
Arwen (no surname like Madonna) has occupied one of the old 1st Floor
apartments in the Art Centre for the past 3 years. She is one of the few
makers of couture corsets, and may be the only women in the world.
Her clients range from teens wanting to look stunning at their Matric
Dance, to women (and men) who want to look trim and thin at black tie
events and weddings. Some clients want a corset for medical reasons to
correct spinal problems.
And others want them for more frivolous purposes. Like her first paying
customer. A massive cross-dressing man with a size 50 waist which she
couldn't get her arms around. It took her 2 weeks to make.
Ok enough frivolity. For she doesn't make those nasty latex, PVC or faux-silk
fetish objects that usually come to mind when you think of bodices and
corsets. These are real works of art made from imported sprung steel boning
from Scotland, leather from Italy and fabrics from the USA and Europe.
They can take from 3 weeks to 2 months to make depending on the material
and what type of corset you want.
The corsets come if different types and styles. The full on tight laced
steel bore corset can cost from R3500 to R4000. Other styles like the
unboned Merry Widow can cost R1000. Once you have one you have to keep
your weight reasonable steady. They will handle a 3 kg loss or a 5 kg
gain.
Most of clients are women, but about 12% are men. Men usually want a corset
for medical purposes or to look good in their business suit at an important
meeting. Thankfully, she doesn't get many cross-dressers anymore.
And for those who want to see her corsets in action. Arwen and her friend
perform as burlesque dancers a kind of 10-15 minute naughty and fun vintage
striptease (no they don't strip down nude).
For more info contact Arwen on 011-447-0247 / arwen@arwen.co.za / www.arwen.co.za
Smelly Donga & River
A resident living next to the donga where it runs at the foot of her garden
wrote the following:
“I live in 5th Ave between 19th and 20th Street by the storm drain. Thank you for all your hard work and concern. I really really do appreciate it. I have been trying for years, only once managing to get it sorted out, which lasted for about a year. The drain I am sad to say is still smelling - particularly in the afternoons. Some days are worse than others and it also depends which way the wind is blowing and in winter it tends to be slightly less pungent. As you know the sewerage pipe runs under the drain, and I found out years ago, that there was a pipe that had not been recorded that runs off to 20th Street. It should be on the record now as when they cleaned it, that is when the smell went away. I have reported so many times to the relevant people, that I am at a loss as to what to do know.”
Parkhurst is having problems with the enclosed donga that carries waste
(i.e. sewerage) from Rosebank/Parktown North through Parkhurst (where
we add our load) and into the main sewerage pipe that runs adjacent to
the Braamfontein Spruit. A major sewerage leak was repaired earlier this
year. But with densification in these suburbs, the system is too small
and too old to cope.
The result is that it overflows into the section of the donga that is
meant to carry water run-off from our streets. This feeds into the Braamfontein
Spruit causing a major pollution problem.
For people with houses on the Spruit north of 19th Street and those that
have houses directly over it this pollution is most unpleasant. An immune
compromised friend who lives near the enclosed donga in 16th Street has
had a terrible bout of ecoli infections and her dogs keep getting giardia
(a very bad stomach bug).
The Craighall Park Animal Hospital is also reporting increased numbers
of dogs with stomach problems. Many of these may have become infected
after swimming in the Spruit especially at the 22nd Street river crossing
across the concrete lintel that acts as a footbridge. The spill is only
about 50 m upstream from there.
I also shudder to think what is happening to the religious groups who
use the Spruit on Sundays for baptisms and water collected there for other
rituals.
The upshot of this is that we are trying to put together an investigative
team to try and sort out the problem with the various departments in the
Municipality.
We already have several letters of complaints from those on the river
who are affected by the smell and fumes. Please contact us if any of you
who live in houses above or near the enclosed donga are suffering from
mysterious infections. Or if your dog or child has become ill after coming
in contact with the water in the Spruit.
From the 1952 aerial photo, where the donga was clearly in the process
of being canalised, I have identified the following properties that lie
over or near the donga. A hi-res version of this aerial photo is available
on the www.parkhurst.org.za website for you to look at.
13th St: 145-147.
14th St: 138-178 & 131-145.
15th St: 126-136 & 121-123.
16th St: 104-114 & 97-109.
17th St: 92-100 & 77-85.
18th St: 64-70 & 45-53.
19th St: 1-41 & 22-50.
20th St: 2-22
If you have any recurring infections in humans or recurring diarrhoea in domestic animals that you think are Donga or Water related, please contact Kim Lugli on 011-447-4439, 083-383-4359, kim.lugli@telkomsa.net.
Contact the Editor
Tim Truluck
072-238-2790, 442-5201
info@parkhurst.org.za
