Portfolios were allocated to committee members as follows: Pieter Naudé, Phillip Parsons and Neville Ewing (Budget, Rates & Taxes); Pieter Naudé and Trevor White (Economic Development); Paul Nicholas (Tourism, Business Signage); Neville Ewing (Sanral & Transnet); John and Marie Callanan and Phillip Parsons (Town Planning); Pearce Johnston (Services: Electricity, Water, Sewerage & Refuse); Neville Ewing (Environmental); Hugh Pharoah (Traffic, Local Roads and Pavements); Hugh Pharoah (Safety, Security, Emergency Services, Law Enforcement and Neighbourhood Watch); Phillip Parsons and Vanessa Hau-Yoon (Communication and Liaison); Niel Viljoen and Vanessa Hau-Yoon (Treasury and Admin) and Colleen Simons (Community Projects).
Parsons said that at the first meeting on Wednesday 9 January the committee agreed to follow up on issues raised at the recent Annual General Meeting. "These include the time frame for convening the Appeal Board for property valuations, the possibility of creating a Section 21 company to administer a Special Rates area, and the future of the Wilderness Tourism office.
"Another issue that requires attention is the confusion regarding the rules for walking unleashed dogs, which is not permitted on municipal property. SANParks, however has issued a notice headed 'Code of conduct for people walking with dogs on beaches and in the Wilderness section of the Garden Route National Park', which was distributed at the very successful 'Woofathon'. This states that dogs must be under voice or signal control at all times, and dog handlers must always carry a leash," Parsons added.
According to Parsons, a dog must be leashed if the handler is unable to control it or if it is vicious. "The notice contains many other rules and regulations but concludes that dogs are allowed east of NSRI (with some timing exceptions) up to the steps in front of the newly renamed Pearl of Wilderness Hotel, and some areas of Kleinkrantz. Dog owners are requested to obtain a copy of this notice from SANParks for clarity."
The WRRA has already installed history panels, outlining historical, geological and biological aspects of Wilderness on the Sanral wall behind the Caltex garage in the village. "WRRA wishes to thank Paul Nicholas for his hard work in this regard. Residents and visitors are encouraged to take a look at these panels, which contain fascinating information about Wilderness."
Parsons said another exciting development in the Wilderness Improvement Project is the pilot 'Village Monitor Project', which will see the self-appointed car guards replaced by trained locals who will assist with cleanliness and security in the village and will also provide information to tourists about businesses and activities
"This project will need the support and involvement of the business community if it is to move beyond a pilot project to become a sustainable initiative."
He expressed his feeling that 2013 looks to be an exciting year for Wilderness.
The newly elected 2013 WRRA Committee are (from left) John Callanan, Vanessa Hau-Yoon, Phillip Parsons, Pearce Johnston, Pieter Naudé (Chairman), Neville Ewing, Paul Nicholas, Hugh Pharoah, Trevor White and Niel Viljoen. Colleen Simons and Marie Callanan (absent) are also on the committee.
ARTICLE: CHRISTO VERMAAK, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
