13 February 2016
Dear Woodrock Resident
Herewith my quick summary of the PIKI-TUP meeting on Tuesday 9th.(Formal Minutes/documentation is expected from KARP in due course).
I have included a comment-form which should be completed and sent to the independent consultants on this project – KARP.
This must be completed and sent to the KARP address by Friday, 26th February, 2016.
Email: info@karp.co.za with reference number 002/15-16/W006.
Please copy in Wendy Robertson of Ward 106 Committee at info@woodrock.co.za for the sake of good administration.
I have also enclosed 3 recent pics of the Garden Refuse Site in question.
In a nutshell:
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Karp are acting on behalf of Piki-Tup as independent consultants regarding Woodmead Garden Site. They must legally engage with the community in this issue.
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Piki-Tup’s mission statement, to which they are dedicated, is “Don’t Waste Our Future - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle More”.
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To that end the proposal is that the Woodmead Garden Site be revamped to allow for sorting on site.
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In general the local community is fully supportive of the principle of recycling and have a commitment to ‘save our future’.
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Great concern was expressed with the suggested methods to be employed at the Woodmead Garden Site.
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The current delivery of different coloured bags was much appreciated and WKRRA urged the community were to engage in more ‘separation at source’ systems (i.e. household separation).
SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY CONCERNS INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING:
Local residents expressed concern regarding the possible proliferation of “Dustbin diggers” (forgive the term, which is descriptive but not necessarily PC).
These folk would concentrate on pickings from the residential areas around the Site, and would also need to bring their spoils to the site by way of pallet-trolleys etc. causing an even greater traffic problem along Woodlands and Woodmead Drive than what is currently being experienced. It is also possible that they and their pallet/trolleys would become ‘through-runners’ through the Woodmead Khyber Rock residential area in an effort to skip the traffic.
Once the recyclable waste has been sorted, local entrepreneurs would be visiting the Site in their bakkies to collect the sorted recyclables for on-selling, and Piki-Tup would take the remaining residual waste to the relevant landfill site.
There is a vehicle gate currently positioned off the one JPC ERF, close by Seattle Coffee building. It would appear that soil is being removed from the two JPC properties adjacent to the Garden Refuse site – unable to determine whether legal or not.
It is our experience from other areas (George Lea Park, Clay Oven, Field & Study Park) that these sorting areas become not only an eyesore, but there is a proliferation of flies and rats as well as loose papers etc. flying about and in many instances the ‘dustbin diggers’ sleeping on-site to so protect their collectables from being pilfered by others.
The two ERFS to the North and to the West of the current site (adjacent to Woodmead Ext and Khyber Rock residences) belong to JPC (Joburg City Properties Company).
Piki-Tup are to investigate as to the future plans are for these properties – it is thought that the one nearer Annapurna/Khyber Rock is zoned for a Water Depot.
Piki-Tup committed to keeping the Site in good order.
However Wendy Robertson reported that these two properties are currently serving as illegal sorting areas as well as latrines for not only the Piki-Tup staff, but for the taxi’s and hawkers who inhabit the Woodmead/Woodlands intersection. One cannot easily walk or inspect this area due to the problem of human faeces.
The area is also used on occasion to burn the casing off copper cables which have been stolen within the Sandton Policing Precinct. When this particular smell is detected and reported, then SAPS are called in to catch the thieves.
Concern was also expressed as to the broken fencing (all around) and the fact that Piki-Tup had been formally advised of same and requested to make good over a period of time.
In addition it was advised that both SAPS and JMPD had been involved in previous operations to rid the area of vagrants and that currently (as far as is known) there are no vagrants sleeping on site.
Please take note of the above proposal, and please make your voice heard should you have any concerns or comments regarding this proposed new development.
This document must be submitted by Friday, 26th February – with a copy to Wendy at info@woodrock.co.za
Should you wish to discuss or gain more clarity from the KARP personnel, herewith the contact details:
Augustinah Manzini (Mrs), Managing Director, KARP Consulting & Projects (Pty) Ltd, Landline 012 644 1690, Mobile 071 836 2439, eMail: agomanzini@gmail.com
Finally, please note that in spite of early notification by email as well as What’s App and Sandton Chronicle publication, this meeting was attended by 36 people – 8 from neighbouring suburbs and 28 from Woodmead / Khyber Rock.
To those 28 Woodrock residents, thank you for attending and taking your place as a true community member. For the others, please try and complete the document attached hereto so that we retain the nature and character of our suburb. In this instance Government (via The City of Joburg) is trying to get community input and we cannot complain when developments take place that compromise our neighbourhood, if we do not stand up and give our opinion when it is requested.
Yours sincerely
Wendy M. Robertson
Mobile: 083.700.2401
email: Robertsw203@tiscali.co.za
facsimile: 086.658.3223
Representing:
*EXCO - WKRRA (Woodmead & Khyber Rock Res. Ass. (info@woodrock.co.za)
*Ward 106 Committee - Safety/Security Portfolio. (robertsw203@tiscali.co.za)