Let's Saddle Up
November '17
YOUR UNIQUE LIFESTYLE
Magazine
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pg20
EQUESTRIAN CENTRE breaking ground at Blue Hills Equestrian Estate
contents ents NOV 2017
ESTATE NEWS 07 08 09 12 13 15 17 18 20 22
IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS FROM THE ESTATE MANAGER FROM THE SALES MANAGER SALES UPDATE SECURITY UPDATE MAXIMUM SPEED IN THE ESTATE 94.7 CYCLE CHALLENGE ROAD CLOSURE FIBRE TO THE HOME EQUESTRIAN CENTRE BREAKING GROUND BUILDING RULES
GARDENING & DECOR 05 24
A WORK OF ART BEE FRIENDLY GARDEN
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GARDENING & DÉCOR
Lesley-Ann Hoets’ wood-burning fireplaces are HOT. Sold under the name ‘Hot Art’, they are indeed works of art which work. Based on primitive Mexican earthenware heaters called chimineas, the Hoetsdesigned version took 2 years to perfect.
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The biggest challenge was to formulate a fireproof clay. The Mexican Chimineas crack, and that had to be overcome by Lesley-Ann in her design and formulation. The long slog began in 1993. They eventually got the formula right in 1995, after firing dozens of lids, each with a resultant “crack!”. Aiming for zero expansion and contraction, they devised various mixtures of clay, which were sent for laboratory testing. They kept making lids and firing them, they would watch them heat up and start counting, every time they got to 10… “crack!”. With each mistake they were a step closer. ‘Eureka!’ happened in due course. They reached 10, then 20, then 30 – unbroken, the lid glowing smugly. They then put it to the ultimate test, by lifting it directly from the fire and dunking half of the red-hot lid in the winter-cold swimming pool. Frantic frizzle, steam – no crack. They had done it! The clay was impervious to temperature changes. Never doubting success, Lesley-Ann spent the
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long months of trials designing the fireplace and making moulds. Known for her fine handiwork, she abandoned the Mexican tradition of low-fired, demijohn-shaped units. Her high-fired, stoneware fireplaces are plump ovoids with lids. Perfected, they now come in two sizes. Each pot is hand pressed into a mould by a small team at Hot Art, but each pot is hand decorated by Lesley-Ann herself. Customers are offered a choice of colours and designs, and no two fireplaces are the same. Famous for her slip-trail patterns, Lesley-Ann produces finishes which enhance any décor from elegant to ethnic or even eccentric. Her raku designs are especially dramatic, born of ‘Fire magic’. About half the price, and with more than double the effectiveness of high quality metal ‘stove’ heaters, Hot Art fireplaces give maximum heat with minimum fuss. Cleaning is easy, the pot generates so much heat that the wood burns down to almost nothing. They also don’t smell! With the pot’s ovoid shape, it is constantly drawing air, even when no fire is made. Hot, handsome and hard-wearing, Hot Art
fireplaces are as much showpieces as any of LesleyAnn’s widely acclaimed pots. Well behaved, they are guaranteed not to crack from thermal shock. They come with a 2 year guarantee against manufacturing faults, but people need to remember that they are made from ceramic, and should not be subjected to hard knocks. These best-selling fireplaces have been selling for 22years, and the studio has almost reached their 6000 mark!
IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS ESTATE MANAGER Percy Manenzhe 083 512 2005 SALES MANAGER Musi Motsuenyane 082 806 1735 / musi@century.co.za SECURITY SITE MANAGER 076 771 9082/ 071 230 1627. Bluehills@thompsec.co.za EMERGENCY Eskom 086 0037 566 JHB Water 0860 562 874 Police 10111 Ambulance 10177 SPCA 011 265 9935 SNAKE CATCHER Mike 083 448 8854
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BLUE HILLS EQUESTRIAN ESTATE MANAGEMENT BODY The Blue Hills Equestrian Estate management body has been developed to ensure that should you have a query or wish to address anything on the Estate, we have a team of individuals you can refer your concerns to. This committee goes beyond our monthly Directors’ Meetings, but rather is aimed at ensuring that the running of this Estate is handled with all due care. THE BOARD IS MADE UP OF: • • • • •
Nick Crow, Century Ugen Govender Joel Mokgohlwa Caesar Mtetwa Kanyane Mathibe
THE COMMITTEE IS SUPPORTED BY TRAFALGAR WHO ARE REPRESENTED BY: • • • • •
Michael Schaefer / Director of Trafalgar Shahiem Carr / Director of Trafalgar Chene Blignaut / Estate Portfolio Manager Percy Manenzhe / Estate Manager Head office support Birdhaven
Should you wish to be involved and have a spare couple of available hours per month, please contact Percy and he can put you in contact with the relevant Committee Heads.
Disclaimer: This Newsletter is produced especially for residents/owners of Blue Hills Estate to provide updates and useful information. It is produced by K-Studio on behalf of Blue Hills Estate HOA. Although every effort is taken to ensure accuracy of content, Blue Hills Estate HOA and/or the Publisher, cannot be held liable for any inaccurate information, and may not agree with all opinions expressed in this publication.
ESTATE NEWS
From The
Estate Manager’s Desk Dear Owners, I would like to encourage members to give us their feedback with regards to the newsletter and activities within the HOA, to ensure we meet everyone’s expectations. With the equestrian centre about to open we are planning a few new activitys such as residents market day, whiskey & wine tasting. If you are interested in joining or have any suggestion please send me a mail percym@ trafalgar.co.za. We would like to encourage you as homeowner to be involved as a community and take part in all the fun activities, therefore we will be launching competitions and we are planning to have something exciting in issues to come. Read through the publication to be sure you don’t miss out!
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Percy Manenzhe
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ESTATE NEWS
from the Sales Manager If you have been looking at investing at Blue Hills Estate or know somebody who does, now is the right time as property sales are extremely strong. There have been another 5 stands sold in the past 2 months, taking the Estate to 80% sold overall. Building activity on the estate is busy with an impressive 17 properties currently under construction. The long term value of the Estate is set to make it an unprecedented investment. Contact us now to experience this wonderful Estate which is On Show daily 9am-5pm.
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Sales
ESTATE NEWS
Only 28 of 128 stands left in Blue Hills Estate Of the original 128 stands in Blue Hills Equestrian Estate, there are only 28 that remain on the market for sale. 5 stands have been sold recently, taking the Estate to 80% sold overall. Building activity on the estate is busy with an impressive 17 properties currently under construction. Century Property Developments has just released 8 new stands in the equestrian side of the Estate. These stands range in size from 9,900sqm to 13,700sqm and are available from R3.1million. Contact Musi now on 082 806 1735 or musi@century.co.za for more information or to arrange a viewing of these new stands. This is your opportunity to build your dream family home in this incredible Estate! 12 BLUE HILLS NOVEMBER '17
ESTATE NEWS
Security Update Once an owner resides in the Estate, he/she can register on the “ClickOn” system in order for their visitors to gain access into Blue Hills Equestrian Estate. Important 1. Residents of Blue Hills Equestrian estate who are interested in getting panic buttons which will be linked to the reaction officer’s vehicle and the control room may contact Percy or security manager for arrangement of installation at their homes. 2. If ever you are travelling home to Blue Hills and you feel unsafe & suspect that you are being followed, Thompson’s security have offered to meet you at a safe collection point to escort homeowners to the estate but only from specific pick up spots, Cnr R55 & Summit road/ Olifantsfontein and secondly Robots at Crowthorne shopping centre. 3. Thompson’s site security manager can be contacted on 071 230 1627 (Joe Williams) & 076 771 9082 (Reaction officer)
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to have your own personal Alarm system & panic buttons installed for rapid response by the on-site armed reaction officer. Owners are welcome to contact Percy to arrange to have their fingerprints loaded to the access system for easier access into the Estate.
The Estate has installed a state of the art thermal CCTV system which is monitored by Thompson’s 24/7/365. Cameras have been strategically placed around the Estate to monitor and report on any transgressions. Thermal cameras have been placed along the wetland area separating Blue Hills Equestrian Estate from Blue Hills Country Estate and these will assist in alerting any transgressions in this area.
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ESTATE NEWS
Maximum
SPEED LIMIT
Speed limit is 30Km/h in the estate. We don’t have stop signs in the estate yet but the HOA is looking at installation of road signs/speed signs throughout the estate, please ensure that you drive as safe as possible. There are children walking and riding their bikes to school please ensure that you keep to the speed limit and stop at the stop streets.
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ESTATE NEWS
As a result, certain roads throughout Johannesburg will be closed from 04h30 – 17h00 by Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, Johannesburg Road Agency and the City of Joburg.
The 21st annual Telkom 947 Cycle Challenge takes place on Sunday, 19 November 2017. The event stretches through the streets of greater Johannesburg and is the second largest mass participation cycling event in the world with approximately 28 000 cyclists taking part. 16 BLUE HILLS NOVEMBER '17
We will have a TomTom Maps Interactive map on our website, www.cyclechallenge.co.za that is designed to assist residents and motorists to navigate the city avoiding the Road Closures on Cycle Challenge Sunday. Please look out for any further correspondence regarding the Telkom 947 in the build-up to Sunday, 19 November – flyers, posters, media reports, traffic advisories, social media and information will be broadcast on 947! We thank you in advance for your support and understanding and ask that you assist us in spreading the word to all those that may be affected by the event and road closures.
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ESTATE NEWS
Fibre to the home
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We would like to inform you that the HOA is in talks with Clear access & Metro fibre interms of installation of fibre. We encourage all homeowners to make provision for a sleeve from the house to the road verge in order to pull the fibre from there.
LIFESTYLE & DÉCOR
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EQUESTRIAN CENTRE
ESTATE NEWS
breaking ground at Blue Hills Equestrian Estate Century property developments is proud to announce the new world class equestrian centre to be situated in the upmarket Blue Hills equestrian Estate in Midrand. Bandeira Equine is an organisation dedicated to providing the most professional equine services to the Blue Hills residents.
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ESTATE NEWS Residents of Blue Hills equestrian estate will benefit greatly not only interms of the increased property value, but the beautiful, well maintained grounds and breath taking horses, giving the estate magical range of look and feel. Bandeira Riding academy is proud to be situated and incorporated at Bandeira Equine’s livery yard. Bandeira Riding academy is the preferred training provider for Reddford House school Blue Hills producing the finest and most competitive riders for their equestrian sports team. For more information you can contact Desiree Bandeira; 083 255 8128. Desire@bandeira-equine.com
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ESTATE NEWS
• Toilet must be in place before any work commences. • Water meter must be in place and switched on before any work can commence. • Rough Sketch of the layout of the house before work commences. • Green fence 1.8m high with 80% density must be erected around the fence line using steel poles only. The poles must not be higher than the fence line. • The fence must be of Agricultural make only. • The fence line must have five (5) rows of mesh wire holding the fence in place. • The fence must have a locked gate in place to seal off the yard after hours. • Contractors sign viewable at all times indicating the site number. • Generator onsite when needed. • Shed in place within the fence line at all times. • Bin / Chicken mesh within the yard to store all rubble. • OHS file to be on site always. • Workers to wear clothing with company name / logo for identification purposes. • Workers are not to loiter to other sites. • First Aider to be on site at all times. • Cement box for mixing.
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rules
• Copy of deposit slip for pavement deposit required. • A copy of the builders NHBRC. A copy of the approved plan • No delivery trucks longer than 9.1m • Security or the Estate Manager must be made aware of deliveries. • No truck will be allowed on site without pre authorized delivery. • Obey all operating times as stipulated in the contractor agreement. Not Allowed • Use of the pavement. First 3m to be clear of building material / rubble at all times. • The use of adjacent plots is not allowed to store building material / rubble or parking of vehicles. No parking of vehicles on the road. • Only SABS tools / equipment allowed on site (EG: No homemade ladders allowed). • Employees to stay within the fence line of plot working on at all times. • No sharing of access cards. • Contractors to enter and exit through the same gate at all times. • Site to be left clean and tidy at the close of business each day. • No making of fires on site. • Ladders and equipment to be stacked correctly when not in use.
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GARDENING & DÉCOR
CREATE A BEE-FRIENDLY GARDEN
this spring!
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The bee’s knees. A bee in your bonnet. As busy as a bee. Buzz. For such a small insect the bee has inspired quite a number of popular sayings. And rightly so. Irrespective of the painful or (for those with an allergy) deadly sting, the bee is an important facet of food security ensuring the pollination of 70% of the world’s crops.
Over the past decade, bee colonies across the world have dropped between 30 and 70% due to industrialisation, pesticides, climate change and disease. In the Western Cape alone the drought and wildfires have caused the Province to lose 40% of its honeybees. Each and every one of us can help protect and promote bee colonies by simply creating a bee-friendly garden.
How to create a bee-friendly garden:
Step 1: Remove invasive plants from your garden. Step 2: Plant a variety of colourful indigenous plants. Bees like diversity, and prefer plants with blue, yellow and purple flowers that carry a floral scent. Plant several of each type together. Step 3: Choose plants that bloom at different times of the year. Step 4: Only use natural pesticides. Step 5: Create a drinking bath for bees by using a shallow container, dropping in a few stones and adding enough water that would evaporate by the end of the day. Fill daily with fresh water. Types of trees, plants and herbs to plant • Karee • Sweet thorn
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• Bush willow • Tree fuchsia • Weeping wattle Plants: • Aloes •Clivia • Felicia • Euryops daisy • Cape violets • Agapanthus • Gazania • Asparagus fern • Lavender If you don’t have a lot of space your herb garden can still attract bees. Plant: • Thyme • Rosemary • Mint • Chives • Fennel • Oregano Click here for an extensive list of plants that are an excellent food source for honeybees.
Did you know?
• In South Africa we have two subspecies of honeybees namely the African bee and the Cape bee. As its name suggest the Cape bee keeps to the more southern parts of the country, whereas you’ll find the African bee more to the north, like here in Gauteng. • The African bee is a brighter yellow and produces larger crops of honey than the Cape bee.
• South Africa normally produces an average of 2000t of honey annually. This number has dropped drastically this year. • The country imports a further 1000t of honey per year. • Bees help pollinate a R20-billion food crop industry in SA, which consists of deciduous fruit, oilseed harvests, vegetables and fodder plants. • Creating a bee-friendly garden won’t only benefit honeybees but also other native bee species, such as the South African Carpenter bee, and other pollinators including butterflies and beetles.
Got stung by a bee? Home remedies Nobody likes to get stung by a bee but did you know there are some common household grocery items you can apply to lessen the pain? • Honey – Apply honey to the area and cover with a plaster. • Baking soda – Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply. • Apple cider vinegar – Add vinegar to a large enough container/dish so as to soak the affected area.
Health & Safety
Construction is a high hazard industry that comprises of a wide range of activities that exposes people to serious dangers such as falling from heights, unguarded machinery, electrocutions, being struck by heavy construction equipment, and the list goes on.
That is why the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Construction Regulations and other relevant regulations have been designed and implemented to protect builders and home owners from, not only the hazards and risks itself, but also the consequences of such risks resulting in injury/ death of persons. But what does this mean for Estate Management (EM), Home Owners Association (HOA) and Residents? Estate Management and the HOA are responsible for the safety of the residents, therefore it is highly advisable that EM and HOA take some time and effort to inform owners of their responsibility in terms of legislation when it comes to the building of their new home. As per section 5 of the Construction Regulations, the “client” – any person for whom construction work is being performed ¬– is charged with certain duties and responsibilities such as to: • Prepare a baseline risk assessment for the project • Prepare a site-specific Health and Safety Specification • Ensure that a Principal Contractor’s Health and Safety Plan is available • Ensure that periodic Health and Safety Audits are conducted
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HEALTH & SAFETY
• Ensure that the H&S File is kept and maintained by the Principal Contractor • Just to name a few. We, as D&G Health and Safety Practitioners provide a realistic, practicable and sustainable, all-inclusive Occupational Health and Safety Service in representation of the owner as well as the builder to, as far as reasonably practicable, ensure compliance with relevant legislation and the protection of families and loved ones, so that the owners can focus on the vision of their dream homes, the builders can focus on the construction thereof while we take care of the legislation aspects thereof.
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For more info Contact K-Studio e tobia@k-studio.co.za