DOCRRA gets ready for new year

Two of the region’s largest residential estates recently joined forces with the Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayer’s Association (DOCRRA) to bring the once ailing organisation’s membership base to more than 2500 households.

This was revealed at DOCRRA’s annual general meeting held at Simbithi Country club last week.

Outgoing chairman of DOCRRA, Ken Lever spoke about the substantial revival in membership numbers in the last year.

“Through the hard work of our committee we have increased paid-up membership to well over 2 500 households in our area. This has been made possible by both Brettenwood Coastal Estate and Simbithi Eco-Estate agreeing to come on board as well as a number of the smaller sectional title entities,” said Lever.

Also read: Umhlali Country Club voted greenest golf club in SA

Following a refreshed brand and strategy and the recent appointment of an executive officer DOCRRA’s main goal remains to look after the interests of all Dolphin Coast residents and ratepayers by being a liaison between community members, big businesses and the municipality.

The association’s modified constitution and business plan for 2019/2020 was also presented and adopted.

Lever said the DOCRRA committee was considering establishing the association as a Special Rates Area (SRA) with similar responsibilities and financial advantages as the Ballito UIP.

The association is also in the process of being registered and accredited as an NPO.

According to Lever, an SRA is based on international best practice and receives a portion of the rates back to spend on essential services and to enhance and supplement municipal services.

“We have a long way to go if we are to achieve at least 66.6% paid-up membership of the whole Dolphin Coast area. This effectively means we will need at least 6 500 paid up households to achieve this goal and increase the overall viability of DOCRRA.”

Lever praised the municipality for producing a “well-balanced” budget that put rates in line with national inflation rates but raised concerns around the overall level of the rates which he said were significantly higher than adjoining municipalities.

In his report Lever spoke on the three pressing issues which DOCRRA was closely involved with mainly the increased rates, the implementation of parking tariffs in the Ballito CBD and the proposed building of a mosque on a portion of Townsend Park.

“We have taken on the services of a Ballito legal firm to advise us on the way forward and how best to deal with the Townsend issue, and hope to have the support of all our local civic organisations, ” added Lever.

The lack of a local government high school, the increasing levels of crime in the area and the absence of a police satellite station in Ballito were a few of the projects that Lever said DOCRRA would be giving attention to in the new financial year.

DOCRRA thanked Ilembe municipality and Siza Water for their continuing efficiency in delivering high quality portable water to the area and ensuring that sewerage was properly treated and disposed of.

The new executive was elected with most of the existing members retaining their positions. Additional committee members may be co-opted as necessary. This was DOCRRA’s 19th year representing ratepayers on the Dolphin Coast, covering wards four, six, 20, 21 and 22.

For more information about DOCRRA or to join the association visit www.docrra.co.za

Be the first to receive breaking news straight to your device with our newly launched push notifications! Simply visit our website and click on the icon shown above.

Do you want to receive news alerts from The North Coast Courier via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 061 718 4438.

Please read our WhatsApp broadcast list disclaimer.
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram