LETTERS: Moving with the times

It’s good to see all the marketing regarding the huge Palm Lakes Estate and “country living”. No doubt development “up North” will amaze us all in time to come.
I do have a question though regarding living as far ‘out’ as Palm Lakes. As far as shops and daily needs of residents are concerned, particularly residents in the retirement village, when will transport be in operation?
This is essential for the folks in the retirement village to get to Ballito centre to do their shopping, visit the chemist or simply to have their hair done. Transport was part of the marketing pitch when I was approached a year or more ago.
There are people living at Palm Lakes retirement that currently have to depend solely on someone else when they need to come into ‘town’ as there is no provision for them.
In fact, there should also be some form of transport for the residents to get around the estate as it is impossible to walk to the clubhouse from the village.
This is a vital part of retirement needs and I would like to find out when the transport will be in place before I consider moving out there.
M COMBRINCK
Ballito

Olivia Roels-Sak, SOO of Royal Palm Property Holdings Ltd responds:
Palm Lakes Retirement Estate transferred the first units around two years ago. At the moment we have 50 levy payers in that part of the estate. Soon, we will transfer another 20 units which are currently still under construction, but we have guaranteed sales on all those units. This will result in 70 levy payers by the beginning of next year. Like every development, you need the numbers to make your facilities viable. I agree with Mrs Combrinck that a retirement estate needs organised transport for its residents and this has always been the plan. At the last trustee meeting of the Retirement Village, we suggested to make an arrangement with a transport company to start a twice-a-week service to the Tiffany’s and Lifestyle centres. We are awaiting prices and we will obviously, as a board of trustees, communicate this with the homeowners. Mrs Combrinck is also welcome to contact me directly if she needs more information on this (032-8151041).