PRA takes down ‘Amazon jungle’
While the grass-cutting was in progress, Baxter mentioned that he wanted to embark on other projects such as fencing the open areas.
As City Parks dragged its feet to address grass-cutting concerns in the Weltevreden Park area, the Panorama Residents Association (PRA) took the responsibility into their own hands.
The PRA, chaired by Dave Baxter, organised a clean-up project for the Easter weekend, during which they tackled the overgrown and unmaintained areas including Phill Allen Avenue and Pranticole Street, dubbed the ‘Amazon jungle’ by the locals.
Since RA had to fork out some money to get the job done, the pressure to spend on grasscutters was alleviated when The Hire Shop in Valley Centre came to the party and sponsored all the necessary grass-cutting equipment to get the job competed.
While the grass-cutting was in progress, Baxter mentioned that he wanted to embark on other projects. “We want to put up a fence around some of the open areas to prevent people from camping there. This initiative will reduce residents’ security concerns,” he said.
However, Dave made it clear that most projects will benefit areas where there is a higher percentage of membership.
“If we have an area with 90 per cent membership, they will get 90 per cent priority from the RA, whereas an area with 20 per cent membership will get 20 per cent of the job done,” Dave said, appealing to residents of the area to join the RA.
An active member of the RA, JP du Val, explained how crime is reduced when a resident is a member of an RA. “We encourage people to join the PRA because 90 per cent of the crime our members report is happening to non-members,” he said.
“It’s R250 for a year – nobody can say they cannot afford it,” Dave said.
To join the Panorama Residents Association, contact Dave Baxter on 083 990 0966 or send an email to info@panoramaRA.co.za.
