Report back : GRA Annual General Meeting Tuesday April 2nd 2019 @ Greenside High School

Our 2019 AGM was a great success. Thank you to the many Greenside residents who took the time, on a stormy April evening, to attend the AGM. We had a very succesful meeting attended by over 140 people and we were thrilled to see a full hall of concerned, engaged community members. Attendees were greeted by mobile coffee carts and friendly local barristas offering complimentary coffees, cappucinos, chai teas, hot chocolates and lattes sponsored by Vida e caffe from the Sunny Shell Barry Hertzog and State 5. To sustain us through the evening snacks were generously donated by Doppio Zero Greenside, The MarketPlace Deli, Craighall Park and Wimpy Emmarentia.

Vida Barristas welcoming us with caffeine and smiles

GUEST SPEAKERS

Julian Ortlepp from Tree works and Johannesburg Urban Forest Alliance spoke about the crisis presented by the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer epidemic. He showed us how to identify an infestation and what possible actions should be taken. We urge you all to read further on this issue and take steps to protect our trees.
CAP representatives Sean Jammy and Lloyd Broude reported on crime trends in the suburb (see security feedback) and explained the roll out of security cameras (Vumacams) in Greenside.
Constable Makhudu from SAPS Parkview introduced himself and spoke about the importance of building relationships between the suburb and SAPS. He encouraged residents to stay vigilant, to report all crime (no matter how insignificant this seems, all information provides opportunity for police to extend investigations, to help build cases against known perpetrators and to understand crime trends in any area.)
Bridget Steer ward councillor for ward 87 provided an overview of the planned road changes that have been approved by Joburg Roads Agency (JRA). These include the closure of the Glenside/ Gleneagles intersection (this has been gazetted), the installation of traffic lights at the Gleneagles/Greenfield intersection and the Gleneagles/Greenway intersection, the plans to move long stay and student parking from the business strip to Pirates club with a development of a pedestrian path up from Pirates through Glenside rd, and concomitant upgrades to the pavements. For detailed plans you can download the JRA presentation from Google Drive using this link (it is a large file) Greenside Proposals Slideshow REV05 Aug18.pdf

INTERIM GRA COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

The interim GRA committee that has been working since December 2018 was introduced. Highlights of the achievements of the committee include the re-establishment of social media and email communication with residents and the development of a new website, new email addresses, rebuilding the email data base and a reinvigorated presence on the Official GRA Facebook Page. In this regards thanks were made to Schalk Mouton for donating his time and expertise to build this fabulous new website and Catherine Nixon for her tireless efforts to rally positive engagement on social media platforms. Bokkie Fourie was thanked for his work in registering our domain and setting up IT systems for us.

The initial aims of the committee were to get to the AGM with increased paid up members and to initiate subcommittees working in areas of concern to the suburb. The following subcommittees are operating : Finance, Membership and Community Building, Greening and Sustainability, Heritage, Planning, land use and compliance, Security, Roads and Traffic and Communications. For ongoing information about the projects of the GRA please consult the relevant tab.

The full report back by the GRA is available here.

A handout with useful information and resources was distributed and is available to download

Concerns and ideas were raised by community members about security, traffic issues, compliance and cleaning up the area. We urge all interested residents to volunteer time, energy or expertise to the committee, to pay your annual subscriptions and if you are interested to attend GRA monthly meetings.

Rather than an election, all people interested in volunteering for the GRA are invited to join and an EXCO will be elected at the first meeting of the 2019/2020 GRA committee on 23rd April 2019. If you are interested please email chair@gra.org.za

Finally at the end of a very succesful meeting there was a lucky draw with gifts generously sponsored by The Greenside Pharmacy and Mochacho’s Emmarentia and Hospice Wits (A Night with the Stars). Thank you to Postnet Greenside for sponsoring the printing of handouts and the Staff of Greenside High School for the use of their hall.