Dear Welgevonden Estate Homeowners and Residents
Welcome to the August 2023 edition of the Welgevonden Estate newsletter. In this issue you can read about progress with four current development and building projects that will further enhance estate life, National Arbor Week, the upcoming Garden-of-the-Year competition, the successful completion of the blanket drive for Huis Ebenaeser, and the next planned outreach project.
A. ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Update: Development of the Welgevonden dam area
Construction and building work to upgrade the Welgevonden dam area for recreational use commenced in May this year. Unfortunately building work was delayed by around seven weeks due to the ongoing and exceptionally heavy rains we’ve experienced since the start of winter.
However, the contractor was able to make good progress during the warmer and dry weather of the past two weeks, also working on Saturdays to catch up. With spring and the improvement in weather that comes with it around the corner, we foresee steady progress from now on.
As it now stands, the project should be completed by the end of September this year.
Development of the Welgevonden Park
Our town planner is currently busy with preliminary work that is required to apply for, and obtain, Stellenbosch Municipality’s approval for the development of the Welgevonden Park lifestyle centre.
Part of this was an environmental impact assessment that was done. Furthermore, we’ve received confirmation from the Western Cape Government’s Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) that the proposed development in terms of the EIA Regulations, 2014, (as amended) does not require any approval from the Department.
The Site Development Plan (SDP) for the development will now be submitted to the Stellenbosch Municipality, with feedback expected by mid-October 2023.
Excom has, in the meantime, received several requests from homeowners to also provide for padel tennis courts as part of the development. Based on this, we have approached a leading sports company for advice, and to determine the cost for adding two padel tennis courts to the existing plans. Once we’ve received their feedback, and if feasible, we will do an opinion survey amongst all homeowners to determine the interest in padel tennis, to pave the road ahead if there is a demand, and to determine how to fund the two padel tennis courts.
Upgrading R44 pedestrian entrance
To coincide with the upgrade of the Welgevonden dam, Excom has approved the construction of a covered veranda at the R44 pedestrian entrance to Welgevonden Estate. This long-overdue cover will provide shelter for pedestrians and security personnel against the rain.
Building plans have been drawn up and were sent to Stellenbosch Municipality for approval.
Levelling of grass area to provide for playing ball sports
The image below shows an area that will be levelled to provide for playing ball sports. We are happy to confirm that construction will start towards the end of September this year.
B. ESTATE LANDSCAPING
National Arbor Week, 4-10 September 2023
National Arbor Week is a time when South Africans of all ages are encouraged to celebrate the beauty and importance of trees. It is also an opportune time to become involved in planting indigenous trees as a practical and symbolic gesture of sustainable environmental management.
For 2023, the tree of the year in the rare tree category is the Tree-wisteria (Bolusanthus speciosus), and in the common tree category, the Olive Sagewood (Buddleja Saligna).
As part of Arbor Week 2023, we will be planting a legacy tree on Welgevonden Estate. Legacy trees refer to larger trees ranging in size from 2000 litre and more when fully grown. The tree chosen for this year will be a Plataan (London Plain) (Platanus acerifolia).
Residents’ involvement
Welgevonden Estate residents can participate in the planting of this tree by entering our competition, and stand a chance to win an amazing prize in our lucky draw.
To enter, we will be asking for a donation of R100 as part of a sponsorship for the tree. In return, the names of the sponsors will be displayed on a plaque at the tree, and their names will be entered in the lucky draw.
How to enter
To enter, you will be pledging a R100 donation as part of a sponsorship for the tree, and you will have to answer a question. (Please see the question below.)
You can enter as many times as you like – R100 per entry.
Send your entry with your name and your answer to the question via e-mail to admin@welgevonden.co.za before 16:00 on 1 September 2023.
Please make payment (cash or card) at the estate office, R44 entrance, before 16:00 on 1 September 2023.
The lucky draw question:
Where do you think the legacy tree will be planted on Welgevonden Estate? (Hint: There might be value in asking around. Those who know might just be willing to part with the answer!)
Garden-of-the-Year competition 2023
We are delighted to announce this year’s Welgevonden Estate Garden-of-the-Year competition which will, as before, be sponsored by Leapfrog Properties Stellenbosch, for the third year in succession.
This competition aims to acknowledge and reward Welgevonden Estate residents who make a difference in our neighbourhood by taking pride in their gardens. Entries will be open from Monday 4 September until Friday 29 September 2023. Judging takes place from 16-18 October, and the prize winners will be announced on 20 October 2023.
Five prizes are at stake – first prize Garden-of-the-Year 2023, runner-up Garden-of-the-Year 2023, a prize for the most water-wise indigenous garden, a prize for the best newly-established garden, and – new this year! – a prize for the Gardening-Street-of-the-Year 2023!
We look forward to all gardening enthusiasts entering for the competition! Entry forms will be made available by 4 September 2023.
Handing over of prizes to the winners of the Garden-of-the-Year competition 2022
C. OUTREACH PROGRAMME
Blanket drive for Huis Ebenhaeser, Cloetesville
We are happy to share with you that we have received 82 blankets for Huis Ebenhaeser, a place of care for more than 100 senior citizens. Thank you to those Welgevonden Estate residents who donated blankets, and, especially, for the positive and caring spirit in which the donations were made.
The blankets were handed over on 8 August during a visit by estate management and several Welgevonden Estate residents to Huis Ebenhaeser.
The next project
For Welgevonden Estate’s next outreach project, we invite residents to donate tinned food and non-perishable food items for Aunt Margaret Wagner’s soup kitchen in Cloetesville.
Aunt Margaret has been living at the Kloof Street flats along the R44 with her husband, Adam, who serves as caretaker for the past 30 years. Margaret initially started to provide porridge weekly to undernourished children. Due to the great need in the community, she currently provides food to approximately 170 children twice a week – something she has been doing for the past 15 years. She gets support from Feeding in Action, but it is not enough to provide in the need in the community. (Click here to read more about Feeding in Action.)
Drop-off point for your contribution: Please deliver your contribution to the estate office (R44 entrance) between 10:00 and 16:00 on weekdays.
Closing date: We are planning to deliver the items to Margaret’s soup kitchen during the week of 4 September 2023. We, therefore, would appreciate your donation by the latest 1 September.
Please join in! This Welgevonden Estate community initiative will go a long way towards helping those who are less fortunate, and we invite all residents to contribute towards this good cause.
Margaret’s soup kitchen in Cloetesville in action!
Best regards
Gawie Marx
Estate Manager
10 August 2023
