Dear Homeowners and Residents
Welcome to the October 2024 edition of the Welgevonden Estate newsletter.
Approval of the Welgevonden Park development
We are pleased to announce that the consent use applications for the Welgevonden Park development have been approved by the Stellenbosch Municipality. The project team will now finalise the construction and building plans, as well as the detail costing. Please see the full scope of the design in the images below. Naturally, this is dependent on the available budget, which is to be presented and decided upon at the WHOA AGM in November this year.
Excom is excited about this development, set to elevate Welgevonden Estate into one of the standout communities in the Cape Winelands!
Conceptual architectural images of the Welgevonden Park development
Garden of the Year 2024 competition
Thank you to everyone who has entered this year’s Garden of the Year competition, sponsored by SADIECOFFEE. Judging will be from on 18 October, with the winners announced during the week of 21 October 2024.
We are excited to announce that Leon Kluge, internationally renowned South African landscape designer and botanist, will be one of the adjudicators of this year’s competition. Leon, who recently was a guest of honour at the Welgevonden Estate Arbor Week celebrations, is known for his award-winning, sustainable garden designs.
Leon Kluge addressing those present at Welgevonden Estate Arbor Week 2024 celebrations
Upkeep of gardens and general maintenance
While on the topic of gardens, during recent routine inspections we observed several gardens and driveways that require attention, and we continuously send notices to relevant homeowners to address these areas.
As we move into summer, we encourage all residents to prioritise the upkeep of their gardens and driveways. Regular mowing of lawns, trimming of trees and plants, and weeding of gardens, driveways, and access ramps are essential to maintain the overall appearance of Welgevonden Estate and ensure that each property looks its best.
Refuse bins on refuse removal days and the numbering of bins
Please return refuse bins that were placed out for refuse collection on Fridays to your property on the same, or latest the following day. Please ask a neighbour to assist you if you’re planning to go away for the weekend and not able to do it yourself.
Checks are conducted on Mondays to ensure compliance with Rule 15 of the WHOA Estate Rules regarding the proper storage of refuse bins. In this regard Rule 15.1 reads as follows:
15.1 A refuse container must be kept on an erf in such a manner as to prevent foraging as far as possible, and so that it is not visible from a communal facility or another erf.
Furthermore, please also ensure that your refuse bin is clearly marked with your house number. This is important as municipal refuse removal teams sometimes move refuse bins to central points on the estate for collection, often not returning them. In these instances, it is difficult to identify which empty bins belong to which erven, as they are not clearly marked. Numbering the bins makes it easy for residents and estate management to identify the bins, and it contributes to a uniform appearance throughout the estate.
Complimentary numbers are available at the estate office (R44 entrance). Please collect yours during office hours.
Aesthetics standards of homes and properties
The appearance of buildings on Welgevonden Estate are regulated by the WHOA Architectural Directives and Design Guidelines (AD&DG). This document provides a framework for designing, constructing, and altering individual properties on Welgevonden Estate, thereby promoting a unique and cohesive architectural identity, and a development with a harmonious aesthetic.
At times estate management finds that residents violate the AD&DG by adding or making changes to their properties that do not align with these directives. This often happens not out of intent, but due to a lack of awareness regarding the guidelines, or detailed knowledge about its content. Also, these oversights often relate to minor breaches such as using picket or wire fences to keep dogs in, or screening off air conditioners and refuse bins in ways that are neither visually pleasing, nor in harmony with Welgevonden Estate’s overall architectural appearance.
We therefore wish to to remind all homeowners and residents of the content of the AD&DG and encourage them to review its directives and guidelines before making any additions or changes to properties. If unsure, please contact the estate manager prior to implementing any changes and incurring cost.
The AD&DG is a dynamic set of directives and guidelines which is routinely updated to remain current. In this regard the latest proposed amendments will be tabled for approval at the next WHOA AGM in November this year.
Please click here to view or download the WHOA AD&DG, or contact the estate office if you need more information. Also see the Welgevonden Estate website for more statutory and other documents pertaining to the estate’s governance.
Welgevonden dam
It is wonderful to see the Welgevonden Estate community enjoying the facilities at the Welgevonden dam!
We would like to remind residents that, as per Rule 19.8 of the WHOA Estate Rules, alcohol is not permitted at the dam:
19.8 A person may not bring any intoxicating substance into the dam, Welgevonden Park and the areas surrounding the dam and Welgevonden Park.
Residents enjoying the outdoors at the Welgevonden dam
New and extension of existing lease agreements
As mentioned in our previous newsletter, most lease agreements at Welgevonden Estate are annual, and typically conclude or renew at the end of November each year. We encourage landlords, tenants, and estate agents to streamline their rental processes and submit fully completed new agreements by early November, rather than waiting until the end of November to do so. Please send these via e-mail to the following e-mail address: admin@welgevonden.co.za.
Following this process benefits everyone involved, as it allows estate management to update tenant details in advance, avoiding the typical end-of-November rush.
WHOA AGM 2024
This year’s WHOA annual general meeting will be held at 18:00 on Thursday 21 November 2024 at Weltevreden Estate, which is adjacent to Welgevonden Estate outside the R304 entrance.
More information will be made available soon.
Best regards
Gawie Marx
Estate Manager
11 October 2024
