Aiming for excellence via collaboration
Parra raises issues and assists in various projects
The past year has been a building exercise for the Port Alfred Ratepayers’ & Residents’ Association (Parra). Last year, our focus was on laying formal foundations for the association by creating a new logo, launching our website and recreating our Facebook page.
We believe it was necessary to create a professional and modern mechanism of communication with our members and the community we represent.
Much of the incredible work which was being done by our executive committee before this was not being effectively communicated.
Parra has for many years maintained a good working relationship with various role players including Sunshine Coast Tourism, the PA Business Forum, local media and Ndlambe Municipality.
This year, we continued to build on these relationships and have found it incredibly effective in being able to make meaningful contributions to the community.
We regularly meet with various departments at the municipality to effectively create change and address issues affecting our members.
In particular, Parra has managed to successfully:
Review and raise concerns relating to the municipal budget and auditors report, including negotiating that the annual rates remain at 5.5% or below inflation each year.
Negotiate the reduction of wasteful and excessive spending by Ndlambe.
Visit and audit water and sewage pump stations.
Monitor dam levels.
Raise the matter of the Drought Water Tariff with Ndlambe’s municipal manager and director of finance, which we are happy to say has been removed from the rates bills as of December 1, as per the council meeting on December 8.
Work with other role payers to assist with the revamp of the roof of the old PA Station building which houses the Kowie Museum.
Attend to various community projects including new gardens at the PA Library, CBD and Kelly’s Beach.
Serve on the Ndlambe Ratepayers’ Forum to raise common issues with other ratepayers associations that fall under the Ndlambe area.
Meet with the member of the SA Local Government Association who flew from Pretoria to meet with us to discuss our work in the area. A further meeting is arranged for next year to get the ball rolling on a proactive approach going forward.
We have assisted our members by raising issues and complaints relating to road repairs, removal of bush, areas of security concern and vagrant
communities to the relevant stakeholders.
Assisted in the fight against alien invasive plants around our common areas.
In the next week, Parra will be attending to further clean-ups of areas around town with Ndlambe Municipality and the PA Business Forum.
Next year is going to be an exciting year which will include the introduction of our approved street art project and other upgrades in the area.
We want to see Port Alfred improve
and stand as a real contender against other small coastal towns.
We need investment, visitors and business to flourish, and therefore we actively aim to be part of the solution.
It must be said that none of this could have been achieved without our executive committee who give of their time to serve the community; as well as our successful partnerships and annual paid membership support.
We ask our community to please support us and check our website at www.parra.org.za and our Facebook page for our regular updates.