A meeting took place this morning at the insistence of the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) after they had received an objection as to the legality of the boom and the issue of remotes.
The meeting was attended by:
- Mr. Owen Whelan – JRA
- Ms. Carol Cardwell
- Mr. David Epstein
- Mr. Jeremy Guimaraens (who offered his practice for the meeting)
- Mr. Shaun Kirk
- Mr. Dave Light
- Mr. Richard Rushton
- Mr. Wayne Taljaard
- Mr. Bruce Walsh
- 2 Representatives from 7Arrows Brendon and another whose name escape me right now.
- Apologies were extend by Mr. Colin Dagnin who could not attend.
We were identified in the objection as “interested parties” in the matter.
The objection pointed to 2 issues:
- The motorised boom and;
- the issue of remotes for access.
On Point 1: Although the objection erred in terms of the details of the motorised / electronic boom, Mr. Owen Whelan from the JRA was emphatic in his response: The access point on Rietfontein Road is unauthorised as no application has been made in terms of the Security Access Restriction Policy of 2014. A copy of which can be downloaded from this link:
On Point 2: The response from Mr. Whelan – In terms of the Policy no discrimination may be applied in terms of who gets a remote and who does not (Sec. 7.1.6).
The JRA has given the Community a grace period until 31 May 2016 to “get our house in order” i.e. to submit an application. In the interim period, no action will be taken regarding the boom on the basis that the access point/boom is manned 24-hours a day (the push-button stays) and until such time that we have had our application adjudicated at a formal hearing.
Once successful, this will mean that for a period of 2 years – the access-point cannot be objected to by anyone. The permit will need to be renewed every 2 years thereafter.
More to follow next week in terms of details, planning, etc.
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