Lower Houghton Residents Association AGM highlights challenges in the area
KILLARNEY – Members of the Lower Houghton Residents Association and residents attended the association's AGM hosted at the Killarney Country Club.
More than 50 residents attended the Lower Houghton Residents Association (LHRA) AGM on 24 October discussing the challenges facing the area, crime trends, the infamous shot-hole borer and a new online collaborative platform for building the community.
The association’s chairperson Natalie Webb opened the meeting hosted at the Killarney Country Club, drawing attention to the challenges faced by the association. Webb said there has been a rapid increase in development and rezoning in the area, a number of town-planning issues and building by-law transgressions.
To address the issue of rapid development in the area, Webb said, “Our position is not to oppose change unnecessarily. We want to see change done in a gentle fashion so as to not upset residents.”
With only 10 committee members, Webb said the association felt ill-equipped to overcome challenges. “We cannot continue this way with so few volunteers. We need new blood this year to tackle challenges. We want to outsource the skills of experts, but cannot do so without more income.
“We want to live in a suburb that cares for each other. We want to do work beyond holding transgressors accountable. There is a lot we want to achieve but we need more money, time and people,” added Webb, appealing for more volunteers to join the committee.
Head of the reservists at Norwood police Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Glajchen addressed those in attendance, drawing attention to the fact that although crime had dropped in the area, there had been an increase in home invasions, house robberies and hijackings. “The newest trend is for perpetrators of home invasions to not arm themselves but rather use garden implements like picks and shovels to gain access to properties and then tie people up,” said Glajchen.
He also encouraged residents to get involved in crime sector forums and the community policing forum to assist in reducing crime in their suburb. To get involved, email jonathan@swatco.co.za
Association volunteer Janice Scheckter encouraged residents to get to know their neighbours by connecting digitally on www.joburgcitynetwork.com
“If we aren’t connecting on the sidewalk, then let’s connect digitally to build critical mass to make a change and build community,” said Scheckter.
Details: Like the ‘I Love Houghton’ Facebook page to find out more.
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