Invitation: 7 February - join Corius for Boerewors Rolls & Sparkling Wine

You are hereby invited to come and enjoy a walk through the vineyards & taste the flavors of the grapes from the different cultivars on Croydon. The walk will start from the Lifestyle Centre on Saturday, 7 February 2008 at 7h30 & will end at 10h00. Boerewors Rolls & Sparkling Wine will be served.

Cost R50 per person.

For bookings please contact the Lifestyle Centre on 021 843 3610 or info@croydon-estate.co.za. R.S.V.P before Wednesday, 4 February 2008.

Regards from the vineyards

Corius Visser

Croydon and Cape Town Film Studios - more news

Construction recently started to turn 200 hectares of land, near pristine wetlands and lush Cape vineyards, into Africa's first state-of-the art studio worthy of Hollywood or Bollywood.

Cape Town Film Studios, initially named Dreamworld, lies 25 kilometres east of its namesake city. It is the country's largest ever investment in its film industry, which employs more than 20,000 people.

Hope runs high it will boost the sector's annual earnings from the current R1 billion to as much as four times that amount.

"It is like manna, honey to the bees. It positions us as believing in the future of filmmaking in Africa," the chief executive of Cape Town Film Studios, Nico Dekker said.

The project, estimated at R430 million funded by shareholders and a R30 million investment by the Western Cape government, has been five years in the making. The first stage should take shape within a year and construction completed by February 2010.

Such an investment during a global recession does not daunt Dekker, who has confidence in South Africa's varied locations, lower production costs and what he touts as highly skilled crews.

Already parts of the 2008 film "10,000 BC", the 2006 hit "Blood Diamond" and movies starring big names like Steven Seagal, Juliette Binoche and Andie MacDowell have been filmed here.

"People don't come to South Africa only for the locations," he said."Now you can shoot through winter so you attract a different kind of production."

The only other African country with a bustling film industry is Nigeria, but its films are low-budget, mobile, non-studio productions shot on video which are often pirated as soon as they hit the streets.

Morocco has a big film studio in Ourzazate, which has hosted productions such as the 2006 film "Babel" with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, but is not on the scale of Cape Town Film Studios.

And with one of the largest Indian communities outside India, South Africa is big on Bollywood. Indian producers have flocked to film on location here in recent years and the new studio is expected to attract even more.

Bollywood producer Kumar Taurani spent three months in South Africa last year shooting the action thriller "Prince of Thieves", after 45 days in 2007 filming the blockbuster "Race" in what he describes as a "hassle free shoot".

"We got permission to shoot almost everywhere. We blocked roads for days, all government organisations gave us full cooperation," Taurani said.

'We need a common vision'
Despite its 100-year history, South Africa's own film industry never quite caught the wave that propelled smaller countries such as Australia, France and Germany to filmmaking success.

South African filmmaker Derek Antonio Serra blames years of white-minority rule that he said stifled the industry, which turned out mostly "politically correct, boring, dull" movies in post-apartheid years. The government put money into films aimed at "nation-building" and storylines got stuck around apartheid or crime, he said.

Outside a handful of movies like the 2006 "Tsotsi", that earned an Oscar for best foreign language film, South African productions have no appeal for an international audience, Serra said.

"We have a distribution problem (so) we can't make money from our films." He and others feel the new studio will stimulate creativity and improve quality, notably by encouraging more co-productions on international films.

"There are clearly projects that can't come to this country simply because we don't have stage space," said Philip Key, managing director of Moonlighting, a local production company with divisions in Chile and Romania.

It would be a "very attractive" option, he added, for firms like his to have offices at the new studio. This would "enable us to be competitive ... our scope will widen."

The Cape Town Film Studios have already recruited 61 local film-related companies to take up permanent residence at the studios; these include post-production, set building, and costume designers. “By bringing these industries together the studios will offer a one-stop venue for film makers,” said Dekker, “while ensuring local industries benefit from the foreign interest.”

For Dekker, the new studio, which will include a vast 7,000 square metres (75,300 square feet) of sound stage, is the first step to "unlock the full potential of our industry".

"We have got great crew and great locations but that is a very shallow path because if another country offers better conditions then people just go there." He has planned three major events in 2009 to bring in industry players from North America, Europe and Asia to promote South Africa as a film destination, but stressed the local industry will not be ignored.

Several projects are in the pipeline including a crew training academy at the studio and cheaper rates for South African producers when major films are not in the making.

"The whole idea is that the studio becomes a hub that you can use as a foundation from where it (local filmmaking) grows," he said. "We need a common vision and common ground for our own industry." sagoodnews.co.za

Important Notice about Special General Meeting

Dear Croydon Homeowners

There seems to be a little bit of confusion with regards to the holding and procedural process of the Special General Meeting that will be called in order to vote on the building penalty levies, therefore please note the following:

1. Together with the information with regards to the holding of the Special General Meeting you received 2 resolutions marked as Annexure A and B respectively. Annexure A relates to the deferment of payment of the penalty levies by 12 months, i.e. all the penalty levies accrued will be due and payable at the end of 4 years. Annexure B related to extending the commencement of building from 3 years to 4.

2. The Homeowners Association requests that should you have any queries and or comments, variations or additions to please send same to the HOA by the 14th of January.

3. Shortly after the 14th the Trustees will be meeting to discuss all the comments received and should additional resolutions be required these will be drafted.

4. The proposed resolutions as well as the date for the Special General Meeting will be sent to all the Homeowners once all the resolutions have been finalized.

5. Should you not be able to attend the meeting please complete a proxy form outlining the resolution you wish to vote for and submit to the HOA.

Kind regards,

Corius Visser
______________________________________

Beste Huiseienaars

Dit wil vir ons voorkom of daar onduidelikheid is in die hou en prosedure van die spesiale algemene vergadering wat ten doel het om te kan stem oor die bou boete heffings. Graag wil ons dit aan die hand van die volgende verduidelik:

1. Soos in vorige eposse het u reeds die informasie ontvang van die beoogde Spesiale Algemene Vergadering. Saam met dit het u ‘n aanhangsel A en aanhangsel B onderskeidelik ontvang. Aanhangsel A handel oor die uitstel van betaling van die boete heffing met twaalf maande met die bedoeling dat dit volledig betaalbaar sal wees aan die einde van die vierde jaar na eerste oordrag plaasgevind het. Aanhangsel B handel oor die verlenging van die intree datum vanaf eerste oordrag waarop konstruksie moet begin van 3 jaar tot 4 jaar.
2. Die huiseienaars vereniging versoek dat sou u enige navrae, kommentaar of voorstelle asseblief sal stuur na die Huiseienaars Vereniging voor of op 14 Januarie 2009.
3. Die Trustees sal spoedig na die 14de Januarie vergader en die terugvoering bespreek asook die voorstelle of veranderings. Indien sodanig sal nuwe resolusies opgetrek word vir u insae.
4. Sodra alle resolusies gefinaliseer is sal alle voorgestelde resolusies asook die datum van die voorgestelde Spesiale Algemene Vergadering aan u deurgegee word.
5. Indien u nie die Spesiale Algemene Vergadering op voorgestelde datum (moet nog gegee word) nie kan bywoon nie, kan u in stemming bly deur vir u ‘n verteenwoordiger aan te wys. Vorms in die verband sal kennisgewing van die Spesiale Algemene Vergadering vergesel en moet deur u voltooi word.

Indien enige navrae kontak gerus die kantoor. U terugvoering word opreg waardeer.

Vriendelike Groete,
Bestuur

Proposal for a Special General Meeting: submit proposals by 14 January 2009

Beste Huiseienaar

Graag wil ons van die geleentheid gebruik maak om u voorspoed toe te wens vir 2009. Mag dit ‘n geseënde jaar wees vir u en u familie.

Ons het in Desember die notules van die Algemene Jaarlikse Vergadering uitgestuur asook die voorstel van die hou van ‘n Spesiale Algemene Vergadering vir bespreking en besluitneming van die hantering van die bou klosjule wat in Januarie 2009 inwerking tree vir eienaars wat in Januarie 2006 oordrag geneem het. As gevolg van tegniese redes is ons nie seker of almal dit gekry het nie en sal graag van die geleentheid gebruik maak om dit weer aan te stuur. Let asb daarop dat die sperdatum van terugvoering in die skrewe deur gegee word as 5 Januarie 2009. Inaggenome die feit dat dit ook in die feestyd uitgestuur is wil ons graag die datum vir terugvoering aanskuif na 14 Januarie 2009.

Indien u enige navrae het kontak asseblief die Landgoed by (021) 843-3610.

Groete

Corius Visser
Landgoed Bestuurder
_____________________________

Dear Homeowner

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best for 2009. We trust that this will be a blessed year for you and your loved ones.

In December we sent out the minutes of the Annual General Meeting as well as the proposal for a Special Annual General Meeting regarding the discussion of the building regulation which is applicable from January 2009 for homeowners who took transfer in January 2006. Due to technical reasons we are not sure that all homeowners did receive the emails and would like to resend the emails. Please note that according to the proposal the last date for response was on 5th January 2009. However, considering the fact that it was sent out during the festive season we would like to set the response date to 14 January 2009.

Should you have any enquiries please contact the Estate on (021) 843-3610.

Regards

Corius Visser
Estate Manager

CROYDON VINEYARD HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
PROPOSED HOLDING OF A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

Dear Croydon Vineyard Homeowners Association Members

At the Annual General Meeting held on the 4th of December 2008 at 17:00 at the Croydon Vineyard Estate it was proposed that a Special General Meeting be called in order to make a decision with regards to Penalty Levies with regards to commencement of construction, as defined in clause 7.10.2 of the Constitution as follows:

“the Registered Owner shall pay double the amount of levies payable by the Registered Owner in respect of each month or part thereof beyond the prescribed commencement date that the Owner has not commenced construction on the Residential Erf;”

The construction commencement date as mentioned above is prescribed as follows in clause 5.2.3 of the Constitution:

“ensuring that the Registered owners commence construction of the dwellings to be erected on the respective Residential Erven within 3 (three) years from date of registration of transfer of the relevant Residential Erven into the Registered Owners’ name from the Developer (first transfer)…”

The options put forward in this regard are as follows:

Construction period remains the same.

Payment of penalty levies is deferred. (Resolution to amend constitution Attached hereto as Annexure “A” for consideration).

Construction commencement is extended to 4 (four) years (Resolution to amend constitution Attached hereto as Annexure “B” for consideration).

The legal process that needs to be followed for the possible amendment of the Constitution is as follows:

Clause 35 states that a general meeting needs to be held and should the outcome of the meeting be option B or C as mentioned above this would require adoption of a Special Resolution as well as written consent by Council.

In order for a general meeting to be legally constituted a quorum will need to be present as defined in clause 25.1 of the Constitution namely, representation of at least one half of the total number of votes of the members entitled to vote of the Association.

In order for a Special Resolution to be carried this will require a 75% majority vote by members present at the meeting by person or representation as outlined in clause 29.6 of the Constitution.

Due to the importance and implications directly to the members of the association it is the Developers decision to abstain from using its casting vote for the purpose of either calling the meeting or voting on the outcome, however reserves the right to utilize the votes entitled to it from the unsold erven.

In accordance with the above and the comments made at the Annual General meeting we request that should you have comments or suggestions with regards to the attached resolutions you please submit same to the Homeowners Association by the 5th of January 2009 in order for the final drafts of the proposed resolutions to be sent out with the official notice of the meeting.

Kind regards,
C Visser
On behalf of the Croydon Vineyard Estate Homeowner Association.
ANNEXURE “A”


SPECIAL RESOLUTION 1 PASSED BY MEANS OF A SHOW OF HANDS VOTE OF AT LEAST 75% OF THE TOTAL MEMBERS PRESENT ENTITLED TO VOTE OF THE CROYDON VINEYARD ESTATE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AT A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON ___________________________________________________

RESOLVED THAT:


Clause 7.10.2 that currently states:


“the Registered Owner shall pay double the amount of levies payable by the Registered Owner in respect of each month or part thereof beyond the prescribed commencement date that the Owner has not commenced construction on the Residential Erf;”

Be amended as follows:

“the Registered Owner shall pay double the amount of levies payable by the Registered Owner in respect of each month or part thereof beyond the prescribed commencement date that the Owner has not commenced construction on the Residential Erf. Payment of such double levies may be differed for a period of 12 (twelve) months bearing no interest and will be payable by the Registered Owner to the Association at the expiry of the 12 (twelve) month period”

Outcome:

The amendment as passed above enables the Homeowners Association to postpone payment by the registered owner of the penalty levies by 12 months at which time the levies for the period will be due and payable by the member to the association for the period in which it was postponed. In addition post the 12 month period the registered owner will be obliged to make payment of the penalty levy due by himself to the Association on a monthly basis should he fail to commence construction.




__________________________________
TRUSTEE



__________________________________
TRUSTEE



__________________________________
TRUSTEE



__________________________________
TRUSTEE



__________________________________
TRUSTEE
ANNEXURE “B”


SPECIAL RESOLUTION 1 PASSED BY MEANS OF A SHOW OF HANDS VOTE OF AT LEAST 75% OF THE TOTAL MEMBERS PRESENT ENTITLED TO VOTE OF THE CROYDON VINEYARD ESTATE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AT A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON ___________________________________________________

RESOLVED THAT:


Clause 5.2.3 that currently states:


“ensuring that the Registered owners commence construction of the dwellings to be erected on the respective Residential Erven within 3 (three) years from date of registration of transfer of the relevant Residential Erven into the Registered Owners’ name from the Developer (first transfer)…”


Be amended as follows:

“ensuring that the Registered owners commence construction of the dwellings to be erected on the respective Residential Erven within 4 (four) years from date of registration of transfer of the relevant Residential Erven into the Registered Owners’ name from the Developer (first transfer)…”


Outcome:


The amendment extends the period in which construction is required to commence from 3 (three) to 4 (four) years.




__________________________________
TRUSTEE



__________________________________
TRUSTEE



__________________________________
TRUSTEE



__________________________________
TRUSTEE



__________________________________
TRUSTEE

Owners are welcomed to 2009

Home owners are wished a properous and peaceful 2009 by the Estate.

Owners will have noticed from the minutes lower down in the blog that the end of 2008 saw the holding of the AGM of the association. Members will have noted that an increase in the levies was kept as low as possible at 9% and that the new levies are R1015.

Casper Steenkamp and Jason Parkin were elected as home owner trustees.

Seeff Properties are happy to report that a number of sales were done over the holiday period. The Estate is experiencing plenty of construction at the moment and the next year will see a lot of new families moving onto the Estate.

Please note that a Special General Meeting of members will be called to consider whether to extend the length of the period during which house construction must occur - from three years to four years. Members will be advised of the date of this meeting and provided with background information to the proposal as soon as it is ready.