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From the Estate Manager

What’s Happening @Dunkirk

Dear Residents,

As we settle into winter, I hope you are snuggling under a blanket for this read with a drink of your choice.

We are coming to the end of our Budget year and are wrapping up the last of our projects, so there are a lot of projects underway at the moment.

The steam room is about halfway through its retiling, the Forest pool will then get some attention, and the Forest Clubhouse is being repainted. Pipework from the boreholes has been extended down Sameja Drive and through Forest Lane, additionally, another tank has been added for storage. The screening on these is about

halfway through and will also be completed in the next week or so.

The new pedestrian gate opposite Dash Luxury Apartments with access onto the fence line down to Hugh Dent has been completed. Use your newly loaded facial recognition to go through there, avoiding the very busy and dangerous intersection on the main road where there are no pavements or safe pedestrian access.

4-wheeler mule will be replaced with an electric E-Bike trike for quieter, more efficient, and costeffective patrols and work around the estate. We will also be doing a small update to the office to keep in line with the beautiful upgrades that we have done to the rest of our estate facilities, as well as minor upgrades to some of our streetlights.

Our new Budget starts on the 1st of July. While it is not a big year in terms of Capex projects, there are some necessary upgrades that we will be making, such as the purchase of a new Hyundai H100 to replace the Dunkirk bakkie, which has worked very hard and is ready to be retired. The old petrol

Now that building work in the estate is mostly done, there will be other work starting in July, to de-silt and re-line the Weaver Dam during the dry season. This will be a little messy to start with, but the dam will fill very quickly once the rainy season begins again. Although it is primarily a storm-water attenuation dam, it will look more beautiful than ever, once again attracting a wide variety of water birds for our resident enthusiasts.

The Beach Club will be getting solar backup power over the coming financial year so that we can still offer you the very best “office space” on the North Coast with an excellent cup of coffee to help those brain cells; even when the power is down in the area. Although the days are shorter and the evenings cooler, we still have some beautifully warm, sunshiny days, and the beach is still gorgeous, so pop down to the Beach Club for an early lunch or late afternoon sundowners or enjoy a pizza from Ray’s on a lounger at the pool. Warm wishes

Estate Manager

Clubhouse Manager’s Newsletter

Dear Residents of the fantastic 032, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the warm welcome to Dunkirk Estate. Even though I might not know everyone by name yet, that will come with time. I had to hit the ground running with

multiple projects on the go, mainly maintenance work, such as the Beach Club’s upstairs decking and walkway renovation.

With Natasha’s guidance, I got a clear understanding of what needed to be done to make sure a high level of

excellence and professionalism was met.

I am sure, as everyone has seen, a lot of upgrades and maintenance have been done and are still underway at the Beach Club, from reviving furniture to installing new equipment and maintaining the car park. I feel that these small things bring the Beach Club to life. I would like to thank all the residents for their patience and understanding as we moved over to facial recognition.

We had a lot of teething issues, which have now been ironed out. In today’s day and age, we all need to adapt to the latest technology, which improves our everyday lives. As I am sure everyone has noticed by now, the HOA decided to donate and install new timber to the Salt Rock Lifesavers lookout. With so many of the residents and the public having access to the lookout, which is a Salt Rock monument, we felt the need to try and give back to the fantastic Salt Rock Lifesavers. Although it is not fully completed, it once again brings life to the already breathtaking views at the Beach Club.

bear with us during these upgrades and planned maintenance. With the colder months upon us, it’s always best to get major upgrades and repairs done during this time.

There are some innovations which we are actively working on with the North Coast community that will make sure the beaches are safe and clean.

Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns; I am always happy to help.

Some exciting new upgrades are happening at the Club House and Community Centre, so please

Club House Manager Clinton Andrews

Beach Cafe

You may have noticed I haven’t been around the café as much lately, and I wanted to share a little life update with you all.

Our family is growing - we’re expecting a baby girl soon! With this exciting new chapter on the horizon, I’ve stepped back from the day-to-day operations at Dunkirk Beach Cafe.

But the good news is that the café is in excellent handsmy Dad, Boetie, has taken over the daily running.

Many of you already know him, and if you don’t, you’ll quickly see his warmth and love for this space shine through.

Although I’m not on-site every day, I remain very much involved behind the scenes. We’re dreaming up some special things for the winter season and can’t wait to share them with you.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and love for our little café by the sea.

With love,

Hadley, Charles, Noa and soon-to-be Baby Girl Matthews! Think Smart,

Phezulu Drive, Ballito

Eensy Weensy JuMping SpidEr

June’s creature focus is the Jumping Spider. This spider, which is completely harmless (and adorable), is typically only between 4mm and 10mm in size.

This spider belongs to the family of spiders called “Salticidae” and is found across South Africa. This little fellow was photographed by Miguel Nicholson inside Dunkirk.

Interestingly, these spiders do not build webs; they are “freeliving” and hunt with their excellent vision (which four pairs of eyes can give you!). They feed on flies, mosquitoes, and a range of other small insects.

They can leap up to 50 times their body length using a sudden change in blood pressure in their legs, not their muscles. They attach a silky safety thread before jumping - in essence, like a bungee cord to catch themselves should they fall. Far from dangerous, jumping spiders are intelligent, patient hunters, relying on precision and agility rather than webs to catch their prey.

Jumping spiders offer several benefits to us Homo sapiens , most notably the fact that they are a natural pest control - I could personally do with anyone who is helping reduce the number of flies in Dunkirk in a natural “fun-loving” way (well, maybe not so fun for the fly).

These little creatures do face challenges that impact their populations.

Habitat destruction due to urbanisation and deforestation is a significant concern, as many species rely on specific environments to thrive.

Pesticide use also poses a risk, as these chemicals can harm jumping spiders directly or disrupt their food sources. So, protect green spaces, forests, and gardens from excessive development and keep their natural environments intact. Even small urban gardens can serve as safe havens, and this is where you can play a part. Avoid pesticides in your own home and opt for natural pest control methods to avoid harm to jumping spiders and other beneficial species.

Most people fear spiders, but these beautiful Jumping Spiders have an undeniable charm. These tiny acrobats, with their oversized, curious eyes and delicate dancing movements, are more like inquisitive explorers than menacing beasts. Instead of shrinking away, or worse yet, harming one, if you’re lucky enough to come across one, take a moment to observe it.

LOOKING TO BUY, SELL OR RENT?

If you are looking for expert property advice, let’s talk Tyson Properties North Coast. Offering expert property advice from valuations, sales, rentals or investment opportunities. Contact Murray Haywood and his experienced team today and let’s talk. TYSON PROPERTIES | NORTH COAST

northcoast@tysonprop.co.za • www.tysonprop.co.za

Murray Haywood 083 391 7037 murray@tysonprop.co.za

Cindy Haywood 083 631 6410 cindy@tysonprop.co.za

Sheila Triegaardt 082 920 1193 sheila@tysonprop.co.za

NORTH COAST

Richard McKibbin visited our estate to give a talk on the unique identification of leopards. He is a biodiversity specialist, a passionate naturalist, a photographer, and a public speaker. With over 16 years of guiding experience throughout Southern Africa, Richard has dedicated most of his life to wildlife conservation. He has led and participated in various research projects focused on leopards, crowned eagles, and Eurasian

Eastern Shores Leopard 18

lynx. Currently, he is involved in a Python research project in South Africa. Together with his wife, Candice, Richard worked on a two-year leopard identification project in the Eastern Shores of iSimangaliso, after which they launched their business focused on conservation,

biodiversity, and tourism called The LionHeart Experience.

In addition to their conservation efforts, Richard and Candice aim to connect people with the natural world, providing incredible and unforgettable experiences as they explore the beauty of nature. Richard utilises his photography and writing to inspire others, ignite a passion for wildlife, and promote awareness of environmental issues.

Step into our centre and experience the future of health, today.

For 20 years the EESystem has healed all ages and conditions. Now in Ballito!

A significant component of their business is a project called ECHO, which focuses on conservation within residential and eco-estates in the Greater Durban and North Coast areas. This project is currently expanding into other parts of South Africa and beyond, furthering their commitment to biodiversity protection.

Easter EggHunT

We joyfully hosted the Easter Egg Hunt as we do every year, and it’s always such a delight to see the happy faces. We had an amazing afternoon with the little ones!

ORCHIDS, ArT & gOLd

We had the pleasure of hosting Daleen Roodt, a self-taught botanical artist based in Hillcrest.

She shared insights about her 2024 exhibition at the RHS Botanical Art Exhibition in London, where her display of six paintings earned not

only an RHS Gold Medal but also the Best Artwork on Show and the People’s Choice Award.

Daleen also discussed her four-year journey in preparing for this winning exhibition, sharing fascinating stories about our unique South African orchids and the highly specialised birds and insects involved in their pollination processes.

We go back to the basics of how business used to be done - the artisanal way. Our aim is to create a service that is meaningful and beneficial to our clients, with all the efficiency and care one would expect when selling or buying a home. Visit www.homegroundrealestate.co.za or contact us to connect. 072 477 2418 | benjamin@homegroundestates.co.za

Visit her website on www.daleenroodt.com or follow her on Instagram.com/artist.daleenroodt or www.facebook.com/daleenroodt

Ray’s KiTCHEn

We love creating memorable events!

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