capeocc@ourcapelife.org
Art work for electrical cabinet
Way back in 2021, there was a great initiative by Cape residents to adorn an NBN box in Periwinkle Place with local artwork.
Recent electrical works for the farm have presented us with an ideal blank canvas. So, we’d like to start a conversation about doing a similar thing.
The opportunity relates to the back of the electrical distribution cabinet located adjacent to, and on north-east side of the car park.
The last time the art was created digitally and printed on a vinyl wrap which was applied to the cabinet. A similar thing could be done this time, or we could potentially apply a painted mural directly to the cabinet.
Last time the art was a synthesis drawing from original painted works by Helen Temple, Fran Kirkpatrick, and Joanne Spano. We could do something simiar again, or potentially commission an original work from an artist.
So, if you have any thoughts, please contact the committee via email and we’ll try to get the ball rolling.
Car share
Over the last few years, the topic of car sharing at the Cape has arisen a few times. We know there are households who occasionally need another vehicle. There are probably also households with under-utilised vehicles.
The OCC is in favour of having some form of share car arrangement within The Cape. So, for those with an under-utilised vehicle, we’d like to encourage you to consider making it available to your neighbours using a car-share platform. We’re aware of one platform that looks good called Drive Mate. This allows car owners to earn money on their under-utilised car, and allows car renters affordable occasional access to a vehicle in their neighbourhood. See explanatory video here.
If anyone is prepared to list their car on the Drive Mate platform for sharing, the OCC will help facilitate a reserved car space within the car park.
Two new builders at The Cape
Millbuilt. Expect to see The Cape’s first pre-fab home quickly take shape at 4a Peregrine Crt in the next few months. This will be from Millbuilt in Healesville. This home is intended to be a display home for Millbuilt. It will be interesting to see this mode of construction being used at The Cape.
G.J.Gardner. The local Gippsland franchise of G.J Gardner has been engaged to build a home at The Cape. It will be very interesting to see how this goes.
Builder signs
There are numerous promotional signs around the Cape associated with builders, landscapers etc that have been present well beyond an appropriate period. To help preserve our lovely streetscapes, we remind everyone that signs like these need to be removed within a reasonable period after your home or landscaping works are complete.
So, if you are hosting a sign like this, please arrange with the responsible party for its removal. If you have any questions, or need help with it, please contact the OCC at capeocc@ourcapelife.org.
Bowls green issues
Box
The storage locker for bowls, pickleball gear, etc, which is at the south end of the bowls green is damaged and needs repair or replacing. As a result, we had rain get into the box causing some damage to shared equipment.
As an interim arrangement to keep the lid on, a weight is being used on the lid so that it doesn’t blow open and allow rain to enter.
If you use it, please replace the weight so we can keep the weather out.
Lock
The gate has been found unlocked, or incorrectly locked on at least two occasions. If you use the bowls green, please make sure to lock both gates securely when you leave.
Open-batten fences
Our design guidelines call for open-batten fences to be used in certain situations. There have been situations where these fences have not been built quite right.
Generally the DRP specify that open-batten fences and screens need to be no less than 30% open. This mean the ratio of opening to batten width is no less than 30:70. It does not mean an opening that is 30% of the batten width. 30% open means the opening is actually three sevenths, or ~43% of the batten width.
Please bear this in mind if you are building an open-batten fence or screen.
Update on EV charger
Our new Sungrow EV charger has been online and working since mid December. It’s been working well and the OCC hasn’t received any complaints or concerns.
As at 22 March, the new charger has been used 202 times and has given gross earnings of $2524.
The charger is currently being operated with a gross tariff of 50c/kWh, which allows us to cover our costs of running the charger, with a small margin for contingencies.
The new charger is a DC unit, rated at 30kW charge speed with a single CCS2 charging plug.
Second charger?
We’re considering adding a second charger unit to complement the current one. We think an AC charger capable of 11kW charge speed would:
- help provide some fail-safe redundancy in case of problems with the main unit;
- allow two simultaneous charge sessions;
- allow us to charge the small number of EV types that do not use the CCS2 charging standard (eg., Nissan Leafs);
- help with potentially hosting an EV share car in the car park in the future.
If you have thoughts about this, please let the OCC know by email.
Mowing of vacant lots
Keeping the grass down on vacant lots is a perennial issue. The obligation for lot owners to do this comes from Council. The OCC have historically endeavoured to try to help manage this when it’s seen to be required. However, the OCC feel that their being sometimes ‘in the loop’ is not really working.
In the past, OCC would attempt to mediate between concerned neighbours and the relevant lot owners of vacant lots. In future, however, the OCC will no longer do this. OCC will help facilitate initial neighbour-to-neighbour introduction where necessary. After that, we encourage neighbours to liaise directly with vacant lot owners, and then to raise the matter with Council if no luck with direct communication.
Up-coming Events
Sourdough workshop
What: Sourdough – your journey begins
When: 1 – 5pm on Saturday April 26
Where: The Display Home (corner of Trumper Street and Sunlight Bvd, Cape Paterson)
Cost: $120 or $100 for Cape Community Farm members
Bookings: Bookings can be made here .
During this hands-on session you’ll learn about the basics of working with sourdough. You’ll see how easy it is to finalise a loaf ready for the oven, as well as building a focaccia.
You’ll be mixing the ingredients together for your very own loaf which you’ll take home to finish and cook. You’ll learn how and when to stretch the dough.
Together, we’ll do the final stages to a dough that has been rested and is ready to go in the oven.
You will also see how easy it is to use your sourdough starter to make a delicious focaccia – which we’ll cook and sample later.
At the end of the session, we will be tasting that loaf we cooked as well as the focaccia. You will take home your very own jar of starter; the loaf you have begun working so that you can finish and cook it at home; along with notes and some recipes.
We look forward to seeing you in the kitchen for some sourdough magic.
Introduction to Permaculture
What: Want to learn more about Permaculture?
Where: Cape Community Farm
When: Thursday 24 April at 10am till 2pm.
Bookings here.
Join local Permaculture experts Rick Coleman and Adrian James at The Cape Community Farm for this great opportunity. On the Day you will:
- Gain an introductory understanding of the
Permaculture Design Framework. - Learn about how Permaculture empowers
practitioners to make positive change in their
communities. - Participate in a tour of The Cape Ecovillage looking
through the eyes of expert permaculture
practitioners. - Make connections assisting you to launch out on
your own permaculture journey.
Cost: $90, or $80 for members of the Cape Community Farm
ANZAC Weekend bike ride
Join us on Sunday 27 April for a fun and relaxed Cape community bike ride along a beautiful section of the Great Southern Rail Trail, 8.2km from Koonwarra to Meeniyan.
The trail is mostly flat and easy-going and reasonably protected from weather – perfect for all ages (our kids did it at 6 and 9 and had lots of fun… though the pizza and gelato might have helped!. Along the way, there are tunnels, bridges, and beautiful scenery!
We will arrive at Trulli’s wood fired pizza (amazing Italian food if you haven’t tried it) at around 1.30 PM for a relaxed lunch.
Meet and park cars at Koonwarra Rail Trail car park: 12:00 noon
Lunch at Trulli’s: approx. 1:30pm – 2.30PM
2.30PM (approx.) ride back to Koonwarra
Not a rider? No worries— feel free to join us for lunch at Trullis.
Please comment on the Facebook post or contact Kim Hauser on 0428 905 974 to see if we can help sort out a lift for your bike and please let us know if you’re coming and riding or meeting us there so we can give Trulli’s a heads-up on numbers.
Find out more about the trail here.
Kids Easter-Egg Hunt
We’re holding an Easter Egg Hunt for Cape families on Good Friday 18th April at the Cape Community Playground at 9:30am.
If your kids are taking part, please drop off a small bag of nut-free chocolate eggs to 20 Seastar Street by Thursday evening, 17th April.
All eggs will be combined and hidden, so your child may not receive the ones you provide.
Please bring the baskets or something to collect the eggs in, and some morning tea to share with fellow families.
Our Cape Life 