HOUSE & GROUNDS – Chairman’s Report

Ongoing maintenance and the upgrading of our current facilities will always be the focus of the House & Grounds Committee. 

With the help from the Finance Committee we established our 5-year Capex programme for the Club.  This was explained at a meeting to members.  The following major projects will form part of this programme starting in 2010/2011:

-                      completion of the Sports Pavilion

-                      extension of the fitness centre facility

-                      resurfacing of 11 tennis courts

-                      opening of a treatment centre

-                      upgrading of all our restaurants and kitchens

-                      upgrading of the Grill Room air-conditioner

-                      upgrading of all our conference facilities

-                      upgrading of our staff quarters

To complete this programme will cost in the region of R8 million in today’s value and to be able to afford this the Club needs to operate on a profitable basis.

During the current year we completed the following projects:

-                      the new security entrance on the rugby field including an access road to the field on the north-west corner

-                      new irrigation systems in flower beds around the croquet lawn and tennis courts

-                      installation of new water pipes in the water channel to irrigate the rugby field

-                      replastering and painting of the front walls of squash courts 2, 3 and 4

-                      installation of a new convection oven in the Pastry kitchen by using a crane to lift the oven through the roof of the kitchen

-                      the front inside wall of the Baker Foyer was replastered and painted

-                      in our Function rooms we upgraded the Palmyra room and replaced the AV equipment in the Ballroom

The ongoing and preventative maintenance done by our maintenance team helps to ensure our buildings although old, remain in excellent condition.

The completion of all these projects during the year and the fact that our grounds are looking magnificent were only possible under the guidance of our two very capable managers, Chris Zeeman and Brian Chetty and their teams.

On behalf of all the members of Kelvin Grove I would like to express my appreciation to you.

I would also like to thank Storm Reilly and Danie Appel for their co-operation and assistance during the past year.

IAN VERHULP

HOUSE & GROUNDS CHAIRMAN