MONTE PARAISO NEWSLETTER February 2007

Issue 1 - February 2007   Special Points Of Interest: New Road linking Urbanisations, Recycle Deposit in La Cala, Mijas Foreigners Department, New Desalination Plant, Cost of Living Increases, Who to Phone in an Emergency   Inside this issue: Greetings from the president, New Owners, Community Fees, Municipal Taxes, Security, Community Gardens, External Painting and Irrigation Dear Owner My wife and I wish you and your family a belated happy, healthy and prosperous 2007. Peace is always of a major concern in this constantly changing world, but we must hope that the International and European leaders keep focused and that peace and security are at the forefront of their talks and decision process.   The weather over Christmas and the New Year was pleasant with many sunny days and clear night skies. The cold weather has just arrived with the first heavy snow falls recorded in the Sierra Nevada ski resorts and on the surrounding mountain high ground. The mounting range behind Marbella also had its first covering of light snow.   The lack of winter rains, so far this year, will further exacerbate the major concerns over the projected water shortage in Southern Spain. We can expect another water preservation Edict from the water authorities over the months ahead.   New Owners: Monte Paraiso welcome the following new owners to our multi national community.   Mr. & Mrs. Donald Pilling No. 8 - UK. Mr. & Mrs. Kjell & Eli Lofthus No. 20 – Norway. Mr. & Mrs. Ian & Gill Jones No. 59 – UK.   Please collect your welcome pack from our Fisem Administration office, which is located at No.1, Ave. Espana, opposite the church near the roundabout at the East entrance to Sitio de Calahonda. The folder contains important information about living on the Monte Paraiso Community.   Community Fees: Owners are reminded that, the second instalment of the community fees, corresponding to the period February – July 2007 are now due. To qualify for the discount, Fisem administration office must receive your payment before the 15th. February 2007.   Municipal Taxes and Fees: Mijas does not send out reminder bills for local Taxes and Fees. Payment can be made by cash, credit/debit card, certified cheque or direct debit from March/April until 20th.of November 2007. Prompt payments qualify for discounts. Payments received after 20th. November 2007 attract a 20 per cent surcharge.   Security: The new owners of No. 49 reported a “Break-in” to their property in December 2006. The intruders broke in through the lounge window and absconded with a substantial amount of electronic equipment and other personal effects. The incident was duly reported but the stolen articles have not been recovered.   Community Gardens: The autumn and winter maintenance programme is coming to a satisfactory conclusion with just a few minor exceptions.The gardeners have started cutting back and pruning plants, bushes and climbers that have become established and attached to the walls of many owners property. This is in readiness for the external painting of the community scheduled for March this year.   The pine trees around the community have been treated against the procession caterpillar, the spraying operation was carried out during the month of November 2006. Owners are reminded that the procession caterpillar is not only harmful to the pine trees, but also for humans and animals, please be cautious.   External Painting: The external painting of the community is due to start on Monday 5th March this year. Please be reminded that this does not include the painting of owner's metal grills, gates and wood vanished / painted doors. It would be much appreciated if the painting and varnishing maintenance of these fixtures were left until after the painters have finished in your particular group/phase. The painting operation is expected to take three months, weather permitting.   Painting will commence with Group 'F' 52 – 56. The plan is to proceed in the following sequence: - Group 'C' 22 – 30 plus 30A, Group 'D' 31 – 42, Group 'E' 43 – 51, Group 'B' 16 – 21, Group 'A' 1 – 15, and finally Group 'G' 57 – 66.   Community Gardeners – Future Irrigation Project: At last years AGM approval was given to carry out exploration work to find an alternative source of portable water for the irrigation (watering) of the community gardens. Water has been found in an area beneath the ground at the back of the post casita and the garden fence/gates between Groups 'A' and Group 'G'. An application for permission to seek water has been made to the Mijas authorities and when this has been received a test drilling will follow. The test drilling will give an indication of the quantity and quality of the available underground water source.   New Road to Link Urbanisations: Residents of Riviera Del Sol and Calahonda in Mijas Costa no longer have to use the N-340 highway to travel from one urbanisation to the other as a new road has been built between the two areas. The new road is 100 metres long and has a direct connection to the AP-7 toll motorway. It is expected to reduce the number of accidents caused by many drivers turning onto and then exiting from the dual carriageway so as to reach destinations on the same side of the highway. Long time in its execution, but most welcome.   Recycle Deposit for La Cala: A 'punto limpio' rubbish deposit will open shortly in La Cala de Mijas. This new facility will enable local residents to easily dispose of old or broken household items which can then be recycled. The punto limpio will have 20 containers for different types of rubbish including batteries, paint, oil, X-ray films, furniture, electrical equipment, garden refuse and building rubble etc. The facility is situated beside the sewage plant and has cost 300,000 euros.   Keep up-to date with Mijas: If you wish to keep up to date with activities that the Mijas Foreigners Department organise, you just have to send them an email requesting to be included on their mailing list and you will receive information of all the activities organised by the department on a regular basis. Email address – frd@mijas.es   Desalination Plant in Mijas: Acuamed the water company has confirmed that the new desalination plant for Mijas will be working in 2009. This new plant will be able to produce 20 cubic hectometres of water a year and supply water for both Mijas and Fuengirola. The reported budget for this project is 55 million euros. The Marbella desalination plant supplies water for 500,000 people in 11 municipalities.   The Projected 2007 Commodity and Consumable Increases: Gas: Bottles to go up by 0.08 per cent to 11.78 euros. Mains gas bills will go up by 2.2 per cent.   Electricity: An average increase of 2.8 per cent for domestic users (depending on the wattage contracted).   Water: Sitio de Calahonda is currently renegotiating with its water supplies; an increase is to be expected. (A full report can be found in the latest edition No. 50 of the EUC magazine page 4/5). For on line information, visit their website at www.calahondaeuc.com   Renfe: Local and regional train fares increased by 3.7 per cent. The AVE lines and other national mainlines will not go up until later in the year.   Telephone: Telefonica is to increase its charges for the line rental by 2.0 per cent to 13.7 euros a month.   Salaries: Wages are expected to increase this year by around 3.5 per cent. The national minimum wage has gone up by 5.5 per cent.Pensions: General increase of 2.6 per cent is foreseen.   Who to Phone in an Emergency: Should you become a victim of a crime and do not speak Spanish, you can report your crime in English, French, German or Italian by telephoning 902 102 112 from 8am to 10pm daily.   When calling you must designate a National Police Station e.g. La Cala or Fuengirola, where you must go within 48 hours to sign the report and get a copy for your records. Please remember to take with you some kind of Identification e.g. a valid Passport, Driving Licence, your Spanish Residencia if appropriate or your Libro Famillia for Spanish owners. You will be expected to provide your NIE or DNI number as additional information.   In an EMERGENCY you can telephone 112 free of charge and ask for an operator in any of the above languages. The operator will take all the details and call the service you require.   Other Spanish EMERGENCE numbers are: Police 091; Ambulance 061; Sea Rescue: 900 202 202.   In the event of a fire you should call 112, 091 or your local fire station which for us is Mijas on 952 58 63 82.       Yours Truly,   Ron F. Birch, President.