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Author: Chantel Edwards

ESKOM LOADSHEDDING UPDATE, Sunday, 19 November 2023

In order to replenish emergency reserves in preparation for the week ahead, Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented from 09:00 this morning until 05:00 on Monday. Eskom will communicate the outlook for the week ahead this afternoon.

*George will be affected as follows:*
Sunday 19/11/2023
14:00 – 16:30
22:00 – 00:30

Monday 20/11/2023|
06:00 – 08:30.

*Uniondale will be affected as follows:*
Sunday 19/11/2023
17:00 – 19:30

Monday 20/11/2023
01:00 – 03:30
09:00 – 11:30

ROTATIONAL SWITCH ON AFTER LOADSHEDDING – reduce power to avoid network tripping
Consumers are reminded to PLEASE use electricity sparingly after power returns. Please do not switch high-usage equipment on immediately after Load shedding.

Consumers are urged to turn off high-usage equipment and where possible to not switch on appliances such as stoves and kettles for at least 30 minutes after load shedding is scheduled to return. This will reduce the risk of overload tripping on the network.

Reporting power outages
Please do not phone the after-hours number or the Electrotechnical Department to report that you have no power immediately after load shedding is scheduled to be lifted. Please be aware of the rotational switching on i.e. areas are switched on one by one and not all at the same time to avoid overloading the system. Please wait at least 30 minutes before reporting no power. The Electrotechnical Directorate will be aware of a possible substation trip that needs to be sorted out.

Receive Eskom loadshedding notifications by downloading the free EskomSePush app from Google Play Store at https://sepush.co.za/

Issued on behalf of ESKOM by George Municipality

Important Notice: Limited Access to Seven Passes Road

As of 10 November, the Seven Passes Road is restricted to residents requiring access to their homes or properties. A safety evaluation on 17 November will determine its readiness for opening during the upcoming festive season. Your cooperation and patience are appreciated.

Issued by GRDM Communications, 10 November 2023

Revolutionizing Water Rescue for a Safer Season

In a remarkable leap forward for water rescue operations during the busy festive season in George, the addition of inflatable devices delivered by drones promises to be a game-changer. This innovative technology has the potential to save lives and significantly enhance emergency response efforts, particularly when dealing with swimmers in distress.

The concept is simple yet ingenious: outfit a standard drone with a “payload release” mechanism capable of delivering a self-inflatable floating device (weighing approximately 0.7kg) to a swimmer in distress. This mechanism is seamlessly attached to the drone as an add-on feature. The payload, in this case, consists of a self-inflatable floating device that, on deployment, automatically inflates in the water, providing immediate buoyancy to keep the swimmer afloat until lifeguards or other rescue personnel arrive.

This technology allows for swift and efficient responses to water-related emergencies, significantly reducing response times when compared to traditional rescue methods. Moreover, the drone’s agility enables it to cover more extensive areas swiftly, making it invaluable in situations where time is of the essence. A further useful add-on will be a speaker, allowing our Mobile JOC to speak to the swimmer in distress, as well as the rescue team with the on-board camera providing visuals during the rescue. The inflatable device is re-usable and after retrieval is folded up and repackaged to be used again.

What makes this innovation truly groundbreaking is its emphasis on safety. The inflatable device not only aids the person in distress but also ensures the safety of the rescuers involved. Neels Barnard, the George Chief Fire officer, highlighted that this is a pioneering initiative in South Africa, never before witnessed on local beaches. He added, “The George Fire & Rescue Services team is constantly researching new innovations, and by harnessing the power of technology, we’ve added a vital tool to our water rescue operations that promises to save lives. As we look ahead to its practical application, we can only anticipate more lives being safeguarded, and swimmers in distress receiving the swift assistance they need.”

https://youtu.be/GuPNFfMa4uI?si=dIJYMHSZgKPICshBz   (Video footage courtesy of SABC)

George Fire & Rescue Services Chief, Neels Barnard keeps an eye while Station Commander, Santa Sternsdorff flies the drone at Wilderness Beach.

NO STOPPING AT GO GEORGE BUS STOPS

With the GO GEORGE bus service rolling out to Thembalethu from this coming Sunday, 05 November 2023, the George Municipality kindly requests residents, business owners and transport service providers not to stop, park, pick up or drop off people at the designated GO GEORGE bus stops in Thembalethu.

Please note that in terms of the new George Municipality Public Transport By-Law, GO GEORGE stops cannot be used by other Public Transport providers or other users.

ESKOM LOADSHEDDING UPDATE – Friday, 03 November 2023

Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 today until 05:00 on Saturday. Thereafter, Stage 1 loadshedding will be implemented from 05:00 until 16:00, followed by Stage 2 loadshedding until 05:00 on Sunday. This pattern will be repeated

George will be affected as follows:
Friday 03/11/2023
22:00 – 00:30

Saturday 04/11/2023
14:00 – 16:30

Sunday 05/11/2023
20:00 – 22:30

Monday 06/11/2023
20:00 – 22:30

Tuesday 07/11/2023
04:00 – 06:30

Wednesday 08/11/2023
04:00 – 06:30
12:00 – 14:30

Thursday 09/11/2023
10:00 – 12:30
18:00 – 20:30

Friday 10/11/2023
18:00 – 20:30

Uniondale will be affected as follows:
Friday 03/11/2023
None

Saturday 04/11/2023
01:00 – 03:30
17:00 – 19:30

Sunday 05/11/2023
16:00 – 17:30

Monday 06/11/2023
23:00 – 01:30

Tuesday 07/11/2023
07:00 – 09:30

Wednesday 08/11/2023
07:00 – 09:30
15:00 – 17:30

Thursday 09/11/2023
13:00 – 15:30
21:00 – 23:30

Friday 10/11/2023
21:00 – 23:30

ROTATIONAL SWITCH ON AFTER LOADSHEDDING – reduce power to avoid network tripping
Consumers are reminded to PLEASE use electricity sparingly after power returns. Please do not switch high-usage equipment on immediately after Load shedding.

Consumers are urged to turn off high-usage equipment and where possible to not switch on appliances such as stoves and kettles for at least 30 minutes after load shedding is scheduled to return. This will reduce the risk of overload tripping on the network.

Reporting power outages
Please do not phone the after-hours number or the Electrotechnical Department to report that you have no power immediately after load shedding is scheduled to be lifted. Please be aware of the rotational switching on i.e. areas are switched on one by one and not all at the same time to avoid overloading the system. Please wait at least 30 minutes before reporting no power. The Electrotechnical Directorate will be aware of a possible substation trip that needs to be sorted out.

Receive Eskom loadshedding notifications by downloading the free EskomSePush app from Google Play Store at https://sepush.co.za/

Issued on behalf of ESKOM by George Municipality

PUBLIC NOTICE: Festive Season – Apply for Additional Refuse Removal Days for Business

Businesses are kindly requested to only put Refuse Bags out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and only at designated spots, not on the sidewalk.

  • All refuse bags must be put out by 7am on removal day.
  • Please don’t put bags out the day or night before removal.
  • Refuse bags will be collected on all public holidays, on the usual delivery day, including blue/clear and green bags.
  • Please wrap broken glass in newspaper before placing in bags to prevent injuries to workers.

 

Additional Collection Application

  • Should any business require an additional collection day during the Festive Season, they should please contact wrobertson@george.gov.za or jjacobs@george.gov.za well in advance.
  • The additional days required, as well as the estimated number of bins to be collected must be included in the email request.
  • The Cleansing Department will confirm the application and provide the relevant tariffs applicable for the additional collection.

George Municipality Environmental Services
82 Meade Street, George. Phone 044 802 2900
Black bag-related enquiries: 044 802 2900
Blue and green bag enquiries: Henque Waste, 064 905 8180 (also WhatsApp) / admin@henquewaste.co.za

PUBLIC NOTICE: Emergency Municipal Loadshedding Relief Grant October 2023 Update

The Western Cape Provincial government has authorized a sum total of R88.185 million rand from the Provincial Unforeseen and Unavoidable Reserve Fund to assist municipalities with the unforeseen and immediate impact of prolonged load-shedding on water and wastewater services.

In terms of this allocated Funding, George Municipality has received the sum of R14 220 000 (VAT included) as a contribution toward the purchase and installation of back-up energy supply. This back-up supply can include generators, renewable power sources, batteries and all ancillary costs associated with the installation thereof for example,  switch gear, safe keeping, caging etc. for water and wastewater infrastructure.

This grant funding will assist the George Municipality in ensuring a healthy environment and to continue with the provision of basic services to our citizens and businesses during the current load-shedding.

The municipality is in process of purchasing emergency diesel generators that will be placed strategically as follows:

Water Treatment Works
Haarlem WTW  (+_ 150kVA diesel generator)
Uniondale WTW (+- 200kVA diesel generator)

Waste Water Treatment Works
Uniondale WWTW (+_ 200 kVA diesel generator)
Kleinkrantz WWTW (+_ 300 kVA diesel generator)
Outeniqua WWTW (+_ 1000 kVA diesel generator)

Progress to Date:
Procurement Phase:   Appointment of Consultant ( Complete ) – 100%
Appointment of Contractor: Haarlem WTW ( Complete ) – 100%
Uniondale WTW ( Complete ) – 100%
Uniondale WWTW ( Complete ) – 100%
Kleinkrantz WWTW ( Complete ) – 100%
Outeniqua WWTW ( Complete ) – 100%

Construction Phase:  
Haarlem WTW ( ± 150 kVA diesel generator ) – 100%
Uniondale WTW ( ± 200 kVA diesel generator ) – 98%
Uniondale WWTW ( ± 200 kVA diesel generator ) – 98%
Kleinkrantz WWTW ( ± 300 kVA diesel generator ) – 98%
Outeniqua WWTW ( ± 1 000 kVA + 650 kVA diesel generator ) – 0%

In terms of the above the total expenditure to date for the project is therefore approximately 39,5% of the current funding allocation

Link to further information on how George Municipality is trying to mitigate the impact of load-shedding for George. https://www.george.gov.za/what-is-george-municipality-doing-to-alleviate-eskom-loadshedding-and-other-renewable-energy-projects/

 

Public Update: Geyser Relay Switches

Our electrotechnical department is in process of restoring a high speed radio link which has failed and caused the geyser ripple switches to malfunction today. All geysers are currently on.

The radio link is the backup to the fibre line that was vandalized a while back. The department has initiated a project to have the fibre replaced with an underground service less prone to vandalism.

Geysers will not be switched off between 6pm -8pm tonight. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

The George Municipality switches off geysers according to the Eskom tariff structure peak times. The switch-offs only apply to homes fitted with the relevant device.

September to May (Low demand season)
Monday to Friday: 8am-10am and 6pm-8pm and 9.30pm-10pm
Saturday: 10am-12pm and 6pm-8pm
Sunday: No switch-off

Please note all municipalities have been required to install geyser control systems to help flatten the peaks on the national load curve and have been implemented across the country for about a decade. The geyser control system is intentionally set to switch geysers off during peak times as without it there would be more loadshedding.

 

PUBLIC NOTICE: SMART Water Meter Billing Explained

Meter Reading Interval Period
Once your SMART Water Meter has been installed you may note that your municipal account reflects a higher-than-normal level of water consumption which results in higher billing charges. This is caused by the change in the meter reading interval period, from the old meter to the new meters.

To address this challenge, George Municipality will implement a maximum interval period of 35 days, and this will be applied from the November 2023 monthly billing onwards.  This interval period will be applied for a number of months until the interval period is aligned to the monthly reading date of the 15th of each month. This will prevent higher consumption charges due to the rising block tariff.

Old Meter Reading
After installation, there is an administrative changeover which links the SMART Water Meter to your account. In isolated cases some consumers with a SMART Water Meter have been billed on an estimate of the old meter where this changeover has not taken place yet.

To ensure that billing is undertaken correctly and accurately, please expect to see Meter Readers still come through to check the SMART water meter readings during the changeover process until the integration of the billing system with the electronic meter data is complete.

When will I be able to reconcile my account to the consumption readings on my SMART water meter?
This process might take up to 3 months or longer, this is due to the administrative changeover process after installation until the integration of the billing system with the electronic meter data is completed.

What if I was already billed at a higher-than-normal consumption due to a longer interval period?
Please contact our Finance Department for assistance in rectifying your billing, on 044 801 9111 or 072 501 1843 after hours or e-mail accounts@george.gov.za

When can I register my NEW SMART Water Meter?
Residents can register their new SMART Water Meter to track their own daily water consumption, respond to leakage alerts and manage multiple meters in one space. As the resident you will receive high usage warnings via SMS and Email and the near real-time consumption allows you to understand exactly where and when you are using water right now. Immediately after installation, please proceed to register your SMART  water meter by following the link to the SMART WATER METER Registration Page or by downloading the Ontec George Home App from Google Play Store or iStore. The Ontec George Home App will guide you on the steps to be taken to register.

For queries related to the smart meter registration process please contact Ontec at 044 873 5474
For any queries related to meter readings and billing please contact George Municipality Financial department at 044 801 9111 or 072 501 1843 after hours or e-mail accounts@george.gov.za

PUBLIC NOTICE – Natis is offline

The public is advised that the E-Natis system is currently offline throughout the country. Our MVR (Registering) Offices at Hibernia St and Blanco Drive-through are therefore unable to process documentation. Updates will be provided.

Issued George Municipality, 31 October 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE: INSPECTION OF ILLEGAL STORMWATER CONNECTIONS INTO HOUSEHOLD DRAINAGE SYSTEMS

THE FOLLOWING AREAS WILL BE AFFECTED:
DENNEOORD, PANORAMA, LOERIE PARK AND BERGSIG

Illegal connections cause a significant amount of rainwater to enter the sewer system resulting in overflowing manholes and pumpstations. The overflow ultimately ends up in low-lying areas or rivers, and in turn places a considerable amount of strain on the Municipality’s operational requirements in order to maintain service delivery.

Illegal connection – An illegal connection is a connection that permits rainwater, stormwater or subsurface water to enter the sewer network system via the household drainage system. Illegal connections include connections of gutter downpipes, sump pumps and paved/hard surfaces directing rainwater into gullies, rodding eyes or manholes.

Water and Sanitation Services By-Laws section 60 (7) –  No rainwater or stormwater, and no effluent other than an effluent that has been approved by the Municipality, may be discharged into a drainage installation.

NOTICE of inspections at houses in area will commence from Tuesday,  31 OCTOBER 2023

GEORGE TOURISM AT IGTM

In the photograph from left: Lana Carls from Wesgro,  Mmamokwena Gaoretelelwe  the South African Ambassador for the Embassy in Lisbon, and  Joan Shaw from George Tourism.

Joan Shaw, Tourism Manager of George Municipality, is attending the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) 2023 at the FIL Feira International Convention Centre from 16 to 19 October 2023, to promote golf tourism for George and the greater Garden Route. In collaboration with Wesgro and the Garden Route District Municipality, and with the support of Fancourt and the George Golf Club, George is represented as a prominent golfing destination on the South Africa pavilion.

Influencing since 1998, IGTM takes place in a different location every year to provide the global golf travel industry with a platform to conduct business and gain valuable industry insights. Combining the top-producing private travel agents and known tour operators with world-leading golf courses, destinations, and resorts, this is where new business opportunities are created. Golf courses and destinations visit the show, primarily to increase golf traveller numbers and drive industry revenue.

George has always been famous for its rich golf offering, and for the past few years, George’s marketing has focussed on the other sixty or so activities that are available in George, Wilderness and Uniondale. However, since golf is such a strong driver for tourism and the return of the traditional UK and German markets has been lagging, it is time to put golf travel back in the spotlight to attract lucrative new markets to the area.

George Tourism is marketing the entire region, with a focus on George and golf, and sharing all the other activities and news from the area with tour operators and media. Participants are attending a long line-up of meetings, informative talks on subjects such as how to attract new markets and how to structure packages that consumers will find attractive. Meetings have been held with various media agencies, and Wesgro is encouraging representatives from new markets to apply for familiarisation trips to the region so they can experience the destination first-hand.

Speaking from Lisbon, Joan Shaw says “It is so exciting to be at a marketing show where many regular golf tour operators from the traditional markets already know the area, and  to meet many new operators who are looking to move into new markets such as South Africa, who also won the Germany’s Pro Golf International Golf Destination of the Year for 2024, at IGTM”.

Complimentary products on the South African pavilion include Fancourt, de Zalze and Arabella golf estates, Sun International, PRO Golf Safari’s, Adore Africa, Globe Travel and Rovos Rail.

Interesting golf-related presentations and workshops taking place at IGTM 2023.

Planned Power Outage – Portion of Rosemore, 2 November 2023

PLANNED POWER OUTAGE
NOTIFICATION OF THE INTERRUPTION OF THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY.

 

THE FOLLOWING AREAS WILL BE AFFECTED:

PORTION OF ROSEMORE
PARSON & MITCHELL BAKER STREETS

NOTICE is hereby given that the electricity supply will be interrupted on THURSDAY 02 NOVEMBER  2023  FROM  09H00 TO 16H00 for the purpose of doing alterations to the electrical mains. Consumers are warned to treat the installation as being live for the full duration as the supply may be resumed at any time within the notified period.

Should circumstances prevent the work being carried out during the abovementioned period; the work will be done on FRIDAY 03 NOVEMBER  2023 FROM  09H00 TO 16H00

 

GO GEORGE: First route to Thembalethu rolling next weekend

 

In a joint statement released today, the Western Cape Government and George Municipality announced that the first route of the GO GEORGE bus service to Thembalethu will roll out on Sunday 5 November 2023.

It was decided to start out with one route, Route 18A from Thembalethu to Blanco. More routes will continually be rolled out until all the planned Thembalethu routes have been activated, responsibly introducing buses into the congestion at the roadworks on the N2/Thembalethu bridge.

According to George Executive Mayor, Alderman Leon van Wyk, the current roll-out plan was well-thought-out to cause minimum disruption while at last bringing the desired bus service to this area. “We owe the people of Thembalethu this safe and reliable service which will also save them a lot of transport money. We’ll do everything in our power to make a success of this roll-out so that the rest of the routes can follow soon thereafter,” he said.

Western Cape Minister of Mobility, MEC Ricardo Mackenzie expressed his whole-hearted support for the roll-out. “I am delighted that we have now come this far and want to thank all role-players and community leaders for their cooperation and support to make this dream come true. It was long overdue,” he said.

Thembalethu Smart Card kiosk open for business
A fixed Smart Card kiosk next to Truns in Nelson Mandela Boulevard will open for business on Monday 30 October. Two mobile Smart Card kiosks will be parked at Fourways and the Jonga circle, providing the same services.

Prospective passengers are encouraged to purchase their Smart Cards and load trips in time for roll-out. Communication champions will be available at the same locations to answer questions and guide passengers regarding the service in Thembalethu.

A special section about the Thembalethu service can be found on the home page of the website, www.gogeorge.org.za. Anyone who would like more information on the Thembalethu service can call the GO GEORGE Call Centre on 0800 044 044 from 05:00 until 20:00, seven days a week.

 

Update on storm surge repairs at beaches


Retaining Wall in process of being rebuilt at Herold’s Bay.

Following high spring tides that hit the coastal areas of George over weekend of 17 September, George Municipality immediately started with clean-up efforts on the Monday.  Municipal infrastructure damaged at the various beaches which included a sewerage pumpstation, water pipelines, stand-by generators, electrical substations and flooded ablution buildings were all either replaced, cleaned or restored and services returned within the week of the damage.

Victoria Bay, Herold’s Bay, Wilderness Leentjiesklip and Wilderness main beach were all closed for a few days while the restoration took place and reopened on Friday 22 September to the public.

Deep sand deposits were cleared off the coastal roads of Herold’s Bay, Victoria Bay, Leentjiesklip and the N2 Wilderness bridge as quickly as possible using graders. Damage to beach furniture, signage,  wooden walkways, lifeguard towers, bridges, roadways, sidewalks and retaining walls required detailed assessments for rebuilding or repair.

Our Civil Engineering Services and Community Services: Parks and Recreation directorates have done a sterling job in restoring all of the beaches as quickly as possible in readiness for the launch of the Blue Flag Season, which was held at Wilderness last week Friday, 20 October 2023. The intention is to have all of the damage repaired prior to the start of the festive season for 2023 with the Blue Flag season starting on 1 December 2023 – 31 January 2024.

Repair work to sidewalks at Herold’s Bay and Victoria Bay.

George Weekend Wrap – weather related incidents update

Roads Update
All roads are currently open and free-flowing following a mudslide and fallen tree on the N2 (Kaaiman’s Pass / Far Hills)

NOTE Please use Saasveld / Seven Passes with extreme caution.
Kindly report any visible damage to road surfaces to 044 801 9262/6

Water Outages
All pipe bursts have been repaired and water has been restored.
Should any residents not have water, please report to Water leaks, pipe bursts, sewerage: 044 801 9262/6

Storm Drains
Fifty-seven (57) complaints were received following the heavy rainfall and by 8pm Sunday night fifty (50) blockages had been cleared and two (2) gravel roads had been repaired. Please report any blocked stormwater drains to  044 801 9262/6

Power Outages
A portion of Ballots Bay remains without power following the subsidence of ground around an electrical pole in Thembalethu. Teams have returned to the site to continue with repairs and an ETR will be provided as soon as possible.

Wilderness Heights – terrain issues are making the repair extremely difficult. Teams have returned to site to continue with repairs and an ETR will be provided as soon as possible.

Assistance to flooded homes/areas
250 pieces of Gumplast were issued to 25 areas within George, as a temporary measure to assist over the weekend to those residences which qualified in terms of the Municipal Emergency and Accommodation Assistance Policy.

Gwaiing Landfill Site
The landfill site is open but please proceed with caution as the road is slippery following extreme weather conditions this weekend.

For emergencies please contact any of the following numbers:
TOLL FREE DISASTER NUMBER: 087 152 9999
All after-hours emergencies: 044 801 6300
FIRE ONLY 044 8016311

We thank the residents for their cooperation and patience during this situation.

EMERGENCY ROADS UPDATE – GEORGE, 11h30

EMERGENCY ROADS UPDATE – GEORGE, 11H36

STOP AND GO IN PLACE at Kaaiman’s Pass following mudslide. One lane has been opened and a stop and go is activated. Traffic is moving slowly and motorists are requested to proceed with extreme caution.

SAASVELD ROAD
Closed to due fallen trees and remains inaccessible. SANRAL is addressing the problem.

Other Roads
Heavy rain conditions are impacting roads throughout George and surrounds.
Motorists are warned to travel with caution and to avoid being on the roads unless absolutely necessary. Please do not attempt to cross low-lying bridges or flooded roads or bridges but rather use alternative routes.

Avoid low-lying areas and bridges
Our emergency personnel appeal to people living in low-lying areas to take special care during this time. They should monitor the rising water levels and evacuate to a safer place or higher area when the water level rises.

For emergencies please contact any of the following numbers:
TOLL FREE DISASTER NUMBER: 087 152 9999
All after-hours emergencies: 044 801 6300
Cellphone 1: 074 6218737
Cellphone2: 074 423 8635

We thank the residents for their cooperation and patience during this situation.

George has three blue flag beaches, one pilot and a Green Coast Award for 2023/24 Festive Season

Proudly holding the Green Coast Flag and Award for Gwaiing Beach and River Mouth are from left Kerry Maclean, WESSA Senior Project Manager; Ald Leon Van Wyk; Janssen Davies, WESSA Chairman; Helena Atkinson, WESSA CEO; Dawie Adonis, Director for Community Services; Ward 4 Councillor Marlene Viljoen and Municipal Manager for George, Dr Michele Gratz.

George Municipality was the proud recipient of three blue flags at the national launch hosted by George Municipality at Salina’s Wilderness today, 20 October 2023. Wilderness and Herold’s Bay beaches retained Blue flag status, Victoria Bay beach was awarded Blue Flag after being a pilot beach for two years and the new pilot blue flag was awarded to Leentjiesklip beach.  Gwaiing Beach and River Mouth has been awarded a Green Coast Award for the 2023/24 festive season. The Green Coast Award, officially launched in 2017, is an annual award programme that recognises inclusive and sustainable management at less developed coastal sites with high biodiversity value.

Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk the keynote speaker for the event, accompanied by Ward 4 Cllr Marlene Viljoen, Municipal Manager Dr Michele Gratz and Director for Community Services, Dawie Adonis took receipt of the flags and certifications at the launch. Blue Flag is an international coastal management programme that accredits beaches that meet standards of excellence in water quality, environmental management, environmental education and information as well as safety and services. In South Africa the programme is implemented by the Wildlife Environmental Society of South Africa (WESSA).

Dr Gratz said Blue Flag status offered many benefits including improved tourism facilities, enhanced management of coastal ecosystems, increased awareness of the coast and capacity building of coastal municipalities. “Blue Flag status has significant international merit, and the achievement of such accolades is important to stimulate and confirm international and high-end interest in the city and district as a desirable, quality tourism and lifestyle destination. We thank SANParks Garden Route National Park who shares jurisdiction of Wilderness beach with the George Municipality.”

The Blue Flag season runs from 1 December 2023 to 31 January 2024. Compliance includes high standards of water quality monitoring, public safety and lifeguard services, and well-maintained coastal amenities. South Africa has participated in the Blue Flag programme since 2001.

Municipal Manager, Dr Michele Gratz in thanking everyone who attended the event noted that participation in the Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards is an honour. She also thanked attending George Municipal officials for the hard work and effort they have put in toward the hosting of the event as well as the preparation of the beaches so soon after the damage caused by the storm surges in early September this year.

 

ABOUT BLUE FLAG:

  • The iconic Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary eco-labels awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators.
  • In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained.
  • With over 4500 sites in over 45 countries around the world, Blue Flag is actively contributing to the sustainable development goals. Blue Flag also campaigns against disparity, inequality, unemployment, health threats, depletion of natural resources, environmental threats, pollution and general environmental degradation.
  • In South Africa, Blue Flag has been operational since 2001 and has proud municipal, marina and tourism boat partners in 18 coastal municipalities around the country.
  • Blue Flag is voluntary, which shows a very strong commitment to environmental sustainability from those municipalities, marinas and tourism boat operators that are awarded annually. All properties and companies that apply for the Blue Flag award are assessed by a South African National Jury as well as by the Blue Flag International Jury in Europe.

 

ABOUT GREEN COAST:

  • Based on the success of the Blue Flag eco-label and the recognition that Blue Flag is only applicable to a limited stretch of urban coastline, WESSA developed a second coastal award for implementation along South Africa’s coastline. The Green Coast Award, officially launched in 2017, is an annual award programme that recognises inclusive and sustainable management at less developed coastal sites with high biodiversity value.
  • Green Coast is a platform for collaboration, innovation, and local public participation in coastal management. Successful coastal sites achieve Green Coast status by meeting a set of criteria that are designed to ensure environmental, developmental and participatory standards are continually maintained and improved. Where possible, Green Coast sites aim to include a resident’s association or public group who can mobilise active citizens to participate in the management of the site. The Green Coast criteria include aspects of basic ecological monitoring, encouraging citizen science initiatives that empower communities for civic action and influence localized decision making. Coastal areas with Green Coast status appeal to a specific sector of the tourism market who are looking for experiences in adventure, outdoor living, and nature tourism along our coastline. The Green Coast award assists these sites by putting them on the tourism map and promoting them all under one national eco-label.

Receiving the Blue Flags for Wilderness Beach, Victoria Bay Beach and Herold’s Bay Beach are from left Ald Leon Van Wyk;  Helena Atkinson, WESSA CEO; Dawie Adonis, Director for Community Services; Ward 4 Councillor Marlene Viljoen and Municipal Manager for George, Dr Michele Gratz.