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Parks and Recreation

CONTACT
Parks and Recreation
82 Meade Street, George
044 802 2900
nmankayi@george.gov.za

DOCUMENTS AND LINKS
Click for Bylaws regarding public amenities and cemeteries.
Click for Policies and Guidelines regarding beaches, landscaping, cemeteries and crematoria.
Click for Visitor Safety 
Click for where Dogs are allowed on Wilderness Beach
Click for Blue Flag Beaches

GENERAL
Parks and Recreation manages beaches, parks, caravan parks and cemeteries, beautification and landscaping, trees on sidewalks, alien vegetation management and overgrown municipal properties.

BEACHES AND CAMP SITES
The George Municipality Parks and Recreation department is responsible for infrastructure and administration related to beaches including facilities, playparks, boardwalks, stairs and balustrades, toilets and parking areas.

Coastal and estuary management: nvumindaba@george.gov.za
Herolds Bay and Gwaing campsite bookings: cpafrica@george.gov.za

Permit inquiries for trading in beach parking lots: Economic Development: 044 801 9173
Please note the beach in Wilderness, eastwards from Touws River is under the control of SANParks 044 877 0046.

 

GUIDELINES FOR USE OF BEACHES, PUBLIC OPEN SPACES AND BOTANICAL GARDENS FOR EVENTS 

George Municipality hereby advises members of the public, event organisers, and interested parties of the procedures and requirements relating to the use of municipal beaches, public open spaces, and the Garden Route Botanical Garden for events and gatherings.

George Municipal Beaches
Members of the public may apply to host events on any beach within the jurisdiction of George Municipality.
Bookings must be made through the Community Services: Environmental Services Office by contacting:
Ms Noluvuyo Mankayi on email at nmankayi@george.gov.za or Ms Celeste Africa at cpafrica@george.gov.za or 044 8022900.

Events on beaches are subject to the payment of applicable tariffs.
See link for tariffs https://tinyurl.com/5h226wnw

Please note the following rules and conditions apply:

  • No disturbance to sand dunes.
  • No nuisance to the public or other beach users.
  • No exclusive use of any section of the beach.
  • Compliance with noise control regulations.
  • No littering; all waste must be removed after the event.
  • All rules displayed on regulation boards at the beaches must be adhered to.
  • Large events (e.g., sporting events) that extend beyond municipal staff working hours require the organiser to arrange for their own post-event clean-up services.

Public Open Spaces
There is currently no tariff for the use of public open spaces.
However, all users are required to:

  • Request permission in advance.
  • Complete and submit the Indemnity and Compliance Form, which outlines all conditions of use.
  • The form includes important guidelines regarding public conduct, safety, environmental protection, and event responsibilities.

Garden Route Botanical Garden
Bookings for events at the Garden Route Botanical Garden must be made directly with the Garden management. The Municipality does not manage this venue.

Population Certificate Requirement (for Larger Events)

In terms of George Municipality’s by-laws and applicable national safety regulations, larger events—including those involving temporary structures, staging, or expected attendance above normal usage thresholds-must obtain a Population Certificate (also referred to as a Temporary Population Certificate).

This certificate is:

  • Issued by the George Fire Department.
  • Required to ensure the event complies with the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act (SASREA) and other local legislation.
  • A condition for approval when applying to host events on public amenities, especially where crowd capacity, infrastructure or safety considerations are involved.
  • Event organisers are urged to engage early with the relevant municipal departments to ensure all compliance requirements are met well in advance of the event.
  • Contact Station Commander Santa Sternsdorf via email at ssternsdorf@george.gov.za or telephone on 044 801 6300

For further information or to make a booking, please contact the Environmental Services Office on 044 802 2900.
General event queries can be directed to George, Wilderness and Uniondale Tourism, the official Tourism Bureau of George Municipality, via events@visitgeorge.co.za.
George Municipality thanks you for your cooperation in maintaining safe, clean, and accessible public spaces for all residents and visitors.


 

DOGS ON THE BEACH
Dogs or any other animals are not allowed on any beach area (sand) which falls in the George Municipal jurisdiction, according to the By-law, Keeping of dogs, cats and animals.

No dog or other animal may be in any public street or public space (any open public space the public has access to which falls under the George Municipal jurisdiction for example parks, sports fields, beachfront and sidewalks) except on a leash and under control. This is unless the animal is in an area designated by the George Municipality as a free-running area. A person is not allowed to walk a dog other than a guide dog, in a public street, or public place, without carrying enough plastic or paper bags or wrappers, to place the excrement of the dog into, in the event of the dog defecating.

Please note that dogs are allowed on the sidewalk areas, (tarred, brick paved etc.) of beach fronts, if these conditions are adhered to. The beach areas under the control of the George Municipality include Herold’s Bay, Gwaiing River Mouth and Beach, Victoria Bay. Wilderness and the Leentjiesklip areas.

 

DOGS ARE PERMITTED ON BEACHES AS BELOW ONLY 


OVERHANGING TREES ON SIDEWALKS AND RESPONSIBLE PLANTING
The George Municipality reminds all residents to maintain their gardens and trees to ensure sidewalks and public spaces remain safe, accessible, and pedestrian-friendly.
In accordance with the George Municipality Tree Management Policy, residents are advised of the following responsibilities and regulations:

Tree Maintenance and Safety
Property owners must trim or prune any trees or plants that extend over property boundaries onto sidewalks, streets, or public spaces.
Vegetation must not obstruct street signs, streetlights, intersections, or pedestrian pathways, including access for prams, wheelchairs, and mobility devices.
Overhanging branches or encroaching plants that make sidewalks difficult to navigate must be trimmed back to ensure safe passage.

Planting Trees on Sidewalks and Municipal Land
Residents may plant trees on sidewalks or street boundaries, but only with written approval from the Director for Community Services or their delegated authority.
Once planted on municipal land, trees become municipal property, but maintenance—including pruning and root management—remains the responsibility of the property owner.
Unauthorized planting or pruning of trees on municipal land is prohibited and may result in fines or removal of the tree.

Tree Removal and Pruning Restrictions
No person may prune or remove a tree on municipal land without prior written approval.
Trees may only be pruned for sound arboricultural reasons, such as:

  • Obstruction of pedestrian or vehicle movement
  • Damage to structures
  • Interference with traffic sight lines or solar devices
  • Complaints based on leaf shedding, shade, view obstruction, or nuisance from birds/insects are not valid reasons for pruning or removal.

Protected and Champion Trees
Trees listed as Champion Trees or protected under the National Forests Act may not be pruned or removed without a license from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment.
These trees are protected due to their age, size, cultural, historic, or ecological value.

Emergency Situations
In emergencies (e.g., fallen trees posing danger), the Municipal Parks and Recreation Department may intervene, including on private property, with authorization from the Director: Community Services and in coordination with Disaster Risk Management.

The Municipality promotes tree awareness and education, including participation in greening initiatives and heritage tree protection. Residents are encouraged to engage with the Parks and Recreation Department for guidance on tree planting, species selection, and maintenance best practices.

For tree-related queries, planting permissions, or maintenance concerns, please contact 044 802 2900.

 

BOTANICAL GARDENS
The George Municipality has a close association with the Garden Route Botanical Gardens, which operates on premises owned by the municipality. Visit them at 49 Caledon Street, Camphersdrift.
www.botanicalgarden.org.za

CEMETERIES
82 Meade Street, George
044 802 2900

OVERGROWN PROPERTIES
Reporting overgrown MUNICIPAL properties:
If an overgrown property is a fire hazard, please phone the Fire Department at 044 801 6300

For other overgrown municipal properties the number above or email nmankayi@george.gov.za (parks) or bmketane@george.gov.za (grassed municipal properties) or nvumindaba@george.gov.za (alien vegetation) or
edbooysen@george.gov.za (fire threats).

The municipality cuts the grass on municipal properties according to a schedule and addresses areas of concern to nvumindaba@george.gov.za as necessary and according to the available resources.

POLYPHAGOUS SHOT HOLE BORER (PSHB) BEETLE 

WHY ARE SOME TREES DYING?
George is one of several areas in South Africa where the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB) beetle and its associated fungus have invaded and its impact on especially older trees has been significant.

PSHB is a relatively new invasive pest in South Africa, has no known local natural enemies and there is currently no single proven control measure. A chemical product has shown some promise in treating infected trees, but it is not currently registered in South Africa – registration has been requested and is expected soon (last quarter of 2019).

What is the municipality doing about it?
The municipality continues to monitor trees in streets, parks and municipal grounds and safeguards trees by cutting overhanging branches when necessary. Dead trees are being cut up piece by piece and the plant material removed.

In George, the affected municipal trees are mostly alien and/or old and are therefore in any case being removed and systematically replaced when they die off.

The municipality has been working with universities and other roleplayers since the beetle was first identified in George in March 2018 to find sustainable solutions to the overall issue and continues to do so. It has, for instance, allowed the testing of possible control measures on infected municipal trees.

When a registered control product is available, the information will be shared as widely as possible and the municipality will apply the chemical to applicable infected trees on municipal property according to its budget.

Licencing for a separate dumping area for infected plant material at the George municipal dumping site is underway. However, it is believed spreading cannot really be prevented because the beetle and related fungus can spread in too many ways over which humans have little control and overall management has at this stage not been proved.

What should residents be doing about it?
The municipality reminds private property owners to check the trees on their properties regularly for signs of the beetle and to safeguard infected trees by cutting off overhanging branches as a first step.

Infected plant material can be dumped at the municipality dumping sits on the R102 (airport road). Please indicate to the personnel on-site that the wood is contaminated and is not intended for composting or mulching. Solarising of plant material (entirely covering materials using black plastic bags and leaving it in the hot sun) has also been recommended.

More information regarding the beetle and related matters:
https://fabinet.up.ac.za/pshb