KNYSNA NEWS - The Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa (Wessa) has supplied some clarity around the Blue Flag status of Buffalo Bay and Brenton-on-Sea, two of Knysna’s most popular beaches, after both these beaches lost their Blue Flag status on January 6 and speculation ensued as to the reason for this loss.
According to Blue Flag SA, coordinated by Wessa, both beaches can now fly their Blue Flag again after the Knysna municipality mitigated the issues that caused the status to be put into question in the first place.
Both beaches shared most of the same issues: signage displaying the correct information regarding the Blue Flag programme and other Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) eco-labels were faded and outdated (at Buffalo Bay the flag itself was apparently stolen); information about the bathing quality of the water at both beaches was also not displayed and no samples were sent to Wessa; and facilities for the disposing of recyclable waste were also not put in place.
“Wessa will ask for dispensation regarding the Blue Flag board (at both beaches). A new board will be created if Blue Flag status is awarded in the 2017/2018 season,” said a representative from Wessa. “The stolen Blue Flag will be replaced (at Buffalo Bay) and sent to the municipality by Wessa,” they concluded.
Regarding the information about the bathing quality of the water at both beaches not being displayed, Wessa said, “Water samples (from both beaches) have now been sent to Wessa and the bathing water quality has been updated on the board(s).”
Both beaches also now have their own recycling bins for the disposing of recyclable waste.
At Buffalo Bay the many informal access pathways through sensitive dunes were also an issue, along with there being a safety issue with respect to the bathing area and the boat launch site.
On this issue, Wessa's reply was that the number of informal pathways has been reduced and the dunes have been rehabilitated.
The safety issue regarding the bathing area and the boat launch site being too close to one another was mitigated by the municipality zoning the Blue Flag area and shifting the bathing area 100m from the boat launch site, said Wessa.
“The lifeguards now operate in this correctly zoned area and inform people where they must swim.”
Blue Flag SA assured the Knysna-Plett Herald that the municipality has now solved all of these issues, and therefore both beaches retain their Blue Flag status.
Click here for previous articles:
- More clarity on Blue Flag status
- Knysna beaches to fly Blue Flags again
- 2 Knysna beaches lose Blue Flag status
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