It’s official! The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) is extremely proud to announce that three of its most-loved beaches – Hobie, King’s and Humewood – have again been awarded full Blue flag status by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) at an event held in Jeffreys Bay earlier today, October 4, 2017.
NMBM Executive Mayor Athol Trollip said: “This is a major boost for our efforts to make the City a major destination for sport tourism. We are working, we are working realy hard to get other beaches be awarded the same status”.
The coveted Blue Flag Certificates – the most prestigious international award that could be bestowed on our beaches – were received by elated NMBM Mayoral Committee Member for Recreation, Arts & Culture, Cllr Sijadu, who commented that the Municipality’s hard work to ensure that the highest possible standards for amenities, cleanliness and environmental protection were maintained at the beaches concerned has paid off.
“We want to position ourselves as a Watersport Capital: this is where we need to start, and we have already laid a good foundation. This is more confirmation that we are ready to host the World Ironman event next year,” said Cllr Sijadu.
Humewood, Hobie and King’s Beach will be flying this international eco-label, the Blue Flag, as a reassurance, especially to our overseas visitors, that excellence in the areas of safety, amenities, cleanliness, environmental information and environmental management has been met – and that local beaches are ready for the thousands of visitors that will descend on them this Holiday Season.
The Municipality has now set its sights on attaining Blue Flag status for Wells Estate, in terms of a pilot phase. Infrastructure at the Wells Estates Beach is under upgrade. The upgrade will focus on ablution facilities, a parking area, braai facilities and sewerage infrastructure.
The success of the Blue Flag programme in Nelson Mandela Bay can be attributed to the commitment of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to provide beach-goers and holiday-makers with world-class beaches offering safe, clean and well-managed facilities.