Question NW443 to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
05 September 2019 - NW443
King, Ms C to ask the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
(1) Which beaches lost their blue flag status in (a) 2016, (b) 2017 and (c) 2018; And (2) whether any measures are in place to restore the blue flag status of the specified beaches; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) The following beaches lost their Blue Flag status:
(a) 2016: Struisbaai Beach (Agulhas Municipality).
(b) 2017: Gouritsmond Beach (Hessequa Municipality); Santos Beach (Mossel Bay Municipality); Wilderness Beach (Garden Route District Municipality); Kleinemonde Beach (Ndlambe Municipality).
(c) 2018: No Blue Flag beaches lost their status in 2018.
(2) (a) 2016: Struisbaai Beach - The municipality opted not to apply in 2016 in order to carry out infrastructure upgrades at the site. Struisbaai became a Blue Flag beach again in 2017.
(b) 2017:
• Gouritsmond Beach - The municipality lost the Blue Flag status due to failed water quality. Gouritsmond became a Blue Flag beach again in 2018.
• Santos Beach - The municipality lost the Blue Flag status due to failed water quality. Santos Beach became a Blue Flag beach again in 2018.
• Wilderness Beach - The municipality did not apply to the programme in 2017 for unknown reasons. Wilderness Beach have submitted an application for Blue Flag status in 2019/20.
• Kleinemonde Beach - The municipality did not apply to the programme in 2017 due to budgetary constraints. Kleinemonde Beach has, since then, not returned to the programme.
Regards
MS BD CREECY, MP
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES
DATE: 01/09/2019