MyPE

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Humewood Regains Blue Flag Status

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The Humewood Beach Office was the scene of smiling faces this morning as Councillor Babalwa Lobishe helped Morgan Griffith, the Provincial Project Co-Ordinator for WESSA, raise the Blue Flag over Humewood beach once again.

Executive Director of EDRS, Zolile Sizawana was; “…excited to have once again gained Blue Flag Status for Humewood beach”, and continued by saying that it had been a “tough job in light of the financial constraints the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has been labouring under.”

A delighted Morgan Griffith commended the Municipality for working hard to get the Blue Flag status back after losing it in April this year. Highlighting that WESSA work with municipalities he challenged the Municipality to also regain Blue Flag status for Wells Estate saying that; “…estimates are that 30% of Port Elizabeth’s GDP can be attributed to tourism.”

Peter Myles went on to say that studies show that 85% of USA tourism spend is beach related and seemed confident in saying that he estimates a daily beachfront tourism spend in Port Elizabeth of in excess of R1 million. It is a known fact that international tourists gravitate towards Blue Flag status beaches.

The Humewood Beach Blue Flag status covers the summer season from November 2011 to April 2012 and involves adherence to four aspects of coastal management:

  1. Sound environmental management
  2. Environmental education initiatives
  3. Safety and Security for beach users and
  4. Healthy bathing water quality

The Blue Flag status is only in effect when the flag is flying and all criteria (e.g lifeguards) are in place. In other words don’t moan about the Blue Flag status if you go swimming at 12 o’ clock at night and don’t see a lifeguard!

Griffith and Lobishe
Morgan Griffith and Babalwa Lobishe assisted by a Lifeguard raise the Blud Flag over Humewood
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.