Coast KZN

State of the Coast: KZN
State of the Coast: KZN

State of the Coast: KwaZulu-Natal Chapter 1: Introduction & Background Chapter 2: Overarching Drivers Chapter 3: Climate Variability
Chapter 4: Coastal Environment Chapter 5: Estuarine Environment Chapter 6: Marine Environment Chapter 7: Human Environment Chapter 8: Economic Environment
Chapter 9: Governance Environment Chapter 10: Conclusions
The Profile of the KZN Coast
The Profile of the KZN Coast

Ugu Lwethu- Our Coast Defining the Coastal Zone The Physical and Coastal Environment Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
Coastal and Marine Species Migrations The Human Dimension Socio-Economic Uses of the Coast Commercial Resource Uses
Pressures and Threats Management of the Coastal and Marine Environments Understanding our Coast
Coastal access
Coastal access

Access RoutesBoat Launch SitesThe Human DimensionCoastal Access: Stats & Facts
Estuaries
Estuaries

What is an Estuary? Know your Estuaries Estuary Health and Conservation KZN Estuary Observer Programme
Historical Time Series Estuary Mouth Status Sand Mining
Recreation
Recreation

Fish TaggingAccess RoutesBlue Flag Beaches
Coastal risk and vulnerability
Coastal risk and vulnerability

Coastal Risk LinesExtreme EventsCoastal ErosionKZN Coastal Vulnerability IndexPollution
Coastal issues
Coastal issues

PollutionSand MiningCoastal ErosionNurdlesUPL Chemical Spill
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05 Sep 2019

Blythedale’s pilot Blue Flag of shame

Penny Fourie (North Coast Courier) Picture: The facilities at Blythedale beach are a long way from reaching Blue Flag status.

According to WESSA’s national coastal coordinator, Vincent Shacks the municipality is responsible for the upgrade to all the beach facilities as set out by the Blue Flag programme.

A week after reporting on the appalling state of Salt Rock beach toilets, the Courier investigated yet another North Coast beach under the pilot Blue Flag programme and found the state of the beach amenities in an shocking state.  A disgusted resident said the toilets facilities of Blythedale Beach had been in an unpleasant state for years and contravened health and safety standards and a proper risk assessment was needed.

The beach area also serves as the venue for the popular KwaDukuza beach festival. In its ninth year, the annual event organised by KDM municipality attracts more than 26 000 party goers onto Blythedale beach over the festive season.

The budget for last year’s event was R300 000 and included a fashion show, music entertainment, sporting activities, food courts, and indigenous games.

A walk through by the Courier revealed the dismal state of the facilities. The three outdoor showers did not have taps and the shower floors were littered with debris.

Inside the toilet facilities, the doors were missing, the only wash basin was vandalised with the taps missing and the three toilets had broken rims, were blocked and overflowing with faeces.

While the state of the Salt Rock main beach toilets were highlighted in the Courier last week, with no clear sign of maintenance or cleaning being undertaken, the facilities at the Blythedale beach are not fit for use. There are no visible signs that cleaners had been to the toilet facilities for a number of months as a result of the debris and decay strewn across the floor.

Blythedale beach was one of four North Coast beaches chosen for the Blue Flag pilot programme last year.

In a statement to the media, current KZN premier and previous MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Sihle Zikalala, welcomed the awarding of Blue Flag status to beaches in KwaZulu-Natal and added that the province would continue to upgrade and maintain its beach recreational facilities and maintain the highest environmental standards in order to meet and even surpass the Blue Flag standards.

In order for a beach to be awarded this prestigious status, it must meet a set of stringent criteria set by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) and Blue Flag International. According to WESSA’s national coastal coordinator, Vincent Shacks the municipality is responsible for the upgrade to all the beach facilities as set out by the Blue Flag programme.

KDM executive director for Community Services Siyabonga Khanyile, whose department is responsible for beaches and public amenities, said the Blythedale building was in the process of being condemned.

According to the local building authority for a building to be condemned it has to be considered unsafe to use or inhabit. Once a dilapidated building or house has been condemned and the property is not repaired within a set amount of time or the expense of rehabilitating the structure is not justified, it is generally demolished.

“The building will be demolished but there is a process that has to be followed before anything happens,” said Khanyile. However, Khanyile urged beach-goers to exercise responsibility and clean up after themselves and not vandalise public property.

 

 

Online Article