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Beaches reopen under Level 2, several improvements undertaken during lockdown

Issued George Municipality, 24th August 2020

The announcement that beaches have reopened under Covid Level 2 was met with great enthusiasm by the public. During the lockdown period, the Community Services Directorate has continued to work on improvements at the various facilities owned by the municipality. All of the beach ablution facilities which fall under George Municipality will have security gates installed in the new financial year, to prevent ongoing vandalism.

Beach goers are reminded that none of the beaches will have lifeguard services until 1 December when they will be on duty daily from 9 till 5. From the 15th of December they will be available from 7H00- 19h00 until the schools reopen in January 2021, there after they will be back to weekends only. All of these arrangements are COVID and Alert Level dependant and subject to change.

The Herold’s Bay tidal pool has received new stainless steel balustrades. Disabled toilets have been installed at Wilderness Beach which will allow for the application for full Blue Flag status to proceed prior to the December 2020 season.

Coastal plants have also been planted near the parking area to stop dune erosion and improve the aesthetics. Neat wooden huts have been installed at Victoria Bay and Gwaing Beach for municipal officials. A lean to with two picnic beaches has been erected to provide shade for beachgoers at Leentjiesklip, after the large milkwood tree there unfortunately fell over. The braai facilities at Gwaing Beach have also been upgraded.

Projects for the new financial year include upgrades to the caravan park at Gwaing that include the extension of the caravan site (which is subject to the Section 24 G application), the installation of wheelchair friendly ablutions, the upgrading of the wash-up and ironing facilities, the upgrading of the ablutions at the beach and the installation of access control boom gates for the caravan park. At Leentjiesklip the empty showers that are not operational will be converted into additional toilet facilities. The caravan park at Herolds Bay will have access control boom gates installed as well as palisade fencing around the caretakes cottage.