Overstrand Municipality has asked members of the public to be on the lookout for any nurdles that may be found along our coastline and to report sightings to help track the movements of these potentially lethal little beads.

The tiny pellets of plastic - known as nurdles - were first reported on the Gansbaai shoreline on 26 October, barely a week after vast quantities initially washed up on Durban’s shores. This, after two shipping containers housing 49 tons of nurdles pitched off a Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) vessel that broke its moorings and collided with another ship in Durban Harbour. The containers and packaging ruptured, effectively ejecting hundreds of millions of nurdles into the sea.

According to Overstrand’s Environmental Department, nurdles were spotted on Grotto and Voëlklip Beaches as well. “Thus far we have only had a few reports of them washing up on our coast. 

Hip hip… Hooray!

Overstrand is exceptionally proud that three of its beaches - Grotto, Hawston and Kleinmond - are among the 44 South African beaches that have been accredited this year to display the BLUE FLAG.

The Municipality was further granted Pilot Blue Flag status for another one of its beaches, namely Castle Beach in Pearly Beach.

In South Africa, the Blue Flag programme is managed by WESSA (the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) and the programme offers many benefits: Improved tourism facilities, enhanced management of coastal ecosystems, educational awareness programmes and excellent water-quality standards and facilities.

Blue-flag status is awarded seasonally and municipalities must apply annually to renew the status of their beaches.

You can become a member of the library, free of charge, by completing a membership form to apply for membership.

You need to provide a valid identity document together with a proof of your home address (such as a utility bill) and a maximum of two references.

If you are applying for a card for a child who is younger than 17, you will need to sign their application form, and bring along their identity document as well as your own.

If you are renting from somebody you must bring with a copy of the first page of your agreement. If you stay with somebody they must give you a letter that states you are living with them.

Share your input on or before 15 December 2017.

Comments can be forward to the Municipal Manager (for attention Lionel Wallace), PO Box 20, Hermanus 7200 or fax / email to 028 313 8931 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

- Comments/supporting documents larger than 2MB sent via email will not be accepted.

The proposed by-law will be available for perusal during office hours at the Offices of the Area Managers in Gansbaai, Stanford, Hermanus and Kleinmond; all public libraries in the Overstrand; the municipality’s corporate head office in Hermanus and on the official website at www.overstrand.gov.za click on By-Laws

Alternatively, click here: (http://www.overstrand.gov.za/en/documents/bylaws/4920-draft-event-by-law-for-the-staging-of-events/file).