Blue Flag Beaches
Taranaki's beaches are known to be among the best in the country - a haven for surfers, walkers and families. In 2007, three of these, Oakura, East End and Fitzroy became the first in Oceania to be awarded Blue Flag status by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) - a highly respected and internationally recognised eco-label.
FEE is an international, non-governmental, non-profit organisation which started the Blue Flag programme in France in 1985. There are now more than 3,450 Blue Flag beaches in more than 40 countries.
The status is important: it recognises local authorities and beach operators who achieve high standards in four categories:
- environmental management
- water quality
- environmental education and
- information and safety and services.
The programme drew the attention of the Kaitaki Community Board in 2007. It then worked alongside the New Plymouth District Council to attain accreditation for Oakura Beach.
In practical terms, this meant a management committee was created for the beach. Made up of key local and district stakeholders, the committee members worked together to ensure the long-term sustainable operation of the beach - from the provision of public facilities like disabled carparking, recycling bins and swim safety programmes to environmental monitoring and future planning.
In Oakura, this resulted in some very beneficial projects. These include community litter clean-ups, a major riparian planting project to purify the water catchment feeding into the nearby Wairau Stream, water testing and invertebrate research by school students alongside the Taranaki Regional Council, numerous educational trips by schools and tertiary institutions, the creation of a wetland plan for the area and a management plan for the Wairau Stream.
The cost of achieving the Blue Flag status each year is $5,000. This investment not only achieves international recognition for the area but fosters a real focus from a community to protecting and enhancing its greatest asset so future generations will enjoy surfing, swimming and using the beach as much as they do today.
Download the Kaitake Community Board's Best Practice Award entry here. (pdf)
Pictured above: school children planting to help prevent erosion at Oakura Beach.
