Bluewater Bay Echo

18/07/2025

NOT TOO LATE TO ENTER FOR THE BWB SURF LIFESAVING CLUB ANNUAL FUN RUN TOMORROW

There is still time to enter the annual Running of the Bullsh*tters road-race that takes place tomorrow (Saturday 19 July) afternoon, starting at 14h00.

This popular event which places a huge amount of emphasis on fun sees competitors run (many walk) along a 5km designated route on the river side of Weinronk Way.

Entry fee is R100 and that includes stopping at each of the five "waterholes" for a free refreshment - Tequila, Apple Sours, Potency!

There are prizes for the winners of the race, for best dressed (see attire) and a lucky draw plus an auction for an amazing two night's accommodation at the Knysna Elephant Park!

Residents living along Amsterdamhoek Drive, in Demist Circle and Sarah Avenue are requested to exercise a little patience if travelling along the road is slow due to the runners.

iPatrol will be on hand to marshal the runners and to assist residents along the route in case of emergencies.

Attire: Dress code: RED, WHITE & BLACK

Entry forms available at BWB SLC or per email from [email protected] – Bring along your completed entry form. Entries close at 13:55 on the day. Club open for entries from 13:00.

Under 12 years of age - FREE
12 - 16 years - R50 entry fee
16 years and up - R100 entry fee

Please note that no alcohol will be served to ANYONE under the age of 18.

15:00 - Gourmet hot dogs AKA “Bulldogs” for sale at the finish, at R30 p/Frank dog
16:00 - AUCTION
(You do not have to enter the race to take part)
UP FOR GRABS: *KNYSNA ELEPANT PARK - 2 nights' accommodation for 2 in the Nature Lodge (with dinner and breakfast) PLUS: Meet the heard experience free tour
17:10 - RUGBY - SA vs GEORGIA on screen with sound
TILL LATE - DJ - MR B - Music / Dance / Prize giving
Licensed bar / Yoco available

18/07/2025

ST CROIX SEA SCOUTS BEACH CLEAN-UP TOMORROW

St Croix Sea Scouts have organised a beach clean-up on the main beach in Bluewater Bay tomorrow (Saturday 19 July) in honour of Mandela Day.

Members of the local community are invited to join in and be part of the activity.

Meet on the main swimming beach between 09h00 and 09h15 and please bring your own gloves and bags for the collection of the rubbish.

18/07/2025

ZWARTKOPS CONSERVANCY COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP

Swartkops Conservatory will be cleaning three different areas of Bluewater Bay tomorrow (Saturday 19 July) as part of its 67 minutes of action.

These areas will include the cycle track, thr open ground next to the Familie Kerk in Riverside Drive and the Swartkops River mouth.

This should not be confused with the Beach Clean-Up that will be taking place on the main beach that is being organised by the St Crois Sea Scouts.. Details of this will be published separately.

Members of the community that would like to participate in the Zwartkops Conservatory activity must meet at the Swartkops River mouth between 9am and 10am where they will be given gloves and bags.

27/06/2025

BWB'S OWN GENEVA FOUNTAIN

There are water leaks and water leaks in Bluewater Bay but few are as spectacular as this one caught on video by BWB resident, Maritsa Olivier this morning.

A main water pipe that crosses the railway bridge across the Swartkops River takes water from the Nooitgedacht Scheme to Port Elizabeth burst. The result was a fantastic fountain that one follower of the Echo said reminded him of Geneva.

But, full marks to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality who arrived quickly on site to ensure that not too much of this precious commodity landed up in the river and out to sea.

23/06/2025

22/06/2025

CAPITEC CARD FOUND

A Capitec card was found in Maureen Circle this afternoon.

Please contact the Echo if you have lost your card today.

10/06/2025

TRANQUILITY IN BWB GARDEN NURSERY

The first thing one notices when entering the BWB Garden Nursery in Sarah Avenue, Bluewater Bay, is the tranquility of the venue.

Owner, Thane Sparks, runs a garden nursery seven days a week but over weekends opens a catering section that offers a small menu served between 11am and 2pm that can perhaps best be described as a brunch.

The offerings include bacon, eggs, onion and tomato, baked beans and a couple of slices of toast or a selection of burgers from vegan to game. All at a most affordable price.

Thane does the cooking and is assisted in the serving by Chemoné Louw.

The two ensure a friendly atmosphere and also provide a clue as to how they have created the tranquility. Talking to Thane, you soon discover his love of holistic practices and medicine. And right there in the nursery he has various herbs that he makes use of to keep himself healthy.

He also has a couple of Wendy houses in the garden that are ideal for backpackers. One sleeps five people in a series of bunkers. Okay, it is pretty cramped but the main thing is to offer cheap accommodation for groups. The other has a double bed for two people. This combination would suit a family with parents in the double room and kids in the other unit.

Thane is considering opening one night during the week. Given all the lighting in the garden, it could offer something really different for residents of Bluewater Bay to enjoy a couple of cocktails or a light meal in relaxing surroundings.

12/05/2025

FIRES AT THE TIP COULD CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER YEAR!

Hot on the heals of his involvement in the removal of the sand dunes at the junction of Weinronk Way and Bluewater Drive, Councillor, Werner Senekal, organised a water truck to douse the flames at the Bluewater Bay tip.

Senekal says the Metro currently has plans to put proper fencing around the tip and improve management of the site.

The worrying thing is that this project is only planned for in the Metro's 2026/27 financial year.

This means that Bluewater Bay residents that live near the tip will have to put up with the strong smell of smoke on a regular basis for at least another year before the problem is attended to.

In the meantime, the Metro will probably continue to use water truck contractors to douse the flames, thus spending a lot of ratepayer's money.

12/05/2025

BWB COMMUNITY AND METRO JOIN HANDS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

When a community and the Metro join hands, they can move mountains!

Okay, they were sand dunes rather than mountains. But for many years, residents have been complaining about the height of the sand dunes on the corner of Weinronk Way and Bluewater Drive that made it diffucult for motorists to see oncoming traffic from both directions.

DA Representative Councillor, Werner Senelak Metro and Barry Welgemoed of the Metro stepped up to the plate and, together with the Zwartkops Conservancy, the Beyers family and the Metro tackled the task of removing the sand and prepaying two garden beds, one on either side of the junction of the two roads.

Then on Saturday morning, residents were invited to bring succulents to plant in the flower beds.

The ZC was out in force, with Operations Manager, Femke de Wet, Liaison Officer, Jenny Rump, Louis and Cathy Beyers, with Les Strydom, Chairman of the Ratepayers Association, Norman Visser, St Croix Sea Scout Pack leader other members of the community and Councillor, Werner Senekal plus six Metro labourers.

All arrived with bags of succulents brought from their homes and within two hours both garden beds were fuĺly planted.

To top it all off, Craig Hendricks, Chairman of Neighbourhood Watch, arrived towing his fire trailer to water the new gardens. Residents had brought numerous 5-litre bottles of water to refill the the fire trailer's water tank.

Many delighted motorists gave thumbs-up signs as they drove by.

09/05/2025

PLANTING FOR THE COMMUNITY

You are invited to join members of the Zwartkops Conservancy (ZC) between 09h00 and 11h00 tomorrow (Saturday) the corner of Weinronk Way and Bluewater Drive (at the entrance to the beach) to plant ground cover plants that are able to survive in sandy areas.

Ideal plants are succulents such as vygies (see pic) or any other low growing succulent.

The aim behind this project is to stabilise the ground that until recently was covered by a large sand dune which impeded the view of traffic at the intersection.

DA Representative Councillor, Werner Senekal, managed to get the Metro to remove the sand and then joined the ZC, Louis and Cathy Beyers and Carl Welgemoed of the Metro to prepare the ground for the planting.

Residents that take a plant-cutting along are also requested to bring a big bottle of water to water the plant.

Perhaps the best thing about the exercise is that you will not only be doing something for the community, you will also be creating a memory that you will be reminded of each time you go down to the beach!

01/05/2025

BWB RESIDENT FINDS HER INNER SUPERWOMAN

From despair and loneliness to success and happiness. This is a story told by Bluewater Bay resident, Chene Tuck, in a new book published by Europe Books.

Chene reached rock bottom in a broken marriage aged just 29 years. The 500-page book, "Finding my Supergirl", written over a 10-year period, takes readers along her life as she sought solace in partying too much
and struggled to find her way through life. But one day she turned to God and made a commitment to set herself on the right path.

After a change in attitude – and a few lucky breaks – Chene started to find her inner strength and found the “Supergirl” within her.

A short trip to the UK and Germany was followed by a lucky break to teach in Thailand for four years rid her of most of her demons but she missed home in South Africa and still felt the need of a stable family life.

That all came together after she returned home and met Tyrone Tuck. Now a married woman with a family, Chene is a bubbly, confident businesswoman.

If you would like a copy of the book which is an easy read or are thinking of a friend that may find some comfort in this story, contact Chene on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook using the handle or via email: [email protected].

The book is currently on sale in Europe with a fairly hefty price tag of £21 (R525} but there is a limited quantity of advance copies available from Chene at R399 each.