Take Action – Kimberly Coast Oil Spill

Surfrider Foundation Australia calls for all members to take action regarding the massive contamination from the continuous oil spill off the NW coast of Australia.

The spill is now in its ninth week. PTTEP, the company responsible for the oil leak is making its fourth attempt to plug the leak today. All attempts have failed thus far.

The public may be being seriously misled regarding the impacts of the oils spill, with recent statements from the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism reporting that estimates suggest the flow could be as high as 2,000 barrels. The company responsible for the leak, PTTEP has estimated the leak has been flowing at a rate of 300 – 400 barrels per day, which is the number the Federal government agrees with. There seems to be no clear idea about how much oil is actually being spilt into the ocean.

The Kimberley coast is one of the world’s most intact large tropical marine ecosystems with a coral reef of global significance. The seas in the area are known as a marine ‘super highway’ because of the amount of dolphins, whales, turtles, sea birds and fish found there. A recent survey from the WWF recorded dozens of dolphins and sea birds all within the oil slick area, as well as sea snakes and the threatened hawksbill and flat-backed turtle. Due to the rig being in a very remote location, and the concern is that the mentality is Out of Sight, Out of Mind. The oil spill is a massive contamination risk and can affect wildlife for generations.

The oil spill in the Kimberley is a serious global concern, however, it would seem that the impact and severity of the spill is being played down to an increasingly frustrated public.

More outrageous, is that on Friday 23 October, PTTEP gained control of two more off shore oil fields and five exploration licenses. The move was supported by the Foreign Investment Review Board, and Federal Resources Minister, Martin Ferguson.

We urge you to take action. Please write to the following people to express your concerns regarding the lack of information being made available to the public, and that the company responsible for the spill has been granted an additional five oil and gas exploration licenses.

Call on the politicians to:
-    Ensure the West Atlas Oil spill is capped at the earliest possible time, and all necessary resources are made available to clean up the slick and treat effected wildlife
-    Protect the Kimberley. Only 1% of the West Australian coastal environment is protected. 1% is not good enough.  Substantial marine parks in the North West of Australia need to be established to protect the region from uncontrolled industrialisation.
-    Put the environment first. Place a moratorium on the opening of any further oil and gas exploration until the current marine bioregional planning process is complete.

The Hon Kevin Rudd MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Tel: (07) 3899 4031

Peter Garrett
T: 02 6277 7640
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
PO Box 6022
Parliament House

Colin Barnett
Premier of Western Australia
24th Floor, Governor Stirling Tower, 197 St Georges Terrace, PERTH WA 6000
Telephone: 9222 9888
Fax: 9322 1213
e-Mail: wa-government@dpc.wa.gov.au

Martin Ferguson
Minister for Resources
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7930
Fax: (02) 6273 0434
Email: Martin.Ferguson.MP@aph.gov.au

Related Information
Oil Spill

A Day At The Park, Cronulla NSW

adayatthepark.com.au

Come meet Emma, Rose and the Surfrider Sydney crew at our stall at this upcoming show.

A Day At The Park is heading to Cronulla, Sydney on November 14th, 2009! A great afternoon of music, by the coast with friends!

A Day At The Park is an event featuring Australia’s leading musicians @ Toyota Stadium in Cronulla. The day will feature 16 artists in total – a diverse palate, full of some of Australia’s biggest & best musicians will take the stage, ­ a sumptuous mix of rock legends, acoustic balladeers, blues, roots & dub acts, indie pop-rockers & Australia’s best emerging talent. The perfect afternoon mix-tape! A Day At The Park promises to serve up a little something for everyone.

Artists include Hoodoo Gurus, You Am I, The Beautiful Girls, Ash Grunwald, Kate Miller Heidke, Richard Clapton, Bertie Blackman,  The Vasco Era, Red Riders, King Tide, Dead Letter Chorus, Amy Meredith and more.

There will be plenty of space to kick back and relax. So pack your picnic rug!

* Fill up and satisfy the taste buds at one of the many fine food stalls.
* Two big stages for you to get up close to, and plenty of space to shake your booty.

What better way to spend a Spring day surrounded by all of that? Good friends, good times, awesome music? Capacity at Toyota Stadium will be limited for A Day At The Park. This is so there is enough room for everyone to freely move about, relax and enjoy their day ­ Purchase tickets early, so you don’t miss out! And because the good folk behind A Day At The Park want to share their fun with everyone, tickets have been kept to a conservative and affordable price (kids under five get in for free).

Want to go on a Maldives Surf Trip?

As part of the Surfrider Foundation funraising event at Manly Wharf Bar on Thursday October 29, 2009, we are auctioning off a Maldives Surf Trip kindly donated by Line Up Surf Australia.

Here are the details:

Line Up Surf Australia

Maldives North and South Male Atolls Surf Trip

16^th – 26^th August 2010

Host

Mr. Phil Taylor

Itinerary

Fly from Sydney to Male, then depending on conditions, possibly spend a day surfing one or two known spots in the Male’ region.

Spend the next 9 days surfing the various breaks of the North and South Male Atolls during the prime swell window at this time of year.  The trip will include visiting the known breaks and exploring the atolls for new, possibly unsurfed, breaks. This is a unique surfing adventure. This trip will be truly an adventure. There will be no set surfing itinerary, basically we will pull up to a spot, and if it looks surfable, we’ll give it a go. It’s our goal to surf most of the breaks around the Atolls.

The surf

The north and south Male atolls has some of the most famous and awsome waves The Maldives has to offer. Breaks like Honkies, Sultans, Jailbreaks, Cokes and chickens to name a few will be on offer and we also plan on sneaking south to the Garadu area where other surfers are rarely seen.

The Maldives surf season runs from mid February to November when swells are produced by winter low pressure systems in the southern Indian Ocean. The early part of the season has the most stable weather, however swell size and consistency is greater in the July to September period.

Trip inclusions

Return flights from Sydney to Male, 9 days aboard MV Dream Catcher, three meals a day, drinking water, airport transfers in Maldives, free use of snorkelling equipment. Diving is available at discount rates.  Local beer, soft drinks and cocktails are available on board at your own cost. Free wine will be provided with dinner.

The boat

MV Dream Catcher II is Line Up’s most luxurious boat in the fleet. It is very comfortable, 31 meter long vessel, powered by a 400HP Iveco engine with a cruising speed of 13 knots.  Accommodation is in twin share cabins, each with attached bathroom facilites.  A wide saloon equipped with a stereo, TV, DVD+VHS, games, a satellite phone and a bar offering both alcoholic and soft drink beverages with dining facilities located both inside and outside on the deck.

The boat comfortably accommodates up to 17 guests and has plenty of covered deck space for leisurely recovering whilst watching your mates score amazing waves. There is also a sun deck where the tranquillity of The Maldives can truly be appreciated.

There is dhoni and small tender to transfer you quickly to and from the surf and to enable the group to spread over different breaks.

Game Fishing is also available from Dream Catcher I at an extra cost. This is a 30ft Scarab Tournament which is a fusion of open-water performance and first rate fishability. Please contact Line Up for more information

The cost

The total cost of the trip, with the trip inclusions, is AUD $3999.00 per person twin share.

A deposit of AU$2000.00 is payable to secure the early bird special. The regular cost of this trip is Au$4999.  The balance is payable by no later than April 2010

What boards to take

For most surfers a short board will be suitable for most conditions in the Maldives, but a longer board will be useful for bigger swells.

The recommended quiver is 2 boards consisting of a normal shortboard and a mid-range gun (6’8”  to 7’2”). The surf rarely gets over 8ft.

What else to take

You’ll need to take everything. Nothing is available in the Maldives. Year round the water is about 26 degrees Celsius and the air temperature averages 29 to 32 degrees Celsius, so a wetsuit is not required.  A light wetsuit or rash vest is good for protection from the sun and from the coral. Reef booties are essential for picking your way over exposed coral reefs.  A helmet will offer additional protection.

In addition to the obvious things, you should put on your checklist:

• Boards
• Reef booties
• Rash vest
• Warm water wax
• Boardshorts
• Camera (stills and video)
• Medical kit
• Hat
• Sunnies
• Factor 30 (or higher) sunscreen
• Energy bars
• Personal toiletries (eg. Deodorant, toothpaste etc) are essential. These cannot be bought onboard.
• Personal towels

About the Maldives

The Maldives is located on the Equator southwest of Sri Lanka.  It is an archipelago of 26 major coral atolls with 1190 islands of which only about 290 are inhabited.  Male’, the capital, is a densely populated two square kilometre island.

The Maldives is an Islamic nation of approximately 300,000 people. Its history is linked to the ancient Indian Ocean trade routes going back as far as 2000 BC. Other than during a 15 year Portuguese occupation which ended in the mid 1500’s. From 1887 to 1965 It had a protection treaty with Britain, but during that time maintained its own internal government.

The functional literacy rate is 98%. Educational standards are among the highest in the region and schools follow the British system of education.

Maldivian people have a very strong sense of their own identity and culture. English is widely spoken by Maldivians. The Maldivian language is Divehi which is related to Sinhala, an ancient Sri Lankan dialect, but also contains influences from Arabic, Hindi and English.

Tourism is the main industry, contributing close to 20% of the GDP. Fisheries and trade follow close behind. The growth of the resort-based tourism industry has been carefully planned and regulated to protect both the environment and the culture. Independent travel is discouraged, and virtually all visitors to the Maldives are package tourists staying at one of the resorts or cruising in a licensed boat. Diving is a main attraction for tourists as the Maldives is regarded as one of the world’s premier diving locations.

Paradise Island Resort and Spa

For all those non-surfers or surfers who prefer land based stays, Line Up Surf Australia also offers packages to the luxurious Paradise Island Resort and Spa. Line Up Surf Australia has recently partnered Villa Resorts and Paradise Island Resort to offer arguably the most luxurious surfing resorts known to man. Staying in 5 star super deluxe rooms and guided by our Aussie surfguide, surfers will have a dream holiday usually only open to the rich. With 3 square meals per day, atleast two sessions out at Maldivian perfection, night fishing and local island tours as well as the use of the gymnasium and tennis courts there is something for everyone to do. While your not surfing, you could visit the Spa getting pampered like a movie star!

Other information

Visas

30-day tourist visas are granted on arrival. There is no cost for the visa.

Health

Maldives has no malaria and there is low risk of tropical diseases. Tetanus, Typhoid and Hepatitis A and B vaccinations are advised, especially if time is spent away from a resort island. Over-exposure to the sun and infection from coral cuts are the two main hazards for surfers. In an emergency an injured surfer may require a speedboat or seaplane to get to Male’, the only place with modern medical facilities. For very serious injuries, evacuation to Colombo or Singapore may be necessary.

Adequate travel insurance that covers medical evacuation is essential.

It is also suggested that each surfer registers with ‘Smart Traveller’   (www.smartraveller.gov.au) incase for some reason, the Australian government needs to get a hold of you. This is usually to make sure you are alright if unforeseen circumstances take place (eg. Natural Disaster, Terrorist Attack etc.). If your family needs to contact you but cannot get a hold of you, this information will also help for the Australian Consul to get in touch.

Import Restrictions

No alcohol, pornography (which covers a wide range of publications), pork, drugs, dogs, firearms, spear guns or “idols of worship” may be brought into the country. All baggage is X-rayed.

Power supply

The power supply on the boat is 220 volt.  Power plugs are not Australian, however adapters are available.

Dress & Etiquette

In Male’ and on other inhabited islands men should always wear a shirt and shorts / pants and women should wear skirts or shorts that cover the thighs (ie no higher than the knee).  Women must not wear low-cut tops and have their shoulders covered at all times when on local inhabited islands and Male (ie. No spaghetti strap tops or tops that show cleavage. These tops may be worn on the boat).

Time

GMT + 5 hours, ie 6 hours behind Sydney time.

Communication

There is generally mobile phone coverage in the Maldives.  The boat also has satellite telephone communications.  Calls made from the boat will be charged for by the captain.

Links

http://magicseaweed.com/Maldives-Surf-Forecast/56/

http://www.surfthemaldives.com

http://www.lineup.com.au

Legal stuff

By joining the trip you release Wayne Ryan and Line Up Surf from all claims of whatever nature arising from or in connection with your participation in the trip (including your own bravado or stupidity) or the surf conditions, the weather, your fellow travellers or anything else you could think of and you agree to indemnify Wayne Ryan and Lineup Surf in respect of any claims made against them as a result of your conduct on the trip.  Bottom line – if you behave well and be a good traveller you should be okay.

The Debate – “Climate Change will be good for surfers.” 2009 Conference Information

THE DEBATE

Debate Topic: “Climate change will be good for surfers”

When: Saturday November 7, 2009. 9am – 1pm as part of the 2009 Surfrider Foundation National Education Conference. Venue Southern Cross University, Riverside Campus – Brett Street, Tweed Head, Gold Coast. Price$40.00 for SFA Members. $50.00 for Non-Members

Register for the 2009 Surfrider Foundation National Education Conference here

Adjudicator Wendy Harmer is one of Australia’s best-known humourists.

She has enjoyed a highly successful thirty-year career in journalism, radio, television and stand-up comedy.

She has written for newspapers, been a regular columnist for magazines and is the author of five books for adults, two plays, three one-woman stage shows and a libretto for the Australian Opera.

Her bestselling children’s book series ‘Pearlie in the Park’ has been translated into ten languages and is the subject of an animated television series.

Wendy lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with her husband, two young children, and (at last count) fifteen chickens and three ducks.

NEGATIVE speakers

Tim Baker is the author of four best-selling books on surfing, including “Bustin’ Down The Door,” “High Surf” and “Occy”. He is a former editor of Tracks and Surfing Life magazines, and former editorial director of Morrison Media Services. He has twice won the Surfing Australia Hall of Fame Culture Award and been nominated for the CUB Australian Sports Writing Awards.

Narelle Sutherland works in the Office of Climate Change, where she supports the Premier’s Council on Climate Change to advise the Queensland Government on a wide range of climate change issues. Narelle is a keen surfer and has a social work and sociology background. She previously worked, for nearly 2 decades, with NGOs on a range of social justice challenges including homelessness, the rights of prisoners and income inequality – but believes that climate change is the mother of them all.

Darrell Strauss is a researcher at the Griffith University’s Centre for Coastal Management. Darrell was previously an IT Officer at The National Tidal Facility Australia and contributed to the activities of the South Pacific Sea Level and Climate Monitoring Project. Darrell is currently completing his PhD which is focused on the surf zone dynamics of sandy beaches.

POSITIVE speakers

Colman Ridge is the director of Greenfest, Australia’s largest free green festival commencing on World Environment Day.

Liz Cantor is a television presenter who currently reports for Channel Seven Queensland lifestyle programs, Great South East and Creek To Coast; and also presents the Golden Casket Lotto draw segments. She also files weekend beach and surf reports for Seven News Brisbane.

Ken Hickson is author of The ABC of Carbon and CEO of ABC Carbon, a climate change consulting business. Ken supports the World Wide Fund for Nature, acting as their honorary representative in Singapore for 4 years and now serving as a Governor of WWF Australia, also providing business, communications and fund-raising support.

Register your attendance at the 2009 Conference here

2009 Conference Program & Details

SURFRIDER FOUNDATION NATIONAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE 2009

Date & Time Saturday November 7, 2009.
9am – 1pm.
Venue Southern Cross University, Riverside Campus – Brett Street, Tweed Head, Gold Coast

Price$40.00 for SFA Members
$50.00 for Non-Members

Register here

CONFERENCE PROGRAM UPDATE

- Presentation from Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Society on statistical analysis of rubbish collected on beaches, use of data and participation with Heidi Taylor.

- Humorous and educational Debate on Climate Change adjudicated by Wendy Harmer with six special guest debaters, including Tim Baker, see THE DEBATE for more details

- Case study presentation on the “Bring Back Kirra” campaign with Chris Butler and Wayne Dean. Includes education on sand management, campaign planning, and coalition building.

- Presentation on seabird rescue rehabilitation of Australasian Gannets, Australian Pelicans, Little Penguins, Rufous Night Herons and some of the Cormorant species with Melbourne Aquariam Bird Curator Tristen Bird.

- Presentation from Coastalwatch and CoastalCOMS on latest beach width and sand management, and information available to Chapters with Chris Tola.

Register your attendance at the 2009 Conference here

Accommodation Bookings in Coolangatta, Kirra and South Tweed are recommended.
Most of the events will be held at and between Southern Cross University, Riverside Campus – Brett Street, Tweed Heads and Kirra Beach, Kirra

Accommodation Recommendations
wotif.com
rebecca.tarrant@leisure.com
1800 222 426 Press 1 for reservations