MEDIA RELEASE: World first crossing of Bass Strait – Surfrider Fundraiser

 

MEDIA RELEASE
Bass Strait, Everest of the Sea

Eight surf ski paddlers to cross Bass Strait in world first.
Eight daring Melbourne paddlers are attempting a World First next week and crossing Bass Strait on racing surf skis.
Jarad Kohlar, 27, of Newport,  Emma Croser, 33, of Altona, Brendon Grail, 40, of Princes Hill and Richard Jennings, 44, of Hawthorn, are part of the team of eight.

The paddlers will depart northern Tasmania next Wednesday April 7, and cross the treacherous Banks Strait first, before island hopping all the way to Wilsons Promontory, Victoria, aiming for an arrival of Wednesday April 14, weather dependent.

The expedition, dubbed ‘Bass Strait, Everest of the Sea’, is a world first.  Expedition leader and Australian Adventure Racing champion Jarad Kohlar is one of several people who have crossed Bass Strait in a sea kayak, but no-one has ever attempted the crossing on a racing surf ski.

All eight paddlers have been training for months to prepare for the expedition, regularly hitting the beach at Sandridge in Melbourne before sun up.
“It has been a life-long dream of mine to paddle across Bass Strait on a racing surf ski.  By shedding all of the weight of a sea kayak, we’re able to paddle much quicker and with less energy, enabling us to spend a few hours each day picking up rubbish from the remote beaches we stop at along the way. ” said Kohlar.

Beach cleanups will also be undertaken by the group of eight paddlers each day during the expedition will contribute to Surfrider Foundation Australia’s National Marine Debris Initiative, which aims at empowering communities and individuals to participate in cleanups and monitors the rubbish they find through a National database.

Paddler and environmental scientist Richard Jennings said, “There’s lots of people who are not familiar with the spectacularly pristine islands dotted throughout Bass Strait, and I’m particularly interested to see if there is a link between the litter we discover on these remote island beaches and the litter that flows from Victorian storm water drains and rivers.”

The paddlers aim to raise $20,000 in Donations for Surfrider Foundation Australia. Surfrider Foundation is a not for profit organisation dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of Australia’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through CARE: Conservation, Activism, Research and Education.

Paddlers will face extreme conditions including ocean swells of 6 metres, as April generally attracts growing swells and cooler weather. A growing voice of online supporters will be sending them wishes through their online portal and blog updated throughout their journey at www.bassstraiteverestofthesea.com and Twitter.

Surfrider Foundation Australia & Peak Adventure partner for Bass Strait Everest of the Sea Expedition. Thank you to sponsors: Keen, 2XU, Outer Edge and expedition partner Sustainability Victoria.

Interview and photo opportunity:

Wednesday March 31, 2010 – 4.15pm
Sandridge Life Saving Club , 240 The Boulevard, Port Melbourne VIC (Melways 56 G3)

Flinders Street steps fish out-of-water kayak display:
Thursday April 1, 2010 – 8.30am
Cnr of Flinders Street and Swanson Street,  Melbourne City VIC
Attending: Bass Strait, Everest of the Sea paddlers and General Manager of Surfrider Foundation Australia, National

WWW.BASSSTRAITEVERESTOFTHESEA.COM
Kristy Theissling / General Manager / Surfrider Foundation Australia/ 0424 352 792 / kristy@surfrider.org.au

Jarad Kohlar / Expedition Leader/ Bass Strait / Everest of the Sea / 0409 786 237  / jarad@peakadventure.com

Beach Cleanup, Fishos, Northern Beaches, Sydney NSW. Saturday March 20, 3pm

International Surfrider Beach Clean Day
as part of Surfrider Foundation Australia and Tangaroa Blues National Marine Debris Initiative
Saturday, March 20th

Join Surfrider Northern Beaches & other surfers & community participants at Fisherman’s Beach, Collaroy Basin (between Collaroy and Long Reef Headland, near ‘Brownwater’). Clean-up starts at 3.00 (Bring shoes, gloves, water) and we will probably surf before/after and catch up afterwards. www.surfridernb.realsurf.com. RSVP: Eve clark_eve@hotmail.com or 0417076929

Save Bastion Point – Supreme Court Hearing – 16, 17 March 2010

Supreme Court Hearing – 16, 17 March 2010
The case of Friends of Mallacoota Inc. versus Minister for Planning, and Minister for Environment and Climate Change has been fixed for trial in the Supreme Court on 16 March 2010 for two days. Members of the Public are welcome to attend. See www.savebastionpoint.org for more infomation

Save Bastion Point update

Video Update Save Bastion Point info Friday March 5, 2010
This information is taken from savebastionpoint.org.
Please see savebastionpoint.org for full information and downloads.

Current Proposal
Just weeks before the Inquiry hearing in July 2008 the East Gippsland Shire Council (EGSC) presented new plans for an alternative access road along the beach, which is shown in the attached pdf (see www.savebastionpoint.org), and now known as Option 3b.  View the page EES proposal to get details of why it is called Option 3.

In Option 3b the road is raised above the beach either on pylons, or on rock fill. Both designs include a suspended walkway on the seaward side. A concrete hardstand/turning circle will be constructed on the beach leading to the dual lane boat ramp.

The mockup below was produced by RushWright Landscape consultants.

The boat ramp will be sheltered by a breakwater constructed of 8,000 tonnes of imported rock approximately 130 metres long and 2.8 metres high. An estimated 3,250 cu. m. of rock will need to be removed to create a boating channel and a dredge will be required to remove the expected ongoing accumulation of sand at the entry to the facility.  The design includes a carpark design that extends further along Bastion Point Road and provides 60 car and boat bays, and removes the vegetation screening that was proposed in the previous Option 3.

Council decided that they preferred Option 3b just three weeks before the Inquiry Hearing, which the Panel Report labelled ‘design on the run’. Despite the the Inquiry Panel finding against all breakwater options presented in the EES,  this is the option that has been approved by Minister Madden and Council is progressing.

The aerial plan as presented just before the Inquiry is shown below – note that the breakwater isn’t shown, just the ‘boating channel’

Bastion Point and cynical planning politics
The Windsor Hotel redevelopment document accidently leaked by Minister Madden’s media advisor (25 Feb 2010) reveals a strategy to undermine an advisory committee report, and manipulate a community consultation process. It also contains reference to Bastion Point, with the following line appearing to pertain to Bastion Point, with the words -  ‘will need cover as allegations against Minister’s actions’. See our screen image of the document. Minister Madden tabled his submissions for the case on 16 …

Supreme Court Hearing – 16, 17 March 2010
The case of Friends of Mallacoota Inc. versus Minister for Planning, and Minister for Environment and Climate Change has been fixed for trial in the Supreme Court on 16 March 2010 for two days. Members of the Public are welcome to attend. See Madden Decision Taken to Supreme Court for more detail.

Ex-HMAS Adelaide scuttling off Avoca Beach

The National Board of Surfrider Foundation Australia is supporting local surfers in their bid to get iron-clad assurances on the removal of all potential toxins before the Ex-HMAS Adelaide is scuttled off Avoca Beach.

The Chairman of Surfrider Foundation, Dr Rex Campbell, says the onus is on the State Government to show that all possible toxic pollutants had been removed from Ex-HMAS Adelaide and to monitor for any ongoing contamination from the scuttling.

Toxic pollutants the ship was home to included polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs used in transformers and capacitors), chloroflurocarbons (CFCs and other refrigerant chemicals), hydrocarbons, asbestos, plastics, high pressure cylinders, and heavy metals such as chromate, lead, mercury, copper and zinc.

Surfrider Foundation recently acted on behalf of concerned local surfers to gain written assurances from the Land and Property Management Authority that all contaminants would be removed before scuttling.

“Promises were given but Surfrider Foundation is always worried when the ocean is used as a dumping ground. We will persist in seeing that the promised long term contamination monitoring of shell fish begins, so that in five years time we don’t find that local Avoca surfers or divers have instead become the contaminant indicator organism.” Dr Campbell said.

“Surfrider Foundation’s role as a community stakeholder included consultation on aspects of the project. We do not endorse the project, but along with other stakeholders, wish to achieve the best possible outcomes.” said Dr Campbell.

Surfrider Foundation is a not for profit organisation dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of Australia’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through CARE: Conservation, Activism, Research and Education.

For more information, to become a Member, or to express interest in participation on a Central Coast Branch of Surfrider Foundation Australia, please email info@surfrider.org.au or see www.surfrider.org.au.

For comment please call Brendan Donohoe, Brendan Donohoe, National Director, Surfrider Foundation Australia 0422 900 501

Further information

Bass Strait, Everest of the Sea Fundraiser

Hi, I’m Jarad.

I’m about to do something I’ve dreamed of doing for years, paddling across Bass Strait on a racing surf ski.  No-one has ever crossed Bass Strait on a surf ski before, so this is also my (only) claim to fame for being involved in a ‘World’s First’ expedition!!!

There are 8 of us doing the crossing, departing the North-east coast of Tasmania on 7 April and (weather-permitting) arriving at Wilsons’ Prom.  In total we’ll paddle 300km.

The purpose of this expedition is to help raise money for Surfrider Foundation (www.surfrider.org.au ), a non-profit organisation dedicated to the protection and enhancement of Australia’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through CARE: Conservation, Activism, Research and Education.

We really don’t know how lucky we are in this country to have such beautiful beaches and coastal environs, but many of these beautiful beaches are littered with plastic bags, bottles and other rubbish. Even worse, this rubbish often creates deadly traps for birds, fish, crabs/crayfish and other marine life. Next time you head to your local beach, take a plastic bag with you and see how long it takes to fill it up with rubbish. Surfrider Foundation is doing an amazing job in leading the way with its beach conservation and community education campaigns, and I am very proud to be using this expedition to raise much needed $ for Surfrider.

During this expedition, we will be paddling for up to 8 hours per day, then landing on a beach on one of Bass Strait’s many beautiful islands to set up camp.  After dinner, each of us will then spend an hour picking up all the rubbish we can find on the beach and in the dunes, then recording what we’ve collected and advising Surfrider of the results.  Surfrider will input this data to the National Marine Debris database and use the results to educate the community and raise awareness of marine debris; trace and address the source of the debris in a non-aggressive, education based way; and to monitor the impact of marine debris on Australian locations.

We’re running a sweep amongst the team of 8 paddlers to guess how many large bags full of rubbish we’ll end up with at the end of the expedition.  The person who’s the furthest from the correct answer gets the job of carting all the collected rubbish to the recycling center and tip at the end of the trip!

Surfrider are currently active in Victoria through their Branches and Beach reps in Torquay, Gippsland, Mornington Peninsula, Warnambool and Port Fairy. Recent activities in Victoria include 2009’s Save Bastion Point campaign, regular dune care and beach cleanups in all above areas, and contribution to local environmental issues and initiatives. In Tasmania, Surfrider are active in Hobart at Mays Points, removing the invasive introduced Northern Pacific Sea Star, campaigning against the Tassie Pulp Mill, as well as an annual marine debris cleanup in the South West World heritage area.

If like me you’re a proud Aussie who loves the beach, I’d encourage you to please sponsor me for this crossing, and help Surfrider to keep fighting the good fight to protect our oceans and beaches.

If you’d like to sponsor me for this crossing, please donate here

TRANSPARENTSEA WINS SURF INDUSTRY AWARD

(Tuesday, 23rd Feb, 2010) The anti-whaling and environmental awareness initiative TransparentSea has scooped the esteemed ASB (Australian Surf Business) Surf Industry Award at the annual Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame held on Queensland’s Gold Coast on the weekend.

The ASB Surf Industry Award is presented to “a person, persons or organisation that has continued to support the growth of surfing industry through financial and non-financial philanthropic contributions in the areas of community, environment and humanitarian aid during the 2009 calendar year”.

Among the judging panel that voted in the category are world champion surfers Mick Fanning, Tom Carroll and Layne Beachley, renowned author/journalists Sean Doherty, Nick Carroll and Adam Blakey, and industry legends Derek Hynd, Norm Innis and Phil Jarratt.

TransparentSea involved a core group of surfers who undertook a 36-day surfing/sailing odyssey down Australia’s East Coast in sea kayaks last October to highlight the plight of the migrating whales destined for the Great Southern Ocean and the inevitable visits by the Japanese whaling fleets.

In conjunction with Surfrider Foundation Australia and environmental watchdogs Tangaroa Blue, the surfers also participated in beach-clean ups and highlighted other areas of environmental concern.

Professional surfer, activist and the driving force behind TransparentSea, Dave Rastovich, accepted the award before a room packed with luminaries at the Coolangatta Hotel. Rastovich’s gracious acceptance speech included a call to industry for further support and the suggestion to utilise the network of surf schools that expose thousands of participants each year to surfing and the surfing culture for the first time.

“To inform people at the entry level of our sport is such an awesome opportunity. We have a chance to teach them about the aspects of surfing that we can’t live without which includes the beaches and the need to respect and protect them,” said Rastovich.

“If we can communicate these messages and make them a part of the foundation for learning for everyone who makes the decision to surf, then we will affect our culture in a powerful way.”

The TransparentSea voyage topped a list of commendable projects that included Rip Curl’s Planet Days, the National Surfing Reserves and World Safaris for contributions to surf travel.

Past winners of the ASB Surf Industry Award include Billabong (2008) and Coastalwatch (2009).

ASB publisher Keith Curtain said, “ASB is extremely proud to be associated with these awards and we congratulate Dave and the cast and crew who participated in the TranparentSea voyage on their win.”

“The list of nominees are all winners in their own way and the finalists underpin the commitment of individuals like Dave and Australian surf businesses across the areas of environment, junior development and humanitarian aid in 2009,” added Curtain.

About Hall of Fame:
The Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame Inductee were first convened in 1985 by the Australian Surfriders Association (now Surfing Australia) to preserve the history of Australian Surfing and honour its great achievers.
Each year the Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame Inductee are presented to recognize those who have continued to develop surfing in this country. The awards include a number of support categories that recognize the broad spectrum of individuals and organizations who are involved in the industry through events, competition, business, media, photography, movies, clubs, travel, administration or pioneering new initiatives. For more info see www.surfingaustralia.com

The Transparentsea voyage was made possible thanks the support of Billabong, Surfers for Cetaceans, Surfrider Foundation, Go Pro Water Proof Cameras and Fast Lane Sailing (CA, USA).

www.transparentseavoyage.com