SURFERS WANT TO FILLET ABBOTT

MEDIA RELEASE: July 28, 2010

The peak coastal organisation Surfrider Foundation Australia has come out strongly against Tony Abbot’s sudden ban on new marine parks and has accused him of “eco vandalism” and “dog-fish-whistling”.

“The claim that marine parks harm tourism and fishing is totally untrue and irresponsible” said the Chairman of the Surfrider Foundation Australia Board Dr Rex Campbell.
“Fishing and fish stocks improve greatly near areas where marine parks and sanctuaries have been created.”
“While Mr Abbott was filleting the 4kg Barramundi yesterday, I had to ask myself, was he fish-mongering or scare-mongering?” said Dr. Campbell. “Plus I wondered if the barramundi got to be 4kg only because it grew up in a protected sanctuary?”.

Surfrider Foundation is calling on all political parties to proclaim more marine sanctuaries, not less, to ensure protection against overfishing, oil spills, shipping hazards, whaling, offshore pollution and to grow tourism.

It would appear that Mr Abbott is purposefully blurring the line between marine parks and No Take zones, which typically are a small percentage of any marine park. Marine parks themselves constitute a miniscule amount of Australia’s nearly 36,000 kilometres mainland coastline and the 24,000 kilometres of island coastline.

Marine parks are multiple-use, meaning that a wide range of activities, including fishing, are allowed in many areas.

Marine sanctuaries are smaller areas within the marine park and are no-take, meaning that fishing and extractive activities such as oil drilling, is not allowed.

“The fishing industry scare campaign surrounding marine parks has been very successful, but the facts do not back up the fears. Marine sanctuaries  actually help tourism and help recreational fishing.”

“I was heavily into fishing and diving long before I rode my first wave”, says Surfrider Foundation Australia Director Gene Hardy.
“I’ve recently been holidaying in an area within the iconic Ningaloo Marine Park, and enjoyed incredible fishing near large marine sanctuary areas.”

“It’s a simple concept, preserve some reasonably large areas as breeding / conservation areas and you are going to get spill over into your mixed fishing zones.”

“It’s not about stopping people fishing – sanctuaries work.”

“In fact the last thing anybody wants, especially serious fisherman, is to decimate our fish stocks so that no one can go fishing.”

“I want my daughter’s children to be able to catch their dinner the same way I have.” Said Mr Hardy.

“Surfrider Foundation fights for a clean oceans, not “cleaned out” oceans and calls on the Coalition to review this policy as this proposition simply will not stand up. Where these things are in place, coastal communities do well.” said Dr Campbell.

Media contact:

Dr Rex Campbell 0423 889 899
Brendan Donohoe 0422 900 501

info@surfrider.org.au

More Information:

Marine parks are multiple-use, meaning that a wide range of activities, including fishing, are allowed in many areas. Marine sanctuaries are smaller areas within the marine park and are no-take, meaning that fishing and extractive activities such as oil drilling, is not allowed.  They protect fish stocks and provide safe breeding grounds for fish and other species.  Spillover from these sanctuary zones enables sustainable fisheries and allows for fishers to come back year after year and catch their quotas.  Sanctuaries become an ‘engine room’ for fish production.  One recent study shows that one large female dhufish of 98cm was capable of producing the equivalent number of eggs as 11 60cm dhufish. (StJohn, 2009).

Ningaloo Marine Park in North Western Australia is an example of a marine park.  34% or 88, 365 acres are made up of sanctuary zones.  The remaining 66% is made up of general use, recreation, and special purpose zones.  Recreational fishing is allowed in all of those areas.  Rottnest Island off of Perth hosts a successful marine park and the one of the sanctuary zones (Kingston Reef) have 50x more legal lobsters and 100x higher egg production (Babcock et al., 2007).

Babcock, R.C., Phillips, J.C., Lourey, M., Clapin, G.  Increased density, biomass and egg production in an unfished population of Western Rock Lobster (Panulirus cygnus) at Rottnest Island, Western Australia. CSIRO Marine Research, Private Bag No. 5, Wembley 6913 WA, Australia

R. Lenanton, J. StJohn*, I. Keay, C. Wakefield, G. Jackson, B. Wise and D. Gaughan Spatial scales of exploitation among populations of demersal scalefish: implications for management. Part 2: Stock structure and biology of  two indicator species, West Australian dhufish (Glaucosoma hebraicum) and  pink snapper (Pagrus auratus),  in the West Coast Bioregion Final FRDC Report – Project 2003/052

Burwood Beach Treatment plant – Have Your Say

Dear Surfriders and Friends,

Access to clean water is a fundamental desire for most surfers, and there’s an opportunity to comment on Hunter Water’s upgrade plans for the Burwood Beach Treatment plant.

Hunter Water is planning to upgrade its largest wastewater treatment plant – at Burwood Beach in Newcastle.

The plant currently services the wastewater needs of a catchment equivalent to around 180,000 people in the Newcastl

e and Lake Macquarie City areas. It discharges biosolids and treated effluent to the Pacific Ocean via a 1.5 km pipeline (outfall) which sits approximately 20 metres below the water’s surface.

Surfrider has representatives on the Consultative Committee, along with a few other surfers, and it would great to get your thoughts about what’s happening on our Coast.

Have a read of the below documents and Have Your Say in this community consulation process.

1.    fill in the brief questionnaire and submit
2.    send your comments via email to burwoodprojectteam@hunterwater.com.au
3.    contact the Project Manager, Lauren Randall, on 02 4979 9754.

Fact Sheet – wastewater treatment
http://www.surfrider.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Fact-Sheet-wastewater-treatment.pdf

Burwood CGR issues questionnaire
http://www.surfrider.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Burwood-CRG-issues-questionnaire-FINAL.doc

Surfrider Foundation Australia

Hunter and Central Coast Branches

Plans to develop Killalea State Park have been shelved

Surfrider’s Woollongong representative, Ian Jarman shared some great news with us today, as described in the Lake Times article below.

SOUTH Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris has described the quashing of the proposed Killalea State Park development as the community’s reward.

“The community has found its voice – and it has roared,” he said.

“This is a victory for the whole community,” he said.

“It also shows what can be achieved with the community and the union working together. This is one of the most pristine places on the coast and the community already knew that and the government has acknowledged the community doesn’t want this spoiled.”

On Monday, it was announced the eco-tourism development proposed by Killalea Coastal Investments (KCI) for Killalea had been officially shelved.

Member for Kiama Matt Brown announced he had been informed by Minister for Lands Tony Kelly, that the agreement between KCI and the Killalea State Park Trust to provide for further development in the park had ended.

“There are no plans to reactivate the type of project envisaged by KCI at Killalea,” Mr Brown said.

In 2007, Mr Kelly signed an agreement to lease three sections of Crown land at the park for 52 years to KCI, a joint venture of Babcock and Brown and Mariner Financial, to build 202 units, tennis courts, restaurant and conference centre.

In 2008, the proposed eco-tourist resort was reduced to 106 units and other amenities. In the wake of the global financial crisis, Babcock and Brown and later Mariner found themselves in financial trouble.

Mr Rorris said plans to develop places such as Killalea had left a “very, very bitter taste in the mouths of locals” and any future plans should include full community consultation.

“The Trust should do the right thing and accept it,” he said.

“They should participate in discussions with the park’s other stakeholders to discuss the future (of the park)…

“It should be open and transparent.”

Save Killalea Alliance spokesperson Mairi Petersen reinforced Mr Rorris’ suggestion about meeting with the Trust to consider Killalea’s future. “The Trust is supposed to represent the community and I think up until now they haven’t been representing the community,” she said.

Trust chairman Ed Gilmore said the organisation wouldn’t be ruling out the possibility of another future development at the park.

“There has to be an income stream established and that was what we were trying to do,” he said.

“It’s disappointing that they didn’t have the wherewithal to go ahead with the project… we will look ahead to other alternatives.

“We have to look at other avenues and will discuss that at next Wednesday’s Trust meeting.” Save Killalea Alliance member Mark Whalan said despite his belief that the decision, “wasn’t a merit-based assessment, but was a political assessment” with State and Federal elections on the horizon, was “ecstatic, astonished and relieved”.

Illawarra Community and Environment Connection (ICEC) co-ordinator Sonya McKay said the decision should be met with excitement as well as continued vigilance.

“There had to be a point in which the decision-makers had to say that there was too much community opposition,” she said.

This article and image was replicated from the Lake Times http://www.laketimes.com.au/article/the_peoples_victory/

Article by BRENDAN CRABB

Margaret River offshore drilling lease approved

Thank you to everyone involved in the Save Our Marine Life Rally on Saturday. The team did a fantastic job of pulling everything together with the Conservation Council. A special thank you to Surfrider Margaret River Branch Members Gene, Rachel, Blair, Mez, Drew, John, Steve Andrews, Simon Butler and everyone who turned up and supported and helped out.  Thanks!!

On Saturday May 8, Surfrider Foundation Margaret River Branch worked together with the Conservation Council in hosting a Rally at Reuter Park, Margaret River in WA.

Recently revealed plans to open up a massive new oil lease offshore from Margaret River prompted the Surfrider Foundation and Conservation Council of WA to join forces with local SW groups in a call for large marine sanctuaries in WA’s southwest.

The Save Our Marine Life Rally will be held at 12pm, Saturday 8th May, in Reuther Park, Margaret River and feature expert speakers and performances from local musicians.

The rally came as plans for new offshore oil development highlight the growing threat to the Southwest’s unique marine environment; Resources Minister Martin Ferguson plans to release a new oil lease at a petroleum industry conference on the 16th May. The new lease would be just 83kms offshore from Margaret River and in an area designated for assessment for future marine sanctuaries.

Drew McKenzie from Surfrider Foundation Margaret River said, “This new oil lease in an area of proposed marine parks has woken up the Southwest community.  We realize that we can no longer take a healthy ocean for granted. It is clear we need marine sanctuaries to protect our marine environment and clean beach and surf lifestyle.”

Latest – Tuesday May 18, 2010

Environmental groups have expressed disappointment over the Federal Government’s approval of a series of new offshore oil drilling leases, including one off Western Australia’s South West coast.

The Government has agreed to release 31 exploration areas to the market this year.

A site 85 kilometres off the coast of Margaret River has been approved, the same site was earmarked for a potential marine sanctuary.

The Conservation Council’s Tim Nicol says the Government has ignored community concerns.

“A lot of people are going to be quite distressed that this lease is sitting off the coast of Margaret River with the potential for an oil industry to start there any time.

“That area can no longer can become a marine sanctuary so it really ups the ante on making sure we get a network of protected areas in place before more of this sort of development comes into the region.”

Mr Nichol says any oil development in that area will put local marine life at risk.

“Up to 90 per cent of the marine life in the south west corner of Australia is unique to the region. The big risk comes from the big spills like we’ve seen recently in Louisiana and Montara.”

Other sites approved for development include the Carnarvon and Roebuck basins off the north-west coast of WA.

Michelle Grady, from the Pew Environment Group, says it is the first time such developments have been approved for areas which are also being considered for marine sanctuaries.

“So, pretty much all the areas announced today are right over the top of areas that the Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett is looking at for protection and that’s because these areas are critically important for marine life.”

This article was replicated from the ABC

Autumn Newsletter Available Now

The latest news from Surfrider Foundation available now.

Visit http://www.surfrider.org.au/news/FINALNEWSLETTERAUTUMNFINALFINAL.html or click here to view the Autumn Newsletter in online magazine format.

Or, download the magazine to your computer here:
http://www.surfrider.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/FINALNEWSLETTERAUTUMN_websmall.pdf (2MB)

New Margaret River Oil Threat Prompts Rally for Sanctuaries

MEDIA RELEASE –30th April 2010

New Margaret River Oil Threat Prompts Rally for Sanctuaries

Recently revealed plans to open up a massive new oil lease offshore from Margaret River have prompted the Surfrider Foundation and Conservation Council of WA to join forces with local SW groups in a call for large marine sanctuaries in WA’s southwest.

The Save Our Marine Life Rally will be held at 12pm, Saturday 8th May, in Reuther Park, Margaret River and feature expert speakers and performances from local musicians.

The rally comes as plans for new offshore oil development highlight the growing threat to the Southwest’s unique marine environment; Resources Minister Martin Ferguson plans to release a new oil lease at a petroleum industry conference on the 16th May. The new lease would be just 83kms offshore from Margaret River and in an area designated for assessment for future marine sanctuaries.

Drew McKenzie from Surfrider Foundation Margaret River said, “This new oil lease in an area of proposed marine parks has woken up the Southwest community.  We realize that we can no longer take a healthy ocean for granted. It is clear we need marine sanctuaries to protect our marine environment and clean beach and surf lifestyle.”

“We want marine parks and also our politicians to more thoroughly explore alternative energy sources.”

Conservation Council of WA spokesperson Tim Nicol said, “Recent massive spills in northwest WA and now in Louisiana have highlighted the very real threat posed by oil exploration. If a spill the size of the recent Montara oil spill off Northwest WA had happened in the Southwest, there would be oil from Perth to Margaret River.”

“Up to 90% of marine life in the Southwest is unique, and half the world’s whale species use the region. Before we roll in the seismic ships and oil drilling rigs, we need marine sanctuaries.”

The strong science case for marine sanctuaries has been bolstered with recent high profile reports highlighting the need for more marine sanctuaries in WA1 and the benefits of existing marine sanctuaries on the Great Barrier Reef2, including a doubling in the abundance of reef fish within only two years of establishing marine sanctuaries.

A recent report by the Allen Consulting Group also found that there would be long term sustained economic benefits for the Southwest economy from a network of marine sanctuaries3.

Conservation Council is a part of the Save Our Marine Life Alliance who last Friday launched an email campaign against the new oil lease: http://www.saveourmarinelife.org.au/email_minister/

MEDIA:  TIM NICOL 0422235774

1. Report on the Scientific Basis for and the Role of Marine Sanctuaries in Marine Planning: http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/category/40/952/2323/
2. McCook LJ et al. (2010) Adaptive management of the Great Barrier Reef: A globally significant demonstration of the benefits of networks of marine reserves, Published in PNAS,  the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America – www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.0909335107
3The Economics of Marine Protected Areas, Application of Principles to the Southwest Area, Allen Consulting Group, http://www.allenconsult.com.au/

VIDEO: Margaret River member Blair talks about the Cape to Cape walk

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

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

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