Australia Surfrider eNews April 2002

Welcome to the April 2002 edition of Australian Surfrider eNews.

In the absence of an Executive Officer, February and March have been hectic times for Surfrider, and we missed the March edition. This edition is pretty large as a result!

Things to look out for this edition include the happenings at Tweed Shire Council and Surfrider’s active role in the Save Ningaloo campaign. You’ll also find the usual information from the National Office and branch reports from around the country. Hope you enjoy this as much as we’re enjoying the warm water on the east coast at the moment, and feel free to send in information for the May edition – deadline is April 30.

NEW CHAIRMAN

Steve Blackley is the new Chair of the National Board of Directors, taking over from Michael Legge-Wilkinson who stepped aside in March after two years at the helm. Michael will remain a Director and continue to be involved in key projects including a proposed update of the 1996 Human Impacts Report currently in the pre-planning stage with timing to be advised shortly. Both Michael and Steve are confident 2002 will be a great year for Surfrider with the appointment of a new Executive Officer and continued growth in membership, branches and Conservation, Activism, Research and Education (CARE) for the Australian Coastline.

NEIL LAZAROW – MR BUSY

It’s been a big couple of months for Projects and Education Director, Neil Lazarow. Not only did Neil successfully finish his Masters degree in Community Participation in Coastal Management, he has recently moved to Brisbane and accepted a position as Associate Lecturer in coastal management with the Cooperative Research Centre for Coastal Zone Estuary and Waterway Management.

FROM THE NATIONAL SECRETARY, JULIE KERESZTENY

February was a hectic time in National Office co-ordinating a brilliant team of volunteers. A big thanks to the team riding the wave that Respects The Beach.

There have been a number of enquiries from Western Australia to start a new branch around Perth. We already have two beach spokespersons in WA: one in Margaret River, the other in Kalbarri. Great work from Frank Gasck and the crew in WA, halting developments in Smiths Beach and campaigning for Ningaloo Reef.

Here on the Gold Coast we have been busy meeting with Local councillors, and the Airport Environment Group to set up a Work For the Dole revegetation project along the creeks adjacent to the airport around Kirra. Hope to start work on the project later in the year.

The controversial debate over whether or not the shark nets should remain continues. Meetings took place with the Shark Control Program Focus groups, where we are represented by myself for national office and Fiona from the Gold Coast Branch. The meeting was also attended by Stefanie Lem, from the Grey Nurse Recovery Team. The petition to have the nets removed continues, we have asked for electronic copies of all data from the Gold Coast Shark nets over the duration of the program so that they may be independently reviewed.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary held a community meeting to discuss the problems with Flat Rock Creek. The Sanctuary states the health of the creek is seriously affected by runoff caused from the grazing roos. There are too many roos at the Sanctuary and solutions are being looked at.

The middle of February saw me fly to Sydney, for a judges training day. I have been asked by Keep Australia Beautiful to be a Judge in the Clean Beach Challenge being run in NSW for the first time. Thanks to KAB for the opportunity to investigate beaches and local initiatives across the state, and good luck to the nominating beaches. In March I hit the road asa judge for KAB. That was an adventure, and an excellent education in what can be done to help keep our beaches clean. Newcastle have an innovative stormwater outlet that has been re-directed to a local park area; Council is to be commended for the work going on there. Tuncurry has an amazing Dunecare group that is very active, they have reclaimed some of the dunal area. It also has specifically designed wheelchair access, and excellent environment display boards. Butt bins are now being promoted all around the Coast, as are Pet poo pouches, all which should help keep our beaches clean. Thanks to all the beaches for nominating and to KAB for the opportunity.

A busy start to March with the Kirra Teams Challenge and Clean Up Australia Day on the same weekend. The Teams Challenge was a great event, thanks to the Kirra Surfriders Club for holding the event at D-bah and inviting Surfrider Foundation to set up a tent and participate in the challenge. It truly was a great weekend, with all the teams from Adelaide, Curl Curl, Avoca, Maroubra, Byron, Fingal and so on. It was huge.

Clean Up Australia Day went well with teams keeping D-bah clean and tidy. A congratulations to all involved, particularly the volunteers.

A great big thanks to Jack McCoy and Sinclair Black from Tsunami Productions. Jacks big screen surf Film blew our minds. Thanks guys for supporting Surfrider, donating some of the funds raised and promoting us through the competition.

Volunteers from National office manned information and awareness stalls at SeaWorld’s Careers night, which was attended by over 500 students. The Surfing Lifestyles Expo in Coolangatta was another location our volunteers were working hard at spreading the word. Thanks to our great team.

Schools of sharks were seen chasing Tuna on the Gold Coast mid to late March. The Shark Netting Focus Group has invited us to board the SeaWorld Boat to view the nets being serviced next month. Surfrider will be on the boat, with educational material to supply to the councilors and decision makers.

Just in time for Easter, the Gambling Community Benefit Fund has granted our Capricorn Coast over $8000 for the purchase of an inflatable Rescue Boat, which will be used to access remote areas for clean-ups and to reach and educate remote communities in that area. National Office has also secured a grant of $10000 for office equipment to assist our volunteers in producing educational materials, including Newsletters.

Catch the Wave that respects the Beach

Julie

CIGARETTE BUTTS OUT

The issue of cigarette butt littering has been high on the agenda across the country lately. A focussed clean up on Bondi Beach during this year’s Clean Up Australia Day gave results that led to estimates of there being over 700,000 butts buried in the Bondi sands!

Butts make their way into stormwater and more often than not end up at the beach, where they affect water quality, get mistaken for food by birds and marine biota, and generally wreak havoc in the environment.

A number of initiatives have hit the streets in recent times to address the issue of cigarette butt littering including Surfrider’s National Hold Onto Your Butt Day, and the Bin Your Butt campaign. Last year the Sydney Coastal Councils Group released a resource kit for local councils. One of the most popular approaches has been the portable ashtray. Surfrider has recently issued a statement of support for the Butts Out initiative launched in Sydney last month, involving a stylised portable and recyclable ashtray. Clean up Australia have produced 2000 pocket sized ash trays.

On the Gold Coast the Mayor has reminded people of a $200 fine for littering cigarette butts.

CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA

Surfrider’s National Office have coordinated the southern Gold Coast clean up from the Kirra Teams Challenge as they had entered a team in the challenge on Clean Up Australia Day.

Capricorn Branch are setting a great example with their monthly printed newsletters. Capricorn even use the newsletter as a fundraiser by selling advertising and have it printed for free. National Office receives them every few months and staff look forward to reading them very much. They even had swell for January/February and held a clean up on Clean up Australia and included litter statistics in the newsletter. A report on little Terns, a Presidents report, Letters to the Editor, lobbying for vessel sewage reception facility, nostalgic storytime of surf history in the area, a surfing photo competition, surf poetry, book review, about us and contacts and a membership form, working with council on a coastal management reserve, monthly clean ups, revegetation, fantastic photos, plans for a live music event, oversees surf trips, pies and lamington stall, surfing contests, Grants, surfing reserves, nature watch and education on marine creatures,coral spawning, Landcare, there own website www.cqsurf.com , Sandy, all on recycled paper. Crikey!

Capricorn also had an active Clean Up Australia Day, cleaning up Farnborough Beach (up the Beach). There was a lot of rubbish up the beach with the King tides. The cleanup was followed by a Sausage Sizzle and a surf! HaHa

Rhodes

The following is a media release from the National Office regarding the Gold Coast Vision 2020 Plan:

Surfrider Foundation has encouraged the community to become involved in the Gold Coasts Vision 2020 Plan.

“It is no secret that the Surfrider Foundation is directly opposed to some aspects of the Gold Coasts Vision 2020 that include a harbour for the Broadwater,” said Stuart Ball, Finance Director of Surfrider Foundation Australia and President of the Tweed Branch of Surfrider.

“Although Surfrider applauds some elements of the plan, such as making South Stradbroke Island a Surfing Reserve, we believe that several aspects of the development require further community consultation and rigorous examination.”

“What will be the effects of the development on the valuable waterways and ecosystems of the Broadwater which support our recreational boating and fishing? And what will be the effect on the seagrass beds and dugongs?”

“Will the deepening of the Harbour affect the famous way that waves break at South Straddie? This is just the tip of the iceberg, and a key consideration for the surfing community.”

According to Mr Ball, there are many marine experts opposed to the harbour proposal.

“It is interesting to see the level of opposition to the plan from established public figures such as our Deputy Mayor and Local Member,” said Mr Ball.

“It is particularly notable that Mr Denis O'Connell, a former Mayor whose experience in these matters as a professional fisherman and Board member of several marine authorities, has the wisdom to see and understand that the Broadwater should be left alone.”

“This is simply overdevelopment – hasn’t the Gold Coast suffered enough at the hands of greedy developers? It’s time the community were empowered to conserve precious coastal areas like the Broadwater for future generations.”

The Gold Coast Branch of the Surfrider Foundation are considering establishing a review committee to focus on the proposal – interested people should call on 07 55342855 to be involved.

NAMING SURF BREAKS

There's been significant interest in the naming of surf breaks in NSW during the last month, with articles in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Minister for Information Technology appearing on commercial radio promoting the issue. Steve Blackley appeared on BBC Radio and in the Sydney Morning Herald discussing the practicalities of doing this, and addressed the NSW Geographic Names Board to discuss the issue last week.

South Cronulla Beach was recently closed after lifeguards noticed raw sewerage running into the water. The problem was 2 burst pipes caused by youths blocking the pipes with boulders overnight causing a build up which inturn ruptured the pipes in Mentone Ave (above Cronulla Point). As the SE wind blew, the muck was carried North toward the other Cronulla Beaches and Beachwatch and EPA were advised.

The Ocean Care Art Auction recently held at the Manly Aquarium was a great night - about $12000 raised for the Manly Environment Centre and Surfrider Foundation. Speakers included Wendy Harmer, Senator Ian Cohen (who gave SF a great wrap) and SF Chair Steve Blackley. A huge thank you to Jodi Adams for her tireless work in organising this great event.

Banora Point Ratepayers, a key residents group on the Tweed Coast, believes newly released population figures is a sign the region of Tweed is becoming too crowded. The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows the region has 356.7 people per sq km, making it more densely populated than some areas of Sydney. It is one of the high population density areas of NSW. They claim there is no balance and that developers love it and residents hate it. They are fighting for open space as the region bursts at the seams.

The $2.5b Kings Forest development, the subject of a state government Inquiry into Tweed Shire Council, is being re-evaluated by it's Japanese developers Narui Norin because of the Inquiry. Council originally asked for the Inquiry when planning staff shelved a favourable EIS and commissioned a less favourable one. The project was to originally provide 5000 houses and has had a running battle with environmentalists ever since Gold Coast developer Brian Ray sold the property for a $16M profit after purchasing it from Bill Bedser, a pro development businessman for $21M in 1990.

Tweed commercial fisherman Paul Gibson says that a good look at the beleaguered blue pilchard should have been included in a recent plan aimed at ensuring deep ocean fish stocks. The pilchards, hit hard by a virus in the mid 90's (probably from imported blue pilchards from California), are washing up dead on Tweed beaches. The NSW Inquiry looked into mullet and white pilchards which were already well managed, but missed the blue pilchard.

Another fiery Council meeting in Tweed Council Chambers has erupted and an environmentalist was thrown out for a second time. He refused to apologise to councillors after accusing some of them of acting illegally. He argued that his expulsion was an illegal act by councillors by not allowing him natural justice after a security guard illegally stopped him entering the council building for two and a quarter hours.

Blockages in sewage systems have recently been experienced by Tweed Shire Council. Council has circulated residents asking them not to put tampons, sanitary napkins, cotton buds, cooking oil and fat, and foreign objects into the toilet. Paper towels, colostomy bags and medical waste have caused previous blockages. These need to be drained wrapped in paper and put in the garbage.

The Tweed Shire Council have targeted smokers in a "No Butts About it" campaign. Council Offices have trialed recycled portable ashtrays and council is now ready to hand them out to the public. They are also promoting the use of film canisters for ashtrays. This reduces the demand for plastic and reduces the amount of plastic on the tip. It takes 10 years for a butt to biodegrade. A $200 fine is used for anyone caught littering a cigarette butt in NSW.

Most Tweed Councillors have been accused of taking instructions from developers after a series of faxes were found in a garbage bin. One included a motion for relaxing recommendations officers made for $2.4M Casuarina Beach developer. This motion was drafted by the developer and then put to council a week before by a pro-development Councillor. Minority Councillors did not receive the fax and voted against the motion. The majority (who did receive the fax) voted for it. The minority Councillor who found the faxes, said that it is clear that the councillors are acting on instructions from applicants. The Greens Councillor said that Councillors did not have time to study a complex late report on the Casuarina development. “Councillors are working directly under the instructions of developers. Most recommendations are direct responses to Council Officers' recommendations and are worded by developer's Solicitors and Town Planners.”

After many years, a number of planning strategies are finally going to council for adoption. The strategies consider future land use, zonings and development densities. If you want to know how the future of our towns will look, check out the agendas and draft strategies at libraries and Community Access Points as listed in council page in the Byron Shire Echo newspaper.

The spotlight has recently been on Byron Bay, with a full page story in the Sydney Morning Herald looking at the way the town has changed over the years into the tourist resort we know today. Locals are getting increasingly frustrated with the overcrowding, development and real estate prices are hot topics and there is talk of charging the tourists for some of the work that needs to be done. Byron’s eroding beaches remain a thorn in the side of the local council and the state government.

Surfrider are currently doing an investigation on the effluent discharge at Lennox Head. Contact Jeanine Waters at janeanewaters@yahoo.com for more information.

It’s all been happening in Wollongong lately. The Save Sandon Point contest was a raging success with over 100 entries, and while the surf didn’t cooperate there was a great turnout. Jason Gava and Mark Spence, the engine room of Surfrider in Wollongong ought to be congratulated.

Mark Spence has set up a Surfrider Foundation Community page for the Branch. Follow the link below to check out the site. Leave a message and / or join up if you like. The community page is in construction stage so any feedback you can give will be greatly appreciated. All ocean and beach lovers are welcome !! Hope to see you soon. Regards, Mark.

Join the community and you can:
Post a message on the Message Board

MELBOURNE

In a big victory for local environmentalists, the Federal Government conceded in court on Merri Creek. Environment group Friends of Merri Creek have won the first phase of their legal battle to overturn the Federal Government's decision to fund the Merri Creek Freeway in Melbourne's northern suburbs. Mr Sargent said that the legal challenge is part of the community-wide campaign opposing the construction of the freeway.

Marine biologists diving in Western Port Bay have discovered a large, healthy colony of lamp shells or brachiopods, part of an extremely ancient group of animals that have been part of the ocean world for over 600 million years.

The Beach Clean-Up was held at Anglesea on Sunday 17th February. We had approx 16 people come and help pick up rubbish along the beach and river, most of it using canoes which made it easier to travel along the river to those hard to get to places.

The Spirit of Surfing messages were installed at Bells Beach on March 2nd. Engraved in three large pieces of sand stone the key messages aimed at visitors and users of Bells are:
   • Respect the Ocean
   • Respect the Land
   • Respect each Other

Embraced by the local surfing and environmental communities, the Spirit of Surfing concept reinforces the true spirit of surfing: respect for each other and a harmonious relationship with the natural environment.

The Spirit of Surfing concept at Bells Beach has been developed in partnership by:

   • Surf Coast Shire
   • Surfers Appreciating the Natural Environment (SANE)
   • Surfrider Foundation
   • Surfing Victoria
   • Torquay Boardriders

Support in making this project comes from Coast Care – Coast Action and the Spirit of Surfing Trust.

Bells Beach is a Mecca to surfers from all around the world. Pressure from increased visitor numbers have led to a break down of harmony in the water and threatens the fragile environment. Thirty years ago, surfers took the first steps to protect and preserve the Bells Beach Reserve, and the Spirit of Surfing project is a continuation of this legacy by surfers of the Surf Coast and Torquay. Spirit of Surfing is an International movement. Bells Beach continues to lead the way by being the first Victorian surfing community to adopt the concept.

We are currently expending NHT money on dune rehabilitation at Smiths Beach, work which is being hampered by vandalism. We believe that ongoing Coastcare work is absolutely vital for high-volume use beaches such as Smiths & Yallingup if their ever-increasing recreational functions are to be sustained and not further degraded.

It could be that further study may assist in that aim. Our group is inclined to the view that what NHT funding can be obtained for Coastcare projects should, in the main, be used for practical repair and rehabilitation work, and of course for educating the public. For example, we have recently received a large grant to rehabilitate the large blow-out at Injidup. We are also currently planning to establish the health status of the Gunyulgup Brook.

Taj Burrow has offered to be a spokesman for Surfrider on the Save Ningaloo Reef issue. His links with Smiths Beach Action Group were through local surfers and Yallingup residents. It's great that he has offered to help with the campaign. We have been involved in the Save Ningaloo process for quite some time now, and Taj is becoming quite the surfing ambassador. Below is the full media release on the issue:

MAUD’S LANDING PROPOSAL SPELLS DISASTER FOR NINGALOO

The Surfrider Foundation has serious concerns about the environmental integrity of the proposed development at Maud’s Landing, located at the heart of the world famous Ningaloo Reef Marine Park.

Surfrider has been campaigning for better planning and stronger coastal environmental protection legislation in WA for some time. “The proposed tourist development at Maud's Landing is in the heart of the unique Ningaloo Reef system and is out of character with the local area, “ said National Project Director for Surfrider Foundation, Mr Neil Lazarow.

“This development could have potentially disastrous effects on the region’s natural environment, not just for surfers, but for everyone.”

“Ningaloo is special for many reasons and its pristine nature is one of the main reasons why people are attracted to go there. Any damage to the region’s natural capital for short-term economic gains may be detrimental to the area and community in the long-term.”

Ningaloo’s values are so important that the development is attracting national attention from the Surfrider Foundation and other groups.

“The Ningaloo Reef is second only to the Great Barrier Reef,” said Mr Neil Lazarow. “The paradigm of Decide, Announce and Defend is no longer appropriate, and every development that has the potential to impact on the precious natural values of this area must be independently reviewed.”

Surfrider Foundation is concerned about the exclusion of Maud’s Landing from the Carnarvon Coastal Strategy.

“Both Government and the developer need to take a serious look at the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD)” said Mr Lazarow. “Time and time again, we see that ESD criteria - the basis upon which development decisions have to be made according to legislation - have been sidestepped by developers so that controversial proposals are approved.”

“This proposal comes at a time when the State Government is attempting to co-ordinate and integrate coastal management and decision-making through the development of a Coastal Policy. The Surfrider Foundation encourages the Government not to consider this proposal until the release of the Policy.”

We’re not alone in our work to conserve and sustainably manage the coast – Surfrider Brazil is also maiking slow and steady gains, as outlined in the email from ED Guil:

We made the headlines in one of the main Brazilian newspaper (O Globo) today.

If you guys have time, check the site oglobo.com.br and check the picture in there. That's SRF Brasil in action with a famous rapper (Gabriel o Pensador - Gabriel the Thinker) and we are demanding treatment to the effluents that will finish at the beach. This year it is election year so we are gathering artists and influential people in our society to spread the good word. We are planning in doing a campaign, "Clean Water, Clean Vote". Anyway we are working in the business plan and by the end of this month I will be sending you guys a translated copy, so you can know what is going on.

Ok amigos,
Namaste
Guil

Yours for Clean Oceans

Stuart Ball

A/ Executive Officer

Catch the Wave that Respects the Beach & join Surfrider Foundation

This concludes April 2002 eNews