New South Wales and Tweed Coast
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New South Wales:

NEWCASTLE BRANCH TAKES OFF

A recent meeting formally relaunched Surfrider's Hunter Branch. Nobby Edwards is President (yippee … and good luck) and there's a whole new Executive. All the paperwork is in the process of being completed and will be forwarded to National Office as required.

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AUSTRALIA DAY SURFBOARD CHALLENGE 2003

Barton Lynch, Layne Beachley and Kate Skarrat helped Surfrider celebrate Australia Day with a paddle in Sydney Harbour.

A commemorative T shirt with attached Surfrider membership label was planned for production. Surfrider will assist with the sales and marketing of the shirt.

Surfrider promotional materials for the 500 Australia Day Council's competitors packs e.g. stickers, membership forms, educational materials were planned. Surfrider stickers were planned for each competitor's boards as recognition their board has been checked to be under 10' - Thanks to Ryan, Chris, Kristen and Charlie for their hard work done - awesome!

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FISHING LICENCES TO BENEFIT THE FISH

$10m in Recreational Fishing Trust funds from recreational fishing licences will provide 3 mobile fishing inspectors, a study on Bream and Luderick and the value of recreational fishing in Sydney. Fishing jetties, boat ramps and measuring stations are also planned for the Illawarra area. A study into slimy mackerel was announced recently. The Liberal Party, showing great foresight, have promised to scrap the system if elected in March.

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Tweed Coast: Contact: Stuart Ball at stuartball@surfrider.org.au

TWEED COASTLINE MANAGEMENT PLAN

The Tweed Coastline Management Plan was the subject of community input at Kingscliff late last year. Unfortunately, Tweed Branch does not have the resources to be part of this important project. For more information on the plan contact Brad at Umwelt on 0249505322 or see www.tweed.nsw.gov.au - if you can help Surfrider participate contact Stuart Ball at stuartball@surfrider.org.au

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TWEED PAVES THE COAST…ERRR…THE WAY

The Tweed Coast is under intense development pressure - here's just a few current development issues:

· It's all systems go in the Tweed with Council manoeuvreing to approve a $53m development at Cabarita before the end of January. It will include 54 apartments,Two penthouse homes, boutique shops, restaurants and pool terraces. However, the NSW Government have stepped in with new planning powers and taken control of the consent process.

· A $40M development to be approved for Coolangatta will block views of the new Twin Towns resort sky scraper. Complaints have resulted in a Gold Coast Councillor saying " that's the pot calling the kettle black." The development has already been scaled back to 20 stories. It would never have been allowed in NSW residents have said.

· Aboriginal elders have apparently given their blessing for Greg Norman to build a massive golf course on sacred land at Fingal on 250 acres of prime coastal land . The mayor has supported the project. It will include a resort residential accommodation, marina and other facilities. The land is zoned environmental, but can still be built without rezoning. Many in the community believe they have been left out of consultation process. Tweed Branch have been led to believe that there will be a serious community backlash if this goes ahead.

· A probe into alleged fraud involving massive Kings Forest Estate appears to have stalled due to the resignation of the detective investigating the case. Evidence relating to contracts to buy the 900 hectare Japanese development has moved the investigation to Japan. Investigation in Japan involves fake council documents and money siphoning taking place. One Councillor has called on NSW police to hold a parallel inquiry into the forged council documents granting the development approval on site near Kingscliff. It is alleged in the Supreme Court that Narui used the documents to obtain a bank loan and Narui siphoned off $65M from it's parent company, over ten years for purposes unconnected with plans to develop the $2.5B project as a satellite city, housing more than 12000 people... source: Gold Coast Bulletin 12/2/03

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Victoria:

LITTER ACTION

Many councils, particularly those along the coast, have started their litter prevention campaigns targeting both locals and visitors. City of Port Phillip's 'Bin it or Swim in it' slogan is making appearances along the bay with five of the ten Association of Bayside Municipalities adopting it, as well as other areas along Victoria's coastline. EcoRecycle Victoria has provided funding to coastal regions to implement coordinated and integrated litter prevention programs from early next year and through the warmer months. Two regions are focusing on cigarette butts, with general littering and fishing litter targeted by the others.

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR BEST PRACTICE URBAN STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

The capacity building program - for best practice urban stormwater management (or CBP) is a joint initiative of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and the Stormwater Industry Association of Victoria (SIAV). A key component of the program is facilitating the establishment of partnerships and networks across the state ensuring local government and industry professionals can continue to build knowledge and capacity, and remain at the forefront of implementing best practice environmental management of urban stormwater. For more information on the Capacity Building Program contact Jacquie White, Project Manager on 03 9667 5523 or email: jwhite@mav.asn.au or visit their website which is up and running but under continuing development - http://www.mav.asn.au/stormwater

RESOURCES

· 'Drainways to our Bays' is now available for purchase from Melbourne Water and will be officially launched early in 2003. Orders of more than 20 copies are eligible for a whopping 50% discount, making it $25 per copy (RRP $49.95) for on-selling to local schools. Order on-line or call the info line on 131 722 for an order form.

· Melbourne Water also has education and stormwater areas on their website if you haven't already checked them out: www.education.melbournewater.com.au and www.stormwater.melbournewater.com.au

· VSAP plans to hold a forum on stormwater education resources around March 2003 to showcase the educational materials they have developed.

· VLAA is working on compiling a kit of the available educational resources on litter prevention to be made available on the VLAA website later in 2003.

· LITTER REPORT LINE 1800 35 25 55

· Abandoned shopping trolleys 1800 245 022

· The Victorian Litter Action Alliance is the peak body for litter management and reduction in Victoria. VLAA aims to provide a comprehensive, coordinated, complementary and consistent approach to reducing litter in the Victorian environment to acceptable levels through the combined efforts of state and local government agencies, and the voluntary and private sectors. Further information about VLAA can be found at www.ecorecycle.vic.gov.au - go to litter.

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Surf Coast:
Contact: Darren Noyes-Brown at dnoyesbrown@bigpond.com

JACK McCOY visited the Surf Coast as part of his national surf film tour. The Surf Coast Branch held a stall at the Torquay screening of Jack's films and were stoked that Jack spent so much time publicly thanking Surfrider for the good work we do (we even got a round of applause).

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BLUE CRUSH

Darren headed down to the Lorne Cinema recently and held a mini-stall at the Lorne screening of BLUE CRUSH which also mentions Surfrider in its promotional material.

BELLS BEACH C.A.P

Local Branch members were involved in the Bells to Red Rocks Coastal Action Plan (CAP) walk in mid-January. Acting Premier John Thwaites launched the CAP and joined in the walk along the beach discussing environmental and strategic issues relating to the preparation of the CAP which Surfrider have been actively involved in through the Bells Beach Surfing Reserve Advisory Committee and the Bells CAP Steering Committee. The Surf Coast Branch has also placed a submission with the Surf Coast Shire for the upgrade of the Bells Beach Masterplan.

CLIFF COLLAPSE

Finally, we have had another cliff collapse down here recently. Nothing serious but once again it highlights how important it is for coastal managers to plan for problems arising from eroding cliffs and the need to balance expectations of surfers and tourists. This is a key issue arising in preparation of Bells Beach Masterplan.

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Contact: Brad Mashman at bmashman@bigpond.com or 0409561190

NEW BLOOD

Surfrider Tasmania has two new officers with Brad Mashman taking on the role of President and Chris Shuecker becoming the new Treasurer. Matt Dell and Phil Cullen remain Committee members and science advisors.

PROJECTS FOR 2003

1. Mays Point revegetation and protection;

2. Additional toilets at popular surf breaks to minimise coastal contamination by surfers;

3. Annual South West Marine Debris (Litter) cleanup;

4. Campaign against closure of access to Tassie surf breaks by Australian and OS investors;

5. Protection of existing accessible breaks; and of course

6. Annual social event strategies are being developed to secure beneficial outcomes for Tasmania's coastal environments and communities.

Surfrider Foundation Tasmania website

SOUTH WEST WA

SMITHS BEACH: LONG STANDING CAMPAIGN

The 27 month, Surfrider Foundation supported "Save Smiths Beach" campaign has moved a step closer to resolution with the WA Planning Minister releasing planning laws that will affect any proposed development at the beach. Surfrider members are working hard to ensure the State laws and other guidelines protecting the beach are included in the local Shire Town Planning Scheme.

GEOGRAPHE BAY FORESHORE EROSION

Surfrider members have been involved in lobbying the Busselton Shire Council to consider a coastal management plan for Geographe Bay that covers most of the north facing shire boundary. Local State politicians and newspapers have taken up the lobbying as well.

INJIDUP BAY INAPPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT

Surfrider members have been involved in a five years long local campaign against inappropriate development in this unspoilt surfing area. With support from SF members involved in the Save Smiths Beach campaign on the same coast, the group is lobbying the Busselton Shire Councillors by pointing out deficiencies and short cuts proposed in the building of a guesthouse as part of the development plans.

MOSES ROCK COASTAL CHALETS DEVELOPMENT

Surfrider members are involved in commenting on development plans for 5 chalets near the rugged Moses Rock surf break. Busselton Shire Council are considering approvals for the development during March and have notified SF members who have put in submissions on the proposal and have asked for further input from those submitors.

GNARABUP SEWAGE PLANT

With the recent Margaret River Masters 6 star WQS event drawing attention to the beaches of Margaret River, a stakeholders group, chaired by a member of State parliament and called the Gnarabup Resolutions Group has been formed to resolve the development problems at Gnarabup just south of Margaret River's Surfer's Point.

Part of the proposals include a resolution for a long fought target campaign, with strong SF input, against the inappropriate siting of the development's sewage treatment plant right on the coast: "That the developer and the council agree to assist either dollar or in-kind to a sewerage/wastewater plan for Gnarabup/Prevelly to the value of $90,000 each".

NORTH WEST WA

NINGALOO REEF

WA Surfriders are waiting on a decision by the WA Premier regarding the future of a proposed development at Maud's Landing, north of Coral Bay on the Ningaloo Reef. The issue is so sensitive, the WA Environment Minister excused herself from making the decision.

Surfrider Foundation members joined a 15000 strong protest march against the Maud's Landing development. The march was held in the port city of Fremantle in December 2002. That was a bigger turnout than the February 2003 "No War" Peace march held in Perth.

CORAL BAY

The WA Department of Conservation and Land Management will install 25 new moorings at Coral Bay as part of an overall boating management strategy to protect the Ningaloo Reef and avoid conflict among users of the bay. This is in addition to the updated sewage plan reported in the last eNews.