Hey there Breezers.

Its come to my attention all be it belated, that the ocean reef marina in Perth's north will destroy three surf breaks. The breaks may not be well known but they are home to many surfers.

There is a partition up and a protest paddle out (peaceful) booked for the 05 feb.

The idea that the marina can be stopped has gone. The state Government has said it will inject 3 bill into the economy every year. That sort of cash talks in the ever expanding western suburbs. But a small partof the pie could build artificial reefs to replace what has been taken and ensure the next generations have somewhere to ride waves.

We have lost many waves in perth over the years. The extension of the north mole and hillarys boat harbour.

Search on FB to find the link.

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beastsurf said..
Hey there Breezers.

Its come to my attention all be it belated, that the ocean reef marina in Perth's north will destroy three surf breaks. The breaks may not be well known but they are home to many surfers.

There is a partition up and a protest paddle out (peaceful) booked for the 05 feb.

The idea that the marina can be stopped has gone. The state Government has said it will inject 3 bill into the economy every year. That sort of cash talks in the ever expanding western suburbs. But a small partof the pie could build artificial reefs to replace what has been taken and ensure the next generations have somewhere to ride waves.

We have lost many waves in perth over the years. The extension of the north mole and hillarys boat harbour.

Search on FB to find the link.

Hey beastsurf,

I am a semi-local, having infrequently surfed the break in front of the Ocean Reef Sea Rescue for the last 30+ yrs. There's really only one reliable wave there (Mossies) - and only one other one that rarely fires...(Pylon). My understanding was that as part of the Marina redevelopment that they were building a surf reef - unless that has been cut from the budget...

I'd be keen to know more - as the overcrowding at most breaks at the moment is ridiculous!

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GPA said..

beastsurf said..
Hey there Breezers.

Its come to my attention all be it belated, that the ocean reef marina in Perth's north will destroy three surf breaks. The breaks may not be well known but they are home to many surfers.

There is a partition up and a protest paddle out (peaceful) booked for the 05 feb.

The idea that the marina can be stopped has gone. The state Government has said it will inject 3 bill into the economy every year. That sort of cash talks in the ever expanding western suburbs. But a small partof the pie could build artificial reefs to replace what has been taken and ensure the next generations have somewhere to ride waves.

We have lost many waves in perth over the years. The extension of the north mole and hillarys boat harbour.

Search on FB to find the link.

Hey beastsurf,

I am a semi-local, having infrequently surfed the break in front of the Ocean Reef Sea Rescue for the last 30+ yrs. There's really only one reliable wave there (Mossies) - and only one other one that rarely fires...(Pylon). My understanding was that as part of the Marina redevelopment that they were building a surf reef - unless that has been cut from the budget...

I'd be keen to know more - as the overcrowding at most breaks at the moment is ridiculous!

It was cut from the budget.

Big Rock had its days as well!

a few lumps of rocks that you could froth over on the right tide as a grom. Was gutted when they cut out the arto reef as it could have been something really cool.

I hope the lobbying works but I won't hold my breath

It will only workif the voice is loud enough.

This is the sort of thing you would hope surfing WA would get behind and assist with.

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beastsurf said..
It will only workif the voice is loud enough.

This is the sort of thing you would hope surfing WA would get behind and assist with.

They wouldnt have the time for this.
......More important things to do like decorating the new headquarters

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oz surf said..

beastsurf said..
It will only workif the voice is loud enough.

This is the sort of thing you would hope surfing WA would get behind and assist with.

They wouldnt have the time for this.
......More important things to do like decorating the new headquarters

Sad but true. I'll try to rustle up some paddlers.

Mozzies & Pylons were good winter options, heard Big Rock was a bit hairy - sad to see them go.

Is there any fluke chance that the marina will see any other waves happen along that stretch or any sand movements do anything along there? Excuse the blind ignorance if I am way off.

not a lot of sand along that stretch....Big Rock might just survive but with a rock wall in the way as you fly out of a barrel

Pylons in big winter storms was an epic novelty wave really disappointing
but the jewel of the crown was big rock
now it's gone I can talk about it openly
the high tide season on a two metre swell or more was an epic epic metro barrel
on metro terms it would have to be probably on its day 4th or 5th best wave within 100km
now that may be hard to believe by some but I'll also punt those people didn't check it often and/or only ever surfed it on low tide once than said nup not for me.

the loss of big rock is quite offensive to me

I have some cracking pics of biggers on old computer that most metro pundits would not believe.

I might try to find an upload for nostalgia reasons if I can be arsed one day.




re: sand. There was an opportunity to really drill into setting up the southern wall facing Mullas into to the right orientation to build up sand each summer, and then create a Clayton's like wedge potentially for those first swells (obviously banks then come and go, and also the bigger winter storms send sand offshore a bit and would scour out). From what I hear it was a case of "too hard to change on the drawings and approvals". Another golden opportunity missed

I find metro novelty spots in hidden corners interesting keen to see photos if you have them
reminds me of Dixies that was destroyed when the Mandurah cut went in plus some other waves near by

all super dooper secret spots with less than 5000 locals...they work every ten years or so

Nice documentation Curlzbean! Long live the diligent local checklist!

Love scoring a metro novelty wave when its hectic everywhere else - this Winter was all time at a few of them - kept me going thats for sure!

some more pics from more unusual not very consistent spots - wont post the more secret spots that are easy to work out

Paddle out this Sunday Team.

I wonder if we should let the anti vaxer pro choice guys know just for a little bit of oompfff.

Some great photos there.

Bump! Tomorrow, yo!

Reached out to the local member of parliament today regarding this cause. I suggest we all do. The libs have no money in wa if they want votes they need to get on board and help us get the reef built to replace the ones we have lost

Have you got an email or contact details?

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curlzbean said..
not a lot of sand along that stretch....Big Rock might just survive but with a rock wall in the way as you fly out of a barrel

Nope even Big Rock didn't survive, the North wall is pretty much right on top of it.

I first surfed these breaks over 40 years ago when you could park your car on the hill above Big Rock.

You had to know the right tides and conditions to get them firing but they certainly could on their day.

It was one of the main reasons I bought in Ocean Reef and although I don't often surf a short board anymore I was still hitting it up occasionally on a SUP, long board or foil board and you could still get a few decent waves by yourself at times, I am sure going to miss it.

I wouldn't have a clue about the Hilary's area but it would be nice if some of these developers put some of the profits they made back into creating a few waves (highly unlikely i know). I'm from down Surf beach way and a lot of the quality was destroyed by the developments around that area. They make a fortune from developing way to close to the ocean. Would be nice if they threw a bit of money into improving them for a change. Wont hold my breathe

The government could incorporate funds from the design application be distributed to the building of reefs and enhancement of sea grass vegetation on the ocean floor.

Sustainability is the key word these days.

I reached out to Stuart Aulbrey on instagram. He is the local member around Scarborough. Labor obviously. I dont believe he is the member for the area effected but hopefully he reaches out.

Vince Connelly was the federal member up that way I believe. He represents the libs. Both are good blokes with the ocean having a great importance to them.

Hopefully if the conversation keeps up they will start to listen. The relevant FB pages are the go. We just dont have the reach here but its a start.

Hi
I am replying here as a long time local surfer who was professionally involved in advising on approvals in WA for many projects like this (I was involved in this one but not wrt the reef issue) and also in looking at various artificial surfing reefs for councils etc over past few decades. What everyone says is sensible on first blush and it is a real loss to lose surf spots, the issue is with the creation of replacement reef breaks. A few key points, but just to start with, this is government funded, not developer funded, so pockets are a bit deeper, but that said it is expensive to do everything (not just a rock wall) and adding a surf reef is not cheap.

Getting an artificial reef built is a major exercise in its own right, as surfers in the the room when plans were being drawn up we discussed it for a number of big local projects (as just as the comments suggest, it would appear to be an idea opportunity) but each time it gets knocked off, why?
1. Approvals for artificial reefs need both state (marine impacts on existing habitat are a big issue) and federal approval (under Sea Dumping Act), there is a big bunch of cost and time here (seabed habitat surveys to make sure not removing reef/seagrass habitat; sediment quality, source material quality, management of construction/ongoing impact assessment etc). If a surf reef is not the reason for the project, it quickly starts to get moved onto the 'too hard basket" as on top of this, before getting approvals you need a design...
2. As shown by the Cables artificial reef (and others), getting a purpose built surf reef design together is not easy. There will be expert studies, data collection, wave modeling and then coastal processes modelling to see what it will do to the sand and the the proponent will not want anyone hurt (lawyers get involved), so they will make it deeper than ideal (e.g. not below a certain depth on low tide) and then when they start looking at construction costs it gets very expensive as they need to get barges onto water just to dump rock, (unlike breakwater which is just earthmoving gear).

So, after a few meetings and a feasibility study, the idea usually gets knocked off as it is big distraction from what is already a very complicated main game.

In short, the best artificial reefs are the accidental ones (usually created by dredging, reefs never seem to work - noting Cables is actually a success as it can total fire, just shame about lack of swell and length). Does anyone remember when they put the ocean outfall off Woodman Point in the early 90s? As part of construction they dredged up a bunch of seabed and left it in a big pile just off the back of Woodies and it created the most awesome, unplanned long rippable right hander for a season.

Anyway, in short - your best chance of getting an artificial wave is to follow a dredge around, e.g. like the DoT maintanance dredging changes waves around the Cut, or hope for a sand by passing project like the Tweed/super bank, or a wave pool to come to a place near you. The approvals for reefs just get harder and harder (for good reason) and the failures of other reefs around the world means that public opinion has moved against them

Happy hunting

Fair response
but I've got a few items to discuss

They never needed to "build a reef"
a simple angular calculation of the southern wall and an additional 100 tonnes of limestone could of quite easily angled the wall at a desirable angle to refract our most prevalent swell angle sw ssw 220 degrees. The physical cost for this would of been 100 tonnes of limestone blocks put into location by equipment already being utilised on the job.

The bushland being removed must of been a consideration prior to approval but they ripped all of it up.

If we talk about marina design the design is in technical terms piss poor as it is not designed in a manner which water can pass through and clean/change out the marina water.
Its not even built yet but the 10 tonne of dead abalone have proven this theory prior to pens going in jetties etc etc which will reduce water movement further within the marina

100 tonnes of rock we could of had a legit good wave on the southern wall side for pretty much free.
A bit of reef excavation and dredging could have had a wave on the north side

the way this marina has been designed winter storms and near shore sand drift will fill the entrance and it will need to be dredged... watch this space

The only chance of a wave at current is the north wall of the reef gets removed or alternatively and likely least desirable by the planner and design team the actual marina entrance.

god wouldn't that look silly if you built a marina where the entrance broke in heavy seas.....


watch this space

yep, don't disagree - but my experience is all these things that look easy - just a few rocks, a tweak here and there etc end up getting blown out by the engineering, stakeholder consulting and approvals processes, it's frustrating I agree as we wanted to do something similar at Rouse Head but as soon the proponent says they will create artificial waves they then on the hook for a big project. Best is they happen by accident (like Sandtrax).

Yes they had to get approval to rip up the bush, cover the seabed habitat etc and they are expected to minimise the area so adding more rocks is a negative impact they can avoid, which they are supposed to do under the act (avoid, minimise, reduce).

As far as siltation/wrack etc - yep maintaining marina/harbour entrances is an ongoing project for DoT around WA :)

PS not sure about the abalone etc, I'm not in this game any more and haven't been involved in this one for a number of years

Thanks for the detailed reply to this topic Footbridge... sadly that all makes sense. Shame though...

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Footbridge said..
PS not sure about the abalone etc, I'm not in this game any more and haven't been involved in this one for a number of years

Cheers Footbridge Its great to get an insight into the mind set and dealings of the investors. It just seems impossible to get on the front foot with this. I thought the people of cottelsoe had an old way of looking at things and where anti developement. After a long time of watching I now believe they have been on the front foot from the beginning and have saved the face of thier suburb.

I live close to the beach is Scarborough. I have always been pro developement. I cant argue that there is no cost to the ever growing list of buildings. Brighton Road has a wind tunnel that makes it hard to walk with your board under your arm sometimes. Little issues I know but it makes you wonder about the thought process of developers and government alike. Once you build it theres no going back. I feel for the surfers of that area (Ocean reef). The marina has extracted a high cost on them. I hope its worth it.