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Forums > Windsurfing General

Shoalhaven Heads opening?

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Created by jh2703 > 9 months ago, 25 Jun 2013
jh2703
NSW, 1225 posts
25 Jun 2013 5:16PM
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I sailed down at the river today and noticed an excavator at work at the notch, I tried to go and have a look but got hunted by council staff. A quick google and it reveals that they do intend to breach the sandbar today in preparation for a 3m floodwater rise in the river today. Will it return the heads to the glory days of old, who knows but I hope so....it's a long wait till summer.

Here's a look back in the day...
www.surfresearch.com.au/SHB.html

siny
NSW, 287 posts
25 Jun 2013 5:25PM
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Yeh it will open up until the beginning of summer then close

Mobydisc
NSW, 9029 posts
25 Jun 2013 5:28PM
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That would be sweet. Shoalhaven Heads used to be a great place to sail. However the last time I was there it just looked silted up and terrible. Amazing a council will do something like this. They all seem to believe silted up waterways is the way it should be.

KA360
NSW, 803 posts
25 Jun 2013 6:24PM
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At Sanctuary PT the carpark and playground are under water and lapping at the back door of the houses on sanctuary point road and some of the houses around our side and it hasn't stopped raining yet.Better get some diggers to sussex inlet ASAP



boat ramp?


jh2703
NSW, 1225 posts
25 Jun 2013 7:05PM
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^^^There's a lot of water about, When I hit the water at 9am everything looked normal. I came in 3 hours later and the jetty had gone under and the water was lapping at the bottom rail of the safety barrier on the jetty. It would have rose 1m in that 3 hour period...I'll duck down early in the morning before the council guys start and get some pics of the entrance.

pwatts22
NSW, 58 posts
25 Jun 2013 8:36PM
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Thanks Jase hopefully it washes away some of that bitou bush and mangroves as well, it would be fantastic to have the conditions of 20years ago

DSeadog
NSW, 17 posts
26 Jun 2013 10:45AM
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I use to sail there 23 years ago as well. It was fantastic when it was open. You could get a run along the sandbar get up some speed up, go through the opening and go for these big jumps and finally break the board in half as you would land on the face of the next incoming wave. Best fun ever!!!

jh2703
NSW, 1225 posts
26 Jun 2013 12:37PM
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Well it is open....Big Time

Ian K
WA, 4164 posts
26 Jun 2013 11:38AM
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The various estuary management options have all sorts of environmental effects. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/habitat/aquatic-habitats/wetland/coastal-wetlands .The management practices of the good old days may have been great for windsurfing but not so good from a green perspective? Don't know, how did they manage it back then?

Mobydisc
NSW, 9029 posts
26 Jun 2013 1:51PM
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Ian K said..

The various estuary management options have all sorts of environmental effects. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/habitat/aquatic-habitats/wetland/coastal-wetlands .The management practices of the good old days may have been great for windsurfing but not so good from a green perspective? Don't know, how did they manage it back then?


Seems like no dredging is done because something unforseen might happen, resulting in clogged waterways. So its alright to develop the land, resulting in more erosion and run off but we can't touch the silted up waterways. If the lake entrance breakwall at Windang/Warilla could have been completed recently then anything should be on the table. The breakwall has been a huge alteration to the environment there.


Eel
NSW, 40 posts
26 Jun 2013 2:56PM
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I suspect a lot has to do with less water being let down the river from Tallowa dam. I seem to remember reading some years ago that the water collected above the dam was being pumped elsewhere and just did a search which confirmed that it goes to Sydney and the Illawara. I came down from the dam in a kayak 20 years ago and was surprised at how little water generally comes down there. I suspect that since that time the amount of water has diminished significantly, so only rare floods where the dam releases the kind of water that might open the lagoon.

siny
NSW, 287 posts
26 Jun 2013 9:22PM
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I thought you would have set up a time laps from start to finish . It would be good to see that first break throug

jh2703
NSW, 1225 posts
26 Jun 2013 9:43PM
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^^^Keen but not that keen, darkness was falling as the work was still being finished...Unlike council workers to push a job into overtime. Plus it was pi$$ing rain...It was ok while sailing but standing around in it wasn't my idea of fun, It was beer o'clock anyways.

Jungleman
NSW, 96 posts
27 Jun 2013 5:35PM
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The river is open at Shoalhaven Heads!

here are some pics...

www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/1600944/shoalhaven-flood-readers-photo-gallery/?cs=203



Dean 424
NSW, 440 posts
5 Nov 2013 6:08PM
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Is Shoalhaven Heads still open, and if it is closed which I suspect what is it like for flat water blasting at moment??

pwatts22
NSW, 58 posts
5 Nov 2013 6:57PM
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The heads are still open and ok for flat water sailing, it is very tide dependant though, only good around high tides and the tide there is about 2.5hrs behind the ocean

Dean 424
NSW, 440 posts
5 Nov 2013 7:07PM
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Thanks Pwatts that is something anyway.

keef
NSW, 2016 posts
5 Nov 2013 7:55PM
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Select to expand quote
Dean 424 said..

Thanks Pwatts that is something anyway.


if your looking for flat water your better off going to sanctuary point , adds an extra 1/2hr to the trip , taking into consideration guys travel from Sydney and Canberra , it would be worth it

Dean 424
NSW, 440 posts
5 Nov 2013 11:12PM
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The thing about Shoalhaven heads is that is not far from Gerroa and may be good in the occasional Southerly. However Sanctuary Point does look as if it can be sailed in nearly in any direction and seems to have a good group building of late.



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"Shoalhaven Heads opening?" started by jh2703