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!

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

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

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.

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 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

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!

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.

Bump! Tomorrow, yo!

Have you got an email or contact details?

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

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

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 :)

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