Artificial Reefs, Australia, New Zealand

[Roy Stewart]

One of the main promoters of the Mount Maunganui reef was The Bay of Plenty Times, I went to their head reporter John Cousins about a year prior to construction starting with photos of excellent waves at the beach which they claimed was a closeout, plus an article on a failed Gold Coast reef. I thought he might find it interesting and I was polite and undemanding but he threatened to call security and showed me the door.

A group of Bournemouth reef people came to NZ hosted by Kerry Black, we sent them invitations and a list of contacts from local Mount Maunganui surfers but they showed no interest in making contact, instead opting for the easy bribe. When they visited the Mount reef briefly conditions weren't right for it on the day, such a pity . . .

[market-research]

ramoestarta has done a very good job of showing everyone what the local surfers think.

[Hang11]

Kerry black told Opunake that the world would beat a path to its door as well?

It would take a lot more than a decent wave to make Opunake a popular place to visit. I'd give it a go if they had a midget hooker theme park with free entry, but even then I'd take at least two shotguns for self defence.

I'm still amazed at the outright fkn stupidity of Bournemouth Council. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that the South Coast of England is basically about the sh1ttest place on the planet that people surf. Any sh1tter and they would just go fishing or something. A few million quid of sandbags clearly wouldn't make any difference to the basic reason that the waves are so crap - lack of good swell. They would be better off trying to get rid of France, and probably have a higher chance of success.

The entire decision making process of the council must have been fundamentally flawed. Surely a few jobs must be on the line now?

[tree4]

The entire decision making process of the council must have been fundamentally flawed. Surely a few jobs must be on the line now?

Oh No, no, no. You fail to realise how councils waste our rate money. (Non) Jobs will actually be created as they can fund some more of their 'friends' to 'investigate' why its not performing 'optimally'. Then they can waste some more money and have another jolly by flying to some far flung destination to see one that is working only to arrive and be told 'you really should have been here yesterday, it was pumping'.

Fortunately, I live in the next borough and its not my local tax money.

[RJD]

UK lottery has just given £500,000 to an artist to cut down half a forest, put a football pitch there, play 1 game on it then dig it up.

This is in 'celebration' of the Olympics, in London. Though the forest will be in Scotland. Uk is a fleshin' nuthouse.

[market-research]

i will cut a few trees down and replant them for 1/3 of that ? are bids still open? I know the problem with the uk - they havent had any new genetic material added since william the conquerer ! Its called inbreeding. You can recognise the northern scots and irish that had spanish amarda survivor inout -but alas that was not enough to save the nonsense gene being dominant. Little did churchill realise that the krauts and or russians would have saved the gene poll from the nonsense gene dominating.( maybe?) AHHH thats the reason for bornemouths folly -the nonsense gene,. { almost 0 - 1ft today almost rideable should improve as the tide changes -good for a paddlle or a sup} dust off the wallet and common down genetic miracles yo'all are m'hearties!!



no offense meant to those here from the uk - its obvious that you had good parents by your protests! ;(

[kitesurfer]

i will cut a few trees down and replant them for 1/3 of that ? are bids still open? I know the problem with the uk - they havent had any new genetic material added since william the conquerer ! Its called inbreeding. You can recognise the northern scots and irish that had spanish amarda survivor inout -but alas that was not enough to save the nonsense gene being dominant. Little did churchill realise that the krauts and or russians would have saved the gene poll from the nonsense gene dominating.( maybe?) AHHH thats the reason for bornemouths folly -the nonsense gene,. { almost 0 - 1ft today almost rideable should improve as the tide changes -good for a paddlle or a sup} dust off the wallet and common down genetic miracles yo'all are m'hearties!!



no offense meant to those here from the uk - its obvious that you had good parents by your protests! ;(

LOL excellent its been a while since you've picked this alias again.

KS

[market-research]

Wednesday 10:00 - Small, glassy 1 footers with slightly bigger sets coming through. Surfable on a big board. Weathers due to clear up this afternoon ........ anyone know how to set up sandbanks or sandbags to give a fun little surf with these conditions every day?
i'm not thinking asr with this question? .

[kitesurfer]

I didn't surf it or take these photos myself but folks were out riding the reef yesterday.

http://magicseaweed.com/photoLab/viewPh ... 52b204fe7b

Theres a few other photos too on MSW.

KS

[tree4]

Following my email to Chris Robinson at the BBC ...
I have been asked by the BBC to take part in a phone in on Julian Cleggs breakfast program tomorrow 8:30 am on BBC Radio Solent. I'm sticking to the following main points:

1) the numbers i.e. 10, 00 surfers per annum creating £3 million of revenue for the area.
2) Cross shore drift making hard for the surfers to stay in position to use it.

I am not commenting on whether I think the reef works (only that there just are'nt enough swell days for it to work with. or not unless you guys want me to raise some specific points for you.

[tree4]

Well I did my bit on the radio this morning (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p004wzqm I was on about 8:10, 8:40, 9:10 and 9:25), challenging the figures. It appears the view of the council is:
1) We got free money from selling the land to Barrats.
2) The reef is to attract people to the area not just surfers to Boscombe.
3) As long as they (anybody) spend money in the shops and cafe/restaurants who gives a xxxxx if the reef works or not or if only a few people can use at a time.

[Roy Stewart]

It's just a restaurant theme

[tree4]

OK Update ..
Some Guy doing a Masters Degree at Bournemouth Uni heard radio this morning and wants to interview me on camera as (in his own words) 'easy to find people putting a positive spin on the whole thing but not adverse comments". So I have been invited to the Urban Reef Cafe 5pm On Friday 6th Nov for filming. I need help guys. He said it was OK to bring others with me so any local surfers here want to have their say and save me making a fool of my self on the technical stuff? I only wanted to challenge the figures of usage etc.
How about it Chris? (You know who you are).

[market-research]

well some news from our hawaain wannabess in Bournemouth
The reef peaks, drops and thats it!
thats when the ocean understands what the oceanographers said it would do.( once in a long while)
teaches fast take offs , stand and then gone in 1 to 2 seconds. (Sheet ! thats what all my girlfriends have complained about and found new guys for!)
An astute con guy is "booking" sessions for people to buy tickets on a standbye list (see Artificial Surfing Reefs R good.com)
its called a "virtual surf"and soon on gameboy, WII and playstation , complete with blow up ( pun intended) doll of pamela anderson.
Also a senior council officer has joined ars founder in falling on his sword, i think they may have "hooked up' and enjoying a hiatus together?
meate's lining up to be the toyboy in the "threesome". (surfpaks LLc also want his butt!)
This "nick' , its shared around like the opanake town "bike" ,
earn your stripes and you can have a real blog as well!
go Roy - the idiots will rue the day that you started to document the carry-ons of these pretend know it all's! (but they take it all without refund)

[kitesurfer]

Well having watched the reef on a number of diffefrent occasions now i've come to a few conclusions.
1. Its not a great wave for surfing/kitesurfing on.
2. It only seems to work when the other breaks in the area are working.
3. It definately pulls in joe public and as a PR exercise i would say it has definately put boscombe on the map. Be it for the right reasons or not.
4. It does produce a rideable wave (just)



Photos from MSW.



5. Lots of people (admittedly mainly body boarders) are getting a lot of fun out of it and if it keeps them damn shark biscuits away from my prefered breaks, even better.


KS

[market-research]

all jokes aside
ks has given a fair summary
MS has some interesting sequence shots that support what he says.

[Brent]

For anyone interested, our failed reef made front page news in the Bay of Plenty Times this week. Interesting comments within on your reef also. I'm sorry I don't have the link to add here. That wave, and those images above are far far better looking than any shorebreak-crosswash boating hazard muck I've every seen on ours. Gee I hate to imagine the spin ASR & co will put on those images :-/

[Roy Stewart]

Brent the issue isn't just that the reef failed but also that a good quality break was destroyed. We want Tay st back in surfable shape, the bags must be removed !

[market-research]

The reef fix is going to happen it seems

"woolamai, christchurch says...
8:21pm Thu 8 Apr 10

Apparently the 'tweak' has been defined.

All that is needed is to rotate the reef anticlockwise 10 degrees and increase the width of the ramp along the ocean facing length of the reef by 10m or so. "

halalooya

ASR and the council are in final discussions about which weekend to make the changes.

[kitesurfer]

We can read MR, absolutely no need for multiple posts.

KS