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Kirra as it once was!
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
A massive public rally is planned on Sunday December 7th at Kirra on Ocean Care Day - the day Pearl Harbour was bombed!
The simple theme is Bring Back Kirra Point and for the public and surfing fraternity to demonstrate against the loss of Kirra Point as a world-class surf break.
I’m calling on everyone to show support re the loss of one of the greatest sand bottom right hand point breaks in the World.
Whether you can be there on the day or just in spirit to show the authorities that we really care. It’s a passive protest to stir the GCCC, Tweed Council and State Governments - NSW and QLD - that we do care and call for affirmative action.
If we don’t rally now it will be too late and who can live with that deplorable situation for future generations that we could have done something about this and not be apathetic and roll over like Lassie.
I honestly believe that we can somehow bring it back, the solutions are numerous and there will be many suggestions.
Basically the whole process needs to be reviewed, revamped and guess what - we have two State Government elections in 2009 for NSW/QLD! This could very well become an election issue then the authorities may just start to sit up and listen to us rather then play games.
The current Sand Monster contractor needs to be paid out and the contract to reviewed as a part-time pump operation rather than the present full-time arrangement. This is a 25-year contract and it's going to cost a lot of money, but what price on the loss of one of the greatest sand bottom right-hand point breaks in the World?
Currently Duranbah is badly eroded, Snapper's banks are suspect and Leitia Spit Fingal is in danger where the Tweed River could break through and create a major environmental problem, The main sand pipe off Lovers Rock almost needs to be pointed back to Duranbah and the inactive capped pipe underneath Snapper Rocks needs to become active. Another pipe needs to be constructed from North Kirra to save Bilinga from erosion. The sand pumping should be selective and only pumped in times of need rather than the present operation.
Maybe this will need to go the Federal Minister of Environment Peter Garret to come back with some real credibility and help save Kirra!
A Marine Engineer from Newcastle University has stated that there has been more long shore sand drifting along the NSW coast in the last 10 years than the previous 50. You only have to look at Main beach Byron Bay/Belongil/Suffolk Park/Broken Head Beach etc where they don't have dredging, sand pumps and the like.
The erosion in Byron Bay was really bad back in the late '90s and Belongil looked to be lost. Then the sand started to come back, the Pass was back to its best, indicating a natural process which backs up the Newcastle engineer’s report.
We've got the lot here on the Gold Coast!
Rock wall groynes that have changed the currents. Hi Rise buildings changing winds and affecting banks. The potential of flooding in the canal estates and the paranoia of beachfront property threatened by sand erosion.
These are all part of the problem driven by consultants and engineers who really don’t care about Kirra. I hate to admit it but the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper to a lesser extent is part of the ongoing problem but rather than be "consumed in a rear vision blame game" - a quote taken from Garrets terminology - it's time for a real change to the mode of operation and to find the remedy to fix the problem.
On one hand we have the necessary man made machinery for any future beach erosion but we need to pump sand selectively and try alternative methods like building sand dunes with spinifex grass that was part of the natural beach landscape when I grew up at Mermaid Beach, create eddies and inshore gutters to reshape the banks using less sand and create a more natural occurrence.
In other words minimize the impact, stop the fractional brawling and unite to somehow restore Kirra Point back to its former magic!
More details and another reminder will follow closer to the December 7th Rally Day.
- Andrew McKinnon
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| Kirra as it is today! |
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