South Coasts “Heavy Wave” Will Disappear With Airport Extension – clarification
This press release clarifies statements in our press release of January 8th regarding swell focussing
Photo courtesy of Daniel Harrison – Lord of the Dings (Youtube)
The Wellington Boardriders Club (WBC ) and the Surfbreak Protection Society (SPS) are both concerned about the loss of “Airport Rights,” a heavy wave at the end of the airport runway that will disappear if the airport extension goes ahead.
Airport Rights is part of the naturally existing reef system that has already been mostly reclaimed by the airport developments since 1959, says Wellington Boardriders spokesperson James Whitaker.
SPS spokesperson Mike Gunson agrees. “Unfortunately many surfers won’t surf Airport Rights because of rubble from the historical airport reclamation in the line up, that includes steel reinforcing rods.
As well as the loss of the surfbreak Both WBC and SPS are concerned that the lengthened runway will reduce the amount of surfable days at the corner due to swell refraction, especially from a south easterly direction as wave energy dissipates down the lengthened wall.
Both WBC and SPS say that this scenario would make waves on an already small day, unsurfable at the corner.
A study done in 2001 found that Lyall Bay only has approximately 27 quality surfing days a year, a swell shadow at the corner would reduce surfable days at the corner for learners and longboards.
The New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 lends protection to surfbreaks of National significance says Michael Gunson, and Board of Inquiry to the NZCPS recognised Lyall Bay as been a nationally significant nursery surfbreak.
Both WBC and SPS will be utilising the submission process for the extension as much as possible to ensure the best outcomes for Lyall Bay.
Environment Court mediation between SPS and Port Otago in 2013 resulted in the adoption of an adaptive management approach to the placement of dredging spoil within the swell corridor. So far, this process seems to have improved surf quality at Aramoana and maintained the quality of surf at Whareakeake, both nationally significant surfbreaks protected under NZCPS 2010.
With Lyall Bay, if there is to be a reduction of the swell corridor, something like artificial swell focusing may be a useful management tool to mitigate any losses and potentially enhance wave quality in the area – which could result in in a win/win situation for all concerned.
We would like our surf scientists to caucus with WIAL preferably before the formal consent process begins says Mike Gunson of SPS.
Both WBC and SPS state that they are not necessarily opposed to an airport extension, we just want the best outcome for surfing at Lyall Bay.
However both organisations find it a bit ironic that they are facing a submission process to protect our surfing heritage exactly 100 years since the father of modern surfing the legendary Duke Kahanamoku first surfed Lyall Bay.
ENDS.