Northern Rivers waterways & beaches clean up continues post-February and March 2022 flooding

ABC News, 24 June 2022:

Barges bring flood debris to the riverbank for waste sorting. (ABC North Coast: Bronwyn Herbert)

From caravans to water tanks, children's toys to surfboards, tonnes of rubbish have been removed from rivers in the far north of New South Wales as part of a mammoth clean-up of flood debris…..

2,600 cubic metres of waste is removed from the Tweed, Wilsons and Richmond rivers and Ballina beaches…..

EPA flood program manager Martin Puddey said the survey showed priority areas.

"We can use that to target areas or identify if something is really hazardous like a big drum filled with pesticides, water tanks, pieces of jetty and pontoons, stuff that is partially submerged and could be a navigational hazard…..

Specialist marine contractor Frankie Bryant said her team had been concentrating for the past month on the Wilsons River near Lismore, which was at the centre of the natural disaster.

Ms Bryant said the larger items were often easier to remove, while the most challenging was plastic waste entangled in trees on the riverbank.

"We can actually sometimes get stuck in little areas where you just find me up pulling small pieces of plastic," she said.

The rubbish is collected on smaller boats then moved to skip bins on barges.

Cranes then lift the skips onto trucks to be taken to a nearby waste facility.

Larger waste is collected with excavators that are floated around the river on barges.

Ms Bryant said there was a huge effort made to try and return items wherever possible.

"I kind of wish everyone engraved their name on every piece of furniture or equipment so we could get it back to them."

For contractor John Fletcher, it has been, at times, an emotional experience wading through personal items.

"It's finding people's bags of shopping still full with a docket inside, or finding a kid's school bag with all their books in it," he said.

The EPA expects it will take another two months to complete the clean up, including using sonar technology to detect large, hazardous items lodged on the riverbed.

"You can't see them," Mr Puddey said.

"They're a huge risk to navigation and people's safety."

 

Fewer people using Clarence Coast beaches in the wake of bushfires and COVID-19 travel restrictions

Clarence Valley Independent, 10 July 2020:

Bushfires and the COVID-19 lockdown have caused a 33% decline in visitors using Clarence Valley beaches. 

This significant decrease is consistent with other areas of New South Wales and is a result of severe bushfires in the spring and summer months affecting both tourist and local attendance which was then followed by COVID-19 travel restrictions and limitations on public gatherings. General manager, Ashley Lindsay explained, 

“Australian Lifeguard Service figures show that during the 2019/20 season there was a total of 119,034 visitors to Clarence Valley beaches this was a decrease of 60,838 compared with the previous season.” .....

During this lifeguard season there have been 14 rescues and 8758 preventative actions which demonstrates the importance of the service,” he said. 

Patrolled beaches include Bluff Beach (Iluka), Turners Beach, Main Beach and Pippi Beach in Yamba, as well as beaches in Brooms Head, Minnie Water and Wooli. In addition, a drone service has continued at Yamba providing critical data for the Department of Primary Industries regarding marine activity and surf conditions.

However, up and down the coast while bathers may be fewer in number surfers are still enjoying the waves.

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Sadly, just before 2.30pm on Saturday 11 July 2020, a young surfer was repeatedly attacked by what was believed to be a large white pointer shark at Wilsons Headland, Wooli Beach. Although his friends and other surfers pulled him from the water, the local boy died on the beach.

Clarence Valley Council, 12 July 20202:

A Sad Loss for Our Community 

JOINT STATEMENT FROM CR JIM SIMMONS AND GENERAL MANAGER ASHLEY LINDSAY REGARDING THE TRAGIC DEATH OF MANI HART-DEVILLE 

We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of this young man, Mani Hart-Deville. 

Minnie Water is a small close-knit village and the communities of Minnie Water and Wooli will be hurting. 

Those that came to Mani’s aid were local surfers who witnessed the attack and friends from the local community, with experienced lifesavers responding as well. We believe one was a life member of Yamba Surf Life Saving Club. 

Mani attended school at South Grafton High, so the impact of this tragic event will reach across the Clarence Valley. 

We will be doing all we can to support the community through the shock and grief. The beach was not patrolled at this time of year, but it and all beaches in the Clarence Valley Council area from Iluka to Wooli have been closed and attempts will be made, by the Surf Life Saving Service, to locate the shark over the coming days. 

On behalf of council we wish to express our deepest condolences to his family, friends and the community.

STATEMENT ENDS.

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Healthy surfing rules during COVID-19 pandemic

Surfing Australia, April 2020:

Surfing is fun, and a great way to get your daily exercise. It’s also non-contact and easily done by yourself whilst following the physical distancing rules, if we all adjust a few things together. 

EIGHT STEP SURFING ADVICE 

1. Surf the spot closest to your home ONLY. 

2. Wax up and prepare at home. Put on your wetsuit, boardies and other gear at home before driving to the beach. 

3. Follow physical distancing at all times coming and going to the beach. For example, if you have a narrow path to the beach wait an extra minute for it to clear before you walk down. 

4. Have a surf and leave immediately, don't chat with mates in the car park. Call them on your phone. 

5. If the surfing spot is overcrowded - don’t go out 6. 

Don’t paddle next to someone like you would normally. Give them more space. 

7. CRITICAL CHANGE – take it in turns. Do not paddle back over to the peak after catching a wave. Wait your turn patiently on the shoulder. 

8. Don’t change in the parking lot. Wrap your towel around yourself & go home. 

SPECIAL NOTE: Some beach closures have been a direct result of the public not making an effort to follow social distancing rules. Not all beaches are equal as it relates to observing social distancing rules and regulations. A local council's decision to close a beach is made up of multiple factors outside of 'surfing as exercise'. These decisions need to be respected by the surfing community.

Bad 4WD behaviour causing significant damage to the South Ballina Beach and its ecology

South Ballina Beach. Photo Ballina Beach Village in Echo NetDaily, 27 November 2018

The Northern Star, 25 May 2019, p.9:

Poor behaviour from some 4WD users have attracted the ire of Ballina Shire Council once again.

Councillor Sharon Cadwallader brought a motion before Thursday’s general meeting to further consult on what could be done to address the issue of some 4WDers putting wildlife and the dunes at risk on South Ballina and Seven Mile Beaches.

Richard Gates, who spoke to the council in support of the motion, said bad 4WD behaviour was causing “significant damage to the beach and its ecology”, evident in declining pied oystercatcher and pippie numbers. Cr Cadwallader welcomed extra patrols planned for both beaches next financial year, but said that wasn’t enough and suggested a permit system be added to South Ballina Beach, similar to the permit for Seven Mile Beach.

Councillors agreed the matter was complex in that the National Parks and Wildlife Service had care of South Ballina’s beach, and that a co-ordinated approach would be needed with the Richmond Valley Council to cover the entire beach to Evans Head.

“There’s got to be a concerted effort,” Cr Cadwallader said.

“We’re not just going to sit by and watch this beautiful beach of ours become desecrated.”

She showed her fellow councillors photos, taken on the weekend, of the southern beach trashed with rubbish including dumped tents and camping chairs.

Other images showed the dunes at Seven Mile Beach riddled with tyre marks.

Cr Ben Smith said the State Government was “very much aware” of the dilemma and pointed out it “didn’t really get much traction” in the lead up to the March state election, despite noise from the council.

Many councillors saw the need for action and Cr Cadwallader’s motion was carried unanimously.