Albany Artificial Reef Opened Today
Though it's already been ridable for a few months, today the ribbon was cut at Albany's artificial reef.
Politicians gathered to expound the virtues of said reef, and it's fair to say, the reef performs far better than expectations.
Swellnet will shortly run an interview with one of the engineers to explain how, to date, artificial reefs have underperformed and fallen apart, and yet now are creating the waves we were promised three decades ago.
Surfers of a certain vintage may recall the excitement generated by the initial burst of artificial reef research. Way back in the nineties, coastal scientists provided a response to problems such as increasing crowds or surf spot destruction: just build more reefs.
A lot of energy went into both the design of said reefs and clearing the many policy hurdles, yet despite good intentions every example either failed (Boscombe, Kovala, Mount Maunganui) or was underwhelming (Narrowneck).
To be fair, the reef at Narrowneck underwhelmed because its primary purpose was to halt erosion and surfing amenity was tacked onto the ambit late in the piece.
Soon enough, Webber and Slater entered the picture, the latter unveiling his pool in 2015 which precipitated a rush of tubs, and suddenly the notion of ‘artificial waves’ involved chlorine and plungers not sandbags and rock.
There are exceptions. Palm Beach Artificial Reef was unveiled in 2019, and despite also being designed to halt erosion, more emphasis was placed on surfing and the decision paid off with good waves.
More recently, footage began seeping out of Albany, Western Australia, showing great surf on the newly constructed reef. Albany’s reef is unique in that its sole and primary purpose is surfing. Unlike Narrowneck or Palm Beach, the success of Albany is judged by wave quality and nothing else.
The campaign for a reef at Albany began way back in the nineties during that first wave of interest in artificial reefs.
“I came back to Albany in 1990," Peter Bolt, one of the reef’s long-time advocates, told the ABC. "And we started working on a feasibility study for the artificial surf reef at Middleton Beach.”
"We just felt that's where we needed the juniors to have something decent to surf…in town where they can get access to it."
When enthusiasm turned to wavepools, the crew at Albany maintained their vision for a reef. Their lobbying paid off when, in 2017, political horse trading saw both major parties at state level pledge $5 million towards the reef.
That action saw other entities: the local council, the local quarry, also pledge their help. Perhaps more critically, coastal engineers Bluecoast were contracted to do investigative work, providing the first concrete step towards reality.
The final break came in 2022 when the federal parties came on board, both pledging $5 million to get the reef over the line.
In quick time, expressions of interest were sought, tenders were called and contracts were signed to do the heavy lifting of transporting 70,000 tonnes of rock out to the location.
Construction work at Middleton Beach in April this year
Beginning earlier this year, a specialist marine engineering crew from New Zealand spent close to six months in Albany building the wave. The process involved precision geospatial equipment to spread three graded layers of granite rock.
Unlike wavepools, which create wave shape by controlling the incoming wave energy - how it's timed, how it's staggered - the success of artificial reefs rests solely on bottom shape. The long history of artificial reefs created little optimism that Albany would be any different.
Yet something is very different at Albany.
Research has progressed markedly since the nineties and artificial reefs are no longer geotextile bags dropped haphazardly. Every example of a geotextile reef has failed due to the bags splitting, shifting, or settling.
"So,” says Peter Bolt of Albany’s long gestation period, “it was not bad timing in some ways, looking back in hindsight."
Stay tuned for a longer interview.
Comments
Build it and they will come.
so they didn't design it to be surfed both ways ?...bit silly if they didnt
That’s what I was thinking.
Why? Seems strange, even illogical.
Middleton in SA could do with a few
Can you imagine!
Definitely!!
Cost mainly, left because it could be seen from the surf club
...and offshore in prevailing winds too.
...and goofy footers are a superior breed.
Damn, that looks fun.
Lets get these things rolled out.
It’s sick fun FR.
Less than 5 minutes from the driveway.
Getting bang for your buck there Soggy.
How's the vibe?
Vibes are good Zen, bit crowded on forecast solid swells. 7 people in the water this afternoon. We all know each other. Had about 3-4 sessions like that.
Looking for a cheap bike so I’m warmed up when I get there.
Denners tip shop SD. Got my last one there for $15 bucks and it was all intact, solid, does the trick.
Does the wave differ much from what they modelled?
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/worldtoday/artificial-reef-trans…
From the multiple videos and images I've seen coming from the area, it looks like a proper win.
I hope it holds its shape and power into the future.
Amazing to see how many days it is already breaking as well. It looks like Middleton seem to funnel in swell from the Southern Ocean due to local bathymetry?
It definitely picks up that longer period energy from around the corner. Be interesting to see how it breaks in the summer S/SE wind swells. Probably be pretty fun and rippable.
This is the best news in surfing since Dale Velzy's Moustache!
Iv always wondered why we don’t load barges up with big boulders and drop them off in the surf zones more often. Then top with little round cobble stones…
Expensive but who cares you have idiots on land too!
John Calhoun will be able to exploit it I mean publish it in Vol 2 of his self written autobiography
Now for the Mornington peninsula!
Now for all of Perth
Absolutely, however I think Surf Beach at Secret Harbour should be first cab off the rank. Picks up most swell in the metro area, sandbanks have gotten progressively worse for the past 25 years. (culminating in this years "worst ever autumn/winter").
Haha metro area but you are right, it is now. Certainly picks up the most swell and you are right about the sand, same as Perth. Pre Secret Harbour, we used to get some reasonable/good waves on its day.
Gonna need more than 70,000 tons of granite on the Mornington, the scale and wave action on the exposed side is huge. And will need a flat spell to put the rock in place.
Epic win for Albany btw, Middleton is a such a nice location and it's a big bonus in wave shape.
The backdrop is stunning!
Back in the 60's and early 70"s, the family had an asbestos holiday shack in Middleton looking out on the bay.
Plenty of Granite at Hillview Quarries at Arthurs seat and yes would take the proverbial shed load to make it stand up to the exposure it gets to swell and the crowds from melbourne would be hectic, plus those on the ferry from the west coast. Be awesome though 10' days many times a year and bigger. There are a few reefs that just need a bit more rock and the wave is ready to go when it is big.
Apollo Bay needs one of these
It's more exciting than wavepools, if someone can phd this whole process detailing financial benefits to this small city, the potential for more and better versions in the future is encouraging.
As has been written above, Perth, Middleton, Dunsborough in the SW, so many options.
Stoked it worked out for that crew and also thankful to them for proving it can work. I reckon it'll pay off big time.
There is obviously a big initial cost, and there may be some maintenance required, but beyond that it's free to run with zero
emissions.
More please!
Stoked it worked out for that crew and also thankful to them for proving it can work. I reckon it'll pay off big time.
There is obviously a big initial cost, and there may be some maintenance required, but beyond that it's free to run with zero
emissions.
More please!
I'd like to see 20 of these fun lefts (which would be side-offshore in S'ly conditions) between North Kirra and Currumbin surf clubs.
That would do so much to alleviate crowding on the Gold Coast.
Surely they can get a bulk discount to do a heap of them?
Should assist in those two swells you get a year lol
Someone has been day drinking again
Hey once a decade the get 3 :)
Should assist in those two swells you get a year lol
How about Belongil to Bruns?
Granite or bluestone handy locally?
we need a few here at the locals in Tasmania.
Wonder what the final cost was and what it would be without government grants. Could use about 20 of them up here too. Interested to see how it ages and any maintenance required to keep it good over the years.
On flat days the fishing would improve too.
Win/Win.
huh, nice one. snorkeling, too.. good destination for kids with goggles distance-wise from the beach.
Yes that would make the Noahs happy!
Sat off the back of the Barge towards the Cove while it was working Zen, squid and KG’s where still biting.
Considering there is probably billions of dollars of property at risk from Cyclones along the Gold Coast, a dozen or so surfing reefs to protect them for a few tens of millions of dollars seems like a pretty cheap price to pay.
Growing south of the river in Perth and being absolutely wave starved for most of the year, the rare days that the artificial reef at cables would come to life were easily the highlight of the year. The right gets proper good and hollow on its day, but unfortunately they just built it in the wrong spot.
I think artificial reefs are a much better proposition for most of the general surfing public over wave pools, the only problem being that they can’t be monetised in the same way.
Artificial reefs just need to shift their marketing strategy to focus on protecting wealthy coastal home owners who’s McMansions are slowly falling into the ocean. Make them the primary demographic and they’ll start popping up everywhere. Belongil in Byron would be perfect for a few.
Brilliant,that is so fucking true. They would be future-proofing their properties which are currently looking less desirable at this point in time. So they would be certainly value-adding.
"Artificial reefs just need to shift their marketing strategy".
Worth pointing out that coastal engineering firms don't typically have a marketing department.
Yeah they are hard core engineers and scientists, if you know any they are a long way from Real Estate Agents.
Just saying, maybe that’s the problem?
First of all, you gotta ask the question - who are they selling to?
Generally speaking, Councils. And maybe State Governments might be asked to chip in some bucks.
With price tags over $20m and multi-year timelines required to undertake all of the EIAs and other scientific studies, marketing fluff doesn't really get these kinds of projects over the line.
Here's a good example of someone with a good marketing department, and fuck-all else. Scored $15m from the Qld Govt.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-14/qld-liquidators-probe-cryptoloc-…
(so yeah, perhaps I'm contradicting myself.. marketing definitely got this guy over the line... however I know a lot of coastal engineers, and they're nothing like this bloke... and that's a good thing).
Not knocking on the engineers and other blokes behind these projects, I’d love to see them get more reefs dotted up and down the east coast. Just saying the councils and state governments mostly act in the best interests of the wealthy, and maybe by emphasising property protection from erosion, a few more might pop up.
Gender stereotype.
Great looking Setup
Soggy any Plans in Place of what the Fck to do when GWS Visits ...Surfers sitting a long way Offshore
https://www.albanyadvertiser.com.au/news/albany-advertiser/five-metre-g…
All Tightly Bunch together ?
Applies to the whole WA south coast hardy crew down that way, bloke already bitten at Middleton met the lady that swam out and brought him in she was next level.
Hey Udo, just got home from a big session.
It’s shallow, shallow enough to catch your fins/board spinning for a wave of you are in the wrong spot. Got a few holes and dinged up the fins today.
I got bounced on the bottom, one of my mates got a solid bounce too. Visitor had a good face injury yesterday. The rocks are sharp, feet are pretty cut up.
It’ll give you a decent hold down, not climbing the leash( not enough water for tombstoning). But a decent hold down no doubt. ( Glad I’ve given the weed a bit of a hiatus lately)
And yes, eventually there’ll be a GWS encounter.
But today it was the cold, the steps in the face and the occasional tricky take off. That was the focus of attention. Which was odd as there wasn’t a lot of tidal movement today.
I’ve been surfing low tide and had a couple of epic sessions. But the rocks do become exposed. There is a small take off area.
It’s not a beginner wave. There are dangers. But it’s pretty fucking epic when you get a good one. Grew up here so scoring with the local crew has been epic.
Trying not to think about sharks.
Does it run fat into the beach or just kind of fade after the slabby takeoff?
Any inside beachy wedges forming?
You can hit the close out section at the end of you get one that links up Craig. There has been a left bank setting up on the eastern side that’s seen some action and some barrels on the right conditions and on smaller days the inside banks are more reliable than they have ever been. It’ll be interesting to see what happens in summer with the short period east swell ls
Awesome, thanks SD. Win, win all around.
Can also see how shallow it is here. Last photo. Rock ledge.
I wonder if any foundation work was done or if rock just dropped on sand. How deep is sand until some sort of bedrock? Will it settle further losing the slabby nature? Any info locals?
Surfed with the engineers yesterday Seeds, too busy hooting and calling each other in. Maybe a question for Stu’s interview with them.
A couple of rocks rolled over would be good, getting pinballed was a strong topic of discussion in the water.
There’s 3 layers of different sized rocks. Base layer shaping layer and armour layer. Small to large respectively.
ooff.... do they call that water lever the crimson tide?
How would you be paddling into the next one......has to mess with you
Perfect foil chip in on that right.
These things need to become an integral part of any coastal management strategy
So many benefits Number one is beach erosion protection They won’t solve it completely but Geezuz they can make a big difference Fish breeding habitat Diving and snorkeling zones And obviously, hopefully, pumping waves Once they start rolling out, it will be game on
Yeah MM, surely worth a shot as it cant be any worse than what they are doing at the moment...Collaroy, DY, Wamberal, The Entrance, etc.....all of which have long stretches that may benefit from a little structure out the back..
Hopefully it wont sink......and change shape too much but for the money spent its probably a win win for property owners and surfers if a few were put along the coast in certain hot spots for erosion as FR said above, the goldy would be prime for it...
Kimbriki has that much recycled concrete.. just tip it of every headland from Manly to Palmy..
Yes please. Some off DY to break up the Southerly straighthanders and Collaroy needs something better than the hideous backwash wall they put in..
Albany has got a history of being progressive in the surf/skate space. In 2016 I was involved in the 40th anniversary celebration of 'the Snake Run' held as part of the Perth International Arts Festival. I recorded all the oral histories with the original crew who built the park (as teenagers) . The Snake Run is recognised as the oldest skate park in the southern hemisphere if not the world (there's some debate re the northern hemisphere it may be 2nd oldest...). It was heritage listed at the event. 'In 1975, a group of Albany High School students joined forces and raised $3,000 to fund a local skate run. Inspired by their efforts, the Albany Town Council and many community members got behind the group, and in January 1976 constructed the world's first community funded skate track now known as 'the Snake Run'.' Its built it on the side of hill and shaped it so you could surf it like a wave. It's enormous fun to skate but notoriously gnarly if you slam because the concrete is so rough. When you skate it you can feel the concrete moving under your board like it's alive. Congrats to the Albany crew and local community for their initiative on the reef. Let's get some made in Perth! Here's a link to a compilation of the interviews if you are interested:
https://on.soundcloud.com/wtzr2gryB3vpCZY3Tx
haha there was definitely some backlash on the Albany community facebook page. Strangely they've gone silent now.
The wave is awesome. On solid days, long period swells the sets draw a lot of water off the reef as they come in. The take-off is sucky you're looking down at granite boulders gurgling. Sometimes sticking out of the water as you bottom hand turn around them. If you get pitched there's a chance, you'll be pin balled through granite boulders. A few crew have underestimated it. There's been a number of injuries broken bones, gashes, concussion. There's a hardy crew on it.
sue the council....that would be funny.......after all that
To be honest, I think this is a game changer and we now know longer need the erosion prevention as justification to fund and build these.
These can now be built as community recreation assets like skate parks and footy fields and swimming pools.
Assets that are justified from the economic, and wellbeing benefit they provide to the community.
Say they built 10 or 20 on that Tugun stretch.
Every reef will develop it's own little economic hub with cafes and what have you.
For mine they are much more suited for urban areas, than say the Belongil/Bruns stretch- just because it would be easier to justify the funding.
Hopefully they will start popping up like roundabouts.
And also a better economic model than a wave pool.
Hopefully that realisation will drop sooner rather than later.
Albany has what it ,s always needed, a reef!
Bunbury should be next
Artificial surf reef info SURFING REEF DESIGNS
Will load these as is...but doubt many links will work...or for some with subscriptions...
Recent review > Council Sites are the first to lose their links...see how we go...
Albany Artificial Reef
truebluebasher WEDNESDAY, 1 JAN 2020
* Indicates (Link is still operable on this date 17th July 2025)
Middleton beach Surf Reef Albany (re: swellnet 2015 Coastal Creationism 2)
* https://www.swellnet.com/news/coastal-creationism/2015/10/26/coastal-cr…
23.Oct 2019 Tender > 13 Dec 2919 Tender awarded for Middleton Surf Reef.
($9.5m ) State Govt - $5m > City of Albany $500k for planning.
* https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2019/12/Tender-award...(Possible back link)
News
* https://www.albanyadvertiser.com.au/news/albany-advertiser/middleton-be…
EIA
* https://www.epa.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/Referral_Documentation/En…
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truebluebasher SATURDAY, 29 FEB 2020
City of Albany Artificial Surf Reef
Albany have thoughtfully & proudly detailed - { ASR Menu Page }.
* Indicates (Link is still operable on this date 17 July 2025)
City of Albany > Scroll >>>[ Council ] > Current Projects > Albany ASR
https://www.albany.wa.gov.au/council/projects/live-projects.aspx
Amazing South Coast Surf Reef
https://www.albany.wa.gov.au/documents/292/amazing-south-coast-surf-reef
* City of Albany ASR Feasibility Survey
https://www.albany.wa.gov.au/documents/293/city-of-albany-artificial-su…
* Albany ASR Feasibility Study- Executive Summary
https://www.albany.wa.gov.au/documents/294/albany-artificial-surfing-re…
ASR Business Case Executive Summary
https://www.albany.wa.gov.au/documents/295/artificial-reef-business-case...
Albany ASR Current Media Release + Tender (Awarded)
https://www.albany.wa.gov.au/council/projects/live-projects.aspx
* https://www.albany.wa.gov.au/news/city-awards-tender-for-surf-reef-deta…
* Additional: Recent install of Swimming enclosure on same Middleton beach
https://www.albany.wa.gov.au/council/projects/completed-projects.aspx
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* https://raisedwaterresearch.com/spot/artificial-reef/australia/western-…
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Albany surfing reef
9th Feb 2024 > 16th July 2025
* https://www.swellnet.com/forums/surfing-reef-designs/578435
Continues here this feature...
This looks great in the right setting but Queensland beach breaks ain't it I don't reckon. Or any long stretch beach on the east coast.
This a total NIMBY situation but where I am, on the sunny coast, I'd hate for the local stretch of sand to be dotted with these things. Part of the skill of getting uncrowded waves around here is keeping an eye on things and knowing where there's sand for when some waves appear. If suddenly that was known to all, you can kiss goodbye the chance of uncrowded waves.
I've had heaps of solo surfs up here this year and I for one don't want to lose that. If I wanted crowds I'd surf one of the many points within 30-40 mins drive.
I also don't understand the need for them on the GC. I'm gonna make a guess that 80+% of the waves there are mid period trade swell. The long period stuff that closes out the beaches are not the main source of waves. To mess with the sand flow and locals' chances of sneaking low crowds on a bank for a while, all so that there's something to surf during the minority of swell conditions seems out of whack to me.
And building these to ease crowds? Seems like folly. Transport studies have shown time and time again that adding lanes to a road doesn't solve traffic problems for very long. It quickly reverts to the same traffic jams. On the GC, these would just become new hubs of crowded surf I reckon. Over time more surfers will arrive, rather than distributing the same number across more spots for ever.
I don't know the solution to crowds but I don't think this is it.
In a place with a curved bay or one that's inside multiple points that is almost always a close out (eg Noosa main beach, Apollo Bay in Vic I think), I see the value for waves.
Although if Noosa had one, I suspect it might make the beach less safe for swimming because of the rips and banks that would emerge, thereby reducing the value as a safe destination for rich families. I couldn't see the surfers winning that particular economic argument.
As an example, imagine another 10-20 Anns dotted along the whole coast. It's long since overcrowded but thanks to that you can get Cockys with a few/alone when both are on. I reckon it would make the beachies emptier up here if anything.
Yeah maybe so. One worry is that the refraction effect of a reef like that would affect the nearby sand for the worse. So if we had heaps of them dotted along, I worry they'd reduce the potential for the beachies.
Take Ann St, when I used to live down that way, there was rarely a good wave between there and the surf club, and it took a good couple of hundred metres north before a bank formed as well. But I haven't lived down that way over the last 15 years so don't know it very well anymore.
And to be honest I haven't had great surfs at Ann. The only memorable session I had there was laced with guilt because it was at dawn on the 25th of April with no one out!
But yeah I think the main worry I have is if they put in a series of reefs along this stretch, it would draw attention to the area for people from Brisbane and elsewhere and I'd rather it stay quiet.
Cockys....I've not heard that name so not sure what wave you mean down there.
Maybe the next little beach south- play on words?
I had one of the most insane seshes at Ann St. many years ago- everything came together that day, surfed for 6 hours straight.
Never repeated that day before or since.
I disagree on almost all points there Benskii.
Adding these to open beaches will not take away your uncrowded sessions on normal banks- probably add to it if anything because even less people will be willing to scout around if they know they have a reliable wave to go to.
They build one at Coolum, one at Peregian you still have miles and miles of open beach break between there and Sunshine beach.
And anyone who just wants a quick and reliable surf will head to the reefs not spend hours scouting beachies looking for a bank.
As for the Goldy beaches- particularly that North Kirra/Tugun stretch. Most of the time, even in E'ly tradeswells it's 90% closeouts- it's just so straight.
Those tradeswells are the exact swells you want to build it for.
To add rideable waves where they are now closeouts and you have easy access points via a coastal esplanade.
And if there are enough of them instead of every man and his dog heading to the Points you'll have a significant number of people diverted into other spots.
I agree that crowds increase over time but adding more reliable surf spots, by sheer mathematics, has to offer more options for these crowds and distribute the numbers.
Also disagree about building them inside bays like Noosa.
I was just there on Tues.
Lovely little banks had built up off the groynes there and adjacent to the Bar.
I don't think there is any need to put AR in such a sheltered position.
And when there is swell you have 5 points breaking.
Yep I see what you mean freeride. I haven't surfed the Tugun stretch too much but have had some fun waves there, but I see what you're saying if it's closing out in trade swell too.
I don't live up that way but one and Coolum and one at Peregian is not what I was thinking when you said, let's hope they pop up like roundabouts. Two in a 10km stretch is a different proposition and wouldn't bother me too much, so long as it wasn't at "my" stretch of sand!
I had forgotten about the groynes, which is weird cos I had a few fun surfs there over the years.
As for the numbers, what I mean is that the reefs themselves would max out with people pretty quickly and the crowds at the points would remain. They might distribute the existing numbers for a short while, but over time, I reckon the traffic effect with new highways would play out and we'd have more numbers and therefore the crowd reduction effect would disappear. No way to know that for sure without trying it, but I really don't think it would help with crowds for long.
I'd say the best thing for crowds will be to build more footy stadiums, have heaps of free beer events, ice cream for everyone, push the benefits of a sedentary lifestyle. Life, be out of it. Celebrate Norm!
Thinking about the long term ROI on this @ 20Mn vs that of Olympics with scores of billions spent for a 2 week event and economic hangover after, a la Athens...
Re: the marketing, found this, from the council:
With those stats, build them everywhere.
Gold Coast already has one (not narrowneck) i've never surfed it but from the reports i've heard its a fun wave.
Pretty awesome win for the locals. The wave looks fun but I was expecting a perfect bingin type wave, not sure why. It looks like a half slab, half running wave? Like you could back door the takeoff (if you have the skill!) but there's no real deep barrel?
Hard to say given I've watched about 40 seconds of footage with some dude not even doing any turns on it.
Still, what a win for the locals and hopefully for the rest of Australia as time goes on! So much potential on the east coast to improve existing points/bommies or build a stand alone wave like that.
They're always banging on about 'the economic benefits' of surfing. Well, build it and they will come!
Also living near a breakwall, I'm constantly amazed by how much they achieved with just human labour! In this day and age I find it hard to believe we can't match what we achieved with fucking convict labour given all the machinery, engineering and energy at our disposal.
Obviously you could say the same about any famous wave in the world. Not everyday has 4 m swells. I’d love to see it this weekend, big swells apparently. But I’m all for it. I do wonder how it would work on proper beachies though. Albany isn’t a straight line of coast.
Looking at the shape, quality and performance at different sizes it offers everything. A classic left, reef-rip bowl face to carve into by the looks of the video.
And a stones throw from a pretty nice looking golf course. Surf in the morning and a lazy round in the arvo. Could think of a worse way to spend a day.
How are the rocks anchored or secured? What stops a big swell from dislodging them?
Weight ? Same method that’s used to protect houses from behind eroded , ie breakwalls ? Same as rock jetties etc ? Only guessing, hence older methods didn’t work.
5 1/2 metre swell on the open side right now but the reefs not even breaking this morning.
Consistency was always going to b a problem stuck deep inside a bay.
I reckon it’s paid for itself already. As a feasible wave it’s put Albany as a stopover at least. It’s a great spot, but I’ve never bothered to surf there. Imagine 20 more along that coastal region? Spread the crowds ~ and despite the initial cost, most of the cost of R&D has been done. Maybe a few tweaks for different locations, now it’s just dumping boulders in a calculated manner. I’d always spend a few extra days , as a tourist, if I knew I might get a few days surfing in, as opposed to a Quick Looky look.
So stoked to see it’s been proven to work.
Up the Dog Rock!!
I checked it Sat morning and arvo when down there watching my son play footy. Probably should have gone out in the morning when the tide was higher but maybe it was the swell size not being that big, it didn't seem to be breaking very well, quite full and inconsistent. Funny because there were some decent closeouts on the beachies either side. Checked it early arvo and the tide had dropped, the sets had lots of boils and the low tide seemed to be affecting it a lot. Maybe just my luck that I got it on the wrong day. Not to mention it was farkin frigid, definitely need a 4/3. Will have to check it again when down there because some of the vids I've seen make it look pretty good.
All respect to the Albany surfing community, and City of Albany Council for the huge effort in making the Midds reef a reality. Overall, it looks like a decent wave. However, reports of injuries from the reef are alarming-
From Soggydog - “a visitor had a good face injury”, “rocks are sharp, feet are pretty cut up”, “getting pinballed”.
From Baldhead - “granite boulders…sometimes sticking out of the water”, “there’s been a number of injuries- broken bones, gashes, concussion”.
Broken bones! Crikey, the reef has only just opened. The potential for far more serious injuries seems high.
When we go surfing we take on nature and expect to have injuries from time to time. I’ve had my share of coral cuts, stitches, and broken bone.
But an artificial surfing reef is different, it’s a purpose designed public recreation facility managed by the Local Council, in just the same way as a playground, skate park, or bingo hall for that matter.
I’ve spent a lifetime involved in the planning, detail design, construction, and maintenance of public recreation facilities, and public safety is the number one priority.
Facilities managers have a responsibility to identify possible safety risks, assess the likelihood of them occurring, and to either eliminate the risk, or mitigate the risk in some way.
These are the sort of details that are looked at closely if it comes to assessing any liability.
For the Palm Beach artificial reef, also built using rocks, Gold Coast City Council mitigated the risk of injury by lowering the level of the reef i.e. deeper water over the rocks.
Surfing reefs have to be relatively shallow to work well, but sharp rock just under the surface (reports of some rock even being exposed) in the take-off zone, and uncontrolled dimensions of gaps between the top layer of rocks, and moving rocks (reports of sounds of rocks moving as waves pass over the reef) potentially creating entrapment points, I believe are both unacceptable safety hazards.
The impetus is now out there now to create more reefs, but before rushing into anything, can artificial surfing reefs be made safer and better?
Quoting Stu -“the success of artificial reefs rests solely on bottom shape”. Stu is almost 100% correct. The best quality wave possible requires an accurate bottom shape, but also set at the correct level.
As reported in the posts, dodging exposed rock in a bottom turn, steps in the wave face, exposed rock ledge (pic from Craig) - these are all indications of an inaccurate bottom shape. Rocks can also settle and subside over time.
A perfect bottom shape set at the perfect level is only possible by using a prefabricated reef form built onshore (shipyard) and transported to site (floated) and installed (controlled submergence onto pre-installed footings).
The offshore construction industry uses materials for such structures which can have a safe working life in excess of 100 years.
100% accurate shape and level, no subsidence, no settlement, no sharp edges, no possible entrapment points, no parts exposed, as safe as possible, perfect wave shape, faster install (less at-sea time required), cleaner (no silt plume), and possibly less expensive.
See my Offshore Surf Reefs concept, www.offshoresurfreefs.com
Certainly a decent looking wave at the moment and for everyone's sake I hope it stays that way!
However I gather its founded on sand, within a sandy embayment. I presume (indeed hope!) there would have been sediment transport modelling, and I'd be interested to know what that spat out. Anyone here able to comment on the modelling?
Will the adjacent seabed profile more or less not change (unlikely I would've thought), or...?
Cheers