Surfers rally to save surf break

Surfers joined forces on March 11 at Ettalong Beach in a rally to save the Little Box Head surf-break.

The event was held to inform surfers about a proposal to dredge the channel from Gosford to Little Box Head. It was organised by Central Coast Malibu Boardriders Club and supported by Surfing Central.

The dredging proposal was included in an Environmental Impact Study (EIS), submitted to Council following the recently-approved application for a Gosford to Circular Quay Super Shuttle Ferry service.

It proposes the dredging of a navigation channel 45 metres wide and 2.6 metres deep.

This channel would allow the ferries to navigate effectively around each other and allow them to travel through both the Gosford and Little Box Head areas.

After reading this proposal Brian Findlay, secretary of the Central Coast Boardriders Club, who was the main spokesman at the rally, said he was concerned for the future of Little Box Head.

Box Head is a famous local surf-break, renowned for being the longest left hand ride in the southern hemisphere. It is known as 'Box' in the surfing community.

At the rally Mr Findlay expressed his concerns to local surfers and their families who attended the rally.

He said he believed the dredging of the section of channel between Half Tide Rocks and Box could lead to sandbank destabilisation, which would alter the quality of the surf-break.

"I'm not against a fast ferry service from Gosford to Circular Quay, but I am against a ferry service that isn't ecologically sustainable."

Concerns were also voiced on the size of the ferry, proposed in the EIS as 450 metres long, with the capacity to carry 450 passengers.

Surfers were sceptical on the ferries' ability to manoeuvre around or even spot small watercraft and surfers in its path.

Mr Findlay said that a driver of the ferry would not even be aware if he hit somebody until he read it or heard it in the news the following day.

Mr Findlay urged surfers to write letters to the council and voice their concerns about the proposed dredging and for the need to protect this surfing treasure.

Public submissions to the council about the Gosford to Circular Quay Super Shuttle will close on Friday, March 17.

Amanda Jackson, March 14