Above, One last shot of the edge of Big Rock at Brighton with the rising full moon.

Rubble and rock from quarry spill overflow and scour the side of the headland, covering the spectacular columnar volcanic features and rare dwarfed native scrub. This area is protected by the 1991 covenant, where spill must not cover and destroy the natural rock formations and affect the vegetation.

A team of American pros including Mark Losness were commanding the channel kept in check by our own Danny Carse. Style was all around even on the Esplanade Drive.

The AEE (Assessment of Environmental Effects) states that there will be no more than minor or unchanged on the surfing wave environment along the North Coast (see excerpt below)
... these conclusions are based on monitoring reports for the AO dump site 6.3ks out to see in 27 meteres of water.
One of the resource consent applications is a 'change of conditions of the current consent' to be changed from deposition of spoil from maintenance dredging to deposition of spoil from the capitol dredging from the proposed Next Generation Project of deepening the harbour shipping channel and widening the turning bay at Port Chalmers.
The current consent allows spoil from maintenance dredging up to 450,000 cubic metres per year to be disposed of at these three near shore sites.
The Aramoana Beach dump site has played an integral part in the wave quality at Aramoana since dumping began there in 1985. The spoil mound is reported (Kilpatrick 2005) to have contributed to the world class waves, although the effects of ongoing dumping in the area are unknown and potentially detrimental. (Kirk 2003) noted significant retention of spoil at Aramoana, 60% of the spoil does NOT disperse into the greater marine environment. The spoil mound is growing, surfers feedback and experiences report wave quality is already being compromised. When was it last good at Aramoana?

Once the resource consents are granted the Next Generation Project will begin the capitol dredge work with the two smaller dredges owned by Port Otago, the New Era and the Vulcan. Operation of these dredges will be stepped up to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week deepening the inner harbour and depositing spoil at the three current dump sites (this is the change of condition of the current consents). Volumes are 450,000 cubic metres a year of which 200,000 m³ a year at Aramoana, 200,000m³ at Heywards Point (inclucing rock blasted from the inner harbour) and 50,000m³ at Shelley Beach. Over the last 5 years only 50,000m³ in total has been deposited at the Aramoana site. (see graph at left of the total spoil deposited at the three sites since 1985)
These two dredges are not equipped to travel the 6.3ks out to sea to the AO site on a consistent enough and financially viable basis to carry out the massive movement of 7.2 million cubic metres of silt, sand and rock from the deepening of the harbour shipping channel.

The major issue is this:
The large contract dredge from overseas WILL NOT BE CONTRACTED to dump at the AO site until the large shipping companies actually give the go ahead for their ships to come to Port Otago. This all depends on the Global Economy and suitability of Port Otago as a financially viable destination, these vists are said to be decided in the next 2-10 years. There is no legal contract for these large ships to even come to Port Otago yet.
So we are looking at 2-10 years of full capacity dumping of spoil for this project at the near shore Existing Disposal Sites, with a smaller amount at AO until this decision is made.

Can the North Coast Surfbreaks sustain this volume of matter in their swell corridors?
We would like you to submit on these consent applications your concerns over the stepped up operation volumes. Remember studies show the spoil mound at Aramoana is accumulating, shifting and causing mounding of waves already over the dump site breaking at times in just 5-7 metres of water taking energy out of the swell and affecting wave refraction and direction.

We can request in our submissions that regular ongoing monitoring specific to surfing wave environment and quality be carried out immediately by qualified specialists in the surfing wave environment, and during the entire Next Generation Project. If any compromise is recorded, then the consents be reviewed, altered or ceased.
Due to the potential contaminant content of the spoil, and the water turbidity created from dispersal of matter in the surfing and swimming environment, please also request regular monitoring of water quality (such as is carried out at St Clair).
Also report your experiences surfing at these breaks, especially Aramoana, and how you feel the wave quality has changed over the years.


Policy 18 NZ Coastal Policy Statement
Protection of Surf Breaks of National Significance
The NZ Coastal Policy Statement (NZCPS) has been under review in recent years, and the new working papers are out. Many Regional Councils around New Zealand are already adopting and applying this new NZCPS.
These Port Otago resource consent applications need to accommodate the conditions and guidelines laid out in the NZCPS, along with the Regional Policy Statement which is modelled on the NZCPS.
Aramoana and Murderers and Karitane, three North Coast surf breaks in the affected area of these consents are listed amoung only twenty Surfbreaks of National significance recognised nationwide in Policy 18 Download and view here.

I believe that the Otago Regional Council needs to recognise the national and international value of these surfbreaks, the economic impact from tourism and student university choice on the Otago economy. The ORC need to protect the delicate bathymetric conditions that are required for them to exist, by ensuring they are not destroyed by inappropriate development such has the possibility of the Port Otago Next Generation Project.



How to prepare a submission on a resource consent application

Use the front page of Submission Form 13. (Copy attached).

• This has the name of the Applicant – Port Otago Ltd already on it.

• Add your name, full postal address and contact telephone number

• Don’t forget to add your signature and the date you sign

• If there is anything in the application you oppose – tick the oppose box

• Tick the box saying you wish to be heard. The hearing committee is likely

to give greater weight to your submission. If you change your mind about

wanting to be heard at a later date there is no particular issue with this.

• Tick the yes box if others making a similar submission. You will gain points

with the Council if you indicate a willingness to collaborate with other submitters raising a similar point.

On a supporting page you must cover the following points:

Identify who you are and why you are writing (eg I have been a surfer in Dunedin for 'so many years'). Clearly indicate which specific parts of the application you are concerned with. If you are concerned with the whole application you can say the application in its entirety. If you are concerned with only part, describe that part. Eg the part that relates to ‘monitoring of wave and water quality along the affected breaks at ...

My submission is : State whether you support or oppose the whole or specific parts of the application as identified above. eg I support the application in its entirety or I oppose the application in its entirety or I oppose the part of the application which seeks consent to ...

Set out clearly the reasons for your support or opposition

Eg Are there any negative effects that the proposal will have on you and what are the implications of this for you. If there are adverse effects has there been adequate consideration of alternatives by the applicant. Suggest practical solutions. Is the application consistent with Regional policy and the district plan

Be as concise and as logical as possible. Don’t use emotive language, don’t ramble in your argument. Use headings with short paragraphs or bullet points. Build up your case clearly. Be factual and objective.

What decision you would like the consent authority to make eg I only approve the application if the following condition is imposed. Or I decline the application in its entirety.

MORE INFORMATION

Port Otago Next Generation Project website

with all the reports and monitoring studies here

Consent Applications and

Assesment of Environmental Effects (AEE Report) here

_________________________

Submission Form 13
File No: 2010.193

This is a Submission on publicly notified resource consent applications pursuant to the Resource Management Act 1991.

Applicant Details:

Name of Applicant: Port Otago Limited
Application Numbers: }
Type and Description of Applications: }
Locations: } See Appendix One
Legal Descriptions: }
NZMS 260 Map References: }

Submitter Details:
(please print clearly)

Full Name/s

Full Postal Address: Post Code:

(please tick your preferred Daytime contact number)

Work Ph:
Home Ph:
Mobile Ph:



Signature/s of submitter/s (or person authorised (Date)
to sign on behalf of submitter/s)

Please tick one of the following submission types regarding the applications,
Do you:
Support
Neutral
Oppose

Do you:
Wish to be heard
Not wish to be heard
in support of my/our submission.

If others make a similar submission, I/we will consider presenting a joint case with them at a hearing.
Yes
No
PTO

The specific parts of the applications that my submission relates to are:
(Give details)






My/Our submission is
(the reasons for your views, use a separate sheet if necessary)





I/We seek the following decision from the consent authority
(give precise details, including the general nature of any conditions sought)



Date submissions close: 5pm on Friday 13 August 2010

A copy of your submission must be served on the applicant as soon as reasonably practicable after the service of your submission on the Otago Regional Council

Address for Otago Regional Council:
Otago Regional Council, Private Bag 1954, Dunedin, 9054
Address for Applicant:
Port Otago Limited, PO Box 8, Port Chalmers 9050. Attention: Lincoln Coe

Appendix One

Application No: 2010.193 – Coastal Permit – Restricted Coastal Activity
To disturb and remove up to 7.2 million cubic metres of dredge material from the foreshore and seabed for the upgrading of the Lower Harbour Channel, Port Chalmers swinging and berthing areas to a maximum design depth of 17.5 m.

Application No: 2010.194 – Coastal Permit – Restricted Coastal Activity
To disturb and remove natural material from the foreshore and seabed for the ongoing maintenance dredging of the Lower Harbour Channel, Port Chalmers swinging and berthing areas to a maximum design depth of 17.5 m.

Application No: 2010.195 – Coastal Permit
To discharge decant water and all associated contaminants from the channel upgrading dredging operation.

Application No: 2010.196 – Coastal Permit
To discharge decant water and all associated contaminants from the ongoing maintenance dredging operation.

Otago Harbour Dredging
Purpose: Upgrade the lower harbour channel, swinging area and Port Chalmers berths.
Location: Harbour entrance channel from the landfall tower approximately 2.4 kilometres north of Taiaroa Head to the Port Chalmers swinging basin.
Map Reference: Between approximately NZMS 260 J44:331- 928 and I44:257-855
Chart Reference: Between approximately NZ661 & NZ6612 45º45.07’S 170º43.61’E and 45º48.82’S 170º37.87’E
Legal description: Crown Land Sea bed
Otago Harbour
Bed of Otago Harbour DP 3904
Sec 52 Blk I Lower Harbour West SD

Application No: 2010.198 – Coastal Permit – Restricted Coastal Activity
To deposit up to 7.2 million cubic metres of dredge material sourced from the channel upgrading works and maintenance dredging at the new off shore disposal site A0.

Application No: 2000.472_V1 – Variation – Coastal Permit
To vary the purpose and conditions of existing resource consent 2000.472 to authorise the disposal of dredge material derived from the dredging of the shipping channel or within Otago Harbour from activities associated with the operation and maintenance of Port Chalmers facilities, in accordance with the following existing maximum annual discharge quantities at the following locations: Heywards Point disposal site (200,000 cubic metres), Spit Beach disposal site (200,000 cubic metres), South Spit Beach disposal site (50,000 cubic metres)


Disposal of Dredge Spoil
Purpose: Disposal of associated dredge material at new and existing disposal sites.
Location: New Disposal Site A0 : Pacific Ocean, approximately 6.3 kilometres northeast of Taiaroa Head
Existing Heywards Point disposal site: Pacific Ocean, approximately 1.5 kilometres northeast of Heyward Point
Existing Spit Beach disposal site: Pacific Ocean, approximately 1
kilometre to the northeast of Spit Beach
Existing South Spit Beach disposal site: western end of South Spit Beach

Map Reference: New Disposal Site A0: approximate mid point J44:387-948
Existing Heywards Point disposal site: approximate mid point J44:308-935
Existing Spit Beach disposal site: approximate mid point J44:317-912
Existing South Spit Beach disposal site: approximate mid point J44:320-896

Chart Reference: New Disposal Site A0: approximate mid point NZ661 & NZ6612 45º44.1’S 170º48.0E.
Existing Heywards Point disposal site: approximate mid point NZ661 & NZ6612 45º44.7’S 170º41.95E.
Existing Spit Beach disposal site: approximate mid point NZ661 &
NZ6612 45º45.93’S 170º42.62E.
Existing South Spit Beach disposal site: approximate mid point NZ661 & NZ6612 45º46.80’S 170º42.78E.
Legal description: Crown Land sea bed

Application No: 2010.197 – Coastal Permit
To disturb and deposit up to 30,000 cubic metres of rock rip rap to form a rock buttress under the container wharf and multipurpose wharf and their associated berths to improve foreshore and seabed stability.

Application No: 2010.199 – Coastal Permit
To construct a new public use fisherman’s wharf at Boiler Point.

Application No: 2010.200 – Coastal Permit
To extend the existing Port Chalmers multipurpose wharf by 135 metres.

Application No: 2010.202 – Coastal Permit
To disturb up to 1,000 cubic metres of the coastal marine area whilst erecting the fisherman’s wharf and extending the Port Chalmers multipurpose wharf.

Application No: 2010.203 – Coastal Permit
To discharge contaminants to the coastal marine area whilst depositing rock rip.

Application No: 2010.205 – Coastal Permit
To discharge contaminants to the CMA whilst constructing the fisherman’s wharf and extending the Port Chalmers multipurpose wharf.


Port Chalmers Structures
Purpose: Extend the multipurpose wharf and construct a fisherman’s wharf at Port Chalmers.

Location: Multipurpose wharf: located between the Port Chalmers container wharf and Boiler Point approximately 750 metres northeast of the intersection of Beach Street and George Street, Port Chalmers

Fisherman's wharf: located on Boiler Point, approximately 850 metres northeast of the intersection of Beach Street and George Street, Port Chalmers

Map Reference: Multipurpose wharf: approximate mid point I44: 255-860
Fisherman’s wharf: approximate mid point I44:255-861

Chart Reference Multipurpose wharf: approximate mid point NZ661 & NZ6612 45º48.55’S, 170º37.68’E
Fisherman’s wharf: approximate mid point NZ661 & NZ6612 45º48.49’S, 170º37.71’E

Legal description: Crown Land Sea bed
Bed of Otago Harbour DP 3904

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SYNOPSIS

The first two Sundays I found myself at the same surf spot photographing the Big Rock Crew, conditions were pretty primo surf-wise, but late in the day and overcast low-light conditions. An excellent opportunity to peak out the supposed higher functions of the canon 7D in these conditions. Looking back at all the settings I used, I realised I didn't play with the auto ISO. Next time. Below left: Jimi almost hitting noon time, Right: Nathan all cosy inside.

Above: Andy Below, another un-ridden empty.
Caitlin took a load of photos on the second Sunday, Which she says she is going to edit up and do her own post this week.

'Creative Expression in Action'

And then I played in photoshop.. And this is what it was of.

Been a while since i caught the first or last light of the day.
Above: a glowing sunset the other night just down the road from my house.
Saddle Hill with Flax. Below: And Saddle Hill with Cabbage Trees.