Island surf reserved
Surf’s up: Minister for Environment and Climate Change and Youth Affairs Ryan Smith, surfing legend Layne Beachley and founder and patron of National Surfing Reserves (NSR) Brad Farmer celebrated with Phillip Island Board Riders Club and community members who battled hard to win reserve status for Cape Woolamai, Smiths Beach, Summerland and Cat Bay. Photo courtesy of Jai.net and Bass Coast Shire Council.
THE Phillip Island surfing community celebrated the formal declaration of Victoria’s first National Surfing Reserve at a ceremony at Cape Woolamai Beach on Saturday.
Surfing legend Layne Beachley hosted the event and the Minister for Environment and Climate Change and Youth Affairs, Ryan Smith, formally opened the reserve, made up of four sites along Phillip Island’s coast: Cape Woolamai, Smiths Beach, Summerland and Cat Bay.
Seven times world champion, Layne Beachley, was happy to be back at Phillip Island.
“I am honoured to be part of the official launch of Victoria’s first National Surfing Reserve. Phillip Island has always been one of my favourite surfing destinations with its four excellent breaks; Woolamai the hero, Smiths Beach and Express Point, Summerland and Cat Bay,” he said.
“It has been an honour to be asked to be part of this historic event and to know that Phillip Island’s breaks are respected and protected for our fellow surfers.”
Phillip Island Nature Parks CEO, Matthew Jackson, said the Nature Parks was proud to have been involved in the establishment of the Reserve.
“It has been quite a journey since I first raised the idea of a Phillip Island Surfing Reserve back in 2011 and I want to congratulate the working group who have made today possible,” Mr Jackson said.
“The beaches that make up the Reserve lie within the Phillip Island Nature Parks and I would like to acknowledge our staff, who have worked alongside the community to have this Reserve declared.”
Cape Woolamai was the magnificent backdrop for the proud contingent of local surfers, including star surfers Glyndyn Ringrose and Nikki Van Dijk, who were on hand to witness the declaration. Representatives from Australia’s surfing fraternity, including the Founder and Patron of National Surfing Reserves (NSR), Brad Farmer and NSR Chairman, Professor Andy Short, were also in attendance.
“We started this about 18 months ago. The idea was mooted through one of the Nature Park people. An interested group of people got together and it’s culminated in this,” community advisory committee member Stephen Fullarton said.
“Having Layne onboard gives this a good status. She’s more than happy to help out. She’s great.”
Only 25 National Surfing Reserve sites have been nominated across Australia and Phillip Island is the 18th to be declared. It is the first of its kind in Victoria.
The philosophy of National Surfing Reserves is to ‘care, share and preserve’. National Surfing Reserves is a voluntary collaboration dedicated to recognising iconic surfing sites in Australia and assisting NSR sites globally. Self funded and non-political, the National Reference Group comprises experienced individuals from across Australia to facilitate NSR nominations and management processes. Find out more at www.surfingreserves.org.
The Phillip Island National Surfing Reserve community project is proudly supported by San Remo District Financial Services, Ramada Phillip Island, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Bass Coast Shire Council, Phillip Island Board Riders Club and Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club.
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Posted by Simone Short on Mar 19 2013. Filed under Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
