Fijian Communities Reject World Wave Project Proposal
Last October, Swellnet ran a story on World Wave Project (WWP), a New Zealand-registered company with ties to Californina tech funds (Facebook etc.), who'd devised a business plan to augment exisiting coral reefs turning them from C-Grade waves into A+.
At the helm of WWP is Dr Shaw Mead who designed and built a number of ill-fated artifical reefs with his last company, ARS.
Despite there being a few accidental successes, no-one had succeeded in deliberately sculpting a reef to create a new and better wave, so WWP set out to test the idea on an area of reef in Northern Fiji - offshore from a resort that Dr Mead now owns.
However, in a meeting yesterday, traditional owners of the waters rejected the proposal. The Traditional Head of the Yavusa (Tribe) Korovatu from Naivivi Village in Qamea, Iosefo Tikoisolomone, said:
“Where the development will take place it’s a small area and that’s where we fish from. The consultation is putting across an image that this project will go ahead. You are trying this development on our source of livelihood. Everyone sitting here doesn’t want this development.”
If that wasn't emphatic enough, Tikoisolomone continued:
"This process is a no process to us. We’ve had enough of development in the Wainikeli area. That’s enough. No more. No more process immaterial of thousands or millions. Please no more!”
In reply, Dr Mead sent a statement to all Fijian media:
“The WWP were somewhat surprised by yesterday’s public meeting at Naselesle on Taveuni. Following the results of the marine resource study early this year which found that environmental impacts to the 2 potential sites for developing surf breaks would be short term, further communications between the village leaders and the EIA consultants for the project indicated a desire to formally meet and discuss the positive aspects of the project.
"However, it was made clear at the meeting that the land-owners did not want the project to proceed due to concerns of the effects on fishing opportunities. The WWP respects the decision of the land-owners and will not proceed with the EIA application. The WWP will not be considering any further investment in Fiji.”
Comments
enough is enough is enough . Go test your skills a Wilkes of Cloudy ya clowns !
Not everyone wants hoards of traveling surfers descending on their homelands. I am glad the traditional owners have told Dr. Mead, no more.
When greed is a prime consideration in your decision making process, you are most likely an arsehole.
Too right.
Great out come for the local community.......well done
Who would've thought, traditional owners not wanting a foreigner to trounce their reef for his financial gain?
Tell your story walking Dr. Mead.
Good on em.
A couple of hundred years ago they would have eaten that bastard and displayed his bones as a warning to anyone else who wants to think about it.
GOOD! Dr Wank was ‘surprised’.... how surprising! Now all they have to do is keep the Chinese out. Apparently they want to go in & instruct the armed forces, police etc, & we know where that’ll end up, & not just in Fiji & Solomon Islands.
"...which found that environmental impacts to the 2 potential sites for developing surf breaks would be short term..." Until it's not short term by which time it's too late. The shitshow destruction Chinese developers caused to another Fijian reef over the last couple of years should be a salutary lesson. There is only ever one bottom line with developers...and it's not the creation of perfect waves. Good decision.
Farkkkough
Hey Dr.Mead come to the South West, heaps of no hander reefs ( C & D grade) you can practise on.
That fuckwit is a con artist. Fleeced over two mill for a reef that never produced a wave in NZ
'Dr Me blowup reef project' supported by tech richfatcats, rejected by community interested in sustainability over $.
Help Qamea Community start a go fundme page for a pro youtube video ...
picture ....palm trees, sandy beach tropical fish & happy hymns.
tag line...
"This process is a no process to us. We’ve had enough of development..." sings everyone but the realestate agents, flippers & developers.
Councils represent the wishes of the community... until they become an State Govt enforced amalgamated admin mess, ripe for water view developers, etc.
These islands are part of a really beautiful world & Im glad this community are protecting their culture / way of life.
From the linked article "Machines would scrape off about two meters deep of coral over combined 2.6 hectare..."
Short term impact
Piss off Dr Mead.
Glad the locals got their way but I'd love to see this reef/rock platform shaping come to life and work. They looked at doing this at the North end of Freshie - near the pool but the plan didn't get over the line.
Last time was up was thinking and sort of watched an almost left thinking ,if only !!
Just to point out how anti-science surfers are, has anyone ever measured how much the reef has sunk.
Have ASR gone back and done this ?
Has the Palm Beach reef sunk as well, if so why was no allowance made for sinkage.
Philosurphizing. Are you for real ? Surfers, anti-science, don’t know where you get your ideologies from.
Everything we do relating to surfing has an element of some type of connection to science . Flabbergasted at your statement. Please elaborate!!
Had to look at the original article to remember how wild it got in the comments section. Whatever happened to the defamation court case threats?
I drive past "Dr" mead's "artificial reef" at narrowneck everyday. That guy can fuck right off.
I second that opinion
"Whatever happened to the defamation court case threats?"
Gonna keep this short for obvious reasons. The answer is nothing.
The concept of mead standing up in court and answering serious questions about his failed projects will/would never happen.
Court Threats? all the time. Little bully. That is all he has to protect his name. The courts.
We knew that this was a possibility with His Heiness Dr Shaw. So we only used whatever was available in the public domain. There it is. Try it yourself. Google "Dr Shaw Mead + artificial Reef" and see what comes up. Let me help you.
India (kovalam) = failed design
New Zealand (Mt Manganui) = failed design
England (Boscomb Reef) = failed design
Fiji (Maqai reef) = failed design
Fiji (Qamea reef) = probable fail... saved by the locals.
I am sipping champagne right now.
Stoked for you guys and for this outcome. Thanks for speaking up in the other threads on behalf of the locals. It really showed their true colours!
Qamea..I have seen first hand what western fella have brought to this area. Entire reefs covered in silt - introduced exotic animals - altering nature has no place anywhere in the world. The win here is that the people have said no and that makes me cheer. Back to the drawing board "Dr" Dumb...hopefully the ocean never sees you again
Saltyhooves. Well said mate. When the people say NO, it means NO.
Good on you guys for upholding your morals and ethics. I’m fed up with these overnight stupid ‘jumpstart’ ideas, as clearly communicated by yourself and others, its always about exploitation and money into usually one persons coffers.
So what happened at Narrowneck ? Can someone give me the run down ?
In a nutshell…..
The original promotional material said it would a left and right light point break from a v shaped reef. 99%of the reef sunk into the sand, never to be seen again. Banks have been fucked for ten years.
lost : (Crew reply...)
#1 Surf Journo Stu also runs the best Narrowneck Reef Sites...(Goldie Crew rank *****)
swellnet crew add local knowledge thru comments, timelines & Vids...on each site.
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2017/11/07/narrowneck-ar...
7th March 2022 ...Ben still serves up a nice Narrowneck snack
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-analysis/2019/08/19/narrowneck-re...
'The WWP were somewhat surprised by yesterday’s public meeting at Naselesle on Taveuni.'
Well, if they were really surprised then they have no idea what they're doing. Some strong language from the local community. It definitely didn't originate in the meeting itself but rather, is a reflection of local culture and the expectations. To be surprised by this is to be totally ignorant of your surroundings.
Eat shit Mead.
Let's hope the Fijian's do the same to China
I wonder how much chinese influence played a role in this decision?
or, if the communities experience with chinese developers played a role?
current case going through court re. chinese environmental destruction...
100 year old mangroves totally cleared, and $650k fine to chinese developers for said destruction
either way... a couple of wins for local people...
i hope!
Deluxe Artificial Reef Research Paper ( Will load 2 copies just in case! )
https://ref.coastalrestorationtrust.org.nz/site/assets/files/7954/2007_c...
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307231782_Review_of_existing_mu...
#1 Surf Journo Stu's Artificial Reef Archives
https://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpolitik/2011/05/17/man-who-would-build...
https://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpolitik/2012/07/18/dr-shaw-mead-artifi...
2021 Global artificial reef glam review by Italian media.
https://www.4actionsport.it/surf-reef-artificiali-e-difesa-della-costa-l...
Qldurrz retro review on homestate surfer's pioneering artificial reef top up in Great Sandy MP.
Qld cane/seaside Railway
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/bundaberg/hidden-train-tr...
Mid 1900's Train Tracks/Boulders were dumped on The Pier & Surfbreak abutting Bargara Turtle Reefs.
In itself a rather crude protruding dangerous Reef Break...not to Local Surfers' liking!
1982 Bargara Boardriders G.R. proposed to remove tracks & crush boulders to reshape as a Reefbreak.
Govt first rejected the plan...but after getting the Beach Protection tick the Shire approved the 'idea'.
No plans > 12 large basalt boulders 300m3 crushed & 2 days later 2 reefs became one point like ride.
1997 ~ Burkitts Surf Reef Bargara , Bundy Qld
Cost $10,000 funded by Boardriders & Town Business
Prior wave broke a few days/yr > Now 30 days/yr + Overhead 4 days/yr ( Vid nudges this height)
Greg's Reef
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/bundaberg/gregs-reef-in-s...
https://hi-in.facebook.com/notes/oceanearth/build-your-own-surf-break/35...
Google Earth (Timeline) Shows quite a few surfable lineups on said straight North swell!
https://digitaldonewrite.com/feature-articles/gimme-a-break/
https://makesurf.wordpress.com/2014/06/27/bargara-beach-qld/
Salute Raised Water Research for excellent Burkitts Surf Reef research.
https://raisedwaterresearch.com/spot/artificial-reef/australia/queenslan...
Aerial shots showcase Burkitts Reef Line Ups...
Google Earth images show S/E swell skirts or runs past the reef to fire up local hang beachie!
N swell runs the wall to swell inside lagoon reverse rip to fuel a more straight up vert wave face
This Plan view reveals our fellow boardriders haphazard 2 day splotchy Reef Break form.
Surfing crew might consider this was timed with a spring tide...(Get machines in n/out-real fast)
More or less Huey gave them one seasonal low swell spring tide to get it done...
NSW ocean pools also race spring tides to service & clean their dodgy stinky set ups!
https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/5dd44dd509e451d54db8aaf9caa3d696
Here's how that shapes up thru the mind & hands of the local boardriders...
From above flat view to next size up small swell shows 2 definite breaks.
Enough for observers to slant towards a thumb/s up as to Huey's halfhearted effort?
https://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/item/89272624-stand-paddle-boarders-...
Mid size swell shows the inside fuel load...when yer ready!
https://a0.muscache.com/im/pictures/miso/Hosting-41220764/original/00937...
https://content.r9cdn.net/rimg/dimg/1c/df/f412d66f-city-58480-17066d5ef1...
Large Swell sweeps the Point to link & whip the reef break as one wave.
Crew can see the inside fuel is speeding up the wave face...just enough to hoot!
Locals can claim this lineup as a success!
Fellow Qldurr tbb will not argue either either!
Anyone?
Can back up RWR vid claim, also vouch there is a Promo "Weekender Qld Vid" for Burkitts Reef...
Checked Brownies' & couldn't find it...must have lost it's YouTube licence..
Swear that photo of surfer (Still from Vid) was with a mate...both flickin' like mad to juice up 1 footer for the Vid!
They were milking OK length rides...just! Less so for any less energetic surfers!
PS : Bonus Diving Vid showcases Burkitts Reef marine life