Oil holds up beach business

The start of surf life saver summer operations this weekend is being hampered as beaches remain closed from Leisure Island to Maketu.

Oil continues to wash-up in small globules along the beaches although there has not been a significant leak from the stricken container ship Rena since last week.

Papamoa surf life savers Ross Cowdrey, left, Nathan Smith, Scott Cowdrey and Ben Johnston take a break from the oiled beach clean-up work.

Maritime New Zealand national on scene commander Ian Niblock says Mount Maunganui Main Beach is a priority area for his team.

'We will throw a lot of resources at that to keep it open.”

He says on Thursday clean-up crews for the first time encountered the 'phenomenon” of oil seeping up to the surface of the sand along the surf line.

Digging down into the sand his team found oil was as deep as 200mm.

Despite the effort to decontaminate the sand most beaches remain off limits.

Omanu Surf Club junior coordinator Jonathan York says the beach closure is frustrating.

'We are just waiting to see what happens when the season starts.

'We start patrolling this weekend and that is sort of still taking place, but obviously at the moment, as far as I'm aware, the beach hasn't been opened and there should be no people in the water.”

Jonathan says the juniors are expecting to start their season on October 30, but that really depends on whether the beaches are open or not.

'If it's not then we have to go to plan B and make alternative arrangements, which would involve the use of swimming pools and more land based activities until we can get back onto the beach.”

He says during winter they run a comprehensive winter programme which involved paddling on the Wairoa River and they also took core strengthening sessions to build up core strengths and swimming as well.

'That should be starting to move out onto the ocean, but at the moment it's just a wait-and-see game.

'From what I understand, they're shipping a little bit more oil off again overnight, but it just seems cursed with the pump breaking down yesterday. They just can't seem to get enough off.”

Surf Life Saving New Zealand Eastern Region programmes and services manager Mike Lord says the oil spill has put a stop on many clubs' activities.

'It's really devastating for our members who work so hard to keep the beaches safe, clean and a fantastic place to visit.

'Lifeguards love to share and educate the community on how much fun can be had at the beach and in the surf.”

Papamoa life guards are remaining positive and hoping for the best.

Papamoa Surf Life Saver Shaun Smith says they start patrolling beaches this weekend.

'They're not open of course, but we are still going to patrol them like they are and get everybody refreshed just with their CPR and other skills.

Shaun says the beaches being closed have given the lifeguards a chance to work on their swimming and fitness skills.

'In some ways it's been quite good because we have a team going to the swim nationals and they have been at Pilot Bay on their boards practicing.

'It's looking pretty positive for us at the moment – we should be on the beach soon.

'We've had no oil on the beach this morning, we've been right down to Maketu and there's just a lot of older oil on the beach.”

Shaun says the oil is nothing like they had before and each day is less.

'Each day they have crews out there working. Today they have crews down to the cut (Maketu) picking up small batches that we have marked on the maps for them. In front of the club there would be at least 100 volunteers.”
He says everything is looking positive.

'If the wind doesn't swing back and bring the oil back, we should be good.”

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3 comments

Toxic Children

Posted on 21-10-2011 14:40 | By Kin

Q. So if the oil is now below the surface of the sand and "seeps" to the top why are they sending children to Mount beach? A. To keep the tourist $ rolling in. Gullable guinea pigs and stupid parents.


Posted on 21-10-2011 16:10 | By JAS

because they think its more important to pretend its all perfectly safe...... so they can get the tourist dollars rolling in, not to mention the votes in just a few weeks time.... my kids still won't be on the beach!


Oil, not cyanide

Posted on 21-10-2011 20:21 | By wreck1080

It's not that bad just now. Do you take your kids to petrol stations??? Very poisonous places, might inhale some fumes. Do you let your kids walk on asphalt? Same stuff. This oil will break down naturally over time, bacteria love it. My worry is that new oil will wash ashore. It is messy and kills the marine life. Beaches are sweet as right now.


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