Dunedin Shark Nets, Stay or Go?

Pic: University of Otago forensic dentist Prof Jules Kieser with Barry Watkins' surfboard and a set of shark jams capable of making such an attack. Watkins was attacked by a shark in 1971


Report on shark nets
Otago Daily Times By Chris Morris on Fri, 11 Feb 2011
Shark nets protecting Dunedin's beaches remain in the sights of at least one Dunedin city councillor. Cr Richard Thomson has called for a staff report on the appropriateness of the nets, including their costs, any possible environmental effect and new scientific knowledge relating to the use of nets.

The report was requested at the end of Wednesday's community development committee meeting. Cr Thomson's move follows an unsuccessful attempt last month by several councillors to have funding for the shark nets removed from the council's draft budget for 2011-12.

read more

Shark nets: are they worth it?
Otago Daily Times By Nigel Benson on Sat, 1 Jan 2011
What would we think if the Dunedin City Council paid $36,000 a year to protect us from lightning bolts? We'd think the council was mad, surely?

Yet, the DCC is the only local authority in New Zealand to maintain shark nets.Never mind that there has not been a shark attack in Dunedin waters for nearly 40 years.

And never mind that marine experts, environmentalists and even council staff who oversee the programme say it is nonsensical.

read more

Shakes @ the Waterloo - 26th March

Digging in

Had to get to the beach today, couldn't stand another day inside, no matter what. Surf shots below.
So with this post I also took the opportunity to do a bit of a Blackhead quarrying update, I've been taking progress photos for months. The main sequence above is 15months of quarrying and lowering on the south side of the quarry which is the face that is seen from Blackhead Road and the carparks. Heaps of activity and changes, the one big thing is the disappearance of what I call 'the slip' which was clay slide shaped like an arch.

Diploma of Digital Film

One of the assignments for the Diploma of Digital Film at the Southern Institute of Technology. I had to plan, film and edit together a chase scene. Filmed using a Canon 7D and Rode Videomic. Music by Head Like a Hole - Hot Sexy Lusty

Last year I took a few papers studying towards a Diploma of Digital Film with The Southern Institute of Technology. I ended up dropping the screenwriting paper as it was a bit too much of a workload with also working, and struggling with being sick too. It was a real tough squeeze to get the 101 paper finished, but I got there, and managed to get top of my class with an A pass. This year I am taking two more papers, and started last week. The video above is one of my last assignments - Starring Andy Sutherland and Chris Lamb.

Seaweek Beach Cleanup - Brighton

5 adults and three children, including me and Jay turned up to deposit their collected rubbish from Beach cleanup points along the south coast around Brighton this morning.
A lady who walked the beach from Waldronville to Ocean view with her dog collected a supermarket bag of rubbish. Me and Jay collected rubbish around the surf lifesaving club and back bank, and along the Otokai Estuary and top domain.

Above: Scott and Caleb collected three very large sacks of rubbish from around the Waldronville area and gun club. And pic below: Sean and his daughters' Edith and Faye collected a large bag from the dunes and beach at Brighton.

I believe a few of the boys from Big Rock collected rubbish along the roadside from Brighton to Kuri Bush this afternoon.

The final weight of rubbish collected from Brighton was 170 kg.