Letter to Minister Tony Kelly re the Goodwin Report
BEACH EROSION: THE GOODWIN REPORT
Dear Sir,
I refer you to the attached report that has been commissioned by us, No Ship Action Group Inc., and conducted by Associate Professor Ian Goodwin. Ian is one of the most respected coastal geoscientists in Australia. This report comments on the inadequacy of the Worley Parsons REF as it pertains to the effect on coastal processes here at Avoca Beach as caused by the scuttling of the ex HMAS Adelaide in its current location. The following is a summary of the report:
1. The threat of beach erosion is real if the Adelaide is scuttled in
its proposed location. This report confirms that assertion.
2. The Worley Parsons report is inadequate at best and at worst misleading, in that it does not comprehensively and accurately model the nearshore wave climate which
is a major factor in determining beach erosion. This is a limitation of the MIKE21 SW numerical model used by Worley Parsons in the REF, in that all assessments of the impact on the ship on the nearshore wave field is limited to seawards of the 10m depth contour. i.e. well out past the surf zone.
3. The Worley Parsons REF does not use IN SITU wave measurements taken from Avoca itself but rather wave data taken from the Sydney wave rider buoy which is located over 35km away. Therefore these wave observations are UNCALIBRATED and hence it is not possible to assess whether the model results are accurate.
4. The WP REF only uses wave data obtained over a relatively short period of time i.e. from 1992 - 2008. Recent research by Ian and his team has shown that there are significant differences in the wave directional spectra between decadal periods, in particular the sub dominance of east / east, north east waves during spring and summer. The WP REF should have investigated the impact of the artificial reef on the near shore wave field using data that spans many, many decades of high / low frequency easterly waves. It has not, and hence the sensitivity of Avoca Beach to these processes has not been adequately discussed in the WP REF.
5. The placement of the ex HMAS Adelaide in its current location could change the shape and face of Avoca Beach as we know it. The Goodwin report calculates that a 250m section of Avoca Beach, south of the lagoon, is an area where potential shoreline impacts may occur due to storm wave energy focussing.
6. More detailed studies MUST be undertaken to fully understand and
quantify the extent of beach erosion caused by this scuttling.
We formally request that you review the position of the scuttling site in light of this new information. It is vividly apparent that beach erosion is a likely consequence of scuttling the ex HMAS Adelaide in its proposed location brought into sharp contrast by the new Coastal Protection legislation that is before parliament right now. I urge you to conduct the proper due diligence required on a project of this significance as it pertains to the effect on coastal processes caused by the scuttling of the ex HMAS Adelaide.
Yours Sincerely,
Benjamin D. Smith
