Airwave inflatable reef

Ash's picture
Ash started the topic in Thursday, 15 Aug 2019 at 11:42am

Stu have you heard of this ( https://www.waveco.com.au/about ) before? MS has an article on it and its inventor Troy Bottegal who plans to trial it in November at Bunbury WA.
I'm dreaming that it can create waves like the photo MS added into the interview, but I'll have to wait till Nov.

udo's picture
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udo Wednesday, 18 Dec 2019 at 2:29pm

Yes
its called concrete.

Ash's picture
Ash's picture
Ash Wednesday, 18 Dec 2019 at 3:33pm

Good luck to him, it just got a lot harder but nothing ventured nothing gained

GFC's picture
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GFC Friday, 20 Dec 2019 at 2:04pm

Latest post says the first Airwave cant be repaired... New one to be installed in Feb

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thermalben Friday, 20 Dec 2019 at 2:09pm

"The cold front that has just moved through the South West has made repair of the first Airwave prototype improbable."

Really? I don't understand why the possibility of repair was weather-related (aside from the obvious, creating adverse conditions - but why not wait for a window?).

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truebluebasher Saturday, 21 Dec 2019 at 1:49pm

See your point Ben!
Like as if these New Wavers are trippin' another Wavelength.

wonki: (Artificial Surf Reef) : Eyesore that repels waves whilst eroding the beach.

Wave Pool speak is equally twisted:
Pool Wave height = 1st Doubles then trebles every 2nd week thereafter.
Wave Pool Slabs = Heavier than [CODE RED] Teahupoo
Evil Bodybasherz toes uproot wavepools = (Motorbikes & Jet-skis have VIP cards)

Airwave Video Edit
Deen Bros install seems dodgy enough.
Skidmarked brutalised Airwave enters 'flat' ocean & is sinking fast.
Tow Boat revs out engine but can't budge the dead weight Airwave
Seemingly a makeshift pipeline tries to breathe life into it.
Never able to record wave action (*Perhaps a wave spike during death roll?)
Bundled up for a sea burial in octopuses garden in the shade where webcams fade.
Archeologists measure seam tear + brush stroke sand uncovering hydraglyphs.

New Wave version.
Note: No best ever live web cam available for momentous town unveiling.

Waveco & install team 'successfully towed' structure into the water.
New very deep swell pushed undertow thru the line-up
Pressure from Airbag with incoming swell & undertow tore the seam.
The change in conditions led to the Airwave becoming damaged.
'Unprecedented swell' has brought it undone

See Ben Above! Cold front is too rough for repairs +( good conditions for removal).

2nd prototype includes 'improved install method' and some subtle design changes based on 'small wave action' observed during install.

Artificial Reef speak decypher:
Successful install = Install methods need improving
Bobcat burnout = Change of conditions
Unprecedented Swell = Small Wave Action
Swell too rough for repairs = Sea is soon rough enough for Airwave removal

Please crowdfund dumbfounded tbb a Flip Flop scholarship @ WSL Academy.
Sure tbb is having a bit of fun as no one is hurt or gone broke...
Just saying in the ocean on webcam out front of SLSC...(Town pride is at stake!)

Footnote: Troy can read tbb & crew have been & still are supporters of Airwave
Troy is welcome aboard...give ship's cat Willy Wonka a nudge & the plank is yours.
Bunbury...Airwave & Beyond!

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simba Saturday, 21 Dec 2019 at 2:41pm

good luck bringing that thing back to land

Ray Shirlaw's picture
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Ray Shirlaw Saturday, 21 Dec 2019 at 3:49pm

Airwave aside,What are the legalities of just using Bulldozers to dig two massive holes and make a huge pile of sand between them someplace close to the tidalzone then just wait for nature to do something/anything?

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Clam Saturday, 21 Dec 2019 at 4:48pm

All hype for tourism

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thermalben Saturday, 21 Dec 2019 at 4:52pm

I struggle to see the tourism angle.

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Clam Saturday, 21 Dec 2019 at 9:50pm

Here it is ben ,
"The Airwave device is a two-metre-high, 12-metre-wide, dome-like bladder filled with air that is designed to create bigger, surfable waves off Bunbury's Back Beach, in the state's South West region.
The City of Bunbury contributed $75,000 towards the prototype, in a bid to lure tourists away from more traditional surfing spots of Margaret River."

The swell gets 5 times bigger than this recent event!
This is going to be a problem i thinks

"We had a lot of undertow — a new swell came through that was a very deep swell that we weren't planning on, and it was pushing the undertow through the line-up," Mr Bottegal said."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-16/word-first-surf-reef-tears-during...

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quokka Sunday, 22 Dec 2019 at 11:10am

@ray They've already done this about 20yrs ago at Scarborough. Used a bulldozer to push a spit of sand out. Created two really good a-frame peaks either side of it. Think it was for a Vocom air comp.

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Ray Shirlaw Sunday, 22 Dec 2019 at 3:37pm

Mindboggling. What the fuck are we ("they"?) waiting for?? Dear council Our local beach is a hazardous "Dumper" from one end to the other. A surf "Break" needs to be created to minimize potential injury to beachgoers. Cost: Low. Timeframe: Quick. Potential benefits across the board: Go Figure

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truebluebasher Sunday, 22 Dec 2019 at 9:44pm

Tourist Version...
(tbb stayed a week or more in Bunbury & region)

Bunbury (3 Waters)
Indian Ocean...Heritage Century old SLSC + Shipwrecks / Reefs
Koombana Bay...Port + Only Oz city with onshore Wild Dolphin interaction.
Leschenault Inlet...Peninsula CP (Large Oceanside Reserve)

No Eastcoast drawcards / eg: WH Gondwana Rainforest/Waterfalls/Rapids/ Hikes.

This results in Bunbury's statement architecture by default.
Old Water Tower Logo > Chequered Light House > Futuristic classy Lookouts
Tall icons attract tourists from nearby South Western Hwy (Perth to Margaret River)

Bunbury Coastline has no NP Headlands or WSR Pointbreaks or Island Slabs.

Lack of surf is ridiculed by visitors and locals joke about it...Beach strip is desolate.
Bunburians can't grow Headlands or Rainforest so will try to grow surf beaches.
Note this is a win win as it gets the monkey off their back & wins the girl.

Futuristic Lookouts & World best Surfcam can spotlight Futuristic Surf Reefs
Tomorrowland surfing postcards...A giant accessible designer wave City.

City can shape organic Surf tourism hubs to best suit City infrastructure
They can then better entice Surf Families/Hodads/Gromz from intersecting Hwys.
Simple easy fun surfing as opposed to hardcore arduous shark dipping boot camp.

Bunbury can't compete with wilderness but is well placed to cater for all surfers.
Oddly the Airwave will engage with ocean and create a wilderness from none.
This is a low cost venture with little damage even after an epic fail. (Just go again!)

If Surf Tourism takes off, the Beach property values will skyrocket...(see Gold Coast)
Never drive past a surfable wave...Huey's Golden Rule! (Here & now & fine by me!)
You wake up & Bunbury Surfcam shows four 3ft A Frames...then that's you there!

99% of Goldie's waves are shaped by mankind & still surfers flock in droves.
Cyclones flood poo thru the busiest of best line ups ever seen & none give a shit!
Sunny Coast fought to the death to keep a mangy Sausage Groyne. (All flipped!)
Bunbury could blow a dozen of these trials to land just one Slab for the Jackpot.

PS: Goldie Beaches have been trashed more than any...Encyclopedias on that shit!
We ratepayers just spent $20m on Sand Pumping & Reef that's eroding Palm Beach.
tbb @ swellnet is only place you can read about it or see it. (Yep! Told the Paper!)
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2019/08/23/watch-palm-be...

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GreenCT Monday, 30 Dec 2019 at 5:05pm

Ray Shirlaw
Quite a few years ago council used to truck sand into to replenish a beach about 1 hour south of Perth. We convinced them one year to put about 40% of the sand in a spit.

Got an amazing little left for the kids that came and went but impacted for about 6 weeks.

We spend money on gardeners and watering and mowing etc playing fields.

Why not a front end loader for a day if there is a sand supply on the beach.

The wave created above had 20 plus micro groms frothing over it everyday it broke.

Meant families on the beach and more sense of community as this wave used to happen naturally pre Dawesville Cut days

This idea at Bunbury for the km of straight beaches in WA has great potential so I hope they can sort out issues on second attempt.

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Ray Shirlaw Monday, 30 Dec 2019 at 6:44pm

Thanks GreenCT. There's been numerous examples over the years. They didn't involve years of planning,a $100,000 feasibility study,were cheap to create, and the result was fun surf with minimum environmental impact. I mean,shit, that kinda ticks the boxes doesn't it

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GreenCT Tuesday, 31 Dec 2019 at 4:09pm

Ray aroind here they manually bypass sand in two locations alternating the equipment.
The one to the south is the perfect place they could study wave creation by how they have the sand removed by the excavator.
The bypassing done at the north location is the opposite. The sand placed in a slurry could be adjusted to see if the banks created improved.
These studies could be done on existing operations so you would think Council and coastal departments would be all over it. But wave creation doesnt seem to come onto the horizon.
Despite years of studies on positive economic benefits that the surf industry brings.
They run machines cleaning the sand at Scarbough and Triggs
Love to see what a spit of dand pushed out did

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truebluebasher Wednesday, 1 Jan 2020 at 12:45pm

Please! Can crew bring these photos to life?
Massive tear shows Airwave ripped in half .
crew thanks (Raised water research)
https://raisedwaterresearch.com/spot/artificial-reef/australia/western-a...

*Shows a possible wave peeling as owner Troy says..
https://raisedwaterresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ReefTopView.png
*Shows a huge tear (Non-repairable)
https://raisedwaterresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Airwave-Tear.jpg
*Shows split across whole Airwave (Not worth a dollar)
https://raisedwaterresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Airwave-from-...

Note both sand & water disguise any BUNBURY logo.
tbb reckons Mach II BUNBURY Logo will be 5x larger

GreenCT's picture
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GreenCT Sunday, 5 Jan 2020 at 9:55pm

So Truebluebasher why not just a large blanket pinned to the floor with soft bristle like fingers catching sand.

Like a hair brush and lengths of fingers sculptured to create left and right bank.

Holds a volume of sand and balance not help back from lateral drift.

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udo Sunday, 5 Jan 2020 at 10:20pm

The Airwave Bladder replacement has strengthened and redesigned seams and should be able to handle a 3 metre plus swell..
Gd luck with that !

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truebluebasher Monday, 6 Jan 2020 at 2:40am

Green CT ...you don't know how long Kyle has been waiting to hear the magic word.

7Aug 2008 Kyle Dent has been waiting 12 years to take Green CT brush boarding.

Extreme sport of Brush Boarding with added Bass & Drum Rolls.

Now with more Guitar licks + Chix

2010 Psychedelic out of this world brush surfing

&feature=emb_logo

24 Oct 2019 Kyle brings Brush Boarding back home to Oz.
https://blooloop.com/news/brushboarding-melbourne-fitness-show/

2020 Green CT does a comb over on the Reef!

Not so weird as Oz does have a soft surf reef.
Australian Seaweed Surf Reef at Nowra
Yes the owners surf it & have exclusive licence to gather & shape the seaweed.
Basically a licence to keep others off their designer Tidal Seaweed Reef..(Shh!)
https://www.naroomanewsonline.com.au/story/3876704/the-new-kelp-lady-of-...

Carbon Kelp crops to detox ocean while slowing waves preventing beach erosion
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/how-seagrass-can-aid-in-...

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GreenCT Friday, 10 Jan 2020 at 12:08am

TBB those first few clips were cruel.
But the last one interesting.
If you look at a coastal dune system the fore dune has plants that only grow while sand is added. Then secondary plants grow and those original.plants disappear.

So trying to mimic those

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truebluebasher Friday, 7 Feb 2020 at 8:23pm

GreenCT ...gotta agree with all of that...

tbb's stash of alternative papers (wave gardens that repair environments).

Lost & found this link to excellent intro into Seaweed Surfing...
https://sites.google.com/a/surf-science.org/www/articles/kelp

Seaweed Banks as Erosion Control (Seaweed can shape less or more beach!)
This first one is 1983 & is similar to what GreenCT was exploring...
https://www.csmonitor.com/1983/0719/071902.html

Oz East Coast seaweed study paper is out of the ordinary...
https://www.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/environment/our-coast/Documents/Guid...

Surf Seaweed as National Defence
https://www.gov.scot/publications/wild-seaweed-harvesting-strategic-envi...

Waves that Heal Rivers is just an extraordinary design Paper...extra cool.
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/64/10/870/1780369

S20 are the leading world enviro wavescapers
https://s2odesign.com/projects/

These guys quoted on Qld 2032 Olympic Whitewater Course @ Logan.
Likely to be Oz most powerful wave Pool alongside Penrith.
http://www.yourneighbourhood.com.au/whitewater-adventure-park-vision-logan/

Driftwood Islands,Spits,Points,Mats is also a alternate organic Wave option.
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/2015GL064441

....................................................................................................................................................

*Airwave.

Gold ~/(Coasters welcome Troy Bottegal to Global Wave ~/(Conference

http://www.globalwaveconference2020.com.au/speaker/troy-bottegal/

Outdated Update contains cool Airwave News vid & new info...
10 Jan GWN 7 (Video)
Airwave Mach II (New Features)
* Larger Version
* Changed Seam Position
* No cost to Council
https://www.facebook.com/gwn7news/videos/476771966317891/

GFC's picture
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GFC Tuesday, 11 Feb 2020 at 11:23am

Looks like Airwave has run out of money??

From their latest post

"We are actually looking for more funding to enable completion of the next install. So it will depend on how quickly we can acquire further investment. Still 100% committed to the project but funding will delay completion of Airwave 2.0"

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truebluebasher Tuesday, 11 Feb 2020 at 4:43pm

GFC ...thanks for sharing that news...

Apparently the cost of (Like replacement) was covered by Seam Fault.
However Troy wants a bigger version (Council > Logo?) + new seam placement.
Unsure if Council is pushing or funding larger [LOGO] & Troy must upsize?
Troy is likely to fund seam design position...(materials & labor covered to old size)
So reckon he/council need to fund redesign & any extra goop/printing needed.

Check out the live Cam to see what size [Bunbury] logo is needed.
On surf days (Rare) you won't see it, but in these lulls it should advertise on screen.

#1 Best Surf Cam in the world...(No ads for now!)
[twitch] Live Cam is great graphics > No pan? re: [f] Photos show Cam does Pan!
Would viewers pick up a BIGGER Bunbury LOGO? Million Dollar Question!
Interesting to know how much design change & slope is driven by [LOGO]

https://www.waveco.com.au/live-surf-cam/

Notice the Shark nets or multiple Buoy Lines (Airwave crime scene is roped off.)
Possibly not to disturb the level sea floor in that exact Location or Anchor Mounts?

Again Goldie welcomes Troy to Conference... (Not a bad Market Stall for Airwave?)

News: Airwave Site..(Last...16th June 2019?) Cam here! > news updates re: [f]

15th Jan 2020 [f]...Airwave Update

*More Diameter (10%)
*Longer Entry Angle ( tbb- Not so abrupt...as to break seam as Mach I )
*Mid Feb install has blown out...to Mid March
*Extra Weight, as said demands a better install procedure.

*Mid March is new best conditions for Airwave Install (Failing that... > Spring 2020)
( Interesting as GFC informs they're still funding Mach II ? )

Bonus News Tips from Troy!
* Mandurah would be awesome for a couple of Airwaves?
* January 2021 sees 'Multiple Airwaves' install at Bunbury!

[f] Page also seems to promote Bunbury as a Destination...(Council brief?)
Oddly no big noting or specific link to the #1 Live Bunbury Cam.

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truebluebasher Wednesday, 26 Feb 2020 at 10:17pm

Global Wave Conference( Wed 3pm : Vid ) Airwave Troy Bottegal [ 28:45 > 41:45 ]
http://www.globalwaveconference2020.com.au/live-streams/

Note Video Presentation shares insightful install photos.
*Positives
Sand Slurry fill (150T), Anchoring, Shape, Deployment, Excess sand use, Small Wave Peak, learned experience, 98% success.

*Removal Time
(5 hours)Successful.

*Redesign
12 m > 13.5 m
Wave Angle face is less harsh more domed
Internal Air bag size & shape
More evenly spaced Seams + Valves.

Reinstall Date continues from Mid Feb > Mid March > ?
26th Feb 2020 Latest News Update (Troy on Triple M)
https://omny.fm/shows/news-triplem-southwest/airwave-director-confirms-p...

"May 2020 Airwave Install" ...depending on Funding / Weather

GFC's picture
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GFC Thursday, 27 Feb 2020 at 2:43pm

TBB also check out one of the recent Insta posts

Sadly "Waveco are now seeking an additional investment partner to complete the manufacture and install of the redesigned and re engineered Airwave 2 prototype."

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truebluebasher Thursday, 27 Feb 2020 at 4:33pm

GFC ...your update cements the fact that the money is the #1 hold up!
Troy had said the manufacturer terms were good for ('Same') replacement.
Troy's redesign must be important but also proving costly as extras.
Quite possible & no surprise that the labour is of greater cost than the Goop.

Also note that 1st Install was for love the 2nd one may be for money! (Costly!)
We can all see the mammoth 'real' install cost in full light...(Reckon it's biting!)
Next install is also upgraded...Troy will be facing an open cheque book scenario!

Thinking about what you wrote "partner equity" implying near equal share?
Consider Troy has [ @ ] + Council [BUNBURY] + New Partner [ Your Ad where ?]
Just can't see Bunbury Council allowing another [LOGO]
Could be half the hold up...No Ads = No Deal. (Will Troy sell out his Logo?)

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Cush Surfboards Wednesday, 22 Apr 2020 at 7:31am

A bit off topic but hoping someone here may have an answer
We live in an area where swell comes from a long way thru a huge canal and is well groomed by the time it gets here. The result is perfect small waves.....if there is no wind
What we also get is an abundance of wind.
In fact the buoys often read 3 to 4 feet of wind swell on a regular basis

I have thought for years that there must be a way to gather all that wind energy into a 'obstacle course' of sorts which would gather the swell and clean it up into manageable intervals.

I have seen the windswell go under a pier. As it pushes thru the pier pilings it seems to clean up the swell by gathering it as the energy goes around the pilings.
it then forms lines of clean waves---where on the other side of the pier it is chaotic wind swell

I also know kelp smooths the face.
And Greg Weber has developed ways to smooth the ocean surface

But mostly wondering if anyone has any concepts or ideas on
how to turn wind swell into energy that is able to be surfed or foilsurfed

Certainly cheaper than a wave pool if it involves something mobile or temporarily achored

Scott Norby

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Cromwell Wednesday, 22 Apr 2020 at 11:50am

Weber came up with a vee shaped structure that would gather the energy and focus it through a small outlet to create larger better shaped swell line. Not sure if it has been tried outside a tank.

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truebluebasher Sunday, 26 Jul 2020 at 12:09am

Goldie crew were stoked with your lecture...best wishes.

Thanx Troy [f] site..Airwave Photo

https://www.facebook.com/airwavesurfreef/photos/a.237496850282547/507130...

2nd March...May not be possible to install this Winter.
If we miss this weather period it will be December install.

21 March : Troy welcomes & highly values any / all questions...
Troy answers a Question on Alternate Barge install...
"Towing off the beach in the frame although did indeed have it's problems".
"Is still the simplest & quick install, especially for (Multiple Installs) in the Future."

Up until this point Troy maintained the beach install was smooth!
The vidz show the bobcat drop the frame on wheel & skid on deflated Airwave .
A good honest reply about the install + can only help to admit such! Respect!

Q&A: Needs to be filled with sand as it can be pumped out easily for removal.

25th March : Airwave 2 is in Redesign Phase > Install over the coming Summer...

Airwave will stay in Position Permanently? ( That's News! )
Always thought this was a Trial, being so near the SLSC Flags!

5th April : Sunsets

23 April : Comments / photos of suitable WA beaches for Airwaves.

Summer 2020/21 Bunbury Airwave 2 install...Same Back Beach Location.
https://www.facebook.com/airwavesurfreef/?tn-str=k*F
https://www.waveco.com.au/

udo's picture
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udo Thursday, 12 Nov 2020 at 7:34pm

Still chasing investment $ for the late Jan - Feb AirWave install

https://www.waveco.com.au/live-surf-cam/

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truebluebasher Thursday, 4 Nov 2021 at 2:30pm

2021 Airwave updates.

April - Australia by Design
https://www.bydesignchannel.com/australia-featured-innovations/airwave-i...

S4/E2 [9:20-12:40]

18 June 2021 - Udo runs Troy's update
https://www.swellnet.com/comment/740926

June/July Airwave gets invited to Qld State Hydraulics Lab.
Bunbury Plastics whip up a mini Airwave Model to surf the Nerd's 300m x 15m Wave Pool.

17/18th Sept ~ Mini Airwave gets shacked on springtime wavepoolfari...(think that's a thing?)
https://www.facebook.com/airwavesurfreef/
or Photos
https://www.instagram.com/airwavesurfreef/

Looks like it compresses the peak enough for a quick in'n'out, but then the curtains fade.
Seemingly Troy will mount it closer inshore to link any walls.
Maybe over time a rip bank may form either side to break up the line & ramp a few shoulders.

1st Nov Troy: "And now onto the next Full Scale Installation..."
Crew know that could mean anything or nothing in particular?

Bonus : tbb noted many "Marker Buoys" on original install > Obviously thinking it was a safety Zone!
Possibly it was such...however!

Alternative train of thought...Craypots pepper the Bunbury shoreline over Summer (Nov-Feb)
White Cray Migration cruise same shallow Airwave Strike zone at Bunbury Surf Club during Summer.

Crew can see Airwave 'Live' Surf Cam is littered with seasonal inshore (Possibly) White Cray Pots..
https://www.waveco.com.au/live-surf-cam/
One can see how surfers will crowd closer in the same Air wave lineup to scoop a backdoor.
More than that...these Summer buoys may even pre spill any advanced Reef Peak Pitch.
That would Wipe out any grunt of the proposed Slab...we've all seen similar spoils >( Boats & Skis)

Can see these Pots rule other beaches in Bunbury...when the Crays are on...
https://previews.123rf.com/images/ianwool/ianwool1204/ianwool120400184/1...

Will Snappy Cray Fishermen dump pots on Troy's Airwave!
How can Troy possibly design an Airwave to stand up to a Cray Pot Scrap?
Should've been here the day before yesterday crew fending off the Bully Nipperz & Potty Crabberz.
That's a Tough Break!