What was so special about Kirra?Around a 15-minute drive south of Burleigh Heads Australia, Kirra Point is the northern limit of the fabled Coolangatta, Queensland's most southeastern town and the home of a long line of "Coolie" surfing legends. In days gone by a long lethal ribbon of sand was responsible for Kirra's supertube magic. Swells used to hit the sandbar at a 45-degree angle and suck their ways with increasing intensity toward a small groyne off the Surf club and sometimes even past it. When the sand was right it was literally sectionless, the barrel forming and reforming like some sort of incredible moving version of a wave machine, yet with all the weight of the ocean pushing behind it. Large volumes of water ran down the outside rim of the sandbar, which made paddling back out a gruelling proposition; many experienced Kirra surfers just got out of the water at a ride's finish and jogged back up along the rim of the point to the jumpoff point. What is the problem?The loss of Kirra Point has been caused by an excessive build-up of sand that has been pumped and dredged into Coolangatta Bay over the past 12 years. In this time there have been relatively low levels of storm activity and the sand has not naturally made its way north at the same speed at which it was placed in the bay. An increase in the level of sand in the bay by 3–4 metres on average has resulted in a significant widening of the beaches – in some cases by over 150m, the loss of surf quality, an increase in rips which has made swimming more dangerous and the loss of Kirra Reef. The reef, which is located at the northern extent of the temperate marine zone and the southern extent of the tropical marine zone supported a diverse range of marine species. What is the ‘Bring back Kirra’ campaign?Bring Back Kirra is a campaign by the Gold Coast surfing community to lobby for the restoration of the surf break at Kirra Point. The deepening of the bay will also lead to a greater exposure of Kirra Reef. The campaign recognises the significant community concerns over this issue for many years and builds on the valuable work of committed individuals and groups within the local community. Who is running the campaign?The Kirra Point Committee was formed in 2007 to bring together a range of local organisations and individuals who are committed to restoring surfing amenity at Kirra Point. Who is on the committee?Chairman: Committee: Finances:
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