Beach clean up

[pnodrog]

A few days ago a storm covered about 300 meters of a popular local beach (Waipu Cove NZ) in a red weed. It is the summer school holidays and the swimmers were forced to move further down the beach. Yesterday I took some photographs of the local farmers and a contractor that were donating their time and machinery to clear up what looked liked a gigantic problem.

Today just over 24 hours later on my way home I decided to take some more photographs of the progress. I was amazed that due to their efforts and two high tides the very smelly seaweed was just about all gone. The beach users must be delighted at the farmers community effort. A big disappointment that my youngest two youngest grandchildren did not get to see all the tractors and a digger working in unison. I mainly took the photographs for their benefit but it may be of interest to some CinC members as well.











After



Before



After


Unfortunately for the swimmers the weather was better yesterday but tomorrows forecast is for clear skies and sun so they should be happy.

[IzzieK]

Those were good shots and nice reportage to understand the process...very interesting, Paul...I too like the results. Did you get to see what those red smelly stuff really are?

[pnodrog]

Those were good shots and nice reportage to understand the process...very interesting, Paul...I too like the results. Did you get to see what those red smelly stuff really are?

Thanks for the comments. The weed had been battered to a fibrous mess but a local environmental consultant (semi retired American Engineer) has sent samples away for analysis.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Dave Humphries]

I'm sure the farmers will make good use of it, probably good fertiliser or composting material - not that I know what I'm talking about.

Good series Paul, thanks for sharing.

Dave

[Sergio M.]

Interesting series, Paul, and kudos to the farmers community effort.

Sergio

[Wavelength]

That is a fine illustrated reporting.... The weed looks like powdered red stone; i too was thinking the possibility of this to be used as manure.....

[bnnrcn]

Nice series and great progress indeed

[Mike Buckley]

Very interesting series! It always puts a smile on my face to see documentary photography taken as seriously as other genres that are perhaps usually more appealing to so many people.

Did the weed have an unpleasant odor?

[pnodrog]

Thanks John.

I'm sure the farmers will make good use of it, probably good fertiliser or composting material - not that I know what I'm talking about.

Good series Paul, thanks for sharing.

Dave

The seaweed laced with sand was taken to a nearby farm and I am sure after the rain has washed the salt out of it and a few months of rotting it will make an excellent fertiliser.

Interesting series, Paul, and kudos to the farmers community effort.


Sergio

Yes Sergio it was the community effort and it was the efficiency that really struck me.

That is a fine illustrated reporting.... The weed looks like powdered red stone; i too was thinking the possibility of this to be used as manure.....

Thank you Nandkumar. I may see if I can get some photographs of it on the farm. I am sure it will be very good for the soil.

Nice series and great progress indeed

Binnur I was amazed at the progress that was made and the difference on the beach after just 24 hours.

Very interesting series! It always puts a smile on my face to see documentary photography taken as seriously as other genres that are perhaps usually more appealing to so many people.

Did the weed have an unpleasant odor?

Thanks Mike, I think documentary photography is very important if only for keeping a historic record. The beach stank on the first day. We had stopped to go to a al fresco cafe just across the road from the beach and decided it was too smelly. However after spending time taking the photographs we sort of got used to the smell and went and had coffee anyway.

[NorthernFocus]

Over here a volunteer effort like that would likely land the whole lot in jail. Or at least in court. Because they didn't get the proper permits or the tractors disturbed some sort of rare sand crab/worm/whatever. In the meantime the seaweed would be rotting away and likely doing more harm than the alternative. One thing I really liked about our visit to NZ was that there still seems to be at least a modicum of reason applied.

[pnodrog]

Over here a volunteer effort like that would likely land the whole lot in jail. Or at least in court. Because they didn't get the proper permits or the tractors disturbed some sort of rare sand crab/worm/whatever. In the meantime the seaweed would be rotting away and likely doing more harm than the alternative. One thing I really liked about our visit to NZ was that there still seems to be at least a modicum of reason applied.

Yes I did ask whether they had filled out all the appropriate forms. I was told they had obtained a resource consent from the Regional Council but it was issued promptly as it is in the middle of the summer school holidays and rotting seaweed on the beach may have turned into a health hazard.

[IzzieK]

................. One thing I really liked about our visit to NZ was that there still seems to be at least a modicum of reason applied.

Some countries allows common sense to rule instead of being politically correct, Dan. Politically correct does more harm to everyone, even the environment. (I just hear that tomato screaming "Murder!")

[pnodrog]

Some countries allows common sense to rule instead of being politically correct, Dan. Politically correct does more harm to everyone, even the environment. (I just hear that tomato screaming "Murder!")

Recent legislation is slowly but surely getting rid of common sense - please don't get me started......

I assume the reason permission to clear the beach was granted so quickly is that if it had not been done by volunteers it would only have taken a week or so for the regional authority to be forced into calling in paid contractors to clear the mess up.