Predictability is a concept that is dear to surfers all around the world. Imagine knowing with high accuracy when you'd score perfect waves in the ocean.
The idyllic scenario has pretty much improved with advancements in surf forecasting, but the existence of coral reefs adds another layer of consistency to surf breaks.
The thing is, perfect or near-perfect natural reefs for surfing are rare. The only alternative is creating them.
And that's precisely what a group of surf enthusiasts is trying to do at Back Beach in Bunbury, Western Australia, between the local surf club and Hungry Hollow.
The initiative is not new. Around 2018, Troy Bottegal and his team tried to deploy a 12-meter round inflatable reef at this same spot.
However, ripped seams put the project on hold for several years.
Bunbury Artificial Reef's Second Life
Bottegal did give up.
He and his committee redesigned the whole project and presented a new artificial reef, shaped like a compact triangle of multi-layered granite, set to sit just behind the existing inshore, The Clam, reef.
The goal is to slow erosion, boost surf quality, and build new homes for fish and invertebrates.
At roughly 5,000 cubic meters, this reef isn't tiny.
Engineers plan to stack granite boulders big enough to shrug off the wildest storms.
Once in place, the incoming swell is expected to hit the structure and break into rideable lefts and rights over the sandy bottom.
Surfers can paddle out just 75 meters from shore. It is ideal for beginners learning to catch their first wave and fun for veterans seeking a challenging, peeling ride.
Behind the scenes, independent experts in the United States ran wave studies on the design, simulating everything from calm glass to storm-churned seas.
Closer to home, the Queensland State Hydraulics Laboratory in Brisbane built a scale model and tested how waves would barrel over granite rock and sand.
Early results look promising, and the reef's design could be tweaked before the final version is locked in.
Artificial surf reefs aren't new to Australian and international waters. They had different fates and outcomes, though.
Only Burkitts Reef and Neilson's Park Reef, both in Queensland, are truly successful stories.
Then, in 2013, Bunbury and Dunsborough added rock piles offshore to boost fish numbers. Albany and Fremantle have approved the building of surf reefs of their own.
But Bunbury's version stands out for being quicker to install, less costly, and easier to replicate along the coast.
A New Marine Habitat
Why a reef instead of rock groins?
In 2023, the state's Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan called for 13 groins - each 100 meters long and spaced 400 meters apart - at a price tag of about $56 million.
Groynes stick up out of the water, blocking views and changing how people move along the beach.
The Bunbury reef will hide under the waves, leaving the sandscape untouched above. Plus, it cuts wave energy offshore and tucks sand back into Hungry Hollow during storms.
Beneath the surface, the granite structure will create new real estate for fish, both those that like to linger near the bottom and those that cruise mid-water, and offer shelter for shellfish and other critters.
More marine life means a livelier ecosystem and better fishing when the rod goes in.
Safe to Surf
Safety was at the front of mind, too. Today, waves can slam unexpectedly onto exposed rock near the shore.
The new reef will push the breaking point about 70 meters farther out, so surfers ride over sand instead of rock.
In other words, waves will peak at the reef's edge, then peel evenly left and right, softening before they hit the beach.
Built from granite for its sheer weight, stability, and long lifespan, the reef needs little upkeep.
Still, engineers expect to inspect it after big storms and, if needed, reset any displaced boulders.
Worst case? If the reef doesn't perform, it can be redesigned or removed, even though independent testing suggests that's unlikely.
Local surfers, fishers, and beachgoers have driven the project.
A working group of Bunbury residents refined the plan, picked the spot between the Surf Club and Hungry Hollow, and rallied community support.
Their next move is to get feedback through surveys and social media to show the City of Bunbury that there's real public backing.
If everything goes according to plan, the council will fund detailed engineering, secure environmental approvals, and call for construction bids.
At an estimated cost of $6 million - far less than the classic groins - the Bunbury artificial reef promises a positive impact well beyond surfing.
Studies from Albany and other coastal towns show these structures can boost local economies, with a return of about $3 for every $1 spent.
More waves mean more visitors, longer stays, and happier locals.
It'll be interesting to see how the new concept will perform and if it's something that could be replicated in the future.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com
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