Further to the confirmation last week that the weather was continuing to cause problems, Bournemouth Council and ASR Ltd have now agreed to suspend construction for the winter, as the shorter days and winter weather do not permit long enough working sessions for safe and effective construction on this major underwater project. ASR has agreed that they will set up back on site next April, when weather conditions are more favourable again.

Difficult weather conditions over the summer months brought about a later than anticipated start to the project, with the first bags being deployed on-site on Friday 29th August. This has inevitably had a knock-on effect to the anticipated completion date, and ASR Ltd believes that the expected weather conditions over the winter months will make it impossible to complete the reef this year, as originally planned.

Dr Shaw Mead of ASR explains:

Although conditions recently have been good and the base layer has been completed to design, the late start to construction has really set us back.

The days now are short, the sea temperature is getting colder and there are stronger currents, meaning we have to limit the amount of time our divers can spend underwater.

With the crucial base layer now complete and the onset of winter weather, it makes good sense to pause now and allow the base layer to settle into the sea bed. We are all looking forward to returning next year to complete this innovative, landmark project for the Council.

The ASR team have now packed up their equipment and are set to return in April 2009, with completion by September 2009.

Cllr Beverley Dunlop, Cabinet Member for Economy and Tourism said:

We are really pleased that this pioneering regeneration scheme is not being held back by the recession. A new seafront venue is being created on our doorstep which will continue to boost the local economy for decades to come.

Our commitment remains as strong as ever. I’m delighted that we’ve reached this significant milestone by continuing the land-based elements and completing the base layer of the reef. I know that many residents and in particular the local surfing community, Boscombe traders and hoteliers have been watching this fascinating project closely and are as keen as I am to see it completed. But I also know that they recognise that this is a long-term investment and will share my determination to get this right and bring a reef to Boscombe that the town can be proud of, and bring the economic and regeneration benefits.

The sand required for filling the remaining bags was obtained as part of the beach replenishment programme in 2008 and will remain on the beach over the winter period. It will be stockpiled on a small section of the beach at the reef site in the spring, ready for the filling of the top layer. The bags for the top layer will be securely stored over the winter.

Thanks to Bournemouth Tourism for the latest update.

In a statement from Bournemouth Tourism:

As you are aware, construction of the reef relies on periods of good weather with calm seas and we are sure you can all appreciate that the weather this summer and autumn has been poor.

Whilst everyone has been working on the site at every opportunity and continues to do so, the contractor, ASR Ltd, has now advised us that it may be difficult for them to complete construction this year. We are discussing future arrangements with the contractor for completion of the reef.

We will update you when we hear any further news.

After a rainy and unsettled start to the month, the weather has finally taken a turn for the better. Stage 2 of the reef construction is now underway and the outlook for the next week is promising.

Perfectly calm sea conditions with little wind are essential for the building of the reef. This is because construction takes place in the surf zone and requires the use of heavy machinery and specialised equipment on boats and barges. Specially trained SCUBA-divers will be working in shallow water (3-6 metres). If sea conditions are too choppy it will become difficult and too dangerous to work.

The second reef section is being laid today, ready to be filled over the coming days. The reef will be completed once the fifth section is laid and filled.

Those of you who have followed the development of the reef from the very beginning will know it’s been a long journey, spanning almost a decade!

Here’s the story so far…

The first reef section was transported on a barge from Poole to the sea-based construction site at Boscombe.

The eastern-end of the reef was attached to 5-tonne anchors on the seabed by a team of expert divers. The barge was then slowly winched along the reef site, allowing the section to gradually unfold and peel off into the water. Winches then pulled down the reef onto the seabed and secured it in place.

The reef is now ready for filling. Each of the 16 bags on reef section 1 will be filled one at a time. This takes between 1-4 hours each, depending on the size. Once this has been completed, section 2 (already built on-land) will then be deployed and filled and so on, until the fifth section is deployed and filled.

Courtesy of www.thesurfreef.co.uk

There were cheers all round today as a landmark event successfully took place; the first section of the first artificial surf reef in the northern hemisphere slowly rolled off a barge and was laid on Boscombe seabed.

The first section makes up one sixth of the volume of the reef and is constructed from a geo-mat, webbing base and 16 huge geo-bags. It has an area of 50m x 50m.

The first reef section was transported on a barge from Poole to the sea-based construction site at Boscombe, Bournemouth.

David Neilson from ASR Ltd, the Construction Manager for the Surf Reef said:

This is D-Day. We’ve been for several weeks for the winds to drop and today has provided us with the perfect conditions to accurately place the reef section on Boscombe sea-bed. After years of planning, it’s very exciting to get to this stage. If we have consistently good weather, we should get the reef completed by the end of October.

The eastern-end of the reef was attached to five-tonne anchors on the seabed by a team of expert divers. The barge was then slowly winched along the reef site, allowing the section to gradually unfold and peel off into the water. Winches then pulled down the reef onto the seabed and SCUBA-divers secured it in place.

The reef is now ready for filling. Each of the 16 bags on reef section 1 will be filled one at a time. This takes between 1-4 hours each, depending on the size. Once this has been completed, section 2 (already built on land) will then be deployed and filled and so on, until the reef is completed when fifth section is deployed and filled.

To monitor the progress and view regular updates of the reef, visit www.thesurfreef.co.uk

Cllr Beverley Dunlop said:

It has taken 10 years to get to this point. This regeneration project is unique and innovative and is turning Boscombe into a fantastic place to both live and visit. The surf reef will turn Bournemouth into a water sports Mecca, as it will be a free facility to be enjoyed by surfers, snorkellers, windsurfers and divers. To accompany the reef there will be a new seafront restaurant, café, surfing facilities and retro, super beach huts designed by HemingwayDesign. Boscombe is the place to be.

Sinking the five-tonne concrete anchor blocks which will hold the geotextile mat in place. The giant geotextile bags will then be placed on top of the mat and filled with sand from the beach via a 260 metre-long flexible pipe. It will take 4 hours to fill each of the 55 geotextile bags used to make up the reef.