Surfers speak out on Killalea

Local surfers have expressed their disgust at the proposed tourist resort in Killalea, with local boardriders combining to form the protest group Surfriders.

Fearing the loss of their spiritual home, local surfer Andrew Keeling created Surfriders as an offshoot of the Save Killalea Alliance in a bid to halt the 52 " year lease agreement for a tourist resort at the popular surfing spot.

Local board shaper and life long surfer Chris Homer has thrown his support behind the group explaining that unless locals stand up to the state government's planned venture the entire state recreation facility could be soon lost.

"Surfers are really close to nature, we are out there living it all day, everyday and we love it," he said. "We're facing the prospect of losing a pristine and very sacred local spot, and it is not just surfers who are going to lose out, it's everyone. This is more than just a surf spot, this is a great place for families to come and relax, watch the birds and spend some time in the water.

"We have formed Surfriders to speak on behalf on surfers in general. We definitely need a voice against this proposal as we are in real danger of losing a very special place. This is not like losing a tennis court or a Go Kart track this is far more important. Once this is gone you can't replace it."

Believing that "the majority of surfers would be against the development" Mr Homer said Surfriders had worked very closely with the SKA, travelling to Sydney with the group to meet Lands Minister Tony Kelly last week to present their case.

While anxious with the prospect of losing the "?spiritual home of Shellharbour surfing', Mr Homer has also expressed his unease at the way the whole lease agreement had been brought about.

"One of our main goals I guess is to get some transparency in the whole deal," he said. "?At the moment it is quite frustrating because no one really knows what's going on, it's hard when the government wont tell you anything.

"It is extremely disappointing the way this whole thing has been carried out and it makes you extremely worried about the future. This type of thing should not be happening, especially on Crown Land. The powers that be have let all this happen behind closed doors, it is time they became transparent and let everyone know what is happening because we are in real trouble of losing a very pristine part of the coast."