AN avid Port MacDonnell surfer has combined his passion for art and the environment to raise awareness about potential threats to the South East coastline.
Jeremy Ievins has recently transformed a standard surfboard into a distinct, bright artwork to generate interest through social media for the Fight for the Bight campaign.
Mr Ievins said he painted the surfboard live in front of 10,000 people at this year’s The Drop festival held in Torquay.
“This is the 108th board I have painted and I have named it #fightforthebight to help inform people on the issue,” he said, referring to the environmental movement to stop major oil developments in the Great Australian Bight.
“Environmentally I do not like the idea of an overseas company drilling into our ocean.
“I want people to understand if something catastrophic happened, the whole South East coastline would be in trouble and it may never be recoverable.”
A proposal headed by Norwegian mineral giant Equinor to drill into the Great Australian Bight is outdated, according to Mr Ievins.
“There is a lot of renewable energy available in this generation and this company is still sticking to the older styles,” he said.
“There is a lot of risk with not much reward for our country.
“I think they should leave our resources alone and Australians can work out what to do with it later and safer.”
Mr Ievins said the surfboard has brought the issue to the attention of people who previously were not aware.
“It is great to see discussion generated from my giveaway on Instagram,” he said.
“The various paddle outs are what made me and the surfing community aware and this surfboard is putting it out there for the artistic community.”
This initiative is just one of Mr Ievins’ community-minded projects, which include his recent artwork on the Tarpeena skatepark and involvement in the Lock the Gate campaign.
The surfboard will be on display at Bay Blue Espresso Bar and Trident Tire Centre over the following weeks to build interest.
Visit Mr Ievins’ Instagram @jeremy_ievins for details on how to enter the competition.
Entries close midnight on May 18 and the winner will be drawn randomly and announced on May 20.
