GetFunky, you are wasting your time. You are not going to get through to them. Their ignorance & naivety is going to get this sport banned.

Dear all

When we posted this 'advice' from Cambridge, we knew it would create a level of discussion and comment from local kiters. We also knew that there was no 'good time' for news like this.

As with the debate & discussion we had with City of Joondalup, please be aware that this is a public forum and that comments can & will be read by all manner of persons, including most likely, Cambridge officials.

There are competing ideas & comments about what to do and how to do it. WAKSA will advise all members via email about what we as an organisation will be doing in the coming week - it is Christmas after all & I reckon most of us have some other significant stuff going on for the next week or so???

Let's keep the debate focussed and on message rather than becoming a series of personal comments. If this goes the way that Mullaloo went, we will all need to be saying the same message - in disunity, there is death.

Until the issue is resolved, we ask that kiters refrain from launching/landing @ the Floreat groyne and launch as requested either south of City Beach or north of Floreat SLSC. P!ssing officaldom off won't win us any friends - or the argument.

Stay tuned.

It sounds like we all need a group hug

Anyway, I for one are Glad to see Mr WAKSA is on the case...

Zed said...

Do nothing

At the end of the day there is a small minority of douche bags that are ruining it for the majority.

Do nothing,
As crowd-kiting takes a stranglehold,
let destiny unfold.

stoff said...

Cant believe all the bs in this thread. From what I can see the
plan is a reasonable one, with one exception.
The area 50m north of the groyne, south of the surf club should be changed to
" launching and landing Permitted ".
Anyone who thinks they should be able to kite between the
groynes is being unreasonable and unrealistic.

All the BS you refer to is in reference to the beach to the north of the floreat groin as you say. Kiting hasn't been allowed between the groynes for a long time and no one is trying to win that back at all.

If WAKSA could change that one thing (it's the only point they are working on), it would be back to the way it was last week give or take some meterage, and every local kiter would be celebrating.

No sign to my knowledge but everyone respect that anyway and no one is fighting for the right to kite between the groins.
Doesn't seem to be any blow ins doing the wrong thing either.
Overall, it is an excellent crew very mindfull of doing the right thing and great vibe all round.

stoff said...

Ok,thanks for clearing that up.
Are there actually any signs up stating that kiting between
the groynes is banned? When I went past on a downwinder
a few days ago I noticed a number of people setting up on
the south side of the floreat groyne.

No, there are no signs. The between the groynes thing has been more of an agreement with the ranger/council and probably the surf club.

Visitors and many users would have no idea about this agreement. It also looks ideal towards the northern end - ie. massive empty beach and no one in the water. Alot of people would simply think its empty, no people around...In a normal senario, without these guidelines, would seem an ideal place to launch or even kite. So it is understandable to see the odd person starting here but never the less rare.

As far as I am aware, besides the general clubby flags rule, there are no "formal" laws on kiting at city beach, just guidelines and informal agreements. There are no signs informing people. It has always been left up to the city beach regulars/locals to police...which of course, we cant be there every day, all the time.

All of this just add to the surprise of instant beach ban without any public consultation or formal implementation process.

Like Andrash says, the local regular crew are some of the nicest, easy going, most responsible and decent people I have met. There are definitely no show ponies here.

^^^WAKSA has been very proactive in trying to get signage up at various locations.

This requires consultation with the respective local councils, simply erecting a sign without council permission will likely be classed as illegal bill posting and simply removed. Consultation with council is complex and a double-edged sword. By asking a council for signage, you are effectively prompting them to do a review of kitesurfing activities at your beach.

Fremantle city council has been approached re signage at Leighton, and after about 12 months FCC dismissed this as "not being a priority at this point in time". I think WAKSA are still waiting for Melville city council to erect signs that have been promised for about 2-3 years.

stoff said...

^^^This is the most dissapointing thing about the whole situation, that rules are being made
with no consultation.
I really think WAKSA needs to be more proactive with getting signage up at all our main kitesurfing beaches to alert kitesurfers and the public alike, as to where we are recommended to kite and the areas to keep away from. This is common sense for most but would sort out the tourists and the ignorant.
Preferably, the signage would also have a phone number for WAKSA so any issues can be sorted before people go to council to complain.

I've been up to mullaloo to kite a couple of times since those restrictions were put in place and haven't noticed any signage up yet. How are people to know? This is as much about educating the general public as policing ourselves!

I am sure WAKSA will be working on signage issues at other beaches but WAKSA is just a commitee of volunteers who have jobs, partners etc and also like to get out and kite occasionally themselves, although I think that probably hasn't been happening much for some of them lately with all of the issues and events that have been on the agenda...... rest assured they are working harder than the majority of us kiters, so give them a break or show up at meetings and volunteer to assist.

Signage is now up at Mullaloo at North and South boundaries and there is marker bouys a couple of hundred metres offshore. Also no kiting signs near surfclub and paths outside of the kiting zone.

As I have stated on the newbies thread, if you are still learning and having trouble staying upwind or still crashing your kite/ losing your board please start towards the South end and try to come back to the beach before you reach the Northern boundry.

Now that there is signs up it is obvious to all who may be watching/photographing if anyone is outside the zone, the photos wont show that you are outside the zone because you crashed your kite or couldn't stay upwind only that you are outside the zone so please try to keep in the zone and remind others that you may see.

stoff said...
I really think WAKSA needs to be more proactive with getting signage up at all our main kitesurfing beaches to alert kitesurfers and the public alike,

Most of the time its the authorities themselves that are anti-signage ? (I know - its hard to believe when you look around). Most proposals to councils etc have highlighted the need for advice to kiters and public and the different means of getting the message out. Usually the least attractive option to most authorities is 'signs'. Makes it hard but thats why we have to self regulate by talking at the beaches. Thats why WAKSA pays for temporary portable signage; as you will see at Pinaroo & Mullaloo and fliers for distribution by kiters anywhere.

^^^^^

The problem with some councils and signs is that before they put up a sign, a council by law must be passed. For them to put a by law in place, there must be a full investigation. I'm sure you can work out the rest.

hehe ive just relaised i havent read the posts btw.
if you drop your kite in that zone u can't relaunch

The beach about 100m north of the groin is more or less invisible from the car park, and it is usually empty even in moderate winds.
If we leave the grass, and the adjacent beach to picnickers and beach goers and we set up, launch and land 100m north of the groin we avoid any possibility of conflict.
Other than that we just need to respect SLSC activities. That particular beach is relatively short and not far upwind from the SLSC which wont welcome frequently crashing and drifting kites to their area. Therefore beginner and intermediate riders will be much safer to set up and kite just north of Floreat SLSC.

I still strongly doubt the legality of the present "advices" and actions of the ranger. However, we are better keep peace with council officials.