Hello fellow Gold Coast kitesurfers/kiteboarders,
i would like to share some ongoing correspondence that i have had with the powers that be regarding Currumbin inlet and estuary. Currumbin has long been a windsurfing place since the 70's and a kiting place since the 2000's.
Self regulation has always been a key tool in stopping kiters from invading the inner estuary that is full of swimmers and general water users. Well a lot of us old school dudes have left "the Bin" and self regulation has flown out the window, so i would recommend that you guys should attempt to kindly inform anyone you know who kites there that days could well be numbered!

READ ON

Dear Surf FX
After talking to various industry associations and leaders regarding kite surfing issues at Currumbin please find below information from Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) in this regard. I am writing to you to ask that you do not undertake kite surfing activities in the estuary and mouth of Currumbin Creek, as it has been brought to the attention of GCWA that there is an emerging issue with regard to such activities in this location
As you may be aware, this is an extremely popular destination for locals and visitors alike and regularly hosts large numbers of people engaged in a wide range of recreational activities (e.g. swimming, surfing, fishing, boating, bird watching, families with small children picnicking on the sand, etc.).Due to the popularity and the confined nature of the location, there have been several incidents of interactions between various user groups in the past (e.g. various types of vessels and surfers/surf craft of various styles, kite surfers and swimmers/beachgoers, etc.).
In this regard, you may be aware of recent work undertaken as part of the ‘Currumbin Estuary Safety Awareness Campaign’. This campaign was initiated by the Member for Currumbin, the Honourable Jann Stuckey MP, in collaboration with GCWA, the City of Gold Coast (Council), and representatives from local community groups. Included as part of this initiative was the installation of behaviour monitoring cameras, new boat ramp and beach entrance signs and the development/distribution of educational materials (see attached for example).Please note that after discussing this issue with various local representatives (e.g. the Member for Currumbin, the Honourable Jann Stuckey MP, Council lifeguards and representatives from local community groups) GCWA wishes to advise that, while the area within the estuary and mouth of Currumbin Creek may be considered suitable for the launch and retrieval of kite surfing craft to enable access of ocean waters seaward of the entrance to Currumbin Creek, it is not considered to be a suitable area to be conducting kite surfing activities.
As such, please be advised that GCWA asks you not to use the waters within the estuary and mouth of Currumbin Creek for kite surfing activities, unless such use is for the purpose of launching/retrieval of kite surfing equipment to access ocean waters seaward of the entrance to Currumbin Creek.
It should also be noted that while this is an educational email request at this stage, GCWA has the power to control activities or conduct (e.g. kite surfing) by issuing a waterways notice (refer section 22 of the Gold Coast Waterways Authority Act 2012, reproduced below) and that penalties apply for the contravention of such a notice. At this stage GCWA has chosen not to go down the path of issuing a waterways notice, instead, preferring to work collaboratively with users to make the location safer for all.Furthermore, GCWA is aware of various requirements in operation elsewhere (e.g. rules, regulations, codes of conducts, etc.) that, if applied to the waters of the estuary and mouth of Currumbin Creek, would not permit kite surfing activities to take place.
Your cooperation in this regard would be greatly appreciated.
It would also be appreciated if you could circulate this information to other kite surfing participants, organisations, associations, etc. – thank you.Should you wish to discuss this matter further, please feel free to contact me on the details listed below.
Hal Morris
CEO
Gold Coast Waterways Authority
<div>
Got no responses on Qld page for two days.....obviously no one gives a ratz!

Yeah Jack, I have told a lot of wakestyle riders about this extension of goodwill from the authorities and they have stared into space and mentioned "free country" wtf?

Such a shame it has come to this. I havn't ridden there in over a year however I always thought the unspoken rule was to kite there in the week and leave it to family's etc when it was busy. Such a shame as it is an amazing place to ride.

The selfishness and inability to consider other water users is fast becoming the norm!

breakzmaker said..
While this is a good start, i really dont think you will see any changes until signs go up and fines are handed out

Down at Currumbin last week after a sail repair at Tweed but as a relative nooby and a low tide limiting the amount of available water space inside the mouth I was not confident enough to head out amongst the throng with all of the general beach goers, swimmers, surfers, canoers, plus, plus, plus occupying the sand and sea area so I went for a swim and I was really surprised at some of the kiters who played around in the small area at the mouth and entry to the lagoon who were repeatedly sailing around swimmers and specifically young children occasionally within a metre or so at speed back and forth and back and forth, not just on the way in or out, so it does not surprise me the authorities think it could be a problem (although I don't quite understand the encouragement of the general use of the area by swimmers with the big 'DANGER! DO NOT SWIM' signs on the beach????). I realise that some kiters have exceptional board and kite control but with the punter density on a busy day you would have to question whether it's a safe interaction space. I would also have to agree that until there is some sort of local signage/enforcement occurs to inform people of these changes to the local authority regulations it will not be general knowledge (nor taken seriously by many in any case).

James01 said..
Such a shame it has come to this. I havn't ridden there in over a year however I always thought the unspoken rule was to kite there in the week and leave it to family's etc when it was busy. Such a shame as it is an amazing place to ride.

The selfishness and inability to consider other water users is fast becoming the norm!

its no wonder, I was there a month ago and can completely understand why its come to this. in the creek its self there is little room for error, and with such a large crowd I can see people (family's) getting hurt! 10 years ago there was hardly any if not none kiting at this spot, today its packed, whats it going to look like in another 10 years with this fast growing sport.

plenty of other flat water spots!

power boats give way to sail, sail gives way to swimmers etc particularly if 200 metres off the beach dont be a wanker like parko and fanning were at kirra..... there i was swell of the year and my heroes were getting towed into 6 foot waves after returning from tahiti..... really used to respect them not so much now... every craft has its place but kitesurfing on a sunday arvo near swimmers doesnt, towing in to crowded 6 foot kirra doesnt either.. remember rules will always be made for the lowest common denominator whether your world champ or a weekend cruiser... dont be a dick and ruin it for everyone

Shouldn't this be in the general section?

Every beach has a local council attached to it. If another kiter asks you nicely not to do something........ listen, they probably have more insight than you and are taking the time from their kiting to keep their local beach/spot from being banned.

A serial pest can be stopped. We had a guy that loved crashing his kite all over the foreshore, pathways etc. after being told by a number of people his kite crashed right next to my 4 year old and I. Roll it over pull the dump-valve and secure with sand. Trust me this works.

My opinion. i spoke to a Currumbin boardriders club member, a local boatie... lots of people. Just needs common sense... so everyone can enjoy - fishing, boating, surfing, kiting, suping, swimming , hanging out at beach with family.

Currumbin Estuary Safety Awareness Campaign

Doesn't seem a very logical campaign to me >>

Build a new boat ramp it says? - number of surfers killed by boats at currumbin 1, severely injured 1, near misses - numerous - everyone has a story about the day they nearly had a boat land on thier head while surfing. Number of boats/skis killing or injuring other recreational water users worldwide - huge numbers.

Ban kiters from estuary - number of bystanders killed in estuary 0, injured 0. In fact death to bystanders(non kiteboarders) from kiteboarders in all of history - none that I have ever heard of that can be substantiated in 14 years of kiting on the whole planet. Number of bystanders injured by kiteboarders with anything but a minor injury in all of history - very few on the whole planet - even minor injuries. Number of collisions of kiteboarders with other craft in area, none, ever.

Number of surfers (all surf craft) injuring other surfers from bad conduct - numerous.

The truth

1. That if the estuary is busy with swimmers/sup ers (usually summer weekend - crappy 15 knots), don't kite there unless it is clear in a suitable area.

2. A part of the estuary is about 10 foot+ deep now over a wide area after dredging so is less suitable for playing/swimming on the shallow sandbanks (they gone! in this area).

3. Giving way to other watercraft transiting the estuary is a nice gesture - easy on a kite, very difficult on a surfboard.

4. Short tack if someone (non kiter) approaches you on edge of water (eg for a paddle) - shows respect.

5. When it is real wind (not 15 knot puss), especially during the week - there are rarely any other recreational users in estuary. No one likes to go to the beach on really windy days and it can often coincide with bad weather (again very few others are around).

6. Some members of the public have no idea that if you are downwind of them that it is a scientific impossibility that you could end up next to them /on them.

7. The way this is written does nothing for putting confidence in the public of completely experienced and competent kitesurfers.

8. Between the sand spit (well where it used to be, and the bridge - there are hardly ever any other recreational users.

9. that if a family is hanging out paddling at waters edge - stay away - just common sense.

i have no problem nicely telling people the situation at the beach if i see something.

I would think a safety awareness campaign should target higher risk activities to 3rd parties / self drowning risk. Some lessons to some of those that cross the bar in their boats would be a start - ie dont hit it at 20 knots cos you got no shallow draught -tough luck go launch somewhere else - dont think just because you have a big boat that could get stuck on the sand you can risk killing surfers. Same goes for waves - a bigger swell doesnt mean cross the bar at high speed - again launch at another location that is safe for everyone -there are surfers in the crest of those waves you cannot see. Sometime there are 150 surfers out on the bar.

An awareness campaign that now the estuary is out of peoples depth in many areas (or will be) after dredging that it really isnt the safest place to swim on the outgoing tide, when coincidentally it is better for kitesurfing.

There are some very simple rules that work very well in many places for kiters - stay 50m from swimmers (especially upwind), show surfers respect -although not many surfers into 20 knot+ winds! lol, slow down when within 50m of other water craft. Motor give way to sail /kite - although if motor is transiting it is courteous/common sense to move out the way in advance and you get respect back your way.... sup er vs kiter - slow down /tack away within 50m. This location is a great place for kids to learn to sail to in oppies / hobies etc. too

Currumbin Alley is not really kiting learning friendly it is not even really non fully competent intermediate riding friendly. I can be - but it is a rare perfect wind day midweek/non public holiday day!

Education and respect! - the last thing this beautiful area needs is yet more rules. Not even going to discuss behavior monitoring cameras...

...unfortunately now if we break maritime law then a letter will be passed on to water police to enforce the ban.......better to stay out of the estuary except for landing and launching or face the consequences that will be passed on to all Queensland kiters by this case being a precedence for Maritime Safety QLD.

Bink4183 said..
Coming from somebody who is from the maritime industry, they will not be able to issue a fine based on the fact that you are jeopardising Beach goers safety as no maritime law has been broken. Except perhaps the 6 knot go slow zone. (doesn't apply anyway because we are not classed as a vessel) The fine will be issued by the council if anybody, but once again this needs to be approved as law before anybody can get a fine for it. So more or less this is a official letter saying we don't like you doing it but we can't really stop you.

Several years ago kitersurfers were classed as vessels, so all relevant maritime rules do apply to us, and they can be enforced by fines and confiscation of gear. Common sense says don't kite inside the estuary it is a shipping channel and all the rules/laws of navigating shipping channels apply, especially distance off rules and speed rules.