This coming Tuesday the City of Joondalup will be making a decision about the future of kiting at Mullaloo beach.

It will be a significant decision.

In conjunction with the Mullaloo Kiter User Group, WAKSA has presented the Council and other stakeholders with a number of options about how kiting surfing at Mullaloo might be managed in the future.

We have advocated a principled position but also provided alternatives and shown we are prepared to compromise in order to maintain access for kite surfing.

The local resident groups organised against us have not been prepared to show any compromise and are calling for a complete ban at Mullaloo - even when it's 20 knots+ and no-one else is on the beach.

We have indicated to all parties in this process that we support an exclusion zone around and in front of both the Mullaloo and Sorrento surf clubs. We have indicated to groups that we do not support kiting in, through or near flagged areas on a beach. We have shown our preparedness to work out how all beach users can be accommodated.

And yet, the Council recommendation is for a complete ban at Mullaloo.

For the sake of some last minute lobbying, we encourage you to email the Mayor and the Councillors directly encouraging them maintain access for kiting at Mullaloo.
Their emails are: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected];[email protected];[email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected];[email protected].

Tell the decision makers to work with WAKSA and MKUG and the other stakeholders to keep Mullaloo open - for all beach users.

WAKSA and Mullaloo Kiter User Group is co-ordinating a number of people to speak during the ‘public statement’ time at the start of the meeting.
Our message to the City of Joondalup will focus on asking for that great Australian tradition of ‘the fair go’. A ban is not a fair go. Kite surfing is a legitimate recreational activity - a ban along Mullaloo beach will de-legitimise our sport.

A ban is unjustified and unreasonable. Kiting at Mullaloo can be accommodated, it can be managed and it must be allowed to continue.

The meeting this Tuesday commences at 7.00pm at Joondalup Civic Centre, 90 Boas Drive Joondalup.

We encourage you to attend the meeting and to show your support to keeping Mullaloo beach open for kiters, whether you are a WAKSA member or not. We need YOUR attendance to show the Council how concerned kiters are as a group, about the potential bans at Mullaloo. If you can attend, get there as early as is possible (seats in the council chamber are limited).

Tuesday September 21st 2010 - 7.00.pm. Joondalup Civic Centre Boas Drive Joondalup.

If you want to protect your local spot, help protect Mullaloo - be there.

Justin O'Malley
WAKSA President

Sorry to be the bearer of such news KH:

www.joondalup.wa.gov.au//files/councilmeetings/2010/CJ100921_AGN.pdf

Page 96 of the Agenda for Tuesday's meeting:

2 ENDORSES Option 2, (being that only exclusion zones are established which
apply over the entire length of Mullaloo and North Mullaloo Beaches and
Sorrento Beach from the Marina wall to the Plaza), as the preferred approach to
managing kitesurfing activities along the City's coastline and AGREES to
include it within Issue Statements 20 and 21 of the Draft Beach Management
Plan;

Say no more....until Tuesday night at least.

Dear sir/madam,
i am writing to you as a concerned rate paying member of the joondalup shire that my local kitesurfing spot is in jeopardy.
as i have been informed by my fellow kitesurfing community i am of the understanding that a TOTAL ban is being considered.
i am also of the understanding that WAKSA are doing their best to negotiate exclusion zones in the appropriate areas.
i personally am also writing to you as an individual to ask you to STRONGLY CONSIDER the implications of such a decision.
if you have any influence over this decision i ask you to consider this: what do you enjoy doing in your spare time? walking the dog? cycling? tennis? fishing?
now think about how you'd feel if your council was considering banning you from doing this in the area's you have been for many years.
there's a time and a place appropriate for all of us and we can work together for a safe and sustainable outcome for the future of our glorious sport.

7pm. i'll be there.

PAGE 115 pdf or 96


4. COUNCIL ENDORSES Option 1, (being the extension of the Dog Beach north only by 160m, as is currently articulated within the Beach Management Plan), as the
preferred approach to managing dog exercising activities along the City’s
coastline;

YES THATS RIGHT WE ARE WORSE THAN DOGS...........

WHAT COUNCIL MEANS IS ITS BETTER TO STEP IN A STEAMING COIL THAN TO CROSS A KITESURFER !!!!

Pugwash said...

Looks like more cons than pros for option 2, and this (pg 88):

"Effectively banning kitesurfing activities
along Mullaloo Beach is contrary to the
City’s tourism imperatives, which seek to
provide interesting attractions at strategic
coastal nodes"

UNFORTUNATLEY STRATEGICLY PLACE DOG NARDS IN THE SAND ARE APPARENTLY MORE INTERESTING AT OUR COASTAL NODES

buzingfridge said...

PAGE 115 pdf or 96


4. COUNCIL ENDORSES Option 1, (being the extension of the Dog Beach north only by 160m, as is currently articulated within the Beach Management Plan), as the
preferred approach to managing dog exercising activities along the City’s
coastline;

YES THATS RIGHT WE ARE WORSE THAN DOGS...........

WHAT COUNCIL MEANS IS ITS BETTER TO STEP IN A STEAMING COIL THAN TO CROSS A KITESURFER !!!!

To look at this from the council's perspective, kiters probably are worse than dogs. Dogs may crap all over the place, but there are probably fewer incidents these days with dogs endangering the public. This is largely because owners can control a rogue dog with a leash whereas rogue kiters are harder to deal with. There are a couple of kiters I would love to put a leash on.

The reality is kiters still seem to look at bans from a reactive perspective, than a proactive perspective. Kiters only react once bans are put in place and when its difficult to correct it. As an example, in St Kilda, we've been threatened with bans on numerous occasions and yet kiters continue to kite right next to the slipway because they get 30m of extra flat water no matter how many times they are told (including some instructors from schools). They continue to flout the laws because they see any laws and "infringing on their freedom" rather than trying to protect the public and because they largely feel they are better kiters than they are. This "I can hand pass 10m from shore because I'm good enough to do it" mentality has to go.

Until the kiteboarding community can find a way to control these rogue kiters and keep the kiting hoons in check, we'll continue to have issues with the authorities and we'll continue to be seen as the jetski's of the sailing community and we all know how well regarded the jetskis are. No matter how much the public like watching kiting, it all comes to nothing when they see kiters as a danger to other beach users. Unfortunately for now, we can't control the hoons because there are no laws in place to deal with the rogue element and the easier way to do that is to just ban everyone.

Crew,

right now, we need to show the community that we will work with them for an outcome that works for everyone.

Let's not give the anti-kiter brigade any reason(s) or ammunition that can be used against us - i.e. don't say no matter what I'm going to kite @ Mullaloo. Let's wait and see what the outcome is. Comments like this one inflame the situation when we want to calm everyone down and get a positive outcome.

For the next couple of days at least, please keep your passion for the sport in check.

Juddy

Thread bump for awareness !!!!

Kiters unite..... Joondalup Civic Centre, 90 Boas Drive Joondalup tuesday 630pm

I sent the following to the coucillors this afternoon, I encourage you all to put your point of view and in writing to the council, they need to be well informed for their decision;

-------------------------------------------------------

Honourable Members of the City of Joondalup Council,

I am writing to urge you to take a fair and reasonable approach to the management of the Mullaloo and North Mullaloo Beaches for the enjoyment of all beach users, including kite surfers.

With respect to the recommendation put to the Council to ban the activity of kite surfing along the entire length of the North Mullaloo and Mullaloo beaches, I implore the Council to take a measured approach and consider the following;



Safety of other beach users
- Only 3 incidents have been recorded involving kite surfers (causing injuring only to themselves) by the MSLSC^. Compared to the number or severity of incidents involving other surf craft our figures are insignificant.
- Other beach users tend to not use the beach in high winds when kite surfing is possible,* hence there is minimal exposure to risk of interaction.
- Kite surfing is safely managed at many other (much busier) beaches in WA and around the nation without the need for action as extreme as a ban.
- Almost all kite surfers receive tuition on the safe practice of the sport, where the focus is always on ensuring the safety of other beach users.
- Kite surfing does not have the same risk profile as jet skiing, in fact, we have more control over the ability to stop our boards than even surf-skis.
ALL WAKSA members are covered with AU$10,000,000 public liability insurance. To the best of my knowledge this facility has never had to be used by any kite surfers in WA.


Willingness of the kite surfing community and MSLSC to compromise
- The limited risks posed by kite surfing can be managed without a complete ban.
Both the MSLSC and WAKSA are willing to reach a compromise to ensure the ongoing enjoyment of Mullaloo and North Mullaloo beaches for all^
i.e. extending the current exclusion zone to the south of the MSLSC would avoid any interaction between these two groups.
> This could be trialled over the 2010/2011 summer season to monitor compliance.
> To give the Council peace of mind WAKSA membership (and hence insurance) could be required when kite surfing at Mullaloo as is the case in Cottesloe.
Only a minority group, the Mullaloo Beach User Group, is advocating a complete ban and are not willing to compromise.
- With the exception of the briefing session, the community was not consulted on a complete ban, which as Councillor Young pointed out, is very different from exclusion zones as described in the survey.


Tourism
- Kite surfing is gaining popularity with hundreds of kiters visiting and studying in Perth because of the fantastic conditions on offer. See www.westernaustralia.com/en/things_to_do/must_do_and_top_10/pages/must_do_and_top_10.aspx
- Banning kite surfing is contrary to the City's tourism imperatives, which seek to provide interesting attractions at strategic coastal nodes.

Notes:

^ Stated by the MSLSC President at last Tuesdays briefing session.

* Lack of other beach users at times when kite surfers are out was confirmed by the MSLSC President at the Tuesday briefing session.

I welcome any questions on my statements above, and would be more than happy to share my experience of kite surfing with any of you. Please feel free to contact me via email or on 04XX XXX XXX.

I trust you will make a fact based, balanced decision tomorrow evening.

Best regards,

thread bump, lets get as many kiters there tomorrow night...power in numbers...!

See you all at the council tonight.

Show yourselves from your best side, make it clear to the councillors that we are better than the small minded few trying to claim ownership of an asset belonging to all.

www.inmycommunity.com.au/

To all the kiters attending the City of Joondalup council meeting this evening….


The anti-kiting groups in Mullaloo are hoping to portray local (and all kiters) as teenage yobs with a bad attitude. They are reliant upon an incorrect, negative image of kite surfers to enhance their demand for a ban a Mullaloo.

It is imperative that at tonight’s meeting, all kiters are quite literally on their best behaviour. We must show the appropriate courtesies to the process and to the participants. It is inevitable that the opposition will make baseless comments and assumptions to try & sway the Council. Please do not allow the opposition to get under your skin - ignore them.

Last week, we showed the council and the community that kiters are not the rabble they expected us to be. Let’s do it again tonight.

Anyone that was at the meeting last week will see that the Mayor has no time for people who interrupt proceedings or do not follow his directions to the letter.

Feel free to turn up in your work suits and 'conservative attire'.

It's two ladies who are lookng over the decision as it's their area. I'm happy to speak if needed?? Maybe show the female side to the story......

Hope it's not to late, I've sent my comments to the Council staff:

Dear Sir / Madam

I would like to voice my support for kiters to use the beaches at Mullaloo, albeit respectfully of other beach users.

I kite at Pinnaroo Point and in the river at Melville Beach. In addition I work at the City of Melville in Engineering Design / transport section and I receive many complaints from pedestrians attempting to ban cyclists from the shared paths and cyclists attempting to ban pedestrians and dog owners etc etc etc.

A few Melville foreshore residents also attempted to ban kitesurfing along Melville beach due to their personal interests, however this was overturned.

Kite surfing is a sport that I hugely enjoy and is the best counterbalance for the stress of working in Local Government. Kite surfing serves a very important function in a community and like every other activity people engage in needs to be managed appropriately.

Just as we don't ban all pedestrians from shared paths because some wander in the path of cyclists, we don't ban all car driving because some people drive at speed or under the influence nor should we ban all kite surfers because of a few people who might not behavie appropriately.

I therefore request that you treat kite surfing as any another activity and reserve the right to restrict / infringe people who offend rather than the majority who kite safely and courteously.