Ok, so heres the latest. The Noosa Council have decided that in exchange for being allowed to kite in the passage we will be banned from the frying pan(area inside the mouth), due to the disturbance of the birds. Now for those of you who dont know, that is the perfect flat water, clean wind, shallow, boat free, perfect for learning and absolutly safest spot to kite. I have been teaching their during the short season of ne and not once saw the birds which were generally hanging out several 100 m away on an exposed bit of sand take flight due to kiters in the area, the kids chasing them and what I presume to be feral cats, dogs or other natural predators that i could not see caused them to lift off every now and then, sometimes, rarely, you get my point.

I will raise this matter at the SEQKA AGM which is this Thurs night (24th) We will then be in a position to forward a letter to the council on behalf of the association.

I hope that some of the Sunny Coast members can attend the AGM or at least provide items for discussion and nominations for committee memberships.

Cheers - Fitzy SEQKA Treasurer

mikeb said...

Ok, so heres the latest. The Noosa Council have decided that in exchange for being allowed to kite in the passage we will be banned from the frying pan(area inside the mouth), due to the disturbance of the birds.

sphincters! [}:)]

Apparently it is a species of bird which nests here before migrating to siberia during the winter, when disturbed they lift off, fly in a circle then chill out again.This lifting off ALLEGEDLY uses up stored energy needed for the flight to siberia.

Alright, after several hours of meetings with the other school and our reps at council and several of the councillers, the facts stand that the council do not have the power to ban kiting at all in that area as it is controlled by MSQ who arent interested. The councillers (dont confuse them with the council)also conceded that there was insufficient evidence of kites disrupting the birds. The code of conduct is totally voluntary and without the full support of the kite community will be useless, everyone hold on to your hats as the code of conduct will be submitted in the next few days which specifically states that we will not be supporting a ban on the pan.
Seems that the council were trying to bluff us last week with empty threats, but who knows what to beleive.
happy kiting

Bloody hell, does anyone else see this crap as just a bunch of old grinches and surly ex-policemen trying to find something to gripe about, and impose stupid rules upon the public so that they feel their job isn't entirely useless and their government funded salaries continue to increase?

I've never kited in that area,but hope to one day soon.

Hate to butt in,but if you are having problems,calling the Councilors names like "Sphincters" and"Old grinches "etc. isn't very smart. It could get back !

Be diplomatic,find exactly what their concerns are,then gather the information needed to convince them kites are no threat.

Don't underestimate the protection of wildlife habitats !

user said...

I've never kited in that area,but hope to one day soon.

Hate to butt in,but if you are having problems,calling the Councilors names like "Sphincters" and"Old grinches "etc. isn't very smart. It could get back !

Be diplomatic,find exactly what their concerns are,then gather the information needed to convince them kites are no threat.

Don't underestimate the protection of wildlife habitats !

You are quite right user, unfortunately I am not very diplomatic. Good advice !