WEDGE ISLAND OPEN DAY INFORMATION

> 10 years ago
Reply
Register to post, see what you've read, and subscribe to topics.
ThePhil
ThePhil
WA
1322 posts
WA, 1322 posts
16 Oct 2012 12:40pm
This is from the Shackies at Wedge for those that would like to find out about the history of the area. And it sounds like a great opportunity for a family day out for the other half and the kids whilst you research the wind and wave patterns.

Do you know someone who may be interested in attending our Community Open Day ?
To assist in reaching a broad section of the WA public, we are asking members whether they know anyone who might enjoy attending our Community Open Day. If so, simply forward this email to them requesting them to register on the website. A poster advertising the Open Day is attached.
Our target is families with young children, reinforcing the family and community focus of the Wedge settlement – so we would prefer you to concentrate on our target group
.
A community open day is being held by the Wedge Island Protection Association (WIPA) on Sunday 28th October, providing an opportunity for interested people to visit the Wedge shack settlement and to learn about this unique coastal community.

The objectives of the community open day are to:
- demonstrate the heritage values to the general public, publicised at the launch of the Heritage Assessment Report.

- enable the public to become informed on how the community operates and plans to create meaningful public access to the site and experience the shack community lifestyle first hand.

- allow WIPA to test the market realities of demand for the shack site experience.


If you are interested in this community open day, we request you register your interest using the form on the Wedge WA website:

www.wedgewa.com.au

Include number of adults and children under 12 in your group or family, and any particular interest such as fishing, 4wding, surfing. More details will be sent in response to your submission.

Our target is families with young children, reinforcing the family and community focus of the Wedge settlement

Light refreshments will be served for morning tea/lunch, with activities for younger children.
SugarQube
SugarQube
WA
490 posts
WA, 490 posts
16 Oct 2012 8:09pm
Good luck to you guys, I can imagine the pressure is on.

Wedge used to be that hard to get to, wild west sort of, last out post place, bogans paradise etc etc.

Now when you cruise past on the new high way in air conditioned comfort, less than two hours from perth, it sort of looks like a rubbish tip, dont think the place has any relavance or historical value besides to the owners of the shacks.

Its an enviromental night mare, and should take the path of Sandy Cape, north of Jurien Bay. The place got taken down, is now available to every one and managed as a very nice camp site.

Sorry, but times are changing for every one
eppo
eppo
WA
9793 posts
WA, 9793 posts
16 Oct 2012 8:40pm
Sugarcube I do see your point of view. I think the point of the open day is a move to create options that do allow public access in the future. A view not shared by all wedge shack owners but a reality in my mind if they want them to stay. I think they have a decent system in Tasmania in some parts that allow public access to stay.

All these shacks do share some cultural significance though as entire west coast through this area was really opened up by the crayfisherman etc who create these shacks. There is cultural heritage values and this has been supported buy the cultural heritage council ( or whatever you call them).

But I agree, the coast belongs to everyone and everyone should have access. Not just a few.

I will be heading up to support them if I can convince the wife and kids! Hope there's wind. Ha ha


Any reason why we need to register, suppose for catering purposes?
Beelzebub
Beelzebub
WA
145 posts
WA, 145 posts
16 Oct 2012 10:08pm
A visit to Wedge would make even the most zealous anarchists realize government regulations actually have a degree of merit.
ThePhil
ThePhil
WA
1322 posts
WA, 1322 posts
16 Oct 2012 10:24pm
No real need to register, it's just one of those things, will there be 10 or 1000? but will all work out either way.

It's still just as accessible for everyone, same as say Leightons or Yallingup or Sandy Cape, always has been, who's stopping anyone? The shackies have even built a first aid station and heli pad for the general public.

The complete lack of Government services is a problem but the Shack community has done the best they can re clean up, and historically (but I don't know the current arrangement) get about 1.5% back (after much begging) from DEC for tip facilities for the $300,000 odd they pay to DEC each year.

I'm not convinced that everything changing to be the same is something that is very desirable, do we really need another Lancelin or Margaret River?

Shacks are very achievable, they are going for about $10,000 at the moment, compare that to the exclusivity Gracetown. Why should the poor people always miss out?

My personal view is that it is Australia's largest group of 'Mens Sheds' and a battlers paradise. The fact that they evolved historically in defiance of the bureaucracy is humorously ironic.
Chris6791
Chris6791
WA
3271 posts
WA, 3271 posts
16 Oct 2012 10:39pm
ThePhil said...
The shackies have even built a first aid station and heli pad for the general public.



Beelzebub said...
A visit to Wedge would make even the most zealous anarchists realize government regulations actually have a degree of merit.



it just seems appropriate to bring these two quotes a little closer together, they seem to go hand in hand. Apart from the helipads at QEII and RPH the one at Wedge is most likely the single most visited piece of dirt for the rescue helicopter in Western Australia.
tightlines
tightlines
WA
3510 posts
WA, 3510 posts
16 Oct 2012 11:26pm
^ Yep I'd have to agree with you there Chris it was about 35 years ago my folks bought at Lancelin and it seems like every Easter (as well as heaps of other times, that just always seemed to be the most common) we would see the chopper heading up.

I know a few people with shacks up there but I rarely stay there myself, (except for a lot of New Years Eve's that I have vague memories of )

I personally think it would be good if the shacks could be retained but I believe that some sort of camp ground and facilities needs to be developed as well.

Hey I still wish they didn't bulldoze our shack at Whitfords Beach/Pinnaroo Point but then again that is what forced my parents to buy at Lancelin.
dusta
dusta
WA
2940 posts
WA, 2940 posts
17 Oct 2012 12:00am
ThePhil said...
No real need to register, it's just one of those things, will there be 10 or 1000? but will all work out either way.

It's still just as accessible for everyone, same as say Leightons or Yallingup or Sandy Cape, always has been, who's stopping anyone? The shackies have even built a first aid station and heli pad for the general public.

The complete lack of Government services is a problem but the Shack community has done the best they can re clean up, and historically (but I don't know the current arrangement) get about 1.5% back (after much begging) from DEC for tip facilities for the $300,000 odd they pay to DEC each year.

I'm not convinced that everything changing to be the same is something that is very desirable, do we really need another Lancelin or Margaret River?

Shacks are very achievable, they are going for about $10,000 at the moment, compare that to the exclusivity Gracetown. Why should the poor people always miss out?

My personal view is that it is Australia's largest group of 'Mens Sheds' and a battlers paradise. The fact that they evolved historically in defiance of the bureaucracy is humorously ironic.


it was never accessible for just anyone . Unless you had a 4wd it was near on impossible to get to . Now the road has opened it up to every tom dick and bogan .


Mark _australia
Mark _australia
WA
23695 posts
WA, 23695 posts
17 Oct 2012 8:27am
Am I the only one who finds it bemusing (at the very least) that

(1) When the new road went thru, Wedge people ripped down the "Wedge Island" sign on the turn-off repeatedly so their exclusive slice of heaven was not to be visited by the grey gypsies and 'just anyone' ?????
Thus I find it fkn hilarious that now there is to be an open day!!!!

I am not necessarily criticising the act of sign removal - there is one just up the road that should be ripped down as it advertises a certain spot that does not need any - just think the irony is rather strange


(2) No open day invite to surfers and windsurfers who have been doing the secret spot thing at Wedge for 30-40yrs..... only in the kite forum?
Still, makes a damn site more sense than inviting more 4WD and MX crew to go be bogans at Wedge.
ThePhil
ThePhil
WA
1322 posts
WA, 1322 posts
17 Oct 2012 11:36am
And this is what the open day is all about, hope to see you all there, I will personally shout you a beer when you are up there and take you around in my Cruiser.

With the sign removal, nobody condones public vandalism, it costs as all sooner or later, it was obviously some individual, who's to say it was not some kiter that did not want the place crowded out?

With the wind and surf, I just didn't want to 'spam' the forums but would appreciate it if you could put a link up there for me.

With the 4WD and MX crew, they are in fact just a welcome as anybody, fishermen, yachties, straight, gay, black, white, grey, mysogynists, mysandrists, and my favourite philanderers.

Just because you need a 4WD does not make something exclusive, something like a hotel with a private beach or private property is closer to exclusive. Is Fraser Island exclusive or a reserve for 4WD enthusiasts?

With the whole development, years and years ago the Shack Community (WIPA) put a proposal for a camp ground so that all could enjoy Wedge, in response to 'expressions of interest' called by CALM. I don't know what ever happened there.

Rottnest is basically government owned and run so it does not become an exclusive resort, but due to the difficulties that Governments have with running monopolies it had to subsidised by us taxpayers, even though some said that certain cash cows like the pub and the ferries had been spun off to private interests.

I am right up there with the campsite idea and I think that having some type of public shack visit option would be really cool and much better than having a porta cabin option like all the other campgrounds.

Call me a cynic but I think it is such a beautiful place that there is more danger of the shacks getting bulldozed, it gets closed off for 10 years due to 'contamination' then low and behold our kids end up with the Brian Burke Crown Casino Memorial Resort.
birdie919
birdie919
WA
82 posts
WA, 82 posts
17 Oct 2012 4:59pm
dusta said...
ThePhil said...
No real need to register, it's just one of those things, will there be 10 or 1000? but will all work out either way.

It's still just as accessible for everyone, same as say Leightons or Yallingup or Sandy Cape, always has been, who's stopping anyone? The shackies have even built a first aid station and heli pad for the general public.

The complete lack of Government services is a problem but the Shack community has done the best they can re clean up, and historically (but I don't know the current arrangement) get about 1.5% back (after much begging) from DEC for tip facilities for the $300,000 odd they pay to DEC each year.

I'm not convinced that everything changing to be the same is something that is very desirable, do we really need another Lancelin or Margaret River?

Shacks are very achievable, they are going for about $10,000 at the moment, compare that to the exclusivity Gracetown. Why should the poor people always miss out?

My personal view is that it is Australia's largest group of 'Mens Sheds' and a battlers paradise. The fact that they evolved historically in defiance of the bureaucracy is humorously ironic.


it was never accessible for just anyone . Unless you had a 4wd it was near on impossible to get to . Now the road has opened it up to every tom dick and bogan .





Bogans never had 4x4's Dusta????
Mark _australia
Mark _australia
WA
23695 posts
WA, 23695 posts
17 Oct 2012 9:13pm
birdie919 said...
Bogans never had 4x4's Dusta????


Errr, you have not looked at Lano to Wedge on a long weekend lately have you...?

dusta
dusta
WA
2940 posts
WA, 2940 posts
17 Oct 2012 10:25pm
birdie919 said...
dusta said...
ThePhil said...
No real need to register, it's just one of those things, will there be 10 or 1000? but will all work out either way.

It's still just as accessible for everyone, same as say Leightons or Yallingup or Sandy Cape, always has been, who's stopping anyone? The shackies have even built a first aid station and heli pad for the general public.

The complete lack of Government services is a problem but the Shack community has done the best they can re clean up, and historically (but I don't know the current arrangement) get about 1.5% back (after much begging) from DEC for tip facilities for the $300,000 odd they pay to DEC each year.

I'm not convinced that everything changing to be the same is something that is very desirable, do we really need another Lancelin or Margaret River?

Shacks are very achievable, they are going for about $10,000 at the moment, compare that to the exclusivity Gracetown. Why should the poor people always miss out?

My personal view is that it is Australia's largest group of 'Mens Sheds' and a battlers paradise. The fact that they evolved historically in defiance of the bureaucracy is humorously ironic.


it was never accessible for just anyone . Unless you had a 4wd it was near on impossible to get to . Now the road has opened it up to every tom dick and bogan .





Bogans never had 4x4's Dusta????

obviously never been there before the road was open during summer , say australia day long weekend for example ?

the amount of rollovers you see being towed back down the beach or cubs on their quads ripping up and down the beach is bollox
eppo
eppo
WA
9793 posts
WA, 9793 posts
17 Oct 2012 11:08pm
Well phil, for one I think it is great what you are doing. In a perfect world the shack owners would keep there slice of paradise that they share to to the public in an organised fashion and some camp grounds are created. This may create a self sustaining stream of income to clean the place up and keep it that way. I say lets be positive about this and at least the wedge owners are trying something. I know from a personal convention that the people representing the wedge shack owners give up a lot of their time and energy trying to find solutions and I for one wish you the best. I will try my best to be their Sunday week phill. I was debased when they took down our shack north of sandy cape, been in the family for decades. I truly hope it doesn't happen to the wedge and grey crew. But the public deserve access and to be able to stay regardless of history. It is everyone's coastline.
Please Register, or first...
Topics Subscribe Reply