yeh well we all knew this wasn't too far away...and yep getting all the kiters together as a unified group with a voice is the only way to negotiate with council about this...
The 'greyness' to this whole issue is tho that the Alley is not a safe swimming area (as per all the huge sign posts) BUT....cause people always get swept out to sea there, they have HAD to put in some lifesavers
(whom i might add dont seem to hate us kiters as i've quite often had them stop on their jetski's and boats to return my board to me), so people now think its a safe swimming beach, which its NOT.
The Gold Coast is full of SAFE SWIMMING beaches, but still people choose to go to the Alley, even tho its sign posted as dangerous.
I have to admit - i find it amazing that families come down to the Alley and set themselves up for the day on the kiting launch beach...People dont even realise whats going on around them. I dont understand why they wouldn't set up on the other side (right near the lifeguards) and away from the kiters.
I think the Alley has room for both, Kiters beach (u know where it is) and all other beach goers setup on the other side of the carpark (where most people go anyway)
Maybe us Kiters need to put it to the council for some more signage warning people about the kiting activities (launching and landing of kites) and designate areas for us both.
We would be able to share the area as there is BEACH SPACE FOR BOTH (kiters and families - keeping to their relative beaches) and Kiting is only to be outside in the surf zone and inside the Estuary (where very few people swim anyway) and NO KITING out front of where the life guards patrol and the surf schools operate.
This seems like a reasonable compromise to me....Anyway, i've upped a quick pic of what i think WOULD be fair - i'm sure it has holes and i welcome more input/criticism to this.
(and its only MY opinion)www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=811&shownew=onAnother factor is....When it gets really windy, most the beach goers leave anyway, so why should the sport be banned when the wind is up and the beach/water is predominately empty ?
anyway, thats all i can think to write at the moment