QLD
498 posts
OUR MAYOR,determined to stop 'marine thrill seeking cowboy's' from enjoying one of the best kiteboarding arena's on the Sunshine Coast'WILL have a fight on his hand's. The saga continues,imformation from my contact's tell me that the man who has tried to ban everything from skateboard parks to holding hand's in public is doing his best to convince Noosa Shire Council that Kiteing at the river mouth is detramental to all,yes there is safety concern's,well Noosa main beach is classified as a bathing only area, so all the surfing schools are illegal with 'learner's' risking the live's of all with uncontrolled 'rubber surfboard's'.Many neautral observer's think the whole deal is very one sided.The council can't back up any kind of enforcement legally so it's a bluff, a bluff that we WILL call and I expect will carry on for some time....KITER'S watch ya p's and q's for the moment, start being responsible in your action's and show the general public consideration.....A time and place for a general meeting will be posted....ALL WELCOME....Roo
NSW
4382 posts
yeah keep up the good work.
Form a local user group,
Make sure you get some of the older local kiters onboard, the one who have good speaking and diplomacy skills.
This is not a negative comment on you or any younger person, and a young person can take on the role of spokesperson, but they need to be a calm type with very good speaking and clear thinking skills.
Know your enemy, keep them close, find out as much as possible about them, be very nice, don't do anything to draw attention to yourselves, so no boat jumping or crashing kites onto the beach.
Council may not be able to enforce the waterways, but they can get Qld Maritime onto you.
And don't even mention any of that or call their bluff!!! Don't ever let them know what you know!
Compile some facts, like how many locals there are, make sure they are all paid up members of AKSA and are insured,
List how many days a year, approx, that conditions are ideal, and list the conditions, like NE wind with an opposing tide, point out that the number of days is minimal, compared to the number of days boaties have totally unfettered access.
Point out that boaties choosing to cross the bar at low tide could actually plan better and cross the bar at other less hazardous times.
Point out that many other water users are not in the area when conditions are ideal for kiting.
Way more boat users are killed and need rescuing each year.
Powered craft always give way to wind powered craft, regardless of sandbars, unless the channel is designated and signed, but avoid kiting in front of any motorboat negotiating a choppy bar or passage.
Crossing the bar in a power boat is a choice boaties make, the kiters do not make the crossing of the bar any more hazardous than it already is, provided the boaties and the kiters respect the first rule of the water - avoid collisions!!
Make it well known that kiting is an ecologically less impacting passtime than boating, and that lots of the public like to watch.
Collect signatures from the public that watch.
Let me know if you want any other help.
Cya and
Goodwinds
Steve
QLD
498 posts
If anyone want's to register with SEQKA to secure membership and indemnity insurance please P.M me and I will email you a copy of the form, or alternatively click on the link to SEQKA on Seabreeze, Paulio is president and he will do the same.This is very important to do so in regard's to our integrity with the power's that be....Roo
QLD
53 posts
Hey rooey, up here in mackay all kiteboarding, windsurfing, under council by-laws are not allowed on any patroled beach(the whole beach) which tech means we cant kite on any beach in mackay . BUT Paul Barker our no.1 life guard dude has the final say ,apparently he writes the safty poceedures and the council by-laws can be over ruled by him which he has done and will continue to do so untill we become a danger to the public (in flagged area) . Mabey if you know someone in the noosa surf club start building a relationship with them, they are good to have support from .Good Luck Mate
QLD
498 posts
Thank's Ryan,getting heep's of good fighting fodder from replies to help in our dilema,yes we have good 'clubbies' down here,they are not the problem,a couple of lad's have apparently stuffed things up for all,showing some boaties that they can ride very well up and over there vessel's,kite lines to close for comfort and freaking out observer's,no wonder complaints are being taken seriously by Noosa Shire Council,the culprit's are not regular's,show ponies that are makiing an elitest sport look like ****e...Roo
SA
311 posts
Do a whip round on this forum and on kiteforum asking via PM purely for who travels to Noosa to kitesurf, who with and where would they go if it was banned. this way get a list backing up the tourist draw card it adds to the area and everyone should put their work title down and the fact that the family comes with them.
accpet PMs from people and compile the list
eg
J. Bloggs
Managing Director
5 melbourne street Melbourne
kitesurf Noosa river mouth
family of 4 comes with me
Also for mine, defintely state that we believe fully in rules and that these rules should be enforced. AKSA membership essential, no lauching and land in (area X) give way to all other water users. An that any kiters breaking the rules should have their AKSA cancelled and then cannot kite there.
Like I said before, get angry with cowboys, I promise I will be a good kiter on my next trip and do what the locals say
QLD
126 posts
This is in response to Steve from Kitepower
Youre advice is all sound apart from one major thing!!
Powered craft always give way to wind powered craft, regardless of sandbars.
Im sorry to inform you thats way of the mark and one of the causes to this kefuffle,
The International rules of the road state:
SMALL VESSELS OR SAILING VESSELS MUST NOT IMPEDE LARGER VESSELS WHICH CAN NAVIGATE ONLY WITHIN A NARROW CHANNEL
I hear this misconception all the time and think all kiters need to have there facts straight before going any further in this.
QLD
18 posts
Rooey, the whip around idea from dazza5172 is a great one. Collect the sort of stats that will present a good argument and get people like the Chamber of Commerce or Tourism Asscociations on your side. I'm only new in kiting but owe my interest to the Noosa river mouth where I first saw the sport. My family and myself were regular holiday makers to the area which was getting a bit "Ho-Hum" until kiting came along. I would spend the better part of three grand for a weeks stay, but less and less was being offered to keep us coming back...Hastings street...you need to robb a bank to eat, and every other shop is expensive clothing or jewellery. Surfing at first point...rare to get a swell and fifty people chasing one foot waves. Start walking if you want better swell. But now we have kiting at the River mouth...great entertainment value....and my son and I have both taken up the sport and Noosa will continue to be our holiday spot as long as kiting is not banned ( I know the chance of increased numbers scare some kiters but I personally would probaly rather watch when the local and regular talent get cranked ) . To restrict such a thing will lose lots of tourist dollars...You guys are doing a great job defending your activity but you are also defending Noosa in general. A public meeting/protest by all kiters and freinds may also help.. but it would need to be held during the day and probably in the park at the end of Hastings St. We would come...so you have 4 people ready to turn up already. Any more ???
Rob Darlington (48 yrs), Bribie Island Qld. spend $2000+ per year in Noosa.
Mikeb you are correct about the rule restricting navigation in confined channels (common sense and the fair go rule should apply) and these rules are to stop accidents happening on the water...not to give Councils control over the water activities..the car parking on the other hand could get interesting.
QLD
37 posts
yeah well having been kiting since day dot on the sunny coast 2000 there were only a handfull of us then and watching the crazy stuff that goes down at the noosa rivermouth every summer.. it has become a joke and is dangerous and I am surprised that it has taken this long to have it banned, and after being run over twice surfing noosa yesterday i say get some of those idiots out of the water too..what is needed is some kind of water patrol to sort all of this out and penalise/fine or remove people from the water if they behave irresponsibly - get learners out of the way let them learn in the shorebreak or out of the way of experienced riders or you have chaos..it is all just too accessable and you have to do the hard yards in the crap before you get to the better spots, sort this out now..
QLD
118 posts
Hey Rooey,
Keep up the good work and keep us informed to any discussion or meeting's that will go ahead.
Also if the Noosa council get's this thru expect Maroochy and Caloundra councils to follow close behind. Probably good to get all of the coast to come together and stand as a united front, "Solidarity my friend" to keep the bastards honest.
QLD
498 posts
Rob c/o Noosa Adventure Sport's has a petition at his counter if anyone want's to call in and sign it..Roo
QLD
776 posts
whats the petetion say Roo ?
QLD
498 posts
Just a simple form to show the number of kiter's that are willing to adhere to SAFELY kite in the mth and recognize our own personal responsibility to regulate ourselves to practice good diplomacy when kiteing...that will then be presented to Noosa Shire Council..hey Blownaway thank's for your good work...Roo
QLD
118 posts
Hey Rooey,
Keep the rage, maybe try an round up the boys for another mass downwinder, that might keep it in the mind of the OTHER'S.
QLD
498 posts
all credit must go to Rob, c/o Adventure Sport's Noosa for compileing the partition and a great letter addressed to Noosa Council outlineing some cold facts about the logistic's and safety that would be employed by all responsible Kiter's that patronise the Noosa River Mth (and all kiteing venues on the coast)thank's Rob for your genuine concern's for the longivity of Kiteing...Roo
QLD
498 posts
Apparently Matt c/o Wipika Kite's has been doing some excellent 'behind the scene's work' on council backing some proposal's for self regulation and education to maintain kiteing at the mouth...thumbs up Matt!
) but it is a wonderful spot i just wish i dont have to keep worrying about my fin ( windsurfing )
