I was wondering if anyone new about the potential ramifications of the new marine park on kiters. The plans are up for public consultation but from what i've seen and heard the government's not interested in consulting and is just paying lip service to it. Once the outer boundaries are approved, which covers most of the state's inshore waters the minister has descretionary powers to restrict use. Heaps of fisho's will lose their jobs and heaps of recreationals will be limited. Lots of places will be no go zones for anyone. If they are willing to give fishos a hard time (theres heaps of them that vote) it surely won't be long before we get booted. Interestingly theres nothing in the park that will inconvenience developers from continuing to trash coastal zones and theres already one instance of an area being closed infront of the shacks of some well known business people soon after they bought the shacks to everything except the activities that they wanted to carry out. Regardless of your position about fishing have a look at the plan in detail and ignore the hype. I believe I and the crew have been photographed without our permission kiting in an area on the list to become a park by people who want the park and found out later it was being used to show that there was irressponsible use of certain areas. Kiting like fishing is apparently "irresponsible use" according to this person who I might add sped off in a vehicle emitting more pollution then an oil fire in iraq. They've employed a public relations crew so have a look beyond the glossy brochures and have a say before they decide that they need to ban kiting in more areas to protect the environment but more likely the unobstructed views of the obscenely wealthy.

If you google it it will come up. The problem is the clause that once the external boundaries have been approved the use ofa any areas within those boundaries can be changed at the "minister's discretion" or words to that effect. Just search for encounter marine park. The problem is that it has become increasingly difficult to find the actual proposal rather then the one that has been created by the public relations office.

Yeah righto, I see what you are saying. My mum is a director of DEH so I'll see what she has to say about it and what we need to do to ensure our voice is heard. I'll keep you posted.

Awesome work Chops and thanks for raising it MM.
I looked at this a while ago and was under the impression that kiters/surfers are considered a vessel <3.5 tons and therefore have access to those areas without recourse.
Great news that Chops has his contacts. If there is anything that SAKSA can assist with, let us know.

Cheers all, I'll keep in contact

Good work Chops and thanks for the info. Where I am the park will have enormous ramafications to access to certain areas that we kite and will also have a negative impact on the whole economy. Thanks for getting the info. If someone can PM me the info i'll join SAKSA and get the crew to do the same. Cheers all.

Hi all,

On behalf of SAKSA, I met with the DEH regarding the proposed Marine Park on the south coast. I've gone through their plans and regarding the specific areas between Victor/Goolwa to KI (Marine Park 17), I don't see an issue for kiters, windsurfers or surfers specifically.

That said, I can completely understand why the fishing community is up in arms and can't say I blame them.

From a SAKSA perspective, I do have some concerns for kiters regarding the further rollout of 18 more marine parks across SA (especially around the two Gulfs), but the devil is in the detail and we'll have to wait until it is released.

All of the regular kiting spots along the south coast are not a jeopardy at this point (for kiting), nor are the lower lakes etc.

The DEH has added SAKSA to their mailout for consultation; we'll keep abreast on the matter, and keep the kiting community informed accordingly.

Cheers,
Will Chapman

Good work Chappy. The point I am concerned about (the Minister's disctetion to change permitted activities within the boundaries of the Marine park) was shown by the recent ban on tow in surfing on the West Coast (I think). Sure the guys were close to nesting Ospreys and they probably should have thought about that first but it does demonstrate that the government can, in conservation areas, ban activities at will. A spot I kite near has recently had a bird hide erected and I'm sure we have been photographed by advocates of the marine park kiting there. The angles of the shots i presume were taken ensured that they excluded the birds that were NOT disturbed by us but undoubtedly included birds that had moved up the beach. Further there is already one area that will be completely closed to EVERYONE regardless. I have already started saving for a Jet Ski because the area I think we will be kicked out of will still be open to powered water craft. I'm sure the "over the top" greenies will prefer me to jump kickers on a 1200cc jet ski instead of my 12m Cult. I think the big question we need to ask is how will the DEH build its iconic, copper arsenate treated, environmentally friendly boardwalk system under water? lol.