I was kiting at skilda on Saturday. Are the rocks in the kiddy pool? And are they exposed on high tide?

Hi all, tah for the post on this topic.

KBV will naturally aim to do the best we can.

As per my other post, and another update;.

a) I spoke with RMYS, the Marina works are out of warranty so it wont be the RMYS helping again , as I organised thru last time.
b) Im told by CoPP its a Parks vic issue now.
c) PV im not holding much hope, but they are planning another dump of sand.

Now I need to explain the facts again so everyone can comment accordingly.
a) Parks Vic used to replace the sand in that area every year, they now do it every 3 to 4 years.
b) as a result the sand is being washed away, which it always does every year, but as the sand is not replaced each year more layers of sand is washed away and exposing rocks that we seen now that have always been there.
c) therefore it can not be stated that it is all the marina constructions fault. in fact it is very difficult to determine if it is not all of eg Parks Vic fault for reduction on sand replacement
d) one needs to remember that the rocks 9 that are being uncovered now) are actually required to prevent sand erosion. so it is more a prob of sand replacement


Actions
KBV (I) will circle back to both CoPP and PV to gain
a) status on the sand replacement plan, & or
b) a plan to remove the rocks
c) all of these will need to be on a regular inspection , danger type arrangement .budgets permitting.
d) if this fail then a partition may be gathered.
e) unfortunately KBV ( unlike others) are legally not allowed to organise a group to remove rock from an insurance liability perspective .. that means it would be my arse on the line if anyone was hurt ( not suggesting that this is particularly dangerous work)



again feel free to chat email me

Regards
Rick Elliott
President
KBV
0437 85 9933
[email protected]

Firstly, Thanks for all the great work KBV put in, with councils etc. We are lucky to have a group of kiters willing to donate there own personal time and energy towards the ongoing needs and representation of the larger kite community.

FYI, i don't think there has even been as much sand in area.
We need less sand if anything.

So to say the sand has disappeared to expose rocks is complete nonsense.

Before the pier extension the whole area was knee to waist deep at high tide.

It's now mostly ankle deep and completely dry at low tide.

i personally don't want to see anybody else get hurt and will be happy to help remove rocks from the waters edge.

It would be great to see the area return to the way it once was, unfortunately that will require hours of sand removal, let's just start with getting rid of the rocks.

The rocks are really sharp and it hurts even when you just stand on them by accident.

I'm not sure if anybody has a kitemare story yet, but let's get rid of the problem before it happens.

Umm, you yourself just said they added the rocks..
So how is that wrong? We both know the rocks are a result of the pier extension works. And not returning the area to same state.

Yes, the sand has shifted to expose rocks, but before the works there was no rocks to expose.

The facts, before the works there was less sand and no rocks.

I was only trying to point out that the rocks have not always been there and have not naturally been exposed, which is Parks Victoria's standpoint.

THE ROCKS WERE ADDED TO AREA BY CONTRACTORS AND THEN LEFT UNDER LAYER OF SAND WHEN FINISHED.

Can we start a petition or something ?
Surely if we come up with some intelligent arguments and prove that the rocks were placed there by contractors and are now a health hazard they should have to clean them up or even just neaten the area up before someone gets seriously injured ?
I know Iv had a few near misses.. It's only a matter of time before someone smashes their head on one and it becomes a serious issue.
After all is it classified as a water sports area..

My mate just nearly split his arse open from one of these rocks today. Lucky not to have broken his back!

Update from KBV

a) I hv contacted the Department of water , land, etc DELWP, with the aim to hopefully gain a resolution and on going plan to this popular area
b) City of Port Phillip are in full support, of an application to DELWP, as they are generally supportive of Kite boarding as an attraction and part of the culture in St Kilda
c) however the territory land planning in stkilda states that below the high tide mark is Parks Vic
d) I am meeting with District Mgr at parks Vic as ap
e) Im meeting with the construction co, as I think the comment might be correct that some of the rocks are from the sand road construction, and they may be able to assit ( not sure how yet, as its out of warranty)
f) however from photos taken its clear that sand is being eroded deeper in certain areas exposing rocks from non marina develop
g) so again regardless great that Kite community respond , and KBV will work the government angle.

keep you posted



Rick

A lot of people may not realise this, but the bay was once a large mountainous valley with a massive and ancient water fall near the heads (now a popular diving spot - Pope's Eye). As many of us know, where there are rivers and creeks, there are rocks, exposed rocks that is. So it's correct to state, a lot of the bay's beaches are prone to erosion and heavily reliant on the tides in and out of the heads. The rocks issues in St Kilda, would not be an issue to anyone other than perhaps the boaties or swimmers. Kite surfing has become so popular there, that now everyone is looking at this from a safety perspective, and again because humans "must have" their lifestyle, we now yet again have to change the environment to suit it.
In my view, St Kilda is a very small area at best of times for a kite surf, and it has a lot of hazards, including boats, the pier, beach goers, and other water users. Compared to more open beaches like 13th Beach or Sandy point, it's a crap spot to kite.
But of course kiting in StKilda is seen from the tinted lenses of those that want more dosh, culture, and to cement the "kites in the air" feeling. It's become almost like the Brighton Beach huts!
I, a foreigner, say leave the rocks alone. Besides, mother nature will cover them up eventually, but human patience and sense of time is not what nature has in mind, alas.

suniboy21 said..
You make little sense and your reasons to leave the rocks there is stupid.

He makes sense but he has missed the issue.

We all know that beaches are prone to erosion and that it's a cyclic thing, no one is debating that. Earlier Rick from KBV stated that Parks Vic have been replenishing the soil in the area for years, so we have already been changing the natural environment at St Kilda and it has been happening for a long time, ever since the first pier and rock wall was built.

The issue is that with recent erosion (a natural phenomenon) rocks that are not native to the area have been exposed. Melbourne lies on a base of marine siltstone/mudstone over which there is layers of fluvial gravel, sand and silt. Gravel is defined as having particles between 2 and 60mm, not the large rocks we are seeing.
(A map of this can be downloaded for free at http://earthresources.efirst.com.au/product.asp?pID=145&cID=32&c=254216)

The rocks currently being uncovered by the erosion are not part of any natural formation in the region, they are of the same composition as those used to construct the pier wall. Somehow I don't think that's a coincidence. If it was mudstone/siltstone being uncovered a TT's fins would literally cut straight through them, mudstone is weakest 'rock' out there. Most people can break it with their bare hands, plus adding exposure to salt water for any period of time further weakens it.

And of course St Kilda is a crap spot when compared places like Sandy Point, but for most of us it's the best option available as we can't all afford to make the two hour trip to Sandy Point whenever we feel like a kite.

What we want is to improve the safety for ourselves and other beach users. I couldn't give two s**ts about the culture or number of kites in the air, I just want the reassurance that if my friends and I have a nasty stack that we won't be landing head first on a pile of sharp rocks. And I'm sure everyone reading this feels the same way. The reduced damage to gear is a healthy side effect.

Share the stoke, get around each other and have a beer afterwards.

We had a good turn out of approx 20 people last night to pick up some of the larger rocks that are submerged under mid-high tide in the larger area, and consildated some of the existing large rock bands into piles so the bigger rocks/stones are more concentrated (now approx 4-5 larger piles instead of a long band.

Upon digging around in the sand it is obvious there is alot of rockwall fragments under the sand, so dregding sand back on top would be great!

And I guess if anyone that is down that way notices or kicks/stands on a sharp rock could move it instead of cursing it would be an awesome idea. Many hands make light work, and hopefully our effort is noticed.

My company assembled a dredger out in Queenscliff the other day, apparently it is on its way to dredge stkilda...

skywalker3d said..

suniboy21 said..
My company assembled a dredger out in Queenscliff the other day, apparently it is on its way to dredge stkilda...

Get them to swing past Point Henry and suck out some weed and erchants on there way

Them Pricks of things... maybe you should get into some boots mate,

RiskyBusiness said..
Spoke with guys dredging on behalf of Parks vic contract today, said they will be finished and leaving tomorrow, just took sand out by the pier only. Water is filthy black, dredging was stopped due to lots of tyres, wire and other filth suck in the inlet.

Sadly there is now very little room to kite the kiddy pool as the Yacht club had moved moorings closer to the shoreline. Low tide is going to be a real fight for space.

any ideas on anything we can do? the sand spit is getting very very large maybe if/ when it impacts yachts something will be done