http://www.swellnet.com.au/news/3694-surfers-call-in-police-to-end-conflict-zone-on-gold-coast


The Surf Council has today demanded that Water Police are called in to manage famous Gold Coast surf break and National Surfing Reserve Currumbin Alley, after successive requests to the Queensland Government have failed.

"How many surfers lives have to be lost before local Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey and State Transport Minister Scott Emerson act on what is certainly another fatality waiting to happen," Dan Ware Chairman of Gold Coast Surf Council said today from the world surfing capital.

In 2011 local surfer Richard King was killed while surfing when struck by a vessel crossing the Currumbin bar. On Saturday 8 June 2013 at approximately 5.45am local surfer and Bond University Professor Chris Del Mar was struck by a vessel crossing Currumbin Bar which failed to stop after the 'hit and run' incident. Del Mar survived, however while he formally reported the matter both to the Broadbeach Police Station and Maritime Safety Queensland, he has had no response to date.

The GCSC (Gold Coast Surf Council) have raised these issues with both Currrumbin MP Minister Stuckey and Transport Minster Emerson, who both continue to ignore the problem and seek to shift responsibility to Gold Coast City Council.

GCSC has reviewed both the findings of the Queensland Transport investigation into the death of Richard King and media statements made by Minister Stuckey and the Volunteer Marine Rescue at the time of the incident. All sources of information indicate that without meaningful action from Queensland State Government more lives will be lost.

Local Surfers lives are threatened by vessels regularly exceeding the 6 knot speed limit both on crossing the bar and within 30 meters of people in the water. Further to this there is little if any evidence of any enforcement activity-taking place by Queensland Water Police or Queensland Transport.

GCSC demands immediate action from the Queensland Government to protect the safety of surfers at the famous Currumbin Alley, which is also a National Surfing Reserve. The Queensland Government must immediately increase enforcement of speed limits and commence a trial of safety initiatives such as increasing the powers of lifeguards, compulsory sounding of warning horns by vessels, education and competency certification for recreational vessel operators using the area.

"Surfers have a reasonable expectation to safely use the 'Alley' and it is negligent of Ministers Stuckey and Emerson to dismiss their legal duty of care, which continues to endanger the lives of our friends and families," added Co-Chair Brad Farmer.

Gold Coast Surf Council (GCSC) was established in December 2012 to advocate to all three levels of government, for the interests of the surfing community.

I was a bit disappointed to see the VMR doing some high speed circuits in the gutter along the front of Laceys, starting from in front of the groin and back, on Sunday. Hard to see much done when those that are meant to be the sensible ones aren't following the rules or using common sense. Then again that is pretty thin on the ground across the board at the Alley.

Same in Tallebudgera creek.I take my nervous wife for a paddle and boaties totally ignore the 6 knot rule and the close proximity rule. I don't know why power boats are allowed in such a beautiful spot.

Got to say we have a similar risk at Ettalong/box head, mostly the jetskis are out of control these days, I don't know of any other wave where you can have 10 or 20 jetskis going 80KM an hour whilst your attempting to have a surf especially in the summer months.

Boats are also an issue, many weekend warriors don't respect the channel markers, accident waiting to happen all round.

Agreed, you need to report bad behaviour as they use statistics to form policy in regards to the area/s boating policies.

Similar problems with Jetskis at the mouth of the Maroochy River on the Sunny Coast. Recently a group of about 6 were having a great laugh circling us in close proximity. Also wave jumping within 10 metres of us. Local Lifeguards indicated we need photo/video evidence, including their craft rego details, before any action can be taken.

Piros said..

This is a hard call , firstly as a surfer yeah stop the power boats but secondly as a boatie , Tally creek is impassable , that leaves Tweed Bar which closes out or the Southport Seaway miles away. The Alley can be safely negotiated in a boat dodging the surf zone if you surf there and know when the sand has shifted , but unfortunately alot of boaties don't surf. Plus alot of pro fisherman who know the channel well fish out of here.The Alley is the official Zoo of the Gold Coast , power boats , outriggers , surf boats , clubbie skies & mals , goat boats , short boarders , mals , surf schools , tow in kooks , wind & kite surfers ,Sup surfers and racers.

If you are going to get run over by something this is the spot. Re the VMR they need to train rookies , I have seen some hopeless efforts whilst training....I don't have the answer.

I agree with you Piros, difficult situation.

However the "stop the boats" was more a play on words than any real desire to stop the boats. My friends cross that bar regularly and as surfers know how to not endanger other surfers lives.

In my and other peoples opinion the sand formation in the creek mouth is a huge factor. The yearly dredging efforts shape how this will look for most of the year. Ask Kelly Margetts or the lifeguards how different approaches to the dredging shape the bar, the beach and how the boats will use the creek mouth. Also how many resuces there will be each Summer.

What is not being done here is two things:

- The VMR or water police are not enforcing the rules for boats

- There is no proper public or lifeguard consultation on the dredging.

Last year my neighbour Dan Ware who is now the Chairman of the Surf Council attended this 'public' consultation and was surprised that nobody from the "Alley Boardriders" or any actual surf user body was invited in any way. This was one of the catalysts for the formation of the Surf Council. Beuracrats only work in Beuracratic ways so this council is the way for surf users to have their say on these matters.

if you look at the way the creek is dredged and have a safe path out of the creek and then ensure that the few irresponsible cowboys follow the laws it should be good for everyone right?

CMC said..

Piros said..

This is a hard call , firstly as a surfer yeah stop the power boats but secondly as a boatie , Tally creek is impassable , that leaves Tweed Bar which closes out or the Southport Seaway miles away. The Alley can be safely negotiated in a boat dodging the surf zone if you surf there and know when the sand has shifted , but unfortunately alot of boaties don't surf. Plus alot of pro fisherman who know the channel well fish out of here.The Alley is the official Zoo of the Gold Coast , power boats , outriggers , surf boats , clubbie skies & mals , goat boats , short boarders , mals , surf schools , tow in kooks , wind & kite surfers ,Sup surfers and racers.

If you are going to get run over by something this is the spot. Re the VMR they need to train rookies , I have seen some hopeless efforts whilst training....I don't have the answer.

I agree with you Piros, difficult situation.

However the "stop the boats" was more a play on words than any real desire to stop the boats. My friends cross that bar regularly and as surfers know how to not endanger other surfers lives.

In my and other peoples opinion the sand formation in the creek mouth is a huge factor. The yearly dredging efforts shape how this will look for most of the year. Ask Kelly Margetts or the lifeguards how different approaches to the dredging shape the bar, the beach and how the boats will use the creek mouth. Also how many resuces there will be each Summer.

What is not being done here is two things:

- The VMR or water police are not enforcing the rules for boats

- There is no proper public or lifeguard consultation on the dredging.

Last year my neighbour Dan Ware who is now the Chairman of the Surf Council attended this 'public' consultation and was surprised that nobody from the "Alley Boardriders" or any actual surf user body was invited in any way. This was one of the catalysts for the formation of the Surf Council. Beuracrats only work in Beuracratic ways so this council is the way for surf users to have their say on these matters.

if you look at the way the creek is dredged and have a safe path out of the creek and then ensure that the few irresponsible cowboys follow the laws it should be good for everyone right?

I think your overstepping your boundaries if you want the Police or VMR to do there job Thats just way off and you need to back down CMC

it always interests me the point about not having to know anything about crossing a bar to get a boat licence.

I would assume 90% of boaties probably never get into the open ocean, however to have nothing for those that either do/or aspire to seems absurd to me. Maybe there needs to be an open ocean class boat licence, similar to getting a different class licence for a car vs a truck.

Demolish all break walls or just let them silt up and let nature sort the boats out ;) The ocean will re establish sand equilibrium given time. We are in a position now where we have people using boats that can't handle river mouths or estuaries expecting deep channels to constantly be dug out for them by the taxpayer.

Imagine the surf breaks we would have if the coast was now as it was 200 years ago! The boats would look a lot different and be able to cross the bars. Bring back old Kirra :)

We just need Tony at the break wall , hell turn em back!

Helped a boatie drag his boat of the sandbar yesterday , some just leave it to late to come in or go out. Very few if any would check the bar first or check with the coast guard. I guess if they are on you want to stay out as long as possible!