Good News (sort of?),

I attended yesterday Sunday 15 May 2016, The Peoples Forum at Southport High, that had in attendance most of QLD's State Ministers including The Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk with another of our Kiting buddies, Willy.

Congratulations to any other Kiters or Windsurfers that were in attendance, from my observation there were not so many of you, which was to say the least disappointing seeing this is such a major issue that could severely affect your enjoyment of the place of your recreation.

During the course of the Forum where Public Members could put questions to the State Ministers, Allan Rickard of 'Save Our Broadwater' Lobby Group stood up and gave a great speech on trying to save the whole Main Beach Spit Peninsula of Proposed Highrise Development for now and into the future. On completion of his speech he was met with absolute unanimous congratulatory applause, yells and whistles of the whole rooms approval and sentiment much to the dismay and embarrassment of The Gold Coast City Councils Lord Mayor, Tom Tate who when I looked at him wanted to just shrink and hide somewhere. The Premier then went onto to say to Allan Rickard that she believes the whole process of the approvals are with the Gold Coast City Council at this stage and that it will be looked into in due course by them The State Government and it could come down to what the people want. The Forum then erupted with cries and yells with things like 'No More Development on the Spit', '3 Storeys Only', 'Local Government is Corrupt', 'Hands Off Our Spit' and alike. The Premier then said OK obviously this is a very serious matter and they will take the Peoples concerns in very carefully, She then went onto and asked if Allan Rickard would like to form a deputation and meet with her and her colleagues after the Forum to discuss the matter in further detail with them.

The Forum soon wrapped up and I went and congratulated Allan Rickard on his speech and asked if I can sit in with his delegation as representative to the Kitesurfers and Windsurfers of the Broardwater and Gold Coast. He said he did not mind. The Delegation sat and started to discuss many issues surrounding the proposed Highrise Developments Proposals on the Spit.

I won't go into to much detail about that as I was having a hard time trying to hear what was being said but I know things were being said about secrecy, corruption of the whole process by the Gold Coast Coauncil and Gold Coast Waterways Authorities approvals and going against the whole L.A.P. (Local Area Plan) that had always stood in the past for the area and these things going against all sound reasoning of good Urban Planning to protect ever dwindling areas from over development for open and greenspace of a City for the sake of once off Cash Grabs, line pockets opportunities for Developers and vested interests, while the State Government is cash strapped and on its knees at the expence of of Open Vista Places, The Environment and Peoples enjoyment of recreation areas now and into the future.

I was having trouble trying to get any word in but as The Premier was wrapping things up, I called out to her and said that I am here representing the Kite Surfers and Windsurfers of the Broadwater and Gold Coast who want to thank her and her Government for having the tenacity and forsight to stop the expoitation of our ever dwindling resource of open recreational spaces of the what was then Proposed Wave Break Island Development. The Premier and her staff surrounded by, seemed to lighten up and all smiled at me and the The Premier asked that she likes looking at all the Kite Surfers and was wondering how hard it is to do, I said "it's not that hard to do after a couple of proper lessons". I then went onto to say that I and the group I represent would like to call on The Premier and her staff to help us end this madness of Proposed Highrise Developments on the whole of the Main Beach Spit as we are true users and an intrest group of the Broadwater whereby any Highrise or Tower Developments on the Main Beach Spit are going to severely affect the available wind to our traditional sailing areas on the Broadwater. The Premier went onto say that is not something they had considered and understand, yes it could be a big problem for us. I spoke of that a lot of people think we can just all clear off and go out to any one of the myriad of beaches around but I said what people do not understand there are two main different disciplines to our sport, one being flatwater Kiting or Windsurfing and the other being Surf Kiting our Windsurfing with the latter requiring much more skill and that when people are learning it is best for them to start in the very limited available supply of flatwater locations. Which I then went onto discuss the uniqueness of these areas and ones suitable throughout South East Queensland and whereby even the Kiters from Northern NSW do not have as good of spots and come to here on a regular basis. Also I stressed that the two Flatwater Locations on the Gold Coast Broadwater are Nationally and Internationally recognised from Kiters and Windsurfers as good places to come visit and enjoy their recreational sport/activity. Which contributes to healthy sporting tourism to our Local and State Economy. The Premier and her staff thanked me and said they would definitely like to look into this further. It was suggested to me by the Premiers Chief of Staff that if I could email them a letter outlining our case that they would be more than happy to take this into consideration. I thanked them and said I would get onto it.

After this I was congratulated by representatives of 'Save Our Spit' (Lobby Group) members who thanked me and were impressed that I went up and stated our important case to The Premier and her staff. They went on to say to me if I require any assistance from them that they would be happy to help me and us.

That's about it so far, but if anyone out there would like to help me in support and those who have experience with writing letters or proper correspondence to Government Officials, please feel free to contact me to lend a hand.

Thanks,
Kurtis