Cottesloe Kiting Ban

Went down to Cottesloe (Opposite Salvado St) today to see if there was enough wind, as I approach the pathway down to the beach I noticed a new sign at the top showing all the things that are banned at the beach and kiting is one of them, so then I drove a couple of hundred metres north to Deane st carpark and the same sign appears there. Now did I miss something in the forums discussing this or have the Cott council decided what the hell lets ban everything.

I've been kiting for 8 - 9 years and the last 7 of them at this spot which I called my local, I paid my WAKSA membership every year and even put the correct coloured tag on my harness in case the ranger came down as apparently you were only supposed to kite there if you were a member displaying the tag.

To say I'm pissed off is an understatement especially as there was no lead up warning or opportunity to go to any meeting to discuss the ban, on top of that we are slowly getting pushed to kite at one or two locations along this stretch making things even more crowded.

What I would like to know is there anybody out there who knew anything about this and if not will we (WAKSA and kiting community) be able to get it changed, if not what a shame that local government can decide to do whatever they want with no thought given to anyone else's use of the beach.

By the way I'll be moving to the SW in a couple of months to gods country so ultimately it won't affect me, but I believe a fight is needed to stop this sort of sh#t happening as it seems to on a regular basis. Over and out.

Hope this can be worked out??? Seems unbelievable council could ban a sport ( any sport for that matter) without any warning just like that......

Shall I post links to the threads 5yrs ago about how the segregated areas were being ignored by kiters, and how non WAKSA / AKSA members were kiting there against the rules?
Half the responses were the bullsh!t "i will do what I please and fk all you surfers windsurfers dog walkers" hero type sh!t.


Hardly a shocking development. I feel for you, but like I said, hardly surprising.

.... guys, don't worry, the sign isn't showing kite banning, they are banning throwing a towel into the air because its got a few stray threads!!

Got me why you guys put up with this s..t, move to the Midwest where you councils are pro kitesurfing, I had a weekend down Perth near kings park end of the river, blew me away at the things your not allowed to do, what's the point if you carnt do anything, fat queer australia, it's the future I'm telling you, dogs sh,,t and fat gits should be the only things banned on the beach

saw the same sign down at the swanny dog beach at the end of north street. still plenty of kiters it there when the wind is up. do you think rangers can actually be bothered enforcing?..

I assume if you were kiting somewhere with a no kiting sign, this would void any 3rd party insurance right?

www.bunnings.com.au/makita-lxt-18v-115mm-cordless-angle-grinder-skin-only_p6240142

Edit: oh wait, it's just wood:

www.bunnings.com.au/craftright-500mm-hand-saw_p5710074

Cottesloe council should have a duty of care to provide proper facilities for kitesurfers rather than just ban it. I imagine that their argument is a petty one, probably brought about by some surfer or windsurfer or old granny, but it is totally upside down. This stretch is water not ideal for swimming with the submerged reef so close to the beach, a valid argument for dogs as well. So the swimming public should be banned from this site. Thus the only really use should be for those participating in water sports and warnings put up for the general public to avoid this area.

Any argument that is is not safe because someone died should be thrown out. Should we ban cars where someone dies in a road accident, or cyclists too or buildings in cottesloe where people fall off them or get pushed.

How do we take the council to court?

In the UK the councils have a legal duty to provide or have a plan to provide a venue to participate in official sports. Kiteboarding is (in the UK) now an official sport. Might this angle work in WA?

The UK experience is that it is best to engage with the council, befriend the councillors, explain, get the support of the locals. That tends to work best rather than the confrontational approach (or a bit of both ... good cop / bad cop) can work well.

Let me know if we can help from the UK. Sometimes a petition with lots of international as well as local signatures can grab the attention?

Good luck.

BA

Get used to it. Its going to happen at other beaches as well in the next few years. We, re not a unique sport anymore that people would stop & watch. We, re now considered a pain in the bum by a lot of people. Too many people with no common sense have taken it up & they don't care about the the consequences of their actions. Go to any kite spot in Perth this summer, sit there for an hour & count how many stupid things you see happen. From risky launches over sun bathers ,kiting through swimmers & surfers, dropping kites & lines over people in & out of the water. This crap happens up & down the coast from Mandurah to Lano & every coastal council is watching it.