Residential Ornithologist in conjunction with the department of the Environment and Heritage.
Review the Shoal water island marine park
From Mersey point to Bent street boat (Tern sand bar).
Impact of the flight path of kite surfer"s within this small diverse sea bird habitat.The launching and landing kites within the breeding habitat of Tern sand bar- safety bay - refer to damaged nesting sites.The city of Rockingham is evaluating strategy,s in the interset of Public duty of care.To address the behaviour of flying kites(human pull along) at ground level to head height level along the south western foreshore adjacient to the boat ramp and public access pathway- refer to registered complaints.Major concern is kiting within a dense recreational area , under predominantly on shore conditions and the high risk to kiters and general public liability.A zero tolerance maybe adopted in the near future.Refer City of Melville by laws
So does that mean that launching and landing kites destroys nests, but nothing else? Sounds weird to me. I would have thought that (if anything) just walkign around would trample a nest, regardless of the activity your doing while you're there. I'd be pretty annoyed if kiting was banned on Tern Island but nothing else.
Will this affect just the pond side, or potentially the ocean side as well? (ie if you access the beach from the yacht club without settign foot on the ïsland"?
If true, this is probably a very good thing.
It's my local and I've probably kited there 5-6 times this season. I've also noticed when I drive past that the other 5 or 6 local kiters are never there anymore like previous years gone by.
If the council authorities happened to venture down today being a public holiday, they will be shocked at some of the behaviour.
Starting with the local instructors launching and landing their personal kites on the grass in front of the school at the yatch club. They then walk/hop 150m through a nature reserve with kites at lunchtime. (This occurs everyday at the end of lessons)
Teuro's, they come in droves in their wicked campers and hire cars. They never approach or ask about local rules, they are obnoxious and refuse to blend in with the riding patttern. Most are kooks on Cabrinahs wearing impact vest and helmet (nothing wrong with safety, just trying to paint a picture for you guy's) doing 40m tacks right in the trick zone so their hot kite bitches can get close up photo of their gayley at the pond for memories.
Learners, who's telling these guy's to buy some gear and go to the pond and practice
. If your the instructor doing it then please just tell your students to go around the corner to shoalwater at the McLarty road carpark or go out the back of the sand bar, which is where I learnt for months before venturing into the pond. IMO and experiences even the outside of the sandbar is unsafe for learning, but then again I was on C kites with stuff all depower and safety.
What's wrong with pumping up on the grass near your car and carrying your kite and board down to the beach
I do it and can't understand why everyone carries all their stuff out and back. I understand that if your going to go hang out for the day then take stuff, but you all have kite bitches with you,(god forbid you don't bring the gallery along to tell you how good you are) surely they can handle a mini esky with a six pack in it. Shove ya Sunscreen in her bag what more do you need.
I must admit this topic is very timely because a few of us locals had BBQ the other day and all agree that it's only a matter of time before it ends. When it does the teuro's will go home unaffected, the local school operator, who should be doing more towards helping educate will lose access and effectively half his business. KiteJam will get knocked back next year when asking for council approval the list goes on.
If anyone take's offence to anything I've said, then take a look at yourself and the part you play before PMing me.
Hope I'm not being to unaustralian on australia day
I`m afraid sammy`s right on everything. I tried kiting down the pond this weekend and it was just chaos. There were at least three people standing right in the shallows of the bay learning to fly their kites. And a bunch of other beginners in the same area obviously learning to board start. Hardly anyone had a clue about the water rules, right of way etc. Then there were the two chaps who where being photographed by a couple of chicks in the pond bit where the guys like to do their tricks. This is fair enough but they were just hogging the spot instead of circulating so others could also use the spot. I tried getting in there so they could get the message, but no hope. Today even the windsurfers where behaving badly, I had two of them come right close from behind me on either side. But they soon kept away when I boosted in front of them a few times.
Don`t blame the poleys really, when their area wich is more towards the trees has been invaded by crazy kiters. I`ve seen a local boy drive his ute right on to the other end of the bay. It`s a nature reserve you idiot! What if we all did that? As for the local school launching from the grass in front of the car park, it`s just a matter of time when something`s gonna go seriouslt wrong! I like the guys at the local school but they should get their act together.
By the way, there was a meeting on the day of kitejam about the issues at safety bay. Where were all you so called local boys?????????? I was there,,,,,,, The W.A. surf school boys were there and only about three other guys. So much for carring about our beloved spot. My recommendations to the council would be first to get as many signs up. And if that doesn`t work, ban kiting there in summer. There`s only a few of us non wooses that kite there in winter so I`m sure they won`t see that as a problem.
The fact that the area is a nature reserve means it will be too easy for the authorities to use that against us. And it doesn`t matter if other beach users damage the area, we will be the ones they turn on. Get real.
Phrase
Not sure you know all the locals at safety bay????
There are only about four people who kite there on a regular basis anyway. And Everyone of us was at the meeting at kitejam.
The reason you don't see most of us down there so often now is because we go down at about 6pm so that the euro's and the school lessons are all gone.
That way we can have the bay to ourselves.
I really think the schools should be taking a more proactive role in the emphasising of rules down the pond.
At the end of the day they are the ones that are there all day long and should be telling learners to go at the back of the pond.
Where to launch there kites etc.
As for the bird problem, nobody walks in the nesting areas anyway apart from the dog walkers who come down that should not be there anyway.
No kiters launch or land there kites in the reserve anyway only on the edge of it.
Funny how people with nothing to do but moan are the main instigators of getting this ban.
This country s turing into a winging pome nanny state.
Actually bobjan I do know most of the locals of safety bay. There is at least six of "US" and about three other guys who have been turning up quite regular. And a few more chaps that turn up now and again. I don`t want this to turn out into a slagging match amoungst the "locals" cause I`m sure I must have or do speak to you in person and I think all the locals are pretty good guys. But I was at the meeting and I can name four locals who kite at the pond all the time that were not there. Yes they might have had other things to do at the time, but they were still not there and I know that for a fact.
What`s wrong with winging about some idiot driving his ute around the pond? (And this idiot considers himself as local) Although we all know him as a pain. I`ve seen beginners setting up on one side of the bay and walking through the vegitation all the time. Why can`t I winge about that? Maybe I only see it cause I still go there early enough to witness it. I don`t want to come down the pond late just because these crazy tourists have invaded and caused mayhem down the pond. I`m sure if signs (picture ones etc) like we agreed in the meeting, with some rules as where to launch, ride etc will be a good start. And hopefully like you said if the local school could get more involved in letting people know what`s right and wrong things "might" improve. The fact is Perth is not the little town over west that not many knew or cared about anymore. It`s become very popular with both tourists and people migrating. It was easy in the old days to keep each other in check cause we were pretty much all on the same wave length (except for the surfers at Margrets 
) We can`t just sit back with a carefree attitude any more while others wreck the joint for us all. Unfortunatly we have to winge and take steps to try and put things right.
Must admit, moonlight kiting is getting more and more temping.
We have noticed the chaos in the last 2 weeks and it's extremely annoying. There has been an influx of about 15 Europeans, most of whom were actually living in their campervans in the Yacht Club carpark (we told them it's illegal, they didn't move) until the Ranger came and told them to move on.
These are the people who have been causing the chaos lately. I kite and windsurf, and just because theres no room to pull (attempt 
) any tricks in the pond I've been windsurfing, because, as mentioned, the Euros don't know the riding pattern.
As to those who mentioned we should help out the situation more, we are constantly telling people to move from the pond to above the sandbar, where we teach, and stictly tell our customers, and travellers (who bother to ask) that they should stick to above the sandbar until they are very competent.
Obviously its in our best interest to keep the area safe, and this is what we are constantly trying to do.
Phrase, might see you down the beach tonight in person if you there, but more to the point what can be done about the euro's getting our spot banned anyway.
Think this was brought up in meeting with Phil at Kite Jam.
Most locals and probably only about ten people
Me (Leon)
Ken
Ev
Simon
Nathan
Mel
Cane
Brad
WA Surf boys
Clint
Jason x 2
Ben
and two Noth rider who also windsurf.
might have missed 3/4 others.
don't really have much choice about what happens when we only kite after work and the euros are there all day causing havoc.
It is not in our control. Setting up a club won't stop non memeber kiting there.
The council can use any excuse they want to ban us and damaging birds nesting area is the easy one.
Hi guys
I was also at the Safety Bay meeting. Wich I think was quite positive. Mainly to try and form some kind of rapour with the windsurfers, who I think we have a good relationship with anyway. But as the pond becomes more and more popular a few basic rules will help things. It was also said that a few (as many) boundry signs to keep off the bush area is a good idea, wich only really seems to be a problem when the tide is in. But it`ll show the local council we care. I know that as an individual it is hard to tell people where they should or shouldn`t be setting up, launching, kiting etc. And I do try where possible, but we agreed that with signs at least you have a bit of back up. Otherwise you get the, who do you think you are telling me what to do do, attitude from some. I must say that I have been very very regular down the pond for about a year now and the local guys are a real good bunch, always have time to chat and give advice. And yes they do now tend to turn up later to avoid the crowds. But that`s not an option for me as I usually work nights. I also speak to the W.A. surf guys and they are just as concerned as the rest of us and they do try and get the message out. I love kiting down the pond but like phrase said it would be all too easy for the authorities to ban us. Even though I don`t think it is as bad as some make it out to be.
^^^lol thanks Leon,
I would have thought my 20 years sailing and kiting at the pond would have got me on the list, what about Greg and his girl.
It's not a very sociable community anyhow.(noones ever offered me a crowny) As you know I started a group last season to try get to know each other better and that fell on death ears. It's times like these that site would have come in good to communicate between us.
I'm going down late today, why don't we put our kites down for 10 mins and have a group hug
then chat on dealing with blow ins proactively to keep the spot open.
Hey Sammy
Yeah greg was on the list, I put him as Ev, Dee kites there too.
Sorry forgot you too.
Crowny for the next time I see you.
Remember I was one of the few that did sign up to your club lol
Apologise if I forgot anyone else.
Apart from signs and constent reminders
What else can we do if the Euros are there all day when no-one else is?
Ban Euro's!!!
Get em at the airport, break their knees!
Get em at the Wicked Campers depot and slash their gear.
Throw bluebottles in their wetsuits!
effin Euro's
Just to back up the guys from WA Surf - when I took my lessons with them I was told that I shouldn't consider the pond until I can hold my ground upwind.
I don`t know if it`s worth the hassle. But maybe if as many of the locals could turn up during peak hours, say on the week ends when there`s more people off work etc. (And there seems to be enough locals to make a good showing). This way a big group of locals could get the message out easier than only one or two at a time. I`m not saying we should go out and bully everyone out of the pond(Mmm, not a bad idea[}:)]) But I guess as a big group it`ll be easier to tell someone what they are doing is wrong and it`s just not the one spoil sport mouthing off. Also the way we kite, where we kite, where we launch, etc.
Maybe the euros AND other Oz kiters will get the message that safety bay isn`t Dodge city. It`s a small world and word soon gets around.
Or am I wrong to think that it could be that easy? Probably.
f$cken euro's can't wait till they all piss off and leave safetybay alone, these euro's also give us a bad image with the wind surfers too, who i've never had a problem with,, ya get the odd dickhead but ya get that everywhere!!
Hi,
I live across the road from the pond and have windsurfed here for about 20 years. Most of the locals know me, I often take photos and post them here. I can remember the pond before the sandbar arrived, it used to be called Tern Island and was located some distance off shore. Time and nature have reshaped the area and with the development of the boat ramp, the explosion in popularity of kite surfing and the increase in local population the area has become a victim of overcrowding. The Safety Bay windsurf club has around 60 members many of whom also kite. There are the families that fish, crab and swim in the lee of the sandbar as it is protected from the wind. The fairy terns are under extreme pressure but the numbers of people using the area including dog walkers have almost destroyed their habitat.
It's not the kiters, nor the windsurfers or any individual or group at fault. Its the combination of all stakeholders trying to use an area not able to support the recreational needs of all.
This small stretch of water is under review by the Coucil. There is a representative from Safety Bay Windsurfing Club keeping our membership informed of proposed changes. I have seen a proposal that includes a map with marker buoys designating launch and sailing areas for kites and windsurfers, but I am not confident its "going to fly". Just too crowded and insufficient space to safely free style so close to the beach and other legitimate users. I have counted more than 50 kites in an around the pond on weekends when conditions are right, its quite a spectacle and drawcard.
I will watch this thread with interest and clearly don't want to lose my 'run over the road' and launch privileges.
That spot is crazy crowded... did anyone say euro?....
I went there at lunch time to ride one day and all i saw was a euro kook/claim fest with about a million kites going back to the future in the middle of "wakestyle" tricks.
I just ended up going down there late in the arvo from then on, that way there is no crowds and i didnt have to witness such kite butchery.
That island wasn't even there before the dawsville cut was put in!
The birds can nest where they use to!
I was at Carnac Island the other day and there are plenty of bird nesting on the beach there that weren't there years ago, where are all the birds coming from?
Foreigners like US in crowded snowfields there are evreywhere and it don't seem to be a problem with that!
its not our fault euro's there cant kite hahaha, they gave themselves a bad name. maybe they should ask someone before they kite???? you wouldn't go to north shore and drop in on a local..... pretty easy to ask someone whats the go at a spot before yoou venture out.
Just put up a few warning pics like this along the fenceline, then no one will go there
That would be right I am moving back to the Nam and kiteing gets banned at safety bay.
