There is an independent inquiry looking into Stage 2 of the channel dredging. As part of this inquiry a survey has been produced. We need as many people as possible to fill this out and comment! As you may be aware there was absolutely NO consultation when GCWA decided to run stage 1 channel straight through the main sailing area. You may also be aware that Gold Coast Council did not consult or even consider the current users when building the massive regional boat ramp again right in the middle of the sailing area. If Stage 2 goes ahead, it will greatly increase traffic through the existing Stage 1 channel recently dredged. This may be your first and last chance so please follow the link below to the GCWA Facebook page 'Have your say'
www.facebook.com/GoldCoastWaterwaysAuthority?fref=nf
www.surveymonkey.com/r/?sm=U%2fmKGwCmocvSMlgkPvnPVA%3d%3d
We need as many people as possible to do the survey by the 4th of November when it closes.
If we havent got the numbers then how are they ever going to consider us when making future plans about windsurfing on the Gold Coast?????
Could you please pass onto fellow sailors to make sure it is done.
Thanks.
Hi fellow Wind Warriors,
I have added some comments to Tony's post on the Qld Kiteboarding Forum section to rally the troops there, we need as much support as we can get on this both for us Kiteys (Baggers) and you Windys (Poleys) benefit to prevent a bad situation becoming even worse for us all.
The main issue here is that by them extending the channel all the way through from Southport Bridge to Kfc's is that it is going to create a Rat Run for Motorised Vessels similar to what occurs at Shearwater. I have lost count the amount of times I hear you guys and gals complain about the amount of Motorised Vessels and the Lunatic behaviours by a lot of them travelling through that area with very little regard for us. Also if this Channel goes through it may well set a precedence for it to be widened and deepened for the benefits of larger vessels in the future. Once the foot is in the door, there will be no turning back with this.
Please have your say before it's to late! 
There is only a few days left to go to have your say, please stand up for the Broadwater and have your say before it's to late!
There is usually so much trickery and deception going on with these proposals on the Broadwater. Its generally the devil is in the lack of detail they are giving us or informing us of and all the powers that be are doing is trying to paint a simplistic rosy picture about it. Just to give you an example, when a representative group of Kiteboarders and Windsurfers approached and met with Gold Coast Waterway Authority to discuss all these proposals. The Authority Officers when questioned about what is going to happen with all the displaced currently Moored Vessels they became very dismissive and danced around the question. Either they had not thought it through properly (doubt it?) and once these vessels are displaced they will only go and park in navigable channel areas which is happening of lately down at Len Fox Park Labrador and Shearwater Esplanade Runaway Bay or there are, or they have other ideas, that they do not want anyone to know about, which may? involve in lining some vested interests pockets with rivers of gold.
Another thing is this passage was originally mooted to support a Fast Cat Ferry Service to the now defunct Wave Break Island Cruise Ship Terminal and Casino Development. Now that that is not going ahead, maybe some vested interests have plans afoot to stifle Gold Coast through traffic to have a park and ride system happening to now make this stupid and what will be a high cost novelty Fast Cat Ferry Service or other means of corralling us to using public transport. You have to question is this about shifting a problem and making a whole heap of other problems where maybe? it is all secretly planned for an elite few to benefit from at the sacrifice of our enjoyment and freedoms.
Other factors to consider also are that dredging will kill known Seagrass Areas through that area and create other issues of shoreline erosion form Motorised Vessel wakes that will then require more buckets of money thrown at things. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Please, please everyone support us by saying no to this proposal and other Elitist Projects at the detriment of our enjoyments and freedoms of our open spaces!
Select to expand quotegreenleader said..
6 knots for powered vessels on the western channel.....be polite! 
If the Powers That Be, could exercise GREAT WISDOM in making the Western Channels of the Broadwater around the Train through to Southern End of Wavebreak Is and then from the Creek Mouth, South of Shearwater Esplanade Runaway Bay through to Hollywell a permanent 6 knot zone for Motorised Vessels then this would be BRILLIANT! and make for far greater safety! on the Broadwater for Passive Craft and Passive Water Users of all kind, instead of it, as preliminarily indicated and mentioned that it is proposed to be a 20 knot zone Channel (currently still subject to review as far as we know or have been informed).
Call Out to all Queensland Windsurfers!
We need your support, without hesitation! Even if you don't or have never windsurfed the area, there maybe one day that you or mates of your might want to!
There are only 2 days left to fill out a Survey Report as the Survey Period ends on the 4th November (so that means there is only today and tomorrow left to do this) being conducted by the Queensland State Government and Gold Coast Waterways Authority on dredging a secondary Channel on the Western Side of the Broadwater from the Southport Bridge to the start of Labrador that is going to assist and promote for Motorised Vessels to use this Channel as a Rat Run to go down to the Gold Coast Seaway and beyond that will cut a path directly through the traditional Sailing Area for some 40 plus years used by the Windsurfers and over the past 15 years by Kitesurfers commonly refered to as "The Train for Windsurfers" out the front of Mitchell Park Southport and "Kfc's for Kiteboarders" out the front of Loders Creek/Len Fox Park Labrador.
The Rat Run will be created as the current Main Channel Area opposite to where this Channel is proposed is mainly a 6 knot speed limit zone to protect moored vessels at Marina Mirage and Southport Yacht clubs from undue wash created, that may damage the (poor peoples) Multi Million Dollar Fleets. Which is why this new proposed Channel will become a Rat Run as it is currently proposed that there will be a 20 knot speed limit (Yeah right, as if any Boaties are going to pay any attention to a 20 knot speed limit zone) 
If the Channel goes ahead without any sensible speed restrictions (like 6 knots for Motorised Vessels or 6 knot no wash, Limits at least) it will have Motorised Vessels travelling at break neck speed right through the middle of the Sailing Areas condensed in Channels that are no wider than approximately 100 metres. No doubt the hazard for all forms of passive Water Craft and Passive Water Users of that area would be put at great risk. Please Note: The area of where this Channel is proposed is currently a shallow draft area with some shallow shoals, due to this it naturally has a tendency to keep the speed of vessels traversing or navigating at restricted and/or lower speeds.
Other detrimental factors are:-
There are a whole heap of Moored Vessels in the area proposed to be dredged that will be displace as it will become a new Navigation Channel and they will have to go somewhere, that the Authorities have released no details as to what their intentions or plans are in regards to this. For the ones that can't afford Marina Berths there could well be the case that they will disperse and anchor in or near our other of only 2 viable flat water Sailing Areas in the Gold Coast, know as Shearwater at Runaway Bay. (there has already been an effect of large and small Vessels being permanently anchored in that area from displacement from previous dredged areas.
Destruction of known Seagrass Beds in the area of proposed dredging. Vital for healthy marine habitat.
Shoreline erosion from wash thrown off from speeding or large Vessels.
Potential for future justifications of widening and deepening of Navigable Channels once they are in place to increase the benefits and accessibility for more volume of Motorised and Larger Vessels.
Please Note: it takes no longer than approximately 5 minutes to fill the Survey out, you are welcome to use examples of the above for the reasons as to your opposition to it and the Survey is totally anonymous if you have any concerns there.
Thanks and greatly appreciated for your support from the Gold Coast Kiters and Windsurfer Brother and Sisterhood The link for the Survey is as follows:-
www.facebook.com/GoldCoastWaterwaysAuthority?fref=nf
Ah drats. Missed it.
I'm thinking of running for council one day (yes really). How does a dredged 'X' off Marine Parade sound? 90 degrees to the prevailing NE and SE winds?
Sailing craft only.
(actually it sounds bloody expensive and I doubt it would ever get off the ground but we can dream)
edit: My floating bar is allowed to park safely near the middle. I think I just named it "The Windward".
...I haven't sailed much lately : C
