GCWA Meeting to Discuss Future of Broadwater

Below is a open invitation to all parties to discuss the future of the Broadwater with the Board Members.

WE NEED AS MANY SAILORS AS POSSIBLE TO ATTEND TO HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD!

As you are probably aware, GCWA have made many changes to our sailing area that directly effect the safety and continued use.
These changes including a Regional Boat Ramp and dredging/second boat channel directly through the main sailing area have been made without any consultation or consideration of our sport.

WE NEED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE WATERWAYS ARE NOT JUST FOR POWERED CRAFT!

Could you please RSVP to the email below ASAP.
Thanks.

Same

Big THANK YOU! To Philnott for posting. I urge all Windsurfers and Kiteboarders on the Goldy and Windsurfers/Kiteboarders that frequent the Broadwater for Sailing to get on board, take an interest and attend this meeting at SOUTHPORT YACHT CLUB at 6pm on this coming Monday 12th September.

Your show of support is vital to have valuable input into trying to preserve our ability to continue to use and be identified as an important, environmental low impact, recreational users and supporters of Kiteboarding/Kitesurfing and Windsurfing on the Gold Coast and in particular the Broadwater. As we know or should be aware that Major Multi Storey Resort and Casino Developments are trying to be pushed through (by exploitive/ruthless Developers and People of Vested Interests/Power and Influence) on large portions of the Main Beach Spit Area that will see this area opened up and completely exploited and ruined for very soon us and future generations to come, from the Main Beach Spit Areas historic 3 Storey Height Limit Restriction on Development to masses of future Multi Storey Developments that would naturally spell a disaster and an end to approximately 80% of relatively unimpeded prevailing, favourable wind directions from the South East (SE) and South South East (SSE), from Oceanfront Side to across the Broadwater to the areas, commonly referred to as The Train (Mitchell Park, Southport. Known to be frequented by many Windsurfers for well over the past 40 years), KFC's and Broadwater Sand Bars (Len Fox Park/Loders Creek, Labrador. Known to be frequented by many Kiteboarders for well over the 15 years), Charis (Labrador Main Boat Ramp and South Wave Break Island Channel. Known to be frequented by many Windsurfers for well over the past 40 years).

If these Developments go ahead it will spell disaster and completely minimise the wind suitability times to do any form of our recreational sailing to these areas in the future. The only times left that it would become practicable to Kite or Windsurf in these areas would be on direct East through to Northerly Wind Directions which constitute a very limited time of the year that those winds occur. The effects of Development blocking or disturbing winds to those areas had already taken effect as back before many large Highrise Developments were constructed at Southport and around Aqua Building at Labrador, Kiters and Windsurfers were traditionally able to Sail in those areas successfully in direct Southerly Winds but as over the past more Highrise were developed in those areas they increasingly came to blocking or disturbing wind patterns across the bay to the point where it is now unsuitable to sail in those conditions at those locations and tends to force the Flatwater Kiting and Windsurfing fraternities to seek out other very scarce available areas during those conditions, (here on the Gold Coast, mainly Shearwater Esplanade at Runaway Bay as we all know).

Your support may help with making the Authorities aware that we are all an important part of the recreational users of these (for us very unique,rare and limited areas) of the Broadwater for Flatwater Sailing. If these areas are undermined in there availability for us, then it stands only to reason that Windsurfers and Kiteboarders will scatter to less favourable or less suitable areas. This would then have further impacts as less visiting Windsurfers and Kiteboarders from Interstate and Overseas would choose the Gold Coast as their destination to do these recreational activities as we are well regarded for or Windsurfers and Kiteboarders could have a tendency to congest other areas if condensed to other limited suitable areas, that would create a whole other raft of issues. In addition to the above concern are the fact of hazardous moored and speeding motorised vessels through these traditional sailing areas of great concern as most of us that utilise these areas have encountered, would be good if we could draw and remind the Authority that there attention to these matters would be appreciated.

Guys and Gals, this is important and not to be missed to try and help us continue to enjoy our freedoms and enjoyments from be eroded away. Please do not be apathetic and leave this to the few that always step up to the plate for your and my concern. Come and play a part, before the exploiters come and play the part for you!!! Which I am sure you will not be pleased with that result and then live withy the regret as to why you were not more pro-active when you had the chance

So, I will now certainly look forward to now seeing you all there

Kurtis