Cottesloe Council is advertising it wants public comment until March 7 on its proposal to stop landing and launching, and windsurfing, at the spot known as as Telephone Box, near Deane St-Marine Pde intersection, and an official zone to be made from about 100m south, from the Rosendo St steps (where they had that sign that was too tall) to the Dutch in groyne, for both sports.

Details, email and post addresses at: www.cottesloe.wa.gov.au

In return, the council may put in shower for kiters near the Salvado St steps and move the nearby playground so the windsurfers and the public don't collide on the grass above the groyne.

I walked along there last night, and was told by others and thought;

- People use Telephone box because it's a wide beach for landing/launching (particularly in winter), has a shower, and provides off-road parking which allows kiters to see their cars while they are on the water. This is compared to Leighton Beach where there are thefts from cars that cannot be seen.

- To make the proposed official area work the following is needed;

# Signs on the Klopper log fences above the dunes warning the public this is an official area, and if you wander into lines/a mast it's your fault.
* The klopper log fences to the beach at Salvado and Rosendo streets and the playground (for windsurfers) need repairing. If they are widened slightly, and the tops and metal screws at the back of the logs be cut off, they'll catch bridals and booms less. The entrances to each path need a little widening, and those logs at the edge of the dunes COULD be removed for safety.
# Move the bin at the top of the Salvado Street steps.
# Budget for 12-15 angled car bays off Marine Pde near the Salvado steps.
# Put the showers away from the steps.
# Move the southern part of the playground for the windsurfers.
# Create a similar official area south of Swanbourne-Nedlands SLSC, along the last part of Marine Pde, for those currently rigging near the Vera View dog beach at North Cottesloe.

And,

Come down and talk to us when we are on the beach about what would work!

PS: Before the pendants start jumping up and down, I've put this in the national section because I'm sure some of you will visit WA and use this area sooner or later.

I can't understand why anyone would suggest prohibiting kiting at Dean st when it is the preferred kiting location by everyone that kites this area regularly like I do. The beach is wider than the area just south of there. Anyone setting up at the area being proposed would most likely be blown down wind and accidently end up at Dean st on occasion anyway. We would be better to advise the council that we don't need the area 100m or so north of the Dutch inn groin and ban setting up at the park where the child was recently injured by a windsurfer. This would ensure a safe area for both kiters and the general public/swimmers etc. It would ensure kiters don't accidently end up being blown into public swimming area. Furthermore, we can keep all facilities as they are. No need to add new showers, move playground equipment or build substantial new carpark. An extension of the existing car park at Dean street might be helpful but not absolutely necessary in my view. Overall Dean street is working well currently. For my two cents worth and as kiting instructor with 100% safety record, Dean Street is my preferred location to kite as I witness far fewer incidences at this beach than any other I frequent. Sure on-shore winds in winter makes this a dangerous location to kite, but no more so than the area being proposed just south of Dean Street or any other for that matter.

Let's try and convince the council that we want Dean street and we don't want the area immediately north of the Dutch Inn groin or the playground area!

you know with our paragliding launch sites we the club, are responsible for watering the grass mowing it the rubbish midnight pruneing of trees when no ones looking to make site bigger etc etc we also do thing like pay thousands of dollers to have nearby powerlines wrapped or placed underground etc etc etc

rather then hit the council up for redoing cca logs etc for line snags tell them youll do it yourself. you will have plenty of members who are slightly handy and itll make your access rights go a long way when inevitably some ****ing dogwalker or old **** gets inbetween the kite and lines

Kozzy - that's a great idea

It could be an important opertunity to promote kiting and windsurfing..

We all know lots of people stop in their travels to watch the spectacle and take photos...

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Kozzie said..
you know with our paragliding launch sites we the club, are responsible for watering the grass mowing it the rubbish midnight pruneing of trees when no ones looking to make site bigger etc etc we also do thing like pay thousands of dollers to have nearby powerlines wrapped or placed underground etc etc etc

rather then hit the council up for redoing cca logs etc for line snags tell them youll do it yourself. you will have plenty of members who are slightly handy and itll make your access rights go a long way when inevitably some ****ing dogwalker or old **** gets inbetween the kite and lines

You guys are organised. Guess you have to be when your life depends on a strip of nylon and string 200ft up!
The council can apply for a Coastcare Grant from the State Government to do this with the local Coastcare group. I'm going to mention this in my submission, and ask other kiters to do so. There's plenty of dune erosion blow-outs along that part of the beach which the grant application could say would also be helped by improving the paths. All we lot need to do is go along for a couple of hours during a couple of Saturdays in late autumn/winter (beats going to Bunnings and having to paint walls) and help the Coastcare volunteers plant dune shrubs and lay branches so the plants have protection. The council will probably want to do the heavy work with the klopper logs because of insurance/liability.

I'm happy to help out and do what I can construction wise. I have quite a lot of spare time most mornings and Monday and Tuesday's. :-)

Here is the proposal:

http://www.cottesloe.wa.gov.au/d/Resource_Library/Council/Public_Notices/1MG2I1C4WLJZUJ8QA6L2XM2WDN3GQ4/8NUOO6SL45PHM21.pdf/Public+Notice+-+Proposed+Amendment+to+the+Beaches+and+Beach+Reserves+Local+Law.pdf?

You can see that the Deane St beach is much wider for launch/land. Also it's where the car park (and shower) is located.

^^^ the beach at Deane street is used a lot by family groups with young kids. The reason is that there is a little break in the reef so good for youngsters swimming. I've been down there when there are plenty of kids (toddlers really) and kiters are setting up and launching right next to the families. If they launch in the area then they come back to that point to do their turn around, so in that aspect I think the area shaded on the ground makes sense.
I think it important to segregate kites from swimmers.
So I kind of disagree with Michael on that one....

Whilst I can't say I haven't seen small children swimming at Dean Street I have to say I rarely if ever have seen them there in a decent Seabreeze. Perhaps this is because kiters are keeping them away, but I suspect it is the wind and relatively unpleasant conditions at this location in the afternoon. During the morning in summer this can be an OK place to take a dip, when the water is flat and of course free from kiters. So in my opinion kiters and swimmers rarely mix at this beach. Swimmers, particularly those with small children, tend to seek protection from the wind and chop during the afternoon by swimming directly north of a groin. Usually this in Cottealoe groin but north of Dutch Inn too, close to the playground equipment. So I kinda disagree with the last comment.

By taking away the Deane st area, the council is making it less safe for kiters to launch / land. I agree with Michael's proposal... this makes the most sense as it costs the least amount for the council to implement and is the safest option for everyone....

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JulianRoss said..
^^^ the beach at Deane street is used a lot by family groups with young kids. The reason is that there is a little break in the reef so good for youngsters swimming. I've been down there when there are plenty of kids (toddlers really) and kiters are setting up and launching right next to the families. If they launch in the area then they come back to that point to do their turn around, so in that aspect I think the area shaded on the ground makes sense.
I think it important to segregate kites from swimmers.
So I kind of disagree with Michael on that one....

This is true. I have spent a bit of time swimming at Deane Street and for that stretch it is certainly the pick.

My SIL's family is moving from Deane Street to Beach Street and has said that she will continue to swim with the kids (toddlers) at Deane Street.

Despite the wind I have had plenty of arvo swims at Deane Street. You just don't hang around - quick swim then back.

Why not propose that the whole stretch between the two groins is dedicated for sports activities. It might be safer to put a notice up saying that when the wind exceeds 10 knots young children must not be allowed on this stretch of the beach. As mentioned above providing a family safe zone directly beside and down wind a kite zone is completely idiotic and dangerous. People who might end up there are the ones who might be in serious trouble, with lines tangles and death spiralled kites. Putting children is possible harms way is the very last thing the council should consider. There is a perfectly safe and monitored swim area just north of the second groin. It seems to me the the whole debate about safety is misaligned. Oh and someone please ask the windsurfers to stop hitting little kids.

I actually think the fact the council are willing to work with us and to provide us with additional facilities is good.

Don't worry about the expense to the council. The local ratepayers pay enough coin to cover it.

A few of you have said that the Deane street area is the widest to setup on. Maybe it is but it is also the narrowest distance to the road if things go wrong......................and they have in the past. The setup area is also in a bit of a wind shadow which can cause a few dramas.

My major concern about the proposal is that the crew who currently kite Deane Street will re-locate to where I kite 200m north of the Beach Street groyne which will make the area pretty congested as we already share it with windsurfers.

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JulianRoss said...
^^^ the beach at Deane street is used a lot by family groups with young kids. The reason is that there is a little break in the reef so good for youngsters swimming. I've been down there when there are plenty of kids (toddlers really) and kiters are setting up and launching right next to the families. If they launch in the area then they come back to that point to do their turn around, so in that aspect I think the area shaded on the ground makes sense.
I think it important to segregate kites from swimmers.
So I kind of disagree with Michael on that one....

Disagree with you on this one - I kite there all the time and have never ever seen anyone using Deane street area to swim at (20knots +) - it's all reef and weed. It's the best area to be used by kiters. Also the best spot for spectators and to park your car at also. Not for beginners or kooks though.
Just overkill with all this council crap- the whole stretch between the 2 groynes is only used by kiters and poleys(20knots plus). There is nice beach for swimmers north or south of them.

The council should also be promoting swimmers to swim between the flags which are manned by life guards. Which is Cottesloe beach.

^ I would suggest majority of people swimming at Deane street are locals. Anyone else driving in for a swim would go to main beach, north cott or Leighton.