On Monday night Cottesloe Council decided to get public comment during the next 42 days about formally changing the local law to make the area south of 'Telephone Box', from Rosendo St to the Dutch Inn Groyne a dedicated kiting and windsurfing area.

The dunes along that stretch, opposite Salvado Street, would act as a buffer between kiters and the public.

There would be NO kites allowed to launch or land, or windsurfing, at Telephone Box because of Marc's Sprod's death, repeated public and kiters' reports of near-disasters, the beach being too narrow, and others wanting to use that corner pool for swimming/kiddies snorkeling, ect.

However, WAKSA will ask that the sea, about 200m offshore from Telephone Box, could still be used. The council's proposal would make formal the unofficial area, previously arranged by WAKSA, centred on Salvado St, where kiters would get an extra shower.

The windsurfers at Dutch Inn would get the playground moved so they are not clashing with the parents.

Hit the council website if you want to comment - but WAKSA is also trying to get a dedicated spot for kiters just south of the Swanbourne-Nedlands SLSC, so if you'd like to mention that for your more northerly brothers/sisters, I'm sure it would be appreciated.

Personally, I'm all in favour of what the council is proposing because Perth's coast is only getting busier.

Just to make clear, WAKSA will ask the council that launching and landing be stopped at Telephone Box. Kites and windsurfers could still use the sea to within about 200m offshore.

Council has no rights over what happens 200m from shore - so no need to raise that chestnut.

What will happen to the kooks that can't make it out the back?
That stretch can be pretty good for kiting in west/sw!

Then how are they able to legislate surfing at certain times of the year in certain areas ? Coastal Councils in WA are allowed to create local laws which affect on water activities from the low tide mark out to 200m. Some Councils choose to create and enforce these laws some don't.

Yes, that's what this is about. They are proposing to change the Local Law to do this. Comment on that proposal opens at the end of January, BTW.

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herbyburger said..
What will happen to the kooks that can't make it out the back?
That stretch can be pretty good for kiting in west/sw!

Guess they can launch at that first set of steps just south of Telephone Box - directly across from Rosendo St which will form the northern limit edge of the new "official area"- head down, have their fun, then tack back up. Just not land in that corner.

WA section please.....I just waisted 2mins of valuable seabreeze time ......

Agreed, it is a dodgey spot, just hope that this wont just cramp up the southern end, could be a lot more dramas with windsurfers? Will it just going to be a summer seasonal rule, like cott is for surfing?

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herbyburger said..
Agreed, it is a dodgey spot, just hope that this wont just cramp up the southern end, could be a lot more dramas with windsurfers? Will it just going to be a summer seasonal rule, like cott is for surfing?

Good question. But I'd bet it's all-year, as it's those winter westerlies/nor'westerlies when the beach is the narrowest and the coast/wind the most dangerous. Something you could bring up in your submission, perhaps?

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fingerbone said..
WA section please.....I just waisted 2mins of valuable seabreeze time ......

Bump

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brooksy said...
Council has no rights over what happens 200m from shore - so no need to raise that chestnut.

From the waterline actually.

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RPM said..

brooksy said...
Council has no rights over what happens 200m from shore - so no need to raise that chestnut.

From the waterline actually.

It's a curious thing because I always understood the council to hold no jurisdiction from the low water mark.

If you read the Cottesloe local laws, the laws apply to the sea for a distance of 200m from the low water mark (s1.5).

So it appears they can enforce what happens at sea out to 200m.

Link here: www.slp.wa.gov.au/gazette/gazette.nsf/gazlist/A028DF116D230AA648257A3800134553/$file/gg121.pdf

That was my thought too brooksy..
As you mentioned, the city has "by-laws", that it has to pass via council resolution. This gives them the 200m ..

I understand this was confirmed by department transport too..

Yeah as someone who was threatened by a ranger and looked into the legality of his threat. The out to 200m rule was confirmed by DOT. Some areas of Perth Metro are covered by the State Territory Laws eg rifle range at Swanny, but councils can legislate out to 200m in their jurastriction.

this sucks, the best spot is between deane st & rosendo, i kite here in summer/winter & there is never any others apart from poleys using this beach when the winds on. Tragic about Sprod but it shouldn't force the council to ban this spot, its not for newbies anyways, they should head south to leighton where theres much more beach area for them. Have never seen people snorkelling or kids swimming there when its blowing.

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burnsy11 said..
Have never seen people snorkelling or kids swimming there when its blowing.

Was going to mention this - given kitesurfers/windsurfers will only be interested in the spot once its a >15knot sea breeze, how likely is it that anyone is actually going to be swimming/snorkelling?

I can understand the concerns regarding proximity to the road/pedestrian path, but not sure from a risk management perspective that the likelihood of there being swimmers in the water at the same time as kiters is very high.

I downloaded the minutes from the council meeting and went to their office yesterday and got an aerial map showing the proposed Kite Setup/Landing Zone.

It runs from Princes Street up to Rosendo Street.

Cottesloe will be nothing once the new apartments, restaurants and hotel open at leighton beach. All serviced by a train that stops right on the beach.

It will be a vacant, boring limestone covered beach with crap surf and bored snotty old money.

Just launch between the low and high water mark. This is the property of the queen and i bet she does not give a rat's turd.

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burnsy11 said..
this sucks, the best spot is between deane st & rosendo, i kite here in summer/winter & there is never any others apart from poleys using this beach when the winds on. Tragic about Sprod but it shouldn't force the council to ban this spot, its not for newbies anyways, they should head south to leighton where theres much more beach area for them. Have never seen people snorkelling or kids swimming there when its blowing.

Yeah, between deane and rosendo is the best...