Yesterday, Cottesloe Council started its improvements for kiters and poleys to the foreshore around Dutch Inn, with a bob cat scrapping away the lawn at the end of Salvado Road (near the native bush beds) in preparation for a new mini-car park.
Looks to be about 10-12 bays.
They plan a new shower and rebuilding the four beach paths in the next few months, before monitoring whether this is enough to make people use this stretch instead of dangerous 'Telephone Box' nearby.
I'd post a pic, but looks hard to do ... and lunch is calling anyway .

Far from being less dangerous the spot [rosendo st - salved rd] that the council want kiters to use has no sand, or at best about a 5m strip currently, totally inadequate for launching a kite. The same happens every winter. Also low tide will see the reef in front of that section drying out totally at low tide this afternoon, as is always the case on big tides.

People use phone box because it IS the safest lunch site on the stretch and a death at that locality was tragic but chances are that if someone is going to get injured it is most likely to happen where people land and launch.

Seasonal restrictions at phone box would be far more useful if the council really feels there is some sort of conflict with other users, although I have to say if there has been conflict I am unaware of it.

Another classic case of petit bureaucracy legislating for something they cannot understand although apparently decisions were made in consultation with WAKSA, must be guys who never ride there to let that one through.

All the changes that are being made we're tabled ages ago. Most of them, opinions we're asked for and the the relevant sporting bodies presented this to the city council.
I think it's actually good that the council asked for opinions or suggestions. It could easily have ended up being a blanket ban on kiters in that area.

Yes, you're right - it is a narrower launch area outside of summer. However, the area between the groyne and Rosendo St has a primary dune system that may act a buffer between those on the beach and joe-public up on the footpath. And it's they who have to be considered. At Deane Street there is pretty much sweet fanny adams between the beach and the footpath and road - get lofted, or have to ping your kite on the beach there, and it's pretty much landing on others' heads.
And to be honest, after watching councils and their ratepayers for many years, they've both been actually been quite accommodating this time round.
The coast is getting crowded by all sports - just look at the numbers SUP'ers - because Perth population has grown so much and everyone can afford all sorts of toys for any weather.
A different, quid-pro-quo mindset would now be useful. And the council is spending $70,000-$80,000, after all.

when will this be enforced?

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EternalNoob said..
when will this be enforced?

There is no 'enforcement' as such right now. The council says it will monitor over 'the season" whether the improvements are enough to take people away from Telephone Box when others - swimmers, kiddies, paddlers, grandmas and families - are using it. So keep well clear during summer/holiday time when all the good folk of Cottesloe, and all the other tribes attracted to the place from across the metro area, are out in force
The council is also doing a review all their local laws relating to beaches, and I suspect any local law preventing launching and landing outside of the zone will be part of that.
The lesson: use your noggin', and if there are families and locals at Telephone Box. go 100m south, rig and launch there.
You're not stopped from being offshore from it, they just DON'T want us not to launch or land on it.

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alverstone said..

EternalNoob said..
when will this be enforced?

There is no 'enforcement' as such right now. The council says it will monitor over 'the season" whether the improvements are enough to take people away from Telephone Box when others - swimmers, kiddies, paddlers, grandmas and families - are using it. So keep well clear during summer/holiday time when all the good folk of Cottesloe, and all the other tribes attracted to the place from across the metro area, are out in force
The council is also doing a review all their local laws relating to beaches, and I suspect any local law preventing launching and landing outside of the zone will be part of that.
The lesson: use your noggin', and if there are families and locals at Telephone Box. go 100m south, rig and launch there.
You're not stopped from being offshore from it, they just DON'T want us not to launch or land on it.

I meant NOT to launch or land at TB. Sorry for the double negative.

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Stuthepirate said..
All the changes that are being made we're tabled ages ago. Most of them, opinions we're asked for and the the relevant sporting bodies presented this to the city council.
I think it's actually good that the council asked for opinions or suggestions. It could easily have ended up being a blanket ban on kiters in that area.

don't be silly stu . Without bodies like waksa this would have happened anyway . WAKSA and the likes do nothing except take people's money right ???

Friday, Sept 16: They opened the new car park this morning.

Looking very nice. Are the showers in yet or a tap to rinse the sand off. Thanks for the update.

Well said Naill, totally agree and so do some many others. My understanding is the proposed changes were overturned due to the high number of submissions against them. By all means continue to use Dean St and share the space. Use the new carpark by all means but don't expect it to be any safer with on shore winds, especially if that is where weed may have collected. My advice, kite where you feel most comfortable and use your own judgement as to the safest launch/land area.

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alverstone said...
Friday, Sept 16: They opened the new car park this morning.

Have they put a cctv to catch the scumbags that do the rounds knocking your gear off

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alverstone said..

EternalNoob said..
when will this be enforced?

There is no 'enforcement' as such right now.

You can say that again.
Video posted from Dutchies a week ago shows kiters well into the windsurf area (as defined by WAKSA) so I hold zero hope for this solution to actually result in separate areas.

But at least they did listen, and did not ban us all from there.

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cauncy said..

alverstone said...
Friday, Sept 16: They opened the new car park this morning.

Have they put a cctv to catch the scumbags that do the rounds knocking your gear off

There's is a camera looking out to sea from a pole holding up the sunshade sails at the playground, which I assume is the 'monitoring' of the success of the improvements because it looks like the same ones they used when they did the long-term beach erosion study at North Cott.

CCTV is too expensive because it requires ****loads of $$$ to run afterwards, with monitoring. taping, cataloging, ect. Hence, that's why places like the City of Perth are the only ones who can afford it.

Maintenance and upkeep costs stop many of the things people whinge about, like "why no ocean pools, shark barriers, skate parks? If you cane get the operating maintenance and upkeep costs sorted, then you stand a chance.

I used the car park on Friday - after fighting for space with the old dears sitting, looking at the view with a Thermos of tea ;). I backed the car up, and after the session sat with the boot open with a beverage. You can see your cars very easily from out the back.

The 'zones' have nothing to do with offshore. It's just notions of rigging/derigging areas on the beach and grassed areas.

I'm sure the poleys can be vocal enough about kiters getting in their way.. not to mention holding their ground.

However, with the number of people using the beach for any watersport these days I'd suggest we all let go of 30-year-old, or even 3-year-old, ideas of 'My spot". "My local". "Our beach".

The day isn't too far off when light wind foilers and SUPers have a rumble ...

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Dolphins said..
Looking very nice. Are the showers in yet or a tap to rinse the sand off. Thanks for the update.

Nothing personal, but can't help but giggle at the idea that Western Australians, with the water dams down to 30%, or something, needing a tap at every beach location. I just carrying a 4lt container to pour over my head.

For the more dainty among you, (and I've used it myself ), there's a shower 80m south at the Dutch Inn slipway.

But the council said they would put one in near the new carpark, so I assume they are trying to figure out how without blowing the budget.

They were given a bit of advice during the consultation about making the two main paths (one at the new carpark and the other used by the poleys near the playground) wider, and removing the bits shat stick out and catch bridles and masts.

I think that would be a bigger bonus.