Stopped by GP today and found that the construction work is almost finished. I’d say another 5 working days to tease the new plants, remove the fences and the excavator, mow the grass and generally clean up.

Council have certainly looked after us: there’s been an explosion of new parking meters (one right near the fisherman’s walk), so we won’t have to walk as far to pay the $5 per hour/$15.50 per day parking fee (Elwood $4.80 per hour/$11.00 all day).

They’ve also moved the space for the Ice Cream truck near to the fisherman’s walk. Personally, I think that’s a mistake as the walkers coming from or to the beach, now have to walk further to get their ice creams. The old position was perfect, but Council knows better.

Sunday might be possible for the trial run.

It was looking about 5 days out about 10 days ago!

Even the wind gods had had enough weekend before last, and blew the dam fence down. Was kinda funny to see bathing box tourists start walking in and wandering about, oblivious that it was still closed.

Website says opening October... and cost was a cool half million. http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/about_the_council/5113.htm Makes me feel just peachy that the council are spending the money they will save from closing my kids childcare/kinder so wisely...

Yep but at $15.50 a day it will keep the riff raff away, they will stay at Bonno

All equipment removed and just two guys spraying new paint on the old speedhumps...
OPEN THE DAM THING!!

Select to expand quote

windjunky said..
All equipment removed and just two guys spraying new paint on the old speedhumps...
OPEN THE DAM THING!!

And this morning... bloke sweeping the footpath.
Hey, this isnt tied to any politician opening it in some pre-election fanfare is it. ITS ALMOST 20KNOTS NORTHERLY OUT THERE!!
{froth froth}

GP is fully open again.

For the record, Pete and Cisco were the first windsurfers to sail from the new layout. Pete used his 8.6/127 L board but I couldn’t quite make out what Cisco was using.

I see a few design problems in the new layout:

The first LH turn leading to the south and centre parking areas should be one way, rather than the current two-way. In summer, I see a major hassle with people trying to get in and out, via the same road.

The current routing means there are 2 intersections in this area. With a one way setup, there would only be one, easing congestion on hot, summer days.

The car park spaces are 4.8m long. I saw a Toyota Hilux, 4D model, equipped with a towing hitch, parked in the centre bay. The rear tow ball was right above the rear parking-space line, whilst the front of the car extended 1/2m into the inlet road. If the road was narrowed and made one-way, this would be eased.

There is a lot of wasted space in front of, and behind, the car parking places. Overall, I think that the number of car parking spaces has declined compared to the old layout.

The wooden benches in front of the west car spots may not be needed. People just sit in their cars if they want to see the water and the fantastic windsurfers.
Also, the benches will require on-going upkeep, adding to costs.

There is no tarred path from the south car spaces to the stairs. Council may wish people to walk around the concrete perimeter, but I think they will take the short cut, straight across the grass, wearing it out and killing it.

I still think the vendor space needs to be put in the line between the stairs and the south car spaces.

Time will tell if my observations are correct.

Despite the cost of the modifications, it did not attract consistent wind today. Windjunky, it was 8 knots, then 20 knots then 10 knots then 19 knots just like the GP of old.

>> Windjunky, it was 8 knots, then 20 knots then 10 knots then 19 knots just like the GP of old.

For half a million bucks, i was at least expecting a consistent 18-25. We should ask for a refund.

I'm curious to see how it turned out. Can someone please fly their drone over it and upload the footage, just for me, thanks!

Well, I was right. Yesterday about 90% of the walkers trekked over the grass to the stairs, rather then using the concrete perimeter track. RIP grass.

And another thing they got wrong was putting sand on top of all of the new grass. You walk around admiring the view, get back into your car and deposit the sand stuck into the soles of your shoes, into your car!