parks victoria are going to ban windsurfing

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I bet they pick all the exact spots where all the windsurfers and kitesurfers go, just to cheese us all off, like rye, brighton, and st kilda. Thease guys stuffed my mountain bike hobby up, now they are going to stuff my other hobby, windsurfing. I cant win I think I might give up windsurfing now as well. The restriction zones are for windsurfing as well not just kiting. Its so crap because no one kitersurfs in westernport bay. Why are they picking on that bay? and no one hardly windsurfs anymore. So why are they picking on windsurfing? They must have nothing better to do. So who is going to represent windsurfing at there workshops, no one? Some windsurfers still do windsurf and they have asked no one to represent windsurfing. So under the new laws in mtbing. If you are found riding on trails wich are banned from mtbing, you get issued a fine by parks victoria on the spot. So if you are caught windsurfing at a beach wich is baned, you will be giving a fine on the spot by them. They have the power now to issue you a fine. I got this info on the ban from the kiting news section in this seabreeze site.

Parks Victoria have invited representatives from KBV to attend a number of consultation Workshops regarding possible kiting restriction zones in Port Phillip Bay and Westernport Bay. Potential kiting restriction will be considered as part of this Boating Zones Review.

This is a very serious issue for kiters as the information and ideas at these Workshops relate directly to continuing to keep all Victorian beaches open to kiting.

KBV Members and Contacts were recently requested to notify their interest as a "local Rep" for attendance at any of the Workshops. However not all slots for attendees were filled.

The Workshops are to be held as follows:

Portarlington #150; Thursday 31 July
Geelong - Tuesday 5 August
Safety Beach #150; Tuesday 12 August
Carrum #150; Thursday 14 August
Port Melbourne 21 August.
The spots for Port Melbourne have gone but KBV are still seeking "local Reps" for all other regions.

The Framework for the Review of Boating Zones includes a new proposed Zoning #147;No Surf Kites or Sailboards#148;. KBV intends having at least one KBV Committee Representative at each of the Workshops and seek to be supported by kiters who are familiar with the areas noted above.

KBV understand no kiting exclusion zones have yet been set and have secured at least three spots at each of the Workshops and in the interests of kiters being properly represented from their respective areas.

Please contact KBV via their website under if you wish to be involved.

Windsurfing Victoria has been a very active participant in the Bay Boating Zones Review - which is still in its early stages

We have made a written submission, especially emphasizing that windsurfing & kiting need to be reviewed separately (as the safety issues are very different)

Plus we recently had a long meeting with the PV Project Manager, including detailed input on all the windsurfing locations around both Bays

WV was the first peak body consulted, outside the series of local meetings - our voice is definitely being heard

The next step will be commenting on draft maps with proposed new zones

So in summary we are having a genuine say - any changes are not a "done deal", and the process is likely to continue well into 2009

So relax, and enjoy your windsurfing!

Peter Hands
President
Windsurfing Victoria Inc