I don't want this to be a noobie bagging post but down at Melville yesterday the number of noobs south of the big white gum and even south of the last marker was starting to do my head in. One guy crashed his kite on the beach whilst being taught by a MATE missing my daughter and dog by about 2m. Another guy clearly struggling with control takes off upwind of me and sends his kite into my lines as I was waiting to launch. One guy launched his kite from the footpath. Two windsurfers operating north of the rocks. Another lesson taking place just outside of the yellow marker - why do these people not follow the guidelines from WAKSA - ie beginners north of the white gum? I can almost understand the noobs but not the guys giving lessons.
I don't say anything out there because there are enough agro's on the water already and I was only learning myself a couple of years ago however when I was learning I respected the guidelines and wouldn't be caught dead up around that last marker for fear of making a tool of myself and pissing everybody off. I don't mind people crashing their kites into mine and stuff like that because ****e happens but not in that launch area???
Whats the etiquette here - shut my mouth given that this is going to happen regardless or try to educate some of these people and tell them to move? When I have tried to give a tip or advice to someone in the past it never seems welcomed.
Completely agree with you, i went to Melville for the first and last time a couple of weeks ago, complete chaos.
being a beginner only just getting on my feet and i was north of the big gumtree, but i had heros jumping right next to me as i was waterstarting not giving a ** , a German girl next to me who i helped launch had her lines tangle with another kite when some di*k tried to jump within the yellow buoys right next to her as she just took off and i saw a north rebel in the water with other kiters running over his lines as he was trying to relaunch.
Not only that but there was a guy with a 10m park asked me to help him launch his kite - sure no probs, i start walking away then he asks me to get his board which is literary 10m away on the beach within easy walking distance of him..errr ok i got it for him. THEN he asks me to tighten his harness as his hands were slippery and it was loose...
ah that old chestnut...
Yeah it was pretty bad yesterday, helped one south american of spanish guy who was 'teaching' his friend to take his kite out of a tree.
Saw 2 guys trying to launch a kite by throwing it up from the grass. I told them not to do that and take lessons however he still went out and 10 min later saw his kite death-looping towards the boardwalk. He had the guy who launched his kite with him on a jetski but he didnt have a clue what to do.
People not giving way or looking where they are going while water starting.
Had one guy waterstart right behind me while i was trying to go around him to land my kite. He JUST missed my head.
But ah well it's been like this for a while now and in my opinion, unless there is going to be proper signage it will never change. In fact it will probably get worse
Not exclusive to noobs, plenty of FIGJAM people trying big jumps and unhooked crash and burn stuff well inside the yellow buoys. I chased down one guy yesterday pulling big moves almost on the beach said he didn't know.
Unless there's signage it's impossible trying to enforce anything.
The guidelines are very clear and precise for Melville. They were negotiated over along period of time. They are a compromise (as always) but in this case very a sensible compromise which no-one should have trouble adhering too.
If there is no active beach user group at the moment ? then thats what is needed if you want to keep this beach.
Approach WAKSA for supply of nice, polite, simple English, clear advice brochures which cover ALL of the necessary protocols.
Distribute them as widely and as regularly as possible. If you dont like playing the cop then put them under the wipers of cars.
BUT; even then; if a few at least arent prepared to go face to face (politely) with offenders then prepare to loose your beach.
IMO the schools should be the major movers in keeping the place working to rules. Apart from the implied authority they also have most to lose. If you form a group approach the guys who are instructing. The schools I know of there, Im sure, will be all too keen to cooperate.
If you need any help getting the background or accurate info - or whatever - Im always happy to assist. There has been little negotiation needed on this beach since the buoys went in so current WAKSA crew may not be fully up to speed with the full story.
The issue is that who's rules are they?
Are the rules of council or the water way authorities.
If they are enforceable by council, fines could be applied if breached.
Signage cant be put in place until it becomes a council bylaw.http://www.melvillecity.com.au/about/corporate-information-documents/local-laws/signs_hoarding_billposting.pdf
Best suggestion, somebody get hold of the local council and use them as a means to get this resolved before somebody gets hurt, the sport ends up in the paper for the wrong reasons and the spot is lost.
www.melvillecity.com.au/about/who-is-your-elected-member
If the spot is lost due to a public members injury, Precedence would soon see arguments for many other having kiting banned.
Signage is a problem.
Nothing to do with lack of commitment or funding from WAKSA.
The council agreed 100% to the controlled kiting inside the buoys protocol as they did to the involvement of WAKSA kiters being proactive in the area.
They are simply completely opposed to signage which 'may' be interpreted as their approval of any sort of activity.
As suggested by Dave.... the control issue is complicated by the limits each authority has over any given beach. Councils have the right to impose by-laws that can be enforced but only to the beach high tide line. Beyond that it becomes an issue shared by the various river water authorities. To get mutual agreement of policy which is consistent between the various authorities involved is where the composite agreement is required.
WAKSA has negotiated with ALL the parties involved to have the current guidelines approved (& including the placement of buoys by 'Marine Safety'). All parties are satisfied. "AS LONG AS KITERS ABIDE BY THOSE GUIDELINES" all will be saved until some major incident occurs.
WAKSA has no rights to install signage - similarly the water authorities have no right to install signage. The council attitude is that signage 1) may imply some level liability if there is an incident; and; 2) signage may create an eyesore that ratepayers may object to.
We have won the right of access at Melville for only as long as kiter control can, and does, result in kiter behaviour abiding by the (again very sensible) guidelines.
Its all up to local beach users. Get active or be prepared to drive to an alternative (less controversial) kite beach. Its your call.
You cant expect non local WAKSA volunteers to carry the can - if you want to maintain access get off your asses & work for it - just like those before you have done.
And as for the criticism - as always - it comes from those have never done anything for anyone.
Why not at least have "LAUNCH/LAND ONLY" OR "NO KITING ZONE" on the buoys? Same for Peli Pt.
5 years max and all of us will be kiting in the ocean not the river in SW winds
Go and ask these people who teach their friends if they have INSURANCE! I guarantee if I'm Injured by someone who is being taught they better have INSURANCE cause I'll be coming for some compensation and I bet an innocent bystander will do the same....
Had a great sesh at Melville late this arvo in the Nw. Strong and gusty.
But just wanted to say how friendly and cooperative everyone is there. I launched and landed a couple of kites. I got help to launch and land. Kites, newbies and windsurfers all sharing the place without any dramas.
Had a chat with a few walkers, families etc on the path all enjoying watching everyone having fun on the water.
I know things have, and do go wrong, but my experience is that it's a pretty friendly and respectful place.
Dave
Hi all.
If you look there is signage at Melville, just showes no one reads the signs. More signs means more obstructions.
I sacrificed my kiting session last week to go and talk to the few people who were breaking the local rules. After a while every one was turing at the right spots. And the learners were in the right spots and the more experienced guys were doing the right thing.
If you are not aggressive and casually tell people the local rules they do stick to them.
Some thing like "hey mate, have you been kiting here long?
You know that the local rules suggest turning at the buoys? It works both ways it gives people launching and landing space. It also means that you are not turning round in gusty crappy wind that could get your kite in the trees.
If we keep newbies down past those two white gum trees and experienced guys up here there is less stress... Continue kiting chat"
They now know the rules.
It takes everyone to keep the spot ours.
Steve
There's road signs with the No Standing areas around the little islands, which no one reads. Where when its gets full, kiters park there blocking up the traffic, yet theres plenty of side streets.
On the othere side of the No Standing signs which no-one reads, theres an orange sign, that says caution kitesurfing zone......
Yes, they are there.
