Hi Guys
You might already know this but Ripcurl are trying to organise an event at Gnaraloo.
There is a petition against it through this link:
www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-gnarloo/
There are so many reasons why this is a bad idea. You will have your own....but think of the negative impact on the already fragile environmental system that this comp will bring. It will have international exposure which means that we will have MANY people travelling here every year. That will undoubtedly have an impact on the environment and the safety of everyone that sails, surfs or kites at Gnaraloo. Can we afford to risk one of our last remaining "untouched" treasures??!! I am all for tourism. But this needs some serious thought.
Please spread the word around. Even if it does not stop the competition it will bring the issues to the attention of the people that matter and hopefully have them addressed.
Thanks!
So what your trying to say is that you want it all for yourself?
If there was a major airport near by i'd be worried, the isolated location is what will keep this place from being over used or abused
Did you actually READ my post?
My NUMBER ONE CONCERN is the environmental impact on the place with all of this added exposure. It has nothing to do with me wanting to have the spot to myself. The safety aspect comes in to it as well though. If you have actually been there yourself then maybe you would realise why. And there IS an airport nearby.
It is an amazing place and it should be kept that way.
Choco... I beg to differ.
During the OZ winter the campsite regularly fills up to capacity with a fair bit agression on the water. Winter is surf season by the way...
... from September/ October windsurfers take over the place. During summer the place is then overrun with "Euros"... with it's equal share of agression on the water.
... I think what people are concerned about is that the location get's developed into a major resort.
FYI, there is an airport in Carnarvon with direct flights from Perth...
I have never been there and have no vested interest but isn't Gnaraloo private land? Surely any development that occurs is at the discretion of the owners and any relevant authorities. Resorts in remote locations in general are low volume, high value affairs (ie not masses of people) and these types of establishments usually, in my experience, regard the protection of the environrment as a marketing feature. Obviously the place already has plenty of exposure as every article on the internet and in magazines on surfing or windsurfing WA features it. Will it really get any worse? has there been any discussion of excluding low cost camping if a resort is developed?
Fair enough Nic then maybe the place should be closed off to everyone that way you guarantee there will be no ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT,
you should stop going there that's one less person to destroy the fragile environment and i still think you want the place for yourself
And for sailors or surfers getting aggressive they should be banned for life the sports about fun.
Its not actually private land, its a pastoral lease, but that is besides the point.
the basic facts of the matter are:
its miles from anywhere and short of spending hundreds or thousands on road work, access is not going to allow many people to get there.
They are only talking about one competition (even if its every year), there is no way that the government or private sponsors are going to spend anything like the money required to upgrade facilities - they wont even spend money on a sports stadium that is guaranteed to bring in revenue
There is NO water there, the only option would be a desal plant and that is NOT likely
Its during the surf season, so why would the windsurfers care (thats tongue in cheek BTW
)
Everyone i know that goes to Gnarloo to sail loves the place .BUT once they've been every other place they sail is second rate ... I haven't been mainly because of that reason. Also the crowded break ,the expensive camping rates ,the flies ,shallow reef and the distance and cost of getting there ....
Maybe the place is already spoiled ...Let em have it i say .What will change ? It's not like Margy's gets any busier just because they have the billabong pro there or Bell,s for that matter.
Lano,Mandurah,Margs and Gerro are good enough for this black duck.
All that said there will be a day when i sail it but for years i have been negative about it for the reasons above.
Its not a secret spot. I remember seeing pictures and reading about it over fifteen years ago.
So anyone who wanted to go there could have found out a fair bit of information about it long ago and then travelled there.
Perhaps having a professional event will improve the environment there. The event organisers may be forced to improve facilities so people don't leave their crap all over the place because they have no choice.
Sure if the competition leaves the place in a mess then its no good and they should never be invited back again.
I posted this on the Kite forum. so i will post it here too.
To address a couple of your points.
It will have international exposure which means that we will have MANY people travelling here every year.
We already do. Gnaraloo is an international spot. Check out any decent international kitesurfing/surfing mag/website. If there aint a reference, there is bound to be a pic. the lineup is busy at peak times.
That will undoubtedly have an impact on the environment and the safety of everyone that sails, surfs or kites at Gnaraloo.
It already does. Unrestricted camping/visiting whatever currently is not environmentally sustainable.
Can we afford to risk one of our last remaining "untouched" treasures??!!
Its at risk already without any comps.
Billabong have had comps at Gnaraloo for years. Pros have surfed Gnaraloo for years. Its old hat.
The west coast is changing quickly and perhaps not for the best.
Maybe Rip curl having a comp isnt a bad thing it might at least force authorities to do something in order to have a sustainable, environmentally friendly development and keep Gnaraloo the gem it is.
I think Marc's comment re development are spot on...
FYI, Okajee development will go ahead and wether Corros will remain sailable after the port is in place remains to be seen...
... okay so Gnaraloo is well known... it might not get more crowed but it sure will get more expensive if they put in a fancy resort. Just hypothecially thinking ofcourse...
