As part of WAKSA's ongoing liaison with various local government authorities, we recently met with the Head Ranger and Director of Community Development at the Town of Cambridge to discuss kite surfing issues.
The Cambridge representatives indicated that the Town has commenced a risk assessment process for all parks and reserves – which includes City Beach and Floreat.
The Town of Cambridge has sought our assistance in advising kiters that launching and landing at the Floreat groyne is restricted whilst the risk management process is underway, and that kiting should not take place between the City Beach & Floreat groynes.
Kiters are advised to launch south of the City Beach (that is, the southern groyne with the look out tower) or north of Floreat Surf Club. A kite exclusion zone exists between the two groynes. We have been advised by the Head Ranger that pending a successful risk assessment period (for another 9 months), we will get access to the Floreat groyne once more. A ‘successful’ risk management period will be one that means no complaints about kiters launching/landing or incidents involving kiters at City Beach/Floreat groyne.
This will obviously have an impact on the Floreat/Brighton down winder and access to some of the best waves in Perth. For the remainder of this season, we would encourage crew doing this downwinder to launch near the kiosk at the southern groyne, or to launch north of the Floreat Surf Club.
WAKSA appreciates that this will not be very popular and encourage any City Beach/Brighton downwinder crew to contact us via waksa@waksa.org.au.
It is going to be difficult to kitesurf between the north groin and Floreat SLSC without ever launching / landing the kite there. I am not sure what is the problem with landing and launching just north of the car park respecting the red exclusion zone on the sandy area just under the car park. Beach goers usually settle right at the groin, rarely north of it, so it is absolutely safe to launch / land kites there.
Looking at the map again, it is not quite safe to launch / land south of the south groin, as there are rocks just downwind from the area.
I wonder who made this plan? Was WAKSA asked, or involved?
Looks like a call made by a council paper pusher that doesnt make much sense, or GetFunky
Firstly, launching North of the surf club:
-we will be parking right in front of the deli/cafe. Sorry to the people with kids who use the park, or to the clubbies themselves who Im sure would like those parks.
They are still used when its windy as that park / playground is out of the wind.
To access the waves neat the groyne:
People will need to tack up wind, right through the no go area.
Or
Kite through the no go area between the groynes.
If they dont like the launch north of Floreat Groyne, it should be moved to the southern side (between the groynes) The beach is very wide there and no one uses it in the wind.
As all of this is basic common sense for anyone you uses the area, Im sure WAKSA have already made these points clear to the council?
We copped the notification today while getting ready today...my risk assessment is probably fair enuf there is regular kooky activity going on in this area.
surely there is a typo going on in the image regarding the kiting zone immediately to the north of Floreat Groin?
seems completely pointless to have a kiting zone in an area where you cant launch or land...
this has always been the main kiting area for the city beach area. Now it deemed almost useless. The carpark and grassed area in front is a fantastic place to meet, chat, have a coldy before or after a sesh. Its where I have met many kiting crew. Now it seems pointless to meet there or even kite...bummed.
as corey alluded, doesnt seem much common sense used here.
Big test for WAKSA this one.
It really gets on my nerves when people make rules like this that dont need to there.
For years we have stayed out from between the groynes so the swimmers ect dont feel intimidated by kiters. We launch in a small spot to keep the rangers happy and now they are taking that from us.
I need a new job, the head ranger looks good. Then I could tell people to use the area near City groyne to swim and the Floreat one is for everyone else.
Why are we not allowed to use a grassed area that is perfect for the job and like default said it is also a social spot. That most of the time is only used by kiters.
The area north of the Floreat surf club is a good area to launch from, but it doesnt have the same access or facilities of the area we use now.
I need to know who I can complain to make this right. I assume it is complaints to council that get things done?
Everyone has been launching from the same spot and it has in my view greatly restricted or impact on other beach users.
Now they want us to launch south of a restricted area, anyone on a downwinder will have to cross the red no go zone between the 2 groyns to head towards Scarb????
Is it a conscious attempt to create problems so that they can record all the people crossing the red area and puh for an outright ban?
No issue with the little red area north of the north groin as it is 30 meters from the start of the sand dunes and happy to walk north to the start of the green area but to prevent launching on this spot is plain crasy.
WAKSA, please do something and have a chat with them, they are trying to enforce a launch area where we will be required to cross the agreed no go zone
Seb
just to clarify for you...you can launch at south City Beach (south of the look out tower, adjacent to the kiosk) but still do DW's heading north so long as you don't kite through/in the area between the groynes.
Our photo should have been a little more clear (sorry about the confusion...) - launch/landings should not take place on the stretch of beach between the Floreat groyne and the Floreat SLSC.
Kite launch/land at either south City Beach or north of the Floreat SLSC.
How far out to sea is the bit between the groynes?
This is gheiy.
I don't think there has ever been an incident resulting in injury between a kiter and non kiter at the launching spot at floreat groyne...
Instead of banning it (which will happen, because some knob head is going to break the successful risk management thing) , why not give us a launching area 50-100m north of the groyne. Nobody ever hangs out there on a windy day.
Why delete one of the perfect places to launch and land and pack up etc.
The other suggested spots have got dodgy carpark that thieves love to hang out at as well.
Letter the dad wrote into waksa
Let's face it: It is not a "risk assessment", it is the first strategic step towards a total ban of kite surfing in the City Beach / Floreat area. If it gets through, it will be the first total ban on a popular kite surfing beach in WA , and it may give a precedence to other councils to follow. It must not get through!!
We need residents of Floreat and City Beach on our side, we need high profile supporters, and we need total support behind WAKSA. Just like at Mullaloo, non-kiters' support is worth gold. It's essential to stop irresponsible kiters and practices at the beach, and NOT airing them on a public forum.
This is not only about City Beach, it's about stopping unreasonable, authoritarian actions against kite surfing, which seems becoming a kind of "fashion" amongst officials wanting to justify their salary.
Edit: I highlighted a sentence, that I feel very important for the time being
You guys are kidding me, what half wit came up with this, the orginal picture had a at least a bit of sense but now blatantly wiping out access to City beach.
30m North of Floreat groyne is unused by beach goers, why ban it when you can kite in that section anyway.What happened to Waksa's backbone?? , the Waksa guys do a great job, I just got really p!ssed off when I saw the picture, that downwinder makes my world go round except for my kids (and wife).
Rich
This is not good. 
For the interests of factual information, I have NEVER sought for the CB area to be excluded (get ya facts correct Corey) and have only ever attempted to keep the place incident free, mantain safety, happy beach punters and avoid exactly the troubles like we now see..
The fact that I posted a Flozzer thread yesterday was a bizarre coincidence.
Sigh..
The shame of this new launch exclusion area(Nth of Nth groin) is that it is the only part of the beach wide enough to accomodate full line lengths, multiple kites and not be right in front of a steel walkway structure.
Generally there are not many beach punters there and when the wind is on they tuck in close to the groin for shelter.
I mostly agree with the exclusion of kites in the other zones (particularly in front of Floreat kids beach/surf club), however with the existing launch area
now banned it does seem a real shame that the vast open area just south of the Nth groin is not available for kites. 90% of the time there is not a single punter on that section of beach when the wind is on.
The downside is any dramas on launch would mean a potential tangle with the groin and light pole (happened a couple of seasons ago). The upside is MUCH more space for kites, punters etc etc and if dramas there is a bit more room to move (than the existing launch area) before clobbering anything big.
Perhaps WAKSA need to really step up and challenge the exclusion just south of the north groin? I am talking about the northern 20% of the exclusion between the two groins BTW.
Fingers, toes and nutz crossed that this will sort itself out. With a 9 month exclusion i can't see it reversing tho. Time to get onto the council - pronto!
Bloody pity some minority idiots made a habit of fanging through swimmers, boogers and the kids beach area. Hope they are stoked with this result.[}:)]
Risk assessment would say that, due to this, the popularity of a rigging area south of the south groyne, will result in a noob kite ending up the a$$ of their pretty little tower...
if only i had a cheap kite to exercise this potential incident and show them the error of their ways.
This is just becoming a joke, can you not do anything fun anymore without some politically correct "yes man" pencil pusher "justifying thier salary" as it was well put before?
leighton exclusion zones, swanny rifle range (only need to stay a few hundred metres out...) we keep clear of fisherman between swanny and cities as a courtesy, boot right out around outside of cities to keep well clear, now..err...stay 500m out until you get to just before brighton FFS and then pack up gear?
will they just put a line of buoys 500m out and say "just stay outside the bouys" next?
i appreciate WAKSA work on previous Mullaloo etc, and i hope they are working on this one pretty hard or we are all fked.
so hows that downwinder bus service looking now?
To the people red thunbing WAKSA posts pull your head in you wackers, WAKSA are only bringning you news be grateful there is someone there to even start / negotiations or receive this kind of information and be seen to be pro-active in dealing with dilema and perceived issues.
We all know its a rediculoius proposition but to have any say in it means approaching it in an organised manner and not crying on a public forum like a child.
how about organising a mass sit in the next cambridge shire council meeting or contacting a local council member to try bring a rational debate to the table. There is time alloted at each meeting for public to raise issues /ask questions etc
people are allways to quick to criticise but then sit there and do nothing step up if your willing and deal with it
Mate I wasn't red thumbing waska..
My red thumb was directed at the idea of the ban ...
Like you said we are lucky to have them in there batting for us ... I just hope they can swing a change our way, I'm happy to help in anyway I can
What about lobbying for extra space to launch & land north side of Floreat Groyne. If the council allowed an extra 50mt to be cut into sandhill as you come down the stairs this would help rectify problem. There used to be a road there before coming down from the top of the hill before Cyclone Alby wiped it out in 1978 and its been only since then that the council have been trying to build a mountain of sand there.
Back on track..
Is it possible to view the actual docs Cambridge have produced so far?
I am amazed this has sprung from nowhere.
I assume it takes time, effort and council votes/approval to get to this stage.. how has this gone through to the keeper?
Agree with not slagging WAKSA. They have had heaps of work in recent times and more to come representing the Perf kiters.
In the meantime everyone (placing sticky record on the platter) do the KN RIGHT THING and don't be a selfish pest to ALL other beach users. Don't supply amunition to those that are seeking it.
Agree with council sit-in idea. A strong (but respectful and behaved) prescence right from the start at meetings is a good idea.
I reside in cambridge/I vote/I kite stickers/flyers?
I am wondering how this spontaneous ban will be successfully implemented?
How are the people who dont read this forum supposed to know launching and landing from the usual spot (where everyone has been doing so, since kiting began here) is now banned?
This really did pop up from nowhere. I would have liked some consultation before this was sprung on us. It really sucks!
I was suspicious when the downwinder bus thingy mentioned the risk review is underway....I recall saying "the writing is on the wall" in ref to the risk review which I was slammed for saying...ehem, apology accepted 
On a serious note, we really need to rally together and support WAKSA to have this ridiculous ban abolished.
Until information / restriction signs and boards are erected, the proposal is not implemented. I believe we have some time to raise our concerns and be represented appropriately.
The council's approach is clearly autocratic. Outrageous. No public debate, no feedback from the parties involved, no voting, no democracy, just outright ruling. And this may prove to be its weakness. Noone, not even the possible opposition to kite surfing, would like the council make decisions without asking public opinion first. It is extremely "un-Australian". I hardly can imagine anyone would welcome an attitude like this. I wish we have a lawyer amongst us.
How about we give these guys kites http://www.warangers.asn.au/JUNIOR%20RANGERS.htm
As for not kiting north of the north groin, well its an interesting suggestion as part of the consultation process, good to see council is following www.cambridge.wa.gov.au/files/35298b57-9c3a-4503-9a39-9cc700eb8d46/1.2.11_-_Community_Consultation.pdf
And that they also have this helpful document www.cambridge.wa.gov.au/files/c29f9edb-ed8f-4f59-a13e-9cc3014fcecd/Info%20-%20Beach%20Surf%20Safety.pdf
Just keep kiting safely to conditions and contine not disturbing or annoying anyone, and keep informed. City Beach is the Peoples Beach.
What the f@ck is wrong with you fools in WA?????? It only seems to be a problem in the place where the sun sets over the ocean????????
Why are all the problems over in the West?????Too many redneck hicks????
Lack of daylight due to no daylight savings?????or do all the kiters like to go to the most crowded city spots cause they think everyone wants to watch them???
Its a friggen huge coast line,,,,,,,,,,sh!t,if anything,,most of us in the east head to spots that have no one out....not look and see 50 crew in the water and say "this looks good lets go out here???"
or are you all too lazy to drive 15mins up/down the coast????
You guys are kidding me, what half wit came up with this, the orginal picture had a at least a bit of sense but now blatantly wiping out access to City beach.
30m North of Floreat groyne is unused by beach goers, why ban it when you can kite in that section anyway.What happened to Waksa's backbone?? , the Waksa guys do a great job, I just got really p!ssed off when I saw the picture, that downwinder makes my world go round except for my kids 
(and wife
).
Rich
I first went to City Beach/Floreat when I was 5 years old . I learnt to surf there when I was 10. I got my first root there ,I learnt how to do burnouts in the car park when the sand hadnt been cleaned up. Ive been kitesurfing there for 6 years , I take my kids there and now some pen pushig f**kwit tells me what I can and cant do . Not happy
