Over here in the UK the beach I ride at the most (Hayling Island) is very busy, but we get very few incidents because everyone is required to have BKSA insurance. If it is really busy, you also need to have membership to the Hayling Kitesurf Association. The BKSA give you tags that you can fix to your harness and a membership card. All the problems that occurred in Europe and the UK 4 years ago are manifesting themselves in Australia now, so why should anyone act surprised?
In St Kilda, there should be big signs up that explain the dangers of kiting to other beach users. I have seen people sunbathing and taking their kids to play on the kitebeach area, and other kids playing in the water right where everyone water starts and returns to the beach. Since there are beaches close by (ie. St Kilda proper, Elwood) that kiters shouldn't use these people should be politely asked to keep away. If the demand is there (and in St Kilda there are plenty of kiters) you can hardly say that the needs of a few are over-riding the majority. There are at least two schools that operate there, can't they put up flags that show the learners, intermediate and advanced areas?
Councils could make effective bye-laws to support this and back up the kiting community. And those who demonstrate that they clearly cannot use their equipment should be asked to leave the beach.
