FOI request uncovers WSL involvement in raised walkway at Winki
Ah, democracy! It's the worst form of government, except for all the others. Where the power is vested in the people, yet beyond voting many democratic processes are veiled from civic eyes. Yeah, the public can get involved, but a complex web of plans, codes, and legislation that cuts across three levels of government both confuses and discourages the mug punter. So, every three years you cast your vote and cross your fingers.
Thank heavens, then, for determined community groups with a head for process and a gut for instinct.
You may be aware of the ongoing stoush down Bells way, with the local council proposing a permanent raised walkway overlooking Winkipop. Local surfers oppose the walkway as both unecessary and the thin edge of the wedge for further Bells development - the latter a rational fear in a rapidly urbanising landscape.
Adding further intrigue were accusations that the World Surf League were somehow involved. That the League - who are based in Santa Monica, California, but for two weeks each year run the Rip Curl Pro at Bells - were colluding with council to force the project.
In the last few days, the Surfrider Foundation Surf Coast branch and Maurice Cole received a reply to a Freedom of Information request, and their suspicions were confirmed: the Wozzle were involved in the project.
In fact, in 2018 the Woz even invited two Surf Coast councillors to Hawaii, ostensibly to help them secure the Pipeline Masters which at the time had lost its City of Honolulu permit. It's unclear how the councillors would facilitate this, but the optics, as they say, ain't good.
Below is just one of a tranche of documents between the WSL and Council, while underneath that are Mayor David Bell's Hawaiian holiday updates.
Late last month, presumably in response to the tenacious local campaign, the Woz offically withdrew their support for the walkway. However, despite the WSL's support being a major plank in their argument, and it now being taken away, the council has decided to continue with the raised walkway project.
Read MC's latest Facebook post which has a timeline of events.
And thus the fight goes on, though now the council face an emboldened local crew whose sense of treachery has been vindicated.
Watch this space...
Comments
Put ‘em in the stocks.
I’m sure the Waterman of the year would be staggered to realise that his good name is being besmirched through his proxy association with such devious scum....lol.
Best of luck to all of the dedicated locals. Councilors come and go with regularity but I would hope the Bell's landscape stays as is permanently, despite the desires of the rich and treacherous.
So the Woz want to help build infrastructure for their contests...?
Sure makes you wonder about the timing of the road upgrade into G'Land and the announcement of the G'Land Pro.
In unrelated news, bears indeed do defecate in the woods.
Fact: Bears eat beets
Election is on the 24th.
Meet your councillors: https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/surfcoasttimes/news/council-candidates-tor...
Go Maurice. Hope he wins.
A paralleled inquiry should be had with Margaret River -surfers point and Gnarabup developments as well. Corruption. Disgusting. Too late for the Gold Coast but that is a total shit fight of a cluster fuck as well!
Good call
Too tru Ape, the whole Surfers Point redevelopment after the 2011 fires had more input from surfing wa (wsl representative ) than the local community , we ended up with not much more parking but infrastructure decks and viewing platforms set up for signage and presentation areas, a commentator Booth being the only undercover area anywhere and all set up as to be able to block off the whole area with ease and set fences up around all contest set up rather than parking and even perhaps some shade ? But hey excellent place to hold a contest now, even though the pros hate margs and only seem to go right , hey who gives a fuck about the people who use the place the rest of the year right? Typical underhand backroom deals between local shires, state gov and the wsl, as it would seem the Torquay crew are going to be victim of potentially , fight it fellas.
What Campbell said. Build it and they will come! The locals get to subsidise the whole thing thru their rate payments going towards maintenance and rebuilding the shoddy piece of crap they put in place.
Campbell, it just boggles the mind that all this private investment is done with Public money and resources.
Any visual modelling of what the proposed elevated walkway:
1. Looks like
2. Materials to be used
3. Dimensions
Curious.
Hang on I found it.
Haha!
Out of all those candiates Maurice presented the most specific and meaningful breakdown of the issues that will shape the community.
Except on the ballot paper he's the only candidate with no photo and not a single word explaining what he stands for! Other than that I'm sure he's awesome.
Not exactly the smartest move. I just opened my ballot paper and yep.......nothing from M.C 'no photo submitted / no statement submitted' whereas all the others have provided both.
Plenty of people who moved here in recent years and will vote have no real surfing connection and the name Maurice Cole will mean jack shit to them. They'll probably just put him as no. 10 preference out of 10 candidates.
That was really strange. Whole family asked who the guy with the blank presentation was, I had to explain. Sometimes paper presentation still matters in the 21st century.
They will put him #10 because he has been smoking too many glass BBQs. Period.
Spot on gasman. I'm thoroughly opposed to the walkway but Maurice not even submitting his blurb or photo for the ballot paper is a terrible look. It screamed, "I fucked up forgetting to do it" or "I couldn't be bothered".
I'd suggest a letter to the paper explaining the mistake, or even an ad.
Very good call Tango! Use the situation to advantage. Who the fuck is the MONKEY who thought of this raised walkway. Why not just erect some skyscrapers with great pictures of surfers on them and surf business logos , you could have huge rooms for the rich overlooking the waves and they could own the land in front and keep out the surfers unless they were willing to pay for it. I’m sure all the wildlife that has lived there for so long would just love having hundreds of thousands more tourists hovering above them too. One hopes for some peace, then one gets a crowd , and THEN the money makers come in to screw things up good and properly! I agree that this issue has to be addressed in the media. And I’m 100% behind Maurice. He loves the place and I hope he stands strong to protect it. If anyone can, he can especially with a bit of support from others.
gasman...I missed the deadline by 47scs......
So Surf Coast councillors accepted gifts from a company that lobbied said council to proceed with the development... does this stink of maladministration or something else?
https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/junkets-blueberry-compote/a1a05bad-9d75...
Edit: while that's a delicious recipe, did the councillors not pay their own way?
Memla more like this one
three sided coin
three sided coin
Choices...
Apartment just above highway - great views but huge road noise
Apartment level with bridge - eternal darkness and noise
Apartment just below - modern Blade Runner neon landscape, muffled noise
Fark, what a shit sandwich for those people. Kinda puts things into perspective aye.
Not withstanding the Winki issue I am staggered by those photos garyg1412. No offence, but are they for real?
I believe so HB.
https://www.boredpanda.com/highway-bridge-centimeters-away-residential-a...
Thanks for the link. I’ll troll downtown Cairo on Google Earth.
I don't see the smoking gun myself? The council email is just an update to someone from the WSL on the project - doesn't indicate any shadey "involvement". Of course they would be interested in updates if it affects infrastrcture at a site they use and need to plan for.
Then the mayor says he was on a private holiday at the time - are you implying the WSL funded him? Doesnt read that way? Maybe stroking his ego yes.
I'm no WSL fanboy but feels like the article is trying to create a scandal that isn't quite there.
In fact quite the reverse these days. Without local gov and councils funding these events as major sponsors WSL simply couldn't afford to run them. WLS could't afford jackshit to "fund" themsleves into events through infrastructure builds.
Agree it's not cool for WSL to gve moral or any other kind of direct support for anti environmental projects but it's probably more a side affect of their sponsors getting excited at the benefits of supporting these events.
there is a lot more to come...the mayor was on SCS business The mayor / David Bells, wearing his SCS badge , did he fund it himself lets see if it was true ,as he was there as the Mayor of SCS not on a private holiday
there are other FOI's which show the WSL asking how the viewing platform was going, and will it be ready by easter 2020.......then at a panel hearing the WSL said they were withdrawing their support for the platform , as they had heard the local community did not want it......just not true!
I tend to agree. I don't see the visit to Hawaii being a conflict of interest. Torquay/Bells has the oldest running surf event on earth. One would assume the local council has had to pitch in annually to keep it running, keep people flooding into the surf shops and cafes etc etc. Visiting the mayor of Honolulu to share that history and wealth of ideas seems like a pretty fair enough approach. If more comes out about WSL funded holidays/accommodation it would be different story but based on what we know now, it not as bad as the article makes out.
Torquay town planning is pretty bad though. Not sure if anyone was following the dam rupture in North Torquay housing estate but they've built a town literally in the shadow of an industrial mega-damn. Its crazy to think that got approved. A few more big rain events or damn wall failure and that part of town could look like Jindabyne.
https://images.app.goo.gl/j8wcCscJMXH87qHk8
At the time the councillors went, the Pipeline Masters had been running for 48 years. I think the city of Honolulu would have a fair idea of tourist impact without having to be told by two foreign bureaucrats from a different market.
Fair point. Though the article does say that the permit to hold to the Pipe Masters had been lost with no suggestion as to why. They may be from a different market but the issues facing both governments may be more similar than we think. More information on the subject is needed and its good to know people are looking into it.
The reason the Pipe Masters (temporarily) lost its permit in 2018 was because the Woz withdrew it following Sophie Goldschmidt's planned reschedule of the CT calander that would see Pipe begin the year and not end it.
By the time the Woz realised that idea wouldn't wash, the City of Honolulu's own calender of surfing events was full. They're only allowed X numbers of contest days per year at Pipe.
The Pipe permitting brouhaha was wholly to do with planning between the CoH and the Woz, it had nothing to do with tourism income, filling cafes or whatnot. It's very hard to see what role SCS councillors could possibly play.
Even if they manage to build this ridiculous piece of infrastructure, to be used 2 days max a year, it probably won't last. Did someone mention battery powered circular saws at 2am?
You’ll want a recipro as well. Can’t say the platform itself effect me personally, but the situation as a whole grinds my muthafuckin gears. How do councils go forward against community wishes?
Anyways, recip ready for action. Got 12amp batterys too. We on baby
Not a Victorian, however had this happened in nsw this would get my goat, the wsl has now fully lost me. I’m no greeny but this appears to be corporate globalisation and influence at is worst..keep bells green.
There are lots of stories I could tell about the Surf Coast Council and others that would leave your heads shaking.
The only questions you need to ask yourself about people wanting to be on Council is who are they serving and what's in it for them. At least The Fossil will be honest.
Its all about development and heaven help poor old existing residents opposed to their local neighbourhood or beach or bushland being screwed over unless they are prepared to get organised and fight it.
I'm involved with two separate VCAT appeals atm against inappropriate developments my LGA has approved by just accepting the developers plans as complying with all laws and building codes which they don't. My experience tells me there are some likely dishonest Council planning staff also in the mix.
Figure this: just over 30% of all Victorian LGA approvals are upheld by VCAT i.e. Council are getting it wrong 7 times out of 10. Cynically its been put to me by someone on the inside that LGAs are or have outsourced their planning review function to VCAT to save money.
The main game which gets consistently overlooked is that the Tribunal is forced to consider any planning application within the confines of the wording in the planning scheme. If the relevant planning controls or policy provide an opportunity for inappropriate development that can't be shot down with expert evidence or good planning arguments, VCAT have no basis on which to refuse the permit.
Short story: if you're getting dud outcomes, change the planning scheme. And the planning scheme is driven by the council and State government, not VCAT.
and that's why I am running for council with a group of independent Candidates , to break the back of the current political/Labor Council , who work for their Political masters in Melbourne first and foremost . Developers lobby the State Govt , send them to the
SC Council officers , who help the developers thru the community consultation (LOL) process then make a recommendation to council which always favors the developers..
So lets take council get a new CEO , clean out the Administration......and start dealing with the mess that SCS has become!
Spot on Tango.
There are some recent posts on MC's instagram which will provide more context and colour for those that can vote: https://www.instagram.com/mcsurfboards/?hl=en
Good luck MC. Keep the bastards honest!
This is a lot of blather over very little. 30-50 meters of old and cracked concrete footpath might be replaced by wooden walkways (like on bush-walking tracks?) and might very slightly improve the view across low scrub to Winki below. Doesn't seem very expensive for the council or very much benefit for WSL. Why would they even bother paying for Bell to travel to Hawaii?
Its an eye sore. something you get going into the reserve is feeling like your away from everything with such a beautiful headland above, however from the water this will make the platform stick out clearly and it will make you feel like your being watched from those above. Also the issue is about the loss of power and unnecessary loss of taxpayers $ when those whose use it are the ones who are against it. It sets a precedent for further development projects, however by stopping this it will hopefully shy developers away for doing larger developmental projects in the reserve
There's already a viewing platform above the button. The walkway across to the stairs down to Winki won't bring much more of a view of the line-up. The council replaces and rebuilds walkways and stairs in lots of places. Look at the rebuilding at Steps. Like a lot of people, I was irritated by the council taking out the southern steps down to bird rock. No consultation there either. That doesn't mean there is a corporate conspiracy manipulating councillors to rebuild stairs and walkways. I reckon its more likely council bureaucrats deciding they know what is best - for the environment, for tourist amenity, for safety, and whatever.
Okay for sure " its more likely council bureaucrats deciding they know what is best - for the environment, for tourist amenity, for safety, and whatever." could 100% be this. But what they thinks best might not be the best. Also just because its been okay to let them do the rebuilding at other sites doesn't mean we shouldn't change the course of action now. Change has to start somewhere and it's now. The expansion of towns all around the world is already clear and its only going to get a lot worse you'll regret not making a change it 50 years when the paddocks surrounding bells are big hotels. But if we start making changes now we can try find a balance between this expansion and somehow preserving certain areas like these because theres no going back once its there.
Yeah, I agree. It is amazing really that the hillside with paddocks full of kangaroos has not been sold to someone planning to build a hotel, a resort or whatever. I have voted for green councillors but I am sceptical about anyone who runs for political office at the same time as they attack "politicians" or "parties". Sounds like Trump "draining the swamp" when he's a swamp monster himself.
Endru,
There's platforms all over the place at Bells and the additional one is not due to any shortage of viewing areas (accept for maybe 2 days a year when the WSL are in town).
Council say the existing path is degraded? Bullshit, it's got 2 tiny cracks in it. It works, you can walk on it. Repairing that is a day's work for 2 people.
Virtually no locals or travelling surfers want a raised platform. It isn't being pushed by anyone but the WSL, and they seem to have a couple fo councillors cheering them on.
The raised platform is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
BTW, when council changes steps or tracks to the beach, (eg bird rock) it's usually because of erosion issues of maintenance problems with existing infrastructure. This simply isn't the case at winki.
Yeah, you're right. There are no erosion problems with the walkway, and they've just finished repairing part of the concrete anyway. I am still pretty sceptical about the WSL caring anything at all about a raised walkway along there even if they do care about access to the big wide car park down to Bells and viewing seats looking over the bowl.
Endru, about a decade ago there were plans for a complete redesign of the bells carpark and one of the key reasons was cliff erosion problems at the lower hammerhead section.
The plans called for the carpark to be moved away from the immediate cliff area near where the stairs are. This is where the comp puts their judging and VIP area. The central area of the carpark was going to re-vegetated, right where people sit to watch the big screens and where they put the merchandise tent.
Needless to say, the plans never went ahead and the erosion problem meticulously "disappeared".
The raised platform at Winki is for the comp organisers and only for the comp organisers, and we get pay for it with our rates. No wonder why people are pissed about it.
That all makes sense
enduru , what you don't get is that the WSL build a temporary viewing platform each year at Winki...works well. Costs $5K to put it up. The WSL have been also given the gate $s between $150-200K.....the Vic Govt gives them $500K , RC gives them $1.5m......so really they want to cut costs in $4m budget.......build a permanent viewing platform .......so that if they have the comp at Winki.....they have somewhere for their paying VIP's to watch the comp.....honestly do you really support Mr Ziff owner of WSL who is a American Billionaire?
You have to wonder how WSL and professional surfing will survive COVID. No RipCurl Pro at Bells would be no great loss, even if it is mildly interesting to see the professionals free-surfing our breaks. Easter will still attract big crowds of tourists though.
All the best Maurice. Local governments could always use community minded people of integrity.
Can't comment on the SCS but if you want a textbook example of dodginess, look no further than the Tweed shire council.
Perhaps if we could get the WSL to actually OPPOSE this platform rather than just withdraw support , the council may not be so keen to go ahead ?
Never forget that the WSL is one man.
The corporate edifice tries to hide the fact that this is one non-surfing American silver spooner who has probably never set foot in Victoria and who is now dictating the way your local community will spend its common funds and how your local area will change to suit his whims.
Maybe also petition and protest on WSL sites and forums ? Let the world know that the “ Eco conscious and community minded “ WSL is running roughshod over local concerns.
Paint the picture of indigenous MC fighting the WSL dragon and they might shit their pants.
Blowin , the WSL build a temporary viewing platform each year at Winki...works well. Costs $5K to put it up. The WSL have been also given the gate $s between $150-200K.....the Vic Govt gives them $500K , RC gives them $1.5m......so really they want to cut costs in $4m budget.......build a permanent viewing platform .......so that if they have the comp at Winki.....they have somewhere for their paying VIP's to watch the comp.....honestly do you really support Mr Ziff owner of WSL who is a American Billionaire?
Treachery? Intrigue? Treason? Denials... maaaaayyyyteees in bed with mmmmaaaayyytees...
Whistle blowing?
'Tranching' 'edifices'?
Dare I say it... I mean... dare we all say it... a... well... erm... a swillnut club 'backstory'?
Again...
Its all sounding a bit swillnutty!!!
Down at the swillnut club clubroom!
How many more seconds must we be forced to endure this!!!!!!!!!!
Surely not even 47...
Please stop.
Geez, poor old Gabrielle gets thrown under a bus by the bastard with the black pen....the identities of the WSL and Council pushers get redacted and protected, but not the person actually doing the work. How utterly b-grade.
Excuse my ignorance but doesn't Bells already have a viewing platform extending some 100m plus infront of the carpark?
How is the proposed one a Winki any different?
Have a squiz at the plans, ryder. It's a different scale, impact and has some different material.
1) you can already get a perfectly good view of the surf from the Winki pathway
2) it includes steel to reflect light - Bells has all timber.
3) People on the path are presently obscured to waist/chest height by veg and are viewed beneath the ridgeline from the water. The proposed walkway has people standing on it in full and plain sight from the lineup and above the line of vegetation - Bells' walkways blend in and are beneath the veg line when viewed fro the water. Not just in plain sight, either - the whole platform is well above veg height, so the full load of spectators will be visible.
Classic local government , discussing construction completion dates with a commercial stakeholder prior to even doing community consultation or getting approval by council is dodgy AF, did they have a tenderer lined up with the shovels as well?
OB "discussing construction completion dates with a commercial stakeholder" 100%. Locals fight is with the council. Council just keeping all relative stakeholders (WSL) in the loop. Project management 101. If MC had followed basic PM principals his face would be on the ballot.
Great opening paragraph Stu. Lots of us know this and may even comment with witty bitty Instagram type one liners (that do nothing) but few can or will so eloquently summarize it.
Nice job.
When did "surfing" go from protecting and representing the environment to wrecking it? Was it when Billabong listed on the stock market and moved to China?
Now we have;
the promotion of Coal and nuclear fired wave pools.
Former legend Nick Carrol allegedly calling for shark culls instead of education.
Millions of murdered dolphins and turtles
Wiped out S.E Asian rainforests for "surfing lifestyle resorts" complete with wifi so u can upload your latest gopro for your narcissistic kick.
Super thin glassed comp boards that snap in a week and end up in land fill.
I don't even tell people I surf, when once upon a time I was proud to admit it.
It's not just surfer magazine that has died,
Surfers at bells and Winki will be like the human equivalent of Furry Penguins. Tourists will add the Furry Surfers to their list of things to gawk at- not for too long mind you- a quick stretch from the bus ride and a turn of the head 270 degrees - find the toilet and fill it with mixture of solids and fluids - Back on the bus and done! Been there and done that. So many tourists in the car park though that the poor Furry Surfers can’t get a park anymore, so have to go out on the road somewhere and walk in. But the Council have a solution for this too I bet. Introduce parking meters at the surf car park. After all, they have put so much in developing it, that someone should pay and who better than the surfers. I have watched this shit space developing for years from a simple farm dirt road in to more and more urban control by the Council. Frankly I believe it’s necessary for them to put in infrastructure, but it must be done with sensitivity to the natural environment which from start to finish has been the draw card of Bells. If they start interfering with the natural layout of it, it will be unwise. Respect Mother Nature and she’ll keep on giving, but disrespect her and fucking look out!! It’s a microcosm of the whole planet’s story at the moment. If we push her too far then we lose our life support system. People have got to start thinking more about supporting nature rather than using it as a commodity.
Oh yeah I forgot to mention that if you overstay on the meter, you get a big fine!! Haha...
Oh yeah I should qualify that. The Wozzl guys won’t have to pay for parking, they have their own special parking area. Just thought I should make that clear, but I’m guessing that all those Bells surfers already know the drill there. When Bells is on there is a Cast system, where there is Wazzl guys at top, then special guests (local surf business wanna be legends) and then just guys like me who’ve surfed it all my life who are at the bottom and get asked to pay to park. So it’s just the plebs that will pay fines so no worries there for wazzle guys. Smile!!
Putting a new walkway on top of the current walkway can't help but remind me of this:
Perhaps there is a council member who is part of the Australasian Branch of the Society For Putting Things on Top of Other Things.
They seem to have put the 4th and 5th storeys on top of the 3rd storey in the foreshore height restrictions.
Like scarborough beach development?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-18/scarborough-beach-twin-towers-dev...
Fail... let's try..
https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/scarborough-s-fail...
WSR (Part 1) Competitive Nomination Claims (Renowned - re: Plaques)
Bells : Longest continued International Surf Comps WSR
Freshwater : 1st World Surf Event WSR
Margaret River : Caters for Seasoned Pros NSR
Gold Coast : Breeding Ground that grooms Multiple World Surf Champs WSR
Noosa : Many Young Locals become Champions WSR
tbb Notes: WSL comps in Cabba NSR & Elsewhere...(just sticking to icons)
ASP/WSL has never attended a Dedication (Despite being timed with WSL Events)
WSL have no partnership with WSR's
Governments corruptly involve WSL as (Unofficial WSR Comp Reps)
ASP Kelly Slater was a past Ambassador as were ISA the past Comp partners.
ISA were present at GC WSR dedication (Only)
WSR's have never advocated or included Pro Comp Surfing as a Vision in Dedication.
Comps are acknowledged as a matter of respect but it ends there...in every WSR.
Clearly! No Surf Comp organisation has default recognition as a "Stakeholder".
Purely a Government corruption that abuses the goodwill & vision of WSR's
WSR (Part 2) Governance / Boundaries
OZ WSR's protect from Low Tide Mark extending 500m seaward (eg incl. Shark Nets)
NP / Aboriginal protections apply to Headlands + Outcrops + Middens + Fish Traps
Bells WSR has many parts that are protected but by different Governance.
(1) 1973 protects foreshore,beach & continuous Surf Comp Zone (No Surf Protection)
(2a) 2002 Point Addis MNP protects High Tide Surf Line Up by way of Reef Network.
(2b) 2005 MNP > IUCN Category II (International Migration Line-up > forage / refuge)
(3) 2005 Great Otway NP protects Headland
(4a) 2011 Great Ocean Road "State Heritage Protects Bells Beach Reserve"
(4b) 2014 Bells Beach Reserve is transferred to Surf Coast (Crown Management)
(5) 2020 Proposed WH Listing
WSR (Part 3) The International Surf Event Arena.
Adjunct to WSR & Protections, Govt funded (Tier 1) Events apply World Standards.
ASP but more so each year with WSL Event Sites are upgraded to World Standard.
Govts are obliged to get bang for buck > TV airs live visitor safety (Shark mitigation)
All Govt 'Event sites' have DNA Road/Carpark/Walls/Walkway/Signage do-overs.
Councils usually package continuous Upgrades + Site Security + Extra Sanitation.
WSR event State gives...$3m Pro M/W + Council in kind > $ 150K-500K
3-5year contracts can present as a one off Council Walkway of $1-2m
WSR (Part 4) Comp infrastructure consultation.
Bells WSR : 2018 State blankets a Retro 1987 "Distinctive Area" from 1st Nation.
In effect allows Councils to pre tick "Eco Development" with side Consult as default.
Context of this feature relates to similar if not exact same (Joke) consult as dressing.
https://engage.vic.gov.au/distinctive-areas-and-landscapes-program/surf-...
This 'pretend' Survey Closed Nov 2019 but pushes said walkway...(Can still read it!)
Survey Q 3: Govt offers 5 variations on Walkway each support it by default.
By simply partaking in Survey you automatically grant support for Walkway...
Survey continues to massage development support simply by ticking any box.
tbb has not seen a survey as whitewashed as Bells consult...(Should be discredited!)
Qld WSR : Consult ends..30 Nov 2020
Here the participant is encouraged to provide 'new' protection upgrades.
The more consultation waters down existing protection by unlocking the reserve.
The new consult (Visions) are then transplanted under the surface to corrupt within.
eg: Do you think + How Important (Empowers the participant to change as an act!)
How important are Surf Comps, Shops , Pubs etc...(Why declare them as important?)
Do You Think...Qld should introduce new law > Stand Alone Lego' > Amend existing Lego To Protect "VALUES" of WSR > State wide Mechanism to Strengthen Management > Please indicate which Stake Holders for State Wide Management.
You go from undecided to Picking the Team (This is crafted manipulation)
Every bit as dodgy as Vic WSR consult ( It's Same Roundtable spin!)
So just ease up & double think yer replies...they are roasting you!
WSR (Part 5) Corruption.
swellnet highlighted these Surf Coast Councillors having a good crack at it...
Dec 2018 Hawaii Pipe Comp Permit > (WSL + Surf Coast CEO Baillie + Mayor Bell)
March 2020 Qld WSR Round Table > (WSL + Surf Coast CEO Baillie + Mayor Bell)
WSL (Qld / NSW Interstate Comp Powers)
Override Transit Timetable, 2 month Road & Car Park Closures, Casa Drone Exemption, Beach annexation, Beach Thru-fare Closures, Override Foreshore -Beach Grog Bans by building Beach Bars, Override Grog Advertising bans, Cyclonic Beach Closed Exemptions, Remove Flagged Swimming Reserves, override Jet skis ban in Bathing Reserves Shark Mitigation Alteration & Trials, Sand Pumping manipulation.
WSR (Part 6) Sabotage & Extortion of WSR
WSL threaten to relocate Qld WSL Comp + WSR SQ/WSL HQ to Sunny Surf Ranch.
WSL bribed Qld premier $50,000 to upzone the Surf Ranch for CT Comp + SQ HQ.
WSL palmed Govt Junkets / Faked Consult & employ Union Bully Standover tactics.
WSL then tried to extort GCCC rates to upgrade WSR BHds Comp. (2 Qld comps)
WSR Surfie Candidates (2020)
Noosa (WSR)Tom Wegener > Blindly voted for $20K/night Wave Pool...(Changed)
Noosa (WSR) Amelia Lorentson ( Conflict of interest in Noosa Wave Pool Vote)
Gold Coast (WSR) Rabbit's ALP used WSR as main prop + Timely WSR protection
(Former Dep Mayor Peter Turner /
https://www.hpw.qld.gov.au/about/initiatives/world-surfing-reserves
Bells (WSR) Maurice Cole is fighting the Corruption that's urbanising the WSR.
Freshwater -Alex Mc Taggart 1999 > (Mayor/State/Cr)
Margaret River - Cr Naomi Godden loves surfing gorgeous NSR
Again...these are just examples to show that Surfers do have skin in the game...
tbb notes that some will play along while others may call it out & even change again.
Qldurrz salute swellnet / crew & Vic for exposing WSR politics in our hour of need.
tbb has completed Qld WSR Survey & may yet engage the feedback option.
There is much more unsaid but all see tbb has to wrap it up here!
Where are our WSR reps? (None mention Qld consult!)
Good luck to WSR surfie candidates...crew trust you'll do us proud.
How would everybody feel if " The WSL threatened to stop the RC Pro if a big viewing platform was not built at Winki , for the paying VIP's?"
There will be a press release tomorrow , about the WSL's extortion attempt!
Wow!
Yep, Rabbit is a perfect fit.
Brutus - WSL merchandise
Create a custom jersey - Add a Flag to it - NZ for example....whats going on there ??
pretty scary times for the WSL...hardly any income and still huge Overheads.
I can only think that selling anything with a profit , to try and keep Ziffy putting in $'s to prop up the WSL.....
If the WSL can't get Bells/Australian leg up and running , well there's Brazil in May and J-Bay before a final at Lowers.
the biggest problem is that the WSL tried to do a CT in Hawaii , members of the WSL got the virus in the WSL's surfing bubble, they finished the comp and had their next 3 permits cancelled....so they have a bad track record to try and come to Australia/Victoria for Bells.....and the WSL have not yet even applied for permit at Trestles.....
As the pandemic is still getting worse O/S......and now we re all watching as the new mutants of Covid-19 ( sounds like a punk band!) spread more questions than answers....
WSL will have to survive until next year....all going well...
Yep
i was referring to WSL NZ mixup with Aust Aboriginal flag if you were to create custom jersey
From the Geelong Advertiser this morning: Reporter - Jessica Coates
Clifftop platform off beach reserve plan SURF Coast Shire has hammered the final nail in the coffin for a controversial 60m timber walkway and viewing platform after it was removed from the Bells Beach reserve’s management plan.
Surfrider Foundation Surf Coast Branch secretary Darren Noyes-Brown said the decision came as a relief to the community.
“The removal (of the project from the management plan) is the final step, and we’re very relieved and happy to see the proposal knocked on the head,” he said.
“It comes back to the overall philosophy of keeping Bells as natural as possible, protecting the environment and ensuring the rugged seascapes will be respected.”
An updated version of the plan published to the council’s website this week removed mention of the permanent structure entirely.
Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio approved the Bells Beach Surfing Recreation Reserve Coastal and Marine Management Plan in April, subject to the removal of the walkway and platform.
Plans had earlier been referred to the Great Ocean Road Region Standing Advisory Committee to assess in August 2020.
The World Surf League also later withdrew its support for the project after it was revealed it had originally asked for a way to view the beach’s surf break.
Surf Coast Shire councillors voted unanimously to oppose the walkway and viewing platform at a meeting in June.
“The council does not support a permanent platform and elevated walkway at Winkipop,” council minutes read.
Mr Noyes-Brown said the platform moving ahead would have been “a complete change in the management philosophy” of the reserve and that the beach shouldn’t be modelled solely around Easter’s Rip Curl Pro.
“We should be changing the contest to suit the reserve, rather than changing the reserve to accommodate the contest,” he said.
“The fact it went as far as it did proves Bells Beach isn’t adequately protected.
“It’s another example of the mismanagement of the reserve over the past 15 years and another reason why it needs better protection into the future.”
A Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning spokesman said the committee had taken into account all submissions undertaken as part of the shire’s consultation process.
“The minister agreed with advice from an independent advisory committee that found whilst an elevated structure of some form is needed for athletes and coaches at the times when the Rip Curl Surf Pro is moved to Winkipop, there is no apparent pressing or overwhelming need for a permanent elevated walkway,” he said.
Got a link icandig? Strangely, can't find the story.
Might be behind paywall. I subscribe.
https://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/state-government-decis...
Yeah it is. Cheers anyway.
Garn git fucked!
Good news.