No kites, no holes as council cracks down on Perth's most famous beach

Date: September 22, 2010

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Katherine Fenech

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Cottesloe Beach hit with new restrictions

Perth's premier beach Cottesloe, has been slapped with 60 new restrictions. Some include no alcohol and no jumping off the pylon.

The mayor responsible for Australia's famous Bondi Beach says she backs a Council clampdown at Perth's Cottesloe Beach, which would see beachgoers fined up to $500 for a range of offences including flying kites, using oversized umbrellas or digging holes.

Under a proposal to be considered by the Town of Cottesloe for Perth's most popular beach, 60 extra clauses would be added to the council's beach law, banning a total of 100 listed activities at the famous beach.

The report said an increase in the beach's popularity, and the number of events that take place on the beach and a nearby reserve, meant the existing laws were no longer adequate.

Cottesloe Council is clamping down on the activities of beachgoers.

Cottesloe Beach is clamping down on the activities of beachgoers. Photo: Erin Jonasson

If the proposal is passed, the new rules could see alcohol, glass bottles and containers banned. It will also be illegal to dive off the popular Cottesloe pylon, drop cigarette butts, use toy vehicles and erect umbrellas bigger than three square metres.

Beachgoers to one of Australia's most popular ocean fronts, Bondi in NSW, have to comply with eight restrictions covering a ban on ball games, alcohol, smoking, dogs, selling things, glass and urination. Kite flying is restricted to a festival held once a year.

Waverley Council mayor Sally Betts said the ball game and kite restrictions were in place because the beach attracted upwards of 40,000 people on a sunny day.

"I think the issue is that when you've got beaches as popular as Bondi and Cottesloe you have to control the movement of people," Ms Betts said.

"I have to say to the Perth council I understand how difficult it is, you just have to somehow manage all the people and try and keep them safe, and the problem is if you have people doing too many things it can become dangerous."

Ms Betts said she didn't think Waverley Council would consider a ban of sun shelters at Bondi because of a partnership with the Cancer Council that sees lifeguards encouraging people to wear sunscreen and stay in the shade.

Under Cottesloe's proposals taking commercial photographs without a permit, obstructing steps and pathways, and wasting water by leaving taps running, would also be prohibited. Fines would range from $100 to $500.

Talkback radio was running hot over the debate today with many callers saying the new rules being proposed were too strict, while others thought it would make the beach better.

After the council considers the proposal, the draft laws will be advertised state-wide for public comment.

- With AAP

67 comments so far

Much of this may make a lot of sense, but the one I would have some problems with as a blanket ban (depending on the exact terms) would be the taking of photos. While I understand the intent to avoid perverts being able to add to their sick collections, the idea that there will be no longer possible any family photos, romantic sunset photos or even wedding photos at this famous beach is extremely restrictive and unnecessary. Surely the taking of general photos should be permitted, with council officers and the police always having the option to examine the camera of any person reported as apparently taking inappropriate or invasive photos. This option would already exist under present laws.

Commenter

Hmmmm

Location

Perth

Date and time

September 22, 2010, 1:30PM
The only one which stands out as complete madness is the idea of banning the taking of photographs.
I know the "threat of pedophiles" is a commonly waved flag but if you can provide an example of a pedophile ring being smashed because someone was caught taking the photo of a child at the beach I'll walk to Sydney.
Also, let kids bring their trucks to the beach. Most kids have left the beach by the time its hot anyway.
The problem is that no one likes to bring in a rule to justify their existence than local councils so god help us. I am just imagine the hand wringing debate, I'm sure it will be quite funny. Oh yes, THIS IS SERIOUS!

Commenter

Steve

Location

Perth

Date and time

September 22, 2010, 1:51PM
This is petty government medling gone mad.What next? Maybe before reaching teh beach we can all go through airport style security checks to make sure there is no contraban like a plastic toy car.Who determines the size of the hole dug by a 5 year old.Will rangers carry measuring tape? And what constitutes a toy vehicle? If a 4 year old has a matchbox car in his backpack will that be confisctaed?
The line will be that the laws will be enforced "sensibly".The problem is that giving more power to unelected officials will always lead to abuse of that power.
The real agenda here is Cottesloe council doing its best to keep what it regards as "plebs" out of Cottesloe.
Maybe the best response is for everyone to boycott Cottesloe and use other beaches where people are allowed to enjoy themselves by ,shock horror,making holes and sand castles and playing with toys.

Commenter

Dr joe

Date and time

September 22, 2010, 1:53PM
To be honest, I'm surprised that they're still allowing you to breath oxygen and swim in the beach.
Can local governments please move on from revenue raising? Between parking fees/fines and rates one would think they have more than enough money to run the day to day services they they are put in place to do.
Charging people $100+ for throwing a frisbee, taking photos and having a good day OUTSIDE with friends and family is outrageous. If there are too many people on the beach at the time, others just need to use common sense and courtesy to others. If that's an issue, maybe they need to look at what's being taught in schools.

Commenter

Adam

Location

Perth

Date and time

September 22, 2010, 2:01PM
The photo ban is challengable in court; there is no offence taking a photo in a public place. Are you actually allowed to still swim? (If you promise not to have a good time.....)

Commenter

Frank

Date and time

September 22, 2010, 2:16PM
Are you allowed to walk on the sand once you leave the Water? is there a $500 fine for that to?

Commenter

Cody

Location

Mandurah

Date and time

September 22, 2010, 2:34PM
@Adam: "If that's an issue, maybe they need to look at what's being taught in schools"...
Not the main subject of this column, but I couldn't let this go unchallenged:
Why schools? Its parents' responsibility to teach "common sense and courtesy to others". Schools of course reinforce those values, but show me a child for whom the parents have no sense of such values but the child successfully picks them up at school. A pretty rare occurrence! Schools battle every day the fact that parents don't do their share of raising their own kids.

Commenter

Hands off schools

Location

Perth

Date and time

September 22, 2010, 3:53PM
Is there some kind of national competition between our various levels of government for the most unnecessary laws to make life less enjoyable? Just when we think the federal government or NSW or Vic have done something incredibly anti-social and stupid, WA comes along to try to beat them.

Commenter

Craig

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 22, 2010, 4:22PM
Bad journalism - the photography ban is on commercial photographers only, this isn't new - it's been in place for some time. Commercial photographers get around it by buying a full day or half-day permit from the council - just as they would at Bondi!

Commenter

John

Location

Cottesloe

Date and time

September 22, 2010, 4:41PM
As a Cottesloe resident my main problem with the proposed beach-use provisions is with those that are subjective: how big is a "hazardous hole"; when is a gathering of more than 10 people a "public meeting"; who defines "properly and adequately clad" and how does this change from decade to decade ( I remember beach inspectors telling bikini girls to cover up in the 50s). I have enough problems with a council that will or won't do its job on a whim, without having to deal with judgement calls from unrepresentative council employees.

Commenter

John

Location

Cottesloe

Date and time

September 22, 2010, 4:53PM

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