feedback on the first design was negative
from the likes of the Volunteer Marine Rescue,
the Surfrider Foundation and Currumbin Alley
Boardriders.
“What’s taken longer which has been really
frustrating me is the commitment to put
signage up – but there is no point putting signs
up if nobody thinks they serve any purpose, so
let’s get it right,” he says.
“We are pedalling as fast as we can on this.”
He said there would also be online information
for boaties, and signs for surfers as well about
a code of conduct.
About enforcement: “We continue using
water police, while the Boating and Fisheries
Patrol certainly is a presence there also.” On
the day of this interview, Mr Morris said he’d
that morning also just organised an extension
of the trial of surveillance cameras by another
three months.
“In my view unless all parts of the safety
initiative are all operating, only then can we
sit back and see if that makes a difference.
So far we haven’t had any infringement
notices issued on the basis of the cameras.
Although we believe we can if need be, but
one benefit is as people get to know they are
being watched, this has a positive influence.
Secondly it’s an important source of data for
us – for instance, we also have cameras on
the Gold Coast Seaway so we can look at
very quickly getting the number of surfers and
vessels there.”
“The third thing is if - but hopefully not - an
incident occurs, we believe we would have
captured it on the cameras so it will assist with
the investigation after the event.
“The strength of this entire campaign is that it’s
been a real collaborative community effort
and Jann Stuckey has helped turn it around
from being pretty divisive in the beginning,
when there was a lot more heat than light in
the early stages.”
Ms Stuckey says the campaign initiatives,
together with community engagement,
will go a long way towards creating a safe
environment for all use at Currumbin Alley.
“Due to the growing popularity of this
waterway it will always be important to be
on the lookout for others. I urge all members
of the community to be
vigilant and co-operate
with authorities as we
work towards ensuring it
is a safe place for all to
use,” she says.
Part of that could involve
using the ‘Currumbin
Creek Hoon Watch’ forms available from
Jann’s website HERE.
“This is an ongoing campaign and was always
intended to be one of many avenues for the
residents to report this behaviour,” Ms Stuckey
tells FROTH.
“We have received some responses, however
it is pleasing that it has not been prolific as this
would indicate a really significant problem.
I would encourage residents to make use of
these Hoon Watch forms as it prompts them
to take down all the relevant information
authorities need to act.”
BUT WHERE DO THE SURFERS
STAND ON ALL OF THIS?
Dan Ware, president of the Gold Coast Surf
Council, feels more resources should be
poured into the Currumbin safety campaign
to speed up its full implementation.
He says the continual overcrowding of
Currumbin’s beach and estuaries will only
see the safety risk escalate, particularly in
light of the region gaining accolades such
as the recent Keep Australia Beautiful Award
bestowed on Currumbin in November as
Australia’s Cleanest Beach.
“In terms of final summing up, this whole issue is
symptomatic of the lack of capacity that our
institutions have to deal with limited capacity
- there is no substantive budget allocated to
it,” says Dan.