Kiwi windsurfers are about to lose one of their finest launching spots.
Windsurfing New Zealand launched the alert. The Kulim Park launching spot will be lost unless riders and citizens put in a submission.
"As part of the Tauranga City Council Kulim Park upgrade, one part of the proposal is to redirect the main road in the park and bollard off grass areas," explains Bruce Spedding, president of Windsurfing NZ.
"As a result, they plan to reduce car parking to about 25 spaces."
"The worst part is they propose to move the bollards on the point where we sail from towards the water, thus reducing rigging space and sending all the park users to park out here."
Not Enough Launching Space
Spedding notes that if the plan goes ahead, there will not be enough space for kites and sails to be rigged up and launched.
Moreover, "we will lose our car park on the point to the other park users, and they want to block off the beach access with rocks."
Bruce urges everyone to read the concerns about the proposed changes and "let the council know that it matters, that the outside is watching."
Tauranga Windsurfing Incorporated, as a club, along with the kiteboarding community, is meeting with the Tauranga City Council team and has ensured that the Yacht Club, which owns the boat shed on the point, also knows what is happening.
"I have just returned from a great event and weekend at this very location. And it's hard to understand how the proposed changes make no acknowledgment of our activities but seem to be somewhat determined to undermine them," concludes Spedding.