Council bans kite surfers from popular spot

Kite surf operators will be barred at Perth's premier water sports location after the City of Cockburn backed a ban on the sport at the Woodman Point foreshore.

The council last night voted unanimously to support a ban on dozens of operators who have crowded the foreshore, near Coogee, over the past two years, many without formal qualifications or insurance.

Surf school operators will now have to find an alternative location until the council develops a formal licensing policy for the operators.

The ban was proposed after the city received a series of complaints relating to dangerous behaviour, including kites landing on beach walkers and tangled lines.

A council report also said the school operators did not have access to dinghies for emergency rescues and did not have appropriate accreditation or liability coverage.

The report said all of the issues related to commercial schools operating at the point.

Caroline Bradley has operated her Elemental Surf school out of Woodman Point for the past eight years and said dozens of operators had created a crowded, aggressive environment that undermined the companies doing the right thing.

"There's no rules, so it's just a big circus. It's just chaos, there's kites flying and landing on people and lines everywhere," Ms Bradley said.

"We've been trying to get a permit there for eight years.

"It is a really good spot and there are no other beach users or traffic. But it will be a sad day when we all get kicked off."

While the area has emerged as a popular location for water sports, the ban will also extend to any other commercial schools operating in the area.

The council will erect signs at Woodman Point to advise school operators that teaching is prohibited, while rangers are expected to patrol the area to enforce the ban.

A licensing system is expected to be developed in consultation with the WA Kite Surfing Association in time for next summer.