CHANGE is in the water at Seven Mile Beach, Gerroa, amid revelations Kiama Council does not have the authority to issue an exclusive operating licence to Surf Camp Australia.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It is understood, through no fault of its own, Surf Camp Australia does not have a legal permit to operate at Seven Mile Beach, Gerroa.
The business, which brings backpackers to Gerroa for surf lessons, and has been the sole licence holder since 2010, will now need to reapply for a licence to continue.
Other surf school ventures have recently been advised they are welcome to apply for a permit to use the northern end of Seven Mile Beach.
Antony Butcher from Lands Edge has expressed a keen interest in using this section of the beach.
In 1999, Lands Edge launched surf classes at Seven Mile Beach, but that all changed in 2010 when council issued an exclusive licence to Surf Camp Australia.
Mr Butcher made the gut-wrenching decision to move south to the national park.
He lost his clientele base of holiday makers, and was forced to adapt, running classes predominately with school students.
Council’s new approach has revived his interest in operating from the northern end of the beach.
“Obviously whatever goes on from here forward needs to address the whole community’s needs, not just the commercial interests of one business,” Mr Butcher said.
“I sympathise with council, it’s a difficult process to work through.
“But that corner of Gerroa is a fantastic spot to teach people to surf, to have a monopoly over a safe area is not in anyone’s best interests.”
Council is adapting its planning laws to provide more flexibility for surf school operations, outdoor fitness classes and local markets on council land.
The changes would mean activities that meet certain criteria would simply require a permit or licence from Council. At present, such activities often require operators to also lodge a development application for their activity.
Council is also reviewing its relevant licensing policies as part of the process, to ensure greater clarity and certainty for the operators.
The drafting of the planning proposal will include public consultation, before it is considered for adoption by council.
The final proposal will then be submitted to the NSW Government for approval.
Gerringong Surf School owner Rusty Moran who pushed for change is satisfied with the way things are panning out.
Without his advocacy, it is likely one operator would have control of the beach.
Mr Moran applied to Kiama Council for a licence to run from the northern end of Seven Mile Beach after Surf Camp Australia’s Guy Olbourne dobbed him in for running classes there unlicensed.
Although Kiama Council’s Surf Schools Policy allows three surf schools to operate at Gerroa, Mr Moran’s application for teaching small groups of local children was refused in Febuary, “due to all licenses having been taken by Surf Camp Australia”.
Mr Moran didn’t back down, and after providing council with legal advice which suggested that a monopoly was not valid, council obtained its own legal advice and unanimously supported Mr Moran’s proposal at June’s council meeting.