CITY OF STIRLING
MINUTES
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING
09 JUNE 1998

ITEM SUBJECT / LOCATION / NAME PAGE

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Nil.

LEISURE SERVICES

* - Indicates Separate Attachments submitted with Agenda.

# - Item requiring special Council attention.
MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE HELD IN THE PARMELIA ROOM, CIVIC PLACE, STIRLING ON TUESDAY 09 JUNE 1998 AT 3.03PM.

Present:

Chairman

Councillor J Copley JP

 

Mayor

Councillor D C Vallelonga JP

 

Councillors

R J Daniel, E S Martin (from 3.04pm), B R Ham (from 3.05pm), W M Stewart

 

Observers

Councillor R M Willox JP (from 3.15pm)

 

Staff

Chief Executive Officer - M J Wadsworth, Deputy Chief Executive Officer -
R A Constantine (from 3.10pm), Executive Manager Community Development - J Glover (from 3.04pm), Manager Leisure Services -
F Strutt, Communications Co-ordinator -
P Flynn (from 3.23pm), Administration Officer - J Byrne

 

Public

1

 

Press

Nil.


APOLOGIES

Councillors V A Cooke, E S Martin (late), B R Ham (late).


DECLARATION OF FINANCIAL INTEREST

Nil.


MINUTES

Moved Councillor Daniel, seconded Councillor Vallelonga

That the Minutes of the Meeting of 12 May 1998 be confirmed, and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record of proceedings.

The motion was put and declared CARRIED.


ITEMS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Nil.

LEISURE SERVICES

At 3.04pm the Executive Manager Community Development and Councillor Martin arrived at the meeting prior to consideration of Item LS1.

At 3.05pm and 3.10pm Councillor Ham and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer arrived respectively at the meeting during consideration of Item LS1.

Mr Wayne Donaldson addressed the Committee on Item LS1.

LS1 APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL OF SURF SKILLS COMPETITION COACHING LICENCE

ITEM: LS1 FILE: 5.4.13.1 WARD: COASTAL

SUBJECT APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL OF SURF SKILLS COMPETITION COACHING LICENCE

LOCATION SCARBOROUGH AND TRIGG BEACHES

NAME MR W DONALDSON - AQUA WEST RACING

REPORT Executive Manager Community Development - 2 June 1998

Moved Councillor Vallelonga, seconded Councillor Stewart that

THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS TO COUNCIL

That the matter concerning the granting of a Surf Skills Competition Coaching Licence to Mr W Donaldson of "Aqua West Racing" be HELD OVER to the July meeting of the Community Services Committee, to enable a meeting to be convened between the applicant Mr Wayne Donaldson, the Ward Councillors, the State Surf Life Saving Association of WA and the President of the Scarboro Surf Life Saving Club to resolve issues raised by the applicant and obtain endorsement of all parties.

The motion was put and declared CARRIED.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO COMMITTEE

1. That Mr W Donaldson of "Aqua West Racing" be GRANTED a Surf Skills Competition Coaching Licence for a period of three (3) years from 1 September 1998 to 31 August 2001 under the same terms and conditions as the existing licence.
2. That the terms and conditions of the licence be REVIEWED in August 2001.
3. That AUTHORITY be given for signing and affixing the Common Seal to the licence.

REPORT PURPOSE

To consider an application for the renewal of a Surf Skills Competition Coaching Licence.

BACKGROUND

Mr Donaldson has been authorised to operate a Surf Skills Competition Coaching School since August 1995. It has been extended on an annual basis since then and is due to expire on 31 August 1998.

APPLICANT'S JUSTIFICATION

In a letter dated 8 May 1998 Mr Donaldson has applied for an extension to his licence and an expansion to his operation. The proposal states (in part):

"The success of this program to date is now being realised in this state with our training program contributing in 1997/98 to 50% of the U/13 - U/16 State Surf Life Saving team as well as one member of the senior touring team. In addition, one member was National Under 13 Surf Swim Champion while an Under 16 ironman competitor was successful at the Australia Day Freshwater Carnival, Sydney.

Furthermore, the main benefit of this program has been, for the first time, the bringing together of members from a cross section of the majority of metropolitan Western Australian Surf Life Saving Clubs under one professional training program.

At present my licence term concludes on 31 August 1998. I would like to enter into a more permanent arrangement with the City of Stirling to allow for future expansion of this state-based program.

Consideration should now be given to the expansion of the parameters to this unique licence to ensure the continued success and operation of this program. This will now need to include the following:

· beach access and transport of life saving and training equipment to training venue
· IRB water safety support
· an extension of the existing licence agreement to a three term with a three year option

I understand, however, that currently by-law 331 prohibits the launching of Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRBs) from the beach, excepting Surf Life Saving Clubs within the City of Stirling. I feel it is absolutely crucial that in order to run this program safely and efficiently, that Council should give special permission for this particular unique licence to be exempt from this ruling. Support for the above extension application would include:

1. Possible preventive rescue actions and rescues of the general public outside of normal patrol hours (both summer and winter).
2. Effective deep water safety for the training group based on many recent shark sightings and strong southwest surf conditions.
3. All Aquawest Racing members are award qualified members of affiliated WA Surf Life Saving Clubs, and thus are training as an extension of their respective club activities. In addition, I have a significant number of both Scarboro and Trigg Island Surf Club members within the program.
4. A requirement to provide a variety and size of both the rescue and training equipment required during all beach training sessions.
5. The need to effectively program ahead and develop and implement a comprehensive long term strategy for competitive surf life saving competition development.
After extensive discussion with Mike Cook and Mr Bob Welch (President of Scarboro SLSC) on this issue, the best way of operating the extension to my existing licence would be:

· Upon arrival, notifying the Duty Beach Inspector via mobile phone of the intended set up position for verification and approval of this site.
· Four Wheel drive beach access time limited to set up and pack up this equipment (this effectively means two 15 minutes period of beach access for the vehicle). The IRB and associated trailer will remain on the beach.
· Inflatable rescue boat and motor will comply with Surf Lifesaving Association specifications. (I have already purchased an ex-Surf Rescue Craft).
· Inflatable rescue boat usage limited to those with current SLSA IRBD award (at present, we have 2-3 willing drivers including current City of Stirling beach lifeguards. I am in the process of gaining this award myself).
· Clearly marked training zone area away from the general public.

The Aquawest Racing Program has clearly demonstrated that more efficient and skilled life savers can be produced through this integrated professional coaching program. I firmly believe that this program will produce the future ambassadors and leaders within Surf Life Saving in Western Australia. Moreover, it is essential for the future growth of the Surf Life Saving movement in Western Australia.

I appreciate that this approval will require some time to consider. However, in the meantime I seek approval for temporary beach access for the remainder of the present licence under the terms stated above."

EXISTING LEASE

The salient conditions of the current licence are as follows:

· licence fee $200
· qualified instructor

Level One Coach (A.S.L.S.A)
Bronze Medallion Surf (W.A.S.L.S.A)
Current First Aid Certificate (St John Ambulance or equivalent)

· licensee will provide all necessary first aid and rescue equipment
· only one class permitted at any time with a ratio of:

1:15 in mild surf conditions
1:12 in moderate/strong surf conditions

· licensee to hold Public Liability Insurance to the value of $5 million
· licensee to liaise closely with the Duty Beach Inspector with regard to time and location of operations
· the City of Stirling retains the right to withdraw the licence by giving one month's notice of intention to do so
· the licence be prepared with all costs being borne by the applicant.

Mr Donaldson also provided a letter of support from Scarboro Surf Life Saving Club.

LEISURE SERVICES COMMENT

The Senior Beach Inspector was consulted on this issue and the following comments are provided:

Beach Vehicle Access

· It is considered that the size of the operation (up to 15 individual) does not warrant the use of a vehicle on the beach
· Other surf schools/classes carry their own equipment down to the beach from the car park
· Access for private vehicles on to the beach is usually only given in conjunction with significant events (e.g. surf life saving carnivals)
· The Beach Inspectors have been diligent and consistent in preventing the use of private vehicles on the beach. Giving permission in this instance could provide an untenable precedent.
· Permitting the use of a private vehicle on the beach is not recommended.

Use of Inflatable Rescue Boat

· The request contravenes the City's Local Law 331(5) which states:

"No person shall launch or beach or leave a boat (other than a boat owned by a Surf Life Saving Club) in any area where the launching, beaching or leaving of a boat is prohibited by notice erected by the Council as aforesaid."

· The likelihood of the need to use the boat for a rescue is minimal.
· The IRB would need to comply with Surf Life Saving specifications and be checked annually.
· The "surf rescue" lettering on the side of the boat would need to be removed so that the IRB would not be mistaken for a rescue craft used for the public.
· Permitting the use of an IRB is not recommended.

Extension of Agreement

· Mr Donaldson has conducted his business in an exemplary manner and no problems have been evident.

· A term of three years would be acceptable as this falls into line with a similar coaching licence at the beach. However, the licence should be reviewed upon expiry in August 2001 rather than the applicant being given the option to renew for a further period of three years.
· It is considered that the same terms and conditions should apply.