THE boundary of the swimming area at Wellington Point has been brought closer to shore in a move that will make beach use more fair, windsurfers say.
Changes to a Redland City Council law would see the outer boundary of the swimming reserve - where watercraft are banned - brought closer to shore, from 200 metres to up to 100 metres out from the flags. The boundary would be marked by buoys, which lifesavers would put out each day according to conditions.
On other local beaches, such as those on North Stradbroke and Coochiemudlo islands, the outer boundary is 400 metres out.
Division 1 councillor Wendy Boglary said the boundary could be extended to 200 metres if there was a special event.
Wellington Point windsurfer Trevor Berrill said the move would benefit people taking part in water sports at what he described as an iconic national windsurfing destination.
He said the changes allowed for sensible, fair and flexible location and sizing of the swimming area, taking Wellington Point's beach conditions into consideration.
"It's not an ocean beach, which is what the bathing reserve laws were designed for," Mr Berrill said.
"It quickly becomes a tidal mudflat with sharp rocks underfoot as the tide recedes.
"This limits the bathing time to about an hour either side of high tide...otherwise there's little depth to swim in."
He said swimmers and windsurfers rarely used the area at the same time because water became muddy when the wind picked up.
Bathers did not usually swim more than 40 to 50 metres from the high tide shoreline partly due to stonefish, stingrays and bull sharks.
A large bathing area was unnecessary and would be harder for a single lifeguard to service.
The bathing reserve length being reduced would also mean windsurfers would not have to wade far out to remain clear of the exclusion zone.
Some residents raised concerns that changing the boundaries between beaches could lead to confusion and cause an accident.
Cr Boglary said signs would be put in place alerting people of the changes.
The rules would not be in place when lifeguards were not on duty.
Cr Peter Mitchell said a similar bespoke solution might be required for the foreshore at Raby Bay.
