A Gerringong big wave surfer and surf instructor would like to use a small section of Seven Mile Beach to teach local kids how to surf.
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Rusty Moran believes this is a reasonable request – his classes are small, and it is the safest part of the Kiama coast to learn how to surf.
But Surf Camp Australia is the only surf school with permission from Kiama Council to operate there.
Council is in the process of drafting a policy to allow more than one surf school to operate from Seven Mile Beach.
“A Sydney surf school has exclusive rights to Seven Mile Beach,” Kiama Councillor Matt Brown said.
“I’m not having a go at them, but it’s a ridiculous policy.
“We have an international, big-wave surfer who has been living here for 10 years and wants to teach our kids to surf.”
Surf Camp Australia owner Guy Olbourne, who now lives in Gerroa with his wife and three kids, is protective of his section of the beach.
Rusty ran a couple of classes from the river mouth on Seven Mile Beach in February.
Guy reported this to Kiama Council rangers and to Surfing NSW, and Rusty nearly lost his operating licence.
“As the current and only licence holder, Kiama Council’s advice is to always let council rangers know of any unauthorised use by any other operator,” Guy said.
“It is in my best interest to let council know it was not my surf school operating outside of its licence restrictions, especially when unlicensed operators are in exclusion zones set out by council.”
At present, Rusty uses Werri Beach and Berry Beach, based in the Shoalhaven.
Both of these locations can be dangerous, and are more suited to experienced surfers.
“We have to do the best with what we’ve got,” Rusty said.
“Werri is a really tricky wave, the sand banks form deep gutters, beginners have to work their way up to it.
“Sometimes we come here (Berry Beach) and it’s too big, we have to defer it a week.”
Rusty has lodged his intention to operate out of Seven Mile Beach with Kiama Council.
Around 30 families from the local surfing community have backed Rusty’s appeal, writing to council to support his application.
On top of that, council’s South Precinct Committee met at Gerringong Town Hall last night, and unanimously supported Rusty’s application to council.
Meanwhile, Surf Camp Australia has brought a lot of business to the local community.
The company buses more than 100 backpackers from Sydney to Gerroa for surf lessons each week.
“Surf Camp Australia has been operating at Seven Mile beach since 2001 with an impeccable safety record,” Guy said.
“The company has always been a proactive local youth employer and currently has 12 local staff from Gerroa, Gerringong and Kiama.
“It has always been a supporter of local business injecting substantial money into the local economy and creating indirect employment.
“Surf Camp Australia conducts free and low cost surf lesson programs to any local children aged 6-12 from the Kiama municipality.”
Despite Surf Camp Australia’s good record, Cr Brown said most councillors were in favour of giving other businesses a chance to also operate out of Seven Mile Beach.
