Popular Coastal Destination Faces Jet Ski Crackdown Due to Reckless Behaviour

A popular coastal destination known to attract hordes of tourists over the summer months is facing a potential crackdown on "reckless" behaviour on the water due to a rising trend on Australian beaches.

It is not unusual to see beaches in Port Stephens, a large natural harbour on the NSW Mid North Coast, heaving with people during peak holiday seasons. However, local officials claim that with the crowds comes a concerning problem with a sharp rise in the number of jet ski riders.

Port Stephens Mayor Leah Anderson stated she is "fed up" with jet ski owners behaving irresponsibly and has expressed concern that it's only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured.

Amid reports that jet skis could be banned on certain waterways, the issue will be at the top of the Council's agenda on Tuesday night. The mayor announced online, revealing she will be pushing for the state government to review jet ski usage in the area.

“To be very clear, I am not supporting a ban, there are many responsible jet ski users on our waterways,” she said.

“It is my opinion this is predominantly only problematic during our peak holiday seasons. I am advocating to the state government for a review on speed limits, improved policing, and consideration of some family-friendly safe swimming beaches during peak periods.”

Speaking to NBN News, Cr Anderson expressed hopes to investigate what legislation can be changed to make the water safer for everyone. A Transport for NSW spokesperson confirmed it is "currently looking at a range of measures to address poor behaviour by some jet ski operators."

At Port Stephens, Transport has speed restrictions in place for all vessels, including jet skis, in high-use areas and potential congested locations such as boat ramps, beaches, and launch points. These specific areas are restricted to a maximum speed of 4 or 8 knots.

The move has divided locals, with many supporting a crackdown while others argue it is not just swimmers at risk, but marine life as well.

“They have become a massive issue here every weekend,” one frustrated resident commented, indicating they often witness jet skiers “riding close to swimmers.”

“Every year there are big female turtles with cracked shells washing up. Every year there are fights and confrontations, jet skis in swim zones, and too many near misses to count,” another resident claimed.

However, opponents of the proposed changes argue that it would end up "punishing the people doing the right thing" over the minority of tourists being reckless.

The popularity of jet skis has seen an incredible boom over the past few years, with more than 92,000 riders currently licensed in NSW – a 43 per cent increase from five years ago. Transport for NSW has stated there is already a focus on educating jet ski users and the local community to ensure the rules and regulations are known by all.

“Where offences are committed, penalties can include fines and vessel impoundment, and suspension or cancellation of a licence. Any further restrictions would take into account a number of factors—such as the number of incidents, penalty notices, non-compliance—and will involve consultation with all relevant stakeholders,” the spokesperson told reporters.

“Transport works closely with local and state government and has already offered to collaborate with the council to identify measures ensuring the safety of all users and equitable use of the waterways.”

Over two days last month, NSW Maritime officers conducted nearly 2,000 vessel safety checks, including around 600 jet skis, at hotspots in Port Stephens, Forster, Botany Bay, Lake Illawarra, Jervis Bay, and the Murray River. Authorities issued 95 penalty notices and 256 official warnings during Operation Cool Your Jets—a quarter of which were related to jet skis.

Anyone caught disobeying a speed sign by under 10 knots, or failing to maintain a safe speed while on a personal watercraft (PWC), can face a $250 fine. The same applies to those found driving a PWC in a restriction zone or within 200 metres of a dwelling.

Jay Ruming, who coordinated the safety blitz, remarked that while the vast majority of riders were seen behaving responsibly, some continue to pose a danger and nuisance to others.

“Unfortunately, a small minority of these riders continue to do the wrong thing on our waterways through aggression, recklessness, or inexperience,” he noted. “It's important jet skiers know they need to stay at least 30 metres away from other vessels, objects, or the shore when travelling six knots (11 km/h) or more. They also need to stay at least 60 metres away from people or dive flags whenever possible.”