Jetski riders on Sydney’s Georges River blitzed by NSW Transport

Jetskis have had a surge in popularity over the last five years but hefty fines await those who fail to follow the rules and prevent other Sydney residents from enjoying its waterways.

They are without doubt the most hated objects that float on Sydney’s waterways. Or, more precisely, too many of the people who pilot them.

Jetskier bad behaviour saw another compliance blitz operation on Saturday. Despite the windy and cold conditions, transport officers nabbed two 15-year-olds speeding down the Georges River.

They had both been cautioned before. Further down the river, a jetski rider and his mates, who have had their licences for less than a month, were behaving themselves but struggled to answer simple questions about how far they should be from swimmers and other vessels.

Jetskier does the right thing on Saturday. Picture: Julian Andrews.

Since December last year, 590 fines have been handed out to jetskiers in NSW, with 357 of those in Greater Sydney – 933 warnings were issued.

While the majority do the right thing, speeding is the biggest problem on Sydney waterways, making up 60 per cent of all offences in the state.

Irregular riding, meaning dangerous moves too close to shore or others, and riding unlicensed are the second and third biggest issues.

Senior safety officer Shane Davey has seen just how dangerous speeding jetski’s can be.

“We’ve seen a couple of kayakers hit where its created significant injuries, those people survived but it’s pretty confronting,” Mr Davey said.

“Some of the more confronting ones are menacing offences, in one a group of jetskiers targeted a family in a boat, they were spraying that family and there was a six and eight-year-old kids on board totally getting swamped.”

Senior Maritime Safety Officer Shane Davey checks a jetskier’s licence on the Georges River in Revesby. Pictures: Julian Andrews.

Mr Davey said ignorant or aggressive jetskiers have collided with each other, other boats and swimmers in the waters, and some have drowned after accidents.

Along the Georges River and beaches of south Sydney Mr Davey encounters riders ranging from the unexperienced to the criminal

“There are those repeat offenders who frequent the water way and they know the rules and regulations but they just choose not to comply, they are out there week in week out and we get to know them on a first-name basis,” he said.

Mr Davey said on a sunny weekend the boat ramps become so crowded that fist fights are known to break out in the car parks.

Jetskis have exploded in popularity. In the past five years there has been a 50 per cent increase in jetski registrations and a 40 per cent increase in licences.

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