Bayside Council residents urged to dob in dangerous jet ski drivers this summer

After too many close calls with dangerous jet ski drivers, southern Sydney residents are speaking out through an online tool designed to call out hoons on the waterways. Here’s how you can dob them in this summer.

Bayside residents are encouraged to dob in dangerous jet ski drivers this summer. Picture: Andy Brownbill

After multiple close calls of jet ski drivers endangering families and marine life, southern Sydney residents are being urged to dob in reckless drivers as the warmer weather kicks in.

Bayside Council introduced an online tool last year for residents to report any anti-social hooning by jet ski drivers on local beaches and waterways.

Since its launch, the tool has recorded 92 complaints with reports of people having to flee the water in order to avoid being hit.

One resident described jet ski riders near Lady Margaret Beach “doing doughnuts at high speed very close to shore line. We had to get kids out of the water and on the shore to avoid someone being hurt”.

Anti-social jet skiers have become an issue over the last few years in Bayside. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“Not only were they beaching on shore, driving between small children swimming but one individual sprayed me and my 5-year-old with wake (sic) from his jet ski from no more than a few meters away. We were very close to shore, today was the worst I’ve seen it since I started coming here 7 (sic) years ago,” another complaint said.

One resident reported actions that could have “killed the children”.

Marine life such as dolphins and seals are also reportedly terrorised by the jet skis.

“We are blessed with dolphins in the bay. Disappointing to see jet skiers chasing and scaring dolphins away recently, hopefully not injuring them,” one resident said.

“Multiple jet skis riding over the top of either a seal or a dolphin – 150m east of Dolls Point,” another reported.

Local wildlife like dolphins and seals have reportedly been harassed by PwC drivers. Picture: Trevor Veale

A spokesman for Transport for NSW — which issues fines people caught misusing jet skis – told this masthead Maritime had conducted 6925 vessel safety checks, handed out 818 official cautions and issued 344 penalty notices this year.

“For Botany Bay waterway, there have been 631 vessel safety checks for jet skis, 92 official cautions and 71 penalty notices handed out during this period,” the spokesman said.

“Waterways are for everyone to enjoy, not a playground for hoons on high-powered vessels. Those who act dangerously or flout the rules face hefty fines, loss of licence and in some cases even having your vessel impounded.”

Peaceful Bayside deputy mayor Heidi Lee Douglas, whose ward is often plagued by dangerous jet ski drivers, said “hoons on the water are as dangerous as hoons on our streets”.

Heidi Lee Douglas, Bayside Council Ward 5, Peaceful Bayside

“Botany Bay is an abundant water wonderland suitable for safe jet ski use, but unfortunately, our Bayside beaches are plagued by nuisance jet ski drivers who risk the lives of swimmers and deliberately disturb the peace and harmony every summer,” she said.

“Jet skis on Botany Bay are also a threat to wildlife, with video footage showing jet skis drivers trying to herd dolphins, and regularly landing en masse in the habitat of endangered shorebirds.

“In August a jet ski ran over a swimmer in Newcastle, causing severe injuries. In Yarra Bay (Melbourne), on Christmas Eve 2021, a father was killed by a jet ski. We don’t want to see a jet ski cause fatality or injury here in Bayside.”

Residents are encouraged to dob in dangerous or anti-social behaviour to the NSW Maritime general inquiries line on 13 12 36.