Call to stop jet skis berthing at Mornington Peninsula beaches after near miss at McCrae
Jet ski hoons are continuing to put swimmers at risk, sparking fresh calls for bans at Mornington Peninsula beaches.
South East
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Swimmers are again calling for jet ski bans after yet another near miss on the Mornington Peninsula.
Robert Stanley was swimming about 10m off shore from McCrae beach with his wife and brother on Saturday afternoon when he was almost hit by a speeding jet ski.
He said the vessel came within two metres of him and was creating a “significant wake”.
It is an offence to travel above 5 knots within 500m of the Mornington Peninsula shore.
“He was driving in an extremely dangerous manner, with no regard for the laws or the safety of anyone else in the water,” Mr Stanley said.
“He could easily be charged with serious endangerment.”
The incident has been reported to police.
Mr Stanley, who has been swimming at McCrae since the 1970s, wanted jet skis restricted to entering and exiting the water via boat ramps.
The close call for Mr Stanley came after shocking footage emerged last month showing a jet ski hoon narrowly missing an early morning swimmer at Rye.
Rye Community Group Alliance chair Mechelle Cheers said the “sheer volume” of jet skis was effecting the enjoyment of all users of Port Phillip Bay.
“One a warm day there can be 100 jet skis berthed on the beach, and that’s before you get into the water,” Ms Cheers said.
“People are having to wade through jet skis just to get wet.”
Ms Cheers, who has been fighting for jet ski free zones for 10 years, said people no longer felt safe in the water.
She said police and maritime safety officers were “doing their best” but education and compliance efforts weren’t working.
Ms Cheers wanted jet skis to be restricted to entering and exiting the water at boat ramps with a total ban on berthing on the beach.
Maritime Safety director Kate Maheras said officers, along with Victoria Police, were patrolling waterways across the state this summer to ensure all waterway users followed the rules.
“Thankfully most boaters and jet skiers are already doing the right thing by slowing down to 5 knots near swimmers, other vessels, and near the shore,” she said.
Ms Maheras said the ‘Cool your Jets’ program aimed to change the behaviour of the small minority of jet skiers flouting the law.
Mornington Peninsula police also issued a warning to jet ski riders to slow to 5 knots when near other vessels, ramps, jetties, swimmers, surfers and the shore.
“You will continue to see our ATV, bike and foot patrols targeting our high-risk community locations and the Water Police are still out in force in their major effort to bolster safety on the water,” a spokesman said.
