Mornington Peninsula Shire wants community to demand safer beaches
As summer approaches, Maritime Safety Victoria has proposed new rules to rein in jets ski hoons on Mornington Peninsula and bay beaches. But one council has slammed them as “timid” — and wants much tougher measures enforced.
South East
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New jet ski rules will do nothing to protect beachgoers from the hoons plaguing Port Phillip beaches, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has warned.
Under the Maritime Safety Victoria proposal, wave jumping and “freestyling” would be banned in shared zones.
Jet skis would also have to navigate in a direct line through 5-knot shared zones.
But the council says the changes don’t go nearly far enough, and instead wants special jet ski “hoon legislation”.
Under this, riders breaking the law would cop demerit points, there would be increased surveillance such as CCTV, a jet ski only “pathway zone” about 200m of the beach, and bans for under-18s — even if accompanied by adults.
The council has spent more than $3000 on newspaper ads urging people to demand safer beaches and tell Maritime Safety Victoria (MSV) what they think about changes.
Mayor David Gill slammed the “timid approach” and said it would delay potential safety reforms for at least another summer.
“These rules do not go anywhere near far enough,” he said.
“Jetskis are a huge risk to our residents and the 6.3 million tourists who visit our region every year.
“Allowing them to continue to operate like this is the equivalent of letting a motorbike drive at 80km on a footpath full of people.”
Cr Gill said the council first asked the MSV to review existing rules in 2018.
“We’re now looking at a minimum two-year delay before anything happens”, he said.
During 2018/19, Victoria Water Police issued 584 infringements to jet ski operators, mainly for speeding, licensing and breaching distance rules.
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MSV acting director Cameron Toy said the rule change was being considered because “the safety of swimmers and other people is being compromised” by rogue riders.
He said jet ski registrations had ballooned by 54 per cent in the six years to June 2018 and the number of jet ski licence holders now exceeded other powered vessels including boats.
“This growth has coincided with increasingly crowded shared zones and an increase in community complaints,” said Mr Toy.
An MSV spokeswoman said the authority would not comment further on the rules during the consultation phase.
She said the feedback process allowed respondents to suggest other options including practical competency based licence testing, marine licence demerit point system and jet ski only zones to be considered in future.
The survey can be completed here until noon Wednesday 4 September.
Nepean state Labor MP Chris Brayne said he supported “a greater degree of monitoring local waters by enforcement this summer”.
Mr Brayne said he was working with the council and other advocates including he Rye Foreshore Advisory Group and Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad to “ensure sensible solutions are reached”.
Jet ski hoons face fines from about $300 up to more than $3000, depending on the offence.