Boating lobby condemns ‘ongoing attacks’ on jet skis
Plans to severely restrict jet ski use off Melbourne beaches creating a “growing sense of unease”, Boating Industry Association of Victoria saysVictoria’s boating industry has described plans to ban jet skis from parts of Port Phillip Bay as an “ongoing public attack” on the recreational activity.
The Boating Industry Association of Victoria yesterday weighed in on a Mornington Peninsula Shire proposal to severely restrict the use of jet skis along its beaches, saying the shire's plans were creating a “growing sense of unease” in the powerboating community.
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The shire has proposed an extension to its swimming-only zones at some of the state’s most popular beaches including Rye, The Pillars and Safety Beach, banning refuelling on beaches, as well as forcing jet skis to travel slowly offshore along set routes before riders can start to enjoy the watercraft.
It has also called on the state government to introduce power-to-weight restrictions, ban anyone under the age of 18 from driving a jet ski, and introduce an on-water test to gain a PWC endorsement.
More chillingly, it has called for separate regulation of jet skis, including demerit points and hoon-style legislation used to confiscate cars to extend to the water.
“The Mornington Peninsula Shire is home to over 10,000 powerboat registrations and therefore owners,” BIAV chief executive Steve Walker said in a statement.
“This also includes over 25,000 marine licence holders. Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors should be aware of this.”
“We’ve watched the ongoing attacks on the powerboating community from this council with a growing sense of unease.”
Safety record 'overlooked'
Walker said the shire appeared to have overlooked the safety record on powerboats in what some had described as “an attempt at political point-scoring, rather than safety”.
Mornington Peninsula Shire was asked for comment.
According to the BIAV, riding jet skis is a “safe past time” despite the “hysteria to the contrary”.
“In terms of serious incident reporting, hospitalisation data, and deaths/serious injury, PWC usage is safer than activities including, however not limited to pony riding and gymnastics,” it said.
It added that current laws, including strict hoon laws, were already in place and had the support of the boating industry and community. “These laws should be used to weed out the offending minority,” it said.
Instead, the BIAV is throwing its support behind Transport Safety Victoria plans to develop an irregular riding rule that will force jet ski riders to drive slowly through zones shared with swimmers.
Irregular riding is described as “wake and wave jumping, surfing, erratic changes of direction, weaving, freestyling such as sharp turns, semicircular or circular manoeuvres undertaken at any speed”. TSV is asking for feedback on the proposal.
Existing laws
The BIAV has also called on better enforcement of existing laws that already crack down on hoon riding.
“Everyone wants the offending minority dealt with,” Walker said. “The idea, however, that encouraging complaints from the wider community about PWC users whilst ignoring the actual safety data will lead to improved safety outcomes is rejected by BIAV.”
The NSW-based Boating Industry Association – not to be confused with its Victorian counterpart – used the 2019 Sydney International Boat Show to launch a new campaign to improve the image of jet skis.
The Waterways We Ride campaign’s goals include providing positive and believable role modelling behaviours, demonstrating safe and responsible riding practices and contributing to a reduction in risk-taking and antisocial behaviour by PWC riders.
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