Jet ski riders launch campaign to weed out ‘bad seeds’

The Boating Industry Association of Victoria this week threw its support behind an initiative from the Victorian Jet Ski Club to change the behavour of PWC users around beaches, and particularly Port Phillip Bay.

The move comes in the wake of more moves by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to weigh up introducing jet ski bans to protect swimmers and placate the shire’s more vocal residents who say they are annoyed by the constant “whine and whomp” from personal watercraft.

The beach at Rye on the Mornington Peninsula is one of the most popular places in the state for jet ski riders to launch their craft.

Under the VJSC’s plan, volunteers will promote the club’s courtesy rider program that includes handing out “Ride Right” information leaflets in waterproof pouches that can be kept on the jet ski.

BIAV chief executive Steve Walker said previous courtesy rider programs were a “demonstrated success” that built awareness and modified the behaviour of riders around problem beaches.

“The new program will drive a positive PWC management strategy and this boating growth area will be supported,” he said.

According to the BIAV, talks have already taken place with Fishing and Boating Minister Jaana Pulford regarding jet ski rider compliance and trends – as well as the education program.

Walker said jet ski safety was “much higher” than what people thought.

“Compliance levels by the vast majority of PWC operators is already high and despite media hysteria to the contrary, PWC incident and injury levels are very low,” he said. “We can always do better.”

Walker said the BIAV was calling on regulators and Victoria Police to crack down on hoon behaviour “by a minority as this affects the majority powerboat community”.

VJSC member George Marquis said the club’s members wanted to ensure the government and “non-boating community” were being fair when sharing waterways.

“The [club’s] courtesy rider program will weed out any bad apples among us,” he said.

An online petition calls on Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to ban jet skis from Rye to Point Nepean “to return to the majority of beach users their serene beaches and enjoyable summer holidays”.

It also claims the move will protect local marine wildlife and “fragile ecosystems”.

“The State Government is supporting the (growing) ownership of this type of powered watercraft without consideration for the impact on locals and visitors in coastal towns in the southern part of the Mornington Peninsula,” it says.

“These machines are frequently in the hands of hoons and become dangerous, destructive and an environmental hazardous weapons. Huge numbers of jet skiers are launching from Rye.”

Victoria Police has launched a series of blitzes targeting jet skis on the Mornington Peninsula.