The City of Port Phillip, a local government area in Victoria, Australia, is planning to completely ban jet skis from its busiest beaches.
The proposal by the Port Phillip Council calls for a 200-meter zone free of personal watercraft (PWCs) at St Kilda, Elwood, Middle Park, South Melbourne, Port Melbourne, and Sandridge.
The motion also requests the deployment of additional maritime enforcement to apply the new rules. Port Phillip unanimously voted in favor of the measure and submitted the plan directly to the Victorian government process and the relevant ministers.
According to the council, the request is related to the safety of beachgoers, as many jet ski riders treat the beaches like a personal slalom course.
But beyond that, it is also about space. The beaches of Melbourne’s inner bay are crowded, and when swimmers, kayaks, penguins, and PWCs mix in the same narrow corridor, things can go wrong very quickly.
The Victorian government has not yet approved the measure, but pressure is mounting. If approved, the new rules will not only shape what Port Phillip’s beaches will be like, but also create a model for other regions of Australia to follow.
Photo: Taiga. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
