A CCTV camera designed to crackdown on Jet Ski hoons has been installed at a major Sydney trouble spot in Brighton Le Sands.
While fines cannot be issued based on Jet Ski offences caught on the CCTV camera – for now – authorities warn it is a sign of things to come amid a public backlash against dangerous riding near swimmers.
Brighton Le Sands – a long stretch of beach just south of Sydney Airport – is a popular swimming spot for families.
Locals have become fed up with Jet Ski riders who perform stunts near the shoreline – seemingly to show-off in front of their friends on the beach.
It is illegal to ride at speed within 60 metres of swimmers and yet there are countless images of Jet Ski riders getting dangerously close to people in the water near Brighton Le Sands.
When performing tight turns at speed – or other stunt manoeuvres known as “irregular riding” – a Jet Ski must not be within 200 metres of the shoreline.
The fine for this offence is $500 – and riders also risk having their Jet Ski confiscated for “menacing riding” – however NSW Police and NSW Maritime don’t have enough resources to patrol the area constantly.
READ MORE: Do you know NSW Jet Ski rules and fines?
In response to the public outcry, NSW Maritime installed a CCTV camera that will monitor the trouble spot starting from this summer.
Above: NSW Police on patrol near the shoreline.
While fines cannot be issued based on CCTV footage – for now – many in the Jet Ski community believe it is only a matter of time before the camera will be used for enforcement.
The footage is so clear, it can distinguish registration numbers and the type of clothing a rider is wearing.
Jet Ski riders who do the wrong thing risk having their watercraft confiscated, however the number of seizures has been negligible; just three Jet Skis have been seized since police were given extra powers in 2017.
Heidi Lee Douglas, the Deputy Mayor of Bayside Council – which includes Brighton Le Sands and the surrounding area – has been campaigning for better enforcement of dangerous Jet Ski riders, however NSW Police and NSW Maritime have limited resources and a vast coastline to patrol.
The installation of the CCTV camera – the exact location of which remains secret for now – is designed to help authorities monitor the trouble spot at Brighton Le Sands and respond to reports of dangerous Jet Ski behaviour.
The new Jet Ski safety campaign has received widespread coverage in the mainstream media, including The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper (pictured above).
The Jet Ski safety camera was installed just three months after the Jet Ski death of a teenager in July 2025, although authorities say it was not in direct response to that tragic incident as the installation had been planned prior to the crash.
At approximately 6pm on Sunday 20 July 2025 – which is after dark in Sydney’s winter months – two riders sharing a Jet Ski crashed at high speed into a barge moored near Tom Ugly’s Bridge.
A 15-year-old boy, Mitchell Irvine, was killed and his 14-year-old friend, Noah Watkins, was rushed to hospital with a severed arm after the crash.
A police officer and a paramedic braved the cold water and swam about 50 metres to rescue the boys.
Above: The Jet Ski involved in a fatal high-speed crash in Sydney’s south in July 2025 is recovered by authorities. Image credit: Nine News.
The young teenage rider involved in the fatality should not have been operating a Jet Ski after dark (it is illegal in NSW for Jet Skis to be ridden at night, regardless of a rider’s age), should not have been operating a Jet Ski at high speed given his novice licence status – and should not have been riding without the supervision of a fully licensed adult.
NSW Police and NSW Maritime can’t be everywhere, so it is hoped the CCTV camera at Brighton Le Sands will discourage bad behaviour on the water.
In an interview with Watercraft Zone, the Deputy Mayor of Bayside Council, Heidi Lee Douglas, acknowledged the majority of Jet Ski riders do the right thing.
“This is about safety and fairness for everyone who uses the bay,” said Heidi Lee Douglas.
“I’ve been contacted by many Jet Ski riders who want a crackdown on those riding illegally and putting swimmers at risk.
“Jet Skis are powerful machines, and over the years we’ve seen injuries not only to innocent bystanders but to riders as well.
“The bay is big enough for everyone, but when people break the law, we need to hold them accountable – just as speed cameras do on our roads.
“Most riders do the right thing, and this (CCTV) camera will make sure the small number of Jet Ski riders who don’t ride safely around swimmers are held responsible.
“That way our summer beaches can once again be places of peace and joy – not anxiety and fear.”
Above: A Jet Ski rider near Brighton Le Sands in a robust discussion with a NSW Maritime officer, as shown in The Sydney Morning Herald.
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