Jet Ski riders are up in arms over a proposed Jet Ski ban along the length of the beach near Brighton Le Sands, as a new community petition calls for tighter restrictions in the area.
The 6km stretch of sand that runs along the length of Botany Bay is a popular spot for Jet Skis, boats and swimmers.
A new petition – organised by a group called Peaceful Bayside, founded by Deputy Mayor of Bayside Council, Heidi Lee Douglas – has renewed calls for tighter controls on Jet Skis following a number of near-misses with swimmers, a recent crash involving four riders on two skis, and a high profile incident that saw an unlicensed rider on an unregistered ski attempt to evade police.
Above: Footage shows NSW Police responding to a crash between two Jet Skis in Botany Bay in October 2025.
These incidents over the past four weeks follow a fatality earlier this year on the south-west fringe of Botany Bay involving an unsupervised novice rider travelling at high speed on dusk, when Jet Skis are banned.
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 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.
Above: Footage shows the recovery of a Jet Ski involved in a fatal crash in July 2025.
As NSW Police prepare a report for the coroner, safety experts noted several possible contributing factors to the fatality, including:
- Riding at night (Jet Ski use is strictly prohibited after dark in NSW)
- Speeding around moored vessels
- Speeding near a bridge or “no wash” zone
- Excessive speed for a rider aged 12 to 16 years (10 knots unsupervised, 20 knots supervised)
- Riders were unsupervised despite exceeding the limit of 10 knots (18kmh)
- Riders were suspected of travelling in excess of 100kmh (five times higher than the novice limit of 18kmh)
- Vessel operator not keep proper lookout
Authorities have since installed a CCTV camera system to monitor Jet Ski and boating activity in the Brighton Le Sands area.
However, NSW Maritime says the plan to introduce this Jet Ski safety camera was underway before the fatality.
Against the backdrop of a number of recent high profile examples of bad behaviour on Jet Skis, concerned community members in the Bayside Council area started a petition calling for the following changes:
- Increase the legal age to operate a Jet Ski and mandate parent or carer supervision;
- Link Boat Licences to Driver Licences so penalties on the water can impact licences for the road;
- Establish a Jet Ski Exclusion Zone along the entire length of Lady Robinson’s Beach, out to 200 metres;
- Create a Jet Ski Landing Exclusion Zone on the beach itself from Captain Cook Bridge (Georges River) to Endeavour Bridge (Cooks River);
- Implement a Jet Ski Exclusion Zone as part of a Shorebirds Protection Zone from Captain Cook Bridge to Dolls Point Beach;
- Designate a safe, controlled Jet Ski landing area near the runway at Tower Beach;
- Allow CCTV camera enforcement with fines;
- Enhance NSW Police and NSW Maritime powers.
Above: A map shows the 6km length of beach proposed to become a no-go zone for Jet Skis. However, council only has jurisdiction to the high-tide mark. The water is under the jurisdiction of NSW Maritime.
Despite widespread community concern, research by Watercraft Zone – with the assistance of NSW Maritime – has established the following considerations.
- There are already six dedicated swimming areas – Jet Ski no-go zones – along the 6km stretch of beach between Brighton Le Sands and Dolls Point;
- Each of these Jet Ski no-go zones is between 50 metres and 200 metres in length along the beach;
- Four of these six swimming areas are fenced off to prevent boats and Jet Skis from entering;
Above: A map shows at least 10 long-standing no-go zones for Jet Skis in Botany Bay.
- NSW Maritime has begun installing more marker buoys 200 metres off the beach to make it clearer when Jet Skis can be ridden at speed (ocean side) and at idle-speed (beach side);
- In the north-east of Botany Bay – at Yarra Bay – new ‘Jet Skis banned’ buoys have been installed 200 metres off the beach and larger signs on the shore have been erected;
- Two long-standing Jet Ski exclusion zones near Yarra Bay – plus another two near Kurnell on the southern side of Botany Bay – mean there are already a total of 10 long-established Jet Ski exclusion zones in Botany Bay (see map above);
- According to NSW Maritime, apart from the total Jet Ski ban on Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay is already the most strictly regulated waterway in NSW in regards to Jet Skis;
Above: One of the new marker buoys off Yarra Bay, where Jet Skis are banned within 200 metres of the shoreline.
- As with most councils, Bayside Council’s jurisdiction only extends as far as the high-tide mark on the beach;
- This means Bayside Council cannot impose a ban on Jet Skis on the waterways near its beaches, this responsibility lies with NSW Maritime;
- NSW Maritime and NSW Police already have extensive powers to enforce dangerous riding behaviour – including hefty fines and the power to confiscate Jet Skis;
- Stricter Jet Ski rules are already under consideration relating to minimum rider age, supervision requirements, and horsepower limits for novices (click on the story here);
- NSW Maritime and NSW Police already have access to a vast (and growing) network of at least 36 CCTV cameras that monitor Jet Ski hot spots across the state (click on the story here);
- NSW Maritime has an extensive network of safety officers and vessels, and can spot Jet Skis from much further away than riders realise (click on the story here).
Above: A NSW Maritime safety officer talks to a Jet Ski rider near Brighton Le Sands as part of a routine check.
Bayside Council Deputy Mayor, Heidi Lee Douglas, says the local community is aware there are already six dedicated swimming areas and no-go zones for Jet Skis.
In a statement to Watercraft Zone, Heidi Lee Douglas noted:
“We are arguing that instead of 90 per cent of the beach being for Jet Skis and 10 per cent for swimmers, it should be the reverse.
“The buoyed off areas do not stop Jet Skis coming into the them. There are frequent violations recorded by residents.
“We know council only has jurisdiction to the high-tide mark, but the petition also asks for the State Government to introduce changes.
“The situation is out of control and has been getting worse for years.
“More policing means more dangerous chases, and more taxpayer resources.
“Residents and visitors just want their beach back – and their safety.”
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