Authorities have reported a noticeable decline in complaints about Jet Skis during a trial of new exclusion zones in Port Stephens over the summer holiday season.
The trial banned Jet Skis and other powered vessels from sections of three beaches in the Port Stephens area – a 2.5-hour drive north of Sydney that is a popular holiday destination over summer.
From 24 December 2025 to 26 January 2026 the exclusion zone trial in Port Stephens applied to sections of:
- Dutchman’s Beach
- Fly Point
- Shoal Bay
In total, the ‘no-go’ zones equated to approximately 800 metres of a 3.2km shoreline.
In a media conference today – attended by Executive Director Transport for NSW Maritime, Mark Hutchings, Member for Port Stephens, Kate Washington MP, and Port Stephens Mayor, Leah Anderson – authorities said it was too early to determine whether the exclusion zones would return next summer holiday season.
NSW Maritime says it will await the findings of a report – due to be tabled by the end of March 2026 – before deciding whether it will continue with the ‘no-go’ zones.
“As promised we are having this trial independently evaluated so there can be no bias around the results,” said Mr Hutchings.
“Those results will become available in March and we will be looking closely at that, and then we will be making decisions about whether we should do it again next year.”
However, the preliminary feedback appears to be positive.
“Year on year we were getting increased numbers of complaints, and this year I’ve had none,” said Member for Port Stephens, Kate Washington MP.
“So we are really pleased NSW Maritime has stood up this trial because it’s actually seen such a significant change.
“It’s been calm waters. Visitors and locals alike have enjoyed their holidays because there hasn’t been that conflict, there hasn’t been that question mark about who should be where.
“I really want to thank NSW Maritime and NSW Police because they have been on our waterways, there has been compliance, which means there has been a peaceful time this year.
“Also my gratitude to everyone who has been using our waterways who has been doing the right thing – and has been complying – so that families can enjoy their time … free from concerns around safety.”
Port Stephens Mayor, Leah Anderson, said complaints about Jet Skis had been “relentless” in previous years, but this season there was a noticeable decline.
“I seem to have been the first point of contact, along with the Minister, with regards to relentless complaints around people not being able to swim on the beach safely with their family, without Jet Skis and personal watercraft coming between them.
“To have those sections of the beach (during this trial) where people could swim safely was so pleasing to see.”
Ms Anderson said her office only received two complaints about Jet Skis during the trial period.
One complaint was about Jet Ski noise, and another local resident complained that a Jet Ski was on a banned section of beach when in fact it was using an area where Jet Skis were allowed.
“So we need to be clearer to the community where the exclusion zones are,” said Ms Anderson. “This section you can pull up on the beach with your Jet Ski, and this section is for swimmers.”
The mayor of Port Stephens said there needed to be room for swimmers and boaters.
“I get contact from people who own Jet Skis, they ride them safely, they follow the rules, they do nothing wrong, they should be allowed to be out there on our waterways enjoying their craft, but also they respect the fact that families want places that are safe to swim.”
Above: Jet Skis hooning in a go-slow zone near Brighton Le Sands recently.
When asked if Brighton Le Sands in Sydney’s south, another known trouble spot for Jet Skis, was next in line for an exclusion zone trial, Mr Hutchings said:
“One remedy doesn’t fit all. Every waterway in NSW is slightly different, so we look at the circumstances and the interaction (between swimmers and Jet Skis), and the amount of people who attend a particular location.
“We have … a risk assessment as to whether or not we need to put in exclusion zones. We only do that where we see that there is a need to keep people safe.”
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