Protect Our Children,
Our Beaches and Our Wildlife from Dangerous Jet Ski Use

Our coastline should be a place of joy, safety and community – not danger and grief. Yet high-speed jet ski use continues to pose risks to children, swimmers, paddlers, families and endangered shorebirds.

In memory of 15-year-old Mitchell Irvine, and in support of his family’s call for reform, we believe no further preventable harm should happen on our waterways.

We, the undersigned, call on the NSW Government and Council to implement the following measures to restore safety and safeguard our coastal environment:

OUR KEY REQUESTS

1. Increase the legal age to drive a jet ski and require parent or carer supervision

2. Link Boat Licences to Driver Licences

3. Establish a Jet Ski Exclusion Zone along the entire length of Lady Robinson's Beach, out to 200 metres

4. Create a Jet Ski Landing Exclusion Zone on the beach itself from Captain Cook Bridge (Georges River) to Endeavour Bridge (Cooks River)

5. Implement a Jet Ski Exclusion Zone as part of a Shorebirds Protection Zone from Captain Cook Bridge to Dolls Point Beach

6. Designate a safe, controlled Jet Ski landing area near the runway at Tower Beach.

7. Allow CCTV Enforcement with Fines

8. Enhance Police and Maritime powers

More details on each of these key requests are provided below the petition.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Children have a right to be safe in and around the water;
Beach visitors should not feel intimidated, displaced, or endangered;
Migratory and endangered shorebirds, as well as fragile seagrass ecosystems, need active protection;
We can prevent further harm – but only if we act now.

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DETAILS OF EACH KEY REQUEST

Peaceful Bayside has undergone deep engagement with a range of users to propose these requests. These include jet ski users, sailors, beach goers, nature groups, and relevant authorities.

1. Raise the Legal Age to Drive a Jet Ski from 12 to 16, and Require Adult Supervision for Young Drivers

Raise the minimum legal age to drive a jet ski from 12 to 16.
Require a fully licensed adult to be onboard with any driver under 17.
Introduce engine-size limits for younger riders, similar to motorcycle licensing tiers — ensuring that only adults can operate high-powered or high-speed personal watercraft.
If someone is too young to operate a high-powered vehicle on land, they should not be able to operate one on water.

2. Tie Boat Licences to Driver Licences

Dangerous or reckless behaviour on the water should have real consequences on land.
Suspension or cancellation of a boat licence should carry demerit or suspension impacts on the person’s driver licence.

3. Jet Ski Exclusion Zone Along the Entire Length of Lady Robinsons Beach

Prohibit jet skis from operating within 200 metres of the shoreline along the full length of Lady Robinsons Beach, including Brighton Le Sands.
Restore safe swimming, paddling and public enjoyment of the beach.

4. Jet Ski Landing Exclusion Zone – Captain Cook Bridge to Endeavour River Bridge

Prohibit jet ski beaching, landing, idling or approaching swimmers along the shoreline from Captain Cook Bridge to Endeavour River Bridge.
This zone includes sensitive environmental and recreational areas, protecting both community safety and wildlife habitats.
Enforcement should be supported by clear signage, buoy markers, and regular patrols by NSW Maritime and Water Police.

5. Jet Ski Exclusion Zone for Shorebirds – Captain Cook Bridge to End of Riverside Drive

Establish a jet ski exclusion zone from Captain Cook Bridge to Dolls Point Beach to protect critical shorebird feeding and roosting habitats.
This stretch of the Georges River estuary supports endangered migratory species and should be designated as a Shorebird Protection Zone.
Signage and buoy markers should clearly identify this no-go area, supported by community education and enforcement by NSW Maritime and Council rangers.

6. Designate a Safe, Controlled Jet Ski Area Near the Runway

Allocate the beach near the airport runway as the designated area for jet ski activity, away from families, swimmers, and sensitive environmental zones.

7. Enable CCTV Enforcement with Fines

Legislate for Council-installed cameras to be used to identify and fine unsafe, illegal or dangerous jet ski behaviour – just as we enforce road safety.

8. Strengthen Police and Maritime Powers

Grant NSW Police and Maritime officers greater powers to immediately confiscate jet skis involved in reckless or dangerous operation.
Introduce on-the-spot licence suspension and seizure powers, with meaningful penalties for repeat offenders.

9. Increase Resources for Water Police and Maritime Safety

Provide greater funding and staffing for Water Police and NSW Maritime to ensure regular patrols, proactive enforcement, and quick response to incidents.
Expand weekend and holiday patrol coverage to protect high-use community beaches.

10. Establish Shorebird and Seagrass Protection Zones

Create clearly marked no-go zones in shorebird roosting and feeding areas and within seagrass meadows, in partnership with Gadigal/local Aboriginal rangers, marine ecologists and NSW Fisheries.