State Government bans jet skis along Adelaide metropolitan coastline during summer

Rip n Ride 5 157JET skis and motor boats will be banned along a 3km stretch of metropolitan coastline during summer, after the State Government signed off on an exclusion zone for a second year.

The exclusion zone, preventing any motorised watercraft coming within 200m of the shore between the Torrens Outlet at West Beach and Grange Rd at Grange, will be enforced from December 1 to March 31.

Penalties include a $105 fine or a maximum penalty of $750.

The measure was trialled for the first time last summer.

Charles Sturt Council lobbied the State Government for the ban, but previously said they hoped to extend the ban to Semaphore Park in future years, covering 11.8km of coastline.

During last year’s trial 13 riders were cautioned but no fines were issued.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said the law would be more closely enforced this summer.

“When we introduce new measures … there is obviously a time when people are getting used to those,” he said.

“But now that this is a common measure we expect our marine safety officers to enforce this.”

Mr Mullighan said he would be happy to talk with other councils keen on pursuing a jet ski ban.

“People have got many more opportunities up and down the coast of metropolitan Adelaide to use their watercraft,” he said.

“We just think that some sections of it should be preserved so that families can enjoy what are magnificent beaches in Adelaide.”

Western Adelaide Coastal Residents Association president Jim Douglas said the first trial was a huge success, but residents had hoped the exclusion zone would extend beyond last year’s trial area to Grange Jetty.

“People were saying isn’t it wonderful that you can go into the water and not have to worry about a jetski coming close to you or people breaking the rules,” he said.

“We didn’t want to be killjoys of people’s fun, but what was happening out there wasn’t fun, it was actually dangerous.

“It’s made life far more enjoyable on the beach for families.”

Mr Douglas said residents eventually wanted the exclusion zone extended to the north, beyond Grange Jetty to prevent the popular Grange beach becoming a haven for displaced jet skiers.

Boating Industry Association general manger Glen Jones said he was disappointed at the decision to reinstate the exclusion zone this summer.

“I just can’t understand the justification behind it,” he said.

“People have got boats and they can pull up to river banks, they can pull up along the Coorong and anywhere along the coast except for the area looked after by (Charles Sturt) council.

“There’s a handful of ratbags out there … but what’s the world coming to. You can’t pick up mum and dad off the beach, you can’t go back and refresh your bait.

“It’s an impost thrust up on us because of two or three bad guys.”

Mr Jones said current laws, which restrict speeds of motorised water craft to 4 knots within 50m of swimmers, or 200m of the shore, were sufficient.

Originally published as Jet skis banned on metro coastline during summer

Article by The Australian