A petition on change.org calling for jet skis to be banned at Ettalong and Umina beaches has attracted more than 1,500 signatures in just a month.
Started by an anonymous poster on January 23, the petition says Peninsula beachgoers are facing an escalating issue with the use of jet skis.
“These recreational vehicles, while enjoyed by a few, are causing significant noise pollution that disrupts the peaceful ambiance of our beach areas,” it says.
“More importantly, they pose a serious safety risk to swimmers due to their high speed and potential for accidents.
“In addition to these concerns, jet ski users often bring food packaging which ends up as litter on our beaches or in our waterways, contributing to environmental degradation.
“Despite these negative impacts on our community and environment, there is no economic benefit from their presence as jet ski users typically do not contribute to the local economy during their visits.”
The petition cites a study by Griffith University in Queensland (2019), which reveals personal watercraft like jet skis have been involved in numerous incidents resulting in injuries or even fatalities over recent years.
“This highlights the urgent need for stricter regulation or an outright ban on such vehicles,” it says.
“We urge local authorities to enforce a ban on jet skis (on) Central Coast Peninsula waterways in order to protect our community members’ safety and preserve the tranquillity and cleanliness of our beloved beaches.”
To access the petition, search jet skis at change.org
Please please please ban these annoying jet skis, noise pollution, parking problems, dangerous, litter left everywhere.
UN yes A Ban until the authorities (water police and Maritime services) get there act together. What above the 20kl/ hour chanel restriction OR BETTER STILL the no wash restrictions OR the speed restrictions near beaches/wharfs/
OR SMALL BOATS (see wash ) .Often these small boats have families on board fishing (Man overboard???).Finally your right the noise is unaceptable, if it was a vehicle or motor bike the owner would be fined(hopefully) and the vehicle Defected (maybe???!!!!).
I totally agree the jet skiers have taken over ettalong beach on weekends and not the peaceful place it used to be.
as a jet skiers I typically use the food and drink outlets at Etalong and Umina .It’s almost impossible to bring even a sandwich on a jet ski and expect it to be edible after a quick ride.Same goes for a can of any fizzy drink .So as to your comments about jet skiers leaving rubbish?. You also state pollution all new jet skis are four stroke and many are fitted with exhaust catalysts. So just as clean as your car.I have personally saved one young boy from potentially drowning at Umina as he was swept into a rip .I heard also some skiers also rushed to help a swimmer who unfortunately died. Maybe we it’s time not to bash people you don’t understand but talk to them .
I wonder if one of these petition signatories would refuse the help of a PWC if they got into difficulties The surf rescue use these to conduct rescues.As far as being a danger to swimmers I think there is a 500 meter distance ban.Once again narrow minded one eyed selfish people will ruin a great leisure activity.PS I dont own a jetski
My wife and I love our jet ski and we live in Umina.
Don’t ban jet skis on the peninsula. Make the authorities police hoons.
It’s not fair to have a blanket ban.
By the way, we are 64 and 69 years old.
I wonder how many people who signed the petition were actually using the beach ? I don’t have a jetski and yes there are bad eggs out there riding jetski’s but calling for an outright ban is ridiculous we don’t call for an outright ban on cars and we witness bad eggs everyday on the roads for the costs of a jetski,trailer + jetski licence safety gear easy cost of $20,000 plus depending on which jetski you buy.
maybe the answer is to have more than the 2 employee’s that patrol the Hawksberry River upto the entrance yes only 2 people for that whole area i mean really how dare people buy a jetski and have fun they well and truly pay for it but who cares ban everything do we throw the whole egg carton out when there’s a couple of broken one’s ?
Thank you!
jet skis do contribute quite a lot to the economy. 1. Fuel. 2. All safely equipment that must be purchased. 3. Boat courses, Recreational Marine Drivers licence plus, separate licence for Jetski. Two Training courses. etc
Yes ban the skies, they r spoiling noises etc . Supposed to be families beach safe environment. Sometimes can smell the fumes , not gd for dolphins etc ,can’t really relax when u watch the sea because jet skies r everywhere, soooooo annoying
Yes they have no respect there will be death’s there 100%wayne beaupeurt
where do I sign
Try fishing at rip bridge now on the weekend without getting buzzed by a jet ski blaring hip hop or dance music, Ettalong is a joke on the weekends.. the ocean is for everyone to enjoy not just a select few idiots.
there is thorough and visible presence from waterways authority and to blanket ban an activity enjoyed by thousands of people for the acts of a few is unfair and illogical. What next, ban motor vehicle use because people regularly have accidents…..
The channel is a main route for all of Brisbane Water traffic, so a ski might be passing through. You cannot close a channel to craft, nor should you be swimming in a channel.
Beach use should be patrolled by Central Coast Council for littering or miss use.
With the move to ban jet skies from the peninsula I would like to see a move to ban them from Terrigal haven also.
Terrigal haven is a lot smaller and creates over crowding on the beach area, boat ramp and picnic area. The visitors have no regard for safety or cleanliness of the area and just leave it in a mess after they have created havoc all daylong.
Wow Wanting to Jetskis on the Peninsula maybe read up who was first to rush out and try and save the guy that drowned in January, a lot of the owner s spend money in the local economy , fuel, hotels and Caravan Parks and then food at local shops and restaurants why not just ban boating in General ? That’s right it’s because that’s why people go there !
People go to Ettalong to swim, canoe, fish quietly, relax enjoy the peaceful surrounds, not noise and rough churned up water
Jet Skis are all four stroke so whatever you are smelling isn’t coming from a Jet Ski.
Also… dolphins love playing in the bow wave of Jet Skis so perhaps your criticism stems from ignorance.
Correct
ettalong Beach is a peaceful place great to enjoy swimming and feel safe nd enjoy nature.jet skis have taken over. it’s a horrible place to even try and go for a swim now, especially on the weekends.
last week my dog was nearly taken out by one of them.
if not a total ban.make ettslong a swimming only beach.NO JET SKIS
local residents, where is the petition, I would like to see them banned from Ettalong and Umina Beaches too. Where is the petition?
The wording and petition can be found here: https://www.change.org/p/ban-jet-skis-in-ettalong-and-umina-beach-areas-for-safety-and-environmental-reasons
imagine if the jetski weren’t there the young boy who’s dad drowned at ettalong not so long ago would of died too. I know there should be limits and safety Like a designated area they can jetski and not where Swimmers are . but if they were there that day the child would of drowned too.
It’s mainly all the westies that come up here and ruin the central coast.They come to Terrigal and hoon around and take over.They come to Ettalong Beach and take over the foreshore with their beach tents and leave all their rubbish behind,they leave all their jetskis parked on the beach foreshore making it very hard to walk on the beach.some groups of people make it very hard for those who try and do the right thing and ruin it for all.
In response to some comments as a local:
– locals have stopped going to Ettalong and North Umina beach because of the jet skis.
– of course the jet skis used by life savers are not included in this petition or in any ones thoughts when complaining about jetskis
– the noise from the key skis carries well beck from the beach annoyingly audible one street back.
– the day someone drowned there were many jet skiers out there why didn’t someone notice them drowning. Don’t start calling yourselves heroes because in two incidents you helped someone which is simply the humane thing to do.
– huge families of jet skiers come up from Sydney with BBQs, sound systems, marquis and set up a mini city near the beach access area. Locals don’t go there. Can’t go there.
– I walk the beach after they are gone, the bins are overflowing there is rubbish all around the bins, there is rubbish on the sand and in the water. Don’t pretend there isn’t.
– there simply isn’t enough on street or off-street parking to cope with the number of large 4Wd vehicles and trailers that turn up during the summer and holiday weekends. There should be a fee for launching each jetski excluding locals who pay the fees to maintain streets and beaches.
– I saw a jetski come I. to land at Ettalong Beach outside the Box right next to very young babies playing in the shallows which caused the babies to cry and be alarmed. Jetskiers should be totally banned from landing anywhere in the sand from the wharf south to water outflow.
– a jetski supporter called the locals complaint selfish it is the jetskiers who are selfish intent on having a noisy messy good time party in someone else’s backyard.
– the sheer number of jet skiwrs means that locals are not able to enjoy the facilities that pay to keep maintained because of them.
This must be controlled. Ban landing on popular swimming areas, charge for launching and trailer parking, set a limit on number of jetskis/launching allowed per day, control time of opening and closing of launch areas. So much can and must be done!
Minorities always spoil it for the majority.
Reacess and update the appropriate control measures. Maybe get all the JetSki people together for some positive feed back?
Like most offences in our country our laws are soft.
Punish accordingly but not the people who do the right thing.
Banning Jetskis is not the solution.
Australia has too many ridiculous totalitarian rules, which are becoming more apparent to the rest of the world.
Common sense is the solution.
Jet ski riders know the rules, as they need a Jetski license and pay ridiculous sums to be licensed.
If jet ski riders break rules that are already very strict, then they know the consequences.
Don’t think banning anything fun in which you don’t necessarily participate is the answer.
Perhaps the solution is to open up more waterways for jetski use, so people don’t need to contend with the few options left!
Unfortunately the jet ski operators don’t obey the rules and no one police’s there
Unfortunately, those on Jet Skis do not participate on our water ways which is safe or with any thought for anyone else. Their activities do not allow other boats, canoes, swimmers to use the waters safely. The noise is intolerable. The owners are arrogant, rude & aggressive. It is not a culture we want in our family oriented waterways
I was fishing in the ettalong channel a few weeks ago when several jet skis decided it was amusing to continuously circle my boat. It was noisy and they were threatening so of course I left. Why does anyone want to ruin anyone elses enjoyment of the area? Jet Skis should be banned. Anyone that is unable or unwilling to share the water ways is unwelcome.
lived at ettalong for many year and walk the point every morning enjoy the environment but since the jetski turned up 2 years ago the penguins that crossed from loin Island are no longer there ban jetski from this area
For people arguing that it’s the acts of just a few that ruin it. All jet skis are a noise nuisance. Why don’t you just go offshore? There’s plenty of room out there. You don’t need spectators.
They are amazingly noisy – you can hear them when walking in Bouddi NP on Bouddi Peninsular. They must be unbearable for houses along the Ettalong Umina waterfront. They are often ridden dangerously near swimmers. I’ve also seen them ridden out to sea to be used on the ocean side of Bouddi Peninsular – again offering noise pollution for those trying to enjoy the peace and quiet of Bouddi NP
They servee no purpose except the vicarious pleasure of the riders. If they could have better silencing, and speed limiters, then they would be OK, but I bet no-one would bother using them!
Jet skis are generally quite. it’s those that modify the pipes that make them loud. I agree that should be outlawed. if the peer rules are followed the noise issue wouldn’t be an issue.
I walk the Esplanade most days and have personally seen men (from large groups using jet skis) walk up into the bush next to the little car park and go to the toilet there instead of walking 5 minutes to the toilet block at The Box.
I have also seen mangled marquees shoved in the bush near the road for the council to pick up.
The cars and trailers are illegally parked on the grassy hill rather than finding a legal park a few minutes walk away.
If anyone dares to approach them to have even a polite conversation they get angry, aggressive and defensive.
They bring copious eskys, tables, chairs, marquees and food so I don’t believe they contribute to the local economy and they leave bags of rubbish behind next to overflowing bins and on the sand.
Nothing about these noisy, rubbishy groups is ok.
The situation at Ettalong is appalling these day. The jet ski owners and riders appear to have total disregard for safety of beach goers (both walkers and swimmers) riding way to close to the foreshore, and to other water craft as well, dangerously cutting in front of them, zig zagging and doing donuts; OR the environment i.e. dune erosion, cleanliness of the area, noise and water pollution. The mess left behind (including ablutions in the adjacent car park bush area) is disgusting. Locals should not be left to clean up the mess at the end of the day. The corresponding illegal parking on the grassed areas, or on the beach itself, is unsafe and it is only matter of time before some is hurt or worse, while they try to dodge the traffic in an attempt to walk on the beach or cross the road. I am a water person and hold a boat licence, so I am just not whinging for the sake of it. Unfortunately those that attend this area display poor behaviour and something needs to be done to address these unsafe, dangerous and thoughtless actions.
The NSW Government raised our Licence Fees and registration fees to the highest levels in Australia 🇦🇺 to pay for Maritime Services and Patrols to enforce the rules. Enforce the rules please, the people who come from Western Sydney have been hounded out of Sydney and now have inflicted their presence on the Central Coast . Please enforce the existing rules and laws which are already quite punitive, I am a PWC owner and a Volunteer Firefighter along with many of my colleagues who also own PWC . They are our escape from the heat and smoke when we get the chance. Please don’t cause us to suffer from these clowns from Sydney and their bad behaviour. Maritime must enforce the rules that already exist.
I call for them to be banned.
I call for them to be banned. They have no respect for the swimmers or our beaches.
I’m a local of Ettalong beach and am a local builder also. Myself and my wife own a jet ski each and this is what we do to fill in whatever leisure time we have left after both working long hours 6 days a week. Please don’t ban the jet skis. Enforce the law and get rid of the minority that are ruining it for everyone else. 25 years I’ve had my jet ski liicence and never had one ticket for breaking any rules.
Constant noise from inane riding doing what? Jumping 10cm waves? You destroy the breeding grounds of Flathead as you don’t stick to the channel and go over the sandbars. You come into the beach area – last week – within 50m of the shore and swimmers. You are not wanted here, you have NO RESPECT for the area or the people who live here and you are dangerous. I don’t care what you buy in the area, to put it nicely – go back to Sydney.