Port Phillip—one of Melbourne’s most iconic stretches of sand and salt air—has had it up to here with unruly jet-ski behavior. After years of complaints, near misses, and “I swear he was this close to the swimmers” anecdotes, the Port Phillip Council has formally asked the Victorian Government to enact what is essentially a near-total ban on personal watercraft (PWCs) across its busiest beaches.
Not a full statewide prohibition, but close: the proposal requests a 200-meter no-PWC zone in front of St Kilda, Elwood, Middle Park, South Melbourne, Port Melbourne, and Sandridge, some of the bay’s most popular, swimmer-heavy stretches. And critically, they want more on-water enforcement to back up the rules. Finally coming to fruition, Port Phillip voted unanimously on the motion and submitted the plan directly to the Victorian Government’s Engage Victoria process and relevant ministers.
This is partly about safety. According to the council, too many riders treat the beaches like a personal slalom course. But it’s also about space. Melbourne’s inner-bay beaches are crowded, and when swimmers, kayakers, penguins (yes, penguins...sort of), and fast-moving PWCs mix in the same narrow corridor, well…somebody eventually drafts a policy.
