At its meeting on 3 December 2025, Council unanimously passed a Notice of Motion calling for decisive action to protect swimmers and beachgoers from the risks posed by Personal Watercraft (PWCs), including jet skis.
Coroner reports and increasing near-miss and incident data highlight the urgent need for stronger measures to protect our beach users.
Council is seeking the Victorian Government to implement a comprehensive approach to safety, including permanent exclusion zones within 200 metres of our beaches, targeted education for PWC licence holders, increased patrols and enforcement.
These measures should be applied to St Kilda Pier and our beaches across Elwood, St Kilda, Middle Park, South Melbourne, Port Melbourne and Sandridge. Council is also seeking the permanent exclusion of PWCs launching from the St Kilda Motor Boat Marina ramp.
Council has acted swiftly following this resolution. We have made a formal submission to the Victorian Government through its Engage Victoria process and written directly to the Minister for Environment and Outdoor Recreation.
This initiative has already attracted significant media attention, reinforcing the importance of protecting our crowded urban beaches for everyone to enjoy safely.
Mayor Alex Makin addressed the issue with Raf Epstein on ABC Radio on 4 Dec 2025, with this interview also being run as an ABC Radio news story. St Kilda Ward Councillor Serge Thomann was also interviewed on the topic by 3AW on 3 Dec 2025 with a follow-up 3AW interview happening the next day. The Mayor also has an upcoming interview about our advocacy for a 200 m exclusion zone for an ABC TV 7.30 report on jet ski issues.
Council's advocacy on this issue has also been featured in The Age and Herald Sun.
Our advocacy reflects a proactive commitment to community safety and responds to growing concerns highlighted by coroner reports and incident data.
We are keen to see swift progress on regulatory reform as our beaches become increasingly popular, and welcome the opportunity to work closely with Transport Safety Victoria, Parks Victoria, and Victoria Police to deliver lasting improvements.
