Why Alese is scared every time her son enters the water

1 week ago 10

Bayside Council’s deputy mayor is urging the state’s maritime agency to use CCTV on a popular south-Sydney beach to penalise jet-skiers caught putting swimmers in danger.

Heidi Lee Douglas has backed Transport for NSW Maritime’s review into authorising the use of CCTV at Sydney beaches, including Brighton-le-Sands, to identify and issue fines to dangerous jet-ski riders, but wants the change made before summer.

Footage uploaded to a Facebook group of jet-skiers riding along the Brighton-le-Sands beach shoreline shows a parent stopping a child from entering the water in the swimming zone.

“These CCTV cameras are very high-quality and can zoom in and can see the registration details of the jet-ski users ... I know that anecdotally, after the footage that residents have sent me, it’s often the same jet-ski riders who are recidivists on our local beaches, doing activities that residents and users of the beach feel is threatening,” Douglas said.

Police can’t penalise jet-skiers engaging in illegal activities based on footage taken by individuals or through existing CCTV used by the state’s maritime agencies to monitor the beach.

Transport for NSW Maritime told the Herald it has launched a review into the enforcement of using CCTV along Sydney beaches to issue penalties. However, it has not confirmed any further details about the change until the review releases its recommendations, which is likely to take effect after summer.

“A lot of local parents are very concerned every summer,” Douglas said.

One resident, Alese Troussas, said she was nearly clipped by a jet-ski while swimming, and she was cautious about letting her 10-year-old son, Alexander, enter the water.

“The residents – we’ve had enough,” Troussas said. “There are young children, families … we’re all terrified to go in the water during summer, which is the nicest time to go to the beach.”

“We’re sick of it,” she said. “If you go down to Bronte, Bondi, Clovelly, there’s none of that there. So why do we have to put up with the jet-skis?”

Alese Troussas is cautious when her 10-year-old son, Alexander, swims at their local beach due to fears of dangerous jet-ski riders.

To ride a jet-ski in NSW, you are required to drive 60 metres from the shoreline, amid other rules outlined in the personal watercraft handbook. However, in a restricted area, which includes Botany Bay, Hawkesbury River and Port Hacking, you must be 200 metres from the shoreline. Prohibited areas include Sydney Harbour and Yarra Bay, Frenchmans Bay and Congwong Beach.

While rates of jet-ski accidents are trending down, according to the latest report by Transport for NSW, they are over-represented in the number of serious injuries compared to other watercraft.

“Over the 10-year period to 30 June 2022, [jet-skis] were involved in 16.6 per cent of the recreational serious injury incidents recorded, but accounted for an average of only around 5.8 per cent of registered recreational vessels,” the report said. “The overwhelming majority of the serious injury incidents involving [jet-skis] are trauma-related, as evidenced by their very high involvement in collisions.”

Transport for NSW Maritime is also seeking to overhaul the state’s jet-ski licensing framework to include higher age limits, practical training and experience requirements.

Bayside Council said it does not have authority over waterways, but it “in principle” supports a state-led crackdown using CCTV of dangerous riders.

“Summer sees an increase in the use of jet-skis in Botany Bay and the Georges River. We love our bay, and we can all do our part to keep it safe,” a spokesperson said.

“Residents can report incidents or concerns about unsafe behaviour on the water by contacting Maritime NSW on 13 12 36.”

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