Joshua Dowling acquired the parliamentary transcripts that outlines the 2001 ban on jet skis on Sydney Harbor. He wrote a thorough article detailing all the reasons for the ban. The ban went into effect in October 2001 and is active today.
Coinciding with the ban being introduced to the parliament, the NSW Government put forth harsh new penalties and higher licensing and registration fees for PWC. This in turn would boost funding for more water patrol on the Sydney Harbor and possibly discourage people from pursuing the sport of riding personal watercraft.
Today the fine for riding a jet ski on Sydney Harbor is $500 for the first offense and $750 for the second. Furthermore, NSW Police and NSW Maritime Officers have the authority to seize watercraft for dangerous riding or repeat offenses.
Twenty years ago, NSW Premier Bob Carr addressed the state parliament with a statement that would further seal the deal on the ban on jet skis in the Harbor. This is what Mr. Carr told the NSW Parliament;
“As I have said on many occasions, Sydney Harbor is a working harbor. Ferry commuters pass fishing trawlers returning to their moorings after a night’s work. Cruise boats share the water with tugs and cargo ships. We still see a family out fishing on a rowboat or dinghy. It is the government’s responsibility to protect the harbor and to manage all those competing interests. The use of jet skis on Sydney Harbor raises some serious questions.”
That struck a blow to the jet ski community and veterans of the sport think that PWC riders should get a second chance to ride on Sydney Harbour. To this day, there are no plans to reverse the ban on Sydney Harbor. For the complete detailed article, check it out here.
