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Personal water craft usage in our bay

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Consultation has concluded

**This consultation is now closed. A consultation summary report is available in the document library below. For updates on resulting recommendations and actions, please visit the news feed at the bottom of this project page.**
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Council regularly seeks community feedback on a variety of issues to ensure we are informed of our community's views and are advocating appropriately to the state authorities.

Our community enjoys a range of recreational activities in the water of our bay, including usage of personal water crafts (such as jet skis and wave runners).

A personal water craft is defined as an engine-powered vessel with a fully enclosed hull, which doesn't retain water and is operated by sitting astride, kneeling or standing.

In recent years Council has advocated to Parks Victoria through the Association of Bayside Municipalities (ABM) for improvements to water safety regulation, including improvements to personal water craft legislation, regulation, compliance and education, which has produced positive outcomes for the community (more details below), .

It's now time to review current issues, to ensure our community continues to have the opportunity to be heard on issues relating to personal water craft usage in our bay.

We'd appreciate your feedback via the short survey below.

Have your say

Have your say by completing the 15-minute survey below.

You can make further submissions by emailing info@kingston.vic.gov.au, mailing PO Box 1000, Mentone 3194 or phoning 1300 653 356.

Contributions close Friday 9 September

Background information

The state authorities which govern regulation

Maritime Safety Victoria (MSV) is the agency responsible for personal water craft regulation, whilst Parks Victoria is the agency responsible for implementing and enforcing boating and swimming zones within Port Phillip Bay. The zones determine which vessels are permitted in defined areas, as well as areas defined for swimming only. Victoria Police also play a role in compliance of personal watercraft regulations through the Water Police branch.

Council advocacy

In 2016/2017 Council participated in Parks Victoria's Boating Zone review via the ABM, which covered all areas of Port Phillip Bay. The review included broad reaching consultation with the community, boating/user groups and land managers which resulted in a number of changes to improve safety for swimmers and boaters in the bay. Following Council’s advocacy, the changes in Kingston were as follows:

• Expansion of ‘Vessels Prohibited - Swimming Only’ zones at Showers Avenue, Chelsea; Williams Grove, Bonbeach; and Gnotuk Avenue, Aspendale

• New ‘Vessels Prohibited - Swimming Only’ zones at Coleman Road, Aspendale

• Expansion of the ‘Vessels Prohibited - Swimming Only’ zone south of the Patterson River at Carrum

• Retention of the ‘No Personal Water Craft’ zones (NPWCZs) immediately north and south of the Patterson River, Port Phillip

Further details, including maps of the zones can be found on the Parks Victoria website (Boating Zone Review) at parks.vic.gov.au.

Council supports the ABM’s continued advocacy to Maritime Safety Victoria, Parks Victoria and Water Police to increase education, patrolling and enforcement of personal water crafts and undertake a review of existing boating and swimming zones to improve safety across the Bay. A position statement was signed by all ABM member Council’s (2019) and two letters of correspondence sent to the Director of MSV, which influenced a change to the waterway rule to improve personal watercraft safety and compliance by targeting ‘irregular riding’ within the 5 knot zone.

Continued advocacy for personal water craft issues is an ongoing commitment of the ABM (and Kingston City Council as a member of the association).

**This consultation is now closed. A consultation summary report is available in the document library below. For updates on resulting recommendations and actions, please visit the news feed at the bottom of this project page.**
...................................................................................................

Council regularly seeks community feedback on a variety of issues to ensure we are informed of our community's views and are advocating appropriately to the state authorities.

Our community enjoys a range of recreational activities in the water of our bay, including usage of personal water crafts (such as jet skis and wave runners).

A personal water craft is defined as an engine-powered vessel with a fully enclosed hull, which doesn't retain water and is operated by sitting astride, kneeling or standing.

In recent years Council has advocated to Parks Victoria through the Association of Bayside Municipalities (ABM) for improvements to water safety regulation, including improvements to personal water craft legislation, regulation, compliance and education, which has produced positive outcomes for the community (more details below), .

It's now time to review current issues, to ensure our community continues to have the opportunity to be heard on issues relating to personal water craft usage in our bay.

We'd appreciate your feedback via the short survey below.

Have your say

Have your say by completing the 15-minute survey below.

You can make further submissions by emailing info@kingston.vic.gov.au, mailing PO Box 1000, Mentone 3194 or phoning 1300 653 356.

Contributions close Friday 9 September

Background information

The state authorities which govern regulation

Maritime Safety Victoria (MSV) is the agency responsible for personal water craft regulation, whilst Parks Victoria is the agency responsible for implementing and enforcing boating and swimming zones within Port Phillip Bay. The zones determine which vessels are permitted in defined areas, as well as areas defined for swimming only. Victoria Police also play a role in compliance of personal watercraft regulations through the Water Police branch.

Council advocacy

In 2016/2017 Council participated in Parks Victoria's Boating Zone review via the ABM, which covered all areas of Port Phillip Bay. The review included broad reaching consultation with the community, boating/user groups and land managers which resulted in a number of changes to improve safety for swimmers and boaters in the bay. Following Council’s advocacy, the changes in Kingston were as follows:

• Expansion of ‘Vessels Prohibited - Swimming Only’ zones at Showers Avenue, Chelsea; Williams Grove, Bonbeach; and Gnotuk Avenue, Aspendale

• New ‘Vessels Prohibited - Swimming Only’ zones at Coleman Road, Aspendale

• Expansion of the ‘Vessels Prohibited - Swimming Only’ zone south of the Patterson River at Carrum

• Retention of the ‘No Personal Water Craft’ zones (NPWCZs) immediately north and south of the Patterson River, Port Phillip

Further details, including maps of the zones can be found on the Parks Victoria website (Boating Zone Review) at parks.vic.gov.au.

Council supports the ABM’s continued advocacy to Maritime Safety Victoria, Parks Victoria and Water Police to increase education, patrolling and enforcement of personal water crafts and undertake a review of existing boating and swimming zones to improve safety across the Bay. A position statement was signed by all ABM member Council’s (2019) and two letters of correspondence sent to the Director of MSV, which influenced a change to the waterway rule to improve personal watercraft safety and compliance by targeting ‘irregular riding’ within the 5 knot zone.

Continued advocacy for personal water craft issues is an ongoing commitment of the ABM (and Kingston City Council as a member of the association).

Consultation has concluded

  • Consultation summary report and action

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    Thank you to those who participated in Kingston's community consultation regarding personal water craft usage in our bay.

    A summary of responses to the survey conducted can be found in the Document Library on this project page.

    The feedback received showed a preference for improvements to the regulation and enforcement of personal water craft usage in our bay, and as such Council resolved to write to the relevant regulatory and enforcement agencies, forwarding the survey results and requesting this be considered.

    In November 2022 Council wrote to the relevant ministers, seeking an increased education and awareness campaign, increased regulatory capacity and enforcement to enhance public safety and amenity and a further review of existing regulations and engagement associated with the use of personal water craft.

    Council advocated for the following regarding personal water craft usage and regulation:

    - Increased community education and awareness of personal water craft regulation, including but not limited to:

    • improved regulatory signage (including increased sizing and plain-English wording)
    • improved Licencing Requirements
    • greater awareness of permitted personal water craft zones & swimming only zones

    - Improved public safety and amenity by:

    • better regulation within 1km of the shoreline (including launching from, and landing on, the beach)
    • considering the impact to other users caused by noise pollution which impacts the quiet enjoyment of the foreshore
    • increasing regulatory capacity and patrol frequency by responsible agencies including Maritime Safety Victoria, Parks Victoria and the Water Police Branch.

    - A further review of existing regulations and engagement with the Association of Bayside Municipalities (ABM).

    It is not the Council's position that personal water craft be banned from Port Phillip Bay, but we note with the significant number of informal and formal recreation water-based activities in heavily populated parts of our coastline, a much greater focus on the use of personal watercrafts is required.