• Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Big Al wows ’em, Strikers uproar
  • Felicia eyes off further black type
  • Edithvale-Aspendale get on the board, Stonecats impress
  • Alteration of subway plans for Frankston
  • Peta Murphy wins second term in Dunkley
  • Shire’s carbon neutral backflip
  • Fee rise puts golfers in rough
  • Reserve price puts shire off
Facebook Twitter
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»Latest News»Jet skiers warned off The Pillars
Latest News

Jet skiers warned off The Pillars

By Stephen TaylorJanuary 13, 2020Updated:January 14, 2020No Comments3 Mins Read
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
Pictures: Yanni
THE PILLARS 09-01-2020 BY YANNI 02
JET SKIS 09-01-2020

 

JET skiers are under fire for flouting water safety rules off The Pillars, Mt Martha and putting themselves and swimmers at risk.

Safety Beach Coast Guard Commander Mark Brookes said many of the 70-80 jet skiers off the popular swimming spot on Thursday 9 January were behaving like hoons by speeding close to shore and driving erratically.

After asking Coast Guard crews to “take a run up and slow them down a bit” he said the jet skiers had sped off before his officers could approach them.

The Coast Guard also received calls from Rye beachgoers saying jet skiers were “hooning and doing stupid things” there.

Commander Brookes said: “The Coast Guard insists that for everyone’s safety jet skiers must obey the rules or risk a catastrophe. Right now, it appears many jet skiers don’t care about their own or other people’s safety.”

Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Sam Hearn said the shire did not have any jurisdiction over the behaviour of jet skiers in the water.

Local Laws officers armed with speed cameras could only observe jet skiers from the land and gather evidence of any misbehaviour to be passed on to the Water Police or Maritime Safety Victoria who would conduct any prosecutions, he said.

Cr Hearn said he expected the shire to receive the power to prosecute errant jet skiers next year. He said the shire had done “all it can” with regard to safety, managing access and jumping off the cliffs at The Pillars. He did not think “it’s as bad there in comparison to previous years”.

Last year the shire spent $200,000 on fencing to restrict access to The Pillars as well as enforcing tougher parking restrictions along the Esplanade and in nearby streets. It also banned the drinking of alcohol – but the ban was not enforced on the cliff top itself as police refused to clamber over the fence due to occupational health and safety concerns.

Cr Hearn said the shire had held a public meeting before the current cliff jumping season and he was sure “residents understand the shire has done all it can and that The Pillars is a state responsibility”.

Coast Guard crews have also been busy with boating assists. In Friday 10 January’s wild weather a trailer-sailor yacht with a man and woman aboard had to be towed to Martha Cove marina with centre-plate and motor problems.

Stephen Taylor and Keith Platt

First published in the Mornington News – 14 January 2020

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Liberals keep Flinders but lose government

May 23, 2022

One-way gates the way out for kangaroos

May 23, 2022

Affordable housing flyer ‘misleading’

May 23, 2022

Shire accused of political bias

May 23, 2022
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Weather
May 23, 2022 - Mon
Mornington, Australia
12°C
clear sky
clear sky
0 m/s, SE
64%
771.07 mmHg
mon05/23 tue05/24 wed05/25 thu05/26 fri05/27
sky is clear
12/11°C
sky is clear
14/10°C
overcast clouds
15/13°C
moderate rain
15/14°C
light rain
15/13°C
Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click here to read

April 27, 2022
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click here to read

March 2, 2022
Council Watch

Shire’s carbon neutral backflip

May 23, 2022

Shire offers $500,000 to performing arts

May 2, 2022
Elections 2022

Peta Murphy wins second term in Dunkley

May 23, 2022

Shire accused of being off track with pledges

May 17, 2022

Security takes precedence

May 17, 2022
Interview

Volunteers track koalas for science

May 2, 2022
Property of the Week

278 Dundas Street, Rye

May 11, 2022
100 Years Ago This Week

Alteration of subway plans for Frankston

May 23, 2022
Contact
Street: 63 Watt Road, Mornington, 3931
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook Twitter
© 2022 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.