Members Statement - Elwood Beach Safety

MEMBERS STATEMENT

‘ELWOOD BEACH SAFETY’.

Wednesday, 6 October 2021.

Mr NEWBURY (Brighton):

Melbourne’s beachside communities deserve to be safe when taking advantage of our special coastline. Elwood residents need to know they are safe when taking a swim.

Sadly, personal watercraft and the zoning of boating and swimming near Elwood, in Port Phillip Bay, remains a serious issue that Labor has failed to fix.

Maritime Safety Victoria has previously stated that there has been ‘little sign of improvement in behaviour’ from jetskiers and listed four sites as being the worst locations for jet ski hooning, two of which are in the City of Port Phillip municipality. That is a real concern.

My community is also aware of the tragic instance of a jet ski hooner killing a father whilst speeding through a swimmer-only zone in Port Melbourne. We cannot let such a tragic event occur again.

We need action from this Government, before there is another tragic incident.