FOUR independent Port Stephens councillors have released a statement seeking to clarify their position on a proposed ban on “powered vessels” in local waterways.
In February the four councillors backed a unanimously supported motion requesting that Transport for NSW complete an “urgent review into jet ski usage, including speed limits for all personal watercraft and swimmer safety in Port Stephens”.
“As part of the urgent review, consider implementing jet ski restrictions on highly populated beach locations in Port Stephens,” the motion also stated.
Fast forward eight months and the NSW Government announced on 6 October that Transport for NSW Maritime will trial powered vessel exclusion zones at Port Stephens this summer.
“The four-week trial will run from 24 December to 26 January at locations identified by local communities as areas of concern,” the State Government release said.
“Trial sites will be announced in advance, and outcomes will be independently evaluated.”
Port Stephens Council’s four independent councillors – Chris Doohan, Mark Watson, Paul Le Mottee and Ben Niland – are now questioning how the requested “urgent review into jet ski usage” became a trial of exclusion zones for all powered vessels.
“At no stage did Council support a blanket ban on powered vessels,” the councillors stated.
“The only formal decision made by Council was to request an urgent review.
“The announcement to potentially ban all ‘powered vessels’, which by definition includes powerboats, sailing vessels using auxiliary engines, and personal watercraft (PWC), has come as a complete surprise.”
The councillors also called out a lack of consultation with key stakeholders.
“Where is the engagement with the local boating community, tourism operators, and recreational users who responsibly enjoy our waterways?” they stated.
“Any sweeping changes to waterway access must be the result of broad, inclusive consultation and a transparent decision-making process.”
The councillors have called on the State Government and Transport for NSW to:
– Clarify their intentions immediately regarding the definition and scope of any proposed bans;
– Ensure genuine community consultation with all affected stakeholders, including the boating community;
– Uphold the spirit of the original Council resolution, which was focused on safety improvements, not blanket restrictions.
Not all Port Stephens councillors share the same concerns however.
Taking to social media, Labor councillor Giacomo Arnott described the independent councillors’ complaints in local media as “weird politicking”.
“On 11 February 2025, Council unanimously called for the NSW Government to consider implementing jet ski restrictions on highly populated beach locations in Port Stephens,” Cr Arnott said.
“On 6 October 2025, the NSW Government announced it was trialling the implementation of jet ski restrictions on highly populated beach locations in Port Stephens.
“On 10 October 2025, four of the nine Councillors who voted in favour of the February motion are in the Newcastle Herald complaining about the NSW Government taking the very action they voted for eight months ago.
“Weird one, hey?”
Cr Arnott welcomed the NSW Government’s quick turnaround on Council’s request, noting that what is proposed is only a trial of exclusion zones.
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