Lake Illawarra fight is over with final approval for controversial jet ski tours

A six-month battle to stop a first-ever jet ski hire business setting up on Lake Illawarra is over.

Transport for NSW Maritime, which had the final say on the application, this week confirmed that, after a lengthy review, it had given the business the green light, albeit on a six-month trial basis. That’s well short of the original two-year approval.

Operator Malcolm Barry, who is moving his business from Botany Bay to Lake Illawarra, had hoped to begin his tours in time for last year’s September school holidays. The approval process was delayed, however, when members of the Illawarra Birders raised serious concerns over the threat to rare and endangered birds that nest and feed on and around the lake. They also flagged there was a safety risk as jet skis travelling at speeds of up to 55kph travelled through the lake’s shallow waters.

Malcolm, originally operating as Play Hard Jet Skis, has always said his business will be a wonderful addition to the region’s tourism mix, and he accused his opponents of overreacting to the impact his business will have.

He has wasted no time advertising his new tours online, under a brand new name, Illawarra Jet Ski Tours, commencing with a “grand opening” this Saturday, 17 January.

Offering guided lake tours for unlicensed jet ski riders of all ages, he’s promoting six tours a day on a 16km circuit. The 45-minute tours, costing $220 per jet ski, will operate at 8.30am, 9.30am, 2pm and 2.30pm. A 90-minute tour, at 10.30am and 12.30pm, will cost $350 per jet ski.

Criticism of approval process

Those who objected to the business being established adjacent to the Lake Illawarra Yacht Club at Warrawong are still angry at what they describe as a “seriously flawed” initial approval process, in which Wollongong City Council failed to consult with the many organisations and hundreds of individuals who are regular users of the lake.

Ros Atkins, a member of the Illawarra Birders group, says Council confirmed to her in writing this week that its “development consent relates only to land-based activities" with, in Ros’s view, no serious independent review undertaken of the wider environmental impact of a jet ski tour business operating daily on Lake Illawarra.

“Council didn’t even think there was any merit seeking the views of the committee established to protect the health and wellbeing of the lake. You have to question why that lake body even exists. If they’re not able to provide protection for our lake, then who is?”

Two members of the Lake Illlawarra group, including the scientist member, expressed disappointment that they were given no opportunity to comment. As co-managers of Lake Illawarra, Shellharbour Council was also omitted from the consultation process. So too were community lake user groups, including rowers, dragon boaters, kayakers, sailors, and paddleboarders. Even members of Lake Illawarra Yacht Club were left in the dark about a project which will be based within their facility.

Planning Panel and Maritime approved tours

Locally, approval came from the Wollongong Planning Panel, despite a strong objection from the panel’s community representative who felt Council’s assessment didn’t take into account the full environmental impact of jet ski tours on the lake’s ecosystems.

This left the final approval in the hands of NSW Maritime.

It was Maritime which suggested Malcolm consider moving his business from busy Botany Bay to the much quieter Lake Illawarra.

“This created quite the dilemma,” Ros Atkins said. “Wollongong Council said it had little or no interest in the impact of the tours on any part of the lake other than on its land base near the yacht club. And NSW Maritime told me their concern was only about the safety of the jet skis on the lake. They said it was Wollongong’s job to assess any environmental impact. Clearly no one took responsibility to fully assess the potential damage to the lake. How can this be so?

"I’m hoping if nothing else comes out of this farcical process, for any future business or tourism venture proposed for Lake Illawarra, there must be an automatic referral to the Lake Committee. The community also needs to feel assured that there is full and proper consultation and DAs aren't rushed through for expediency sake. We owe it to our lake to do better next time.”

'A balanced and accountable approach'

In an email this week, confirming approval of the jet ski tours for a trial six-month period initially, the director of NSW Maritime, Mark Scali, told Ros Atkins his organisation “initiated a review of recreational waterway usage on Lake Illawarra in response to concerns raised by the local community about the proponent’s proposal.

“Maritime has endorsed the proponent’s proposal following a briefing from the operational review team, which examined seven years of historical data alongside the most recent month of collection.

“This approval has been granted on a six month basis reflecting a balanced and accountable approach that prioritises safety, transparency and evidence-driven decision making. The ongoing review will continue throughout the remainder of the boating season to ensure the community’s interests remain front and centre,” Mark Scali wrote.

With approvals now granted, Ros says objectors fear this sends a clear signal to jet skiers on the overcrowded Sydney waterways that Lake Illawarra is open for business. “This could spell the beginning of the end for the precious tranquility people from Wollongong and other visitors have enjoyed for decades when visiting the lake. Not to mention how harmful it will be for wildlife facing this whole new threat."