Despite broad community objections, planning approval has been granted for a jet ski hire operator to set up on Lake Illawarra.

Sydney-based Play Hard Jet Ski Hire Pty Ltd convinced Wollongong Council staff that its operation wouldn't unduly impact the lake's fragile environment, and the seal of approval came from the independent Wollongong Local Planning Panel on 13 August 2025.

Play Hard's plan involves setting up its jet ski hire business at the Lake Illawarra Yacht Club at Warrawong. Despite objections from individual members of the yacht club, who worry about safety issues on the water, the club itself has supported the proposal.

The proposal is to operate guided jet ski tours of the lake, on a circuit measuring 16.5 kilometres, taking in the majority of Lake Illawarra's perimeter. The operator says he only uses quieter, low-emission jet skis which will minimise impact on the environment. "No one on the shoreline will hear my jet skis," the operator told the planning panel on the day of their approval.

Play Hard Jet Ski has operated a similar business on Sydney's George's River and Botany Bay since 2017. One-hour hire of the jet skis on Botany Bay costs $175, and two hours is $300. The operators told the planning panel they encourage responsible, safe use of jet skis with no injuries to date and fully educate those who hire their craft about the rules.

On Lake Illawarra, the jet ski operators intend to operate four days a week, 8am-5pm (Thursday to Sunday), on school holidays seven days a week 8am-5pm, and no tours are to be run in June or July.

Speeds to be restricted to 55km/h

The jet ski tours would involve a maximum of four riders, travelling on the lake circuit to a maximum speed of 55km/h. The minimum age for the jet ski operators would be 12 years and seven years for passengers.

The 16 objections to the proposal covered a range of issues, including impact on the lake's bird life, particularly 14 threatened and protected bird species, the constant noise disturbance, turbulence from the jet skis impacting marine and birdlife, and the disturbance of passive recreational craft, including windsurfers and sailors, based on safety concerns.

Council's report to the Local Planning Panel said: "The application has been reviewed by the Department of Fisheries and Council's environmental assessment officer. Subject to conditions of consent, the application is unlikely to have an adverse impact on bird life and, or the biodiversity values of the lake."

NSW Maritime raised no concerns about the proposal.

In response to objections from keen birdwatchers, Council's report said: "It is noted that the proposed route allows a buffer zone to key birdwatching locations that is significantly larger than the distance where the repetitive nature of the activity and the noise associated may deter birds and birdwatching."

Jet ski tours will not go within 250m of the shore

Council said the environment would be protected by the operators ensuring "the jet skis are always at a minimum depth of two metres, and a minimum of 250 metres from the shore, sea grasses and mudflats."

To meet the requirements of the Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009, the jet ski operation must meet a number of criteria and requirements. These objectives include enabling the "land to be used for public open space or recreational purposes" and "to protect and enhance the natural environment for recreational purposes".

"The proposal is categorised as a recreation facilities (outdoor) ... and is permissible in the zone with development consent," Council's review of the application said. The Council report was silent on the issue of "protect and enhance the natural environment".

Despite Council acknowledging "there are listed heritage items and Aboriginal areas of significance within the vicinity of the proposed Jet Ski Tour routes", they determined "it is unlikely the granting of development consent would give rise to adverse impacts to the mapped heritage items within vicinity of the site" and "it's unlikely that the proposed use would have a detrimental impact on the Aboriginal cultural sites surrounding Lake Illawarra".

Council's environmental officer, however, did raise concerns "regarding the cumulative effects of the activities being repeated throughout the day." Up to 10 jet ski tours lapping the lake are proposed each day. 

Program to reduce threats to the lake

Lake Illawarra is managed through a partnership between Wollongong City Council, Shellharbour City Council, and the NSW Government, coordinated by a Coastal Management Program (CMP). The Lake Illawarra CMP (2020-2030) is a long-term strategy for the coordinated management of the Lake. It includes a set of actions to reduce threats to the lake.

In approving the application, and on the advice of Council's environmental officer, the Wollongong Local Planning Panel has put a two-year limit on the timeframe for the jet skis to operate, from the date of commencement.  The operators can seek an extension of the approval prior to the two-year limit expiring.

The panel said in approving the jet ski business they had taken into account "the likely adverse environmental impact" and "protection of the amenity and character of the land adjoining".

The conditions of approval include "should the operator become or be made aware of the presence of threatened or protected fauna species resting within 100 metres of the route, activities are to stop immediately until the animals have relocated".

There were also conditions on storage of fuel, refuelling of the jet skis and how to manage spills so they don't end up in the lake. Noise reduction measures are also required at all times.

Whilst Council, via the planning panel, was able to approve the land component of the business, it is now a requirement that the proponent obtain approval to conduct the jet ski tours through Transport for NSW (Maritime).