Personal watercraft hire and drive trial
Transport for NSW (Maritime) is currently trialling a personal watercraft (PWC) hire and drive tour operation on the Hawkesbury. It's open to licensed and unlicensed PWC drivers.
About the trial
Transport for NSW’s Maritime Branch recently completed a trial for a PWC hire and drive tour operation on the Hawkesbury River. The trial concept allows people new to PWCs to experience driving a PWC without a licence, under strictly controlled conditions, and with qualified tour guides.
Transport for NSW will evaluate the findings from the trial, and until this evaluation is finalised, will not approve other applications for similar activities on NSW waterways.
We are currently assessing the trial against a core set of criteria including safety, access, environment, amenity, adherence to approval conditions and legislation.
Developing a safer PWC community
Learning about PWC safety and safe behaviours were the key elements within the education component of the trial. Speed and rider behaviour was tightly controlled and monitored by Transport for NSW’s Authorised Officers.
By allowing this type of activity, we aim to educate budding PWC riders at the start of their interest in PWCs, while engaging key commercial operators and retailers to partner in the development of a safer PWC community.
The trial evaluation is also expected to inform the position for the potential approval of this type of activity on NSW waterways across the state.
More information
For more information on the trial, or if you would like to register to receive information on the result of the trial evaluation, please contact MaritimeComms@transport.nsw.gov.au.