A new motion at city council could soon see personal watercraft like Jet Skis banned from the shores of Woodbine Beach after years of public safety complaints from residents.
Coun. Brad Bradford (Ward 19 Beaches-East York) wants Ports ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ to implement a motorized watercraft exclusion zone at Woodbine Beach, ranging at least 100 metres off the shoreline and stretching from its westernmost edge to the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant
Traffic on ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½â€™s shores has soared since COVID, with kayaks, paddleboards, speedboats and jet skis clamouring for space on the waterfront.
Traffic on ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½â€™s shores has soared since COVID, with kayaks, paddleboards, speedboats and jet skis clamouring for space on the waterfront.
“Many residents have reached out. They’re scared and they’re frustrated,” Bradford told the Star. “Swimmers have nearly been hit, and people have been afraid to take paddleboards or kayaks out on the water because of these reckless renters, who may be driving one for the first time with no real training.”
He plans to bring his member’s motion before city council, which meets next week, starting Wednesday. It will need two-thirds of the councillors to vote for it to get added to this session’s agenda.
Bradford said his proposed exclusion zone would only affect “high-powered, dangerous vehicles like Jet Skis.” Vehicles like kayaks and paddleboards would still be permitted.
Unsafe watercraft operators are “ignoring speed limits and the roped-off swimming zone,” Bradford said. “It’s completely unacceptable, and I won’t let a small number of irresponsible actors jeopardize public safety.”
, which was seconded by Coun. Jon Burnside (Ward 16, Don Valley East), asks council to “denounce illegal watercraft usage and storage and the operation of illegal watercraft rental companies in the Ashbridges Bay and Woodbine Beach area.”
It also wants council to ask ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ police to crack down on unsafe watercraft use and the illegal leasing and storage of watercraft on public property.
“The illegal Jet Ski rentals at Woodbine Beach have gotten out of control,” said Bradford. “I’ve seen the vehicles from these illegal companies clogging the beach, and have heard stories from residents about how dangerous they’ve been.”
To address illegal personal watercraft rental services, the motion recommends extra signage and public education from parks and recreation warning residents against the unlicensed operations.
“I’m grateful to ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ police and city staff for the strong enforcement action they’ve taken to date, but more is needed to shut these guys down,” Bradford said.
A pilot project this boating season will initiate a 200-metre exclusion zone off Hanlan’s Point Beach on the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Islands.
A pilot project this boating season will initiate a 200-metre exclusion zone off Hanlan’s Point Beach on the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Islands.
A watercraft exclusion zone is not unprecedented: personal watercraft, powerboats and sailboats were banned within 200 metres of Hanlan’s Point Beach this summer.
But despite the zone’s implementation on June 16, beachgoers say it through the area.
In about a recent enforcement blitz targetting illegal watercraft rentals and unsafe boating, ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Police Service said its Marine Unit handed out more than 50 provincial offence tickets between July 9 and 12, including over $12,000 in fines and more than 20 bylaw charges totalling over $5,000 in fines.
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