Efoils are banned at Byron Bay because outdated NSW legislation doesn’t distinguish them from jet skis. Help fix it.

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At 500 signatures, the NSW Government must respond.

Live outside NSW, or overseas?

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Fliteboard was invented in Byron Bay. Yet since 2024, efoils have been banned along all 37 km of Cape Byron Marine Park, and they’re banned from Sydney Harbour too.

David Trewern, inventor of Fliteboard, on the ban and how to fix it.

What the petition asks for

The NSW Parliament petition asks the NSW Government to:

  1. Urgently issue a 12-month trial permit, starting this summer, for efoils in one marked area at Belongil, with conditions and independent monitoring.
  2. End the confusion within 12 months by classifying efoils as vessels across NSW, including safe areas of Sydney Harbour.

Sign the NSW Parliament petitionFor people who live in NSW.

What happened

Invented in Byron BayFliteboard was invented here in 2017. It’s now sold in ninety countries, and its head office here employed around sixty people at its peak.

Six years without a problemWe rode here under a permit for six years. To our knowledge, there was no accident, substantiated complaint or harm to wildlife. In 2024 the permit was withdrawn, with no published reason.

One government, two answersIn 2019 NSW Maritime exempted efoils from several jet ski rules, given their lower risks. The marine park still treats them as jet skis.

So today, a diesel trawler can cross the marine park. A silent electric surfboard can’t.

An efoil is not a jet ski

It’s a silent, battery-electric board about the weight of a suitcase. Yet the marine park puts the two in the same category.

More on efoils and the environment →
Jet skiEfoil
Weight120–430 kg18–34 kg
PowerPetrol engineBattery-electric
SpeedUp to about 100 km/hUsually about 20 km/h
NoiseLoudSilent
WakeLargeNone
Fuel and exhaustPetrol, oil and exhaustNone

722 people have signed our petition. Here’s what they say.

140say efoils are clean and quiet
95say riders are safe and respectful
50say it’s good for body and mind
“I’m 78 years young and my general health and mental disposition has improved ten fold over the last 3½ years.”
John, Central Coast, NSW
Read what they said →

Questions

Who can sign the NSW Parliament petition?

People who live in NSW. If you live anywhere else, please sign our petition instead.

I’ve already signed your petition. Should I sign again?

Yes, if you live in NSW. Only signatures on the NSW Parliament petition count towards the 500 that require a Government response.

What happens at 500 signatures?

If 500 or more people sign, the petition goes to the responsible Minister when it closes, and the Minister must respond in writing within 35 days.

Aren’t efoils just electric jet skis?

No. A jet ski is a heavy petrol craft that can reach around 100 km/h. An efoil is a silent battery board about the weight of a suitcase, usually ridden at around 20 km/h, and its motor stops when the rider lets go. In 2019 NSW Maritime exempted efoils from several jet ski rules “given the lower risks associated with the use of these vessels”.

Are efoils safe around swimmers, surfers and wildlife?

After millions of kilometres ridden in more than ninety countries, we’re not aware of a single case of an efoil injuring a swimmer, surfer or any other member of the public. Efoils must follow NSW boating rules, keeping a safe distance from swimmers and surfers and at least 300 m from whales and dolphins. They’re silent, with no wake, fuel or exhaust. More on the environment.

Who is behind this campaign?

David Trewern, Fliteboard’s inventor, and Byron Bay riders. It’s independent: not run or funded by Fliteboard or Brunswick Corporation, and it takes no donations.

Know someone in NSW? Send them this.

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