Three popular sites in Port Stephens have been formally identified for a new safety trial over the busy summer period.

Initially announced last month, the four-week pilot – to run from 24 December to 26 January – will operate across high-use swimming and paddling locations in the LGA.

That means powered vessels, including personal watercraft such as jet skis, are temporarily prohibited from the following “hot spots”:

Dutchmans Beach – a 185m-long area on the eastern side of the beach

Fly Point – a 230m-long area extending southwest from Fly Point to a pumping station midway along Nelson Bay Beach

Shoal Bay – a 430m-long area westward from the jetty to the pedestrian crossing

They were selected using complaints and compliance data, local knowledge and community feedback, according to

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