Public Notices

Parks Victoria publishes public notices where relevant, including information regarding leases and boating and waterway activity exemptions.

Declaration of Boating Activity Exemptions

Event name:

2025 Henley on the Maribyrnong Regatta

Date/time of event:

9:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday 13 December 2025

Location:

Maribyrnong River, upstream of the Raleigh Road Bridge for a length of 1 kilometre.

Details:

PUBLIC NOTICE

DECLARATION OF BOATING ACTIVITY EXEMPTION

Parks Victoria as the declared waterway manager for Maribyrnong River upstream of Shepherd

Bridge on Footscray Road, makes the following declaration under section 203(3) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic).

For the purposes of boating activity conducted by Essendon Rowing Club, persons and vessels involved in the 2025 Henley on the Maribyrnong Regatta are exempt from the following requirements:

State Rules made under the Marine Act 1988

1. Clause 2(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of a person in the water

2. Clause 2(c) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of another vessel

3. Clause 3(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of the water’s edge

4. Clause 3(b) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of a fixed or floating structure

Waterway Rules made under the Marine Safety Act 2010 / Marine Act 1988

5. Clause 4.1 of Schedule 4 – Five (5) knot speed restriction on waters of the Maribyrnong River upstream of Shepherds Bridge

Subject to the conditions detailed below:

· Masters of rescue vessels are exempt from items 1 to 5 when undertaking a rescue operation to retrieve persons in distress, provide for their initial medical or other needs and deliver them to a place of safety on shore, and must adhere to speed and distance rules at all other times.

· Competitors are only exempt from items 2 to 5 when competing in the events, and item 2 applies only when within 50 metres of another competitor or competing vessel.

· Occupants of powered vessels involved with the event must wear a lifejacket at all times during the event and vessels must have all prescribed safety equipment.

· The event is operating under the auspices of Rowing Victoria, including the Rowing Victoria Safety Management Plan, which meets the criteria of Clause 3 of Exemption Notice 1 made under the Marine Regulations 1999 in respect of the exemption for rowing vessels to not carry or wear a lifejacket.

· The exemptions apply from 9:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday 13 December 2025 within the competition waters – Maribyrnong River upstream of the Raleigh Road Bridge for a length of 1 kilometre.

· The exemptions apply provided the stated safety controls and undertakings detailed in the application form and associated documentation are adhered to.

By order of Parks Victoria
Dated: 13/11/25