Public Notices

Parks Victoria as the declared waterway manager for the Local Port of Port Phillip, makes the following declaration under section 203(3) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic).

For the purposes of boating activity conducted by Swimming Victoria, persons and vessels involved in the 2025 Victorian Open Water Championships 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 4(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 200 metres of the water’s edge

4. Clause 4(b) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of a wharf, jetty, slipway, diving platform or boat ramp

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

5. Clause 1.4.7 of Schedule 1 – 5 knot speed restriction within 200 metres of the water’s edge - South West Port Phillip

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.

• All participants on rescue and official vessels used in conjunction with the event must wear a lifejacket at all times during the event and vessels must have all prescribed safety equipment.

• The above exemptions apply from 8:30am to 1:30pm on Saturday 20 December 2025 (back-up date Sunday 21 December 2025) to persons and vessels involved in the Victorian Open Water Championships within the Set Aside waters of Corio Bay, as marked by buoys.

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