Public Notices

Parks Victoria as the declared waterway manager for the 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 2026 Saltwater Challenge Regatta on the Maribyrnong River are exempt from the following requirements:

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

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

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

4. Clause 4.1 of Schedule 4 – 5 knot speed restriction on the waters of the Maribyrnong River.

• Masters of vessels providing rescue services must ensure they comply with the gazetted waterway rules and Marine Safety Act 2010 in respect to minimum speed and distance requirements, unless otherwise 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

• Masters of competing vessels are exempt from items 1 to 4 in the above list when competing in the event

• Occupants of mechanically powered vessels involved with the event must wear a lifejacket at all times during the event and vessels must have all prescribed safety equipment, including rescue vessels

• 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 7:00am to 6:30pm on Saturday 5 September 2026 on the waters of the Maribyrnong River within the competition area from 300 metres upstream of Canning St Bridge to 200 metres downstream of the Essendon Rowing Club

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