Public Notices

Parks Victoria as the declared waterway manager for Patterson River, upstream of the Nepean Highway Bridge to Eumemmering Creek including the National Water Sports Centre (NWSC), makes the following declaration under section 203(3) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic). 

For the purposes of boating activity conducted by Rowing Victoria, persons and vessels involved in the National Water Sports Centre rowing regattas are exempt from the following requirements:

State Rules made under the Marine Act 1988

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

Subject to the conditions detailed below:

• 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 only exempt from items 1 to 3 when competing in the events

• Masters of competing vessels are only exempt from item 2 provided they do not exceed 5 knots within 10 metres of the water’s edge

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

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

• The exemptions apply for the dates and times as detailed in Table 1, to the persons and vessels registered to participate in the Rowing Victoria Regattas on the waters of the National Water Sports Centre

• 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: 15/09/2026