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 Williamstown Swimming & Lifesaving Club, persons and vessels involved in the Williamstown Open Water Challenge on the waters off Williamstown Beach 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 waters’ edge

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

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

5. Clause 1.5.7 of Schedule 1 – 5 knot speed restriction, North West Port Phillip within 200 metres of the waters’ edge

6. Clause 1.5.9(b) of Schedule 1 – areas prohibited to vessels off Williamstown Beach

7. Clause 1.5.12(a) of Schedule 1 - must not operate a PWC for any purpose other than transiting within designated 5 knot speed restriction zones

Subject to the conditions detailed below:

• Masters of rescue vessels are only 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 item 6 for the duration of the event.

• Masters of rescue personal watercraft are only exempt from item 7 for the duration of the event.

• All occupants of powered vessels involved with the event must always wear a personal flotation device during the event.

• The above exemptions apply between 8:00am and 1:30pm on 27 February 2022 (back- up date 6 March 2022), to the persons and vessels participating in the Williamstown Open Water Challenge, provided the stated safety controls and undertakings detailed in the application form and associated documentation are adhered to.