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 & Life Saving Club, persons and vessels involved in the 2023 WOW Open Water Swim are exempt from the following requirements:

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

5. Clause 1.5.7 of Schedule 1 – 5 knot speed restriction zone within 200 metres of the waters’ edge at Williamstown Beach;

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 – the master of a personal watercraft must not operate the personal watercraft for any purpose other than transiting in the safest most direct course to, or from the shore and/or boat ramp or berthing facility (including a jetty, pier or mooring), whilst operating within designated 5 knot speed restriction zone

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 personal watercraft (Jet Ski) rescue vessels are only exempt from item 7 (irregular riding rule) for the duration of the event and must not exceed 5 knots when operating within designated 5 knot speed restriction zones, unless undertaking a rescue operation.

• All occupants of powered vessels involved with the event must wear a personal floatation device at all times during the event and vessels must have all prescribed safety equipment.

• The exemptions apply from 8:00am and 1:30pm on Sunday 5 March 2023 (back-up date 12 March 2023) to the persons and vessels participating in the Williamstown Open Water Challenge.

• 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