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 Rowing Victoria, persons and vessels involved in the Victoria Coastal Rowing Regatta Series 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 of North West Port Phillip

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

• 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 competing vessels are only exempt from items 2 to 6 for the duration of the event.

• Occupants of mechanically powered vessels used in conjunction with the event must wear a lifejacket at all times.

• Mechanically powered vessels involved with the event must carry all prescribed safety equipment, with the exception of Life Saving Victoria vessels if operating in accordance with the ‘Exemptions for Life Saving Victoria vessels’ in Exemption Notice 1.

• 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 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 from from 8:00am to 3:00pm on Saturday 15 December 2024 and Sunday 19 January 2025 within the Set Aside waters at Williamstown Beach. 

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

• In the event of any injuries which result in hospitalisation, a fatality or an incident involving a person or vessel not involved in the event, these must be immediately reported to Victoria Police and Safe Transport Victoria (ST Vic). In the case of all other incidents ST Vic requires incident reports within seven (7) days and a finalised report within 30 days.