Public Notices
Parks Victoria publishes public notices where relevant, including information regarding leases and boating and waterway activity exemptions.
Williamstown WOW Swim
Event name:
Williamstown WOW SWim
Date/time of event:
02 March 2025 8:00am to 2:00pm
Location:
Williamstown Beach
Details:
PUBLIC NOTICE
DECLARATION OF
BOATING ACTIVITY EXEMPTION
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 and
Lifesaving Club, persons and vessels involved
in the 2025 Williamstown Open Water WOW swim are exempt from the following
requirements:
State Rules made under the Marine Act 1988
- Clause 2(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50
metres of a person in the water
- Clause 2(c) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50
metres of another vessel
- Clause 4(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 200
metres of the water’s edge
- Clause 4(b) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50
metres of a wharf, jetty, slipway, diving platform or boat ramp
- Clause
19(a) – an observer must be used when towing a
person.
Waterway Rules made under the Marine Safety Act
2010 / Marine Act 1988
- Clause 1.5.7 of
Schedule 1 – 5 knot speed restriction zone within 200 metres of the
waters’ edge at Williamstown Beach
- Clause 1.5.9(b) of Schedule 1 – areas
prohibited to vessels off Williamstown Beach
- 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.
Marine Safety Regulations 2023
- Regulation
60 – Master must not engage in towing unless an observer is on board.
- Regulation 61(4) – Master requirement to carry lifejacket on vessel
on enclosed waters for each person onboard (or being towed)
- Regulation 66(2) – person must wear a lifejacket of type specified
at all times when underway on enclosed waters
- Regulation 70 – Master must ensure all occupants wear a lifejacket
Subject to the conditions detailed
below:
·
Masters of PWC rescue vessels
are exempt from item 8 for the duration of the event and items 5 & 9-12 if
operating solo and retrieving or rescuing a person during the event without a
lifejacket from the water.
·
All occupants of powered
vessels involved with the event must wear a lifejacket at all times during the
event and vessels must have all prescribed safety equipment.
·
Masters of mechanically powered
LSV vessels up to and including 4.8 metres in length (other than PWCs) are
exempt from the carriage of specified safety equipment whilst within visual
range of a staffed lifesaving facility or flagged area, as per the Exemptions
for Life Saving Victoria vessels in Exemption Notice 1.
·
The exemptions apply from 7:30am to
2:30pm on Sunday 2 March 2025 (back-up date Sunday 9 March 2025) to the persons
and vessels participating in the Williamstown WOW Swim within the Set Aside
waters extending
approximately 500 metres from the shoreline at Williamstown Beach to
approximately 500 metres from Williamstown Boating Club.
·
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.
·
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
06/01/2025
By order of Parks Victoria
Dated: 10/02/25