Public Notices

Parks Victoria as the declared waterway manager for Yarra River upstream of the port waters of the Port of Melbourne, makes the following declaration under section 203(3) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic).

For the purposes of boating activity conducted by the Rowing Victoria, persons and vessels involved in the University of Melbourne Intercollegiate Regatta 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 3(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of the water’s edge

4. Clause 3(b) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of a fixed or floating structure

5. Clause 3.1 of Schedule 3 – 5 knot speed restriction on waters of the Yarra River.

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 must adhere to speed and distance rules at all other times.

• Masters of competing vessels are only exempt from items 2 to 5 when competing in the event.

• Occupants of mechanically powered vessels (rescue and official vessels) involved with the event must wear a lifejacket at all times during the event and vessels must have all prescribed safety equipment.

• Rescue vessels must carry additional lifejackets to support persons that may be required to be rescued.

• 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 Exemption Notice 1 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 7:00am to 11:00am on Saturday 10 May 2025 to the persons and vessels registered to participate in the University of Melbourne Intercollegiate Regatta within the exclusion zone waters – Yarra River between upstream edge of the VRA landing and Cremorne Rail Bridge.

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