Public Notices

Parks Victoria publishes public notices where relevant, including information regarding leases and boating and waterway activity exemptions.

Winter Sculling Series 2025/26

Event name:

Winter Sculling Series 2025/26

Date/time of event:

7 June 2025, 14 June, 21 June, 28 June, 5 July, 12 July, 19 July, 26 July, 2 August, 16 August 2025

Location:

Y7-Y11 Precinct Yarra River & Albert Park Lake

Details:

PUBLIC NOTICE

DECLARATION OF BOATING ACTIVITY EXEMPTION

Parks Victoria as the declared waterway manager for the Yarra River upstream of the port waters of the Port of Melbourne, the Maribyrnong River upstream of Shepherds Bridge on Footscray Road and Albert Park Lake, makes the following declaration under section 203(3) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic).

For the purposes of boating activity conducted by Victorian Sculling Association (VSA), persons and vessels involved in the VSA - Winter Sculling Series 2025 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 3(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of the water’s edge
Clause 3(b) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of a fixed or floating structure

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

Clause 3.1 of Schedule 3 – 5 knot speed restriction on waters of the Yarra River
Clause 4.1 of Schedule 4 – 5 knot speed restriction on waters of the Maribyrnong River
Clause 151.1 of Schedule 151 – 5 knot speed restriction for vessels with engines

Marine Safety Regulations 2023

Regulation 61(6) – master requirement to carry lifejacket on vessel on inland waters for each person onboard
Regulation 66(3) – persons on vessels must wear a lifejacket (of type specified) at all times when underway on inland waters

Subject to the conditions detailed below:

Masters of rescue vessels are only exempt from items 1 to 7 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 6 when competing in the events.
Occupants of competing vessels are only exempt from items 8 & 9 when competing in the events and on condition that the ‘First Aid Requirements’ outlined in the Victorian Sculling Association Safety Management Plan is provided.
Rescue vessels must carry additional floatation devices to support persons that may be required to be rescued.
Occupants of powered vessels used in conjunction with the event must wear a lifejacket at all times and vessels must have all prescribed safety equipment.
Certain Victorian Sculling Association powered vessels have approval from Parks Victoria to operate on the waters of Albert Park Lake as per clause 151.2(a) of Schedule 151 of the Notice under the Marine Act 1988.
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 from the times and on the dates and locations specified in Table 1 below.
The exemptions apply provided the stated safety controls and undertakings detailed in the application form and associated documentation are adhered to.

Table 1: VSA - Winter Sculling Series 2025

Event	Event Date	Event Start	Event End	Waterway
Albert Park Grand Prix	Sat 7 June 2025	7.00am	10.00am	Albert Park Lake
The ‘John Whiting” Round the Island race	Sat 14 June 2025	8.00am	10.30am	Yarra River (exclusion zone)
Handicap Series Round 1	Sat 21 June 2025	9.00am	10.30am	Yarra River
Handicap Series Round 2	Sat 28 June 2025	9.00am	10.30am	Yarra River
Handicap Series Round 3	Sat 5 July 2025	9.00am	10.30am	Yarra River
Handicap Series Round 4	Sat 12 Jul 2025	9.00am	10.30am	Yarra River
Handicap Series Round 5	Sat 19 Jul 2025	9.00am	10.30am	Yarra River
Handicap Series Round 6	Sat 26 Jul 2025	9.00am	10.30am	Yarra River
Head of the Maribyrnong	Sat 2 Aug 2025	7.00am	10.00am	Maribyrnong River
Scullers’ Head of the Yarra	Sat 16 Aug 2025	7.30am	10.30am	Yarra River (exclusion zone)

By Order of Parks Victoria

Dated: 7/04/2025

By order of Parks Victoria
Dated: 13/05/25