Public Notices

Parks Victoria as the declared waterway manager for the Maribyrnong River upstream of Shepherd Bridge on Footscray Road, makes the following declaration under section 203(3) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic).

For the purposes of boating activity conducted by the Footscray Canoe Club, persons and vessels involved in the Footscray Canoe Club 2025 Salty Single Blader 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

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

5. Clause 4.1 of Schedule 4 – 5 knot speed restriction on the Maribyrnong River

6. Regulation 61(5) – requirement to carry specified equipment on vessel on inland waters (bailer) 

Subject to the conditions detailed below:

• Masters of rescue vessels are only exempt from item 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.

• Competitors are only exempt from items 2 to 6 when competing in the events.

• All occupants of vessels involved with the event must wear a lifejacket at all times during the event and the event’s rescue vessels must have all prescribed safety equipment.

• The exemptions apply from 9:00am to 2:00pm on Sunday 3 August 2025 within the competition area on the Maribyrnong River – between Raleigh Road (Talip) Bridge and Ballarat Road (Lynchs) Bridge.

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