Public Notices
Parks Victoria publishes public notices where relevant, including information regarding leases and boating and waterway activity exemptions.
The Australian Boat Race
Event name:
The Australian Boat Race
Date/time of event:
19 October 2025 9.00am - 11.00am
Location:
Yarra River Y7-Y10
Details:
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, 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 2025 Australian Boat Race are exempt from
the following requirements:
State Rules made under the Marine Act 1988
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 provided they do not exceed the speed
of a competing rowing vessel unless 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.
· Masters of
competing vessels are only exempt from items 2 to 5 when competing in the
event.
· Occupants of
rescue and official vessels involved with the event must always wear a
lifejacket during the event and vessels must have all prescribed safety
equipment.
· 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.
· These
exemptions apply from 9.00am to 11:00am on Sunday 19 October 2025 to vessels
participating in the Australian Boat Race only, within the exclusion zone
waters – the Yarra River from a diagonal line between the downstream edge of
the VRA Landing and the upstream edge of Federation Wharf to approximately 230
metres upstream of Power House Rowing Club Landing.
· 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
Dated: 12/09/2025
By order of Parks Victoria
Dated: 12/09/25