Public Notices

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

Set Aside Determination and Declaration of Boating Activity Exemptions

Event name:

Rip Swim

Date/time of event:

1.00pm to 3.30pm on Saturday 7 February 2026 (back up date Sunday 8 February 2026)

Location:

Local Port of Port Phillip, from Point Nepean to Point Lonsdale front beach

Details:

Port Management Act 1995 (Vic.)

Port Management (Local Ports) Regulations 2025

Set Aside Determination – Regulation 11(1)

Local port of Port Phillip

I, Sarah Auld, Regional Director – Maritime and Waterways of Parks Victoria (as delegate of the Port Manager), determine under Regulation 11(1) of the Port Management (Local Ports) Regulations 2025 that the areas defined in the following table are set aside for the purposes and conditions specified.

This determination has been made in accordance with Regulation 11(2)

(a) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any fire, flood, natural disaster or other emergency; or

(b) if the port manager reasonably believes that there is imminent risk of—

(i) harm or damage to—

(A) the health or safety of any person; or

(B) local port facilities or other property; or

(C) the natural environment; or

(ii) significant interference with the safe, efficient and effective management of the local port.

In accordance with Regulation 11(4), this determination replaces any previous set aside determination made by the port manager in respect of that area or any part there of that area for the period specified in this temporary determination.

This determination applies from 1:00pm to 3.30pm Saturday 7^th February 2026. Back up date Sunday 8^th February 2026.

Signed at Melbourne

by Sarah Auld

Acting Director – Maritime and Waterways

Regulation	Description	Purpose	Area	Reasonable conditions (Regulation 14)
11(1)(a)	Determination to set aside an area in a local port in which access to that area is prohibited or restricted for not more than 90 days.	To set aside an area for the safety of participants competing in the Rip Swim 2026 event.	Those areas off Port Phillip Bay from the boundary of Commercial Port waters to Point Lonsdale front beach as indicated by the attached map bounded by the following approximate locations (WGS84), from 1.00pm to 3.30pm on Saturday 7^th February 2026 (back up date Sunday 8^th February 2026) 1.38° 17.5830'S 144° 37.5500'E at the eastern end 2. 38° 17.1330'S 144° 36.9170'E at the beach end.	Mariners are required to avoid the competition area during the Set Aside period and follow the direction of event marshals and safety personnel.

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 Spirited Away Pty Ltd, persons and vessels involved in the Rip Swim 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 4(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 200 metres of the water’s edge

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

4. Clause 1.4.7 of Schedule 1 – 5 knot speed restriction area of South West Port Phillip

5. Clause 1.4.12(c) 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

6. Clause 1.3.7(c) of Schedule 1 – 5 knot speed restriction of South East Port Phillip

7. Clause 1.3.12(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

Subject to the conditions detailed below:

· Masters of rescue vessels (including personal watercraft) are only exempt from 1 to 4 & 6 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

· Masters of rescue personal watercraft are exempt from items 5 & 7 for the duration of the event

· Occupants of all rescue vessels (including personal watercraft) and rescue paddle craft involved with the event must wear a lifejacket at all times during the event, and vessels and craft must have all prescribed safety equipment

· Life Saving Victoria vessels are exempt from specified safety equipment as outlined in Exemption Notice 1, if operating in accordance with the ‘Exemptions for Life Saving Victoria vessels’

· The exemptions apply from 1.00pm to 3.30pm on Saturday 7 February 2026 (back up date Sunday 8 February 2026), to the vessels and craft listed within the event application who are participating in The Rip Swim event on the waters of Port Phillip from Point Nepean to Point Lonsdale front beach

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

· 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

By order of Parks Victoria
Dated: 02/02/26