Public Notices

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 Williamstown Swimming and Lifesaving Club, persons and vessels involved in the 2026 Williamstown Open Water WOW swim 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 4(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 200 metres of the water’s edge

4. Clause 4(b) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of a wharf, jetty, slipway, diving platform or boat ramp

5. Clause 1.5.7 of Schedule 1 – 5 knot speed restriction zone within 200 metres of the waters’ edge at Williamstown Beach

6. Clause 1.5.9(b) of Schedule 1 – areas prohibited to vessels off Williamstown Beach\

7. Clause 1.5.12 (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 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 item 6 for the duration of the event

• Masters of PWC rescue vessels are exempt from item 7 for the duration of the event and must not exceed 5 knots when operating within designated 5 knot speed restriction zones, unless undertaking a rescue operation

• Masters of mechanically powered LSV vessels up to and including 4.8 metres in length (excluding PWCs) are exempt from the carriage of specified safety equipment whilst within visual range of a staffed lifesaving facility or flagged area, as per the Exemptions for Life Saving Victoria vessels in Exemption Notice 1

• All occupants of powered vessels involved with the event must wear a lifejacket at all times during the event and vessels must have all prescribed safety equipment, unless exempt under Exemption Notice 1

• The exemptions apply from 7:00am to 2:00pm on Sunday 1 March 2026 (back-up date Monday 2 March 2026) to the persons and vessels participating in the 2026 WOW Swim within the Set Aside waters off Williamstown Beach

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