Public Notices

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

Declaration of Boating Activity Exemptions and Set Aside Determination

Event name:

IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong

Date/time of event:

6:30am to 9:25am on 22 March 2026

Location:

Local Port of Port Phillip - Corio Bay

Details:

PUBLIC NOTICE

DECLARATION OF BOATING ACTIVITY EXEMPTION

Parks Victoria as the declared waterway manager for 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 USM Events Pty Ltd T/A IRONMAN Australia, persons and vessels involved in the Ironman 70.3 Geelong 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

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

5. Clause 19(a) – an observer must be used when towing a person

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

6. Clause 1.4.7 of Schedule 1 – 5 knot speed restriction zones: waters of South West Port Phillip within 200 metres of the waters’ edge

7. 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 a boat ramp or berthing facility (including a jetty, pier or mooring), whilst operating within designated 5 knot speed restriction zones.

Marine Safety Regulations 2023

8. Regulation 60 – Master must not engage in towing unless an observer is on board

9. Regulation 61(4) – Master requirement to carry lifejacket on vessel on enclosed waters for each person onboard (or being towed)

10. Regulation 66(2) – person must wear a lifejacket of type specified at all times when underway on enclosed waters

11. Regulation 70 – Master must ensure all occupants wear a lifejacket

Subject to the conditions detailed below:

· Masters of rescue vessels (including personal watercraft (PWC) support/rescue vessels) are only exempt from items 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 and must adhere to speed, distance and PWC riding rules at all other times

· Masters of PWC rescue vessels are only exempt from item 7 for the duration of the event and items 5 & 8-11 when operating solo and retrieving or rescuing a person during the event without a lifejacket from the water

· Occupants of powered rescue vessels (including PWC support/rescue vessels) involved with the event must wear a lifejacket at all times during the event must have all prescribed safety equipment

· The above exemptions apply from 6:30am to 9.30am Sunday 22 March 2026 within the Set Aside waters at Eastern Beach, Corio Bay Geelong

· The above 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: 19/02/2026

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 of 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 6.30am to 9.30am Sunday 22^nd March 2026.

Signed at Melbourne

by Sarah Auld

Acting Director Maritime and Waterways

on 19 February 2026

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 swimmers competing in the Ironman 70.3 Geelong.	Those areas off Corio Bay, Eastern Beach, Geelong as indicated by the attached map in a triangular area bounded by the following approximate locations (WGS84), from 6.30am to 9.30am Sunday 22^nd March 2026 1. 38°08.791’S, 144°22.1888’E 2. 38°08.362’S, 144°22.2638’E 3. 38° 08.804'S, 144° 22.264'E	Mariners are required to avoid the competition area during the Set Aside period and follow the direction of event marshals and safety personnel.

By order of Parks Victoria
Dated: 19/02/26