Parks Victoria: Review of Recreational Boating Zones for Port Phillip and Western Port

The existing Boating Zones in Port Phillip and Western Port can be difficult to understand from the water or land. They have a large number of different types of zones that make them overly complex and do not reflect changing trends in boating activity.

Parks Victoria (PV) as the Local Port Manager of Port Phillip and Western Port, jointly with Marine Safety Victoria (MSV) who oversee the management of recreational boating across Victoria, have reviewed the existing Boating Zones. This was to determine what zone types are required in each local area around Port Phillip and Western Port to allow safe access and use of the coast and waterways.

Following community consultation a standard set of zones and criteria for applying them was devised. Parks Victoria has worked in partnership with MSV and in consultation with the local community to apply these zones across Port Phillip and Western Port.

What are Boating Zones?

Boating Zones are prepared under the Marine Act 1988 with the primary aim of providing a safe environment for water users. They apply conditions of operation and prohibit incompatible uses for safety reasons.
The principles that have been applied during review of the recommendations are that the Boating Zones should be:

Safe
Practical
Easy to identify
Easy to comply with and regulate
Responding to current and anticipated future water uses

Further information on the boating zone review can be obtained by downloading the Boating Zone Information Flyer (published prior to December 08).

What are the recommendations?

Some of the general and more significant recommendations that are made as a result of reviewing each local area include:

The realignment and simplification of zones to provide a more user-friendly arrangement;
Consistently applying a No Boating Zone in front of Life Saving Clubs to provide increased swimmer safety;
The introduction of Kiteboard Operating Areas to allow for the safe operation of the increasingly popular sport;
The removal of 'No Sailboard, 'Sailboards Only', 'No PWC or Sailboards' and 'PWC Only'; zones to reflect changing water uses and duplication with other zones; and
The adjustment of the 5 knot zone between Safety Beach and Blairgowrie from 760m from shore to 500m from shore.

How will the new zones be implemented?

Recommendations are now being finalised following the consideration of community feedback that occured over the 08-09 summer period. Feedback from waterway users has been plentiful and very comprehensive. Parks Victoria and Marine Safety Victoria no longer require submissions regarding the proposed zones.

Parks Victoria will shortly provide final recommendations the Director of Marine Safety.

Following consideration by the Director of Marine Safety Parks Victoria will implement endorsed zones. Works to update buoys, piles and signage will then commence beginning where the current zones are particularly problematic. Implementation will continue over the next couple of years as weather conditions, materials and contractor availability allows.

As works progress Parks Victoria will undertake local and general education campaigns for waterway users. Notices to Mariners will also be issued to advise of new zone arrangements.

Parks Victoria is accountable for the management of the local ports and waterways of Port Phillip and Western Port and will continue to welcome comments on the use of boating zones around Port Phillip and Western Port though out the process outlined above.

For further information please contact the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963 or by email to info@parks.vic.gov.au

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