Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

DECLARATION OF BOATING ACTIVITY EXEMPTION

Parks Victoria as the declared waterway manager for the Patterson River, upstream of the Nepean Highway Bridge to Eumemmering Creek (including the National Water Sports Centre), makes the following declaration under section 203(3) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic).

For the purposes of boating activity conducted by the Victorian Drag Boat Club Inc (VDBC), persons and vessels involved in the Victorian Drag Boat Series 2023-24 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 meters 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.Regulations 61(5) & 62(1) – Master requirement to carry listed safety equipment on vesselon inland waters (bucket with lanyard, waterproof buoyant torch and paddle) and carrysuitable portable fire extinguisher(s) onboard.

For the purpose of boating activities conducted by Victorian Drag Boat Club (VDBC) involving enclosed cockpit and capsule vessel drivers, a lifejacket of a type described in Parts 2 to 5 of “Schedule 1 - Types of Lifejackets”, of the Marine Safety Regulations 2023 (MSRs) is modified to include a lifejacket is deemed a Level 100 plus, Level 50 or Level 50S lifejacket if competitor complies with rule 9.8 of the current VDBC Official Racing Rule Book.

Subject to the conditions detailed below:

•Masters of rescue vessels are only exempt from items 1 to 4 when undertaking a rescueoperation to retrieve persons in distress, provide for their initial medical or other needs anddeliver them to a place of safety.

•Masters of competing vessels are only exempt from items 2 to 5 for the duration of theevents.

•Masters of course vessels are only exempt from items 3 & 4 when conducting coursesweeps and adjusting infrastructure when races are not in operation.

•Masters of competing enclosed cockpit and capsule vessels must wear suitable buoyancyand personal safety equipment that complies with rule 9.8 of the current VDBC OfficialRacing Rule Book.

•Persons on all other vessels, including course and rescue vessels involved with the eventmust always wear a Lifejacket during the event, excluding rescue divers.

•Course and rescue vessels must carry all prescribed safety equipment.

•In the event of any incident that results in hospitalisation or fatality involving a person orvessel directly or indirectly involved in the event, these must be immediately reported toVictoria Police and Safe Transport Victoria. In the case of all other incidents, Safe TransportVictoria requires notification within seven days and a finalised incident report within 30 days.

•The exemptions and modification apply from 10:00am – 5:00pm on 15 Oct 2023, 12 Nov2023, 21 Jan 2024, 25 Feb 2024, 28 Apr 2024 & 19 May 2024 within the waters of theNational Water Sport Centre.

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

By order of Parks Victoria 

Dated: 25/09/2023