No longer on display. Expired on
16 December 2024, 12:01 AM
Loddon Shire Council as the declared waterway manager for Loddon River (at Bridgewater between Flour Mill Weir and Sweeneys Lane), makes the following declaration under section 203(3) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic).
For the purposes of boating activity conducted by Bridgewater Water Ski Club Inc. persons and vessels involved in the 2024 Victorian Malibu Series stop 2 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
Waterway Rules made under the Marine Safety Act 2010 / Marine Act 1988
3. Clause 62.2 of Schedule 62 – 5 knot speed restriction within waters not specified as Exclusive Use and Special Purpose Areas between Flour Mill Weir and Sweeney’s Lane.
4. Clause 62.6(a) of Schedule 62 – Exclusive Use and Special Purpose Area for Slalom and Ski Jumping - modified to allow for trick skiing.
5. Clause 62.7(d) of Schedule 62 – operating times for the Exclusive Use and Special Purpose Area for ‘Water Skiing’.
Marine Safety Regulations 2023
6. Regulation 66(3) – Persons on vessels must wear a lifejacket of type specified at all times when underway on inland waters
7. Regulation 69 – A person being towed must wear a lifejacket.
8. Regulation 70 – Master of vessel must ensure occupants wear a lifejacket and must not allow the vessel to be operated unless persons onboard when underway or being towed wear a lifejacket
Subject to the conditions detailed below:
- Masters of participating vessels are only exempt from items 1 & 2 when undertaking rescue responsibilities 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 participating vessels are only exempt from items 3-5 for the duration of the events.
- Water skiers are only exempt from item 6 & 7 when participating in trick skiing activities, provided they wear a bright coloured top.
- Masters of participating vessels are only exempt from item 8 when towing water skiers who are participating in trick events and when retrieving water skiers who are participating in trick events and exempt from wearing a lifejacket.
- All persons on vessels and skiers associated with the event must wear a lifejacket (unless exempt from item 7 in accordance with these conditions), and vessels must have all prescribed safety equipment, including rescue vessels.
- Should vessels or persons not involved in the event enter the exclusion zone, the event must be stopped until the unauthorised vessel or person has moved outside of the zone.
- These exemptions apply from 7:00am and 7:00pm on 14-15 December 2024 on the waters of Loddon River, within the exclusion zone waters from the Calder Highway Bridge and the boat ramp at Sweeneys Lane.
- The exemptions apply provided the stated safety controls and undertakings detailed in the application form and associated documentation are adhered to
By order of Loddon Shire Council
Dated: 22 November 2024