No longer on display. Expired on
10 December 2021, 03:00 PM
Loddon Shire Council as the declared waterway manager for the waters of Loddon River at Bridgewater between Flour Mill Weir and Sweeney’s Lane, makes the following declaration under section 203(3) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic):
For the purpose of conducting the 2021 Bridgewater Ski School to be held from Monday 6 December to Friday 10 December 2021 between the hours of 7:30am to 3:00pm, participants are exempt as follows:
State Rules made under the Marine Act 1988
1. Clause 2(a) – 5 knots within 50 metres of a person in the water.
2. Clause 2(c) – 5 knots within 50 metres of another vessel.
Waterway Rules made under the 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 2012
6. Regulation 103 – person being towed must wear a PFD at all times.
7. Regulation 104(1) – master must not allow the vessel to be operated unless each person onboard wears a PFD.
8. Regulation 104(2) – master must not allow the vessel to tow a person unless the person is wearing a PFD.
9. Regulation 100(3) - the person must wear a PFD (of type specified) at all times when vessel is underway.
EXEMPTION CONDITIONS
• Masters of participating vessels are only exempt from items 1 and 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 and item 9 when participating in trick skiing activities.
• Masters of participating vessels are only exempt from item 8 when towing water skiers who are participating in trick events, and item 7 when retrieving water skiers who are participating in trick events and exempt from wearing a personal flotation device.
• All persons on vessels associated with the event, or participants performing acts which are not ‘Trick’ events, must wear PFDs at all times.
• 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 between 6 December and 10 December 2021 between hours of 7:30am and 3:00pm, to persons and vessels registered to participate in the 2021 Bridgewater Ski School on the Loddon River, within the event area waters between the Calder Highway Bridge and the boat ramp at Sweeney’s Lane, provided the stated safety controls and undertakings detailed in the application form and associated documentation are adhered to.
BY ORDER OF LODDON SHIRE COUNCIL