No longer on display. Expired on
27 January 2025, 12:01 AM
DECLARATION OF BOATING ACTIVITY EXEMPTION
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 2025 Australian Masters Waterski Championships 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
Waterway Rules made under the Marine Safety Act 2010 / Marine Act 1988
2. 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
3. Clause 62.6(a) of Schedule 62 – Exclusive Use and Special Purpose Area for Slalom and Ski Jumping - modified to allow for trick skiing
4. Clause 62.7(d) of Schedule 62 – operating times for the Exclusive Use and Special Purpose Area for ‘Water Skiing’
Marine Safety Regulations 2023
5. Regulation 66(3) – persons on vessels must wear a lifejacket of type specified at all times when underway on inland waters
6. Regulation 69 – a person being towed must wear a lifejacket.
7. 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 towing and rescue vessels are only exempt from item 1 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 and distance rules at all other times.
- Masters of towing vessels are only exempt from items 2 to 4 for the duration of the events.
- ‘Trick’ skiers being towed are only exempt from items 5 & 6 provided they wear a bright coloured top.
- Masters of towing vessels are only exempt from item 7 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 vessel over 4.8 metres or exempt from items 5 or 6 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 8:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday 25 to Monday 27 January 2025, to persons and vessels registered to participate in the 2025 Australian Masters Water Ski Championships, within the exclusion zone waters – Loddon River, between the Calder Highway Bridge and the boat ramp at Sweeney’s Lane.
- The exemptions apply provided the stated safety controls and undertakings detailed in the application form and associated documentation are adhered to.
Loddon Shire Council
Dated: 6 January 2025