Declaration of Boarding Activity Exemption

On Display Indefinitely

PUBLIC NOTICE

DECLARATION OF BOATING ACTIVITY EXEMPTION

Loddon Shire Council as the declared waterway manager for the 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 the Bridgewater Football and Netball Club, persons and vessels involved in the Bridgewater Triathlon are exempt from the following requirements:

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 meters of another vessel;
  3. Clause 3(a) – 5 knots within 50 metres of the waters’ edge; and
  4. Clause 3(b) – 5 knots within 50 metres of a fixed or floating structure.

     

    Waterway Rules made under the Marine Safety Act 2010 / Marine Act 1988

  5. Clause 62.2 of Schedule 62 – 5 knots within the Exclusive Use and Special Purpose area between Flour Mill Weir and Sweeneys Lane;
  6. Clause 62.4 of Schedule 62 – Area prohibited to bathers during certain times between the Calder Highway Bridge and Sweeneys Lane; and
  7. Clause 62.6 (a) of Schedule 62 – Exclusive Use and Special Purpose ‘Slalom Area’.

 

Subject to the conditions detailed below:

  • The masters of rescue vessels are only exempt from items 1-5 in the above list 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.
  • Any vessels that are designated for the rescue of persons must minimise the risk of propeller strike injury to those in the water by turning off their engine before bringing a person on board.
  • All on-water rescue personnel to wear lifejackets at all times whilst on the water.
  • Competitors are only permitted to swim and are exempt from item 6 within the event exclusion zone.
  • These exemptions apply between the hours of 6:00am to 11:00am on Sunday 2 February 2020 to registered participants and rescue vessels of the Bridgewater Triathlon on the waters of the Loddon River between the Calder Highway Bridge and the main boat ramp at the Bridgewater Public Caravan Park, provided the stated safety controls and undertakings detailed in the Event Application and associated documentation are adhered to.

 

Loddon Shire Council

Dated: 07/01/2020

 

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