Marine Safety Act 2010
Section 208(2)
NOTICE OF BOATING ACTIVITY EXCLUSION ZONE
Gippsland and Southern Rural Water as the declared waterway manager for the waters of Melton Reservoir hereby gives notice under section 208(2) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic) that all persons and vessels not registered to take part in the Melton Gold Cup 2024 are prohibited from entering and remaining in the following waters.
Waters of Melton Reservoir – Entire Reservoir
The exclusion zone will be in effect from 7:00am Friday 16 February 2024 to 9:00pm on Sunday 18 February 2024.
Edward Smith
Manager Headworks Operations
Gippsland and Southern Rural Water
Dated: 15/01/2024
PUBLIC NOTICE
DECLARATION OF BOATING ACTIVITY EXEMPTION
Gippsland and Southern Rural Water as the declared waterway manager for the waters of Melton Reservoir, makes the following declaration under section 203(3) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic).
For the purposes of boating activity conducted by the Melbourne Runabout & Speedboat Club, persons and vessels involved in the Melton Gold Cup 2024 are exempt from the following requirements:
State Rules made under the Marine Act 1988
- Clause 2(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of a person in the water
- Clause 2(c) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of another vessel
- Clause 3(b) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of a fixed or floating structure
Waterway Rules made under the Marine Safety Act 2010 / Marine Act 1988
- Clause 150.3 of Schedule 150 – area prohibited to vessels adjacent to the reservoir retaining wall
Marine Safety Regulations 2023
- Regulation 44(2)(b) – holders of Restricted Marine Licences to operate a vessel at a speed not exceeding 10 knots
Modification
Item 6 A lifejacket of a type described in Part 2 & 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 lifejacket or a Type 1 lifejacket if it complies with the current Australian Power Boat Association (APBA) Rule Book – rule 801.
Subject to the conditions detailed below:
- Masters of rescue vessels are only exempt from items 1 to 3 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.
- Masters of competing vessels are only exempt from items 2 and 3 for the duration of the event.
- Masters of all vessels are only exempt from item 4 in the above list for the duration of the event, provided all vessels maintain a minimum speed necessary for navigation when in this area.
- Occupants of competing vessels must wear a Level 100 plus or Type 1 Lifejacket that complies with the MSRs or item 6 Modification.
- Competing APBA vessels are exempt from the carriage of specified safety equipment as per Exemption Notice 1, when under the supervision of the APBA and the racing event is conducted in accordance with the Racing and Safety Rules of that Association providing the master and any occupants wear a Lifejacket compliant with the MSRs or Rule 801 of the APBA Rule Book.
- All persons on course and rescue vessels involved with the event must always wear a lifejacket during the event (exception for Rescue Divers wearing thermal wet suits with positive buoyancy) and must have all prescribed safety equipment.
- Masters of Formula Future class vessels holding a Restricted Marine Licence are only exempt from item 5 provided they have completed the training required by APBA Victoria as detailed in the Formula Future Safety Management Plan and hold the appropriate APBA Formula Future licence, and must not exceed the following speeds:
- J1 class – 19 knots
- J2 class – 33 knots
- J3 class – 40 knots
- 25hp class – 47 knots
- F4 class – 60 knots.
- All interstate vessel masters in Formula Future classes must hold the appropriate APBA Formula Future licence and have documented proof they have competed in at least 3 events (9 races) in their home state before competing at an event in Victoria. Should they not provide this proof they must complete the training required by APBA Victoria as detailed in the Formula Future Safety Management Plan.
- In the event of any injuries which result in hospitalisation, a fatality or an incident involving a person or vessel not involved in the event, these must be immediately reported to Victoria Police and Safe Transport Victoria (ST Vic). In the case of all other incidents ST Vic requires incident reports within seven (7) days and a finalised report within 30 days.
- The exemptions apply provided the stated safety controls and undertakings detailed in the application form and associated documentation are adhered to.
- The exemptions apply from 7:00am Friday 16 February 2024 to 9:00pm on Sunday 18 February 2024 within the exclusion zone waters of Melton Reservoir.
Edward Smith
Manager Headworks Operations
Southern Rural Water
Dated: 14/12/2023