Declaration of Boating Activity Exemption

Hindmarsh Shire Council as the declared waterway manager for Wimmera River (within the Shire of Hindmarsh), makes the following declaration under section 203(3) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic).

For the purposes of boating activity conducted by the Dimboola Rowing Club, persons and vessels involved in the Dimboola Annual Rowing Regatta & Head of the Wimmera 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
3. Clause 3(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of the water’s edge

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

4. Clause 68.2(c) of Schedule 68 – 5 knot speed restriction on the Wimmera River at Dimboola, Wimmera Street Bridge to Picnic Point.

Subject to the conditions detailed below:

• Masters of competing vessels are only exempt from items 2 to 4 in the above list when competing in the event.
• Masters of event official and rescue vessels are only exempt from items 1 to 4 above 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, and item 4 for the duration of the event.
• Occupants of rescue and powered vessels involved with the event must always wear a lifejacket during the event.
• The event is operating under the auspices of Rowing Victoria, including the Rowing Victoria Safety Management Plan, which meets the criteria of Clause 3 of Exemption Notice 1 made under the Marine Regulations 1999 in respect of the exemption for rowing vessels to not carry or wear a lifejacket.
• The exemptions apply from 7:00am to 6:30pm on Saturday 11 November 2023 within the exclusion zone waters – between the Lloyd Street Boat Ramp and the Wimmera Street Bridge and 7:00am to 2:00pm on Sunday 12 November 2023 within the exclusion zone waters – between Rocky Bend and the Wimmera Street Bridge.
• The exemptions apply provided the stated safety controls and undertakings detailed in the application form and associated documentation are adhered to.