New waterway rules are being introduced for Lake Colac that will allow the community to safely enjoy boating, waterskiing and a range of other water-based activities.
Safe Transport Victoria is introducing the new waterway rules following positive feedback received during community consultation about the changes.
The existing 5-knot limit in place across the lake is being replaced with a new 5-knot limit that applies within 200 metres of the shoreline.
Vessels will only be permanently prohibited from three small areas of the lake: near the rifle range and close to another two areas of waterway infrastructure.
Signage outlining the new rules and buoys showing the 200-metre limit from shore and Vessel Prohibited areas have already been installed in and around the lake.
The new waterway rules will also improve long-term boating safety by setting out different boating rules for times when the lake’s water levels are low, which allows Safe Transport Victoria to easily adjust waterway rules to match environmental conditions.
The new waterway rules will apply from 11 December 2024. Community members can read precise details of the new waterway rules on the Safe Transport Victoria website at: https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/
Quote attributable to Simon Farrar, Director Safety Operations, Safe Transport Victoria:
“We’re delighted to introduce new waterway rules for Lake Colac so the community can safely enjoy a greater range of boating activity.”
“We’ve listened to the community and have put waterway rules in place to cater for all lake users.”
“As Victoria’s safety regulator for recreational boating, we’ve worked with relevant authorities to ensure recreational boating can be done safely.”