This form is to be completed by persons who propose to conduct a waterway event/ boating activity on Safe Transport Victoria managed waters or unmanaged waters and who wish to apply for either an exemption or an exclusion zone and exemption or modification from the application of provisions of the:

    • Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic);
    • Marine Safety Regulations 2012 (Vic);
    • State waterway rules; or
    • Regulations made under the Port Management Act 1995 (Vic).

Safe Transport Victoria can only issue boating activity exemptions and exclusion zones in relation to the operation of vessels on waters under its control or unmanaged waters.

In order for Safe Transport Victoria to meet the requirements under the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic), including assessment, government gazette and newspaper notices, you must lodge a complete application and associated documents at least three weeks before an event – It’s recommended you apply six weeks before an event.

If you are conducting a series of events at different waterways, you may need to complete a separate application form for each waterway to address the safety issues for each individual location.

As part of your application you will need to provide an assessment of safety risks associated with the boating activity exemption or modification and the proposed risk controls to be implemented to eliminate or reduce those safety risks. Your application cannot be considered without a risk assessment.

Also, as part of your application you will need to provide supporting documents. Your application cannot be considered until you have provided:

    • A waterway map showing, the area of the event, all proposed exclusion zones, safety distances between area of use, shore, infrastructure, direction of traffic, type and location of all infrastructure including markers/ buoys, boat ramps, moored infrastructure and moored vessels and emergency access from the water.The map cannot be hand drawn. Maps must show relevant infrastructure and reference Lat/Long coordinates to WGS84.
    • Fireworks fall-out zones and Work Cover approvals. If fireworks are proposed at the event, you must also provide on the waterway map (or a separate map), details of the fireworks fall out zones showing minimum separation distances for detonation of fireworks in accordance with reg 155 of the Dangerous Goods (Explosive) Regulations 2011 (Vic) and a copy of the Work Cover approvals.
    • Safety Management Plan (SMP). If the event is operating under the rules/safety management plan of a national or state recognised body, a copy of the rules or SMP if you have not already provided it to Safe Transport Victoria within the last 12 months.
    • If you have a program/running sheet of the event including set up and breakdown, and an emergency plan you should also attach these (optional).

You must have a minimum of $20M public liability insurance coverage for the event

You must have a cancellation policy outlining when the event will be cancelled if the safety risks are deemed to high for the event to go ahead or continue.

There is no fee to lodge this from.

 

Application for Event Boating Activity Exemptions and Exclusion Zones

Applicant details

What type of applicant are you?(Required)

Address

Business address(Required)
Postal address(Required)

Contact details

Event details

Date/s of event/s at this waterway(Required)
Note: If you are conducting events at different waterways, you may need to complete a separate application form for each waterway and address the safety issues for each individual location. If this is the case you will be notified by Safe Transport Victoria
Start date
End date
Start time (include set up and specify am or pm)
End time (include set up and specify am or pm)
 
Type of activity at this event (choose all that apply)(Required)
For example number of participants expected, type of competition/racing, length/duration, maximum number on the water/course at any one time, level of participants expertise (eg, novice), different classes of vessels, etc

Exclusion zones

Are you seeking an exclusion zone for any part of the waterway where your event will be held?(Required)
Please note, an exclusion zone can only be established in conjunction with an exemption.
(i.e. type and quantity of signs/markers)

Exemptions/modifications for waterway

Vessel operating and zoning rules(Required)
Are you applying for exemptions or modifications to the State waterway rules or specific Scheduled waterway rules as detailed in the Vessel Operating & Zoning Rules for the waterway?

Vessels travelling at speeds greater than 5 knots
Exemption/modification/substitution sought

Inland waters
Exemption/modification/substitution sought

Coastal waters/ enclosed waters
Exemption/modification/substitution sought

Vessels towing a person
Exemption/modification/substitution sought

Exemption/modification/substitution sought

Scheduled Waterway Rules (at the waterway where activity is being held)

(e.g. Clause #.# – area restricted to 5 knot speed limit)

Safety equipment

Safety equipment(Required)
Are you applying for exemptions or modifications for carrying recreational vessel safety equipment?

Lifejackets
Exemption/modification/substitution sought

Minimum safety equipment for inland, enclosed and all coastal waters
Exemption/modification/substitution sought

Other (please specify)
Exemption/modification/substitution sought

Other legislation

Are you seeking any other exemptions, modifications or substitutions besides the vessel operating and zoning rules and safety equipment, such as Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic), Marine Safety Regulations 2023 (Vic) or regulations made under the Port Management Act 1995 (Vic)?(Required)

Exemption/modification/substitution sought

Exemption/modification/substitution sought

Exemption/modification/substitution sought

Exemption/modification/substitution sought

Previous history

Has this activity/event been held previously?(Required)
Is it an annual event?
19. Have there been any marine safety incidents in previous events? (Such as collision, capsize, injury, involved emergency response)

Risk assessment and risk management

National or State recognised body - Safety Management Plan(Required)
Is this event operating under the rules/safety management plan (SMP) of a national or state recognised body? (e.g. Yachting Australia, Rowing Victoria, Australian Power Boat Association)
Are there any amendments to these rules/SMP for this event?(Required)
Water infrastructure(Required)
During this event will there be any infrastructure installed on water for this event? (e.g. buoys, pontoons, moored vessels, markers, etc)
What rescue, emergency and first aid services will be provided for this event? Provide details of the number, type (e.g. 2 rescue boats, 2 qualified first aid officers, 1 paramedic) and how they will be identified.
What criteria was used to determine the type and number of rescue, emergency and first aid services provided? For example the number rescue vessels required to reach a number of people in the water at any one time, severity of injuries.
What communication systems will you have to communicate with participants, event marshals, safety boats, the public, emergency services and other vessel operators?
What measures will you implement if the communication systems (including emergency alarm) fail?
What would trigger the suspension or cancellation of the activity/event and who is the person(s) responsible to make that decision? Indicate the trigger points such as wind strength, wave height, visibility or other measureable factors.
Will this event have fireworks?

Risk assessment

Risk Assessment

  1. Identify and consider each of the hazards/risks associated with the works. What can happen, how it can happen given a number of different circumstances, or in conjunction with another hazard?
  2. Identify the Likelihood of each hazard/risk occurring. Is it Almost Certain, Likely, Moderate, Unlikely or Rare? Identify what the Consequence would be. Would it be Insignificant, Minor, Moderate, Major or Catastrophic?
  3. Match the Likelihood score and the Consequence score to determine the Risk Rating. Is it High, Significant, Moderate or Low? Any identified Risk Rating in the Moderate, Significant or High categories require some form of control measure to reduce the risk.
  4. Identify and record the control measures that are already in place to reduce the level of risk associated with the hazard and determine if any additional controls are required to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. Include both preventative controls (to prevent a hazard from occurring) and mitigating controls (to reduce the degree of harm in the event of a hazard or incident occurring). Ensure that the number and effectiveness of controls reflect the level of risk.
  5. Re-assess the risk rating for each identified hazard/risk taking into account the specified control measures.

Likelihood (L)

Likelihood Description Score
Almost Certain Event expected to occur (5) High (15 - 25)
Likely Event may occur (4) Significant (10 - 14)
Moderate Event may occur once in 3 events (3) Moderate (5 - 9)
Unlikely Event may occur once in 10 events (2) Low (1 - 4)
Rare Event occurs only in exceptional circumstance (1) Low (1 - 4)

Consequence (C)

Consequence Description Score
Insignificant First aid (1) Low (1 - 4)
Minor Medical treatment (2) Low (1 - 4)
Moderate Hospitalisation (3) Moderate (5 - 9)
Major Single death/ multiple injuries (4) Moderate (5 - 9)
Catastrophic Multiple deaths (5) High (15 - 25)
Risk Examples Form

Examples of Some Risks

Examples of some of the risks may include:
  • Collision: Collision between: vessel/vessel, vessel/structure, vessel/bank, vessel/person, fixed or floating object, overhead obstruction/wires, submerged object.
  • Person overboard.
  • Capsize/swamping.
  • Vessel Failure: Catastrophic failure, (loss of steering or power) that may result in harm to occupants of vessel, other vessels or onlookers – consider speed of vessels.
  • Fire: Vessels and water infrastructure.
  • Propeller Injury: Injury to a participant from a vessel’s propeller.
  • Debris in water causing hazard to other participants, users or vessels.
  • Low light restricted visibility: Event to be conducted in low light/visibility, twilight or dark. Consider requirement for navigation lights, impact on rescue.
  • Black water restricted visibility: Consider potential that the water turbidity, colour or available daylight might prevent seeing someone in the water or under the surface.
  • Delay to event causing impact on exclusion zone/event area: Consider potential that the event may be delayed or run overtime, be late to start, or be required to pause for unanticipated activities. Consider the likely impact on safety of the event.
  • Unregistered vessels or unlicensed operators: The potential that unregistered vessels or unlicensed operators of powered vessels will be present.
  • Un-official Vessels/swimmers: Large crowds expected on the banks/waters edge Vessels or swimmers/spectators not involved in the event to enter the area where the event is to be held.
Hazard/Risk(Required)
Identify, record and assess the hazards and risks to safety specific to this activity/event
Initial likelihood (score 1 - 5)
Initial consequence (score 1 - 5)
Initial risk rating (likelihood score x consequence score)
 
Preventative controls(Required)
List control measures in place to prevent a hazard from occurring
Revised likelihood (score 1 - 5)
Revised consequence (score 1 - 5)
Revised risk rating (likelihood score x consequence score)
 
Mitigating controls(Required)
List control measures to reduce the degree of harm in the event of an incident occurring
 
What is the amount of public liability insurance coverage you hold for this event? (minimum $20M)

Attachments

As part of the application you must attach the following supporting documentation:

Waterway map Hand drawn and incomplete maps will not be considered. The map must show relevant infrastructure and reference Lat/Long coordinates to WGS84 (dd/mm/sss). The map must also show:

  • the area of the event.
  • all exclusion zones required.
  • all safety distances between area of use, shore, infrastructure.
  • direction of traffic.
  • type and location of all infrastructure including Markers/ buoys, boat ramps, moored infrastructure and moored vessels.
  • emergency access from the water.

If fireworks are proposed at the event, you must also provide:

  • On the waterway map (or a separate map), details of the fireworks fall out zones (FX only) showing minimum separation distances for loading/transportation and detonation of fireworks in accordance with the Dangerous Goods (Explosive) Regulations 2011 (reg 155).
  • A copy of the Work Cover approvals.

If the event is operating under the rules/safety management plan (SMP) of a national or state recognised body you must also provide:

  • A copy of the rules/safety management plan if you have not already provided to TSV within the last 12 months.

Cancellation policy
If you have not provided your cancellation policy at question 23, attach it as a separate document.

Optional documents to support your application:

  • Full program/running sheet of the event including set up and breakdown.
  • A copy of your emergency plan.
Max. file size: 100 MB.

Declaration and signature

Declaration(Required)
Date

Safe Transport Victoria collects and holds the personal information provided in this notice to assist the Director, Safe Transport Victoria to administer the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic) and Marine Safety Regulations 2012 (Vic).

Safe Transport Victoria is committed to protecting personal information in accordance with its obligations under the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic) and the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic).

The personal information provided in this notice may be disclosed to other government agencies in accordance with section 306 of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic) and section 177 of the Transport Integration Act 2010 (Vic).

It is an offence under the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic) to give information that is false or misleading in relation to a request to make a waterway rule. The individuals whose personal information is collected on this notice have a right to seek access to this personal information and to seek correction of any error in the personal information held.

All individuals whose personal information is included with this notice should be informed of this fact.