INTRODUCTION

Legislative framework 1
About Maritime Safety Victoria 1
Maritime definitions  2
Definitions of waterways 4
Maps showing coastal, enclosed and inland
waters in Victoria  6
DEFINITIONS OF WATERWAYS

The following definitions of waterways are adopted in this handbook to provide

guidance regarding the minimum safety equipment that you are required to carry for
each type of waterway.

Term Meaning
Inland waters Rivers (inside the seaward entrance), creeks, canals, lakes,
reservoirs and any similar waters either naturally formed or
man-made and which are either publicly or privately owned but
does not include any navigable rivers, creeks or streams within
declared port waters.
Enclosed waters (a) The declared port waters inside the seaward entrance of
the following local ports:
(i) the Port of Apollo Bay
(ii) the Port of Anderson Inlet
(iii) the Port of Gippsland Lakes
(iv) the Port of Snowy River
(v) the Port of Mallacoota
(vi) the Port of Port Fairy
(b) The declared port waters of the Port of Barwon Heads
upstream of the Barwon Heads–Ocean Grove road bridge
(c) The declared port waters of the Port of Corner Inlet and
Port Albert east of a line between Port Welshpool shipping
pier and Bentley Point (inside the entrances)
(d) The waters of Shallow Inlet
(e) The declared port waters inside the entrance of the
Port of Portland
(f) The declared port waters of the Port of Port Phillip
(g) The waters of Western Port landward of its western
entrance joined by a straight line drawn between West Head
to the southern tip of Seal Rocks to Point Grant and landward
of its eastern entrance joined by an imaginary line drawn
between Cape Woolamai and Griffith Point as shown on the
chart AUS 150 Australia - South Coast – Victoria - Western
Port, published by the Australian Hydrographic Service from
time to time

4> VICTORIAN RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY HANDBOOK

Term Meaning
Enclosed waters (cont.) (h) The waters between the seaward entrance of Tamboon Inlet
and the northerly boundary of a straight line drawn between
Flanders track and the creek on the eastern side of the Inlet
(i) The waters between the seaward entrance of Wingan Inlet
and the northerly boundary of a straight line drawn between
Rocky Creek and the bank directly opposite to the west
(j) The waters between the seaward entrance of Sydenham Inlet
and the mouth of the Bemm River.
Coastal waters All waters other than inland waters or enclosed waters.

Designated hazardous (a) Port Phillip Heads, or

area (b) Any area of State waters declared by the Safety Director.

VICTORIAN RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY HANDBOOK < 5

MAPS SHOWING COASTAL, ENCLOSED AND INLAND
WATERS IN VICTORIA
The following waterways are recognised
as Victorian waters for the purposes of
transport safety legislation:
• the waters of Ovens River south of the
Murray Valley Highway Bridge
• the waters of Lake Hume downstream
of the Bethanga Bridge
• the waters contained within the Victorian
border of the lower Glenelg River.
Those waters of the Murray River, Lake
Mulwala and Lake Hume not listed above
are within New South Wales jurisdiction.
Operators are advised that NSW legislation
applies on these waters. Contact NSW Roads
& Maritime Services on (02) 9563 8557 or
visit www.maritime.nsw.gov.au.
The specific operating rules for each
Victorian waterway are set out in the
Vessel Operating and Zoning Rules for
Victorian Waters (VOZR). An up to date
copy of the rules can be accessed on the
Transport Safety Victoria website at
www.transportsafety.vic.gov.au.

PORT OF PORTLAND
BREAKW PORTLAND BAY
ATER
ATER

PORTLAND HARBOUR
AKW
BRE

PORTLAND

ROAD BRIDGE

PORT OF PORTLAND

• Strong tides, currents and dangerous waves may exist where enclosed
waters meet coastal waters
• Enclosed waters sealed off from coastal waters may break out causing
extremely dangerous conditions
• An anchor and flares must be carried when boating in enclosed waters
• Check conditions prior to departure.

6> VICTORIAN RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY HANDBOOK

PORT OF PORT FAIRY

FOOT BRIDGE
PORT FAIRY BAY

BA
TT
ER
MO YH
YN ILL
PORT FAIRY ER
IVE
R

GRIFFITHS
ISLAND

PORT OF PORT FAIRY

WARRNAMBOOL
LAKE
PERTOBE FLAGSTAFF HILL

LADY BAY

WARRNAMBOOL
MERRI
RIVER
R
ATE
EAKW
BR

MIDDLE ISLAND BREAKWATER ROCK

Coastal waters Enclosed waters Inland waters

Refer to pages 44-49 of this handbook to identify safety equipment

requirements for these waters.
Further information and maps regarding Victorian waterways
may be found at www.transportsafety.vic.gov.au.

VICTORIAN RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY HANDBOOK < 7

MAPS SHOWING COASTAL, ENCLOSED AND INLAND
WATERS IN VICTORIA
BARWON HEADS

ROAD SH
WA

ER
SHEEP

BARWON COAST

RIV
ON
RW
BARWON HEADS INGAMELLS
BA

BAY
OCEAN GROVE ROAD BRIDGE POINT
FLINDERS

BASS STRAIT (PORT PHILLIP AND WESTERNPORT)

MELBOURNE
HOBSON’S
BAY

PORT PHILLIP
AND WESTERN PORT
GEELONG PORT PHILLIP
CORIO
BAY
BELLARINE
PENINSULA
A
UL
NS

RM

THE HEADS
NI

NORTH A
PE

FRENCH
ON

ISLAND
GT
IN
RN

CHANNEL
MO

PHILLIP EAST
N

BASS
ER

STRAIT ISLAND ARM

ST
WE

• Strong tides, currents and dangerous waves may exist where enclosed
waters meet coastal waters
• Enclosed waters sealed off from coastal waters may break out causing
extremely dangerous conditions
• An anchor and flares must be carried when boating in enclosed waters
• Check conditions prior to departure.

8> VICTORIAN RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY HANDBOOK

MELBOURNE AND PORT PHILLIP

BRIDGE
BOLTE
MELBOURNE

ER
IV
YARRA R
PORT
MELBOURNE

ALBERT
PARK
HOBSON’S
BAY

WILLIAMSTOWN MELBOURNE AND

PORT PHILLIP
ST KILDA
BREAKWATER PIER
PIER

ANDERSON INLET

INVERLOCH

POINT
NORMAN

ANDERSON
PO INLET
INT
SM
YT
HE

VENUS BAY
VENUS
BAY

ANDERSON INLET

Coastal waters Enclosed waters Inland waters

Refer to pages 44-49 of this handbook to identify safety equipment

requirements for these waters.
Further information and maps regarding Victorian waterways
may be found at www.transportsafety.vic.gov.au.

VICTORIAN RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY HANDBOOK < 9

MAPS SHOWING COASTAL, ENCLOSED AND INLAND
WATERS IN VICTORIA
SHALLOW INLET

CORNER INLET

SANDY POINT

SHALLOW
INLET

WARATAH BAY
WILSONS PROMONTORY
NATIONAL PARK

SHALLOW INLET

CORNER INLET AND PORT ALBERT

CORNER
BASIN

BASS
STRAIT PORT
ALBERT
ET
PORT INL SHOAL INLET
CHANNE HO AL ENTRANCE
WELSHPORT E L S
IDG
MIDDLE GROU M SUNDAY KATE KEARNEY
.
RT CH

LT. SNAKE ND ISLAND ENTRANCE

ISLAND CHANNE
L
BE
AL

SNAKE PORT ALBERT

RT

ISLAND ENTRANCE
PO

CO
RN BENTLEY
ER POINT
INL
ET CORNER INLET
ENTRANCE BASS STRAIT AND PORT ALBERT
POINT

• Strong tides, currents and dangerous waves may exist where enclosed
waters meet coastal waters
• Enclosed waters sealed off from coastal waters may break out causing
extremely dangerous conditions
• An anchor and flares must be carried when boating in enclosed waters
• Check conditions prior to departure.

10 > VICTORIAN RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY HANDBOOK

LAKES ENTRANCE

BAIRNSDALE

LAKE
GIPPSLAND LAKES KING

LAKES
ENTRANCE

IA
OR
VICT
KE
LA
LAKE BASS
WELLINGTON STRAIT

SNOWY RIVER

LAKE
CORRINGLE

MARLO
SNOW
Y RIVER
SNOWY RIVER NINETY MILE BEACH

Coastal waters Enclosed waters Inland waters

Refer to pages 44-49 of this handbook to identify safety equipment

requirements for these waters.
Further information and maps regarding Victorian waterways
may be found at www.transportsafety.vic.gov.au.

VICTORIAN RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY HANDBOOK < 11

MAPS SHOWING COASTAL, ENCLOSED AND INLAND
WATERS IN VICTORIA
SYDENHAM INLET & TAMBOON INLET

CANN RIVER
BEMM RIVER

TAMBOON
INLET
MUD LAKE PELICAN POINT
SYDENHAM INLET

SYDENHAM INLET TAMBOON INLET

BASS STRAIT

WINGAN INLET MALLACOOTA

TOP LAKE MAXWELL

POINT
DORRAN
BIGHT
MALLACOOTA
LAKE HOWE
BIGHT
STINGRAY POINT

MALLACOOTA
MALLACOOTA
WINGAN INLET BASTION POINT INLET TASMAN
SEA

MALLACOOTA

Coastal waters Enclosed waters Inland waters

Refer to pages 44-49 of this handbook to identify safety equipment

requirements for these waters.
Further information and maps regarding Victorian waterways
may be found at www.transportsafety.vic.gov.au.

12 > VICTORIAN RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY HANDBOOK