By ALESHA CAPONE
SAFETY reforms in swimming and boating zones at beaches from Williamstown to Werribee are set to be applied by Parks Victoria.
The environment authority and Transport Safety Victoria recently completed a two-year review of all boating and swimming zones across Port Phillip and Western Port, and will implement their findings across the next two months.
“The new zones will create a safe environment through improved separation of boating and swimming activities in high density bathing areas, and ensure sport and recreational activities such as kite boarding operate legally and safely,” said Parks Victoria maritime manager Wayne Hill.
“The new boating and swimming zones will reduce any confusion over the marking and interpretation of the existing zones.”
Under the changes, swimming and boating zones will be marked with new navigation aids, piles or buoys, in the coming weeks.
Parks Victoria will install signage on shores and on the new aids to clearly show the new zones.
One of the three principal zones they will adopt is ‘swimming only’ where no vessels, such as boats, will be permitted.
The second will be ‘boating only’ where only boats will be allowed and speeds will be limited to five knots within 200 metres from the shore.
The last zone will be a ‘shared zone’ where boating or swimming is allowable with vessel speeds limited to five knots within 200m of the shore.
The term ‘vessel’ refers to all powered and unpowered boats and includes yachts, kite boards, personal water craft like jet-skis and paddle craft.
Further boating and swimming zones will be introduced in stages across Port Phillip and Western Port over the next few years until all Port Phillip and Western Port zones have been updated.
Parks Victoria consulted widely with the community including councils, businesses, boat operators and life-saving clubs when developing the new zones.
For further information about the new boating and swimming zones visit www.parks.vic.gov.au or call the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963.
