Have your say on Lake Burrumbeet waterway rules

Ballarat community members are invited to have their say on new Lake Burrumbeet waterway rules.  

The City of Ballarat is updating the rules that apply to all waterway users of Lake Burrumbeet. This will bring usage in line with the Maritime Safety Act 2010, improve safety on the Lake and will ensure a fairer and more enjoyable usage for all.  

The rules and an interactive map have now been published on the City of Ballarat My Say website, and the community is encouraged to provide their feedback through the map’s drop and drag tools and the survey. 

The four-week consultation period on the rule changes will be open until Friday 27 November 2020. 

Here is a list of the rule changes: 

• Access points - The entry ramp west of the Lake Burrumbeet Ski and Boat Club will be retained with an access lane to the east of the ramp. Changes include closure of a current ramp considered unsafe and a boat size limit placed on a smaller ramp to comply with the Marine Safety Act 2010. 

• Speed limits - A new 40-knot limit is proposed in the southern section for tow-sports such as water-skiing, wakeboarding and jet skis towing skiers, tubes and biscuits, and a 5-knot limit in the northern section to provide a safe area for activities such as canoeing, fishing and wind powered vessels. This mostly reflects current practice, as there are large areas of shallow waters in the northern section, as well as obstacles such as submerged rocks and trees that can be dangerous to fast vessels. 

• Water levels - Informal rules regarding water level variation are being introduced as official rules. When lake levels are less than 1.7m the whole lake will be subject to a 5-knot speed restriction, except where vessels are prohibited. When lake levels are less than 1.2m all vessels will be prohibited. 

• Prohibited areas - There are no changes to areas which are prohibited to vessels at all times. The existing prohibited areas protect users from shallow waters, submerged rocks and trees which can be dangerous to lake users. 

For more information on the project and to have your say visit mySay