Marine notices
Transport for NSW issues safety advice to vessel operators in Marine Notices. Check the Marine Notices before you go boating to see if there are any hazards or special events in the area.
On this page
What is a Marine Notice?
Marine Notices are issued both to provide safety advice to vessel operators and in accordance with certain statutory requirements. They are published in the NSW Government Gazette, placed on the Transport for NSW website, distributed to relevant maritime related organisations such as the Marine Rescue and published (where appropriate) in local and/or statewide print media.
There are two main types of Marine Notices:
- Navigation Warnings
- Aquatic Licence or Special Event ‘exclusive use’ conditions.
Navigation warnings
Navigation Warnings are published from time to time to advise of hazardous conditions on waterways.
For example, if a vessel sinks in shallow water and becomes an obstruction, or if a coastal bar shifts and changes shape, we may publish a Navigation Warning to let people know about the potential hazard.
These warnings have no legal status. Transport for NSW issues them in an advisory capacity as the safety regulator for waterways and boating.
As well as providing a service in the interests of 'good government', Navigation Warnings also form part of Transport for NSW risk management approach to safe navigation.
Transport for NSW makes every effort to warn vessel operators if physical circumstances change which may present a danger that was previously unknown, and which vessel operators may not be aware of.
Aquatic Licences and Special Events
Special Event Marine Notices are authorised by Statute, and allow a particular body to have ‘exclusive use’ of waters for the purposes of conducting an activity under an aquatic licence or any other event that may affect the safety of navigation in any particular waters.
A notice must be published when a Special Event is declared (Section 12 of the Marine Safety Act 1998).
These notices advise the public that certain areas of water are closed to recreational navigation. Notices generally describe the parameters of the area which is set aside for exclusive use, the time and date, and the means by which the area is to be marked off.
Notices are required under the Act so that the public is aware of exclusive use events, so that they don't accidentally move into the middle of a race, a dangerous set of construction works, or a fireworks barge for example.
Once a notice is published, it is an offence to breach it. You can be fined for failing to leave an area that has been set aside as an exclusive use/special event area.
Marine notices by region
NSW alpine waters
Alpine waters
No current notices
NSW coastal waters
Coastal waters
- NH1968 - Navigation Restriction - Tweed Coastal Waters, near Cook Island - Wave measuring buoys
8 May 2019 ongoing - NH16114 - Navigation Warning - Coastal Waters – Tweed Heads to Merimbula - Listening station buoys
4 October 2016 until further notice - 16116 - Navigation Warning - Coastal Waters - Tweed Heads to Merimbula - Deployment of listening station buoys
4 October 2016 until further notice
Tweed Heads
- NH2060 - Navigation Restriction - Tweed Coast – Offshore Dreamtime Beach, Wommin Bay - Artifical reef installation
28 August to 11 September 2020
Newcastle to Wollongong - Tasman Sea
- SY2028 - Navigation Warning - Tasman Sea - Lost shipping containers and debris
Friday 12 June 2020 until further notice
Port Jackson to Port Macquarie – Tasman Sea
No current notices
Port Macquarie
Lord Howe Island
- NH2038 - Navigation Restriction - Elizabeth Reef, Lord Howe Island - Unexploded ordnance
18 May 2020 - ongoing - NH1944 - Navigation Warning - entrance to the North Passage, Lord Howe Island Lagoon
26 March 2019 - ongoing - NH1945 - Navigation Advice - Entrance to Escott Passage, Lord Howe Island - Installation of leads
From 12 April 2019 until further notice
Sydney to Bundeena
- SY2033 - Navigation Warning - Sydney to Bundeena Coastal Waters, Tasman Sea - surface and sub-surface moorings
12 August 2020 until further notice
North
Jack Evans Boat Harbour, Tweed River, Tweed Heads
No current notices
Terranora Creek, Tweed Heads
- NH2044 - Navigation Restriction - Boyds Bay Bridge, Terranora Creek, Tweed Heads - Maintenance works
15 June to 31 December 2020
Terranora Broadwater
No current notices
Duranbah Beach Tweed Heads
No current notices
Tweed River
- NH2052 - Navigation Restriction Tweed River, Tweed Heads dredging of Tweed River Bar
Thursday 6 August to Friday 2 October 2020
Tweed River, Murwillumbah
- NH2053 - Navigation Restriction - Tweed River, Murwillumbah - Rowing regatta races
8:30am to 4pm - Sunday 13 September 2020, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 March 2021, Sunday 11 April 2021
Kingscliff
No current notices
Cudgen Creek, Kingscliff
- NH2041 - Navigation Restriction - Cudgen Creek, Kingscliff - Swimming leg of triathlon
29 November 2020
Mooball Creek, Pottsville
No current notices
Brunswick River
No current notices
Simpsons Creek, Brunswick Heads
No current notices
Byron Bay
No current notices
Richmond River
- NH2047 - Navigation Warning - Richmond River, Ballina - Replacement of lead lights
From Wednesday 1 July 2020 until further notice
Ballina
No current notices
Ballina, Lennox Head and Evans Head Beaches
No current notices
Lismore
- NH19139 - Navigation Restriction - Leycester Creek, Lismore - Maintenance to Colemans Bridge
22 June 2020 to 25 December 2020 - NH19139 - Navigation Restriction - Leycester Creek, Lismore - Maintenance to Colemans Bridge
2 December 2019 to 14 September 2020
Evans Head
No current notices
Yamba, Clarence River
No current notices
Grafton, Clarence River
No current notices
Seelands, Clarence River
No current notices
Maclean, Clarence River
No current notices
Tucabia (Coldstream River), Clarence River
No current notices
Tabulam, Clarence River
- NH1768 - Navigation Restriction - Tabulam Bridge, Clarence River - New Tabulam Bridge works - Bruxner Highway
Underway with scheduled completion Wednesday 30 September 2020
Coffs Harbour
- NH1318 - Navigation Restriction - Offshore Waters, Tasman Sea Adjacent To Muttonbird Island
7 February 2013 - Ongoing
Bellinger River
- NH2027 - Navigation Restriction - Repton Rail Bridge, Bellinger River - Bridge repairs
6 March to 30 September 2020
Kalang River
No current notices
Deep Creek, Valla
No current notices
Nambucca River
- NH2037 - Navigation Restriction - Nambucca River Macksville - Maintenance to Old Macksville Bridge
7am to 6pm - Wednesday 8 July to Monday 31 August 2020
Warrell Creek
No current notices
Macleay River
- NH1934 -Navigation Warning - Sector light fault at bar crossing entrance
11 March - ongoing - NH15130 - Navigation Warning - Macleay River Bar Crossing, South West Rocks
24 November 2015 - until further notice
South West Rocks, Trial Bay
- NH18119 - Navigation Warning - Macleay River, South West Rocks - Replacement of lead lights to sector lead lights at Macleay River Bar crossing and Rainbow Reach
From 11 April 2019 until further notice
South West Rocks, Back Creek
No current notices
Leycester Creek
- No current notices
Lake Keepit
- NH1906 - Navigation Warning - Lake Keepit, Tamworth - Low water levels
19 December 2018 until further notice
Wilson River
No current notices
Hastings River
- NH1999 - Navigation Restriction - Back Channel, Hastings River, Port Macquarie - Wharf construction Koolonbung Creek entrance
1 July 2020 to 30 September 2020
Chaffey Dam
No current notices
Camden Haven
- NH2065 - Navigation restriction - Camden Haven Inlet, Laurieton to Dunbogan - NBN submarine cable installation
21 September to 25 September 2020
Laurieton
No current notices
Lake Cathie
No current notices
Manning River
- NH2039 - Navigation Restriction - Manning River, Taree - Martin Bridge maintenance works
17 June 2020 to 30 November 2021 - NC1064 - Navigation Restriction - Manning River - Old Bar - removal of navigation markers
November 2010 - Ongoing
Wallamba River
- NH2064 - Navigation Restriction - Wallamba River, (Shalimar Ski Park) Tuncurry - Barefoot demonstration
12 September 2020
Cape Hawke Harbour, Forster
- NH2048 - Navigation Warning - Replacement of lead lights to sector lead lights at cape hawke harbour entrance
Friday 3 July 2020 until further notice
Pipers Creek, Forster
No current notices
Wallis Lake, Forster/Tuncurry
- NH1643 - Navigation Restriction - Tuncurry Channel - Wallis Lake & Cape Hawke Harbour - Tuncurry Channel extended area - 4 knot speed limit and no wash area
Ongoing from March 2016
Forster Keys
No current notices
Wallis Lake, Charlotte Bay
No current notices
Breckenridge Channel, Wallis Lake
No current notices
Barrington River, Gloucester
- NH1831 - Navigation Warning - Barrington River, Gloucester - Hazard warning - tree blocking river
16 April until further notice
Macquarie River, Dubbo
No current notices
Myall River
No current notices
Nelson Bay, Port Stephens
No current notices
Port Stephens
No current notices
Williams River
- NH2061 - Navigation Restriction - Williams River, Clarence Town - Rehabilitation works to Clarence Town Bridge - Williams River
7 September to 23 October 2020
Lake Glenbawn
No current notices
Windamere Dam
No current notices
Hunter River
- NH2063 - Navigation Restriction - Hunter River, Berry Park, near Duckenfield - Rowing regattas
26 and 27 September 2020
24 and 25 October 2020
7 November 2020
20 and 21 February 2021 - NH19122 Navigation Restriction - Hunter River, Kooragang Repairs To Kooragang Railway Bridge
Thursday 18 June 2020 to Friday 18 September 2020 - NH2033 - Navigation Restriction - North Channel Hunter River, Stockton - Stockton Bridge maintenance - Barge operations
1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021 - NH2031 - Navigation Restriction - Hunter River, Morpeth - Morpeth Bridge maintenance works
30 March to 31 December 2020
Newcastle Harbour
No current notices
Throsby Basin, Newcastle Harbour
No current notices
Blacksmiths Beach
Lake Macquarie
- NH2056 - Navigation Restriction - Swansea Bridge, Lake Macquarie - Anode and Sub-marine cable installation works
10 August to 25 September 2020 - NH19137 - Navigation Restriction - Cockle Creek, Lake Macquarie, Boolaroo - Rehabilitation works to Cockle Creek railway bridge
20 January 2020 to 31 January 2022
Forbes Ski Lake, Forbes
No current notices
Forbes Aquatic Area, Lachlan River
No current notices
Lake Canobolas, Orange
No current notices
Lake Lyell
No current notices
Wyangala Dam, Lachlan River
No current notices
Maria River
No current notices
Sydney
Budgewoi Lake
- SY2032 - Navigation Restriction - Budgewoi Lake, Budgewoi - NWSRA Region V Ski Racing Events
12 & 13 December 2020, 16 & 17 January 2021, 30 & 31 January 2021, 13 & 14 March 2021, 22 & 23 May 2021
Tuggerah Lake, Toukley
No current notices
Tuggerah Lake, Canton Beach
No current notices
Tuggerah Lake, Wyong River
No current notices
Tuggerah Lake, Ourimbah Creek
No current noticesFSydne Gari
Tuggerah Lake, The Entrance
- SY2036 - Navigation Restriction - The Entrance, Tuggerah Lake - Dredging operations
11 September to 20 November 2020 - SY2009 - Navigation Restriction - Tuggerah Lakes/ Entrance Channel - Navigation Hazards, signage and aids to navigation
14 February 2020 - Ongoing
Terrigal
No current notices
Brisbane Water
- SY1816 - Navigation Warning and Advice - Little Box Head to Lobster Beach, Brisbane Water -shallow water in marked channel
Until further notice
Hawkesbury River
- SY2037 - Navigation Restriction - Hawkesbury River (Windsor Beach) - Power Boat Circuit Races
20 September, 11 October, 18 October, 8 November 2020 and 7 February, 7 March, 11 April, 2 May, 11 July, 8 August 2021 - SY2014 - Navigation Restriction - Windsor Reach, Hawkesbury River - Old Windsor Bridge demolition works - Blocked channel
1 September 2020 until further notice - SY2025 - Navigation Restriction - Hawkesbury River - Navigation hazards
29 April 2020 - Ongoing - SY1939 - Navigation Warning - Sackville Cable Ferry, Hawkesbury River - navigable depth across cable ferry wires
Friday 25 October - ongoing - SY2031 - Navigation Restriction - Upper Half Moon Bend to Lower Half Moon Bend, Hawkesbury River - Cliftonville Ski Club - Water Ski Races
9:00am to 5:00pm Sundays
20 September, 25 October, 22 November 2020 & 28 February and 28 March 2021
Narrabeen Lagoon
No current notices
Pittwater
- SY2015 - Navigation Restriction - Lovett Bay, Elvina Bay, McCarrs Creek, Scotland Island, Church Point, Pittwater - NBN submarine cable installation
August to October 2020
Sydney Harbour
- SY2035 - Navigation Restriction - Blackwattle Bay, Glebe - Sydney fish markets demolition
1 September 2020 to 30 April 2021 - SY2029 - Navigation Restriction - Port Jackson, Sydney Harbour - Dawes Point - Sydney Harbour Bridge maintenance works
20 July 2020 to June 2022 - SY1943 - Navigation Restriction - Walsh Bay, Port Jackson - Maintenance works - Pier 2/3 and Pier 4/5
12 November 2019 to October 2021 - SY1826 - Navigation Warning - Berrys Bay and Balls Head, Port Jackson - Derelict structures and possible floating debris
31 July 2018 - Ongoing - SY1713 - Navigation Warning - Darling Harbour, Port Jackson - Extension of 4 knot speed restriction zone
Effective from 1 April 2017
Sydney Harbour / Middle Harbour and North Harbour
No current notices
Sydney Harbour / Parramatta River
- SY2034 - Navigation Restriction - Parramatta River, Ryde - Ryde Road Bridge maintenance works
14 September 2020 to 31 March 2021 - SY2022 - Navigation Restriction - Parramatta River, Parramatta - Foreshore boardwalk works
7 April to 22 September 2020
Nepean River, Penrith
- SY2026 - Navigation Restriction - Nepean River - Navigation Hazards
29 April 2020 - Ongoing
Kogarah Bay Sans Souci
No current notices
Botany Bay
Botany Bay/Georges River
- SY1717 - Navigation Warning - Floyd Bay, Georges River - Floyd Bay boat ramp closure
1 May 2017 until further notice
Georges River, Chipping Norton Lake
No current notices
Bate Bay, Cronulla
No current notices
Yowie Bay, Port Hacking
No current notices
Burraneer Bay, Port Hacking
No current notices
South
Various
- SO1945 - Installation of courtesy mooring network South Coast
December 2019 - until further notice
Wollongong Harbour
No current notices
Port Kembla
No current notices
Lake Illawarra
No current notices
Shellharbour
No current notices
Kiama
No current notices
Lake Talbot
No current notices
Lake Centenary, Temora
No current notices
Lake Wyangan, Griffith
No current notices
Lake Albert, Wagga Wagga
No current notices
Murray and Darling Rivers, Wentworth and Mildura
No current notices
Lake Victoria
- SO1850 - Navigation Warning - Lake Victoria, Western NSW - Closure of waterway
Indefinitely from July 2018
Murrumbidgee River, Wagga Wagga
No current notices
Edward River, Deniliquin
No current notices
Batemans Bay
- SO2039 - Navigation Restriction - Clyde River, Batemans Bay - Princes Highway Bridge change in maximum vertical clearance
07 September 2020 until further notice - SO1950 - Navigation Restriction - Clyde River, Batemans Bay - Princes Highway bridge works
20 September 2019 until further notice - SO1949 - Navigation Restriction - Clyde River and Batemans Bay, Batemans Bay - Delineation of open and enclosed waters limit
17 September 2019 until further notice - SO1569 - Waterways speed limit change - Nelligen Channel, Clyde River
Tomaga River, Tomakin
No current notices
Bermagui
No current notices
Lake Mulwala
No current notices
Blowering Dam, Tumut
No current notices
Talbingo Reservoir
No current notices
Lake Jindabyne
No current notices
Lake Eucumbene
No current notices
Jervis Bay - Shark Net Beach
No current notices
Jervis Bay - Huskisson
No current notices
Jervis Bay - Callala Beach
- SO1934 - Navigation Restriction - Callala Beach, Jervis Bay - Installation of marine farm boundary markers and related infrastructure
21 June 2019 - until further notice
Beecroft Peninsula
No current notices
Shoalhaven River, Nowra
- SO2036 - Navigation Restriction - Shoalhaven River, Nowra - Nowra Bridge Project Works
15 June 2020 until further notice
Sussex Inlet / St Georges Basin
No current notices
Lake Conjola
No current notices
Ulladulla Harbour
No current notices
Narooma
No current notices
Eden
- SC0213 - Navigation Warning - Snug Cove, Twofold Bay, Eden - navigational mark repositioned
PERMANENT
Tantangara Reservoir
No current notices
Murray River
- SO2037 - Navigation Restriction - Murray River - Waters below Lock 9 - restricted border access
From 24 July 2020 until further notice - SO2005- Navigation Restriction - Murray River, Wymah - Wymah Vehicular Ferry - channel blocked
17 February 2020 until conditions abate
Wakool River, Wetuppa District
No current notices