Marine notices
Roads and Maritime Services 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 Roads and Maritime Services 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. Roads and Maritime 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 Roads and Maritime’s risk management approach to safe navigation.
Roads and Maritime 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
Port Jackson to Port Macquarie – Tasman Sea
No current notices
Port Macquarie
- NH1975 - Navigation advice - Tacking Point Lighthouse, Port Macquarie, Tasman Sea - LIGHT IT RED FOR DYLSEXIA
5:00pm to 11:00pm - 25 October 2019
Forster
No current notices
Lord Howe Island
- 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
North Coast Beaches (various)
No current notices
Wybung Head to Norah Head
No current notices
Broken Bay
No current notices
North
Jack Evans Boat Harbour, Tweed River, Tweed Heads
- NH1998 - Navigation Restriction - Tweed River, Jack Evans Boat Harbour, Tweed Heads - Dragon Boat Races
3 November 2019
Terranora Creek, Tweed Heads
- NH1993 - Navigation Restriction - Terranora Creek, Tweed Heads - Maintenance works Boyds Bay Bridge
30 August to 31 December 2019 - NH1991 - Navigation Restriction - Birds Bay, Terranora Creek, Tweed Heads - Fireworks display
12 October 2019
Terranora Broadwater
No current notices
Duranbah Beach Tweed Heads
No current notices
Tweed River
No current notices
Tweed River, Murwillumbah
- NH1983 - Navigation Restriction - Tweed River, Murwillumbah - Rowing Regatta Races
8:30am to 4pm – 24 & 25 August, 29 September and 9 November 2019, and
29 February and 1 March 2020
Kingscliff
No current notices
Cudgen Creek, Kingscliff
No current notices
Mooball Creek, Pottsville
No current notices
Brunswick River
No current notices
Simpsons Creek, Brunswick Heads
- NH19102 - Navigation Restriction - Maintenance works South Arm Road Bridge
16 September to 20 December 2019
Byron Bay
No current notices
Richmond River
- NH1995 - Navigation Restriction - Richmond River, Woodburn - Aquatic festival day
12 October 2019 - NH1977 - Navigation Restriction - Swan Bay, Richmond River - Weed harvesting
Commencing June 2019 - Completion 20 December 2019 - NH1770 - Navigation Restriction - Richmond River, Broadwater - Pacific Highway upgrade bridge construction
15 October 2017 to 27 September 2019
Ballina
- NH1866 - Navigation Restriction - Tuckombil Canal, Upper Evans River near Woodburn - Bridge construction
From September 2018 estimated completion January 2020 - NH1769 - Navigation Restriction - Richmond River Bridge, Ballina - Pacific Highway Bridge demolition & reconstruction
From September 2017 to approximately July 2019
Ballina, Lennox Head and Evans Head Beaches
No current notices
Evans Head
- NH1736 - Navigation Restriction - Grafton Bridge, Clarence River - Temporary jetty and construction of new bridge
8 May 2017 to approx. 19 December 2019
Grafton, 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 Tuesday 30 June 2020
Coffs Harbour
- NH1992 - Navigation Restriction - Coffs Harbour, Inner Harbour Entrance - Interim dredging campaign - barge operations
26 August to 25 October 2019 - NH16175 - Navigation Restriction - Coffs Harbour, Harbour - Aquatic Fun Park
Daily from Monday 2 January 2017 - NH1318 - Navigation Restriction - Offshore Waters, Tasman Sea Adjacent To Muttonbird Island
7 February 2013 - Ongoing
Kalang River
No current notices
Deep Creek, Valla
No current notices
Nambucca River
No current notices
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 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 - Warf construction Koolonbung Creek Entrance
September 2019 to June 2020
Chaffey Dam
No current notices
Camden Haven
- NH1978 - Navigation Warning - Camden Haven Inet, Camden Haven - Dunbogan Bridge rehabilitation works
15 July 2019 to 31 January 2019
Laurieton
No current notices
Lake Cathie
No current notices
Manning River
- NH19105 - Navigation Restriction - New Year's Eve fireworks display
6:00pm to 10:00pm – 31 December 2019 - NH19103 - Navigation Restriction - Manning River, Taree - Rowing races
19 October and 20 October 2019 - NH18103 - Navigation Restriction - Manning River, Taree - Power boat races
1 and 2 December 2018
17 February 2019
19 to 21 April 2019
25 and 26 May 2019
11 August 2019 - NC1064 - Navigation Restriction - Manning River - Old Bar - removal of navigation markers
November 2010 - Ongoing
Wallamba River
- NH1990 - Navigation Restriction - Wallamba River, Shalimar Ski Park - Darawank - Barefoot waterskiing display/demonstration
14 September 2019
Cape Hawke Harbour, Forster
No current notices
Pipers Creek, Forster
- NH1989 - Navigation restriction - Pipers Creek, Wallis Lake - Forster Keys - Dragon Boat Races
16 and 17 November 2019
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
Foester Keys
- NH1996 - Navigation Restriction - Elite Energy swim event
19 October 2019
Wallis Lake, Charlotte Bay
No current notices
Breckenridge Channel, Wallis Lake
No current notices
Barrington River, Gloucester
- NH1967 - Navigation Restriction - Barrington River, Thunderbolts Way, Gloucester - Barrington Bridge replacement works
May 2019 to approximately September 2019 - NH1831 - Navigation Warning - Barrington River, Gloucester - Hazard warning - tree blocking river
16 April until further notice
Macquarie River, Dubbo
- NH1937 - Navigation Restriction - Macquarie River, Dubbo - Essential maintenance to LH Ford Bridge
15 March to November 2019
Myall River
No current notices
Nelson Bay, Port Stephens
No current notices
Port Stephens
Williams River
No current notices
Lake Glenbawn
No current notices
Hunter River
- NH1985 - Navigation Restriction - Hunter River, Berry Park, near Duckenfield - Rowing Regattas
21 and 22 September 2019
26 and 27 October 2019
9 November 2019
1 and 2 February 2020
Newcastle Harbour
No current notices
Throsby Basin, Newcastle Harbour
No current notices
Blacksmiths Beach
Lake Macquarie
- NH1962 - Navigation Restriction - Maintenance to Cockle Creek Railway Bridge
6 May to 30 July 2019
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
No current notices
Tuggerah Lake, Toukley
- SY1918 - Navigation Restriction - Tuggerah Lake / Budgewoi Lake, Toukley - Toukley Bridge works
20 May 2019 to 20 May 2020
Tuggerah Lake, Canton Beach
No current notices
Tuggerah Lake, Wyong River
No current notices
Tuggerah Lake, Ourimbah Creek
No current notices
Tuggerah Lake, The Entrance
No current notices
Terrigal
No current notices
Brisbane Water
- SY1923 - Navigation Restriction - Lobster Beach, Half Tide Rocks to Umina Beach, Brisbane Water - Dredging works
5 September to 30 September 2019 - SY1816 - Navigation Warning and Advice - Little Box Head to Lobster Beach, Brisbane Water -shallow water in marked channel
Until further notice
Hawkesbury River
- SY1925 - Navigation Restriction - Hawkesbury River, Wisemans Ferry to Liverpool Reach - Water ski races
11 August 2019
22 September 2019
20 October 2019
29 March 2020
17 May 2020 - SY1919 - Navigation Restriction - Upper Half Moon Bend to Lower Half Moon Bend, Hawkesbury River - Cliftonville ski club - Water ski races
15 September 2019
27 October 2019
17 November 2019
16 February 2020
22 March 2020 - SY1842 - Navigation Restriciton - Hawkesbury River, (Windsor Reach) - Windsor spectacular power boat race
21 October 2018
2 December 2018
17 February 2019
10 March 2019
14 April 2019
14 July 2019
11 August 2019 - SY1838 - Navigation Restriction - Windsor Bridge, Hawkesbury River - Span closures - Bridge replacement works
29 October 2018 to end of December 2019
Narrabeen Lagoon
No current notices
Pittwater
- SY1928 - Navigation Restriction - Mackeral Beach, Pittwater - Hazard to navigation - overturned vessel
22 August to 13 September 2019 inclusive
Sydney Harbour
- SY1826 - Navigation Warning - Berrys Bay and Balls Head, Port Jackson - Derelict structures and floating debris
Ongoing from 31 July 2018 - 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
- SY1984 - Navigation Warning - Spit Bridge, Middle Harbour - Spans Closure - Bridge maintenance works
Sydney Harbour / Parramatta River
- SY1635 - Navigation Warning - Ryde (Truss) bridge, Parramatta River - Progressive spans closure - Bridge maintenance works
21 November 2016 to end of December 2019
Nepean River, Penrith
No current notices
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
Wollongong Harbour
- SO1943 - Navigation Restriction - Wollongong Harbour, Wollongong - Australian motorcycle festival
8 and 9 November 2019
Port Kembla
No current notices
Lake Illawarra
- SO1938 - Navigation Restriction - Lake Illawarra, Windang - Windang Bridge rehabilitation works
19 August 2019 for approximately 10 to 12 weeks
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
- SO1948 - Navigation Restriction - Entrance Bar to the Clyde River, Batemans Bay - Dredging operations
7 October to 20 November 2019 - 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
- SO1687 - Navigation Restriction - Lake Mulwala, Yarrawonga - Aquatic Fun Park
Daily from 2 November 2016 - SO1549 - Navigation Warning - navigation aid lights affected
Blowering Dam, Tumut
No current notices
Lake Jindabyne
No current notices
Lake Eucumbene
No current notices
Jervis Bay - Shark Net Beach
No current notices
Jervis Bay - Huskisson
- SO1936 - Navigation Restriction - Jervis Bay, Huskisson - Huskisson Triathlon Festival
3 November 2019
Jervis Bay - Callala Beach
- SO1942 - Navigation Restriction - Jervis Bay, Callala Beach - LCW triathlon - Callala swim
16 November 2019 - 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
No current notices
Sussex Inlet / St Georges Basin
- SO1937 - Navigation Restriction - Chris Creek pedestrian bridge construction works
19 August to 1 December 2019
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
Murray River
- SO1939 - Navigation Restriction - Murray River – Muwala Weir to the Swan Hill Bridge - Murray massive paddle
18 to 22 November 2019 - SO1933 - Navigation Restriction - Murray River, Wymah - Wymah Ferry - Channel blocked
5 June 2019 until conditions abate - SO1746 - Navigation Warning - Murray River - Lock 8 downstream to Kulcurna - potentially hazardous river conditions due to entitlement flows
6 June 2017 until conditions abate
Wakool River, Wetuppa District
- SO1926 - Navigation Restriction - Wakool River, Wetuppa District - Gee Gee Bridge - Maintenance works
1 April to 20 December 2019