Project background

Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) is the waterway manager for Greens Lake, Lake Hume and Lake Nillacootie under the Marine Safety Act 2010.

At the recommendation of Safe Transport Victoria (STV), GMW is undertaking a review of the current Vessel Operating and Zoning Rules (VOZR) to improve safety on Greens Lake, Lake Hume and Lake Nillahcootie.

GMW, as the waterway manager, is proposing amendments to the current rules to better reflect the uses of the waterways and address safety concerns that were identified in the Safe Transport Victoria Audit and the subsequent risk assessment carried out by GMW in September 2024.

GMW is proposing rule changes as part of the review for Greens Lake, Lake Hume and Lake Nillahcootie. These include:

  • removing five (5) knot zones in areas where the State Rule is sufficient,
  • amending existing five (5) knot zones,
  • amending or adding sign and buoy locations to better identify five (5) knot zones, no wash zones, vessels prohibited, and no powered vessel zones,
  • wording changes to improve clarity and understanding,
  • amending exclusion zone sizing (reduce), and
  • removing access lanes where lanes are no longer in use.

You can review the full details of what's proposed at each of the storages by downloading the links below,

In addition, new aids to navigation and educational materials will be produced to improve awareness and reinforce safe operation on Lake Nillahcootie and Greens Lake.

  • Interactive maps (current VOZR)

    Visit Safe Transport Victoria's interactive map to view details of the current vessel operating zoning rules as they apply to Greens Lake, Lake Hume and Lake Nillahcootie.

    Search by individual storage.

    Learn more 

  • Vessel Operating Zoning Rules (current VOZR).

    Here you can view Safe Transport Victoria's current Vessel Operating Zoning Rules (VOZR).

    Click on the table of contents to navigate to the sections currently being reviewed by GMW:

    Section 60 - Greens Lake

    Section 95 - Lake Hume

    Section 97 - Lake Nillahcootie

    Learn more 

  • Greens Lake

    View GMW's proposed changes (please note additional information).

    Learn more 

  • Greens Lake - Depth sounding

    Map completed in 2025 of GPS locations undertaken for review of current Urgent Waterway Rule

    Learn more 

  • Greens Lake - Depth sounding data

    Undertaken in 2025 for review of current Urgent Waterway Rule

    Learn more 

Public information sessions

Online information sessions were held in early July. The presentations from those sessions are available below.

How to have YourSay

Your feedback on the proposed changes to waterway rules for Greens Lake, Lake Hume and Lake Nillahcootie is important to us.

You can submit your feedback in a number of ways:

Feedback on the changes to waterway rules MUST be received in writing.
Feedback CLOSES at 11:59 PM on Sunday, 27 July 2025.

All feedback received will be reviewed and provided to Safe Transport Victoria for consideration in GMW’s proposed water rule changes for Greens Lake, Lake Hume and Lake Nillahcootie.