Event permits are required for events on Port Phillip, Western Port and Yarra, Maribyrnong and Patterson rivers to ensure the protection of the environment and the rights and expectations of other users.

Parks Victoria is the waterway manager for Port Phillip, Western Port and Yarra, Maribyrnong and Patterson rivers.  These bays and waterways are highly valued by the community for recreational, environmental and economic purposes. 

Your event application will be assessed with consideration to environmental impacts, risk to participants and spectators, potential impacts on other user’s, venue availability and value to tourism and recreational needs. 

To obtain a permit, event organisers need to follow these steps.

Step 1: Plan the event

Events must meet set objectives and criteria. Event organisers must plan their event so it causes the least amount of disruption to stakeholders and other bay or waterway users.

The following document gives direction on the type of events and activities that are appropriate in the various precincts of Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers:

• Event management precincts

Step 2: Submit an Expression of Interest

To have your event included in the events schedule, you must submit an EOI form to Parks Victoria.

Parks Victoria holds an Expression of Interest (EOI) to hold events twice a year. Event organisers are contacted in February for events held in winter and in August for events held in winter. New event organisers may submit an EOI at any time.

• Expression of interest to hold event

Step 3: Complete an event application

After you have submitted an EOI, Parks Victoria will respond to you regarding the suitability of your event. You can then complete an event application.

Parks Victoria will assess your application against its framework for events on bays and waterways and will respond to you regarding the suitability of your event.

The application must be submitted 10 weeks prior to the proposed event date.

• Bay & waterway event application form (non-editable PDF, 226KB)
• Bay & waterway event application form (editable MS Word document, 153KB)