Boating rules for the bay reviewed
Boating rules for the bay reviewed
2 February
2016
Bay of Plenty’s harbours, lakes and rivers are used by thousands of people every day for a wide range of activities. Regional Council is currently reviewing the rules that help to ensure these activities can co-exist safely, and they want your input.
The Navigation
Safety Bylaw covers all navigable waterways in the Bay of
Plenty and is aimed at ensuring the safety of users, both
commercial and recreational, on these waterways. While it
is mostly orientated around commercial shipping it also
affects rules around the wearing of lifejackets, anchoring
and special reserve areas.
Bylaws are reviewed every five
years explains Shawn Baker, who is a Senior Planner at the
Bay of Plenty Regional Council and is facilitating this
process.
“We want the best Bylaw for the community and
are currently seeking feedback around the current rules and
some of the major changes that are being considered. With
such a variety of users making the most of this region’s
waterways this is a good opportunity to ensure these
activities do not conflict.
“Some of the changes being considered include the compulsory wearing of life jackets for vessels under 6m, registration of jet skis and the review of speed uplifting’s on some of this regions major rivers. It’s really important we get this right but we do need community input to achieve this.
“It’s
also important to remind people that that Bylaw only covers
navigational safety, so to a large extent, it is about
people’s behaviour on the water, rather than about
physical structures like boat ramps and jetties.
“
Community meetings are being held across the region
to explain the review process and as a way to listen to the
issues that are important to the community. Meetings will
be held in:
Whakatāne at the Whakatāne Fishing Club on
3rd February from 5pm
Tauranga at the Tauranga Sports
Fishing Club (Sulphur Point) on 9th February at 6.30pm
(following club night activities)
Rotorua at the Rotorua Water Sports Trust Centre (1 Mataiawhea Street) on 10th February from 6pm
Alternatively people can visit www.boprc.govt.nz/navbylaw to check out the current Bylaw and have their say - or they can call Shawn Baker directly on 0800 884 880. The Regional Council is also keen to meet with any interested group and urge people to make contact directly to arrange this.
ends