Rules for boating in the Bay get reviewed

16 March 2016

Those interested in having their say on how the boating rules for Bay of Plenty are shaped are encouraged to submit their feedback before March 31st. Regional Council is currently reviewing its Navigation Safety Bylaw and they are keen to hear from those with an interest in navigation safety issues on our lakes, rivers and harbours.

To get the conversation started, community meetings have already been held in Whakatāne, Tauranga and Rotorua and further sub-regional hui-a-iwi are currently being planned. Some of the issues being discussed at these meetings include life jacket rules, whether jet skis should be registered and the review of speed uplifting’s on some of this region’s major rivers.

This review represents a great opportunity to reassess whether these rules work for the community, consider updating them and hear what people have to say explains Shawn Baker, a Senior Planner at the Regional Council.

“The Navigation Safety Bylaw seeks to reduce the conflicts between different activities on the water. While we are only at early engagement stage of the process, we are keen to get as much feedback as possible at the beginning to help us build a picture of navigation safety issues in this region”, he says.

“These meetings have proved a great way to be able to listen to the issues that are important to the community and also test the waters and get genuine public feedback on some of the changes being considered”, he says.

People have until March 31st to their say online atwww.boprc.govt.nz/navbylaw , they can email navbylaw@boprc.govt.nz or call Shawn Baker directly on 0800 884 880.

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