Bay of Plenty residents help shape bylaw

7 June 2016

Thousands of people use this regions harbours, lakes and rivers for a wide range of activities every day. The Navigation Safety Bylaw sets the rules which help ensure these activities can co-exist safely and after six months of early engagement with the community, today opened for submissions.

More than 300 people gave feedback as part of the early engagement phase of the review and these insights enabled the Regional Council to identify issues that were significant regionally and make changes to the new proposed Bylaw accordingly.

Senior Planner at the Regional Council Shawn Baker says the review gives us the opportunity to take a closer look at what’s working well and what needs to be refined in the existing Bylaw.

“The majority of clauses from the existing Bylaw have been carried through but there are a number of key changes proposed too. This includes changes to the rules around lifejackets and a proposal to make the registration of personal water craft compulsory. We really appreciate the time people took to let us know what navigational safety issues are important to them”, he says.

Anyone or any organisation can make a submission on any part of the proposed Navigation Safety Bylaw. Submission forms and more information can be found online at www.boprc.govt.nz/navbylaw, forms can be collected from our Rotorua, Whakatane, Tauranga or Mount Maunganui offices or you can request a hard copy by phoning 0800 884 880. Submissions are open until5pm on Thursday 7 July.

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