Traffic main source of noise at Elk Lake

Re: “Maintain Elk Lake as an oasis of tranquility,” letter, Sept. 25. It is nice to think of a tranquil urban lake in the middle of a busy city free of the noise of powerboats.

But for anyone who has actually fished Elk Lake, particularly the east side of the lake, it is the four lanes of thundering highway traffic, not a few yahoos on powerboats and personal watercraft that make it a loud and disruptive experience.

I support a gas-motor restriction on other South Island gems — Prospect Lake, for example. But let the powerboaters have Elk Lake — it’s already terribly noisy and suffers from intense algal blooms and weed growth that limit other recreational activities during the summer. It also has parking and facilities to support boaters. Marlin Smyth Victoria