Residents urged to submit on river safety

The Albert Town Community Association has thrown its weight behind Otago Fish and Game concerns about Clutha River safety and ambience for swimmers and other passive users.

Association spokesman Nathan Weathington said the committee was concerned about a ‘‘sneaky’’ proposed bylaw [clause 35] that imposes a five knot restriction on the river between the Outlet Camp and the Albert Town camp and bridge, but then removes it during the day time in schedule 2, tucked away at the back of the 145 page document.

The association is surveying residents online before writing a submission and is also encouraging others to make personal submissions to the Queenstown Lakes District Council Navigation Bylaw review by October 31.

Weathington said he believed many people were opposed to the uplifting of a proposed five knot speed limit around popular swimming holes.

Wanaka harbourmaster Marty Black has previously told Stuff the 2014 bylaw was ‘‘nonsense’’ to enforce and the new bylaw would be ‘‘more workable’’.

No-one idled through the restricted areas and it could be argued an idling jetboat created more noise and wash than a planing jetboat, he said.

The association has emailed a newsletter expressing its growing concerns about commercial and recreational motorised craft on the river.

The online survey seeks feedback on four options: retaining the status quo (5 knot restrictions close to the Outlet Camp and Albert Town camp areas); adopting the new bylaw (no swimming hole restrictions mentioned in the new bylaw); five knots at all times between the Outlet camp and Albert Town bridge; or a powerfree zone between the Outlet camp and Albert Town bridge.

The association says increases in boat traffic, coupled with the bylaw change and lack of information about what would happen in the Albert Town Island swimming area, would make many feel the river was ‘‘considerably more dangerous’’.

Survey responses would remain confidential but would be used to help the association accurately reflect members’ views in its own submission. Weathington said ‘‘heated points’’ included how the proposed bylaw came to be drafted and how confusing it was.

At first glance it seemed clause 35 would make things safer but it was not until readers got to schedule 2 that they learned the new bylaw would be negated during the day, he said.

The association would seek clarity about river swimming areas shown on map keys yet not indicated on the map.

Stuff has contacted Jet Boating NZ Otago. Representatives could not comment immediately because they were involved in a competition.