MEDIA RELEASE
  

Navigational Safety Bylaws early next year

 
For immediate release: 9 December 2009
 

Environment Bay of Plenty expects to complete deliberations on the new Navigational Safety Bylaws early next year…so it remains status quo with the old bylaws in place this summer.

Group Manager Water Management Eddie Grogan said there were a number of complex matters raised during the review and submission process.

“It is important to Council to ensure that we take the time required to do the best job possible for our community. We are ensuring that we take an appropriate amount of time to seek advice and also consider the views made by all submitters,” Mr Grogan said.

He said Council aims to have the new Navigational Safety Bylaws in place for next summer.

“In some areas we need to carefully consider outcomes that ensure a full discussion is had on these as Council ensures that it makes decisions that try to balance the needs of the community with the needs of water users.
 
"While there were submissions on a number of different issues and on different areas within the region, it isn’t possible for us to split this process of review to deal with the easy issues quickly and delay other issues.  We need to and are taking a whole of region approach to this review and therefore will finalise deliberations on all aspects and areas at the same time,” he said.

The outcomes of the deliberations will be reported to the Council and following Council’s decision, submitters will be informed of the outcome.  The Bylaws will also be sent to Maritime New Zealand for ratification.

Some of the key proposed changes include:

·         An increase in mooring licence fees from $120 to $135;

·         An increase in the commercial navigation and safety licence fees from $75 to $100;

·         The introduction of the requirement to display a sail name or number for vessels on moorings;

·         An enlargement of the restricted anchoring area in the shipping channels; and

·         Changes to water ski lanes.

ENDS.

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