Water Taxis emphasises the positives

Higher standards would result from multiple jet-boat operators on the Lower Shotover River, a witness for Queenstown Water Taxis told commissioners yesterday.

Rival company KJet, the only official opposition to the company's proposal to extend its route, had said consent would adversely affect safety.

The resource consent hearing before commissioners John Milligan and Leigh Overton, which began on Tuesday, adjourned yesterday, with Queenstown Water Taxis, trading as Thunder Jet, to prepare a right of reply in writing.

Queenstown Water Taxis has applied to extend its route from the confluence of the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers to the upper extent of Tucker Beach and to increase passenger numbers in two consents to 34, from 19 and 23.

The consent sought is to be offered in conjunction with existing jet-boat trips on Lake Wakatipu and the Kawarau River.

KJet offers jet-boat trips to Tucker Beach. Anyone can submit on a resource consent application but not on trade competition grounds.

Reasons KJet has opposed the proposal include the application being inconsistent with the Resource Management Act, inconsistent with objectives and policies in the district plan and ''to grant consent would result in adverse cumulative effects in terms of safety and amenity of those using the river for commercial operations or recreation and those using and living on the river margins'', a submission dated December 2012 said.

Queenstown Water Taxis Ltd called on former commercial jet-boat operator Stan Jones as a witness.

Mr Jones said having many operators on the Lower Shotover River had advantages as all parties ''are forced to maintain high standards and to a degree regulate each other and themselves''.

The recommendation from the Queenstown Lakes District Council before the hearing was to refuse the application.

A decision will be made after Queenstown Water Taxis' right of reply is received.

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