The river use rights of anglers and jet boaters caused some division at an Otago Fish and Game Council meeting in Wanaka on Saturday, amid renewed concerns about the Queenstown Lakes District Council's lack of public consultation over river access issues.
Fish and Game councillor Ray Grubb spoke of the ''reluctance'' of the QLDC to do ''anything in relation to access to waterways to foster our interests''.
The QLDC's process in considering such matters was ''flawed'' and ''unsatisfactory'' and a more robust system was needed to allow various parties, like Fish and Game, to be heard, he said.
''[Rather than] decisions made behind closed doors, which was the appearance of the Hunter River decision.''
The Hunter River had been the last braided river in the district where speed limits effectively blocked jet boaters from using it. But in 2010, the QLDC lifted its 5 knot speed restriction, despite strong opposition from fishing and conservation groups.
Fish and Game councillor Adrian McIntyre pointed out that many of Fish and Game's own members owned jet boats and the discussion seemed to be ''very hard on jet boats'' compared with helicopters or guides or others accessing rivers.
''I do not think jet boats affect the fishing as much as people understand.''
Cr Ian Cole said Mr McIntyre seemed to be ''missing the point'', as it was the impact jet boats had on the ''experiential component'' of fishing that was the problem.
''Which is totally overlooked by the jet boat association.''
The QLDC had made some ''backward decisions'' and jet boaters in other regions did not have anything like the freedom given by the QLDC, Mr Cole said.
''There's a historical usage of a recreation which has fostered the experiential component of these fishers and then all of a sudden it's going to be totally annihilated by another recreation.''
Mr McIntyre continued to defend jet boaters and their right to enjoy the waterways.
''They are not racing up and down rivers. They are keen people, they are fishermen, they are hunters.''
However, Mr Cole said asking for just one river to be retained solely for fishing was not asking too much.
''You cannot do everything everywhere in the 21st century.''
Cr Dave Witherow said jet boaters were ''having an experience, too'' and a complete jet boat ban on the Hunter River was untenable long term. He suggested adopting the United States system in which specific days were allocated annually for jet boaters to use the river.
''There's quite a bit of divisiveness around this table and we need to get that sorted,'' he added.
Chief executive Niall Watson said the QLDC's lack of public notice and consultation on river access issues _ including last year's review of its navigation safety bylaw which proposed lifting speed limits on the upper Clutha River _ caused ''a lot of grief'' for those with a particular interest.
However, the decision to lift the Hunter River speed limit for two six week periods at either end of each fishing season was considered a compromise.
Environmental officer Peter Wilson said the best way forward was for the Otago Fish and Game Council to spend the next six months preparing its ''preliminary position'' on public consultation on river access to present to QLDC planners as part of the district plan review.
At the meeting, Monty Wright was re elected chairman, and executive committee members Adrian McIntyre, Dan Rae, Vicky Whyte and Dr John Jillett were also re elected. Cr Dave Witherow is automatically on the executive as the national council representative.
