Boat owners seem to have accepted new ramp launch fees
introduced by the Waitaki District Council this season for
facilities it administers at Waitaki lakes.
Council property manager Dougall McIntyre said yesterday the
new fees - $5 a day or $50 for a season ticket - had been
"pretty well accepted".
At this stage, he did not know how much had been collected in
fees, but they would be kept separate from other lakes fees
and used to improve boating facilities, including ramps, in
the lakes' area.
A couple of people had questioned the reason for the fees,
but when it was explained they were for improving boat and
harbour facilities, they were happy to pay.
No-one had refused to pay.
"Just recently there has been a large number of inquiries
about both launch fees and camp sites from the Canterbury and
Christchurch areas for late this month and early February -
people waiting to see how settled the weather is going to
be," he said. More tickets had had to be printed.
The biggest problem had been tickets or stickers not clearly
displayed on vehicles, boats or trailers.
Notices were placed on vehicles about the fees and asking
people to contact the supervisor.
Initially, the council issued a card to be displayed on the
dashboard of vehicles, but in late October started issuing
stickers for the vehicle, trailer and boat, based on a system
used at Picton.
The stickers had worked better than the cards.
Mr McIntyre said income from the ramp fees would be built up,
with the council identifying priorities for improvements in
launch and harbour facilities.
Repairs were planned to holes in the ramp at Sailor's
Cutting, but they were to be done by Land Information NZ as
part of an agreement to bring facilities up to a set standard
before being handed over to the council.
The Waitaki council administers the camping and launch
facilities on the south side of the Waitaki lakes. Ramp
launch charges are included in the daily and season camping
tickets.
The Mackenzie and Waimate district councils administer those
on the north side and do not have launch fees.
- david.bruce@odt.co.nz
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