A site visit to inspect the Hunter River, as part of a
decision-making process considering whether jet-boats will be
allowed access to the remote waterway, has been postponed
because of low river flows.
A Queenstown Lakes District Council working party has been
charged with reviewing an existing navigation safety bylaw
which effectively prohibits motorised watercraft from
travelling up the river because of a five-knot speed limit on
the waterway.
Queenstown Lakes councillors Lyal Cocks and Leigh Overton,
both of Wanaka, and Mel Gazzard, of Queenstown, were
scheduled to visit the Hunter River with Queenstown Lakes
harbourmaster Marty Black.
Mr Black said the Hunter River levels at the moment were
"very low".
Blustery northwest conditions also meant a "very choppy" Lake
Hawea would make for an uncomfortable trip up the head of the
lake to access the river, he said.
A decision would be made in the next couple of weeks as to
when the site visit would be rescheduled.
A long-range MetService weather forecast predicts rain in the
catchment area, but high winds are also expected to remain
about the lake.
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