Change in lifejacket policy welcomed

Queenstown's harbourmaster and the Wakatipu Yacht Club have welcomed the decision by the Queenstown Lakes District Council to make the wearing of lifejackets mandatory on all recreational craft less than 6m in length.

The proposed mandatory lifejacket policy and the proposed speed limit removal on the Hunter River were the major changes to the Waterways Navigation and Safety Bylaw, which the council had reviewed since before Christmas and tabled a recommendation to adopt last week.

However, while the Hunter River proposal generated plenty of comment in the public forum and debate among councillors, which led to the matter's referral back to the hearing panel, the lifejacket policy and the rest of the draft bylaw, plus the draft Shotover River Bylaw, were passed without comment.

QLDC regulatory and corporate services general manager Roger Taylor told the Queenstown Times the revised bylaw would come into effect on June 1 at the latest, after public notification.

Once the bylaw was adopted, the council had to apply to Parliament for a new schedule of infringement fines.

"Any prosecution of someone not wearing a lifejacket in the meantime will go straight to court," Mr Taylor said.

"The maximum fine is $20,000."

Harbourmaster Marty Black said the council's amendment followed Maritime New Zealand's navigation safety rules.

"It's a plus.

"I've always believed in lifejackets and lifejackets save lives. They're like a seat belt."

Enforcement of the new bylaw and its specific lifejacket policy would not be a problem, as harbour staff were regularly on the waterways, Mr Black said.

"Most people do wear lifejackets.

"We've upped the profile over the last few years and I don't think that we'll get swags of people not wearing them."

QLDC Wakatipu ward Cr Mel Gazzard, who is also commodore of the Wakatipu Yacht Club, said the lifejacket change had been well thought out and the opportunity for public submissions had been available.

The absence of any submissions on the proposed lifejacket policy was down to the general acceptance that "sensible people had always worn them on pleasure craft", he said.

"We certainly insist in all yacht club activities all sailors on all craft, plus those on support craft, wear lifejackets.

It's been part of our safety plan for over a decade."

Mr Gazzard said someone in a kayak without a lifejacket would be at most risk on a rough lake but users were better protected on larger boats and the 6m mark was a sensible cut-off point.

"Lifejackets are needed in an emergency and you can have that in any boat."