Comment permalink

Several incidents at the Albert Town Bridge this summer have led authorities to install signs banning people from jumping off it.

Signs were installed last week by the New Zealand Transport Agency, following discussions with Wanaka Police and Queenstown Lakes district harbourmaster Marty Black.

Mr Black said the signs had gone up ''for obvious reasons''.

''There's been six or seven people this summer who have come to grief after jumping off the bridge and there's a risk there.''

Those risks included the strong flow of the Clutha River, as well as willow trees located downstream.

''There's various ways people got into trouble and we can't ignore that,'' Mr Black said.

''How would we feel if we lost someone there? We've been pretty close a few times.''

While the signs stated ''no jumping'', Mr Black said they were more of a warning than a total ban.

There was no way to police it at this stage, although that could change with a bylaw amendment in the future.

Albert Town Community Association chairman Jim Cowie questioned the need for the signs.

He said the number of people jumping had ''increased dramatically'' in recent years, but his personal belief was that it was not dangerous, particularly now jet-boats and other powered craft were banned from that stretch of river.

''This is an activity that many people, especially teenagers, get a kick out of, and almost all of them do it multiple times and do it safely and without incident.

''The ban is not only an overreaction, it is heavy-handed and simply can't be justified on safety grounds because by any measure it is a safe activity.

''We don't ban skiing at Treble Cone or Cardrona because every season people break legs and rupture knees.''

sean.nugent@odt.co.nz