A discussion by the Queenstown Lakes District Council funding and rating review working party on the cost of the harbourmaster service and maintaining boat ramps and facilities revealed the cost is largely borne by the council.
Until recently, the state of boat ramps in the district was poor and a decision not to increase charges until they were upgraded had been made several years ago.
However, the upgrades are complete and despite a 10% target, only 6% of the annual maintenance and administration costs are being met by private users.
Of the $206,000 in waterways facilities operating costs over 2008 and 2009, only $8000 is expected to be raised by user charges.
"I personally don't think 10% from customers is enough," district council deputy chief executive officer and finance general manager Stewart Burns said.
But there were wider community benefits of having the facilities, which attract boat users to the region.
Cr Lyal Cocks said the lakes and rivers were attractions which brought people to the area - including Wanaka.
"They spend money in the town . . . there is a benefit around the community."
Extra money collected from boat users would not only go towards facilities but also towards the costs of having a harbourmaster, Mr Burns said.
How much that increase should be was still to be decided but councillors agreed there should be some way of collecting money from boat users before they went on the water.
The method proposed by Cr Gillian Macleod was for users to buy a licence before they used the waterways.
A "three for one deal" where boats could use lakes Wakatipu, Wanaka and Hawea over the summer on the same pass was proposed.
However, the fairness of a licence on short-term boat users - those who would only use a lake for a day - was also discussed.
"I had my boat in the water twice the whole of last summer," Cr John S. Wilson said.
Cr John Mann suggested day passes could be distributed from service stations as well as sport shops and similar outlets.
Mr Burns said people might still find ways to use the lakes without paying.
"A lot of people just launch off the beach in a four-wheel-drive - we will never get them all."
Mr Burns said while a bylaw might not be the best mechanism for implementing ways to collect fees from boat users, he would investigate the different options available.
