"Safety'' is the reason for a Queenstown jet-boat company's submission against an application from another jet-boat company wanting to operate on Lake Wakatipu and the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers.
Eco Jets Ltd applied to the Queenstown Lakes District Council to operate four 17-seater jet-boats, including seats for the driver and a crew member, for adventure jet-boat activities, and water taxi and charter services.
Former QLDC chief executive Duncan Field, who now owns a limousine company in the resort, is one of those behind the jet-boat company and the application was originally lodged in 2011.
It was publicly notified last month and submissions on the application, which appears to be the same as was lodged in 2011 - complete with 2011 Lakes Environmental date stamps - closed on Wednesday at midnight with six being received.
Among them is one from Kawarau Jet Services Holdings Ltd (KJet) which opposed the application on the grounds of ''Safety, in consideration of the existing number of jet-boats consented to operate on the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers''.
Anyone can make a submission on resource consent applications but not because of trade competition. KJet had a prolonged legal battle over safety issues and radio communications with Thunder Jet, after the council gave that company consent in 2008.
Thunder Jet's consents were later approved in 2011 by the Environment Court.
KJet recently applied to the council to extend its route to the Kawarau suspension bridge.
Five of the six submissions responding to the Eco Jets application were against the proposal, with the Otago Regional Council's submission being neutral but asking for a condition to be added if consent was granted: that if Eco Jets operated a scheduled public transport service, then prior to operating the service they must ''either enter into a contract with the Otago Regional Council to operate the service as a unit under a new Regional Public Transport Plan'' or apply for and obtain an exemption.
Jet Boating New Zealand's submission lists public access to the ''Shotover Gorge and the Dart River'' already being restricted because of commercial activities as a reason against the proposal.
JBNZ said it was concerned allowing another commercial company to operate on the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers will ''significantly and seriously impact'' the ability of the public to enjoy recreational boating opportunities on these rivers.
Furthermore, it could restrict ''if not bring to an end through safety and conflict issues these opportunities''.
Three residential submitters, with addresses from Quail Rise, Tucker Beach Rd, and Riverside Rd, were also against the application for reasons including safety, noise pollution, ''enough activity from tourism operators on Shotover to Tucker Beach'', and the interference to wildlife.
The council's communications adviser, Michele Poole, said a decision on a hearing has not been made yet but when one was scheduled it would be advertised and held in public.
Mr Field did not return calls from the Otago Daily Times.
