Whether two commercial jet-boating companies could co-operate so safety is assured on the Wilkin River was a key issue for the Environment Court at Wanaka this week.
The Environment Court reserved its decision in the Southern Alps Air jet-boat resource consent application case late on Tuesday afternoon and lawyers for all the parties will hand in closing submissions to Judge Jon Jackson later.
The scheduled week-long hearing finished in two days, as Judge Jon Jackson said he preferred to pre-read evidence rather than have it read out in court.
Southern Alps Air directors Paul and Anne Cooper are seeking consent for 10 jet-boat trips a day on the Wilkin River, Makarora River and Lake Wanaka, using two jet-boats.
The application was declined by the Queenstown Lakes District Council in 2004, launching a long string of appeals before the Court of Appeal confirmed a rehearing should be conducted.
The consent has been consistently opposed by Wilkin River Jet, which has the right to operate 16 jet-boat trips a day, also using two boats.
Amenity and recreation values are also being considered by the court.
Wilkin River Jet is concerned about the impact a second commercial operator will have on its operations and to what extent the two companies can co-operate.
Wilkin River Jet's lawyer Chris Steven asked in his written opening submissions: "What does co-operation entail? Communication is one thing.
Coming up with a code of conduct, river management plan or other pattern of behaviour designed to overcome difficulties with safety [particularly where the navigation rules are inappropriate], is another matter altogether."
Wilkin River Jet claims communication is essential but argues Southern Alps Air has not established it can achieve effective radio communication.
Mr Steven said the court must identify a minimum standard of management and assess safety in the light of that standard.
Once those matters had been attended to, they still needed to be assessed in the "in the context of the quality of service delivered to the customer and impact on Wilkin River Jet," Mr Steven said.
Southern Alps Air lawyer Jo Appleyard said safety could be assured and the court had found so in 2005.
Wilkin River Jet had agreed in evidence it would communicate and both companies safe operation plans complied with Maritime Rules requirements on communications, she said.
Ms Appleyard noted Southern Alps Air had offered to install a radio communications system, which would be made available to all boaters on the Wilkin and Makarora rivers and continue to allow Wilkin River Jet private use of its own radios.
