KJet ferry service hearing answer next week

Image: YouTube
Image: YouTube
KJet will find out next week whether its application for a new water ferry service on Lake Wakatipu can be heard by independent commissioners, or will have to be put on hold.

The company wants consent for a scheduled ferry service along the Kawarau River and Lake Wakatipu, from Bridesdale Farm to Queenstown between 6am and midnight on weekdays, and 7am and midnight at weekends.

Its application, publicly notified last year, said consents from the Otago Regional Council could be required for safety work under the historic Kawarau Falls Bridge.

That was because channels would need to be modified to make them suitable for ferries, bigger than commercial jet-boats which already used the route.

In a minute issued last month, independent commissioners Jan Caunter and David Mead said the Queenstown Lakes District Council advised because of the need for additional consents they did not have delegated authority to hear the application under the Resource Management Act.

Ms Caunter’s minute said KJet’s counsel James Gardner-Hopkins submitted those consents did not form part of the ‘‘proposal’’ and referred to a previous Court of Appeal decision around that particular word’s precise definition.

‘‘He also states that there are no reasonable grounds to require the lodging of an application for any works in the bed of a river in order to understand the nature and effects of the proposed public ferry service, at least as falls within this council’s jurisdiction.’’

The commissioners agreed with Mr Gardner-Hopkins that it would be ‘‘wasteful of time, cost and effort’’ for KJet and the submitters to prepare for a hearing ‘‘only to have this application put on hold’’.

They asked the council to let them know by Wednesday if it intended to invoke the section of the Act which would delay the application.

At present Go Orange operates the Queenstown Water Ferry, on Lake Wakatipu.

However, it plans to end the public service on February 29 unless the regional council provides a public transport subsidy.

An online petition launched last month by Kelvin Peninsula Community Association chairman David Mayhew to pressure the regional council to provide a subsidy to Go Orange now had almost 1600 signatures.

The ‘‘Keep the Wakatipu Ferry on the water’’ petition would remain open until January 31, after which it would be presented to the regional council.

On land, a new $2 Orbus service, between Lake Hayes Estate and Queenstown, will launch on Monday, then be on trial all year.

The service will run every 30 minutes for two hours each weekday morning and afternoon.

Morning buses will leave Lake Hayes Estate every half hour from 7.17am, and from Queenstown from 8.08am.

They will also run from 3.33pm from Queenstown and 4.13pm from Lake Hayes Estate.

tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz

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