But the Queenstown Lakes District Council said late yesterday the harbourmaster role was about education. Police, not the harbourmaster, should be called in emergencies.
Mr Walmisley said the boating community’s arrows should be aimed at the right target - the council’s harbourmaster callout system - and not at new operator Cougar Security.
Cougar Security has held the council’s harbourmaster contract since July.
Cougar’s contract was not the same as the one previously held by the SMS Waterways team, led by former Queenstown Lakes harbourmaster Marty Black. People’s expectations were still based on what Mr Black did, Mr Walmisley said.
"What I am seriously concerned about is the system put in place by the QLDC has failed. It is not fit for purpose. It needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency ... and until that’s in place, it is too early to attack the harbourmaster [Cougar]."
Wanaka’s part-time harbourmaster Jeff Donaldson resigned last week, citing safety concerns.
Mr Black had Maritime New Zealand powers of investigation and audit on top of his council role as educator and enforcer of local navigation and water safety bylaws.
The boating community and media would ring Mr Black directly on his cellphone to report and discuss incidents, risks and emergencies.
Under the new system, people must go to the Queenstown Lakes District Council landline, and staff will contact Cougar Security. Online requests are an option.
Mr Walmisley told the Otago Daily Times this week people "either liked him or hated him [Mr Black], but all knew what his job was".
"But I don’t think we know what the Cougar role is ... People’s expectations revolve around the old contract."
Cougar Security director Ricky Campbell said this week he had other people who could patrol Lake Wanaka and a job offer was out to former harbourmaster Craig Blake.
Council regulatory manager Anthony Hall said there would be no loss of service in Wanaka after Mr Donaldson quit.
Waterways services had different roles, especially in emergencies, he said.
"The role of the harbourmaster and other council-managed waterways officers is education and ensuring users of lakes and rivers adhere to relevant water safety rules and bylaws."
Mr Hall said the council and Cougar worked closely with Maritime NZ on education and enforcement, certification of Cougar’s vessels and Cougar’s staff training plans.
Maritime NZ’s role was to investigate serious incidents and accidents, and support and co-ordinate search and rescues with police and coastguard, Mr Hall said.
