Council stalls jetboat plan

Tasman District Council has put a moratorium on new commercial operations on the Buller River after safety fears were raised over possible jetboat congestion.

Mark Allen of Murchison has applied to operate a jetboat business on the upper Buller River, where Buller Experience Jet already operates. He would not comment on the council's decision to postpone considering his application pending a safety review of the river, saying he was seeking legal advice.

The council's harbourmaster Graham Caradus had earlier recommended allowing the second jetboat operation after consulting the Maritime Safety Authority and an independent Queenstown expert.

But the council's environment and planning subcommittee urged the council to take extreme caution.

The committee was told Queenstown Lakes District Council had run into difficulties from taking the issue "too lightly" when setting legislation on commercial river activities, so it decided the council should investigate the risks and what it could learn from the Queenstown council's experience with jetboat accidents.

Mr Caradus will prepare a further report on Buller River jetboat operations, which will be presented to the committee after councillors have visited the area.

- nzpa