Sounds bylaw may see ferry price rise

A proposed increase of safety fees for boats using the Marlborough Sounds has been strongly opposed by people saying ferry customers will have to bear the brunt of the price rise.

The controversial bylaw is yet to be passed by Marlborough District Council, but in its present form it could see the Interislander face an extra levy of about $600,000 a year, the Marlborough Express reported.

Interislander spokesman Nigel Parry said as a result customers could have to pay a higher price for a Cook Strait ferry ticket.

The bylaw was ill-conceived and failed to address the dangers caused by recreational boaties, he said.

There was strong opposition to the proposal at a four-day hearing held in Blenheim.

Under the proposal, commercial operators would have to pay scaled safety fees and to install an automatic identification system.

Destination Marlborough board member and co-owner of Portage Resort Hotel Dain Simpson said the whole of the Sounds and the Queen Charlotte Track was built up around a very efficient water-taxi service and a fee increase could see a drop in tourism.

- NZPA