Waimak. bar warnings soon?

Press, 8 April 1978, Page 19

Waimak. bar warnings soon?

The Kaiapoi Borough Council, in its capacity as the Waimakariri Harbour Board, will investigate how public warnings might be given about the state of the Waimakariri River bar at Kairaki. The chairman of the council’s reserves and harbour committee (Mr H. G; McAllister) told a committee meeting that there should be a ban on boats attempting to cross the bar if the occupants were not wearing life-jackets. “We can stop speeding,” he said. Persons not wearing lifejackets also create hazards to others undertaking rescues.”

The town clerk (Mr R. McCabe) said that the council had a responsibility as a harbour board at least to try to establish an adequate warnmg system. Costs were being in-

vestigated for signs at the boat ramps at Kairaki, Kaiapoi, and Brooklands. These could include ■ information on the effect of the bar and warnings based on marine forecasts.

As an alternative, a red flag could be used to indicate a dangerous bar. This was done- at Greymouth, Westport, and Wnakatane. Several councillors felt that the chairman’s proposal would not be work-, able unless boat registration was introduced. This was believed to have met a varied response when mooted previously by the Ministry of Transport. :

It was recommended that the question of boat registration be raised,-with the Ministry and thajt further investigations be made into suitable warning devices for the bar at Kairaki.