Power boats on Estuary

Press, 16 April 1980, Page 20

Power boats on Estuary

Sir,—While the rest of us are doing our bit in saving petrol with earless days, why are the speedboat men again burning up precious fuel with their 80 plus decibel machines on .the Estuary? Why has the council, after its promises to protect the Estuary, waived the proposed noise by-law and recently extended the hours in which this minority group gets all the favours? Up until now the New Brighton Power Boat Club has only been allowed to race on 13 Saturdays a year. By the parks and recreation committee now granting permission to race on the Estuary from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on Mondays to Saturdays inclusive, the suffering public can only marvel at the extended opportunities for petrol wastage and environmental desecration.—Yours, etc., (MRS) M. K. INGLIS. March 17, 1980. [Mr J. H. Gray, General Manager and Town Clerk replies: “The council has not waived the conditions laid down relating to maximum noise levels . during power boat activities. Noise levels are regularly monitored by staff and a summary is submitted back to the parks and recreation committee for its consideration. Extending the hours from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., does not allow the club additional days to race. The club is still governed by the decision of the council on the maximum number < of days permitted. The writer should appreciate that power boat racing is conducted around high tide and because of the variance in tides each day the request was quite reasonable.”]