Estuary meeting inconclusive

Press, 25 November 1981, Page 6

Estuary meeting inconclusive

A special Christchurch City Council meeting oh Estuary power boating was inconclusive for Estuary users and nearby residents. Since the main part of the discussion had to be held in committee, a recommendation from the ■ parks and recreation committee" meeting will, not be known until December: 16,. when the full council considers the issue. • After allowing persons and groups .who, had made submissions to have an extra say, councillors had to go behind closed doors because so much of their discussion hinged on a district scheme review hearing panel’s decision on Estuary activities. That decision cannot become public until ’Jthe full council meeting, and so the parks and recreation committee recommendation and

the decision will be disclosed at the same time. The town-planning review panel heard similar evidence on the Estuary — and conflicts between users, such as yachtsmen and power boat users — as material contained in the latest submissions, . t Only, a Pleasant Point Yacht Club spokesman yesterday made any substantial additions to previous submissions. He said the club was concerned about the demarcation system which divides the lane where yachts move in and out of their base from the power boat course. There was not sufficient water to tack and .stay within the land; boundary under certain wind’ conditions, he said.' • 7 Some power boating critics have asked the Cilv

Council to ban the sport completely from the Estuary, while others have asked for new restrictions on power boat activities. The council has received legal advice in the past that it does not have the power to prohibit aquatic activities on the Estuary,, but only to regulate and control them, and to prevent nuisances from such activities. • Whether power boating could be legally considered a nuisance,, and thus prohibited, is still an. open question. " The committee's chairwoman, Cr-Noala Massey, said that all' groups, and individuals had been given a chance to put their points of view again “because of this delicate situation.” • • A city solicitor’s legal has said that “a

certain degree of tolerance would have to be expected by yachtsmen and other users of the Estuary and neighbouring rerserves for the sporting activity, given that it is already limited to a relatively few number of days in any one year.” The opinion said that sound levels monitored over the last five years showed there was “little influence on the sound levels experienced at the residential boundary from power boat racing on the Estuary.” That seemed to indicate that the nuisance was confined to other Estuary users. The opinion did not agree with a Canterbury Yachting Association suggestion that 4 the council could regulate the speed and noise level of power boats to the extent that they were effectively prohibited from racing.