Promotion Council backs boat proposal

Press, 26 July 1984, Page 7

Promotion Council backs boat proposal

The Canterbury Promotion Council yesterday supported a proposal to run commercial tourist boats on the Avon River. Christchurch needed a diverse range of activities for tourists and the council was keen to see greater use of the river, said its executive officer, Mr Bruce Dunstan. Sightseeing on the Avon would offer something new which would be exciting, informative, and very scenic, he said. The Christchurch City Council has received three applications to run commercial boats on the Avon. Two of the applications are for motorised craft and one is for a pole-powered punt. There had been ifeiny negative comments about the proposals and the only

positive comments had been from some councillors and from those promoting the proposals, Mr Dunstan said. The Promotion Council’s contribution to the debate was intended to be positive, he said. Safeguards needed to be considered, however, before any proposal was approved. These included the safety of children, the protection of the historic Antigua Boatsheds, and environmental aspects. The number of canoes and pedalboats upstream of the boatsheds could mean there would be a conflict of interest in that section of the river if commercial boats plied there. Downstream of boatsheds there would not be the same concern. The

main consideration on that part of the river would be environmental aspects such as erosion, and protection of ducks and fish, Mr Dunstan said. The number of craft, their design, and maximum travelling speed wotfld need to be controlled, he said. A number of scenic and historic sites on that stretch of the river might be of interest to tourists, such as the Christchurch Town Hall, Canterbury Provincial Buildings, the Canterbury Information Centre, and the shopping area, Mr Dunstan said. The Promotion Council has written to the Christchurch City Council and the Christchurch Drainage Board in support of the principle of river boat tours.