Sole concession right for part of Shotover

Press, 16 December 1985, Page 22

Sole concession right for part of Shotover

The Lakes District Waterways Authority has granted a sole concession right to Shotover Jet, Ltd, to run commercial jet boats for three years and three months on a controversial stretch of the lower Shotover River near Queenstown. Applications for concessions were called for by the authority recently after the gazetting with the Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble, of the Shotover River Empowering Act, which gave the authority the right to enforce a by-law determining who used the river and when. Two applications were heard by the authority in Queenstown recently, both from the existing users of the river, Shotover Jet, Ltd, and Marine Enterprises, Ltd. Shotover Jet began using the river 15 years ago and Marine Enterprises began in 1983. The authority enforced strict time limits on both companies in the interests of safety and has since been awaiting the passing of the appropriate legislation giving it the powers to grant concessions. Evidence at the hearings had indicated that Shotover Jet offered the “best and most experienced operation,” the authority said in its decision. The company’s owner, Mr Trevor Gamble, had been largely responsible for establishing trips on the river as a big tourist attraction and for the consequent’ “commercial attraction.” The company’s business was confined to this, the authority said. Shotover Jet would continue to provide and maintain a high, reliable and safe standard of service to the public. Safety had been a prime consideration because of the risk factor involved and the nature of the Shotover River. If two firms we® allowed

on the river the ultimate safety of thousands of people would depend on their co-operation. The authority had noted apparent shortcomings in communication between both companies’ boats when they had taken trips on the river which had reinforced the need for a single user. Shotover Jet’s concession would terminate in March, 1989, when it would be reviewed. The authority had

the right to review the present concession charge i of 5 per cent of Shotover < Jet’s annual gross turnover I from July 1, 1987. Shotover ; Jet should continue to hold i the concession for its own use and benefit as from January 1. £ Mr Gamble said he was delighted at the outcome of * the hearings, as he had been losing six trips a day on the river since it had been shared by Marine Enter- n prises more than a year s ago. c

He appreciated the authority’s position and the-pre-carious nature of the situation, but was disappointed at the length of the concession. It was too short and left a measure of uncertainty hanging over the company’s plans for future development in the long term and over staff security. Marine Enterprises would not comment on the decision, but was believed to be considering an appeal.