Waikato regional councillors have backed a recommendation to consult with the public on proposed changes to the Navigation Safety Bylaw.  The revised draft bylaw deals with navigation safety, including the use or management of boats, kayaks and requirements for life jackets and jet ski registration.

The consultation opens on Wednesday, 1 July, and everyone wanting to have their say on the proposed changes to the bylaw must lodge their submission by 5pm on Wednesday, 29 July. Visit here after 1 July to have your say 

The vast majority of marine activity in the Waikato is in Thames-Coromandel’s waters, so for all you boaties out there – make sure you have your say.

Richard Barnett, Waikato Regional Council’s maritime services team leader, said: “We have received some useful feedback and suggestions on the existing bylaw since it came into force in 2013, and some of these have been incorporated into the changes we’re proposing.

“The changes this time are smaller in scope than previous years, but will still have impacts on specific areas, so it’s important to us that key communities are on board with the proposed rules,” he said.

There are also changes to local schedules to better represent current actual usage, like the addition of swim zones, removal of unnecessary 5 knot zones, an unsafe towing access lane, and shifting some zones after physical changes to the reserves where the zones are located.