In a decision likely to disappoint both sides of a long-running argument over whether Hunter River speed limits should be lifted, the Queenstown Lakes District Council yesterday decided to create two "uplift periods" on the back-country river.
The decision is significant because the Hunter River, renowned for its salmon and remote back-country experience, was the last braided river in the district jet-boaters could not use.
Members of the working party who recommended the speed limit be lifted explained there were few options available to control jet-boating on the river.
They had found little evidence jet-boats were causing a nuisance.
The final recommendation was a compromise to try to deter the "jet-boat equivalent of boy racers" from the river during certain times of the year.
The decision means the river will be open for six weeks from November 1 to December 12, and again from March 19 to April 30.
The five-knot speed restriction remains in place the rest of the year and is so slow it effectively prevents jet-boats from getting across the shallow river mouth from Lake Hawea.
The Hunter River issue has troubled the Queenstown Lakes District Council for many years and been the subject of several consultations and hearings.
Cr Leigh Overton, who was on the working party, said the bylaw had a narrow scope and members had to assess the issue on safety grounds.
There were no safety reasons preventing jet-boating in November or March, he said.
The reasons for closing the river to jetboats over Christmas were because of traditional low flows and increased numbers of jet-boats in the district, increasing the possibility of irresponsible jet-boaters.
