Boating on the Waitaki River and lakes over Queen's Birthday weekend will be governed by new rules, including the compulsory wearing of life jackets on small boats, which became mandatory on June 1.
Environment Canterbury's (ECan) new navigation safety bylaw is aimed at ensuring public safety on Canterbury's lakes, rivers, harbours and coastal waterways, which include those in the Waitaki Valley.
The most significant change was the requirement for everyone to wear a life jacket on boats 6m long or less, ECan's director of resource management, Kim Drummond said.
Mr Drummond said people who spent time in the water, on it and around it should take the time to familiarise themselves with the new bylaws.
"We've tried to make the bylaws much easier for people to understand with changes to the wording, full-colour maps and a user-friendly, glovebox-sized format," Mr Drummond said.
Other changes to the bylaws affecting the Waitaki area included:New areas reserved for non-motorised boating and recreation at the Waitangi camping ground area on Lake Aviemore, Fishermans Bend gravel pits on Lake Waitaki and several side braids of the Waitaki River.
Lake Benmore speed limit through Ahuriri Gorge uplifted except for the 5-knot access lane to the Benmore dam launching ramp.
Lake Ruataniwha temporary bylaw is made permanent (with minor amendments as sought by submissions).
Mr Drummond said there would be Environment Canterbury staff and boating safety officers on the water when the boating season started later in the year in an effort to educate people about the new bylaws and maintain high standards of public safety.
