Multiple commercial jet-boat operators could operate safely on the Kawarau River and accidents were unlikely to happen as long as drivers followed safety procedures and the rules of the river, the Environment Court heard yesterday.
The hearing on Kawarau Jet's appeal against granting consent for competitor Thunder Jet to operate jet-boat trips on the river was continuing in the Queenstown District Court.
The hearing is before Judge Laurie Newhook and commissioners David Bunting and John Mills.
Dart River Jet Safaris, Waiatoto River Safari and Haast River Safari founder Neil Ross gave evidence supporting Thunder Jet's application.
He was called by Pru Steven, counsel for Queenstown Water Taxis Ltd, which trades as Thunder Jet, and cross-examined by Jim Castiglione, counsel for the appellants Kawarau Jet Holdings Ltd and Clearwater Pursuits Ltd.
Mr Ross said operators could be too reliant on radio communication.
"It's more important to train drivers to handle situations that may arise and to expect the unexpected.
"Radio calls to let other drivers know your position are not absolutely necessary from a safety point of view."
"The Kawarau River is deep and wide in jet-boating terms and there is plenty of width and visibility in my opinion to support multiple operators."
When he was an operator on the river, there were 10 operators with up to 24 boats with no co-ordination between companies over routes or schedules, no safe operational plans or GPS systems.
"With this many operators using the Kawarau River there was an extremely low number of incidents and there were no boat-to-boat accidents during the periods I drove on the river," Mr Ross said.
Experienced jet-boater Paul Smith told the court he had assessed the river for Maritime New Zealand and believed an additional operator on the river would not pose a significant threat to the safety of passengers or other river users.
The hearing will continue today.
