Kawarau Jet's appeal against consent approval for competitor Thunder Jet to operate commercial jet-boat trips on the Kawarau River on safety grounds was a "convenient and somewhat contrived argument", the Environment Court was told yesterday.
However, Kawarau Jet insisted the safety of its customers would be compromised by a second commercial operator on the river, which was already at its environmental limit.
There would be "substantial interference" with the appellants' consented activities.
Thunder Jet had not shown how it would avoid adverse effects on the river and the "substantial change" to its proposed method of radio communication between the operators was beyond its applications, Kawarau Jet said.
Judge Laurie Newhook and commissioners David Bunting and John Mills heard the opening submissions of Pru Steven, counsel for applicant Queenstown Water Taxis, trading as Thunder Jet, as well as from respondent Queenstown Lakes District Council lawyer Graeme Todd, and Jim Castiglione, counsel of Kawarau Jet and Clearwater Pursuits, at the Kingsgate Hotel, in Queenstown.
Ms Steven said an extra four Thunder Jet boats operating up to 34 trips a day, from the Kawarau River bridge to the Arrow River confluence, would be safe, regardless of how many boats Kawarau Jet operated.
Water Taxis' safe operational plan, approved by Maritime New Zealand, and its plan to radio the appellants, would address safety concerns.
Granting consent would not interfere with the opposing parties' operations and there would be no adverse effect the environment, Ms Steven said.
Water Taxis' use of the proposed radio channels between operators and its assessment of environmental effects filed with the applications were "more than adequate", Mr Todd said.
The Kawarau Conservation Order gave no prohibition or restriction of jet-boating on the river as the environment was relatively noisy already, due to surrounding land users and Queenstown Airport.
Mr Castiglione said the fact Kawarau Jet would be a competitor did not bar consideration of the concerns it and Clearwater had.
Water Taxis failed to provide detailed assessments on noise, traffic congestion, rural and visual amenity and the effects on recreation and conservation in its application, Mr Castiglione said.
Witnesses would submit Water Taxis' communication proposals - to use public radio channel 5 or licensed EN67 - were insufficient, were not intended for jet-boat use, and were beyond its control.
The hearing continues today and is scheduled to finish on May 28.
