The row over whether the Westland District Council can charge for the use of what it describes as ''a boat ramp'' at Jackson Bay could be headed for court.
Crayfisher Terry Wedding has received an ''urgent action'' reminder from the council's property company, Westland District Property Ltd, to pay $12,044 in arrears for landing crayfish at the Jackson Bay wharf.
But he told the Otago Daily Times at the weekend he does not land crayfish at the wharf and does not intend to pay.
''We never unload at the wharf. The boat gets pulled on to the trailer and pulled up on to the bank and they just come and offload us from there.''
Mr Wedding said the unloading sometimes occurred on part of the beach the council regarded as a boat ramp but he did not.
The ramp the council refers to is about 100m west of the wharf and consists of a stretch of sand and rock, with no visible structure.
Mr Wedding disputed the existence of the ramp and the council's right to charge for using what he regards as a beach.
''I'm not paying. They don't own the beach.''
''They can take me to court. I want them to take me to court. I want to prove a point, that I don't use their wharf.''
Last year the property company imposed a $15 fee on ramp users - mostly recreational boaties - and also sought arrears from commercial fishermen for using the wharf, which is in need of repairs.
The council's Jackson Bay Wharf bylaw gives the council the right to fix a fee to fund the maintenance and renewal of the wharf and any ''associated facilities''.
Recreational boatie Kerry Mawhinney is also refusing to pay to launch his boat at Jackson Bay.
Mr Mawhinney, the former Southland regional manager for the Department of Conservation, disputes the council's right to charge for use of what he considers is a beach, rather than a boat ramp.
Council property company general manager Bruce Smith had no comment when asked about the likelihood of prosecution.
