Commercial operators at centre of proposed maritime bylaw

People in the Far North can get on board to have their say on a proposal to change how commercial operators use the district council’s maritime facilities.

At its meeting on 21 September, the council agreed to seek public feedback on a proposed bylaw, which will merge the existing Maritime Facilities Bylaw and the Mooring Charges Bylaw into a single Maritime Facilities Bylaw.

The most significant change is that commercial operators will have to apply for approval to use the council’s maritime facilities to ensure any commercial activity is appropriate for that specific facility. For example, the size and scale of a boat ramp must be suitable and safe for a commercial operator to use.

The bylaw will ensure recreational users can enjoy the district’s many boat ramps, wharves and pontoons safely and without obstruction from commercial users.

Fees and charges for commercial use will no longer be stipulated in the bylaws. Instead, they will be outlined in the council’s fees and charges policy. Those fees will help fund the maintenance of the maritime facilities.

There are no plans to charge recreational users for using maritime facilities, and they are likely to see little change if the bylaw is adopted.

Consultation opened on Tuesday 3 October and lasts for eight weeks. If you want to give feedback on the proposal, head to our Your Say webpage, email your views to submissions@fndc.govt.nz or deliver a written submission to any Far North District Council service centre. Verbal submissions will be organised at the end of the submission period.

Photo: Commercial operators will face changes under the proposed Maritime Facilities Bylaw.