By TONY GEE
KAIKOHE - A planned regime of recreational, parking and commercial charges for boaties using some Far North launching ramps and other maritime facilities has gone on hold.
The controversial $45-a-year or $4-a-day charges were to have been introduced on August 1 in parts of the Bay of Islands and Whangaroa harbours under two new bylaws and an amendment to parking bylaws.
Their introduction, along with new mooring charges for boat and yacht owners, has been deferred by the Far North District Council while more work is done on future costs of the district's maritime assets and a plan is drawn up.
"We've opened up a can of worms, or is it sea lice?" a member of the council's maritime task group, Les Robertson, said as a meeting in Kaikohe agreed to defer proposed trailer boat and mooring charges.
Public submissions on issues raised by the planned charges showed more time was needed to deal with the problem, he said.
Council general manager Clive Manley has the job of producing an asset management plan for such things as wharves, jetties, boat ramps, grids and pontoons.
He must also identify what it will cost to manage and maintain them for the next 10 years.
Input will also be sought from the maritime and boating community on new facilities requested for parts of the district.
Mr Manley said the deferral of the bylaws and charging meant there was now no mooring charge on council books for about 1900 mooring owners, and none was proposed.
The long-disputed existing owner charge for mooring was to have been reduced to about $20 this year, but no fee will now be set until the proposed bylaws and charging system are back on track.
Mr Manley said the deferral period would be "at least two months."
"We're still aiming for [a start in] October and I think that's achievable."
An October introduction is considered necessary to have the regime in place before the Christmas and summer holiday boating season begins.
Meanwhile, the council will maintain its existing 1998 wharves bylaw, covering mainly commercial fishing, ferry, game and charter boat operations and charges, until it is replaced later this year.
Far North council delays introduction of boating charges
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