More than 300 people have given feedback as part of the early engagement phase of a review of the Bay of Plenty's Navigation Safety Bylaw - which is now open for submissions.
The insights enabled the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to identify issues that were significant regionally and make changes to the new proposed bylaw, the council said in a statement.
Thousands of people use this region's harbours, lakes and rivers for a wide range of activities every day.
The Navigation Safety Bylaw sets the rules which help ensure these activities can co-exist safely and after six months of early engagement with the community, today opened for submissions.
Regional council senior planner Shawn Baker said the review gave the regional council an opportunity to take a closer look at what was working well and what needed to be refined in the existing bylaw.
"The majority of clauses from the existing bylaw have been carried through but there are a number of key changes proposed too. This includes changes to the rules around lifejackets and a proposal to make the registration of personal water craft compulsory. We really appreciate the time people took to let us know what navigational safety issues are important to them," he said.
Anyone or any organisation can make a submission on any part of the proposed Navigation Safety Bylaw.
Submission forms and more information can be found online at www.boprc.govt.nz/navbylaw, forms can be collected from the regional council's Rotorua, Whakatane, Tauranga or Mount Maunganui offices or you can request a hard copy by phoning 0800 884 880.
Submissions are open until 5pm on Thursday 7 July.
Key changes proposed
• Lifejackets to be worn at all times on vessels 6m or under and making way - unless the skipper advises otherwise
• Rules around navigating near large vessels
• Proposal to make registration of personal watercraft (jetskis) compulsory
• Definitions for passive recreation area and non-water sports area refined and added
• Changes to some reserved areas e.g. Hunters Creek