The Whanganui River has a variety of users from rowers to paddle steamers. Photo / Bevan Conley
The Whanganui River has a variety of users from rowers to paddle steamers. Photo / Bevan Conley
Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall wants a navigation bylaw covering the Whanganui River and says it a "perversity" the region's busiest river doesn't have one.
He's urged Horizons Regional Council to adopt a bylaw or a put a harbourmaster in place as part of Whanganui District Council's submission to the regionalcouncil's Long-Term Plan.
"It's an anomaly and a perversity. It's the most used river in the entire region but it's not covered by any bylaw at all."
McDouall wants the river to come under Horizons Regional Council's Manawatū River & Tributaries Navigational Safety Bylaw, or to have a harbourmaster.
"I asked three years ago, and in every annual plan since," he said.
He believed speed on the river should be 5 knots anywhere within 200m of the bank - but there could be some flexibility for steamboats.
Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDouall made his council's submission to Horizons Regional Council on May 11. Photo / File
The river is used by rowers, a paddles teamer, jetskis, powerboats and waka ama.
"There doesn't necessarily have to be a harbourmaster enforcing navigation laws, but there needs to be a programme within the community, at the very least, and have navigation laws fully spelled out and reiterated again and again."
Meanwhile, on Horizons' flood control work, McDouall said his Whanganui District council was waiting for a full flood scheme update, which it needed for planning purposes.
Whanganui supported work in the Matarawa Scheme, but wanted Horizons to tell stakeholders what is proposed, what effect it will have and when it will start.
"Managed retreat is not the only option for Anzac Parade," he said.
The district council supported Horizons' new spending on climate change, McDouall said, and pushed it to change its goal for carbon neutrality from 2050, the Government date, to 2025.
He supported Horizons starting a $50,000 per year contestable fund for community resilience climate initiatives, but said that might not be enough money.
His council also welcomed Horizons' move to beef up the Aramoho-Castlecliff bus service in 2022, and he would like to see moves toward electric buses.
The Whanganui District Council submission was one of 435 that Horizons received on its 2021-31 Long-Term Plan. It was heard on May 11.
