Navigation Safety Bylaw 2025
Residents and visitors treasure the stunning lakes and rivers of the Queenstown Lakes District, and we all value the safe and accessible recreational opportunities they provide. QLDC’s duty under the Maritime Transport Act 1994 is to ensure maritime safety so everyone can safely enjoy our waterways.
The Navigation Safety Bylaw 2018 (the current bylaw) has been in place since March 2018. It is due for review and will automatically expire if not reviewed prior to March 2025.
On 19 September 2024, Council endorsed the draft Navigation Safety Bylaw 2025 | Te Ture ā-Rohe mō te Haumaru Whakatere 2025 (the draft bylaw) for consultation with the community. The draft bylaw proposes a range of changes from the current bylaw to ensure navigation safety is achieved in the district.
You can read the draft Navigation Safety Bylaw 2025 (with proposed amendments) here.
How’s the management of our waterways working for you?
QLDC is charting the course for the next stage of the bylaw development process and are ready to receive your feedback on the draft bylaw. The draft bylaw includes:
- provisions that are proposed to be carried forward into the draft bylaw without any amendment,
- amendments proposed to provisions of the current bylaw, and
- new provisions addressing matters that are not currently addressed in the bylaw.
Key amendments addressed in the draft bylaw include:
- ski lane locations and identification,
- navigation safety risk associated with recreational jumping from the Albert Town Bridge,
- vessel identification,
- temporary events on the water,
- vessel speed interpretation,
- Kawarau Dam access lanes,
- carriage of communication devices, and
- other minor corrections to improve the clarity, legibility and overall accessibility of the bylaw.