A parade is being held in Northland today by a group opposing the banning of powered boats on the Kai Iwi Lakes.
The protest, which will include around 50 boats, is designed to raise awareness of changes to the region proposed by the Kaipara District Council's Draft Kai Iwi Lakes (Taharoa Domain) Reserve Management Plan 2015, says Rob Stevenson of the Friends of Kai Iwi Lakes working group.
"There are a number of proposals that simply lack any robust information and evidence to support what is planned," says Mr Stevenson.
"The banning of powered boats are not the only changes proposed in the Draft Reserve Management Plan that we don't agree with."
Mr Stevenson says local businesses have told the group the proposals would negatively affect them to the point it might put them out of business.
"We are appalled that KDC has not considered the economic impact on the district in the draft plan."
It was discovered during a review of the draft plan that bylaws covering boating activities on the lakes had lapsed, meaning all activity currently comes under the authority of Maritime New Zealand. Because Maritime NZ laws mean boats must travel under 5 knots within 200 metres of the shore, they have effectively shut down water skiing on Lake Waikere due to its small size, says Mr Stevenson.
A Friends of Kai Iwi Lakes Facebook page has more than 3500 members.
Newshub.
