The Queenstown Lakes District Council is seeking comments on a Draft Guideline which includes a Policy on Jetties and Moorings in the Frankton Arm and other Environs of Lake Wakatipu.

A Working Party consisting of Councillors Kathy Neal and Gillian Macleod was formed in June 2004 after Council and Community concerns that unguided development of jetties, moorings and boatsheds around the Frankton Arm would lead to over domestication of the area.

The main purpose of the policy, developed by the Working Party, is to provide the Council with a tool to manage and assess any cumulative effects of future applications and to offer clear guidelines for both the community and individuals considering applying to construct a jetty, mooring or boatshed in this area, Council Chief Executive Duncan Field said.

It was important that the Council clarified the issue of public access which is clearly set out within the guideline.

The moratorium previously placed on some aspects of the consenting of jetties and moorings has now been lifted and the Council will be processing applications on the strength of the interim policies contained within the draft guideline.

Copies of the Draft Guideline are available from Council Offices in Queenstown and Wanaka and from the Council website homepage - www.qldc.govt.nz

A public information session to clarify any questions will be held on Tuesday 31 January 2006 at 5.30 pm in the Council Chambers.

Submissions will close on Friday 10 February 2006, with a hearing to follow.

By: Sarah