Today, Green MP Sue Kedgley and Wellington City Councillor Celia Wade-Brown delivered their submission to the Greater Wellington Regional Council supporting the initiative to exclude jet skis from Lyall Bay and separate them from other water users.

"Excluding jet skis would make Lyall Bay beach safer for surfers and
swimmers, and I am glad the Council is investigating this issue
before, and not after someone is seriously hurt or killed by a jet
ski," says Ms Kedgley.

“In my joint submission with Celia, we have submitted that jet skis be excluded from Lyall Bay much like what happens overseas, as in Cape Cod in the U.S. or Port Maquarie in Australia.” Says Ms Kedgley.

"Unfortunately, some jet skiers' antics such as wave jumping outside
of the flagged jet ski zone, have meant that other water users' lives
have been endangered and some of the stories I have heard have been
chilling," says Ms Kedgley.

The two Green members’ submission focused on safety and pollution
issues as a basis for jet skiers to be excluded from Lyall Bay and
have a separate beach allocated that is not shared by surfers and
swimmers.

"As a keen kayaker, I believe Lyall Bay is a great place to relax and
have a swim, surf or kayak but sharing the beach with jet skiers is unpleasant because their distracting high mosquito-like whine is heard for kilometres,
and some of their fuel is also discharged into the sea," says Ms
Wade-Brown, who also enjoys walking her dog along the coast.

Ms Kedgley and Ms Wade Brown called on the Regional Council to exclude
jet skiers, and they agree with Greater Wellington Regional Council Chairman Ian Buchanan’s statements that, "Maintaining the status quo or public education, are too Costly or impractical"

# posted by gareth @ 3:12 PM