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Recruiting fans A member of the NZ Army Band leads children in the conga on Saturday. More from the Upper Clutha A&P Show on page 9.
One more prank page 2
Pest control success page 4 photo: wanaka.tv
Ski lane closure mooted Caroline Harker
Adventure field spread page 12
Brilliant white water page 16
rental listings
sunclassifieds
page 15
The water-ski lane by Edgewater may be closed by next summer – if that’s what the community wants - according to harbour master Marty Black. “It’s not well used and the swimming areas need to be extended,” he said. While a number of swimmers have suggested the closure to Marty, he hasn’t heard anything from the Lake Wanaka Swimmers Club, however club chairperson Claire O’Connell said it would be great for members if the lane was closed. “People wanting to do longer swims usually go from Stoney Creek up to the Rock [past Edgewater],” she said. “It’s ideal because it’s 1km to the Rock so people can do a 2km lap.” Claire said no-one swims there in the holiday season because the lane is too busy, although it’s hardly used the rest of the year. It’s not generally regarded as a good location for a ski-lane because there are many rocks in the area.
Marty said he will be making suggestions about possible changes to the Wanaka Community Board soon, and hopes the idea of closing the lane will be put out for public consultation. There are three waterski lanes in the Roy’s Bay area; at Eely Point, Waterfall Creek and on the beach opposite the skate
“The ski lanes get very busy and it’s important people stick to the rules.” Apparently 90 percent of fatal boating accidents involve the skipper not having enough boating knowledge and experience. Ski lane rules include keeping to the right, entering and leaving at right angles to the shore, travelling
They can choose their own ‘private’ beach anywhere down the lake and have it all to themselves. park. There are also two lanes at Glendhu Bay. Marty said people are allowed to water-ski off any beach outside of the built-up areas, if they are considerate of other lake users, and he’s surprised so many stick to the ski lanes. “They can choose their own ‘private’ beach anywhere down the lake and have it all to themselves,” he said.
in an anti-clockwise direction, not endangering other boats or people in the lane and not beaching boats in the lane. Marty said in busy areas elsewhere on the lake boats should not exceed 5 knots within 200m of the shore or within 50m of another boat or a person swimming. “It’s a common sense approach we’re looking for,”
he said. Claire O’Connell said the swimmers’ club was set up in 2011 as a forum for open-water swimmers and now has more than 60 members. Coincidentally, that same year buoys were installed in the Meadowstone corner of Roy’s Bay which created a relatively safe area for swimmers. “Open-water swimming is a fairly new thing all over the world,” Claire said. “Many of our members got into it so they could swim in the Challenge.” The club has regular Sunday morning swims which up to 50 people take part in and this Saturday it is having an organised swim out to Ruby Island and back. Kayakers accompany the swimmers for safety. “It’s great going around the island because there’s so much to see,” Claire said. “There’s an underwater cliff which is amazing.” Claire swims at least twice a week all year round. “Quite a few people do it even though the water temperature gets below eight degrees Celsius,” she said.