The rule arises from District Plan changes in 2016, but has largely gone unenforced until recently.<\/p>\n
It does not apply to lakes in the Lakes A Zone, which includes Lakes Tarawera, Tikitapu (Blue Lake), Rotok\u0101kahi (Green Lake), \u014ck\u0101reka and \u014ckataina.<\/p>\n
But for the past 10 years, many businesses have been operating on impacted lakes, unaware they were in breach of this rule. <\/p>\n
Rotorua Trout Guide owner Julian Danby is one such operator. <\/p>\n
He received a letter from Rotorua Lakes Council in March saying he had 14 days to provide evidence he had either begun the process for, or had submitted an application for, a resource consent.<\/p>\n
Danby told Local Democracy Reporting he is a \u201cone-man team\u201d and the cost and time involved in getting a resource consent meant he may have to consider his options. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll probably have to cease operating on Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti and diversify the business,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Rotorua Trout Guide’s Julian Danby (right) says he may need to consider abandoning the impacted lakes. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
He estimated his costs to obtain the consent could reach about $10,000.<\/p>\n
Danby said the only other conversation he had with the council regarding the issue was a phone call seven months ago.<\/p>\n
He had spoken to other operators likely to be impacted, who all expressed the same concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s bonkers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got the best lake in New Zealand for trout fishing and essentially, there\u2019s going to be no charters available on it because of this legislation issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his view, the council was \u201cjust clipping the ticket\u201d.<\/p>\n
Local Democracy Reporting spoke to several other operators who did not want to be named, concerned speaking out may negatively impact future dealings with the council.<\/p>\n
Operators running commercial enterprises on lakes in Rotorua\u2019s Water Zone, including Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti (pictured), must obtain a resource consent. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
One described the consent cost as an \u201cexistential risk\u201d to the business, while others said they were still waiting to hear from the council.<\/p>\n
Dustin Halidone operates DustyRyders, a jet ski rental service on Lake Rotoiti. <\/p>\n
He said he had heard nothing from the council regarding a resource consent for his operations.<\/p>\n
He has already \u201cspent thousands\u201d of dollars getting his Maritime New Zealand certification, which he believed gave him the right to operate. <\/p>\n
Maritime NZ certification governs safety, while resource consents relate to water use under council planning rules.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as I know, I\u2019m not doing anything wrong,\u201d Halidone said.<\/p>\n
Dustin Halidone operates jet ski rentals and services on Lake Rotoiti. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never heard of any sort of consent being needed from the council.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll keep going, and hopefully they don\u2019t come and sting us.\u201d <\/p>\n