Tauranga boaties are frantically writing submissions against a proposed second ski lane at Panepane Point – just a short distance from an already existing ski lane at the point.

The proposal to turn a popular deep water anchorage into a water ski lane wasn't announced when the Navigation Safety Bylaw opened for public consultation.

Matakana Island. Photo File.

Public consultation closes tomorrow, July 7, leaving only a short time for people to protest the move.

'It's the only deep water sheltered anchorage with a great beach,” says Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club past commodore Gary Smith.

'On an average summer day easily 20 to 30 boats anchored there.”

From the shore Gary quite often sees boats anchored west off the Panepane point wharf.

'It's not just the yacht and launch owners that use the area,” says Gary. 'The Kewpie Harbour ferry also calls at the wharf, adding to the beach users.

'I talked to a couple of ski guys and they said they would never go skiing off there. It's too rough, there's a lot of boat wakes - a lot of boats coming and going all the time. There's always a lot of boats anchored there, people swimming and people on the beach. What a dumb place to put a ski lane.”

The only reason Gary can see for the proposed ski lane is it's a deep water beach.

'Well there's plenty of other beaches to go and ski from other than the one place in the harbor where a lot of boats have congregated for a long time.

"It's not something people suddenly started doing. They been doing it for 40 years, well my experience goes 40 years.”

Any person or organisation can make a submission on any part of the proposed Navigation Safety Bylaw. Submission forms and more information can be found online.

Forms can be collected from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Rotorua, Whakatane, Tauranga or Mount Maunganui offices.

Hard copies of the proposed bylaw can be obtained by phoning 0800 884 880.

Submissions are open until 5pm on Thursday, July 7.