Environment BOP has yet to produce a decision from the Hunters Creek lane hearings held in August amidst rumours that the Hunters Creek lane will remain open while the Motuhoa Island land is closed. This has been denied by Environment BOP staff who say no decision has yet been made as they are still deliberating.

Hunters Creek.

When asked if it was the Tauranga issues or the Rotorua lakes issues that were causing the delay, they refused to answer.
Group manager water management Eddie Grogan says the new bylaw is now expected to be unveiled 'early next year”.
'It is important to council to ensure that we take the time required to do the best job possible for our community,” says Eddie.
'We are ensuring that we take an appropriate amount of time to seek advice and also consider the views made by all submitters.”
The regional council aims to have the new Navigational Safety Bylaws in place for next summer.
'In some areas we need to carefully consider outcomes that ensure a full discussion is had on these, as council ensures that it makes decisions that try to balance the needs of the community with the needs of water users.
'While there were submissions on a number of different issues and on different areas within the region, it isn't possible for us to split this process of review to deal with the easy issues quickly and delay other issues.
'We need to, and are, taking a whole of region approach to this review and therefore will finalise deliberations on all aspects and areas at the same time.”
The outcomes of the deliberations will be reported to the regional council and following its decision, submitters will be informed of the outcome. The bylaws will also be sent to Maritime New Zealand for ratification.
Some of the key proposed changes include an increase in mooring licence fees from $120 to $135, an increase in the commercial navigation and safety licence fees from $75 to $100, a new requirement to display a sail name or number for vessels on moorings, an enlargement of the restricted anchoring area in the shipping channels, and changes to water ski lanes.