Courtesy needed in Pandora Pond

Everyone who uses Pandora Pond in Napier for recreation or sport needs to consider other users, says Harbourmaster Phil Norman.

“There is increasing concern about the amount of use the Pond is getting for all sorts of water sports, and of the potential for an accident to occur, so we need to alert people of the need to consider other users,” he says. ).

Waka ama, Multisport Hawke’s Bay, the Optimist Trust and swimmers have been in discussions with Napier City Council, the Harbourmaster and Police about the amount of ‘traffic’ in the Pond at times.

There is not enough room in Pandora Pond to create exclusive areas for activities, such as separating swimmers and canoeists.

There is a process for event organisers to reserve the Pond (or other sea area needed) through the Harbourmaster. This puts an official sea exclusion zone in place for the duration of the event so that it can be run smoothly and safely, reducing the risk of accidents. All exclusion zones are advertised in public notices in Hawke’s Bay Today and on the Regional Council’s website www.hbrc.govt.nz (http://www.hbrc.govt.nz/Services/harbourmaster/Pages/event-calendar.aspx).

When an exclusion zone is in place, the person in charge of the event has total authority over the area and can direct people out of the zone. It is an offence to ignore this direction, and people can be prosecuted.

“If an event is in progress and you aren’t a competitor, then please keep out of the exclusion zone. With summer coming up, Pandora Pond will be very popular, and people need to be aware of what other activities in the water around them. and what they can do to be safe.”

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