The Kaituna Jet will likely be allowed to continue operations on the upper Kaituna River if the regional council supports a recommendation from its hearings committee.

The jet boat operation has been opposed by riverside residents who point to the council's own commissioned research into the environmental damage it causes to their land.

Kaituna River Jet operations are likely to be allowed to continue.

Their arguments weren't allowed at the hearing, which considered the boat's operating speed from the view of navigation safety.

Instead the hearing is recommending the jet boat be allowed to continue operating at speeds greater than 5 knots on the river, which saves the tourism business, but doesn't help the riverside residents who have been trying to stop the operation.

Residents have complained that the river jet travelling several times a day at speeds of 70-75kmh up and down the narrow muddy banked river is the main cause of the river's banks erosion, which is supported by a Niwa report.

The council commissioned the Niwa assessment following residents' complaints and its report, released in February 2012, recommended removing stock access and not renewing the jet boat's licence.

Riverbank resident and long-time jet boat opponent Don McGowan, told the hearing in October the environmental damage is a navigation issue because of the section of the bylaw that clearly states the wake of pleasure vessels must not cause unnecessary danger, or risk of damage, to other vessels or structures or harm.

Commissioner Rob van Voorthuysen prevented him going into more detail, saying they were focussing on navigation safety only.

The sole statutory criteria that guides the commissioners' decision making process is whether or not the proposed uplifting of the speed limits will 'unacceptably increase the risk to navigation safety or endanger persons using the waters” within the reach of the Kaituna River subject to the application, says Rob in the report to council.

'On that basis we have not given consideration to issues raised by submitters that do not relate to navigation and safety.”

His recommendation is for council to uplift the five knot speed limit from the confluence of the Mangorewa River to the first set of rapids about 12.5 kilometres upstream.

Only the commercially operated river jet is to be permitted to break the Navigation Safety bylaw's 5 knot speed limit that affects all other craft on the river.

The jet boat can break the five knot bylaw from 9am till 5pm – apart from the first Sunday of every month, and it has to slow to five knots 50 metres either side of the Mangorewa bridge.

Aerius Ltd, the Kaituna jet boat operator, has continued to run jet boat rides on the river during the hearings process.

The jet boat originally operated under a Resource Management Act consent granted by the Western Bay of Plenty district Council in 1991, which then had authority over activities on the river's surface.

The regional council reset the speed limit under the 2004 Navigation and Safety bylaw, which superseded the original speed limit raising in 1979. Aerius Ltd needed the speed limit raised or an exemption in order to remain in business.

The commissioners include councillors Jane Nees and Paula Thompson. Their recommendations are to be reported to the regional council's meeting on April 24 for consideration and adoption.