Committee votes to review camping policy

Aaron Hawkins.
Aaron Hawkins.
Some Macandrew Bay residents have been ''embarrassed'' at the way members of the community have treated freedom campers, Cr Aaron Hawkins says.

Cr Hawkins made the comment as the council's planning and regulatory committee voted to review the city's camping control bylaw and responsible camping policy.

The review could result in a tougher stance on freedom camping and give the council the ability to dish out fines to those who break the rules.

The vote comes after a two-year trial allowing non-self-contained freedom camping at sites in Macandrew Bay, Ocean View Reserve and Warrington prompted concern among people living in those areas.

When discussing what should happen in the review, multiple councillors spoke of the need to get the balance right between encouraging tourists and responding to concern from some in the community.

Cr Hawkins and Cr Kate Wilson both spoke of their concern that too much weight could be given to a vocal group of Macandrew Bay residents who had been unhappy with the trial.

''It's all too often presented to us as a unified concern of the peninsula community.

''I for one have fielded feedback from locals in Macandrew Bay who have been embarrassed at how their community has treated our visitors,'' Cr Hawkins said.

Cr Wilson said it needed to be made clear that freedom camping was good for Dunedin and there had been few problems in some other areas.

''I hope we are not throwing out the baby with the bath water on this one, just because of what is happening in one particular area.''

Cr David Benson Pope congratulated the work council reserves and recreation planning team leader Richard Saunders had done on what was a divisive issue.

Otago Peninsula Community Board chairwoman Christine Garey praised the council for opting to review the bylaw and policy.

''That's really the only decision they could have made, to be honest, and it gives the community a chance to have a say and for all possibilities to be looked at,'' Ms Garey said.

She agreed there was ''a variety of views'' on freedom campers, adding that generally the trial had been more successful in rural areas.

vaughan.elder@odt.co.nz

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