Rocks to be removed to allow clean-up

Rocks blocking vehicle access to the western shore of Lake Hawea will be removed on September 18 to allow the Hawea Community Association, Department of Conservation and Guardians of Lake Hawea to tidy up the Craigburn and Deep Creek reserves.

The big rocks were put there in April by the association to deter people from spoiling the areas with excrement and rubbish.

Association president Rachel Brown said everyone could help with the September 18 Conservation Week clean-up.

After the clean-up, the areas will be reopened to vehicles and the "use and abuse" of the reserves monitored throughout the summer.

In a media release issued yesterday by the NZ Freedom Camping Forum, Ms Brown said the association had been working constructively with campervan companies and local authorities and was optimistic things would improve this summer.

The association blocked the areas because it had been "fed up with the continued abuse of areas on the western shores of Lake Hawea and the lack of any local government action to control freedom camping".

Ms Brown felt the message was now clear.

"Freedom camping is a national issue and New Zealand needs to do something now before the country gets totally ruined."

New Zealanders had always enjoyed camping, but freedom camping by tourists had increased dramatically over the past few years, with a proliferation of basic vans and cars decked out for sleeping but lacking toilet facilities.

Tourists had been encouraged to camp freely, but there had been no consideration of their toileting requirements, she said.

"The land can cope with a few people burying their toilet waste here and there, but it can't cope with the influx of people camping all over the place, especially as many people seem to have no idea what to do with their waste anyway," she said.

NZ Freedom Camping Forum chairman Geoff Ensor said about 80% of rental fleet operators were now asking clients to camp at holiday parks, Department of Conservation camping grounds or other designated areas.

The advice was being given when the vehicles were booked and the message was reinforced on the operators' websites, Mr Ensor said.

"We are also focusing on ways to get the message across to campers using private vehicles. We are working closely with backpacker chains and the Motor Trade Association to reach out to those buying cheap vans and cars to travel around New Zealand," Mr Ensor says.

Each community had to take its own steps regarding camping rules and had to be ready with good information for campers, he said.

Other forum initiatives have included: Training staff in i-SITEs and Doc visitor centres about camping rules in their areas; beginning work on legislative measures to help councils better enforce freedom camping rules; and meetings between Mr Ensor and South Island community leaders, including Wanaka, to update them on forum actions.

People interested in attending the Conservation Week clean-up at Craigburn and Deep Creek reserves on September 18 should be at the reserves at 1.30pm with their own shovels and rakes.

Gloves will be provided.

marjorie.cook@odt.co.nz