Freedom campers who break the rules in the Queenstown and
Wanaka districts are being hit hard in the pocket.
Under the new Freedom Camping Bylaw, 511 infringement fines
have been issued in Queenstown and Wanaka since December 22 -
nearly double the number for the same time the year before.
The new bylaw came into effect on December 19, replacing the
former bylaw which also allowed the council to issue $200
infringement fines.
Lakes Environmental regulatory and corporate manager Lee
Webster said since the enforcement level was the same as
under the previous bylaw, his only explanation for the
increase was a rise in visitor numbers to the Lakes District.
He said for the period from December 22, 2011, to January 11,
2012, a total of 279 fines were issued.
''That's 232 more - it's getting up to almost double.
''It's demonstrating the influx of people to our community,''
Mr Webster said.
Under the new bylaw ''some boundaries have changed but the
general principles are the same''.
The council's enforcement officers worked for two hours ''in
the early hours of the morning'', the same as under the
previous bylaw.
Mr Webster said 47 freedom camping infringements had been
issued in the Boundary St car park, all in January.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.