Improved signs and better monitoring of Lake Hawea freedom
camping problem spots were among measures proposed at a
meeting held to discuss freedom camping issues.
Members of the Hawea Community Association (HCA) and the
Guardians of Lake Hawea group met Land Information New
Zealand (Linz) management and QLDC representatives in Wanaka
on Friday to discuss freedom camping along the southwestern
shore of Lake Hawea, where the depositing of toilet waste
allegedly by freedom campers has residents calling for better
management of Crown land alongside the lake.
Linz administers areas such as Deep Bay and Craig Burn, which
are popular with freedom campers.
Self-contained vehicles are not a requirement for freedom
campers using Linz-administered land, which is not subject to
the new Freedom Camping Act. Linz Crown property manager Bill
Naik said the organisation's representative at the meeting,
Diane Cardwell, felt the discussions had gone well.
''The parties discussed the environmental issues associated
with freedom camping around the lake and identified a number
of potential initiatives, such as improved signage and
monitoring to help mitigate the issues,'' Mr Naik said.
Guardians of Lake Hawea executive member John Taylor agreed
the meeting was ''very positive''.
''Linz were proactive and forthcoming ... we seem to be well
and truly moving in a good direction, or the same direction,
as to what we want to achieve now.''
Mr Taylor said Linz had offered to work with QLDC to create
and install comprehensive information signs at sites such as
The Neck, encouraging people in non-self-contained vehicles
to stay at camping grounds in the area, rather than freedom
camp.
Better monitoring of the lake shore freedom camping spots was
also discussed and it was possible the Hawea community could
be contracted to work with Asplundh - which collects rubbish
in the area - to remove human excrement from the sites.
HCA vice-president Di Turnbull-Anderson agreed the meeting
had been productive.
''We've had lots of meetings before and nothing's ever
happened,'' she said.
''We're not mucking around any more. We've got to do
something to make change.''
Linz had a deadline of three months to consider other
measures suggested by the community, including funding a
toilet at Deep Bay.
lucy.ibbotson@odt.co.nz
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