Issa, Remus, Poppy, Charlie, Miss Daisy and Peanut may get up
to mischief from time to time, but this is one thing they
definitely can't be blamed for.
Camper vans are a valid and popular way to have a holiday, says David Barnes, and by-laws or other controls on them must be reasonable and directly address the problems they cause.
It's time to move beyond the hysteria and knee-jerk comments
about camper vans and look at the matter logically.
A community-led clean-up of scenic areas beside Lake Hawea
will be followed by the removal of boulder blockades put up
in April to stop freedom campers from accessing the highway
laybys.
The Otago Conservation Board will take its concerns about
freedom camper pollution to a national tourism body but has
not ruled out continuing to advocate for a nationally
consistent response to the problem.
The Hawea Community Association (HCA), angry about the
fouling of rest areas by freedom campers, has decided to take
action to keep campervans out of several lakeside rest areas
around Lake Hawea.
The freedom camping controversy is being highlighted by the
Waitaki Tourism Association in an effort to persuade the
Waitaki District Council to tighten its rules and educate
tourists.
