Bayfield Park for freedom camping?

Nikau Moore (2), of Christchurch, enjoys the playground 
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Nikau Moore (2), of Christchurch, enjoys the playground at Bayfield Park yesterday. The park could be the next site to be included in the Dunedin City Council's freedom camping trials. Photo by Dan Hutchinson

Bayfield Park is the latest site being considered by the Dunedin City Council for freedom camping, with a proposal to allow up to five vehicles a night to stay there.

Council Reserves and Recreation Planning team leader Richard Saunders said, due to the demand on the freedom camping trial site at Macandrew Bay, the council had asked staff to find additional sites.

Staff had identified Bayfield Park, in Shore St, as a potential site and had asked for submissions from the public through a notice in the newspaper.

Just two submissions were received. Both raised concerns about the effects of freedom camping in general and on the Bayfield Park site in particular.

''That will need to be considered before any decision is made,'' Mr Saunders said.

He said the issue was yet to be considered by the full council so he could not give a time frame on if or when the site would be up and running.

Better signs and additional security patrols were being put in place this summer to try to resolve the issue of too many campers using the sites at once.

There are already freedom camping trial sites at Macandrew Bay, Ocean View Reserve car park and Warrington Reserve. All sites will be reviewed after April 30 next year.

- by Dan Hutchinson 

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