The Dunedin City Council's six-month trial of a non-self-contained freedom camping site in the Thomas Burns St car park will be wound down this week.
Since it was opened at the start of November, more than 6100 vehicles have spent at least one night at the site, making it the most popular freedom camping spot in the city.
Council planning and partnership manager John Brenkley said from both a patronage and behaviour point of view, the trial had been successful.
"From my observations of driving past, it was full pretty much the whole time during summer and even now, at the shoulder end of the freedom camping season, it's still two-thirds full most of the time."
Despite being not one of the most spectacular areas of Dunedin, feedback from the people using the site was very positive, particularly regarding its closeness to the city centre, Mr Brenkley said.
Signs advising people only self-contained vehicles were allowed to stay overnight would be installed this week and the toilets would be removed, he said.
A washing area would remain as it was a permanent structure.
A report on the trial would be compiled and presented to councillors later this year.
French backpacker Futnassi Makine said the site was one of the best he had experienced in the five months he and his girlfriend had spent travelling around New Zealand.
Its location near the city centre, as well the washing facilities, made it stand out, Mr Makine said.
There was also evidence the site took pressure off some of the other smaller freedom camping sites, such as the Warrington domain.
Waikouaiti Coast Community Board chairman Alasdair Morrison said there had been a significant decrease in the number of vehicles parked at the domain overnight this summer.
Mr Morrison called the trial a success and said the council needed to consider more urban sites.
"In fact, we would like to see more, not just Thomas Burns St, but to have a real good think about what other things can be done."
Related Stories
Comments
A real question would be: Should ratepayers pay for non-residents' free ride? There are plenty of dirty and potholed streets that need attention- that is where our money should go! There are camping grounds that are hurting because of this DCC policy.
That's great for them but what do we as a city get out of it. I seriously question the Councils view that these people put money into our tourism, bars and eateries. My view is they look at our sights for free and eat at their vehicles. A little petrol and some groceries might be it for most of them, the same stuff they'd get if they stayed at a paid camp site.
Nah. Go to Motor camps kids. If you can afford to get here you can afford to pay for water, toilets & showers- we have to! Oh yes and we're paying for you too. Business people love it when we pay for you.
Excellent the trail has been deemed a success, hopefully more Councils throughout NZ will stop the exclusive Certified Self Contained lobby group in its tracks and provide facilities for the non self contained. It is however the opinion of RCAi that all freedom campers should be self contained (to retain their waste until it can be disposed of correctly), even if said self containment is partly achieved by use of public facilities (ie toilets) etc. In this way all freedom campers as defined by the Freedom camping Act can be included, specifically noting locals wanting a night at the beach (divers, surfers, fisher-persons and just everyday families etc) . Not everyone needs to have or even wants a Motor-home or Caravan that is self sufficient in the retention of waste for 3 days minimum as certification demands.