The New Zealand Motor Caravan Association has applied for resource consent to establish a 60-berth, members-only motor caravan park at 20 Bay Rd in Warrington.
The Dunedin City Council’s hearings committee met on Friday to hear submissions on the proposal, and neighbouring residents voiced their concerns about the plan.
The proposed campsite was to be accessed through a sealed driveway to be constructed along a strip of land between existing houses.
Warrington resident Louise Marsh said her property was one of those next to this driveway, and she was concerned about noise and light pollution from camper traffic.
Her living room window faced the driveway, and was "two or three metres" from the boundary of the two properties.
Noise was of particular concern. Passing campers were likely to be measured at about 70dBA at the living room distance.
In her submission, Dr Marsh said at peak times there could be 15 to 18 vehicle movements per hour, which averaged to a camper using the access road every three to four minutes.
The total amount of camping permitted in the small town was questioned also.
Dr Marsh said the freedom camping site at the domain could cater for up to 100 vehicles, and the new private park would accept up to 60.
"This essentially means that overnight camping vehicles would make up 42% of the households in our community."
She questioned why a second camping ground was needed directly next to the one already established in Warrington.
Dr Marsh said Warrington locals had not been consulted on what they would like to see on the land.
"We would prefer that this was actually a residential neighbourhood [and] had people that lived and contributed to our community, rather than a transient population that comes in and out.
"The vehicles would be known, they would be smaller and they would be quieter and it will be in line with residential activities."
Members of the hearing panel will perform a site visit before making a decision on whether to grant the consent, and with what conditions.
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More concerns about the other claims the club makes i.e bringing increased revenue to an area where there are no shops, or that they consulted the community but apparently hadn't. Never mind the disregard of Iwi concerns, around the archeological status of the site. Should speak to neighbours of other club parks in urban, industrial and rural areas.
Worth noting that the Council has deemed only neighbouring properties are affected by this application - NOT all residents of Warrington, who if approved, the consent will have major effects on. Thus only neighbours to the property can make submissions.