Sites likely for freedom campers

The Ocean View Recreation Reserve, pictured yesterday, is a possible site where freedom camping...
The Ocean View Recreation Reserve, pictured yesterday, is a possible site where freedom camping may be allowed. Photo by Linda Robertson.
Dunedin's community boards have started identifying spots where a ban on freedom campers may be lifted.

The Dunedin City Council is working with boards to allow freedom camping at certain sites, in time for this year's Rugby World Cup.

In an update for tomorrow's Chalmers Community Board meeting, council community and recreation policy team leader Lisa Wheeler said the boards had shown support for allowing limited freedom camping.

Sites either had toilet or waste dumping facilities, or investigations were under way about how to provide them.

Comments and suggestions generated from the process included reaching agreements with local camping grounds to dispose of waste; protecting camping grounds by not allowing freedom camping too close to them; involving the Department of Conservation; encouraging overnight rather than longer stays.

A workshop this month with boards will look at the issues in detail.

Chalmers Community Board deputy chairman Steve Walker said it would discuss possible sites tomorrow at a meeting.

Mr Walker had "one or two" ideas, which he declined to disclose.

The process had been well handled and was shaping up to be a sensibly reviewed policy, he said.

In October, Mrs Wheeler told the Otago Daily Times people continued to freedom camp around the city despite the ban, which proved difficult to enforce.

Locations considered:

Mosgiel Taieri Community Board: DCC-owned car park, Reid Rd.

Otago Peninsula: Portobello domain; Te Rauone Reserve; Scott Hall.

Saddle Hill: Ocean View Recreation Reserve.

Strath Taieri: No sites identified. Board investigating establishing a dumping site for motor homes in Middlemarch.

Waikouaiti Coast: Warrington Domain.

Chalmers: None identified yet.

 

 

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