Still problems on peninsula

Paul Pope
Paul Pope
Some freedom campers on the Otago Peninsula are not playing by the rules, and the area's community board is seeking better information-sharing with the Dunedin City Council.

Freedom camping issues and the need for more detailed information about trouble spots and related security contractor monitoring of issues surfaced at a recent meeting of the Otago Peninsula Community Board.

Asked about recent city council enforcement action on the peninsula, council acting group manager parks and recreation Robert West told the ODT the council's security firm issued 22 infringement notices there in January-February.

A total of 118 certified freedom camping vehicles and 22 non-certified vehicles were counted in the period, he said.

Board chairman Paul Pope said yesterday peninsula residents believed there was "something special about their area" so they were protective of it "and their lifestyle".

Peninsula residents welcomed tourists and appreciated the importance of the area's tourist economy but residents also wanted areas where they walked, or swam, boated or fished kept in good condition and protected from "inappropriate toileting".

The overall freedom camping situation on the peninsula had improved since the council had ended, several years ago, a controversial trial enabling freedom campers to stay in the built-up area at Macandrew Bay.

Freedom campers were subsequently allowed to stay in other public areas on the peninsula, provided they used fully self-contained camper vans, avoided residential areas and the Taiaroa Head area.

But some problems had persisted, and Mr Pope had remonstrated with an Italian tourist who was seen emptying toilet waste in the Pineapple Rock area several years ago.

Mr Pope had also recently seen signs of toilet paper in the same area and he had heard human waste was found at Broad Bay.

People wanted their special places respected, and could become "a little bit anti" if that did not happen.

Solving the problems meant more partnership work, including between local and central government, and a mix of "infrastructure and respect, and also enforcement".

Mr West attended the board meeting, at which Mr Pope said members would also like to outline their "local knowledge" over areas concerning them.

Mr West told the ODT he had committed to the Otago Peninsula board to "improve the dialogue and management of freedom camping", and would discuss with them "how we best do that".

The routes taken by security staff in the Dunedin city area varied from day to day, to maintain the effectiveness of enforcement, but route changes would also be made based on feedback from community boards.

 

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