Tough stand on camping

Dunedin's freedom-camping rules would be tougher, clearer and better enforced under a proposed bylaw that could be in force this summer.

Submissions on the bylaw closed last week and will be heard by Dunedin City Council's camping control bylaw hearings subcommittee on Tuesday.

The bylaw would replace the 2013 Camping Control Bylaw and Responsible Camping Policy.

Freedom camping was ''an important part of the New Zealand tourism industry'' that was valued by Dunedin, the proposal's report said.

Freedom camping in ''certified self-contained vehicles'' would still be permitted ''on the majority of council-controlled land''.

But it also identified concerns with freedom camping, including pollution - both rubbish and human waste - as well as lost amenity and privacy for local residents and conflicts between freedom campers and the wider public at popular sites.

Those issues had been particularly bad at popular sites around the Otago Peninsula.

Macandrew Bay residents said last year as many as 30 freedom camping vehicles a night would use the area beside the public toilets and playground, while tents were pitched around play equipment.

Campers would wash in public toilet basins and dress outside their vehicles in front of children.

The bylaw would address that by completely banning freedom camping of all kinds at several Peninsula sites, including Macandrew Bay.

The bylaw would also make it an offence for freedom campers not in ''certified self-contained vehicles'' to use any site other than Ocean View Reserve car park or Warrington Reserve.

Freedom camping in any scenic reserve or cemetery would be forbidden, while camping in one spot for more than two consecutive nights would be banned.

Freedom campers would be required to depart their sites by 8.30am, and anyone flouting the new rules would be liable for a $200 fine.

An ''enforcement programme'' would help ensure the proposed bylaw was adhered to.

Macandrew Bay resident Miles Lamare ''strongly'' supported the proposal in his written submission.

He described how freedom campers at Macandrew Bay often blocked footpaths, used the toilet block to cook, wash, and do laundry, and left food scraps and rubbish behind.

The proposed bylaw would ''put ratepayers ahead of transient tourists'', he said.

David Barnes, of Dunedin, was concerned the proposed bylaw ''effectively outlaws camping other than in self-contained vehicles'' on Otago Peninsula - a move he labelled ''naive and irresponsible''.

It appeared the council assumed freedom campers without self-contained vehicles would ''suddenly decide to either avoid the peninsula or book into [a] camping ground'', but he doubted there was evidence of either being true.

Mr Barnes took umbrage at camping grounds' ''vocal protestations'' about freedom campers.

''Their objections are based on an attempt to corner a market.''

Bill Allen, of Pukehiki, was one of several submitters who said the bylaw would not work without proper enforcement.

The council had been alerted to numerous examples of freedom camping breaches over the past 12 years, but the response had always been the same, Mr Allen said - that the city had no money to carry out any action.

Several submitters also questioned whether the council or Department of Conservation could create a basic, cheap peninsula camping area for thrifty travellers.

The council said a report ''to look at high level options for campsite development on the peninsula and further afield in Dunedin'' had been commissioned.

craig.borley@odt.co.nz

 


Freedom camping
What the proposed bylaw says

• Freedom camping in ''certified self-contained vehicles'' to be allowed on most council-controlled land

• All freedom camping banned in scenic reserves, cemeteries, and several popular Otago Peninsula sites

• Ocean View Reserve car park and Warrington Reserve only options for non-self-contained campers

• Short-term parking, day-trip excursions and sleeping at the roadside to avoid driver fatigue are allowed

• Proposed bylaw could be in force for coming summer

The submissions

• 50 submissions received

• 21 supported

• 11 opposed

• 18 partly supported/opposed 


 

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