Freedom camping rubbish bin plan fails

Camping vehicles parked on the shore of Lake Dunstan at Lowburn. Photo: ODT files
Camping vehicles parked on the shore of Lake Dunstan at Lowburn. Photo: ODT files
Installing new bins at the Lowburn site near Cromwell in a bid to solve the freedom camping rubbish problem has not been successful, and they might be removed.

The new “belly bins” compacted rubbish more effectively and notified contractors when they were full so they could be collected and emptied.

However, at today’s Central Otago District Council community services committee meeting, Colliers International property manager Rose Quirk said the problem had become worse.

Colliers are responsible for the areas that the Crown owns around Lake Dunstan.

Old bins were removed because people were piling rubbish beside the bins.

It was thought the new bins, which could hold up to 400kg, would help solve the problem.

However, people were still putting rubbish beside the bins when they were full.

Mayor Tim Cadogan said he was “furious” about it, and the answer might be to take the bins away all together.

''I was just so disappointed . . . I used to think more rubbish bins was the answer but I am going quite the opposite now.'' 

Deputy mayor Neil Gillespie said residents had also used them, but should not.

Over the week of Easter, 2000 vehicles had stayed at the Lowburn freedom camping spot and contractors were removing 400kg of rubbish from the site a day, Stuff reports.

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