Private management of Waitaki lakes camping areas has been strongly opposed in submissions made to the Waitaki District Council.
Last year, the council produced a draft Waitaki Lakes Camping Areas Management Plan which put forward several proposals, including long-term contracts or leasing to private providers for up to 21 years camping areas at Parsons Rock, Boat Harbour, Loch Laird and the Wildlife Reserve as one group, Ohau C and Falstone as the second and Sailors Cutting on its own.
That was put out for public submissions in November, closing on January 23, along with other issues such as Waitaki ratepayers subsidising campers' activity by between $25,000 and $125,000 each year.
The council received 158 submissions, 60% of them from campers, 14% from day users and others from a variety of people.
Of those making submissions, 70% were from outside the Waitaki district.
The most contentious proposal in the plan was leasing out the camping areas, with almost 59% in opposition and 23.5% in favour.
Issues raised in relation to that proposal included a lack of financial information on costs of running the camps, concern with likely fee increases and losing the ''kiwi-style'' camping atmosphere.
Six submissions opposed ratepayers subsidising camping, while another six pointed out other amenities and activities were subsidised.
Overall, those opposing changes emphasised they wanted the status quo kept with an undeveloped environment that had basic amenities - good, well-maintained toilets, a water supply and rubbish removal.
There was strong support for ''user pays'' fees for boat ramps, effluent dumping stations and other facilities at the reserves.
That was supported by about 70% of submitters, with 16.5% opposed.
However, 12 submitters asked why there had been no maintenance or improvements to boat ramps given the fees the council was already collecting, the same number emphasising the fees had to be fair and go back into the ramps.
The two most popular camping areas based on the submission returns were Falstone (24%) and Sailor's Cutting (17%), on the Haldon and Ahuriri arms respectively of Lake Benmore.
Ohau C (14%) and Loch Laird (13%), both also on Lake Benmore, were the next popular.
Some submitters had long histories of camping around the lakes, some for 40 years or more.
On Wednesday, the council's community services committee will hear from 14 submitters speaking to their submissions, and consider the others.
A final decision is expected on April 1.
