Camping bylaws dividing opinions

Kevin Boam. PHOTO: ODT FILES
Kevin Boam. PHOTO: ODT FILES
Opinion is divided over a proposed new bylaw to regulate freedom camping in Clutha.

Public submissions on the bylaw closed yesterday and will be considered by the Clutha District Council during its regulatory and policy committee meeting tomorrow.

Council senior policy analyst Mike Goldsmith said the council had received 45 submissions, and expected five people to speak to their submissions during the meeting.

Mr Goldsmith said an initial scan of the submissions showed a wide range of views, some supporting the bylaw as drafted, some wanting to see changes made before it was passed, and some opposed to the proposal in its entirety.

The council’s draft proposals put forward a "restrictive, open" policy, which would allow visitors to camp anywhere in the district except for defined areas focused on its main towns and scenic locations.

The policy was aimed at addressing issues of noise, waste disposal and antisocial behaviour caused by previously unregulated freedom camping.

The proposals also allow for the council to establish additional designated freedom camping sites — a practice that angered some commercial camping ground operators after an eight-berth trial site was established in Owaka last season.

Hillview Camp Site owner Kevin Boam said although the trial had solved some of the issues raised, retaining this and adding further free sites would be harmful to commercial operators.

"What ratepayers don’t seem to understand is, they’re paying for a free holiday for tourists [through these sites].

"Even before Covid-19 we were seeing a hit on commercial campgrounds around Owaka from this council-sponsored facility. To keep it running now tourist numbers are down, and to talk of adding even more, is just ridiculous."

Mr Boam said he and at least two other Catlins camping ground owners had taken on "outside work" recently to help make ends meet.

He worried selling up could be his only recourse unless matters improved.

Despite that, he had not made a submission to the recent consultation.

"I just think it’ll be another rubber-stamp process for the council. They haven’t listened to business owners’ concerns down here so far, and that’s not going to change."

Retired Owaka farmer Keith McNab said the recent trial achieved its aim.

"We had freedom campers parking up right round the Catlins Lake and in the Doc sites. That’s now stopped, and we’re seeing some of those freedom campers brought into town and spending money."

"I’d like to see the rules tidied up so campers have to be properly self-contained for toiletting ... that might not be possible within the bylaw, so it could be a matter for lobbying central Government."

Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan said he hoped the process had helped residents better understand the council’s reasoning and goals.

"The underlying need to make the best of an extremely complex situation remains the same."

The finalised rules will come into effect on November 1.

richard.davison@odt.co.nz

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