The Queenstown Lakes District Council proposed and reviewed the new bylaw that would restrict freedom camping to an existing 158 carparks across the district.
The formal submissions and hearing process for the bylaw review has now closed but homeowners along Wanaka’s Beacon Point Rd say they are deeply concerned about the proposed sites and lack of community involvement.
The homeowners have joined forces with other residents in Wanaka to create Save Clean New Zealand, a group dedicated to raising awareness about freedom camping, protecting freshwater and keeping New Zealand clean.
A petition has also been started by the group to raise awareness and encourage the council to put a hold on the bylaw.
In a joint email to the council the residents said it was not freedom camping they were opposed to, instead it was the bylaw.
They said it was impractical and difficult to enforce.
They were also worried about the pressure and safety issues this posed for residential and rural areas.
Group member Andrea Beryl said one of the freedom camping locations which raised serious concern was the carpark near Mt Iron.
"If someone’s having barbecues during the dry, hot summer months that’s a potential fire hazard and it’s right where people live," she said.
Environmental impacts were also flagged as residents feared a potential increase in littering and toileting in bushes and waterways.
Ms Beryl said there were no bathrooms or cooking facilities near some of the proposed camping areas, putting clean waterways at risk of being misused.
A council spokesperson said the council undertook an extensive campaign to get the word out about the bylaw including public engagement in both Queenstown and Wanaka.
The public consultations received 383 submissions as well as over 4000 visits to the public webpage.
Upper Clutha Community Board member John Wellington said freedom camping should not take place in urban areas but said that the council’s ability to control the issue was restricted by the Freedom Camping Act 2011.
"It [the council] therefore cannot legally stop freedom camping in areas where our community accesses clean water for swimming and recreation, unless it is a reserve," he said.
The council made its first attempt to create a freedom camping bylaw in 2021; it was turned down after a judicial review application by the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association.
The new bylaw is due to go before the full council for adoption this week.
