Freedom camping hots up before summer's even here

Thursday, 2 November 2017

Travellers living out of un-selfcontained vehicles like this one are blamed for many of the issues facing communities under pressure from freedom campers

Freedom camping issues are already on the boil well before peak season arrives with Akaroa residents worried about another summer of faeces in the bushes and tourists living out of cars.

Some Akaroa residents are upset about new Christchurch City Council signs 'advertising' where freedom camping is permitted in the town saying they will increase problems unless there is much better policing of the camping bylaw.

Akaroa residents are worried council publicity material about freedom camping will encourage camping on the foreshore area beside the town's historic lighthouse.

Dunedin City councillors have narrowly voted against banning un-selfcontained vehicles at two designated freedom camping spots, even though staff recommended the bylaw change which was also supported by three quarters of the 250 public submissions.

And the 76,000-plus member New Zealand Motor Caravan Association is gearing up to lobby the new Government over the Freedom Camping Act, seeking a crack down on vehicles that lack proper toilets and $200 instant fines for offenders.

Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis says he'll work with Cabinet colleagues to help communities manage freedom camping.

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On Monday Akaroa Yacht Club commodore Dr Howard Wilson led a deputation to the local community board asking for a ban on on all freedom camping on the town foreshore.

He said the Christchurch City Council bylaw allowed fully selfcontained vehicles to freedom camp on the waterfront from the main wharf to Green Point, and in virtually every residential road east of Akaroa's main street, for up to two nights.

Residents fear two recently erected signs and a planned pamphlet publicising those rules will encourage camping on the foreshore

'If I was a campervan owner and saw that map, I'd much rather go and park beside the lighthouse with a lovely view over the harbour, than stay in the recreation ground area,' Wilson said.

There were concerns campervans would take over parking spaces used on club race days, and that those in un-selfcontained vehicles would defecate in the bushes rather than walking to toilets, he said.

A council spokeswoman confirmed a report on the freedom camping bylaw is due to go to a council committee in December

She said two staff would 'proactively monitor' prohibited freedom camping areas on week days, including Akaroa, and this could be reviewed if demand warranted it.

But Wilson said this was inadequate. 'I can't see how two [staff] for the whole of Christchurch is going to be effective at all, we need a person on the [Banks] peninsula to cover all the inner harbour bays as well as Akaroa …and weekends are the busiest time.'

New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) chief executive Bruce Lochore agreed good enforcement, including instant fines, was the fastest way to change problem behaviour.

'There's no point in having a bylaw unless you're prepared to police it.'

Lochore said his organisation would ask the new Government to restrict freedom camping to certified selfcontained vehicles with proper toilets and waste tanks.

It also wants a government agency to monitor the issuing of self-contained stickers that have in the past been forged and sold on the internet to help campers avoid being fined.

NZMCA certifies members' vehicles, but any registered plumber can also do it, and Lochore said an independent agency needed to check the checkers so a tighter standard for on-board toilets was adhered to.

NZMCA members own almost 42,000 motorhomes, and that includes 135 rental companies.

By December the association expects to have certified 2179 commercial rental motorhomes as selfcontained, more than double the number in 2014.

Lochore said the real issue was with people freedom camping out of old cars or vans they bought to travel the country.

Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis said some areas were under pressure from the volume of freedom campers and he would work with Cabinet colleagues to address that.

'We want people to get out and enjoy our countryside, but there has to be respect for our natural environment.'