Community board pushes for solution to freedom camper issue

March 11th, 2010
By David Armstrong

The Motueka Community Board has requested the district council to reconsider its unwillingness to address the issue of irresponsible freedom campers, asking that officials prepare basic costings and determine minimum requirements for accommodating non-self contained vehicles "camping" in controlled places.

This follows recommendations put forward last month by Bob Cooke (in a private capacity) and endorsed by the community board, that a regime and facilities be set up at the Motueka Beach Reserve near the saltwater baths, to allow campers to sleep there for a small fee. Bob's submission was reproduced here on Motueka Online (click to view), and basically it suggested making freedom campers welcome at the Beach Reserve but requesting a small fee per night in exchange for some basic camping facilities.

In a letter to the community board, Jean Hodson of the Tasman District Council said there are some "practical issues in regards to the suggestion, including the fundamental one that many people who are holidaying in non-self contained vehicles often deliberately choose to not go where they have to pay, even a minimum fee".

"Therefore it is not clear that the problem can be addressed by making part of the reserve a budget camp. Many people simply won't pay to stay. The scale of the actual problem linked to irresponsible freedom camping is very large and impacts across the whole district (and country) and therefore the suggestion could only ever provide a minor facility for 20 to 30 vans.

"Also there would be a requirement to clean, service and repair the public facilities that are there as they would have more use."

She also reported that certain basic facilities would still be seen as necessary such as adequate ablutions facilities; the correct number of male and female toilets, hand basins and showers, including hot water; basic laundry facilities; basic kitchen facilities, lighting and refuse disposal.

"There are other camping grounds in the Motueka area and setting up one in opposition on a budget basis could be seen as unfair competition if it was on council land and did not comply with the requirements others are required to," she reported.

Speaking on her behalf at the community board meeting, TDC's Lloyd Kennedy said that the issue of freedom campers was a New Zealand wide issue, and local authorities want to tackle it as a big-picture item shared by at least all South Island authorities.

All four board members spoke with some passion about the need to at least address the local issue more immediately and to encourage rather than discourage freedom campers.

"They spend money here, at restaurants and for petrol and food and touring in the Abel Tasman Park," said board chairman David Ogilvie. "Some like it so much that one day they become ratepayers. We want to make them feel welcome so they will think well of our area and perhaps one day come and live here."

He suggested that a system such as that put forward by Bob Cooke could be partly administered by volunteers such as people within Keep Motueka Beautiful. All the board was asking for was the ability to form a structure which would allow such an operation while addressing the problems of the few freedom campers who don't respect the hospitality.

Tara Forde said she believed that not much extra infrastructure would be needed in order to comply with the basic Camping Ground Regulations, given that the regulations include the possibility of exemptions which can be granted by council.

Duncan Eddy pointed out that a nationwide tax on all non-self contained van rental firms could be used to pay for infrastructure to accommodate freedom campers around the country, and this would be a far better solution all round.

Lloyd Kennedy agreed to take the issue back to the council and ask officers to do the numbers again and provide some basic costings that would be needed to bring facilities up to minimum requirements.

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