Concern at camping in public car parks
ANYONE concerned about possible freedom camping in inappropriate areas across Central Otago is urged to contact the Central Otago District Council.
A man, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed concern about somebody camping in a public car park in Cromwell, over what he believed was two nights earlier this week.
He said a camper van was parked in the Cromwell Medical Centre car park overnight on Tuesday.
The same van was parked opposite the medical centre, next to the park, on Wednesday night, he said.
‘‘There appears to be noone in authority policing this and once one vehicle gets away with it, word will soon get round that this is an option.’’
Cromwell Community Board chairman Neil Gillespie said it was important people with such concerns raised them with the council.
‘‘You’ve got to nip it in the bud, but you can’t nip it in the bud if you don’t know about it,’’ he said.
He was not aware of freedom campers parking in designated car parks within the town centre for long periods of time, but that did not mean it was not happening, he said.
‘‘It’s not something we want to encourage.’’
Mr Gillespie asked anyone with concerns to ‘‘either ring us or use online tools to report such things.’’