Continuation of freedom camping initiatives pending

NO decision has been made as to whether initiatives to manage freedom camping will be implemented beyond this season.

A scheme developed by Land and Information New Zealand (Linz) alongside the Central Otago District Council was introduced in October, and covered monitoring and compliance of campers in the area following community concerns.

The project has been funded by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, and the council has acted as an agent for Linz.

Council parks and recreation manager Gordon Bailey presented a report outlining statistics around the measures implemented by Linz at Wednesday’s council meeting.

Mr Bailey said data comparisons from this summer and previous years were still to be received.

A decision is yet to be made as to whether the Government wants to fund the project again next season, or whether further measures will be put in place.

At Wednesday’s council meeting, deputy mayor Neil Gillespie said it was very much a ‘‘wait and see’’ prospect.

‘‘Going forward at least we have good information as to what happened this season, what happened in the seasons prior to that. We can’t let the Government lose their impetus.’’

Mayor Tim Cadogan said the scheme’s progress indicated ‘‘much improvement’’ around freedom camping over the summer. Councillor Martin McPherson said ‘‘it was a good result’’.

The council carried out a camping survey for a threeweek period between late January and February. Most of the 140 respondents ‘‘were broadly happy with the quality of the campsites they were staying at,’’ the report states.

Of those surveyed, 78% reported to have read the signs available and familiarised themselves with the site rules.

More than $240,000 had been spent to date of the funding agreement between the council and the ministry, worth $297,000. The implementation of monitoring, education of campers and enforcement programme around Lake

Dunstan sites, the ongoing maintenance of six portaloos at the Bendigo site and the installation of 500m of rope and wire fencing around the

Lowburn foreshore area had absorbed the majority of costs.

A final report will be submitted to the ministry on April 30 outlining the results and expenditure of the initiatives.