Freedom campers ignoring rules
Freedom campers are flouting new rules restricting the number of spots they can occupy around the New Plymouth district – but they’ll soon be facing fines.
On December 14, new regulations established by the New Plymouth District Council came into effect, banning tents and limiting the spaces available for non-self-contained vehicles after chaotic scenes at many picturesque spots last summer.
The new rules banned freedom camping at the Waiwhakaiho river mouth, where up to 90 vehicles were setting up camp a night, and restrict non-selfcontained freedom campers to four parks at Lake Rotomanu, five at Corbett Park, O¯ akura, and six at Waitara’s Battiscombe Tce.
However, on Tuesday morning the Daily News counted 10 vehicles and two tents at the lake site, while yesterday there were 24 vehicles, including seven cars and a caravan in the car park and area around the lake, and a mix of 10 cars and vans at Corbett Park.
Mayor Neil Holdom said the council’s service providers had conducted an initial communication period but would now be increasing enforcement activity.
‘‘The view is that come this weekend we will be in a position where the service provider will be starting to issue infringement tickets to those blatantly ignoring the district bylaw,’’ Holdom said.
‘‘People will be advised of the rules and asked to move on and people that have been found in the morning to have not moved on will be issued with fines.’’
There were plenty of other accommodation options available including motor camps, he said
The bylaw had been modified in response to the vast majority of people who provided feedback on the problems last summer but Holdom believed staff would have to continue monitoring areas to ensure there wasn’t a repeat.
‘‘It will be a challenge but what we have seen is the pressure point has moved from Waiwhakaiho.’’
Council customer and regulatory solutions manager Katrina Brunton said since last week’s ban council had received eight complaints from the public about campers flouting the new rules.
Freedom campers parked illegally can be asked to move on and fines are issued if necessary. So far one camper had been issued with a $200 fine.
She said sites where camping was banned were monitored by security company Armourguard in the evenings and mornings, from Thursday to Sunday.
Councillor Richard Handley said while he had advocated for a welcoming district the council had adopted a ‘‘rather meanspirited’’ view of things, although he accepted the decision.
‘‘The concern now is there are so few places. Asking them to move on, we’ve got to say where are they going to move on to because we haven’t provided any spaces for them,’’ Handley said.
The district had everything freedom campers wanted but Handley said the council’s position made it very hard to welcome them or enable them to stay. He believed issuing fines or wheel clamping rule breakers should be a last resort.
‘‘The collection of a fine is a difficulty.
‘‘One way to ensure collection is to wheel clamp them but that would be extraordinary and I would fight against that.’’
Councillor Murray Chong believed a tough stance on those who flouted the rules should have been taken from the start.
‘‘I personally think that the day they make the rule is the day they needed to enforce it to set the standard,’’ Chong said.
‘‘We have had three or four years of the softly, softly approach and it hasn’t worked because the problem is getting worse.’’
He said slack enforcement would only lead to more campers breaking the rules.
‘‘I personally think if they are sleeping in their car, it doesn’t matter what time, and they are not self-contained they need a ticket.
‘‘Otherwise it is just going to be abused.’’