Fight against camping ban

A national camping group is seeking a judicial review of a Queenstown Lakes bylaw it claims effectively bans freedom camping in the district.

NZ Motor Caravan Association chief executive Bruce Lochore said a new bylaw adopted by the council last week was prohibitive. It included existing freedom camping bans in central Queenstown, Wanaka, Arrowtown and Lake Hayes and was extended to cover new subdivisions at Hanley’s Farm, Shotover Country, Cardrona, Northlake and Ha¯ wea.

The district hosts thousands of freedom campers every summer but residents have cried foul over the dumping of human waste and rubbish in public areas.

Council spokesman Jack Barlow has denied it is a prohibitive ban, saying it has only been extended to cover new residential areas and ‘‘one or two problem spots’’.

The council had not been approached directly regarding a possible judicial review and the association was welcome to discuss concerns, Barlow said.

Lochore said the council had shown ‘‘absolute contempt for proper process’’, resulting in a prohibitive bylaw that undermined the Freedom Camping Act 2011.

The council was required to undertake a full review of the bylaw and assess each site across the district, he said.

‘‘The council clearly hasn’t done that, they’ve simply rolled over their existing bylaw and made it more prohibitive ... The whole review and consultation process feels like a complete sham.’’

An earlier council meeting heard the Queenstown Lakes district was at risk of becoming a freedom camping free-for-all this summer after the bylaw renewal process ‘‘slipped through the cracks’’. The council rushed to complete public consultation before its December meeting.

Lochore said the council had advertised the new prohibited areas before concluding the review. ‘‘The mayor has said himself that it’s only 10 per cent of visitors who cause all the problems, but the council still wants to welcome the 90 per cent of responsible campers who are fine.

‘‘That sentiment and proportionality is not reflected at all in the bylaw.’’

Lochre also called on the council to return government money granted to provide infrastructure and resources to support freedom camping.

The council was given $788,000 of government funds this year for day-time service hubs in Queenstown and Wanaka. Overnight camping was not allowed at the hubs this summer, unlike last year.

The council received $530,000 from the government in 2018.