Freedom camping fines increase

ALMOST $350,000 in fines have been issued to freedom campers in the Queenstown Lakes District in the first three months of this year.

Council regulatory manager Lee Webster said from January 1 to March 31, inclusive, a total of 1732 infringement notices were issued to freedom campers.

That is almost 500 more than the 1223 issued during the corresponding period last year.

Of those issued so far this year 785 had been paid, equating to $157,000, and 145 had been sent to court.

A total of 28 infringement notices, worth $5600 in total, had been ‘‘written off’’ or cancelled as the person responsible was overseas.

The remaining 774 infringement notices issued were ‘‘in process’’, Mr Webster said.

Since the council banned overnight freedom camping at the Shotover Delta, Lake Hayes and Wanaka’s lakefront on February 16, a total of 48 clamps had been applied to vehicles found in breach of the new regulations.

If clamped, vehicle occupants had to pay $200 immediately to have the clamp removed and they were also issued with a $200 infringement fee.

The majority of the clamps — 35 — were applied in Wanaka, with nine at the Boundary St car park in Queenstown, and four at the Shotover Delta.

To date, no vehicles have been clamped at Lake Hayes.