Wednesday, 7 October, 2015

Freedom camping hearings to take new approach

A new format for hearings on the proposed Freedom Camping Bylaw means people who want to make verbal submissions will have more of an opportunity to share their ideas.

Christchurch City Councillors Andrew Turner, David East and Glenn Livingstone will hear verbal submissions on the proposed bylaw in group discussions next week.

Usually people who wish to be heard by the panel have five minutes each to speak. The group discussions will mean people have a longer time to be involved in conversation directly with the councillors.

Manager Council Secretariat Darryl Griffin says a facilitator will assist the process, and staff members in each group will take notes.

"We have in the past week been contacting people who indicated on their submission that they would like to be heard and the response to the new format has been very positive," Mr Griffin said.

The hearings will be as follows:

· Tuesday, 13 October from 10am to 12pm at Akaroa Bowling Club

· Tuesday, 13 October from 1.30pm to 4pm at Akaroa Recreation Centre

· Friday, 16 October from 12.30pm to 4pm at South New Brighton Community Hall.

Each session will have two or three small groups.

Mr Griffin said the hearings on the proposed Freedom Camping Bylaw provided a good opportunity to trial the new format as it involved a single topic and was geographically focused.

More than 195 submissions were received with about 50 people indicating they wished to be heard.

The hearings will be open to the public as they usually are, but only submitters who asked to be heard can participate in the discussion forum.

The panel will make and deliver its decision in the same way it always has after a hearing.

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