Monday, 15 August 2016

Consultation opens on freedom camping rules

Proposed changes to Christchurch City Council’s Freedom Camping Bylaw are aimed at keeping people safe and protecting the environment, says the Council’s Head of Strategic Policy, Helen Beaumont.

Public consultation opens today on the changes, which propose to amend the parts of the Bylaw that deal with non-self-contained freedom camping (camping without on-board wastewater facilities).

The changes would ban all non-self-contained freedom camping throughout the district, but allow certified self-contained camping without a time restriction in rural zones.

“The Council has a responsibility to the public to ensure freedom camping across the district is well managed and safe from a health and safety and an environmental point of view,” says Ms Beaumont.

“Under the proposed changes to the Bylaw, Christchurch is still very much wide open to freedom campers, but they would need to camp in a certified self-contained vehicle to comply.

“It’s also important to point out that a range of low-cost camping grounds are available throughout the district for budget travellers who want to camp in a non-self-contained way, such as in a car or a tent,” she adds.

The Council introduced the Freedom Camping Bylaw last year and designated five specific sites for non-self-contained freedom camping in the district: Lower Styx River car park, Windsport car park, Addington Reserve car park, and parts of the French Farm and Wainui foreshores.

However, overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and complaints from residents forced the Council to temporarily close the sites until May next year.

The majority of complaints related to campers not using toilets or disposing of wastewater and rubbish properly, or preventing others accessing popular recreation areas.

Under the proposed changes to the Freedom Camping Bylaw, the five temporarily closed non-self-contained sites would become permanently closed to all freedom camping.

Public feedback on the Council’s proposal is being sought until 15 September 2016, and a full review of the Bylaw is scheduled for next year.

More information is available online at ccc.govt.nz/HaveYourSay

– Ends –

© Scoop Media