Dunedin (Monday, 1 October 2018) – The Dunedin City Council will trial an inner-city freedom camping site this summer.

DCC Parks and Recreation Group Manager Robert West says that from 1 November 2018 to 30 April 2019, part of the DCC’s Thomas Burns Street carpark will be used as a trial freedom camping site.

“After a recent review of freedom camping in the city, we wanted to trial an inner-city site this summer to help relieve the pressure of growing freedom camping numbers at Warrington and Ocean View.

“After considering various inner-city options, we believe the Thomas Burns Street site is a good place for a trial because it is a non-residential area in a central location, and within walking distance of a number of eateries, shops and other local tourism offerings,” says Mr West.

The recent demolition of an untenantable building (due to asbestos) on the site created additional parking space, which from 1 November will be used for both freedom camping and for casual car parking. Leased parking will continue in a separate, clearly demarcated part of the carpark site.

A tap for drinking water has been installed in the designated freedom camping area, and a sink, rubbish/recycling bins, port-a-loos and signage will also soon be installed.

The designated area for freedom camping will also be available for casual parking. Therefore, should freedom campers stay during the day (Monday-Saturday, 8am-6pm), normal parking charges will apply. The maximum stay for freedom campers at any site is two consecutive nights.

The area will be monitored by DCC security contractors in the evenings and by DCC parking enforcement during the day.

At the end of the 2018/19 freedom camping season, the trial area will revert to casual car parking only. The DCC will evaluate the success of the trial site as part of its planning for the 2019/20 summer season.

Mr West says the DCC is undertaking several other initiatives to better manage freedom camping in the city this summer. These include:

• more bins and toilet facilities at the Warrington and Ocean View designated freedom camping sites, and at Brighton Domain

• improved signage and gravelled area for parking at Brighton Domain

• more security patrols and increased customer service support within the DCC for dealing with infringements

• trial ‘community host’ roles at freedom camping sites. Community hosts will provide information to campers about the rules and services available nearby.

• continued improvement of data collection to inform future decision making.

Mr West says the costs of the new initiatives will largely be met by the $79,000

• In the first instance, campers in tents and non-self-contained vehicles are encouraged to stay at licenced camping grounds.

• Campers in tents can only freedom camp at Warrington Domain – and they must be within the designated area on-site.

• Freedom campers in non-self-contained vehicles can only camp at three freedom camping sites – the Thomas Burns Street trial site (from 1 November 2018 to 30 April 2019), Warrington Domain, and Ocean View Recreation Reserve. Campers must be within the designated areas on-site.

• The maximum stay for freedom campers at any one location is two consecutive nights.

• Certified self-contained vehicles may park on gravelled or sealed DCC land set aside for parking except in: cemeteries, scenic reserves, prohibited zones on the Otago Peninsula, and outside the designated areas at Ocean View Recreation Reserve and Warrington Domain.

Thomas Burns Street carpark layout (1 November 2018 to 30 April 2019)

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