JACK MONTGOMERIE/ Fairfax NZ

Considering the Mackenzie District Council's Draft Freedom Camping Strategy are, from left, councillors James Leslie and Murray Cox, deputy mayor Graham Smith, mayor Claire Barlow and councillor Russell Armstrong.

Tekapo and Twizel residents do not want freedom campers in their towns, submitters told a Mackenzie District Council hearing this morning.

The council received 117 submissions on its proposed Freedom Camping Bylaw and Freedom Camping Strategy.

In a submission supported by 36 Tekapo ratepayers, Tekapo community board member Stella Sweney told the council freedom camping ought to be prohibited within the town's 80 kmh speed zone.

When Mayor Claire Barlow asked if Sweney believed Mackenzie residents would be willing to pay for the costs of enforcing such a ban, Sweney said residents had told her and fellow board member Lyn Martin they would volunteer to enforce the rules.

Tekapo Holiday Park manager Gavin Cox told the hearing panel the strategy would encourage freedom campers' "smelly van mentality" and the 20 proposed spaces had the potential to cost the holiday park $300,000 annually.

Excerpt from:

Freedom campers unwelcome in Mackenzie