Wider bans on freedom campers in the Mackenzie District are likely after more than 100 submitters opposed a draft Mackenzie District Council bylaw. <\/p>\n
The council's planning and regulation committee yesterday voted to extend draft bans after receiving submissions heavily in favour of a stricter bylaw. <\/p>\n
Of the 117 submissions received only a handful were in favour of the draft bylaw. <\/p>\n
The committee resolved to ban freedom campers from council land in Twizel's town centre, the Ruataniwha lagoon, a broader section of Tekapo's commercial centre and lakefront, and Murray Park. <\/p>\n
Camping would also be banned from December 23 until the second Monday in January on the shores of lakes Ruataniwha and Opuha. <\/p>\n
Under the revised bylaw, all campers on other council land must be able to meet their ablutionary and sanitary needs for three days. <\/p>\n
The bylaw is scheduled to be confirmed at the next full council meeting. <\/p>\n
Submitters from Tekapo and Twizel said they did not want freedom campers staying anywhere in their towns. Mayor Claire Barlow said the council could not ban campers outright, as the Government's Freedom Camping Act 2011 allowed bans only in places where freedom campers were already causing health and safety, public access, or site protection problems. <\/p>\n
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 80kmh speed zone, and locals had volunteered to enforce the rules themselves. <\/p>\n
Lake Tekapo Motels and Holiday Park general manager Gavin Cox told the committee 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. <\/p>\n
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Campers can't find freedom in Twizel<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Wider bans on freedom campers in the Mackenzie District are likely after more than 100 submitters opposed a draft Mackenzie District Council bylaw. The council's planning and regulation committee yesterday voted to extend draft bans after receiving submissions heavily in favour of a stricter bylaw. Continue reading