A tougher stance on freedom campers could be on the way for Dunedin following a recommendation from council staff. <\/p>\n
The Dunedin City Council's planning and regulatory committee will next week vote on whether to approve a review of the city's camping control bylaw and responsible camping policy. <\/p>\n
The vote comes after the council's stance on freedom camping and a two-year trial allowing non-self-contained freedom camping at sites in Macandrew Bay, Ocean View Reserve and Warrington has prompted concern among people living in those areas. <\/p>\n
Council reserves and recreation planning team leader Richard Saunders recommended the committee review both the policy and the bylaw. <\/p>\n
Mr Saunders said a common approach was for councils to include a schedule of restricted and prohibited sites in freedom camping bylaws. <\/p>\n
Any move towards more controls would need to be backed up by appropriate resources allocated to enforcing the new rules and dishing out fines, he said. <\/p>\n
Enforcement could be carried out by permanent staff or contracted to security guards - which due to the seasonal nature of the work could be the best option. <\/p>\n
The experience of the Queenstown Lakes District Council suggested enforcement would be cost-neutral, with costs offset by revenue from fines. <\/p>\n
Otago Peninsula Community Board chairwoman Christine Garey hailed the recommendation as ''huge progress'' and was confident the committee would support a review of the policy. <\/p>\n
Whatever policy the council came up with, it needed to back it with resources, Ms Garey said. <\/p>\n
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Tougher policy on freedom campers?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A tougher stance on freedom campers could be on the way for Dunedin following a recommendation from council staff. The Dunedin City Council's planning and regulatory committee will next week vote on whether to approve a review of the city's camping control bylaw and responsible camping policy Continue reading