No freedom yet for campervans

Communities in the Far North reacting to the prospect of freedom camping on reserves in their areas have been assured no decisions have yet been made.


"Any decision will not be taken lightly and will only be made after the three community boards have talked with their communities and given the council a heads-up on the situation in their wards," Infrastructure and Asset Management General Manager David Penny said today.


Mr Penny was responding to concerns expressed by some communities at the potential for a wholesale proliferation of campervans on coastal reserves.


"There appears there may be a level of misunderstanding. The new Reserves Policy adopted in December provides for certified, self-contained vans. It does not provide for those campervans without facilities which have been making a nuisance of themselves across the country.


"Additionally, we have yet to designate the areas which the certified vans can use. This will be established and a Freedom Camping policy developed after the community boards report back.


"The council is well aware just how sensitive the issue is, which is why we have asked the locally elected members to talk to their communities and provide feed-back.


"Some recognise the economic value of campervan tourism, some see the industry as a blight on the landscape, and others believe there is room to accommodate both schools of thought.


"The council favours the compromise option with some areas excluding freedom camping and others providing some level of accommodation with appropriate controls. To establish where there may be suitable areas we are going through this consultation process," Mr Penny said.



There were other issues which also had to be addressed including the monitoring and policing of the new rules. One of the proposals being considered was the possibility of a community-based ambassador's programme to assist with education and monitoring.


The more healthy debate in the community on the issue, the easier it would be for the local boards to get an accurate reflection of community thinking.


"The council welcomes the debate but is a little concerned that some of the comments being made are not reflecting an understanding of the issues involved," he said.