Review of Campgrounds underway

A review of Queenstown Lakes District Council holiday parks and campgrounds began this week as Council looks to assess how its facilities are performing and identify options for the future.

QLDC CE Adam Feeley said the review, which will be delivered to Council early next year, is timely in terms of what has been achieved since the original Campground Strategy was implemented in 2006.

“It’s six years since our last review and many of the actions recommended in the strategy have been executed,” Mr Feeley said.

“It’s the ideal time to evaluate what has been done so far and see if what drove the strategy in 2006 still holds true.”

Council originally invested in campgrounds on the basis they provided necessary affordable visitor accommodation without incurring costs to the ratepayers. The review would look at whether this still applied, assess whether alternatives existed and report on the overall performance of the current operations.

Mr Feeley said the process also offered the opportunity to look at what was happening elsewhere in the country.

“The review team will be investigating systems and management innovation in holiday park accommodation in other cities and districts throughout New Zealand and seeing what can be applied here,” he said.

The review report will be presented to Council on Tuesday 26 February next year.

The review’s Terms of Reference document can be viewed at http://www.qldc.govt.nz/camping_grounds