Only two people turned up to voice their opinions on a proposal that could see a tightening of rules around backyard camping in the Coromandel.

Only two people showed up in person to voice their concerns over proposed changes to backyard camping in the Coromandel. Photo: File

Despite much public outcry online to the council's changes to the bylaw when it was initially announced in September, only the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association and the Holiday Parks Association presented their submissions in person at hearing in the Thames Coromandel District Council chambers on the matter on Thursday.

However, others made their opinions clear through 47 written submissions with the vast majority opposed to the proposal believing the council should not be able to tell people how they can and cannot camp on their own property.

Coromandel sections have long been dotted with tents as people camp on friends and relatives' sections for a cheap summer holiday, but the proposed bylaw said tents or temporary living spaces must be least 1.5m away from the boundary of any neighbouring property, six metres from any dwelling on a neighbouring property and at least 3 metres from the front boundary of the property you're camping on.

There are also rules around access to toilets, showers and clean water.

In his written submission, Whangamata resident Henry Ralf said the Coromandel had a long history of being a leisure holiday area which has always been enjoyed by families.

"It would be a real shame if bureaucrats imposed controls on our happy relaxed culture to such an extent that we couldn't allow our family to pitch a tent on our property for a few days during this period," he said.

Reg Fabish, who owns property in the district but lives in Te Awamutu, in his written submission found merit in the bylaw's sanitation measures.

"However, I do not agree with the closeness to boundary rule. People who come to a person's private property should be able to camp anywhere they wish on that property," he wrote.

"It is no business of council to poke their nose into people's private places."

New Zealand Motor Caravan Association resource management planner James Imlach, who spoke at the hearing, says that the association generally agreed with the purpose and scope of the bylaw.

"We want to clarify whether certified self contained vehicles fall within the bylaw, if not, then despite of their onboard sanitation facilities, will private land owners still have to provide these?" Imlach says.

Imlach says the association would like to see the inclusion of a clause in the bylaw that allowed the Council chief executive to have the power to waive certain requirements on a case by case basis, as is the situation with the Freedom Camping bylaw.

The Holiday Parks Association of New Zealand was in agreement with the NZMCA, along with Dickson Holiday Park in Thames who submitted in writing, about increasing the distance between temporary dwellings on private land to 3m.

Holiday Parks Association chief executive Fergus Brown says the 3m distance would be inline with the Camping Ground Regulations 1985 and should be included for fire safety reasons.

Brown says the association was concerned about private landowners in the area charging for camping.

"They're operating like this to make a buck, they're taking the cream off the industry," he says.

"It is essential that private land owners understand that they cannot charge in anyway for campsites."

The Holiday Parks Association would like the bylaw to include the same wording as used in the 2008 bylaw.

Thames Coromandel District Council first adopted a bylaw which provided standards for camping on private land in 1982 and the bylaw has helped ensure campers have access to basic sanitation standards.

THE PROPOSED BYLAW

* One toilet per 12 people

* One hand basin per 25 people

* One shower or shower-bath or bath per 25 people and laundry facility

* there must be access to clean drinking water

No tent or temporary living space will be sited:

* closer than 1.5 metres to the boundary of any neighbouring property

* closer than 6 metres to any dwelling on any neighbouring property

* closer than 3 metres to the front boundary of the property on which it is sited

THE PROPOSED BYLAW

* One toilet per 12 people

* One hand basin per 25 people

* One shower or shower-bath or bath per 25 people and laundry facility

* there must be access to clean drinking water

No tent or temporary living space will be sited:

* closer than 1.5 metres to the boundary of any neighbouring property

* closer than 6 metres to any dwelling on any neighbouring property

* closer than 3 metres to the front boundary of the property on which it is sited

- stuff.co.nz