.jpg)
There are only days left before consultation closes on Friday for the community to have a say on Ōpōtiki District Council’s new draft Freedom Camping Bylaw.
Dozens of people have added their views but Group Manager Planning and Regulator Gerard McCormack, says that there are still a few days left for final submissions to be added.
“The draft bylaw isn’t so much different to our current situation, but it does specifically mark out areas where freedom camping will be prohibited," says Gerard.
He says this is so that in the region's most popular places, particularly during peak summer periods, they won't get ‘overflow’ camping and overload the facilities.
The draft Freedom Camping Bylaw aims to balance environmental impact, public safety, and community wellbeing; allowing for freedom camping in selected areas while protecting our natural spaces and places.
The draft bylaw would mean that freedom camping is only allowed in four specific restricted areas of the rohe (district):
- Te Ahiaua Reserve (Pipi Beds)
- Hikuwai Reserve
- Hoani Waititi Reserve, Omaio
- Te Kaha Reserve, Maraetai Bay
The draft bylaw also clearly marks the parts of these four areas where freedom camping is expressly prohibited, to prevent ‘overflow’ camping.
“Having it formalised in a bylaw also gives us more authority to move people on after three nights and enforce some of the other rules around washing and waste," says Gerard.
“We have had quite a lot of feedback through the Connect | Hono Mai website which is great news – it means hopefully we have made it clear and fairly easy to understand and it is easy for people to add their views.
“Consultation closes on Friday, June 14, so there are just a couple more days for people to jump online or fill out a physical form.
“Councillors will take that feedback on board and make any changes before adopting the bylaw later this year,” says Gerard.
https://connect.odc.govt.nz/freedom-camping-bylaw
0 comments
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.