Freedom campers potentially face more restrictions in the Eastern Bay of Plenty as two local councils look to clamp down on over night stays in some areas.

Whakatāne and Kawerau district councils have both approved new draft freedom camping bylaws for public consultation this week.

The Kawerau council received a report seeking approval of its consultation document on Wednesday with submissions on the updated bylaw opening on Monday.

The report said Kawerau consistently had upwards of five freedom campers per night.

A staff member estimated Kawerau District council received around 30 complaints a year about freedom campers overstaying although only a small number of these were recorded.

The new bylaw will prevent freedom camping in several areas of Kawerau where it is currently allowed.

It will now be prohibited at Stoneham Park due to a new housing development at the location and at the Ron Hardie Recreation Centre carpark because of health and safety concerns.

Freedom camping will no longer be allowed at the Ron Hardie Recreation Centre carpark for safety reasons.

Boyce Park, Waterhouse Street Reserve and the grass area of Firmin Field will require receiving prior approval to camp for a small fee to process the application.

The area where camping is allowed in the Firmin Field carpark will also be reduced to allow for more parking for people hiring the venue.

The freedom camping area in the sealed car park in front of the Maurie Kjar Aquatic Centre will be reduced to an area of the car park closest to Plunket Street.

The camping areas at Prideaux Park will be extended to include a grassed area along the northern side of the bowling club.

Freedom camping in the car park at Maurie Kjar Aquatic Centre will be restricted to the Plunket Street end of the park.

The maximum nights people can camp has been adjusted from seven consecutive nights to a maximum of seven nights in a calendar month and no person can stay for more than seven consecutive nights when crossing over two calendar months.

This was introduced to prevent individuals staying for six nights and then returning a few days later.

The bylaw has also been updated to incorporate amendments to the Freedom Camping Act made last year.

Whakatāne District Council’s living together committee met on Thursday and also approved a Freedom Camping Bylaw for consultation.

The main changes are increasing the number of nights that people could stay over a four-week period from two to three and further restricting freedom camping in certain areas.

These include the high-risk Awatarariki debris flow area and extensions to some already prohibited areas in Muriwai Drive, West End, Ocean Road and the Port Ohope Reserve.

The freedom camping bylaws are currently incorporated within the council’s Public Places Bylaw.

The Freedom Camping Bylaw will now be a separate bylaw, making it easier for people to access and will also be updated to reflect legislative changes.

Both the Freedom Camping Bylaw and the Public Places Bylaw will be notified for consultation from August 12 and the public will have until September 13 to make submissions.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.