Mount Maunganui resident Graham Matthews wants councillors to move the permitted area for freedom campers from along Marine Parade to Papamoa so his 'unique” view won't be restricted.
Marine Parade resident Graham Matthews looks out to his "unique" view.
He is proposing the bylaw – allowing freedom campers to park from Banks Ave and along Marine Parade – be moved to Papamoa Beach Rd south of Sunrise Ave.
'It's all dunes all the way along there and it wouldn't interfere with anybody,” says Graham.
If it is made legal for freedom campers to park along Marine Parade, the view he has been enjoying for more than 20 years will be restricted.
Graham and his wife live between Tay St and Clyde St where Graham says freedom campers will most likely park their motor homes if the bylaw is passed.
'We paid for the view, the freedom campers pay nothing. As far as I'm concerned it should never happen.
'What benefit are we going to get out of it? The ratepayers will get exactly nothing.”
Graham says residents who live on Marine Parade pay more than double than what other ratepayers pay for their beach view.
'We brought the view, it wasn't given to us.”
The Freedom Camping Bylaw states motor homes parking along Marine Parade must be less than 3.5 tonnes, and must be parked within marked parking spaces. The motor home must not protrude past the painted lines when parking in diagonal car parks.
People have until July 19 to enter their submissions to Tauranga City Council and Graham is encouraging other residents along Marine Parade to have their say.
18 comments
Graham Mathews
Posted on 14-07-2013 16:15 | By sangrae
another selfish citizem of the mount he may pay rates but others psy taxes in some form or an other so suggest he gets a life.
Not your view
Posted on 14-07-2013 16:31 | By local yokel
Sorry Mr Matthews. You dont own the view as you never bought it.It just doesn't belong to you. It belongs to everyone, visitors included, just if we go overseas, we enjoy their views. What you bought is the property that you are able to see it from. BUT, you do have the right to take your concerns and any submissions about freedom campers to the Council instead of just a suggestion of "not in my backyard, shift it along the road to someone elses".
freedom campers
Posted on 14-07-2013 16:41 | By hendrix
sorry mr graham your bought your house and land ,you did"nt buy the view ,you have no special rights to it at all .and Iam sure one or two campers parked out front want take the view away completely .
Closed mind
Posted on 14-07-2013 16:42 | By Camperladdie
I am sorry to say that this man has a rather closed mind on this problem (If you could call it that) He lives there 365 days a year and wants exclusivity. Motorhomers come to our city and spend quite a lot with local businesses, petrol and contribute greatly to the economy of the area. Usually the motorhomes are there for an overnight stay and as you can see from the picture there were none there at the time of the picture. So, Sir, get over it and live & let live. You don't own the road, the rights to the view, I suppose you would want coaches and cars to speed up as well.
rate payers what
Posted on 14-07-2013 17:17 | By gail_c40
get over your self an you are not paying more rates than people in te puke they pay more rates than those who live at the mount and tauranga and even papamoa what is wrong with you freedom camping is only for short time of the year and even if they decide to camp in the middle of winter they should be able to, just because you live in the mount does not make you any better or posher than those who live in te puke, tauranga an papamoa so stop being so toffee nosed about things
Well Done Commentors
Posted on 14-07-2013 19:16 | By tabatha
The comments below will echo a large number of people I believe. If a neighbour over the road parks a big oversized boat on their front lawn there is nothing I can really do. The road, the parking areas belong to all people who rent or pay rates for the Tauranga City Council. As long as they park legally, that is not block peoples drive ways etc it is basically a no goer.
gosh
Posted on 14-07-2013 19:33 | By whatsinaname
gosh a camper van dont cover all your view. and I bet your not looking out at your view 24/7. like the others say, get over it.
Tauranga citizens and ratepayers don't need these homeless bludgers
Posted on 14-07-2013 20:10 | By ROCCO
Freedom campers always want something for nothing and sorry to say they contribute very little to local economies. If Councils are so minded let them use(provided vehicles fully self contained) designated suitable public carparks after say 6pm at night to 8am then move on.If the supermarkets are such fans then they can use supermarket carparks too.They have no right to expect to chose top locations or areas with views. ooloo
Graham Matthews
Posted on 14-07-2013 20:49 | By Capt_Kaveman
go get a life or move to a country beach bay, these dumb rules from thee ole mother country england im guessing
NIMBY
Posted on 14-07-2013 23:43 | By rose
Why would freedom Camper be more likely to park between Tay and Clyde streets, when they can closer into the 'action'? Why would the council have campers on Papamoa Beach Road when it does not have carparks, and is a 60 zone as opposed to a 30/50? You could always move down to Papamoa Mr Matthews - you could live beachfront where no-one can park in front (but they may dare to lie on the beach in front of your house)
Hiding to Nothing
Posted on 15-07-2013 09:02 | By FunandGames
Mr Matthews, I think your on a hiding to nothing here.
Selfish Attitude
Posted on 15-07-2013 09:47 | By gummers
Mr Matthews, the views of the coastline DON'T belong to anyone. They are for the enjoyment of ALL people - be it kiwis or overseas traveller's. So get a life and enjoy the views (with or without camper vans)...
..
Posted on 15-07-2013 10:23 | By earlybird
Mr Matthews, I'm sure you paid a premium for your house because of it's desirable location but unfortunately for you, you didn't buy, and you don't own, the view. Why not adopt that old saying 'if you beat em join em'. If you go over the road and introduce yourself you may actually meet some interesting people and, heaven forbid, you might actually like some of them.
Freedom campers
Posted on 15-07-2013 10:33 | By YOGI BEAR
They want the view then go buy a place there. You want your friends to have a view buy it. Don't expect to take someone else's view.
Support for Graham Matthews
Posted on 15-07-2013 11:14 | By The Sage
I'm with you on this Graham. It could just be sour grapes on the part of many of your critics who do not live in such a desirable area. I have opposed the changes to the Freedom Camping By Law and will attend the Council meeting in regards to this on 13 August. The trouble is the laws are not enforced. I live on the edge of Fergusson Park where, the sign states, there are to be a maximum of 3 SELF CONTAINED vehicles parked there overnight. I have counted 14 on one occasion, a tent, comi vans. Two back packers lived out of their car in the park for 2 nights and had their washing hanging between 2 trees. I took a photo and rang and emailed the Council. Nothing was done.They propose to increase the overnight limit to 6 vehicles so even more will come in. The problem is it is not policed. The law will be changed I am sure. The Council are merely asking for opinions however I am sure they will do as they please as usual.
no camping
Posted on 18-07-2013 15:21 | By rotovend
freedom campers will mean no parking for anyone that includes all the people above that want to whip up to the main beach park for a couple of hours and enjoy the beach. Most of the people above just sounded like envious folk and I think you would find the amount of freedom campers the rubbish they leave the extra cleaning of the toilet facilities and general nuisance to all the beach-goers a big pain have a designated area like they already have down sulphur point etc. that they like the rest of us can walk to the beach and enjoy. And please note views are a part of what is used in formulating rates and all thr green envy is so dumb when these folk may have had the property for years in the family or just plain worked hard and bought it years ago when things were cheaper
Poor Mounti
Posted on 12-08-2013 08:04 | By bushman
We purchased o property 17 years ago up rural Ohauiti for the views.Due to people further down from us planting trees and the odd roof that's popped up we have lost a fair bit of the Mount and harbour view PERMANTLY!!.
Thats not camping
Posted on 12-08-2013 11:05 | By Te Ponui
At the Tauranga Airport is not camping nor should we have to put up with underwear hanging out when we pick up visitors. Camping is roughing it in a real bush setting or by a beach. These people should be paying for the privelege of congesting public areas. Better still go stay at a motorcamp. Someone in their mobile palace above the law again.
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