Following consultation on the draft camping in public places bylaw, campers will be able to stay at the Bascule carpark for three consecutive nights. Photo/Michael Cunningham
Following consultation on the draft camping in public places bylaw, campers will be able to stay at the Bascule carpark for three consecutive nights. Photo/Michael Cunningham
A bylaw which will regulate freedom camping in Whangarei should be in place by Labour Weekend.
Whangarei District Council is expected to give the go ahead at a council meeting tomorrow to make the Camping in Public Places Bylaw, which will come into effect on October 21.
In June, thecouncil put a draft bylaw out for public submission. It contained a list of prohibited areas, where self-contained campers were restricted to designated sites, where non self-contained units vehicles can go and where all types of camping is permitted.
Camping for non self-contained units had to be within 50m of a public toilet and all locations on the lists were for a maximum one night stay. In total, 126 individuals or organisations provided feedback ranging from suitable areas for camping, enforcement of the bylaw and the length of stay.
At a council meeting earlier this month, councillors deliberated the issues raised in feedback from the public and made changes.
A number of locations have been moved from one list to another and a few removed from the lists altogether.
There will be 38 areas where freedom camping is prohibited, four where only self-contained campers can go, 20 areas for both self and non self-contained vehicles and six for all types of camping.
Campers must stay within designated areas at each of the sites.
The one-night stay restriction will remain, except at the Finlayson St/Rayburn House Lane and Bascule Bridge carparks where campers can stay for three nights.
At locations not on the lists, self-contained campers are allowed to stay for three nights.
The council attempted to create a Freedom Camping Bylaw last year which only allowed self-contained units to freedom camp in the district. It was abandoned after community feedback suggested an outright ban on non self-contained campers might be too harsh.
A full list of the sites will be published once it is passed by the council.
