Freedom campers in Whangarei to be regulated this summer

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, the council 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.