Campground dispute could leave holidaymakers stranded

One of Hawkes Bay's biggest camp-grounds, Blue Bay Motor Camp near Mahia, may close before Christmas, upsetting the plans of thousands of pre-booked holidaymakers.

A Wairoa District Council survey revealed that for many years a large part of the campground had extended into a council-owned reserve. The council gave the campground a year to remove buildings on the reserve, which expires on Saturday.

The campground's new owners said that if they could not use the reserve land they would have to reconsider trading after that date.

The council will meet today to decide whether the campground can use the reserve until next year.