Poor the losers in camp rates rise

Although camping grounds have been rated as rural, writes ANGELA GREGORY, that will probably change, making holidays more expensive.

WHANGAREI - Holidaymakers and the poor face the impact of a proposed change to the way Whangarei's motor camps, camping grounds and caravan parks are charged rates.

The Whangarei District Council rates manager, Bill Harris, has recommended the council shift such properties from the rural category to the more heavily charged multi-unit category in the land-value-based rating system.

Mr Harris said in a report to the council, which meets tomorrow, that would mean hefty rises in the general rates of the district's 10 properties, the principal use of which was either as a motor camp, camping ground or caravan park.

When the district rating system was put in place six years ago it had been proposed such properties be classed as commercial, the highest rating category, along with motels.

However, the council eventually placed motels in the multi-unit category, and motor camps and the like into the rural category because they required large areas of land, which resulted in greater land values.

Mr Harris said that if those properties remained in the rural category they were set to benefit from a rates reduction in the next financial year as the council last month agreed to shift more of the rating burden to residential ratepayers.

Mr Harris believed the properties should instead be shifted into the multi-unit category, which would see their general rates roughly double.

The owner of the Alpha Holiday Park in Whangarei, Ken Carter, said he would be forced to pass on the increase to his customers. Some of those were permanent residents who lived on benefits.

"It will be tough on them."

Mr Carter said the increase would also affect tourists "and we don't want to turn them away."

Other Whangarei camping ground owners agreed they would pass on any increased costs.

The leaseholder of the Ngunguru Motor Camp, Sheryl Goldstone, estimated the increased charge was the equivalent of about three campsites a week revenue.

"That narrows our profit margin. We would just have to increase prices."

Mrs Goldstone said that, meanwhile, the council's basic services to the coast were not improved.

The camp owner, Debbie Weatherup, said prices could be increased only so far before a "whole way of New Zealand life" went out the door.

She said that unlike motels, which drew income all year, camps relied on summer crowds and the season seemed to be getting shorter every year.

Ray Kensington, who owns the Whananaki North Motor Camp, said he could not see why rates should rise.

"We would have no option but to pass on the costs. It will mainly affect the large number of Auckland campers we get over summer."

A Whangarei District Council coastal ward representative, Frits Visser, said the recommendation had come as a surprise and he would look into the matter.

However, Mr Visser said a commercial enterprise like a camping ground was not rural, as it was not used for agriculture.

"I have some sympathy with the argument that they should not treat camping grounds ... any differently from motels, and on that basis I will probably support it."