Freedom campers banned from Tokaanu ramp

BANNED: Genesis Energy has banned freedom camping on an area of lakeside land it owns at Tokaanu.

Overcrowding and hygiene issues have led to Genesis Energy banning all freedom camping on land it owns at the Tokaanu Marina on the southern shores of Lake Taupo.

The company has erected signs stating that camping and overnight parking in the area is strictly prohibited.

Genesis public affairs manager Richard Gordon said Genesis has always provided access to the boat ramp and maintained a parking area for boaties. The boat ramp is maintained by the Taupo Harbourmaster. Mr Gordon said the company initially supported the concept of some camping and extended the parking area with provision for a maximum of up to eight campervans for one night stays. Signs also directed campers to a sewage dumping station that had originally been installed for boat owners.

He said problems had arisen in recent years with conflict between boat owners and an increasing number of freedom campers.

"In the last couple of years up to 18 to 20 camper vans have been parked up three deep, spilling over to the boat trailer parking area.

"There were reports of conflict with boat owners, hygiene issues, and food and scraps left behind."

He said there were no toilet facilities in the area and Genesis also wanted to ensure that boat access to the area continued unimpeded. Discussions with the Harbourmaster and the community had led to a decision to close the area for overnight camping, said Mr Gordon.

The closures limits the number of areas available to freedom camp at the southern end of Lake Taupo.

Chairman of the Omori Kuratau Ratepayers Association Mike Bowie said although the Taupo District Council had allocated an area for freedom camping near the Omori Stream and signs prohibiting camping on the lakefront reserve, camper vans were still parking on the lakeshore reserve.