Campers' mess 'unsustainable'

Cleaning up the mess left by freedom campers in Marlborough is no longer sustainable, prompting a Marlborough District Council investigation on whether it should put in more toilets and rubbish bins in popular camping spots.

The investigation follows a hardline decision by the National Freedom Forum that campervans, both with and without toilets on board, should camp only in designated camping areas.

The forum was formed in 2007 by the Tourism Industry Association to educate freedom campers and includes central and local government, the NZ Motor Caravan Association and tourism organisations.

The forum's decision was presented to yesterday's council assets and services committee meeting to inform councillors of the stance the forum was taking.

Marlborough District Council assets and services manager Mark Wheeler said the forum was taking a hard line on freedom camping. The council had to decide if it would follow suit and if it should provide more services for them.

Freedom campers brought money to the region, which had to be weighed up, he said.

"The reality is, we won't get rid of (freedom camping) and do we want to get rid of it?"

Committee chairman Francis Maher said the committee agreed a total ban on freedom campers was not an option, but neither was not doing anything.

"We don't want them to put our environment into a position that's detrimental and we accept there will be people who want to freedom camp."

He said the committee agreed the options had to be investigated.

"Rather than attacking it with a sledgehammer with our eyes closed, we've got to have our eyes open."

The council would work with the Department of Conservation and rural residents' associations to determine areas that were and were not suitable for freedom camping. The council would also find out how much it cost to clean up after freedom campers and compare it with the cost of putting in more toilets and rubbish bins for them.

Mr Wheeler said continuing to clean up popular freedom camping areas was becoming unsustainable, though no accurate cost had yet been determined.

"The difficulty is assessing what waste and refuse is from freedom campers and what is from other illegal dumpers. We do know and so do DOC and other landowners that a lot of mess is created out there."

- The Marlborough Express