Tasman mulls permits for campers

A "strict" permit system to control irresponsible freedom campers in Tasman district could be introduced next summer.

A report on the proposed system is due to be presented to Tasman district councillors in the next three weeks.

It will outline how much the measure will cost ratepayers and how many extra contractors will be needed to police the problem of freedom campers polluting the countryside with human waste, illegal fires and rubbish.

Increasing media coverage of the issue, including a recent Nelson Mail series, has helped to drive action, and last week the New Zealand freedom camping forum decided to put pressure on campervan rental companies.

As part of a list of 30 initiatives, the Tourism Industry Association-led forum has told rental companies to tell people hiring campervans without self-contained toilets that they cannot freedom camp. The companies have agreed with the recommendation.

The forum is also advocating a national system of instant fines to punish campers who break the rules. Currently, each council has different rules about freedom camping.

Tasman District Council chief executive Paul Wylie said the council needed "real teeth" to clamp down on badly behaved freedom campers through legislation changes.

The only power the council had to police freedom camping was education, which did not work with some campers, he said.

"What we have said is that unless we get some real teeth, those irresponsible people will continue to be irresponsible, and there won't be a lot we can do about that."

In the meantime, a report is being prepared by council managers outlining a permit system that could be put in place next summer.

"We will be recommending to the council that we do something," Mr Wylie said.

The system was likely to be based on the Gisborne District Council's permit system, but with "tightened rules and increased education".

The Gisborne council has a freedom camping season from September to Easter, when self-contained campers buy cheap permits, allowing them to stay for up to 28 nights in the region. They are also given rubbish bags, which are collected from campsites.

"There are significant costs with this approach, and initial calculations indicate that ratepayers will have to pick up the shortfall between permit revenue and costs if this approach is adopted by the Tasman council," Mr Wylie said.

The report will be delivered just in time for inclusion in the council's annual plan.

The public will not have time to make submissions on the proposal through the draft annual plan hearing process.

Mr Wylie did not know how much money would be needed to implement the system but said that in relation to the whole plan, "it will be a very minor amount, but every dollar has an effect on rates".

Tourism Industry Association advocacy manager Geoff Ensor said increased media coverage had contributed to the forum's decision to put pressure on campervan companies. "The Nelson Mail series was certainly highlighted as an example of the level of concern the issue is raising."

- © Fairfax NZ News