Freedom campers 'don't care'

BY JOHN EDENS AND CRIS JOHNSTON

Tourism operators in the Southern Lakes district are demanding tougher camping controls to stop freedom campers destroying scenic sites in the region.

Cairnmuir Camping Ground owners Martine and Steven McDowell have been managing the Bannockburn Arm holiday park for three years.

Mrs McDowell told a Clutha management committee meeting in Cromwell a more robust camping policy was needed.

Under a district bylaw, overnight camping is prohibited along the Crown-owned banks of Lake Dunstan, the Pines in Alexandra and urban areas.

Most freedom campers around the Bannockburn inlet were seasonal workers who used bushes as toilets, left broken bottles lying around and dumped rubbish, she said.

"Nobody seems to care. They seem to think it's their right to park up where they like."

There was one council-run rest stop with toilets off Cairnmuir Rd, but campers were not using this, she said.

Lakes Property Services, contracted by Land Information New Zealand, manages the Crown-owned lakeside.

Property services manager Rose Burnard said freedom camping was a huge problem around Lake Hawea but the mess left at Lake Dunstan was not as bad because there were plenty of rest stops.

Ms Burnard said residents could distribute leaflets that explained camping policy but should avoid getting into any confrontations with itinerants.

Clutha management committee chairman Gordon Stewart said the district-wide camping policy was up for review this year.

Hawea Community Association member John Taylor said the association was determined to continue its long-running battle for greater controls over freedom camping.

The association has also called for a stepped-up education campaign.

Enforcement with "teeth" was needed, Mr Taylor said.

"... for some reason, areas on the western side of the lake, such as Deep Bay and the Craigburn, are disgusting. I went there after Christmas and there is human excrement under rocks, on tracks, on the beach and even on a willow tree.

"Perhaps these areas should be shut off to everyone not in a self-contained camper," Mr Taylor said.

"I think people are worried we will frighten away tourists."

A meeting will be held next month to discuss the two areas will be run by LINZ and have members from the association, the Queenstown Lakes District Council and the Department of Conservation.

Association chairwoman Rachel Brown said it was disappointing the council had not supported its offer to provide a volunteer squad to monitor campers.

Council corporate and regulatory manager Roger Taylor said while the idea of a volunteer squad had merit, the council did not want to encourage a vigilante-type group.

- © Fairfax NZ News