Campervan portaloos call in waste war

The Hawea Community Association wants mini portaloos installed on certain campervans to try to stop the spread of human waste in popular camping spots in the Lakes district.

Having portaloos was one strategy raised at a public meeting attended by 30 people at the Hawea Community Centre on Saturday.

The association feels portaloos will help the problem of freedom campers fouling scenic tourist spots and will be included in its submission to the New Zealand Freedom Camping Forum, which meets in Auckland on Wednesday.

The forum is a Tourism Industry Association initiative formed in 2007 in response to escalating concerns about the impact of freedom camping.

Association president Rachel Brown said last week's protest action blocking access to three layby areas on the western shore of Lake Hawea had "lifted the lid" on the freedom camping issue, especially as it had attracted national press coverage.

"There has been some negative feedback from local lake users including kite surfers and people wanting to launch boats but we have asked those people to help come up with an answer. It is not as simple as building toilets," Ms Brown said.

"The Freedom Camping Forum was given a mandate to sort out the problem but nothing has happened on the ground. Consequently, we are now preparing a submission presenting a multipronged attack," she said.

Points to be raised in the submission included the need for a more sophisticated education programme including the distribution of information on aeroplanes, "porta potties" on campervans, designated free camping areas and enforceable legislation to punish campers if they broke the law.

"Non-self-contained vans could easily be fitted with a small portable bucket-type chemical or composting toilet, which could be emptied at dump stations," Ms Brown said.

Visitors also needed to be provided with maps showing the place of toilets, camping grounds and dump stations.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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Di   #1   04:49 pm Apr 19 2010

I understand hirers can get a discount from some campervan companies if they don't use the installed toilet at all! Thus the company does not need to clean it. No vehicles with sleeping facilities should be hired out without the inclusion of a toilet in the van and in the price.

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