Season tickets to camp in the Aviemore and Waitaki lakes camping reserves are going up this year.

The camping season officially opens on September 22 with a season ticket rising from $280 to $300.

Overnight fees will remain at $15 and no boat ramp fees will be charged. Camping areas vested to the Waimate District Council include Fisherman's Bend, Waitangi East, Waitangi West, Te Akatarawa and Briars Gully.

Waimate District Council parks and reserves manager Graeme Watts said the 2011-12 season had been a bumper one.

There had been an increase of $16,500 over the previous year's income while the cost of running the camp sites had dropped $9000.

"The good season was due to the hot sunny days we had and the number of holidaymakers who normally take their holidays in the Nelson area where flooding occurred just before the holiday period started," Mr Watts said.

Supervisors were kept busy collecting fees and on other duties, he said.

One supervisor was employed over the whole season collecting fees and on cleaning duties with three other supervisors employed to cover the main holiday periods.

Recycling and rubbish waste collected over the season amounted to 17 tonnes of recycling and 25.5 tonnes of waste.

Mr Watts said no major problems were reported.

"The signs about dog control and motorbikes seem to be working with no complaints received on either of these issues.

"Only one group of young people were removed from the Ta Aka camp, with the assistance of police who removed them to an area away from other campers."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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