Elected members will be asked to adopt the proposed Freedom Camping Bylaw 2021 at tomorrow’s full council meeting (Thursday December 16).

It has been revised after the draft freedom camping bylaw was opposed by the vast majority of submitters.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) community services general manager Thunes Cloete acknowledged that many submitters felt the draft bylaw did not go far enough to prohibit freedom camping, with some even requesting that freedom camping be prohibited throughout the district.

See also: ‘Strong opposition to freedom camping bylaw’

“The Freedom Camping Act 2011 (FCA) does not permit a blanket prohibition of the activity, but the [hearings] panel has requested a number of changes to the proposed bylaw going before council, following the submission process,” Thunes said.

The hearings panel, made up of councillors Calum MacLeod, Niki Gladding and Craig Ferguson, supported changes to the bylaw including extending the prohibition of freedom camping to include new residential areas at Hāwea Flat and at Wicklow Terrace in Albert Town.

However, restricted freedom camping would continue to be permitted at the Luggate Red Bridge as well as some other areas in the district.

Additional locations in Wakatipu would also ban freedom camping under the proposed bylaw.

“While Covid-19 has affected visitor numbers in the last two years, we will eventually see higher numbers of campers returning to the Queenstown Lakes, and the need remains for council to continue protecting our unique environment and ensuring all camping is undertaken in a responsible and sustainable way,” Thunes said.

The report going before council tomorrow also asks elected members to agree that if there are changes to the New Zealand self-containment standards or relevant freedom camping legislation, a review of these changes will be undertaken to determine if amendments are required to the council’s freedom camping bylaw.

This follows an announcement from central government earlier this month signalling tougher freedom camping rules around the country.

See also: ‘Plan to tighten up freedom camping rules announced’

If the bylaw is adopted by elected members tomorrow, it will come into effect on the same day, replacing QLDC’s current Freedom Camping Bylaw 2021.

PHOTO: Wānaka App