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Concerns that a new bylaw will see freedom campers forced out from current permitted sites and onto surrounding streets may not be realised if those sites are included in a new management plan for parks currently being developed by Auckland Council.
At the moment, freedom camping is allowed at five reserves in Mahurangi – Port Albert Domain; Matheson Bay; Warkworth’s Parry Kauri Park; and Sunburst Reserve and Sunrise Boulevard in Snells Beach.
However, a new draft freedom camping bylaw excludes all reserves, meaning that a default prohibition under the Reserves Act 1977 will apply if and when the new bylaw comes into force in October next year.
Rodney Local Board deputy chair Beth Houlbrooke said the Board would have preferred to see some reserves kept as places for freedom camping where they were not causing any major issues.
“The Local Board is very concerned about the knock-on effect this will have to neighbouring roadsides, which are not prohibited,” she said.
However, the Council policy team said camping on some reserves could be included as part of a new local parks management plan currently being developed, which was welcomed by Ms Houlbrooke.
“Work is underway to come up with a list of suitable sites for freedom camping, which will be consulted on with the community when the local parks management plan consultation takes place next year,” she said.
Rodney Local Board is funding two full-time wardens to encourage compliance with freedom camping rules, as well as increasing public awareness and enforcement around other issues such as illegal littering and dumping, dogs on beaches, shorebird protection and sediment run-off.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association is objecting to Council’s proposed new freedom camping bylaw, with national property and policy manager James Imlach saying the proposal denied Kiwi families the opportunity to enjoy the region’s most desirable areas, and it could open campers up to higher fines under the Reserves Act.
“The management regime will make it harder for Kiwis to understand where they can and cannot freedom camp. Most people won’t know whether a parcel of land falls under the new bylaw or Reserves Act,” he said.
Public feedback can be made on the proposed bylaw until December 5 at https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/freedom-camping-bylaw or by calling 09 301 0101
