Further consultation opens on draft freedom camping bylaw

Community feedback is being invited on the most recent iteration of a proposed freedom camping bylaw for the Taupo District.

Freedom camping is permitted in any local authority area under the Freedom Camping Act and a bylaw can be made to restrict or prohibit freedom camping from areas where there are environmental or access issues. However, a freedom camping bylaw must not completely prohibit freedom camping in all areas of the district.

A draft bylaw has previously been put out for public consultation, with some feedback suggesting it was too restrictive. There was also the possibility of legal action if the earlier draft bylaw was adopted, with groups suggesting the proposed bylaw wasn't in line with the intent of the Freedom Camping Act.

Policy manager Nick Carroll said Taupo District Council had taken those community views on board and prepared a new draft bylaw, which was now available for the public to read and have their say on.

He said earlier suggestions to prohibit freedom camping from within 100 metres of the shore of Lake Taupo had been set aside, but the latest proposed bylaw suggested prohibiting freedom camping at Ferry Road.

"While the bylaw does not prohibit freedom camping from around the lakeshore, there are other tools that the council can use to address issues as they arise, such as signs and management plans for council reserves. In reality there are very few places where freedom camping can take place along the shore of Lake Taupo with most of the lakeshore identified as reserve managed by council or the Department of Conservation."

Mr Carroll said the draft bylaw also proposed that anyone who wished to freedom camp in the district would have to be in a vehicle that had been certified self-contained, apart from those staying on reserves where non self-contained camping was already permitted to take place.

"That would mean freedom campers who aren't in a certified self-contained vehicle could only camp at Hipapatua/Reid's Farm Recreation Reserve, Whakamaru Domain, Whakamaru Recreation Reserve and Mangakino Recreation Reserve."

Anyone is able to view the draft bylaw, view council's statement of proposal for freedom camping and have their say online here. You can also share your views by calling council on 0800 ASK TDC (0800 275 832), email on freedomcamping@taupo.govt.nz, or by dropping a submission into any council office. The submission period runs from September 19 to October 20 at 5pm.