Freedom Camping Bylaw 2012 Review

Council is seeking your views on a proposal to amend certain clauses of its existing Bylaw to control freedom camping on land administered by Council in the Western Bay of Plenty District.

The proposed amendments are being made to:

(a) enable more practicable enforcement to achieve intended compliance,

(b) better manage the effects of freedom camping on the environment and other reserve users, and

(c) remove areas of ambiguity for freedom campers to make compliance with the bylaw easier.

Council must follow the special consultative procedure in reviewing the bylaw.

Council has experienced difficulty in enforcing aspects of the Bylaw and it has become clear that parts of the Bylaw require review and adoption prior to the 2014/15 summer season (e.g. Labour weekend to Easter) to ensure that community concerns are addressed and balanced against the need to provide for freedom camping within the Western Bay of Plenty District.

Section 13 of the Freedom Camping Act 2011 makes provision for Council to review its Freedom Camping Bylaw 2012.

Council has reviewed the current Bylaw with a view to assessing what amendments: (a) enable more practicable enforcement to achieve intended compliance, (b) better manage the effects of freedom camping on the environment and other reserve users, and (c) remove areas of ambiguity for freedom campers to make compliance with the bylaw easier.

On this basis, there are a number of amendments proposed for the current Bylaw.