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Friday 11 December 2020
Freedom campsites close
Packing up: French campers Fabien Duval and Aurelie Coudert at the Waitapu Bridge site early on Wednesday morning. Photo: Jo Richards. JO RICHARDS
Golden Bay no longer has any designated freedom camping areas, which means campers in non-self-contained vehicles must now stay at one of the Bay’s commercial sites. At last week’s Tasman District Council (TDC) meeting, proposed amendments to the Freedom Camping Bylaw 2017 were considered and selectively adopted. Sites at Taupata Reserve and Waitapu Bridge were confirmed for closure on Monday of this week, while the much talked-about area at Rototai was rejected as an alternative, due to environmental concerns and feedback from Manawhenua ki Mohua regarding the “immense cultural significance” of the area. To help implement the changes, TDC plans to deploy a team of freedom camping ambassadors offering education and directing visitors to the other camping options available, but they will be backed up by an enforcement team if and when required. On what is a divisive topic, there appear to be winners and losers in the community, with local campground owners expected to benefit, but some retailers and hospitality businesses likely to lose seasonal revenue.
Owner of Takaka’s Roots Bar Holly Osmond says she is “incredibly saddened” about the loss of freedom camping facilities. “If we shut out ‘freedom campers’ or as I prefer to say, ‘the young traveller’, we shut out all that exciting vibrancy that goes with it, there’s no going back.” She points out that freedom campers make a significant contribution to the local economy and culture. “They have money to spend on flat whites, hippy pants, local wares, beer, food and supporting our amazing music scene we are so, so lucky to have here in Takaka.” Holly says her concerns are shared by many business owners operating in Commercial Street. “We all feel the same way – blind-sided by it… just as we’re gearing up for summer.” She said that they didn’t provide feedback during the public consultation period, but expected to be considered in the deliberation. “None of us made submissions; we honestly thought the council would be working in our best interests.” Holly urged TDC to quickly designate an alternative site. “Even another temporary spot, just to see us through the summer.” And she pointed out that a number of private
landowners were keen to do something but were prevented from doing so by planning restrictions. “They want to open up an area but it’s so difficult.” Other businesses are welcoming the changes. A survey of the Bay’s campground managers showed the majority believe that the new camping rules will be good for their businesses. Gary Riordan from Pakawau Beach Park, however, doesn’t anticipate it will make much difference. “We may pick up a small percentage of campervans that would have otherwise camped at a freedom camping spot… We get predominantly Kiwis coming back from one summer to the next.” Owners of Farewell Gardens Holiday Park in Puponga Nicky Hartless and partner Wiremu Bartlett believe the new law will “undoubtedly” make a difference to their business, but say they are pleased about the closure of Taupata, more for environmental and safety benefits than for commercial reasons. Community Board member Grant Knowles is very concerned about the administrative and environmental implications of the council’s decision and shares Holly’s desire... Continued on page 2
Waimea Dam funding JO RICHARDS
Tasman District Council is to consider whether irrigators should pay a higher share of Waimea Dam project’s multimillion dollar cost overruns. At last week’s full council meeting councillors voted to consult on the introduction of a targeted rate, based on land value, charged to irrigators who benefit from a water permit affiliated to the dam project. This option, along with others, will go out for public consultation early next year. As the cost of the dam construction continues to escalate, TDC’s liabilities are heading ever upwards. The current estimate of $129.4m is already $53.5m above the figure that was published in the 2017 public consultation document on the project’s funding and governance structure. And further cost blowouts are inevitable, according to Waimea Water Limited – the joint venture between TDC and Waimea Irrigators Limited (WIL) - which is responsible for managing the project, although it will not confirm the scale of the latest hike until at least February. Under the project funding agreement, budget overruns of up to $3m are split equally between TDC and WIL, but for any sum above $3m, the former is solely responsible. The council does have a card to play, however; its 2018 Revenue and Financing Policy makes provision for cost recovery from properties with a water permit affiliated to the dam. Councillor Celia Butler who attended the full council meeting to decide on options to go out for consultation said the discussion of the options put forward by staff was “quite complicated”. She explained that, while council is unable to levy a rate based on the amount of water consumed, property values can be used as a proxy. “Land value rather than capital value is considered to equate more closely with actual use of water. “The word is benefit. A targeted rate based on land value including those who will benefit from water from another irrigator was the option chosen.” Celia said there was a lot of debate and although a “majority of councillors voted to exclude options which included a general rates rate increase to cover extra dam costs”, a minority were pushing for the district’s ratepayers to pay more. Summing up the proposed extension of the user pays component to the dam funding model, Celia said, “It’s the first step in a shift towards the users.”
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Inside: Housing project Mariposa returns Community Board Book launch THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 11 DECEMBER 2020
ISSN (PRINT) 2538-0923 ISSN (ONLINE) 2538-0931
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