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Resolution
number WTK/2022/9
MOVED by Member S Coney, seconded by Chairperson S Toms:
That the Waitākere Ranges Local Board:
a)
note that there were 140 submissions from individuals and 9
submissions from groups within the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area.
b)
note that many of these submissions document existing problems
with freedom camping experienced by submitters, particularly those in areas
with high visitation.
c)
support a prohibition on freedom camping in all reserves held
under the Reserves Act 1977 and regional parks included in the Regional Parks
Management Plan.
d)
express concern that little consideration has been given to the
Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008, the purpose and objectives of
which the Council must have regard to when making any decisions about areas
located within the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Overlay of the
Auckland Unitary Plan.
e)
note that the request of the Board to speak at the Governing
Body meeting of 23 September 2021 about freedom camping was refused.
f)
express concern that little consideration has been given to the
environmental issues arising from freedom camping in natural areas, nor the
pressures that arise for local residents and day visitors in visitor
destinations in the coastal areas of Auckland.
g)
note that camping by self-contained vehicles is provided for
within camping grounds and in numerous places within the Waitākere
Ranges regional parkland for a small fee.
h)
express concern that all land, including local parks, held by
Auckland Council under the Local Government Act, including the road corridor,
is proposed to be available for freedom camping unless specified as
prohibited, rather than appropriate locations being specifically identified
in the bylaw, and notes that this is a significant change from the existing
bylaw where freedom camping is prohibited unless specified.
i)
does not support freedom camping being allowed by default in all
road corridors in Auckland and notes that this will have particular impacts
in the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area where roads are by and large not curbed
and channelled, thus allowing ready access to the wider road corridor and
forested parkland for camping. This potentially will allow freedom camping
in:
i) carparks servicing
neighbourhood shops.
ii) slip roads servicing
private driveways.
iii) carparks servicing public
transport, such as park and rides.
iv) carparks servicing parks and
reserves (where outside the reserve boundary).
v) pocket parks and paper
roads.
vi) outside schools, early
learning centres and kindergarten.
vii) beachfront carparks and boat
launching areas on the Tasman and Manukau Harbour Coasts.
viii) pull off areas, slow vehicle bays,
lookouts, entrances to regional and local park tracks and other areas on
non-curbed and channelled rural and coastal roads.
j)
express concern that self-contained vehicles being large have
the potential to compromise access by emergency vehicles such as fire engines
if they are allowed to park in the road corridor.
k)
propose that freedom camping is prohibited within the road
corridor (including carparks) in the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area where it
adjoins a regional park, local park or beachfront.
l)
propose that freedom camping is prohibited in the road corridor
in 70 kilometre per hour areas in the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area.
m)
specifically seek that freedom camping be prohibited at Marine
Parade North carparks, North Piha; Marine Parade South carparks, Piha; Glen
Esk Road carparks, Piha; Karekare Road carpark at beach (partly road
reserve); Anawhata Road entrance to Rose Track and White Track; Anawhata Road
end of road parking area; Te Henga Bethells Road northern end carpark at
beach; Bethells Road entrance to Lake Wainamu Track; French Bay carparks,
Titirangi; Little Huia, Huia Road; Titirangi Beach carparks.
n)
support submission 1599 Piha Wetland Trust which seeks to have
freedom camping prohibited in parkland at 42 Seaview Road, Piha (and
surrounding road corridors at 21, 42 and 50 Seaview Road) which is a wetland
held under the Local Government Act and is unsafe because of flooding.
o)
support submissions 1600, 1603 and 1458 of the Piha Surf Life
Saving Club, Keyhole Board Riders and Piha Ratepayers and Residents
Association which seek to have freedom camping prohibited at Piha, Karekare
and Anawhata, and 1281 of the Karekare Residents and Ratepayers Trust which
seeks to have freedom camping prohibited at Karekare.
p)
support submission 1284 of the French Bay Yacht Club that seeks
to have freedom camping prohibited at French Bay.
q)
support submission 1526 of the Titirangi Residents and
Ratepayers Association which seek to have freedom camping prohibited in road
corridors in Titirangi, specifically, French Bay carparks, Titirangi; Little
Huia Huia Road;Titirangi Beach carparks; McEldowney Road / Paturoa Road
junction at entrance to Davies Bay; South Titirangi Road Jenkins Bay boat
ramp carparks; Herrings Cove carparks, Titirangi; Godley Road end, Titirangi;
Arama Ave road end, Titirangi; Arapito Road end, Titirangi; Mahoe Road end,
Titirangi; Aydon Road end, Titirangi; Okewa Road end, Titirangi; The Parade
road end, Titirangi; Valley Road end, Titirangi; Opou Road end, Titirangi;
Woodbay Road end, Titirangi; Inaka Place road end, Titirangi; Lancewood
Ave road end, Titirangi; Rangiwai Road end, Titirangi; The Drive road end,
Titirangi; Westridge Road end, Titirangi; Valley View Road end, Titirangi;
Tainui Road end, Titirangi; Boylan Road end, Titirangi; York Road end,
Titirangi; Jays Road end, Titirangi; Sylvan Valley Ace road end, Titirangi; Minnehaha
Ave road end, Titirangi; Landing Road end, Titirangi; Helios Place road end,
Titirangi, Deirdre Place road end, Titirangi; Fawcett Road end, Titirangi;
Brownie Road end, Titirangi; Janet Place road end, Titirangi; Exhibition
Drive Titirangi (both ends); Tawini Road end, Titirangi.
r)
support the use of general rules for all areas where freedom
camping is permitted, as proposed in the draft Statement of Proposal in
Attachment A, and supports the following options:
i) General
rule 1: Self-containment rule – Option C, that freedom camping vehicles
must be certified self-contained, to help to prevent toilet waste, and
cooking and washing wastewater being left behind.
ii) General
rule 2: Maximum stay rule – Option B, maximum one night stay, to help
ensure a turnover of carpark spaces, and minimise conflict with other users
of the area/neighbours including day visitors.
iii) General
rule 3: Set departure time rule – Option B, 8am departure time, to help
ensure a turnover of carpark spaces, and minimise conflict with other users
of the area/neighbours including day visitors.
iv) General
rule 4: No-return period rule – Option C, No return to the same
street/parking area within 4 weeks, to ensure fair access to the area, help
make it easier to enforce, and minimise conflict with other users of the
area/neighbours including day visitors.
s)
express concern that any bylaw on freedom camping may not be
able to be adequately enforced as there doesn’t appear to be any budget
for an enhanced service level of compliance identified in the 10-Year Budget
2021-2031.
t)
request clarification on the process in the future to revise and
update both Schedule 1: Designated areas where freedom camping is restricted
and Schedule 2: Designated areas where freedom camping is prohibited.
u)
request that staff identify a mechanism whereby areas can be
added as prohibited or restricted without the need for a full bylaw
alteration process.
v)
request to speak at the Governing Body or Committee meeting
where the Freedom Camping Bylaw is reported for ratification.
CARRIED
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