Additional infrastructure planned for Central Otago freedom camping sites will, hopefully, alleviate problems there this summer, Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan says.
Mr Cadogan met Linz chief executive Crown property Jerome Sheppard and two other Linz representatives at the Bendigo and Lowburn sites on July 26 and said the meeting was ''really positive''.
Mr Cadogan, who had invited Mr Sheppard to meet him at the camping sites as part of the bid to solve the problem of irresponsible campers, said the on-site meeting had clarified what needed to be done.
''We already knew what the problems were but it has given us a clearer idea of a way forward to come up with solutions. There's nothing like being on the ground to be able to say 'OK, I see how that works'.''
Central Otago District Council (CODC) and Linz representatives had already met in Alexandra in April and said after that a joint approach was the only way to solve problems with irresponsible camping, which were the worst they had ever been last summer. At the Bendigo site, toilets and rubbish bins had overflowed and up to 100 vehicles had stayed at the area on some nights.
Mr Sheppard said the meetings at Bendigo and Lowburn had been ''productive and positive'' and the council and Linz had agreed on actions proposed by Linz.
These included using counters at camp areas to get better data on visitor numbers; putting up fencing to better define parking, camping and boat access areas; and installing toilets at Bendigo.
Larger rubbish bins would also be installed, and more signs erected for campers.
Mr Cadogan said the improved infrastructure would be in place before the coming summer.
