Five camping grounds around the Waitaki lakes will come under the full control of the Waimate District Council in a move to have them vested as local body reserves.
The council has been trying to get ownership of the reserves for about 20 years and has now reached agreement with the Crown to acquire the land of the camping grounds, at Fisherman's Bend, Waitangi East, Waitangi West, Te Akatarawa and Briar Gully, on the northern shores of Lakes Waitaki and Aviemore.
The council will sign agreements with the Commissioner of Crown Lands representing Land Information New Zealand (Linz), Meridian Energy Ltd, Minister of Conservation representing the Department of Conservation and the Waitaki District Council, which will see the camping grounds vested in the Waimate council as recreation reserves under the Reserves Act.
Council administration officer John Larcombe said yesterday if the council gave the go ahead for Linz to start the vesting process, it could be formalised later this year.
The camping grounds have been operated under licence by the Waimate council for years.
The Crown owns the land, but the council owns the facilities, which include boat harbours, water supplies and basic ablution blocks.
However, along with the Waitaki council on the southern bank, Waimate has been attempting to organise local ownership of the reserves land, so they can be developed further if necessary.
The difficulty has been negotiating with Linz to upgrade facilities to basic standards, and ensuring Meridian's operating easements around the edges of the lake are preserved for hydro-electricity generation.
The agreement covers setting apart the camping areas as reserves and vesting in the council; drinking water supplies; the council's obligations; Meridian's operating easements; no financial considerations for the land and facilities; mediation and arbitration; and costs.
