A fenced youth campsite with a "behaviour agreement" is being set up at Loch Laird to provide a safe area for "good kids" to camp near Otematata this Labour Weekend.
At the same time, unaccompanied school-age youth will not be welcome in other Waitaki District Council lakes freedom camping reserves over the weekend.
The move is one of several aimed at curbing bad behaviour at the Waitaki lakes, particularly around Otematata, which has bedevilled the area at Labour Weekend over the past few years as young people gather to celebrate the unofficial end of the school year for senior secondary school pupils.
It follows meetings last month between Students Against Driving Drunk, the Waitaki District Council, police and other emergency services in the area in an attempt to stop the same thing happening this year.
Staying at the camp site, which will be open from Friday to Monday will cost $30, but offer pupils and young people extra facilities over freedom camping areas around Otematata.
Police plan an extra presence in the Waitaki Valley for the weekend, boosting the number policing the Waitaki lakes to seven, Oamaru senior sergeant Jason McCoy said yesterday.
Five extra police would be staying in the area, in addition to the two constables based at Kurow and Omarama.
Four would be stationed in Otematata, one more than last year, and an extra constable at Omarama.
Council communications officer Scott Ridley said most of the young people who went to the lakes were "good kids", but the behaviour of a few impacted on the reputation of all.
Campers would be responsible for their own behaviour at the youth campsite, in a triangle above Loch Laird beside Loch Laird Rd, with a "behaviour agreement".
Council staff and volunteers would watch the gate, but were "not there to babysit".
The Waitaki Guardians will also have a presence around Otematata and the camping reserves.
Up until yesterday, six tickets had been sold for the camp site, but a rush was expected during this week.
Tickets would not be sold at the site, so young people needed to buy them from the council before 4.30pm on Friday.
The site could hold up to 200 people.
Cars would be parked in a separate area, and people have access to them to collect or store personal belongings.
They would be locked up overnight from 10pm.
Campers were being issued an information sheet that also reminded them what to bring, including warm clothes, food, tents, sleeping bags, water bottles, fully charged cellphones and torches and batteries.
It also listed phone numbers for emergency contacts.
Mr Ridley said the $30 camp fee was slightly higher than for other freedom camping areas around the lakes, but included extras for the youth campsite.
Rural fire had organised a bonfire for the Saturday night.
No other fires - which caused problems last year when the Otematata Fire Brigade was pelted with bottles trying to put them out - would be allowed.
There would be a barbecue for campers to cook on and an Otematata takeaway shop had offered to deliver big orders of food.
A van would run from the campsite to Otematata for campers to get provisions.
Some lighting and music would be provided.
Recycling and rubbish pick-up was available and there were toilets at the site.
Campers were also warned underage drinking in a public place was against the law and was not condoned.
There is a temporary liquor ban in place covering the Otematata township from midday on Friday to midnight on Tuesday.
