Money will be available for a freedom camping bylaw if the Waitaki District Council goes ahead as expected with a plan to tackle the controversial issue later this month.
When councillors approved the 2016-17 draft annual plan omnibus report at the council's extraordinary council meeting in Oamaru yesterday, several additions were made to the plan, increasing the total rates requirement by 0.41%.
The largest addition to the council's plan for next year since the consultation period in March and April was the money to back up a possible freedom camping bylaw.
Councillors approved a contingency budget of up to $56,000 for a freedom camping bylaw, and confirmed the council's preference for a freedom camping bylaw with an education and policing requirement.
Cr Melanie Tavendale, who chairs the freedom camping subcommittee, argued against those councillors who wanted to reduce the $56,000 the council could earmark for the bylaw's implementation yesterday.
"The reality is that the first year of any bylaw is the important year,'' she said.
"We need a bylaw that, if that's the way we go, has some teeth.''
There would not be the same ongoing cost in subsequent years, the amount spent on signage and education materials being largely set-up costs, she said.
Before yesterday's annual plan decisions the council had proposed an average 0.19% rates increase, lower than forecast in the council's 2015-25 long-term plan, which projected a 2.1% rates increase for the coming year.
Council chief financial officer Paul Hope said there had been "very little change'' from the draft plan that went out for public consultation.
The net increase of about $80,000 would be spread over the district's 14,000 ratepayers.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher led the failed bid to reduce the amount the council spent on the freedom camping bylaw from $56,000 to $40,000.
He did, however, successfully argue for $30,000 of depreciation funding the council had set aside for emergency management buildings, no longer required under a fire authority restructure, to be used to offset rates requirements.
Waihemo ward councillor Kathy Dennison argued successfully in favour of spending ward reserves to offset the Palmerston amenity rate.
She also argued for the council to include an additional $5000 in its plan for the Waihemo Wastebusters for staffing and health and safety costs, despite a council recommendation the funding request be declined.
Yesterday, councillors decided Ahuriri ward ratepayers would pick up $7500 in maintenance costs on Kurow Island.
Councillors agreed to grant $30,000 to the Otematata camping ground for protection work.
An $8000 increase was granted to the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust, and $10,000 was allocated for the installation of irrigation at the Oamaru harbour reserve as well as $5000 for rubbish and recycling bins at the harbour.
The council's 2016-17 annual plan is expected to be approved on June 22.
