A new charge for Waitaki lakes camping might be introduced by the Waitaki District Council this season to offset competition from its counterpart, the Waimate District Council.
Waitaki has nine campsites from Lake Aviemore to Lake Ohau which, because they are widely spread, are costly to operate. Waimate has four sites, along with lakeside camping, confined mostly around Lake Aviemore.
Both have daily and season camping fees, but Waimate is cheaper - $300 for a season ticket compared with Waitaki's $460.
Now the Waitaki council, prompted by the Ahuriri Community Board, is investigating offering a 10-day camping ticket with the 11th day free.
The board suggested the 10-day fee, which would suit campers at Christmas, as an incentive to attract campers to the Waitaki District Council camps.
"This is to address the current problem with campers being dis-proportionately attracted to the Waimate area camps through cheaper camp charges," the board said.
