The Waitaki District Council’s customer services committee will vote on an amended draft freedom camping bylaw next week.
The draft Waitaki District Responsible Freedom Camping Bylaw 2016 received 38 submissions during public consultation and now includes one change to the bylaw and two clarifications on the interpretation of the bylaw as a result of the process.
Council officers have also produced a check list indicating freedom camping prohibition in each of the 79 named reserves in the bylaw either benefits the area’s accessibility, protects the land or people’s health and safety, as is required by the Freedom Camping Act 2011.
The change to the bylaw recommended by council officers addresses concerns raised about the proposed prohibition on freedom camping "directly outside" a residential dwelling.
Gaining the consent of the property owner or occupant has been included as an option in the draft bylaw for those who wish to freedom camp outside a dwelling.
The customer services committee meets in Oamaru on Wednesday next week, and the bylaw is expected to be adopted by the council on September 14.
