The Clutha District Council regulatory and policy committee meets in Balclutha this afternoon and will consider a range of reports, including the latest on freedom camping and regulatory compliance from overseer Ian Royle.
In his report, freedom camping and compliance officer Mr Royle said freedom camping last month was slowing down as the holiday season drew to a close, while compliance remained good.
Of 216 camper/vehicle interactions during the period from April 19 to May 28, only 23 vehicles and one tent camper had to be asked to relocate.
That compared with 341 interactions and 48 relocations for the previous six-week period.
"The Owaka freedom camping site remains busy and is still full most evenings. Other hot spots also continue to see regular camping traffic ... We continue to remove any non-self-contained vehicles I discover at the Owaka site or elsewhere. The site often gets a visit twice a day, including most evenings."
The report also includes heartening statistics for the council on another area of regulatory controversy.
Mr Royle recorded no incidents of breaches of the council’s new vehicles on beaches bylaw during the recent period.
The council brought the bylaw in on January 1, following a lengthy and polarising consultation process.
Among other duties carried out by Mr Royle, he addressed several instances of vehicles, animals and debris obstructing the district’s roads.
Two instances of roaming cows were recorded, at Mclennan in the Catlins and near Kaitangata; three rockfalls were removed from roads; and five instances of obstructively parked vehicles were recorded.
Mr Royle said he and council staff were working on an update and redesign of the council’s Camping in Clutha brochure.
This will provide details of all campgrounds and nearby attractions as a visitor resource.
