As the Dunedin City Council looks at opening up new areas for freedom camping, to ease the pressure on Warrington Domain, some local residents are begging for relief.

Warrington Domain and Ocean View Recreation Reserve are the only two Dunedin sites which accept non-self-contained vehicles.

Consequently, the number of freedom campers is high, particularly at Warrington, where an average of 75 to 80 vehicles camped each night during February and March.

Recently, The Star was approached by a group of Warrington residents concerned by the volume of freedom campers arriving nightly in the small settlement.

While not fundamentally opposed to freedom camping, the residents have called for numbers to be restricted.

Dunedin City Council recreation, planning and facilities manager Jendi Paterson, who is leading a review of freedom camping, is well aware of the issues for Warrington people.

"Warrington, I think everyone would agree, has been inundated with freedom campers,'' Ms Paterson said.

When the city's Camping Control Bylaw was introduced in 2015, no-one had foreseen the demand that would be placed on Warrington Domain, she said.

Warrington resident Paul Hersey said, despite the cool summer, numbers of freedom campers had "really picked up'' since Waitangi Weekend.

"There have been truckloads of them - sometimes hundreds of people in a night,'' Mr Hersey said.

At times, the reserve's facilities struggled to cope with demand, and it was difficult for locals to use Warrington Reserve for recreation. I'm not against freedom camping at all, but I do feel that its impact on Warrington needs to be limited,'' Mr Hersey said.

Fellow resident Sonia Evers, a senior firefighter and an operational Land Search and Rescue dog handler, used to be a regular user of the domain.

"It was an ideal space for doing play-training with my dogs, but after I was abused by a camper last year, I don't go there any more,'' Ms Evers said.

"I'm not against the freedom campers - I used to quite enjoy it when the numbers were more reasonable.''

Ms Evers urged the DCC to cap the numbers at Warrington Domain, and open up more spots for non-self-contained campers.

"That might leave some room for the locals,'' she said.

Waikouaiti Coast Community Board chairman Alasdair Morrison said that, going back to February last year, the numbers of freedom campers had "caught everyone by surprise''.

Toilet facilities and rubbish collection at Warrington reserve had been inadequate, resulting in hygiene problems, but this had since been addressed, he said.

Numbers were light from September to December, but had picked up from January to March - when there was an average of 75 to 80 vehicles a night.

Ms Paterson said the DCC had upgraded the infrastructure at the domain during the off season, and had surveyed the numbers. With two seasons of data in hand, the council was now well placed to consider amending the bylaw to increase the number of freedom camping sites for non-self-contained vehicles.

"If we are going to amend the bylaw, we want to make sure we are doing the right thing.''

BRENDA.HARWOOD @thestar.co.nz

Freedom camping is a topic of great interest for the citys community boards. The Star reporters spoke with board chairmen and women about the past summer season, and what impact freedom campers have had in their communities.

OTAGO PENINSULA

Changes to freedom camping bylaws have improved the situation on Otago Peninsula, but work remains to be done, Otago Peninsula Community Board chairman Paul Pope says.

While there were still a few "hot spots'' at Tomahawk Beach and other parts of the peninsula, the situation had "changed quite [a] bit'' with the new bylaws.

"We have the odd problem ... but there's been a marked improvement.''

By the end of the two-year Macandrew Bay trial the number of freedom campers in the peninsula area had dropped.

However, as there was still no designated freedom camping area with facilities on the peninsula, the problem with non-self-contained vehicles continued.

"There's always room for improvement.''

SADDLE HILL

Saddle Hill Community Board chairman Scott Weatherall said there had been minimal infringements by freedom campers over the summer and few concerns raised by the Brighton and Ocean View communities.

The use of the Brighton Domain - which is restricted to self-contained camper vans which can process their own waste - had taken the pressure off the Ocean View site, he said.

Positive feedback from members of the community now exceeded concerns.

"They kind of see the benefit of freedom campers - that they provide quite a cool culture within the community.''

Council staff and contractors were managing well in terms of waste disposal, and the council was working with the community to ensure freedom camping did not have a negative impact, Mr Weatherall said.

"What we would ask of the freedom campers visiting our community is that they treat our community with respect.''

MOSGIEL TAIERI

Mosgiel Taieri Community Board chairwoman Sarah Nitis said more freedom campers had been spotted at several sites around Mosgiel over the summer.

Freedom campers had recently been seen in the Seddon Park car park and the accompanying reserve in Wickliffe St, as well as in the Taieri Rugby Football Club and Wingatui racecourse car parks.

There were "about eight'' camper vans in the Seddon Park car park a "couple of weekends ago'', she said.

While that was "event specific'', it did highlight a growing load on existing infrastructure in Mosgiel, she said.

She had "mixed'' feelings about freedom campers and the "change in emphasis'' from private-sector campgrounds towards freedom camping sites, which were now a council and ratepayer responsibility.

WEST HARBOUR

West Harbour Community Board chairman Steve Walker said freedom camping was "not an issue'' in the West Harbour area - probably because it was not on a main route for travellers.

"We occasionally have a few people who stay overnight, but there have been no problems,'' he said.

He sympathised with Warrington residents and those in other areas where freedom camping was popular.

"It can sometimes be difficult to find a balance between encouraging tourism and safeguarding residents' right to enjoy their surroundings,'' he said.

Continued here:

Warrington inundated with freedom campers - Otago Daily Times