Volunteer wardens patrolling the Lake Hawea foreshore to monitor freedom campers and stop the amount of human waste left on the ground have now been given authority to issue infringement notices.
The group of six Lake Hawea residents who regularly walk the foreshore have been briefed by QLDC community services general manager Paul Wilson and issued with warrant badges signed by the mayor.
The local initiative has been planned for more than a year and a similar warden programme is currently also being considered in Kingston.
Hawea Community Association vice president Di Turnbull is one of the wardens and said the main focus is on educating and communicating with campers, but having the authority to issue infringement notices will add to the group’s effectiveness.
“It’s a pity it’s come to this, but finding toilet waste and bottles in the bushes is not much fun at all.”
No overnight camping is permitted on public land in the township of Lake Hawea, and campers who appear to be setting up for the night will be advised to move on to one of the commercial camping areas. If they are still camped on public land in the township the next morning then a spot fine of $200 will be issued.
The issue of freedom camping and attempts to manage it in the Southern Lakes area has once again been the subject of national media attention this week when it was revealed that only 33 of 150 infringement notices worth $30,000 have been paid since they started being issued in September.
HCA president Rachel Brown was interviewed on the subject by National Radio this week and used the wardens as an example of an effective solution to the problem. She said the initiative has been perceived by some as anti-tourist, but the main offenders were only a small part of the tourist economy who spend very little in the country.
“The only people making money from them are the owners of the rental campervans.”
She said it was unfortunate that, due to national legislation, local bylaws can only be enforced on council land. This means campers using the west side of Lake Hawea from the campground up to the Neck can not be fined by the wardens as it comes under LINZ legislation.
They can however be approached and educated about using the toilets in the area and asked not to litter or leave waste on the ground.
Di said she and the other five wardens, John Taylor, Errol Carr, Graham Valentine, Doug Brenssell and Neil Brown, all have pamphlets to hand out and will communicate with cellphones enabling them to follow up in the morning to check whether campers have followed their advice.
“It’s amazing how they sneak in behind some places,” Di said.