The new bylaw was in response to the Government's Freedom Camping Act 2011, which allows freedom campers to stay at any public place unless a local bylaw is in place, he said. The new bylaw also outlines 10 locations where tents are still allowed. It goes without saying, Mr Armstrong said, that motorhomes and campervans will have more freedom if they have a toilet on board under the proposed bylaw, which means campers without a toilet will be restricted to staying within 100m of a public toilet.
Campers will be restricted to three nights at each site, and only three cars or campers would be allowed at each site per night, Mr Armstrong said.
Earlier the Department of Conservation's partnership ranger Mike Tapp had told a local newspaper that it was a benefit to have freedom campers around because they helped deter people behaving badly. "The more of them we have here, the less vandalism we see," Mr Tapp had said.
Mr Armstrong said freedom campers were a welcome asset to the many small towns along the Taranaki coast. "They explore the towns, buy food and other goods. We want to attract into our region, and welcome them."
The bylaw says freedom camping means to camp (other than at a camping ground) within 200m of a motor vehicle-accessible area or the mean low-water springs line of any sea or harbour, or on or within 200m of a formed road, using one or more of the following:
-A tent or other temporary structure
-A caravan
-A car, campervan, camper trailer, house truck or other motor vehicle.
Freedom camping does not include the following activities:
-Temporary and short-term parking of a motor vehicle
-Recreational activities commonly known as day trip excursions
-Resting or sleeping at the roadside in a caravan or motor vehicle to avoid driver fatigue.
Freedom campers cannot stay more than three nights at same site in one month, light a fire without prior written permission from the council, and the site must be left clean and tidy. Approved freedom camp sites in Patea and Waverley include the York St Picnic Area, the Stafford St Pool Reserve in Patea, the Wairoa Reserve, the Dallison St Carpark and the Aotea Rotary Community Park in Waverley. Prohibited sites include the Patea Cemetery and Dallison Park Recreation Grounds and Gully Park in Waverley.