Whangamatā freedom camping spot to be moved due to issues of overcrowding

Freedom camping has been moved from the beach carpark to the top carpark at Island View Reserve in Whangamatā after overcrowding, beach and public toilet access concerns.

A popular freedom camping spot in Whangamatā has been moved because of regular overcrowding, especially during the peak summer season.

Island View Reserve at the south end of the town is a popular place for visitors, including freedom campers, neighbouring the beach, but the flood of visitors also had impacts on access to the beach and adjacent public toilets.

Following a request from the Whangamatā Community Board to address the issue during summer by moving designated freedom camping spots, Thames-Coromandel District Council has moved the spots away from the beach to a neighbouring carpark in the reserve.

In a report, council strategy and policy manager Leslie Vyfhuis said council staff had advised the alternative carpark was a suitable location for freedom camping as it provided the same restrictions applying to the beach carpark area to the new parking area - with freedom camping restricted to four vehicles.

Moving the designated place for freedom camping on the Island View Reserve from the beach carpark to the “top carpark” would require a change to the description of the designated place.

That required an amendment to the bylaw.

When making, amending, or revoking a bylaw made under the Freedom Camping Act, the council had to comply with consultation requirements.

Council staff had received legal advice that the proposed amendment to the bylaw could be considered minor and may be implemented by resolution of the council, without public consultation.

That was because the change in the location was only a few metres within the overall area to which restriction applied, and the number of parking spaces available would remain unchanged, at four.

The amendment would be made before the next peak period, which would have a direct benefit to freedom campers and other users of the reserve, the report said.

Island View Reserve in Whangamatā is also a popular spot for weekend markets.

During the consultation on the freedom camping bylaw in 2022, the Whangamatā Community Board had raised the option of providing freedom camping on a planned new carpark on the reserve.

As the construction of that carpark had not been completed, the option was not given further consideration for inclusion in the bylaw.

The top carpark was not considered in 2022 because at the time it was understood to be reserved for users of the playground on the reserve.

It has since been clarified that the top carpark may be used by anyone, which could include freedom campers.