The proposed sticker law to regulate where campervans can overnight park does not go far enough for one South Island council mayor.
Queenstown Lakes district mayor Clive Geddes believes that the sticker law will not deter those tourist that pollute the area with human waste. Mr Geddes stated that his council should lead the way by being the first New Zealand district that has a blanket ban on all types of vans overnight camping in areas that do not provide toilet facilities. Reports of vans that are equipped with waste holding tanks illegally emptying these tanks has prompted the council to consider a local by-law
Although the problem of waste holding tanks being emptied in secluded reserves and carparks are not isolated cases, they are uncommon. The real issue has been the rapid expansion of the budget sleeping van fleet that needs to be addressed rather than penalise all travellers who often holiday in luxury motor homes that can offer better facilities than hotel rooms.
Queenstown District Lakes includes some of New Zealand,s premier vacation areas and includes some of the South Islands most popular tourist spots – Queenstown, Arrowtown, Wanaka, Aspiring National Park and many walking trails including the Routeburn track. It is understandably that Mr Geddes district due to its popularity, obviously bears the brunt of this problem, but he needs to look for a surgical attack rather that a blanket bombing approach in dealing with this issue.
Tags: New Zealand by Road
I didn’t know the Routeburn was used for THAT sort of thing………..
Clive Geddes is right, get the campervans into campgrounds at night, I’m sick of littered rest areas. If you want to freedom camp, pack a tent and hike into our national parks
Motorhomes are popular not just with tourists. The recent New Zealand Motor Caravan Association convention held over Easter weekend at Cromwell attracted over 1000 vehicles from all over NZ.
We are responsible and usually elderly New Zealanders who enjoy the option to freedom camp and do not pollute our wonderful country. We would be greatly effected by local ‘Sheriff’ type policies.
Sheriff Geddes needs to consider that stamping on all motorhome users in order to stop a few offenders is bureaucracy gone mad.
Who camps in rest areas. These road side areas are not littered by camper vans but by nappy changing motorist.