Freedom camping and alcohol in public places are two topics that Tasman residents are being asked to have their say on this month.
Tasman District Council are “playing catchup” to get on top of reviewing some bylaws before they hit a five-year deadline, something that didn’t happen with the Control of Alcohol in Public Places Bylaw and the Responsible Camping Bylaw.
At Thursday’s Environment and Regulatory Committee, councillor Mark Greening questioned why consultation was being sought on the Alcohol in Public Places Bylaw when any changes seemed to be ‘minor’, if any at all.
He queried the cost of consultation, something he has raised previously, at a time when council is combing through budget lines to try and limit rates rises.
Community Policy Advisor Cat Budai told council that police say the bylaw is one of the most useful pieces of legislation they have for preventing crime. The current bylaw remains in effect until December 2025. However, as it was not reviewed within five years, the reviewed bylaw will be considered ‘new’, so it needs to be consulted on.
While the bylaw is proposed to stay much the same, there is a proposed reduction in the size of some of the public areas where alcohol is banned, including Pōhara, Collingwood, and Tapawera.
Richmond bans are proposed to stay the same, although different options have been considered to address growth in Richmond West. Mark added that it would be “useful” for reports to contain the cost of consultation.
Freedom camping also hit the agenda, with changes proposed to shrink the size of some sites in Tasman while permitting others to be used. Council is outside of the statutory timeframe for a review of this 2017 bylaw and must revoke it and establish a new one because they won’t be able to use it for the upcoming season.
The Freedom Camping Act 2011 was amended in 2023 and now permits freedom camping in a self-contained vehicle or tent in local authority areas. New vehicle standards rule out smaller vans, with a two-year transition period for compliance. Freedom camping in a non-self-contained vehicle on local authority land is prohibited, unless expressly permitted in the likes of a bylaw.
Infringement fees for non-compliance would increase, but homeless people are excluded from enforcement provisions. Community policy advisor, Amy Smith, told councillors that 35 infringements were issued over the 2023/24 summer period and 20 infringements were issued over 2024/25.
Key changes included removing Best Island, Hickmott Place car park, and Staples St in Motueka as prohibited freedom camping sites, but adding a new prohibited site at Pukekoikoi Historic Reserve at the request of iwi.
There would be no changes proposed for freedom camping areas at Fittal St, Richmond, and Alexander Bluff, but new sites would be added for self-contained vehicles only at both Wai-iti Reserve and George Quay in Motueka.
It is proposed to retain but reduce the eight prohibited township areas and reduce the available sites at Decks Reserve from 60 to 40 parking spaces as well as restricting overnight parking to weeknights only, to accommodate the Sunday market, as well as reducing Motupipi Carpark from 22 to 11 sites.
Motueka-ward councillor Barry Dowler questioned the weekend restrictions, claiming the market’s manager had the situation under control.
“I’ve been to Decks Reserve around 6.30-7am to see how things are going. If you’ve met Judy Roper on a good day, she has the freedom campers gone by 6.15.”
Barry says the main issue was rubbish overflow and locals leaving their cars overnight after visiting local hospitality venues.
“They turn up at 10 o’clock in the morning and they’re surrounded by people in the market and they want their car out,” he said.
Councillors agreed to seek feedback on the weekend prohibition.
Three non-self-contained parking spaces and 19 self-contained parking spaces would be added at Motueka Beach Recreation Reserve to offset the Decks Reserve changes.
Consultation is open on both bylaws until 7 July. Have your say at shape.tasman.govt.nz
