Selwyn Times: October 10, 2017
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4 Tuesday <strong>October</strong> <strong>10</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi<br />
News<br />
SELWYN TIMES<br />
Freedom campers have negative<br />
• By Georgia O’Connor-Harding<br />
LITTER, DEFECATING, overcrowding,<br />
fire lighting and antisocial<br />
behaviour are key issues<br />
identified as negative impacts<br />
freedom camping are having on<br />
the district.<br />
The issues have been identified<br />
as part of a report exposing the<br />
impacts freedom camping has on<br />
the district.<br />
Observations into the environmental<br />
impacts of freedom<br />
camping were carried out at<br />
Chamberlains Ford and Whitecliffs<br />
Domain.<br />
It found high amounts of litter,<br />
especially at Chamberlains Ford<br />
with rubbish varying from supermarket<br />
bags to toilet paper with<br />
plastic being the most common<br />
type of litter.<br />
Large amounts were found<br />
behind the Chamberlains Ford’s<br />
toilet block.<br />
But research findings suggested<br />
freedom campers were either<br />
not aware of the litter issues and<br />
it was identified it needed to be<br />
addressed.<br />
High volumes of freedom<br />
camping can be attributed to the<br />
excessive amounts of litter.<br />
Mayor Sam Broughton said<br />
the issues identified in the<br />
report were the reason freedom<br />
camping was getting a bad<br />
name.<br />
But he said these problems<br />
were generally caused by a minority<br />
of campers.<br />
Mr Broughton said the district<br />
council had done a lot to support<br />
freedom camping and there are<br />
signs and infrastructure in place<br />
so people can dispose responsibly.<br />
He said the district council<br />
recently asked for further funding<br />
to improve toilet facilities in<br />
<strong>Selwyn</strong>.<br />
The report showed high<br />
numbers with records of visitor<br />
numbers between November and<br />
March showing 4504 vehicles<br />
parked at Chamberlains Ford<br />
equating to about 125 vehicles a<br />
night.<br />
At Coes Ford 2327 were recorded<br />
over the same period.<br />
PROBLEMS:<br />
Large amounts<br />
of litter were<br />
found at<br />
Chamberlains<br />
Ford,<br />
particularly<br />
behind the<br />
toilet facilities. <br />
The report stated freedom<br />
camping is no longer a seasonal<br />
activity but occurs throughout<br />
the year.<br />
Other findings were incidents<br />
of fires lit at Lakeside Domain<br />
and Coes Ford, freedom campers<br />
defecating in grass reserves and<br />
campsites and reports of antisocial<br />
behaviour from police and<br />
residents.<br />
Noticeable amounts of tissue<br />
and toilet paper were found at<br />
Chamberlains Ford and Whitecliffs<br />
Domain, particularly in<br />
areas furthest away from toilet<br />
facilities.<br />
The report said visitors said<br />
there are frequent quests to the<br />
toilets.<br />
Anti-social behaviour is most<br />
common at Chamberlains Ford<br />
and Coes Ford.<br />
Examples include assaults, dogs<br />
not on leads, drunken behaviour,<br />
excessive noise and inappropriate<br />
use of motor-cycles, four-wheeldrive<br />
vehicles and quad-bikes.<br />
Concern was also raised in the<br />
report from visitors interviewed<br />
about the state of the <strong>Selwyn</strong>’s<br />
rivers.<br />
About 15 per cent of visitors at<br />
Chamberlains Ford, Coes Ford<br />
and Whitecliffs commented on<br />
the state of the rivers without<br />
being asked.<br />
The report was compiled over<br />
last year’s Christmas holiday<br />
period and released to the public<br />
by the district council last week.<br />
It was first presented to the district<br />
council as part of an internal<br />
briefing to its councillors.<br />
<strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> reported it would<br />
not be released because district<br />
council staff were discussing<br />
the results with neighbouring<br />
councils.<br />
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Community Funding<br />
Information Session<br />
Open to members of all community groups, clubs<br />
and organisations<br />
Thursday 26 <strong>October</strong>, 7–9pm<br />
Lincoln Event Centre<br />
Learn about funding opportunities which may be suitable for your group.<br />
7pm – Ann O’Connor, Department of Internal Affairs<br />
7.30pm – Courtenay Sheat, Rātā Foundation<br />
8pm – Donna Morris, Webfair<br />
8.30pm – Brenda Smith, Generosity NZ<br />
Please RSVP by Friday 20 <strong>October</strong> to cdworkshops.rsvp@selwyn.govt.nz<br />
or phone Lisa Larkin on 347 2755 for more information.<br />
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