Thursday, November 16, 2017
THE owners of Motu Trails accommodation say travellers are turning up at all hours of the day and night.
Photo Ross McCullough OB4033-1
Ross McCullough
BACKPACKERS are turning up in Opotiki at all hours of the night and morning from Ohope, after being chased away by beach residents.
That’s the allegation made by the owner of an Opotiki accommodation complex who the desperate travellers are turning to for help.
Motu Trails Shuttle and Accommodation owner Ngaio Knebel said even though there was a designated freedom camping site in Ohope on Harbour Road, locals there had been telling campers to move on.
She said it wasn’t just those from other countries who were working here either, but others in transit who were being chased out of Ohope.
Ohope Beach Top 10 Holiday Park manager and Ohope-Whakatane Community Board member Mark Inman said the holiday park could cater for travelling visitors, but they would have to pay if they wanted to stay.
He said if the vehicles freedom campers used were not self-contained, they ended up staying longer than the required two days at any of the three designated freedom camping sites in Ohope, or if they were in the wrong area, the security used by Whakatane District Council would move them on.
He said no-one had the authority to move the visitors on but the council’s staff or contractors.
He had not heard of locals on Harbour Road or anyone from Ohope chasing freedom campers away – including from the designated freedom camping sites. But he acknowledged that Ohope locals got upset with freedom campers.
Reasons cited were that they were blocking views and taking up precious space that could be utilised for more local activities.
As an example, he said the ski zone at the boat ramp at the end of Harbour Road was now restricted as it was in the freedom camping zone.
“It’s hard to access the harbour now,” he said.
Mr Inman said Ohope people were paying big money towards their rates and some also had holiday homes they rented out, that were affected by the presence of freedom campers.
He believed the solution was that the council did not provide designated freedom camping sites at all, saying there were plenty of holiday parks available within a 30-40 kilometre area. However, many freedom campers were just opposed to having to pay to stay.
“There are plenty of holiday parks around they could all be staying at,” Mr Inman said, maintaining the cost was “minimal”.
“Why should they be able to stay where they want free?”
He said many people had approached him as a community board member voicing their concern about freedom campers.
“There are a lot who aren’t happy about the freedom camping sites; there really is no need for them,” Mr Inman said.
He pointed out, however, if there were no holiday park facilities nearby or access to affordable temporary accommodation the freedom camping sites still had their place.
But when there were so many holiday park facilities in the Whakatane to Opotiki area, “it just seems like a ridiculous situation,” he said.
“People aren’t against freedom camping but are opposed to the locations of where they are.”
Mr Inman suggested it would make sense for designated freedom camping sites down the Coast with very few camping grounds there, or half way between Thornton and Tauranga.
“It makes sense in those type of places, especially this time of year when more visitors are around,” he said.
No routine overnight patrolling of campers
Whakatane District Council public affairs manager Ross Boreham said there was no routine patrolling of the overnight parking areas provided in Ohope.
However, council responded to any complaints relating to breaches of the bylaw provisions that vehicles be self-contained; and stay a maximum of two successive nights in any one location.
“Only council-appointed officers have a legal right to ask people to move on and anyone else who does so is acting outside the law.
“Should any overnight parkers feel they have been unfairly treated, under the circumstances, we would be happy to hear about it, with a view to counselling the local resident(s) involved about his/her/their behaviour.”
He said people legitimately using the council’s designated overnight parking areas were making a useful contribution to the visitor economy and it would be unfortunate if they were made to feel unwelcome.