Freedom Camping Costs

Gregory Soar made this Official Information request to Whanganui District Council

The request was partially successful.

From: Gregory Soar

Dear Whanganui District Council,

I wish the following information please:

1. How much was the total cost of installing any current infrastructure that caters specifically for Freedom campers?

2. How much is the annual ongoing servicing and maintenance costs of any infrastructure that caters specifically to Freedom campers?

3. What is the level of annual spending and how much income is generated by Freedom campers?

4. Subtracting infrastructure and maintenance / servicing annual costs from income generated are we earning more than we are spending via Freedom campers?

5. How long does the law ( central Act or local legislation ) allow a Freedom camper to remain in one place without moving on?

Yours faithfully,

Gregory Soar

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From: Anne Couper
Whanganui District Council

Good Morning Gregory

Thank you for your email. The Council offices have opened today for the New Year. Your request has been logged CRM21/0200001 today and sent through to our Legal Team for them to process this request. Unfortunately all LGOIMA requests are on hold till 10 January 2021.

Kind Regards

Anne

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From: Gregory Soar

Dear Anne Couper,

I have not received my reply as yet.
FYI

Yours sincerely,

Gregory Soar

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From: Kellie Brougham
Whanganui District Council

Dear Mr Soar

 

Thank you for following up on this request which was released on 9
February. I see now that the response was sent to a different FYI email
address you had provided (for the speed survey). My apologies.

 

Here is the council’s response.

 

Kind regards

Kellie Brougham

 

 

 

From: WDC Information Request
Sent: Tuesday, 9 February 2021 2:39 pm
To: '[email address]'
<[email address]>
Subject: Decision for your official information request

 

Dear Mr Soar

 

We refer to your official information request dated 5^th January 2021
asking for information on Freedom Campers.

 

The information you have requested is as follows.

1. How much was the total cost of installing any current infrastructure
that caters specifically for Freedom campers?

A. Infrastructure has not been installed specifically for Freedom Campers.

2. How much is the annual ongoing servicing and maintenance costs of any
infrastructure that caters specifically to Freedom campers?

A. While catering for freedom campers, the toilets at Kowhai Park are
there for general public use, and have fulfilled a need for the public
using that area specifically for launching boats and walking
activities. Dump stations have been installed by the Council at Kowhai
Park and Springvale Park.  These are not specifically for Freedom campers,
but for campervans that choose to empty in Whanganui.  There are other
privately owned dump stations also.

3.  What is the level of annual spending and how much income is generated
by Freedom campers?

A. The average spend from the 2019/2020 summer season from the survey was
$50pp/day. However we don’t know exact numbers of Freedom Campers there
were so it is not possible to give a total benefit to Whanganui.  

4.  Subtracting infrastructure and maintenance / servicing annual costs
from income generated are we earning more than we are spending via Freedom
campers?

A. Infrastructure has not been installed specifically for Freedom Campers.
We also aren’t aware of exact numbers of Freedom Campers during 2019/2020
so it is not possible to give a total benefit to Whanganui.  

5. How long does the law (central Act or local legislation) allow a
Freedom camper to remain in one place without moving on?

A. There is currently no time limit on Freedom Campers under the Act.  WDC
are looking at a By-law that may give consideration to time limits.

 

 

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

 

If you wish to discuss this decision, please feel free to contact us on 06
349 0001 or by return email.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Democracy Services Team

 

On behalf of

Rob Goldsbury

Legal Counsel

Kellie Brougham | Executive Officer
P: +64 6 349 3123 | M: +64
[2]www.whanganui.govt.nz
Whanganui District Council | 101 Guyton Street | PO Box 637 | Whanganui
4500
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