Campsites could be set up to solve problems associated with freedom camping, a Christchurch councillor says.
The Christchurch City Council has received complaints about backpackers camping in the car park in New Brighton. Photo: SUPPLIED
The Christchurch City Council has received complaints from residents living near a New Brighton car park about noise and mess from backpackers camping in vans and tents.
Glenn Livingstone Photo: SUPPLIED
A resident who lives next door, Diane Greenfield, said she turned a hose on campers to get them to be quiet.
"They were abusive anyway and I've actually turned the hose over the fence and tried to shut them up, to get their attention, because they were getting louder and louder and louder, the more I said 'would you mind being quiet'."
"Then they were hanging over the fence and threatening, they were going to come over and smash our unit up, sorts of things."
A backpacker camping in the car park said he had never had any trouble with neighbours and just wanted a place to sleep.
Luca Pilsner said most of the visitors just wanted to eat, sleep and move on.
"We're just glad to have a spot where we can sleep without paying the $200 fee when we get busted," he said.
"We're just glad we have something like that. We're just coming in the evening, making our dinner, going to sleep. Most of us are leaving at 6 or 7 in the morning. We're just lucky to have a place to sleep. That's it."
Ward councillor Glenn Livingstone said there was a lot of land in the area that could be set up as a camping ground and that would help solve the issue.
"There's Thomson Park - it's not vacant land, it's a park - and that's not too far away. We could look at setting something up there," he said.
"We've got sports events - the Coast to Coast and some other events - coming up there soon and we will need extra provision for people camping anyway."
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