Auckland Council has shut the Piha campground and when – or even if – it will reopen is uncertain.
By Ross McNaughton of RNZ
Fiona Anderson has managed the Piha campground for over 26 years.
At this time of year there would normally be between 30 and 50 campers staying per night, but currently the tūī and ducks are the only occupants enjoying the September sun.
Anderson said she agreed to shut the camp ground for three months over winter at the request of Auckland Council, as they wanted the local board to have time to consider the future of the camping ground.
Anderson said she did not hear anything more from the council until August 21, a week before she planned to reopen the camp for the summer season.
"Before it was a request, now it is I am not allowed to open."
Anderson said she was told Auckland Council were seeking legal opinions, "and it was looking like the end of October before the campground could open".
Auckland Council declined to be interviewed, and did not put a timeline on reopening.
"The council is investigating the future use of the campground, balancing the flood risk and safety of campground users with the desire by many for camping to continue.
"Once the investigation is complete a decision about the future of the campground will be made by the council," Auckland Council said in a statement.
"The council's updated flood hazard mapping has identified a high flooding risk at the site particularly around the risks associated with overnight accommodation."
It also noted the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events.
The campground is on a flood plain and part of the site flooded in 2018. A council report that year found future flooding could result in loss of life.
Anderson said she had since closed off a third of the camp site along the Piha stream and had robust processes in place to manage weather events.
She said she checks five weather apps every morning, and closes bookings if significant rain is forecast for the area. If a weather watch is upgraded to a weather warning, anyone with an existing booking is called and told the camp is site is closed.
Last month, the council released a report by Blue Barn consulting engineers, looking into flooding and erosion in several locations around Piha including the campground.
The report identified three possible outcomes for the campsite – reconfiguration, relocation or managed withdrawal.
Piha local Cindy Baxter has started a petition, urging Auckland council not to close the campground permanently. At the time of writing it had attracted over 2500.
"There's been no consultation with the community," Baxter said.
"There's been no proper discussion with Fiona. We know that this decision is underway at the moment, so this is why we started the petition."
Anderson said she was turning away between five and six campervans on a daily basis, while the closure was costing around $1000 a day.
"I can't put my staff on the payroll because there is no payroll," she said.
"I'm buying groceries on my credit card. The lawns still need mowing, people still need paying, the systems have got to be paid for, the bank still charges interest, the phone bills have still got to be paid and the power bills still got to be paid, right?"
Anderson's not the only one counting the cost of the closure.
Manish and Avi Parajuli took over the Piha store last August.
Trade from campground visitors was a big part of their decision.
Manish said there had been a significant change in their revenue compared to this time last year. They took on an extra staff member ahead of the anticipated campground reopening in late August, only to find out the campground would stay shut.
Anderson hopes she will be able to reopen by Labour weekend, but that seems far from certain.
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