The Christchurch City Council’s trialling a new number plate monitoring system to crack down on freedom campers after years of complaints involving rubbish and human waste behind left behind in parks and roadsides.
The council’s general manager for planning, strategy and regulatory services, John Higgins said freedom campers who visit council land will have their number plates automatically recorded and assessed against an online database that will identity whether they are certified.
Campers certified as self-contained have a toilet, wastewater and rubbish facilities on board.
Vehicles that are not certified as self-contained and are found in breach of the Freedom Camping Bylaw will be issued infringement notices of up to $800.
Higgins said the trial was aimed at improving compliance and establishing if the council's current Freedom Camping Bylaw was working.
"Data from the trial will also assist the council to assess the volume of freedom campers in the city, and where issues are occurring," he said.
The move was welcomed by the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association, that has over 65 private campsites and hosts well over half a million visitor nights a year.
Spokesman James Imlach told 1News the organisation was also introducing similar camera technology to help take the burden off local volunteers.
He said when members arrive at a site, cameras will check that their vehicles are self-contained, that they're a financial member of the NZMCA, and that they pay their park fees.
Imlach said the initiative will cost over $1 million to get up and running.
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