Cr MICHAEL LAWS
Dunstan Ward (Queenstown Lakes/Central Otago) Otago Regional Council

Regional Councillor Applauds Tough Stance on “Plague” Freedom Campers Urges Otago Regional Council “to Get Involved Now”

Otago regional councillor and former Wanganui mayor Michael Laws has today applauded the tough stance taken on freedom camping announced by the Queenstown Lakes District Council.

“ Freedom campers are a plague in this region and they have reached epidemic proportions over the current summer.

“ They have despoiled many a Central Lakes beauty spot and ruined many recreational areas. They are actively destroying both the tourism and local experience of our lakes and recreational areas.”

Cr Laws said that he had requested the Otago Regional Council to “take a leadership role on this issue. We have been silent for too long. The Freedom Camping Act gives us regional responsibility and its time that we discharged it.”

“ It is important to note that Queenstown and its mayor are not simply reflecting community views on this issue but the sentiment of many tourism operators as well. Freedom campers are despoiling the tourism experience too.”

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