‘Million dollar view’ campsite closed and blocked by bollards

A preferred tenting spot with “million greenback views” in Mid Canterbury has been closed and blocked by bollards – infuriating locals.

Hakatere Huts is a coastal settlement on the Ashburton/Hakatere River mouth, which splits into two elements, higher and decrease, based mostly on the panorama’s geographical divide.

Higher Hakatere had a tenting space for round 60 years till the council closed it final 12 months.

Wood bollards had been put in in February 2023 to dam car entry and signpost it as a picnic space, whereas new picnic tables had been put in. Tenting is now restricted to Decrease Hakatere.

Hakatere Hut representatives mentioned it caught the residents abruptly as there had been no session.

Residents Gary Clancy, TJ Jonker, and Fritha Tagg are main a marketing campaign to convey again the campground, or at the least do away with the bollards.

“It was really easy to place them in, it might be really easy to take them out.”

The bollards don’t match with the aesthetic of the location and are extra appropriate “in a farmyard or a jail”, Yonker mentioned.

The council defined it was an operational choice in response to complaints, security issues, and wanting tenting on the settlement to be self-funding.

Council enterprise assist group supervisor Leanne Macdonald mentioned it had been mentioned with hut residents final 12 months.

The campground caretaker left they usually had been unable to fill the position in order that they wanted “to restrict the place campers camp to maintain upkeep and cleansing work down”, she mentioned.

“Once we met with the residents, we clarified that the minimal revenue obtained from individuals tenting on this space didn’t cowl the price of a caretaker, and any cleansing or upkeep is primarily funded by the overall ratepayer.”

Nevertheless, Clancy mentioned he did not imagine the suggestion it wanted to be self-funding was a reputable argument, based mostly on  different reserves, tenting and picnic areas he checked out within the district.

Coastal erosion was additionally cited as an element within the choice, however a setback fence was put in in 2017 to cease heavy autos from parking close to the cliffs, Clancy mentioned.

“There are many examples of locations the place there isn’t any in a single day tenting however you may picnic and folks can park their autos on the grass with out bollards, so why not right here?” Clancy mentioned.

“[Visitors] got here right here for the million greenback view. You by no means see anyone right here now.”

Tagg mentioned the bollards, parking, and undulating terrain additionally made it exhausting for the aged and people with mobility points to make use of the picnic tables.

“There have been a number of individuals that may come for a picnic, cup of tea or sit for some time and soak within the view however they’ll’t do it now.

“The bollards forestall anybody from parking shut.”

Jonker mentioned there was no signage on the entry to let guests know of the change.

In response, McDonald mentioned every space within the district was handled uniquely with its personal acceptable answer.

“The bollards had been primarily put in to discourage tenting and direct campers to the decrease degree.

“We additionally hoped to create a picnic space that inspired day guests to benefit from the picnic space and the views on the higher degree.

“Folks can, and nonetheless do park on the website.”

The bollards make the picnic space a secure area for households with youngsters, she mentioned.

Extra signage to direct campers to Decrease Hakatere can be thought-about, McDonald mentioned.

The residents plan to current a petition to the council and  undergo the long-term plan, calling for the campground’s reinstatement, or at the least the elimination of the bollards.

The long-term plan is proposing to exchange the outdated bathrooms at Decrease Hakatere with a $240,000 new rest room block.

“Since we’re encouraging campers to make use of decrease Hakatere campsite, we’re proposing to exchange the prevailing septic tank bathrooms with new dry vault services nearer to the tenting space, and away from the eroding shoreline,” McDonald mentioned.

The outdated altering shed was slated for demolition, however after dialogue with the residents, it’s set to be repurposed as a shelter, she mentioned.

By Jonathan Leask