Free camping at Bracknell was back on one Meander Valley councillor’s radar at last week’s meeting.
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Councillor Ian Mackenzie asked a number of questions without notice about the free camping:
“Recently there has been a metal bollard installed at the Bracknell River Reserve. Is council aware that the Bracknell Fire Brigade use that to access to the river for water collection and training purposes,” he said.
“Did council install the bollard?
“When was Bracknell Fire Brigade or Tas Fire Service consulted on the potential of, and now installation of that Bollard?
“What was the total cost of installation of bollard to council including materials, labour and all other associated council costs.”
The council’s works director Matthew Millwood said the council was not aware the fire brigade used the site until Cr Mackenzie asked the question.
Mr Millwood said because the council was unaware the brigade used the river, it did not consult with them.
The question about the cost of the installation of the new bollard was taken on notice.
Cr Mackenzie then continued with his questions.
“I believe that MVC has received approximately 20 statutory declarations from Bracknell Community members on the Bracknell River Reserve being a camp site? Is this correct? If not correct, how many,” he said.
“Would it be correct to say, that all of those statutory declarations stated that the River Reserve has been a camp area for 25 years or more?
“I believe that MVC’s General Manager has recently had some communication with the Northern Midlands Council GM in regards to the process that Northern Midland Council went through in regards to Camping within the Northern Midlands Council Area is this correct?”
The council’s general manager Martin Gill said about 20 declarations had been received, and all stated the site had been used for camping for more than 25 years.
Mr Gill said the council had discussed the process with Northern Midlands Council, but took the question about the bordering council’s process on notice.
Councillor Mackenzie said the reason he had asked the questions was “to get them on the public record”.
He said he was first alerted to the installation of the bollard by concerned community members.
“It was more to highlight the answers,” he said.
“Campers put about $20,000 into the Bracknell community through the pub and post office and I don’t want those businesses to miss out on the tourist season.”