Reducing the Rangitata Camping Ground season by four months “makes sense” according to some of its long-time users.
Robin Hall is in his 60s and has been camping near the banks of the Rangitata River most years since he was a teenager, and he’s happy to see that opportunity continue.
The campground had been a year-round operation, until the retirement of its caretakers meant it was closed in May while the Ashburton District Council made a plan for its future.
That plan would now see it open up from September 1 until May 1, reducing the operations to an eight-month season.
That was a decision made to balance the books and provide a level of service which was financially prudent.
Hall believed the council had made “a sensible decision”.
“Closing it down over winter will keep the costs down,” Hall said.
“It means there is no more wasting money when no one is down there.”
Fellow camper Phil Nicholson, who has been taking his family there for eight years, also thought it was a good outcome.
“It makes sense as most of us long-timers are packed up and gone by March, and we start coming back from September.”
The council’s decision means Nicholson and the other long-timers can continue his summer tradition at what he said was “just a classic kiwi camping spot”.
“It’s just a great wee camping spot for the whole family and there is plenty to do,” Nicholson said.
“And it’s so close to Ashburton, 25 minutes and you’re there.”

• By Jonathan Leask