Freedom campers in the Western Bay of Plenty will sleep 'uneasy” when daily monitoring of popular park-up spots starts in mid-December and runs through to early February.

Illegal freedom camping in the Western Bay of Plenty District Council area is liable for a $200 fine. In addition, instant fines of $200 can be issued for breaches such as camping or preparing to camp in a prohibited area, damage to the camping area, dumping waste or rubbish, refusing to leave when asked, refusing to supply information to the enforcement officer or camping without a toilet in a parking area that allows only for self-contained vehicles.

First Security's been contracted by Western Bay of Plenty District Council to carry out mobile patrols to ensure campers comply with the freedom camping bylaw. Weekend monitoring began at Waihi Beach over Labour Weekend and will increase to daily monitoring from December 15 until February 5, 2018.

Council's compliance manager, Alison Curtis, says last year's monitoring programme helped ease community anxiety about illegal camping in the district's most popular areas.

Under the council's bylaw, only self-contained vehicles can lawfully park in freedom camping areas and they must meet the Caravan Self-Containment Certification Standard.

That standard requires a vehicle to be able to be lived in for three days without added water supply or without dumping waste. It must have a toilet, fresh water storage, wastewater storage and a covered rubbish bin.

Tenting is prohibited in freedom camping areas except in TECT Park, provided permission is granted by the park manager.

Anyone concerned about freedom campers can contact the council's 24-hour monitoring service on: 0800 926 732. For more information go to: www.westernbay.govt.nz and search for freedom-camping.