Mt Somers locals are hoping the weight of their feedback will sway the council to change its plans for a “quintessential Kiwi” campground in Canterbury.

At a public meeting on Wednesday, locals demanded answers on a proposal to change the Mt Somers Domain Campground to a self-contained only campsite from March.

That would permanently close powered sites, shower facilities, and the campground kitchen from March 2.

The Ashburton District Council and the Mt Somers Reserve Board, who are proposing the changes, say the campground was not performing financially and required ratepayer top-up to operate.

Concerned local Rowena Findlay helped organise a public meeting in Mt Somers “to get some answers”.

“We had a lot of questions and they were addressed”, Findlay said.

The meeting was well-attended by passionate locals and campground users, showing there was support for the “valued community asset”, she said.

Even after the meeting, Findlay said she couldn’t shake the feeling the decision had already been made.

She is encouraging supporters to submit on the proposal, providing alternative options to retain the powered sites and essential facilities at the campground.

Findlay believes the council could explore a local person leasing and running it, raising the prices, or changing the model to ensure its sustainability.

“This camping ground is quintessential Kiwi, and people don’t want to see it go."

The Mt Somers Reserve Board has operated the campground since the 1970s.

Council’s community and open spaces group manager Toni Durham said the proposed changes originated with the Reserve Board, endorsed by the former Mt Somers Reserve Board and continue to be supported by the current Board.

First-term councillor Deb Gilkison said the reserve board had started the process before she was elected and was made aware of the proposal when she attended a meeting of the new board.

“It’s not a done deal, it’s a proposal and the council will weigh up the submissions before making a final decision.

“I get how people felt like it was a done deal, but we needed to have a starting point in the process”.

Gilkison said she felt the community questions were answered at the public meeting, "as much as we could". That's becuase all of the meeting reports and minutes are excluded from the public because they related to a person’s employment.

It was revealed at the meeting the campground was not performing financially, requiring ratepayer top-up to operate.

Gilkison said there was also “time aspect” for the reserve board volunteer.

“They were spending 80% of their time running the campground that had a turnover of $22,000.”

A financial review showed the campground has only been making $2,000–$3,000 profit per year over the past five years.

Durham had previously stated that, under the proposal, the reserve board would continue operating the Domain and its campsite.

“Shifting to a self‑contained model would allow the Reserve Board to better manage the Domain overall.”

Submissions on the proposal close on February 18.

By Jonathan Leask