The Wyndham Camping Ground is set to reopen after receiving a funding boost from the Southland District Council. A total of $34,020 has been approved for the project, transferred from the remaining budget of the Baird-Hewat Square/Doctors Square project through the Better Off Fund.

The facility has been closed since February 2024, following the surrender of the previous lease. Since then, the site has undergone a major clean-up, with general repairs completed in preparation for its return to operation.

Waihopai Toetoe Community Board chair Pam Yorke said the project had strong community backing and was seen as an important development for the town.

“Our community has expressed a strong desire to have the camping ground reopened and we view it as a vital asset for the future of Wyndham,” she said.

“We absolutely recognise its potential to attract visitors and stimulate local spending to support the town’s vitality, while also providing a necessary facility for people like seasonal workers.”

Council staff and the community board explored the potential for a user-pays system to support automated operations at the site. They have decided to go ahead with the Penny System, a technology that enables visitors to make bookings, access the site and use services through an automated process.

The funding injection will allow the necessary upgrades to move forward, with the board aiming to keep the camping ground's future running costs neutral for local ratepayers.

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