Options to extend the transitional period

A line graph showing the real number of vehicles that have so far been certified as self-contained, and three forecasted rates: The current rate required to meet the goal of certifying all 73,000 estimated freedom camping vehicles by June 2025 (the deadline by which all private vehicles need to be certified), the rate if a 1-year extension was added to the current rate to meet the required goal, and the rate if a 2-year extension was added to the current rate to meet the required goal.

Costs

Certification authorities

High level of demand on the certification system. Requires approximately 11,000 vehicles per month to be certified from January 2025. 

Vehicle owners

Increased demand for certification may result in Certification Authorities charging more for inspection fees (unlike the Levy, these fees are not paid to the government but to the Certification Authority to cover the work involved with an inspection).

Benefits

Communities/local authorities

Brings in the full benefits of the new self-contained vehicle laws nationally for local authorities and communities.

Costs

Communities/local authorities

A greater number of vehicles certified under the old system (and without a fixed toilet) continue to freedom camp, which delays the full benefits of the new self-contained vehicle laws for local authorities/communities. 

This may negatively impact freedom camping’s social licence. 

The environmental costs (clean-up/management) of freedom camping continue to fall on Local Authorities and communities in the interim.

Vehicle owners

Disadvantages approximately 1,500 vehicle owners who got their vehicle certified with a green warrant in the original time period.

May impact the levy rate in the next levy rate review.

Benefits

Certification authorities

Eases demand on Certification Authorities, as the number of vehicles needing to be certified is reduced from 11,000 per month to 3,609 per month from January 2025. However, it is possible that an extension to the transitional period means vehicle owners delay getting their vehicles certified until close to the new deadline. 

Vehicle owners

Advantages up to 40,000 current blue warrant holders to continue to freedom camp to 7 June 2026 or when their current blue warrant expires (whichever is earlier).

Costs

Communities/local authorities

A greater number of vehicles certified under the old system (and without a fixed toilet) continue to freedom camp, which delays the full benefits of the new self-contained vehicle laws for local authorities/communities. 

This may negatively impact freedom camping’s social licence. 

The environmental costs (clean-up/management) of freedom camping continue to fall on Local Authorities and communities in the interim.

Vehicle owners

Disadvantages approximately 1,500 vehicle owners who got their vehicle certified with a green warrant in the original time period. 

May impact the levy rate in the next levy rate review.

Benefits

Certification authorities

Eases demand on Certification Authorities, as the number of vehicles needing to be certified is reduced from 11,000 per month to 2,165 per month after January 2025. However, it is possible that an extension to the transitional period means vehicle owners delay getting their vehicles certified until close to the new deadline.

Vehicle owners

Advantages up to 25,000 current blue warrant holders to continue to freedom camp to 7 June 2027 or when their blue warrant expires (whichever is earlier).