A tougher stance on freedom campers could be on the way for Dunedin following a recommendation from council staff.
The Dunedin City Council's planning and regulatory committee will next week vote on whether to approve a review of the city's camping control bylaw and responsible camping policy.
The vote comes after the council's stance on freedom camping and a two-year trial allowing non-self-contained freedom camping at sites in Macandrew Bay, Ocean View Reserve and Warrington has prompted concern among people living in those areas.
Council reserves and recreation planning team leader Richard Saunders recommended the committee review both the policy and the bylaw.
Mr Saunders said a common approach was for councils to include a schedule of restricted and prohibited sites in freedom camping bylaws.
Any move towards more controls would need to be backed up by appropriate resources allocated to enforcing the new rules and dishing out fines, he said.
Enforcement could be carried out by permanent staff or contracted to security guards - which due to the seasonal nature of the work could be the best option.
The experience of the Queenstown Lakes District Council suggested enforcement would be cost-neutral, with costs offset by revenue from fines.
Otago Peninsula Community Board chairwoman Christine Garey hailed the recommendation as ''huge progress'' and was confident the committee would support a review of the policy.
Whatever policy the council came up with, it needed to back it with resources, Ms Garey said.
''The council has got to put some money behind it ... to be able to enforce it.''
The board would continue to play a part in the process as a bylaw and policy was developed.
Along with the report, councillors were presented with the results of a University of Otago survey of freedom campers who had stayed in Dunedin.
