In October, the court limited the camping ground to five sites, instead of the 30 that were available, and instructed its owner, Equipment and Support Ltd and Allan Jones, to apply to the Waitaki District Council for land use consent.
That application and public submissions were heard in February, but independent commissioner Peter Nixon did not want to make a decision without further information relating to noise and traffic.
Yesterday in Oamaru, Mr Nixon heard evidence on the noise and traffic reports, then adjourned the hearing.
He described the reconvened hearing as "very useful" and suggested it would produce a more satisfying outcome than the previous one.
Equipment and Support Ltd applied to operate visitor accommodation [the camping ground] on a 1.22ha site fronting on to Waianakarua Rd on the south side of the Kakanui River.
It proposed two stages - 15 powered camping sites, three non-powered sites, two cabins and a manager's residence-office in stage one, Stage two would add another 10 non-powered sites.
In terms of traffic, the issue was whether access to the site should be from the present entrance on Waianakarua Rd, from River Rd or a combination of both.
Mr Jones wanted access from Waianakarua Rd and the Waitaki District Council preferred access from River Rd.
Other options explored including shifting the present access up to 20m north to improve visibility for traffic coming from the south on Waianakarua Rd, a combination of both River Rd and Waianakarua Rd or changing access from Waianakarua Rd to River Rd if vehicles entering or leaving the site exceeded a set number.
In terms of noise, Bob and Linda Hildeman, whose house is on the boundary of the camping ground, wanted a 20m planted buffer zone and an "acoustic fence" between the properties.
Mr Jones was proposing a 10m landscaped buffer zone.
The issue of whether the camping ground has been operating legally has been going on for more than 15 years, and has been the subject of three council hearings and two Environment Court hearings.
