Regular patrols in Dunedin to enforce freedom camping rules have been deemed unnecessary, but they could be reinstated if problems arise.
Education efforts will also continue regarding requirements for vehicles and Dunedin City Council rules regulating camping.
Council parks and recreation planner Stephen Hogg said at a meeting this week the enforcement team responded to reports of non-compliance and it had run nightly patrols during previous seasons.
Asked by Cr Steve Walker whether the patrols could be reinstated if problems got out of hand, Mr Hogg confirmed this possibility.
‘‘We’ll be monitoring it quite carefully,’’ he said.
The council received 70 complaints about non-compliant freedom camping from the start of November last year until May 14 this year.
‘‘This equates to 0.7 complaints per 100 freedom camping vehicles counted,’’ the council said.
Most infringements in the 2024-25 season were about vehicles being used for camping in a restricted area without displaying a valid self-containment certificate, and a series of tickets were for campers exceeding a permitted two-night stay.
Year-to-date freedom camping compliance costs added up to $116,472.
Officers counted 10,541 freedom camping vehicles staying in city council territory between December 18 last year and March 17 this year.
This was an 8% decrease on the previous season.
