The landfill under Kettle Park is near Middle Beach and the Dunedin City Council will at some point need to decide if the material should be moved or what steps should be taken to protect it from erosion.
DCC coastal specialist Tom Simons-Smith said work carried out by environmental and engineering consultant Tonkin and Taylor in 2010 was useful, but more information was needed to identify the best long-term options for dealing with the site.
"More work will be required to better understand the landfill, including its volume and composition, as well as the options and costs to address it," he said.
"This information is required, regardless of what long-term management approach is taken."
The draft 10-year plan includes $150,000 for an investigation of the old Kettle Park landfill in 2021-22.
The future of the area has also been raised in discussions about the St Clair-St Kilda coastal plan, which is under development.
Planners hope to arrive at a coherent vision for how St Clair, St Kilda and Middle Beaches should be managed for the next century.
Erosion exposing contaminated material at Middle Beach sand dunes and potentially exposing the landfill are among the significant challenges.
Mr Simons-Smith said another study was completed last year, but that was focused on the contaminated dune area at Kettle Park, rather than the landfill under the sports fields.
Tonkin and Taylor described the broad Ocean Beach area as a high-energy coast with high sand-transport potential.
The depth of landfill material had not been determined.
Rising sea levels could exacerbate risks in the area, the consultant commented.
