Extending a freedom camping trial to Dunedin's Bayfield Park might just spread the mess around, it has been claimed.
The concern was raised by a member of the public opposed to the Dunedin City Council's proposal to open up part of the Bayfield Park car park, in Andersons Bay, to freedom campers.
The proposal would see five spaces made available for use by freedom campers in vehicles without self-contained toilets.
The change would be part of an ongoing trial of more relaxed restrictions on freedom camping in the city, but was also designed to help ease the pressure on facilities at Macandrew Bay after public concern.
The council's proposal to open up Bayfield Park's facilities to freedom campers drew just two submissions, both opposed, during a month-long consultation process which ended on Monday.
One of the submitters, Wayne Allen, worried the area was not suitable and would encourage campers to use the nearby playground, bushes and even the inlet itself as their toilet.
Instead, they should be encouraged to use the city's existing commercial camping grounds, the nearest of which was just 2km from Bayfield Park, he said.
Council reserves and recreation planning team leader Richard Saunders said the submitters' concerns about freedom camping and the impact on the site would ''need to be considered'' before a decision was made.
It was not yet known if a public hearing would be needed, given the small number of submissions, he said.
''The process for deciding the issue has yet to be considered by the council, so we are unable to give a time frame at this stage for when, if approved, the site would be up and running.''
