Putting campsites on Otago Peninsula conservation land will not fix issues with freedom campers, a tourist park owner says.
The Dunedin City Council is exploring the idea with the Department of Conservation, but it has met with mixed reactions.
A freedom camping trial at Macandrew Bay has proved popular with visitors but caused complaints from residents about issues such as overcrowding, inappropriate behaviour and littering.
Portobello Village Tourist Park owner Kevin Charles wants freedom camping banned on the peninsula.
He said providing camping grounds on Doc land would not address the problems.
''If the Dunedin ratepayers want to support freedom camping, they've got bloody rocks in their heads.''
He had expressed his views to the council at several meetings but it was not taking them into consideration, Mr Charles said.
Having more camping grounds on the peninsula would harm business, he said.
''If you have a hotel business and if the council decided to put a block of hotels next door and they put a block at half the price, then how would you feel?''
Otago Peninsula Community Board chairwoman Christine Garey said she would ''keep an open mind'' on the proposal.
''The wider Dunedin area is one of the few without a Doc camping ground,'' she said.
''It's definitely important to have a Doc camp site in the wider Dunedin area.''
The proposal would be discussed at the next community board meeting, next Thursday.
''We're just waiting to have a conversation with Doc and we will see what they have to say.''
Dunedin city councillor Andrew Whiley also had concerns for current camping grounds.
''Camp grounds are important to the city,'' he said.
''We need to support the camp grounds and it's not really a win-win.
''I believe that there is a better way that we can manage camping on the peninsula.''
Cr Whiley said the biggest issue on the peninsula was campervans that were not self-contained.
''We don't want campervans all over the countryside.
''We have to do a better job of monitoring it and to provide environments where toilets can be used.''
The behaviour of tourists at freedom camping sites, like those at Macandrew Bay, had only angered local residents.
Cr Whiley suggested a development at the Otakou marae might be a viable solution.
''There would be a minimal charge ... The marae could maybe charge $10 a night for camping.
''I think that would be a good income earner for the peninsula.''
- Alastair Lynn
