Lifting a blanket ban on freedom campers outside camping grounds, and effective enforcement, backed up with fines of up to $1000, are in plans drawn up to deal with concerns about the pollution campers cause.
The problem has dogged the city for some time with issues around people freedom camping in ecologically sensitive areas, and inappropriate disposal of human waste from vehicles without facilities.
The latest response is to permit freedom camping on public land managed by the Dunedin City Council for "self-contained" vehicles - those with toilets.
All others would be restricted to camping grounds.
The council would also make use of an instant-fine system being put in place by Local Government New Zealand and the Department of Internal Affairs for the Rugby World Cup.
Whether an enforcement officer would be employed to do the work, or council officers would respond to complaints, still has to be decided.
But Tourism Dunedin chief executive Hamish Saxton has warned overseas tourists do not recognise local government boundaries, and any response needs to be country-wide.
As part of investigations into the problem, a "census" was held on Friday of freedom campers around Dunedin.
The issue will come before the council planning and environment committee tomorrow, with a report on a review of the freedom-camping policy and bylaw.
The committee will decide whether the draft bylaw presented should be approved for public consultation.
A Dunedin bylaw would follow a Queenstown Lakes District Council move recently to prohibit freedom camping in large areas of the Queenstown Lakes district, and introduce fines there.
The Dunedin report, written by reserves policy and planning officer Dolina Lee, said camping in public places in a vehicle or tent was prohibited across the city, apart from camping grounds.
"Enforcement of this policy has proved difficult, and in reality it is not enforced."
The city's community boards had reported freedom camping, and its associated impacts, were increasing, and Dunedin was expecting an influx for the Rugby World Cup.
Vehicles without toilets were "a particular issue", as they raised health risks, and potential environmental damage through inappropriate discharges where there were no adequate toilets or disposal facilities.
The challenge was to provide for tourists who enjoyed the freedom of being independent, while managing the effects.
Ms Lee presented six options, but recommended "option three": for freedom camping to be permitted on public land managed by the council for up to two nights, for self-contained vehicles, and all others required to camp at camping grounds.
Council community and recreation policy team leader Lisa Wheeler said public land was any roadway or reserve where a vehicle could park.
Otago Peninsula Community Board chairman John Bellamy said the board had been "hanging out for a long time" for a policy to deal with the issue and the council's response seemed "pretty close" to what the board wanted.
Parking areas on the peninsula were small, and filled up quickly, an issue that needed to be sorted out.
Mr Bellamy said tourists needed to be treated with "respect and dignity", as they were visitors to the area, and he hoped information from the weekend's freedom camping "census" and national work being done on the issue, was included in the council's thinking on the subject.
Mr Saxton hoped the community, the camping-ground sector and motor home companies would become involved, as well.
Council business development adviser Sophie Barker said the census of freedom campers in the Waikouaiti Coast and Otago Peninsula community board areas took place early in the morning.
Camper-van numbers, and whether they had facilities or not, were noted.
Ms Barker said the numbers would be collated, and a report would be put together for a workshop tomorrow for council staff and community board members.
Freedom camping policy
• Permit freedom camping on public land managed by the Dunedin City Council for vehicles with toilets, for up to two nights.
• All others restricted to camping ground.
• Policy to be enforced, with fines of up to $1000.
• Policy to go out for public consultation.
