However, the development of a responsible camping strategy for the district will be brought forward.
And a proposal from Land and Information New Zealand (Linz) to introduce a camping charge to offset the cost of maintaining the Lake Dunstan sites was not ''off the cards yet'', Linz deputy chief executive Jerome Sheppard said.
''We're keen to continue exploring introducing a fee at our sites.''
Mr Sheppard said Linz worked closely with the council over freedom camping and ''given some concerns from the council about an overflow of campers to other areas [if a fee was introduced this summer], we've decided to continue with the same approach we took last year''.
''We will again have people on the ground, raising awareness about responsible camping, and monitoring, to ensure an enjoyable experience for campers and the community,'' Mr Sheppard said.
However, a report from council policy adviser Matthew Adamson asked for a proposed council freedom camping strategy and policy work programme to be brought forward.
The national direction previously hoped for on freedom camping was now ''appearing increasingly unlikely in the short term'', Mr Adamson said.
It was hoped bringing forward the development of the strategy would mean it would be in place for the 2020-21 summer.
In the meantime, freedom camping initiatives at the Lake Dunstan sites using $377,338 from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for the coming summer would be put in place.
They would include increased monitoring of sites such as Bendigo by security guards.
Last summer's freedom campers had been well managed, Mr Adamson said.
Mr Sheppard said only five complaints were received about freedom campers last summer, compared with about 250 the previous season.
It was estimated about 34,000 people visited the Bendigo, Lowburn, Champagne Gully and Jacksons Inlet sites last summer.
Councillors agreed to bring forward the council's freedom camping strategy.
