The Dunedin City Council will present a concept plan at a public meeting in Long Beach tonight which includes installing gates and a chain fence to restrict access at night, and beautifying the area with plants.
Cr Noone said the project's aim was improving the area for "genuine users". Gating the reserve gave the community control over who or what vehicles could enter at certain times of the day.
Cr Noone said as more public reserves were restricted at night, Long Beach was increasingly attractive for boy racers.
Freedom camping was not a big concern in the domain, which has public toilets. The council was keen to hear the community's views, as the plan could be altered, he said.
Council parks and reserves team leader Martin Thompson said the 4.6ha domain would still be relatively wild, and suitable for sport, after the development.
The cost of the project was not certain, but it was likely to be undertaken in stages because of budget restrictions.
The highest priority would be given to restricting access. Long Beach Amenities Society secretary David Keen acknowledged gating the domain could be unpopular with some, but he "applauded" the council for doing something to improve the area.
Mr Keen said it was important people realised restricting the domain empowered the community, as it gained control.
The society had already considered the plan but was looking forward to hearing what other residents had to say.
Tonight's meeting, in the McCurdy-Grimman Hall in Driver St, starts at 7.30pm.
