Port Chalmers Yacht Club dismissed the concerns saying the complainer, Warren Lewis, was against progress and its plans to fence off part of the Back Beach car park would have a limited effect.
Mr Lewis, who describes himself as a recreational fishing advocate, said he learnt about the plans only recently, at a Port Otago environment liaison committee meeting, and was concerned he and other users had not been told earlier.
The land, which included a boat ramp, was owned by Port Otago and managed by the Dunedin City Council for public use and the public should have been involved in discussions.
"If the public are not aware of it, it will go ahead through the back door.''
He believed the fenced off area would take up a significant part of the car park and result in it being severely stretched during the busy summer.
The suggestion from the yacht club he was anti-everything was "rubbish''.
Council acting parks and recreation group manager Tom Dyer said it was considering the option after a request from the yacht club, but the proposal had not yet progressed past a "simple concept''.
Council staff would discuss the idea with the Chalmers Community Board and would work to minimise the impact on other users of the car park, Mr Dyer said.
Port Chalmers Yacht Club commodore Richard Hawkins said it was not even definite the new facility, which would be able to store up to 10 yachts, was going ahead. If it did, it would not take up much of the car park and have "very little'' impact on other boat users.
"We are not taking away any boat parks away at all. It's a very underutilised area.''
He was not surprised Mr Lewis had come out against the development, which the yacht club believed would be a positive development for the community.
"Warren goes down this track any time someone tries to do something positive.''
The development was nothing to do with tests confirming the presence of asbestos in a building it rented from the council.
"This new facility is [needed] because the yacht club has expanded.''
He was unsure when the fence would be installed if it did go ahead.
