Glaring differences in attitudes to freedom camping in Dunedin were apparent at a hearing yesterday to consider a new bylaw to deal with the matter.
While a majority of submissions called for only self-contained vehicles - those with toilets - to be allowed at council camping sites, some who spoke at the hearing asked where the rest would go.
Anti-freedom camper sentiment was described by one as ``hysteria'', while others asked why ratepayers' money should be spent on infrastructure.
The Dunedin City Council sought feedback on three options to ease overflow at approved freedom camping sites at Warrington Domain and Ocean View.
Of the 250 submissions received, 185 (74%) supported a move to restrict camping to self-contained vehicles within the Dunedin boundary, council staff's recommended option.
Options to increase facilities and enforcement of rules for all types of vehicles at approved areas, and an option to create more areas for non-certified self-contained vehicles but limit the number of vehicles at sites were not widely supported.
At the hearing, Warrington resident Alan Cooper said he lived ``a stone's throw'' from the Warrington Domain camping area.
He said the community had lost the use of the domain in summer.
Around the world, locals were being forced from their environment by ``the tourist invasion''.
He urged the subcommittee to allow only self-contained vehicles at the site.
Macandrew Bay resident Neil Morris said he had camped in self-contained and non-self-contained vehicles.
Mr Morris said if campers were allowed to park anywhere, they would spread out.
The problems came from forcing them together in a small space.
Mr Morris said the council should have a trial period with no bylaw, but increased enforcement of littering and illegal parking.
Dunedin man Ross Davies, a freedom camper and a member of the Motor Caravan Association, said some wanted to ``just crack down, stamp them out'', and force freedom campers to go elsewhere, but the campers were guests in New Zealand.
``I feel we have a responsibility to be hospitable, to be hosts.''
He also supported an option for the bylaw that provided additional areas for freedom campers with restricted vehicle numbers.
Gareth Hughes said he lived near the Ocean View camp site.
It was ``very, very important'' to limit numbers.
Noise from loud music and the like was one of the big issues of freedom camping.
Waikouaiti Coast Community Board chairman Alasdair Morrison said the council had been able to get on top of toilet and rubbish issues, but not the numbers of campers that were coming.
``That's the problem we had in Warrington.''
Mr Morrison said finding more sites was necessary.
``If you go banning them, where are they going to go?
Some said people should go to more formal camping grounds, but they could only cope with a few more people, even if freedom campers wanted to go there.
Waikouaiti Community board member Geraldine Tait said a small group of residents had misrepresented the situation at Warrington, and got a lot of media attention.
The city needed a more positive attitude to the visitors.
Asked about the 74% of submissions that wanted to ban non-self-contained freedom campers, she said it was ``a tragedy''.
``Hysteria was built by a small group of people in Warrington.''
The hearings committee of Crs Andrew Whiley, Christine Garey and David Benson-Pope will begin deliberations this morning.
