Freedom camping rules in Dunedin look set to be overhauled - again - as the Dunedin City Council moves to ease restrictions on tourists and their camper vans.
The council has released a draft ''responsible camping'' policy and camping control bylaw that would, if supported by councillors and the public, ease some freedom camping restrictions introduced less than two years ago.
That included a rule prohibiting more than two self-contained camper vans - those with toilets - parking within 50m of each other, and another forcing camper vans without toilets into public camping grounds.
Instead, two new sites with existing toilet facilities - the car parks at Macandrew Bay and Ocean View reserves - would be available for use by camper vans without their own facilities, for stays of up to two nights.
Camper vans with facilities would still be allowed to camp overnight on sealed areas of reserves and other public land, but not grassed areas, within Dunedin.
However, camper vans would still be prohibited from staying at Taiaroa Head and at the city's cemeteries, and permits would be required for council-controlled scenic reserves.
Fines of $200 could still be used to enforce restrictions under the new bylaw.
The changes were outlined in a report by council reserves policy and planning officer Paula Dickel, to be considered at tomorrow's council planning and environment committee.
If accepted, the proposal would be released for public consultation and, if adopted, trialled for two years.
By then, the council should also be ready to decide whether a new ''basic'' Department of Conservation-style camping ground, most likely on Otago Peninsula, was warranted, Ms Dickel's report said.
Council and Doc staff had already discussed the idea and would prepare a joint feasibility report, including cost estimates and timeframes, she said.
The changes came after the existing bylaw was criticised by Otago Peninsula Community Board chairman John Bellamy, who in January said it had not made ''the slightest scrap of difference'' to rubbish in the area.
In April, the Westland District Council opted to suspend its freedom camping bylaw rather than risk an expensive court fight with the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA), which was challenging the council's rules.
Ms Dickel's report said councils that introduced freedom camping bylaws under the Local Government Act now had to develop new ones under the Freedom Camping Act 2011, but the FCA set a ''high bar'' to meet.
The council had discussed its plans with the NZMCA before developing revised rules, and believed the new approach would work, her report said.
It was believed a more accommodating approach - including better information and facilities - would be more effective, as existing rules had in some cases proven difficult to enforce, she said.
Some camper vans had been moved on, but the council had not issued a single enforcement notice since the rules were introduced.
The changes would also suit the council's push to attract more tourists to Dunedin, her report said.
Research published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment last year showed freedom campers made up 6% of all Dunedin's visitors, and each spent more ($195 per day) than cruise-ship visitors ($125).
Preliminary consultation with community boards, and feedback from the People's Panel, suggested freedom camping was ''tolerated'' by most people as long as campers behaved responsibly, the report said.
However, feedback from tourism operators showed campers were concerned about a lack of information.
