A push to ease restrictions on freedom camping in Dunedin has taken a step forward after being endorsed for public consultation by city councillors.
The move came at this week's Dunedin City Council planning and environment committee meeting, when councillors voted to release the draft ''responsible camping'' policy and bylaw for public consultation.
The changes would provide greater freedom for tourists with camper vans, including scrapping a rule prohibiting more than two self-contained camper vans - those with toilets - parking within 50m of each other.
Another rule forcing camper vans without toilets into public camping grounds would be relaxed, allowing those visitors to stay for up to two nights at car parks at Macandrew Bay and Ocean View reserves.
Camper vans with facilities would still be allowed to camp overnight on sealed areas of reserves and other public land, but not grassed areas, Taiaroa Head or council-controlled scenic reserves.
The changes met with the approval of councillors, although Cr Jinty MacTavish said she remained concerned the rules were too complicated.
''If I was a visitor, I wouldn't have the foggiest [idea] what a scenic reserve was.''
The new approach included an emphasis on better signage and information to direct campers to the right areas, but Cr MacTavish said she was ''not confident we are there yet''.
Cr Richard Thomson wondered why the Vauxhall Yacht Club's sealed car park at the start of Otago Peninsula could not also be used as a camping site, given it was on council land and already offered public toilet facilities.
That would provide a ''city-based'' alternative for visitors to the peninsula, helping spread the load, he believed.
''It does have a boat ramp there, but that's a very small part of it,'' he said.
The suggestion did not prompt a change to the draft policy, but could be raised by submitters to the draft policy if they wished, staff said later.
Councillors voted to release the draft policy and bylaw for public consultation, and begin a review of signage and facilities and a feasibility study into the creation of a new Department of Conservation-style camping ground on Otago Peninsula.
Submissions would be considered by a hearings panel comprising Crs Kate Wilson, Fliss Butcher and a third person nominated by community board chairs.
