The Dunedin City Council has made a U-turn over its proposal to develop three new freedom camping sites in Dunedin.

After an outcry from those potentially affected, a proposal for camps at Rotary Park in Highcliff, Brighton Surf Life Saving Club and at Puddle Alley near Invermay has been dumped.

A report late last month said the sites were needed in response to an overflow of campers at Ocean View and Warrington.

But the plans were bitterly opposed by nearby residents of Rotary Park, and by the Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board and Saddle Hill Community Board.

The explosion of freedom-camping tourism in New Zealand has caused tension as locals deal with overrun campsites, litter and human waste.

At a council meeting on May 30 it was decided discussion on the report would be delayed pending information from a national freedom camping forum.

In the agenda for tomorrow's full council meeting the report appears, but all mention of the three sites is gone.

The report instead recommends a special consultative procedure to determine the community's views on the issue.

Options suggested were to limit freedom camping to self-contained vehicles, those with toilets, the status quo with increased enforcement of bylaws, or providing additional areas for non-certified self-contained vehicles.

Mayor Dave Cull said in a statement he acknowledged the issue drew ''impassioned debates''.

It was appropriate the council revisited its approach to freedom camping by way of public consultation because of a ''wide range of views expressed both formally and informally by the community and community board members in relation to the report, and on wider issues related to freedom camping over the last season''.

The original report proposing the new sites said there had been a 37% increase in vehicles using the Warrington freedom camping site in February and March this year, compared with the year before.

Dunedin City Council recreation planning and facilities manager Jendi Paterson said tomorrow's report was not site-specific, and consultation would focus on criteria rather than location.

Rotary Park freedom camping site opponent Sharon Weir, of Waverley, said she was pleased the council had ''seen sense''.

''The park is used very well by locals so we just didn't want trash everywhere and that would have been the risk if it had been opened up to freedom campers.''

Waverley and Andersons Bay residents were so opposed to the initial proposal to allow camping at the park they started a petition, she said.

Saddle Hill Community Board chairman Scott Weatherall, who was criticised online for supporting the proposal to allow freedom camping outside the Brighton Surf Life Saving Club, supported the U-turn.

''I think they have probably listened to what the community have had to say in the brief, unofficial consultative stage we have had.''

The board would continue to support freedom camping in the area, Mr Weatherall said.

Mosgiel Taieri Community board chairwoman Sarah Nitis said the board was most opposed to the community having to pay for the infrastructure.

''I believe non-self-contained freedom campers would be welcome in Mosgiel if central Government paid for it.''

Public consultation hearings were likely in August, Ms Paterson said.

margot.taylor@odt.co.nz

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U-turn on freedom camping - Otago Daily Times