Camping ground owners and coastal residents are challenging plams by Dunedin City Council to encourage freedom camping.
A council sub-committee heard submissions on Monday morning on a bylaw proposing trial sites for campers without onboard facilities.
Gary Griffith, who lives near one of the trial sites at Macandrew Bay, told the panel campers in vans without facilities have been coming into his garden to toilet and the behaviour could increase.
Dr Griffith said he sees no place for such vans in a first world country, only for self-contained campers.
Portobello Village Tourist Park owners Kevin and Cheryl Charles also warned freedom camping would get out of hand, forcing ratepayers to pay for drains and other facilities.
But the Motor Caravan Association told the council its approach is refreshing and it wishes others would follow Dunedin's lead.
