Since the council has taken a tougher stance on freedom campers at Macandrew Bay, more campers have been using the Vauxhall Yacht Club's car park. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

Vauxhall Yacht Club commodore Peter Sutherland said while freedom campers had used the site ''from time to time'' in the past, he had noticed an increase since the council took a tougher stance on enforcing the rules at Macandrew Bay earlier this year.

Up to five non-self-contained vehicles are allowed to park overnight at designated areas in Macandrew Bay, Ocean View and Warrington.

In response to Macandrew Bay residents' concerns about campers' behaviour, the council erected more signs at Macandrew Bay's site last month and security patrols were visiting four times a week to give campers information brochures and move them if allocated spaces were full.

Mr Sutherland said the moves might have contributed to an increase in campers using the yacht club's car park.

One or two vans did not cause a problem. However, up to six had been staying some nights in the club's car park, which had created parking problems for club members, he said.

The public toilets and rubbish bins seemed to be coping with the increase in campers and there had been no security issues, but he ''wouldn't like to see too many more'' using the car park.

''I wouldn't like to see it as a designated site,'' Mr Sutherland said.

Dunedin city councillor and Vauxhall resident John Bezett said the problem would get worse as Portobello Rd got busier.

''There's 4000-5000 people who use Portobello Rd every day. It's dramatically increased over the past few years ... and the fact is it's going to get worse,'' he said.

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Freedom campers turn attention to Vauxhall