A new bylaw providing greater protection for overland flow paths in flood-prone areas in Otago has been adopted by the Otago Regional Council.
The Flood Protection Management Bylaw 2012 "strengthens" the 2008 bylaw and aims to ensure "effective operation and integrity" of the council's protection works and schemes.
Reviewed last year, the bylaw now includes protection for overland flow paths and the Henley floodbank, and five floodway maps have been added.
It includes rules and maps to protect plantings along the Lower Waitaki River, once they are identified.
It means people need to seek authorisation of the regional council before activities such as planting a tree on an overland flow path or floodway or putting a structure in, on or over a floodway.
A hearing panel of Crs Gretchen Robertson, Sam Neill and Trevor Kempton heard eight submissions, including those of KiwiRail, the New Zealand Transport Agency, Federated Farmers and the Lower Waitaki Irrigation Company.
The council adopted the new bylaw this week and it will come into operation on September 1, after public notification on August 18.
