West Taieri residents face having to fund about $2 million in work during the next four years to ensure the ongoing effectiveness of their drainage scheme.
A public meeting is being held tonight at Momona Hall. to explain the reason for the work, what it would cost and how it would be funded.
Otago Regional Council environmental engineering and natural hazards director Gavin Palmer said the 8000ha area, which covered 329 rateable properties and included Henley and Dunedin International Airport, was facing significant capital expenditure during the next four years.
The work was outlined in the Long Term Council Community Plan, which was out for public consultation.
The public meeting would allow the council to further inform residents, he said.
The about $2 million of capital expenditure proposed in the plan was needed mainly to replace ageing pumps in the area's two pump stations, at Waipori and Henley - some of the Waipori pumps had served the area since 1929, others were second-hand and 30 years old.
"The time has come to replace them," Mr Palmer said.
West Taieri was reliant on pumps as there was no gravity drainage and 4600ha of the area was below Lake Waipori's water level.
Also, over the decades land use had become more intense and reliant on the drainage, he said.
The council planned to replace or modify the Waipori D2 pump next year, construct a new Henley pump station in 2010-11 and in 2012-13 replace or renew the Waipori F pump.
It was planned to use borrowings for the major capital expenditure, with repayment over 10 years from targeted rates.
This meant the area's residents were facing significant increases in their regional council rates.
A council estimate indicated West Taieri drainage rates for a 20ha $800,000 farm would increase from $709 in 2008-09 to $920 in 2009-10, bringing overall rates from $1844 to $2249.
Cr David Shepherd said the impact of the work might come as a shock to some, as much capital investment was needed to maintain the drainage and flood level capacity.
"It's not about building something bigger and better, it's about maintaining the status quo," he said.
Significant work was also outlined in the plan for other flood schemes on the Taieri - Lower Taieri about $4.3 million (mainly for Silver Stream work), East Taieri about $1.4 million (pumps) and Lower Clutha about $1 million.
The public has until May 1 to make submissions on the plan.
