Floodbank and works on the lower Waitaki River and at Henley could soon be protected by an Otago Regional Council bylaw.
An updated flood protection management bylaw, which controls activities likely to interfere with the effective operation of flood schemes, was approved by the council's policy and submissions committee this week to go out for public consultation next month.
The bylaw, reviewed last year, now includes protection for overland flow paths and the Henley floodbank, and five floodway maps have been added.
It also proposes to include rules and maps to protect plantings alongside the Lower Waitaki River, once they were identified.
Cr Michael Deaker said the proposed changes widened the geographic scope of the bylaw, protecting not just the east and west Taieri works, but those in the lower Clutha, Tokomairiro, Alexandra and the lower Waitaki.
Chairman Stephen Woodhead said the review followed recent flood events on the Taieri.
"It's not ideal ... but will protect our assets and give surety the scheme will work as intended."
The engineering and hazards committee this week approved the council work with Environment Canterbury (Ecan) to develop a strategy for managing riparian margins of the Lower Waitaki.
Cr David Shepherd said there had been considerable damage to the margins of the river, which lies partly in Otago and partly in Canterbury, due to grazing.
Environmental engineering and natural hazards director Gavin Palmer said some engineering works on the river had been abandoned and others were maintained by Ecan and funded by the ORC. How the works would be maintained in future would be reviewed.
