It is just some of the work proposed by the council in its draft long-term plan that it presented to ratepayers at a public meeting on the Taieri flood protection scheme at Momona Hall yesterday.
About 30 people, mostly farmers, attended the meeting run by council chairman Stephen Woodhead and engineering and natural hazards director Gavin Palmer and his staff.
The council outlined the 10-year proposed work schedule for the lower Taieri flood protection scheme, as well as the West Taieri and East Taieri drainage schemes. It included new flood protection works, replacement of old pumps and the review of the flood protection bylaw.
Another issue being investigated was work needed to reduce damage to flood-protection works in event of an earthquake.
Council engineering manager Ramon Strong said he and Dr Palmer had viewed the damage to flood-protection works after the Christchurch 2010 earthquakes and reviewed the lower Taieri network of floodbanks as a result.
A 2005 Tomkin and Taylor report had highlighted the seismic risk on the Taieri, he said.
"It wasn't a pretty read. The nature of soils favours liquefaction."
While the floodbanks were "pretty strong and well-built" in most places, a decent earthquake could still affect them because of the soil type.
The council planned in the 2014-2015 year to investigate further seismic damage potential and mitigation measures on the Waipori River floodbank and to form a weighting blanket beside the Taieri River right floodbank at Otokia.
The issue was the time it would take to repair floodbanks after an earthquake, so it was hoped the council might be able to do some "future proofing".
In response to concerns from the public about the safety of the Waipori dam in an earthquake, Dr Palmer said he was satisfied the owners had all mandatory provisions in place in case of an emergency.
Other works planned include investigating relocating the Taieri right floodbank spillway at Outram in 2017-2018 and smoothing the top of the right floodbank crest between Outram and Allanton (2017-2018) and Allanton and Otokia (2018-2019.
A second public meeting will be held tomorrow night, in Mosgiel.
