The Otago Regional Council recently released the proposed statement, which is intended to cover the next 10 years, and is seeking community comment by July 24.
The statement is to update and replace the current one, which came into effect in 1998.
It aims to ensure Otago's natural and built resources are managed well and warns that ''expected and unexpected shocks and changes'' could affect our ''economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing''.
Public hearings on the submissions are likely to be held about October-November, ORC officials say.
The statement also reflects a desire to protect Ngai Tahu values and provide for other cultural values, and acknowledges the challenges of trying to maintain biodiversity and live sustainably in resilient communities.
One goal is to ''ensure that Otago's people and communities are able to adapt to, or mitigate, the effects of sea-level rise'' over the next 100 years.
The statement says the sea level could rise at least a metre by 2115, relative to the 1990 mean sea level, because of climate change.
And the sea could continue to rise an extra 10mm per year after that.
ORC policy planning and resource management director Fraser McRae said the Dunedin City Council, Clutha District Council and Waitaki District Council would face growing challenges from sea-level rise.
He noted that surging seas had already damaged several structures, including stairs attached to the sea wall at the Esplanade at St Clair.
Rising sea levels also posed potential threats to other low-lying areas, including in South Dunedin and some other parts of Otago, he said.
In developing the policy statement, there had already been considerable discussion with the city council and the region's district councils and other stakeholders.
There were no rules in the proposed statement, but it would guide the development of district and regional plans and resource consent decision-making, he said.
A copy of the proposed statement and submission forms are available on the ORC website: www.orc.govt.nz. john.gibb@odt.co.nz
