Henley residents could face higher regional council rates if they push for more protection against the effects of flooding.
Otago Regional Council staff met a group of Henley residents recently to report back on their investigations into possible action to ease the effects of flooding from the Taieri River on the small settlement.
Council engineering and natural hazards director Gavin Palmer said one of the things the council could easily do was make improvements to the flaps which sealed the culverts during a flood to stop backflow from the Taieri River.
''They don't seal shut well enough and leak, so they can be replaced.''
The council had also suggested removing the flood bank's willows, which contributed to debris, and replanting it with native vegetation.
''We'll also take a more proactive approach to check ahead of an imminent flood to ensure the flaps are properly closed and sealed.''
The work and its costs would need to be worked into the council's next annual plan, due out in March.
Henley resident Kerri Hooper said he was frustrated by the council not having already done the maintenance work as it had known about the problems since the 2010 flood, which inundated his home.
The council said the work would be done in one to three years, he said.
''It's rubbish. I'm quite prepared to take legal action ... if they haven't done it in the next three to six months.''
Henley residents were subject to a targeted rate under the lower Taieri flood protection scheme but fell outside the West Taieri drainage scheme.
The other issue was the water that came off the hills behind the settlement, which ponded and did not drain away until the Taieri River dropped sufficiently.
Dr Palmer said a low bank could be built to control the flow of the water over land to minimise the impact on homes and businesses until it could drain away.
But as that was a flood-works enhancement it could not be included under the current rating regime.
''What the community needs to keep in mind is that it will only be partially effective as it's only part of the hazard.''
Because of that issue, the council wanted a ''steer'' from the community on the proposals so it could either do further investigations with the aim of including a proposal in next year's annual plan or drop the idea.
If they took the next step, the community would have further opportunities to provide feedback to the council through the annual plan consultation process.
''Or they could decide to park it and think about it more,'' Dr Palmer said.
