A bylaw might be used by the Otago Regional Council to prevent further development which could impede flood flows on the lower Taieri.
In April, the council warned the creation of "lifestyle" blocks was increasing the overall flood risk for the lower Silver Stream catchment as development spread on to flood-prone land.
It stated its preference to avoid new development inside flood hazard areas within the catchment and to use land-use planning in preference to costly engineering works.
At today's policy and resource planning meeting, councillors will consider a report recommending changes be made to the Flood Protection Management Bylaw 2008 to manage activity which has the "potential to undermine the integrity" of the lower Taieri scheme.
Policy and resource planning director Fraser McRae said in the report that the flood bylaw protected formal structures from interference but informal features, such as overland flowpaths which were important for carrying flood water from local ponding and spillways to planned ponding areas, were not protected.
The new building consents still being granted in flood-prone areas of the East Taieri Plain, along with permitted land recontouring and structures, were all capable of altering or diverting flood flows.
"The risk is cumulative, as every time a new development occurs, more activity likely to impair the scheme's integrity occurs, voiding other preparation to respond to the risk."
Having examined regulatory tools available to maintain the scheme's integrity, a bylaw was the most appropriate, he said.
He recommended the committee start making changes to the flood bylaw to protect the scheme's integrity.
