A strategy aimed at reducing the flood risk in Milton while encouraging the area's growth is due to be adopted in two weeks by the Clutha District Council and the Otago Regional Council.
The South Otago town has an extensive history of flooding but Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan said both councils had worked well together on the strategy, which he saw as a way of "moving Milton forward".
At its meeting in Balclutha yesterday, the Clutha District Council's regulatory services committee approved the strategy and recommended that the council adopt it.
Council planning and environment manager Murray Brass said once the strategy had been adopted, the council would work with the New Zealand Transport Agency, KiwiRail and the ORC to protect existing structures and residents' properties, and reduce the impact from state highways and main trunk rail networks.
Other measures would include reducing the impact of council roads on flooding, and investigating and undertaking physical protection works in the Milton and Tokomairiro Plain areas.
At the Otago Regional Council's engineering and natural hazards committee meeting earlier this week, council chairman Stephen Woodhead said the strategy used the New Zealand standard in a modern way to deal with the flood hazard facing the town.
There was significant potential for growth in Milton, due to its close proximity to Dunedin and available flat land, so it was an important strategy that involved a lot of work over a number of years.
The response of the community had been "very mature and understanding" of the fact they lived in a flood-prone area.
The two councils launched their draft Milton 2060 flood risk management strategy in April. It was developed from a joint working party created in 2007 to study flooding in the area.
Milton has a history of flooding dating back to European settlement in the 1850s. Most recently, extensive flooding occurred in 2006, 2007 and 2010.
During flooding in late July 2007, more than 100 residential properties were affected and about 46 people were evacuated from their homes.
The strategy identifies areas prone to flooding, separating them into four main areas: the Tokomairiro River flood plain, low-lying ponding areas, the Milton urban area, and rural and semirural areas on the Tokomairiro Plain.
The Tokomairiro River floodplain can be covered by up to 2m of water during flooding, usually lasting 24-36 hours.
The strategy suggests creating more defined escape pathways to control activities that could restrict safe access during floods, and advises particular roads be managed by the relevant roading authorities as identified escape and access routes.
It also advises avoiding additional flood risks and reducing existing flood risks through land-use controls, and ensuring there is efficient drainage.
Mr Brass said while the proposed land-use controls would place new restrictions in certain areas, which might affect property values, there was an overall benefit for most residents.
The strategy is due to be adopted by the Otago Regional Council on August 8 and by the Clutha District Council on August 9.
