Pamphlets circulating about a proposed plan change relating to flooding from intense rainfall contain inaccurate claims and ‘scaremongering' says the Tauranga City Council.

The pamphlets have been distributed to properties in areas that may have a potential future flood risk and in some cases properties that aren't affected by the plan changes.

Proposed Plan Change 27 which refers to flooding from intense rainfall events, introduces new rules to manage the effects of flooding on people, properties and infrastructure.

In November, council sent letters to property owners about the proposed plan change which caused confusion for some residents.

City and infrastructure planning manager Andrew Mead says the letters were a starting point for a discussion with property owners.

'They had enough information in them to alert people to the key issues but not enough information to fully explain everything because it is quite property specific.”

He says getting the letters out earlier, because some arrived after the public meetings about the changes had started and using more common language are things they could have done differently.

The pamphlets started circulating not long after the letters.

Council city planning team leader Janine Speedy says the pamphlets are 'scaremongering” and they have caused unnecessary worry for people.

Some claims made in the pamphlet are that the new rules will significantly reduce the value of people's home, prevent people from doing building work on their property, give council rights to use people's property without asking and increase people's insurance costs.

'The pamphlet makes a number of claims that are simply untrue and it's important that people understand that,” says Janine.

A person involved with sharing the pamphlets says they are disappointed that council is making accusations of scaremongering because residents are just sharing their thoughts and concerns with neighbours and the pamphlets are a summary of those concerns.

They say council should have done a better job of communicating the changes and created a before and after table to show the impact the plan change will have.

The person would like to see the submission process extended past February 1 to give people enough time to get information.

Andrew says council has no problem with community discussions happening but they need to do so in an informed and educated manner and the pamphlets aren't assisting that.

Some of the key points council want people to know who have received the pamphlet are:

• The intent of the proposed plan change is to protect people's lives and property.
• Council has been releasing hazards information relating to flooding, inundation and erosion since 2014. There's no indication that the previous notifications have affected property values.
• Insurance costs need to be discussed with insurers noting that the changes relate to a one in 100 year storm event, climate change and sea level rise.
• Minor alterations and works, such as a 20m² addition to a house or small shed, on an existing property will not need a resource consent.
• The proposed change covers subdivision, land use and development. It does not give the council the right to use any property without prior consent and it does not allow the council to create an easement on an existing property.

Council invite anyone who is worried to contact them and arrange a one-on-one meeting or phone conversation to work through the issues, says Janine.

To date council has spoken with more than 1000 residents at public information open days and had more than 220 one-on-one appointments to discuss the detail of the proposed plan change as it relates to particular properties.

'In most cases, I think people appreciated having a better understanding of what the proposal is seeking to achieve and what it means for them.”

Janine says the continuous updating of flooding information, including the rules proposed by plan change 27, is part of council's wider programme of understanding and living with natural hazards.

It is a function the council is required to undertake and is work that should be done to ensure that the city is resilient to natural hazards, she says.

People are able request a review of the flood mapping if they disagree with it as well as make a submission about the plan change. Submissions have been extended to February 1 from December 18 and flood reviews can be requested at any time.

For more information call council on: 07 577 7000 or visit: www.tauranga.govt.nz and search plan change 27.