Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery proposed a series of information sessions on the implications of flood, bushfire and sea level at Monday night’s council meeting, as he said there was a lot of ‘‘misinformation’’ being spread.

‘‘It has come to my attention over the past couple of weeks that a number of flood studies have caused a great deal of concern in our city,’’ he told the council.

‘‘There’s a lot of misinformation about the flood studies and the work this council has been doing.’’

He said some people believed the council’s flood studies were to blame for insurance premium hikes, which had led to council staff being verbally abused.

‘‘The message out there in the community is that we are doing these things to hurt people or cause difficulties,’’ he said.

He said this was ‘‘grossly unfair and wrong’’, as the studies were being done at the behest of the NSW Government and were about mitigating the effects of climate change for the ‘‘wellbeing of our community’’.

Vicki Curran supported holding the forums, but believed the focus on climate change was ‘‘limited’’, as they would not address all causes of flooding and inundation in the city.

For instance, she said Wollongong’s pipes, culverts and other stormwater infrastructure had not been adequately expanded in line with the city’s population.

‘‘It’s no good explaining to our community that ‘we’re blaming all of your insurance worries all your flood issues we’re currently seeing’... [on climate change] when we don’t have the infrastructure,’’ she said.

Councillors voted 11/1 in support of Cr Bradbery’s motion, with John Dorahy voting against due to concerns about costs.

The council will invite the NSW Chief Scientist, insurance company representatives and government agencies to the forums.