Minutes of Environment and Services Committee

1. Welcome/Apologies/Notices

Mr Brian Gregory offered a Karakia.

Councillor Belford advised he would be leaving the meeting at noon.

Councillor Graham gave notice of Councillor Rick Barker’s absence.

Secretarial Note: Ms Joinella Maihi-Caroll’s absence was noted.

2. Conflict of Interest Declarations

There were no conflict of interest declarations.

3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Environment and Services Committee Meeting Held on 12 August 2015

ESC9/15

Resolution

Minutes of the Environment and Services Committee held on Wednesday, 12 August 2015, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record as amended.

Hewitt/Pipe

CARRIED

4. Matters Arising from Minutes of the Environment and Services Committee Meeting Held on 12 August 2015

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

Follow-ups from Previous Environment & Services Committee Meetings

The paper was taken as read.

ESC10/15

Resolution

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives the report Follow-up Items from Previous Environment & Services Committee Meetings.

Received by the Chairman

The Chairman advised agenda items would be discussed out of order due to time restraints of Committee members.

Call for any Minor Items not on the Agenda

1. That the Committee receives the following minor items for discussion as Agenda Item 18:

- Councillor Wilson – Iwi Leaders Forum and Water

- Councillor Beaven – Gravel Trucks on River Road

- Councillor Scott – Farm Forestry Field Day

Derek Williams Lake Tutira Presentation

Councillor Graham introduced Mr Derek Williams who provided a presentation on the effects of a large rainfall event at Lake Tutira.

In response to a question on a further update, Mr Maxwell confirmed a report responding to Mr Williams’ presentation would be presented to an Environment and Services Committee meeting in 2016.

Proposed Waitangi Estuary Enhancement

Mr Steve Cave provided an overview of the proposed work programme and funding strategy for the Waitangi Estuary Enhancement.

In response to a query on the cost of carving 32 pou, Mr Cave invited Mr Philip Smith, Chairman of the Te Matau a Maui Voyaging Trust to the Committee. Mr Smith explained the estimate for carving and pou installation on the celestial star compass platform, prices were negotiated and each pou is capped at a specific figure. The Trust has raised $95,000 toward this expenditure and further funding is being sought.

Mr Cave showed a detailed plan of the vision of the Waitangi Estuary Enhancement area, in response to a query on previous issues of vandalism and rubbish dumping, Mr Cave advised the area would be restricted for vehicle access, and the parking area would become more visible.

It was suggested Mr Cave approach Fish and Game in relation to funding of the project.

ESC11/15

Resolutions

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives and takes note of the Proposed Waitangi Estuary Enhancement report.

2. The Environment and Services Committee recommends that Council:

2.1 Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy, and that Council can exercise its discretion and make decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community and persons likely to have an interest in the decision.

2.2 Agrees in principal to commit $311,000 in the 2016-17 financial year toward the Waitangi Estuary Enhancement project from the Regional Open Spaces Reserves Borrowing facility, subject to funding being sourced from other donors in accordance with the funding strategy, and deferral of other open space enhancement projects including:

2.2.1 $90,000 for the Waitangi Estuary Enhancement in 2017-18 and a further $220,000 for the northern walkway and associated works at Pekapeka from 2017-18.

2.3 Endorses the establishment of the Waitangi Estuary Enhancement Committee and confirms the appointment of Councillor Dave Pipe as Council’s representative on that body.

2.4 Notes that once complete, there will be an increased funding commitment to ongoing maintenance and depreciation of the Waitangi Estuary facilities.

Dick/Scott

CARRIED

17.

CHBDC Wastewater Compliance Update

Mr Wayne Wright provided an update on CHBDC’s progress in addressing problems surrounding the discharge of treated wastewater from their Waipawa and Waipukurau wastewater treatment facilities.

Mr Wright noted concern with the levels of Ammoniacal Nitrogen (AN) at both plants. In response to a query on AN, Mr Wright confirmed the plants were in breach due to seasonal effects, in the colder winter temperatures elevated concentrations make it difficult to achieve compliance. It was noted Soluble Reactive Phosphorus and E.Coli were fully compliant.

Mr Adam Uytendaal provided a detailed explanation of the biological processes which occur within the treatment ponds relating to nitrogen.

Mrs Charlotte Drury advised CHBDC would be doing additional monitoring of AN under the new AN guideline values set out in the Tukituki Plan Change 6.

An update on the Otane wastewater resource consent application was requested for an Environment and Services Committee meeting in 2016.

ESC12/15

Resolution

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives and takes note of the CHBDC Wastewater Compliance Update report.

Wilson/Beaven

CARRIED

Land Management 2014-15 Annual Operational Report

Mr Nathan Heath provided an overview of the Land Management 2014-15 Annual Operational Report and highlighted the key areas of the report.

In response to a query on the Huatokitoki catchment, Mr Heath advised there is ongoing monitoring of this catchment and how the outcome of research findings from the catchment are incorporated within the work done on the Hill Country.

In response to a query on the size of the Land Management Team for the large work programme including Hill Country Resource Management, Mr Heath noted there are 8 full time and 2 part time staff. In relation to the Hill Country Resource Management, there is significant support built for this work to evolve and promote the proposal. A key stage of this work was the East Coast Hill Country Conference held in October 2015.

ESC13/15

Resolution

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives the Land Management 2014-15 Annual Operational Report.

Belford/Scott

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 10:43 am and reconvened at 11:00 am

10.

Gravel Management Review Timetable

Mr Mike Adye provided an overview of the review being undertaken, involving gravel extractors, including discussion of the possibility of speeding up the review programme. Concerns were raised in relation to the length of time the review is taking, and the issues relating to gravel extraction. Distance of cartage required was noted as a barrier for extractors. It was estimated that in order to alleviate the issues in the Upper Tuktituki more than 2Mm³ needs to be extracted from rivers between State Highway 2 and State Highway 50.

ESC14/15

Resolution

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives and takes note of the Gravel Management Review Timetable report.

Beaven/Scott

CARRIED

11.

Verbal Discussion of Tukituki Gravel Issues with Robert Wilson

Councillor Graham introduced Mr Rob Wilson and Mrs Anne Wallace, landowners in the Tukituki/Tukipo/Makeretu confluence area (approximately 1,500 ha) experiencing issues due to excess gravel in the rivers. Mr Wilson expressed concerns at lack of action and his perception of procrastination by HBRC (noting issues have been ongoing since 1989) and sought clarification of who bears responsibility for doing what. Further, it was suggested that private industry extraction options be investigated in addition to the options currently being explored through the review.

There are 6 ‘classes’ (A-F) of ratepayers affected to varying degrees. Mr Adye advised that the scheme review will be brought to Council in February 2016 for consideration and progressing solutions.

ESC15/15

Resolution

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives the Verbal Discussion of Tukituki Issues with Robert Wilson.

Wilson/Belford

CARRIED

12.

2014-15 Biosecurity Annual Report - Pest Animals And Plants

Mr Campbell Leckie presented the Annual Report for the Biosecurity activities of Council, highlighting some key points in relation to plant pests, including privet trials (links to human health), Chilean needlegrass (managing pathways and risks) and Pinus Contorta.

In the Animal Pests activities, Mr Leckie highlighted birdlife recovery evident as a result of HUB project, positive results of the Rook control programme in the eradication zone, and rising rabbit population immunity to RHD.

Mr Leckie provided an overview of the Cape to City project, including a visual representation using Google Earth maps and an explanation of the technology being used.

Councillor Belford left the meeting at 11:55 am

High UMF Manuka opportunities are being further explored, and Mr Leckie explained how a trial would be incorporated into the Cape to City project, looking for a scenario where the farmer doesn’t have to put up capital for establishment.

ESC16/15

Resolution

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives the 2014-15 Biosecurity Annual Report - Pest Animals and Plants.

Scott/Pipe

CARRIED

13.

Recreational Water Quality Summary of 2014-15 Season

Mr Shane Gilmer provided a summary of the findings of the Recreational Water Quality monitoring project last summer, including explanations of where monitoring is done, and what HBRC monitors for.

Discussions traversed:

· Current Tutira algal bloom

· NZ River Awards (hosted by Gareth Morgan) – 6^th most improved water quality result in Waipawa River (4.2% decrease of nitrogen)

· LAWA website

ESC17/15

Resolution

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives the Recreational Water Quality Summary of 2014-15 Season report.

Wilson/Scott

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 12.45pm and reconvened at 1.20pm – with Councillor Alan Dick absent

18.

Minor Items Not on the Agenda

Item

Topic

Councillor / Staff

Iwi Leaders Forum and Water

Attended Iwi Leaders Forum yesterday, which included an announcement on the importance of freshwater to the Maori economy and the tension between economics and the environment presented by Sir Mark Solomon.

Advertisement seen as scaremongering and will discuss further through the Chairman’s report to Council next week

Councillor Wilson

15.

Science January-July 2016 Operational Report

Dr Stephen Swabey outlined the upcoming work being undertaken over the summer and for the remainder of the 2015-16 financial year, including environmental monitoring and science supporting implementation of Plan Change 6.

Discussions traversed soil monitoring for molybdenum and cadmium, air quality monitoring in Ahuriri, Macroinvertebrate Community Index (MCI) work being carried out with Cawthron Institute to assess its relevance in Hawke’s Bay.

ESC18/15

Resolution

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives and takes note of the Science January-July 2016 Operational Report.

Hewitt/Wilson

CARRIED

14.

Client Services January-July 2016 Operational Plan

Mr Mark Heaney responded to queries traversing the Water Information Services programme and following up on outstanding water meter installations, the drawdown and interest rates for Clean Heat loans, and water use reporting.

Mr Maxwell advised that the whole of the Resource Management Group has achieved ISO.9001 accreditation/certification; the first Regional Council to achieve this across a Group.

ESC19/15

Resolution

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives and takes note of the Client Services January-July 2016 Operational Plan report.

Scott/Wilson

CARRIED

16.

Resource Use and Consents January-July 2016 Operational Plan

Mr Malcolm Miller responded to queries in relation to the Consents section of the report, traversing benchmarking application processing times against other Regional Councils, section 92 requests for further information and the Dairy Compliance Awards.

ESC20/15

Resolution

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives and takes note of the Resource Use and Consents January-July 2016 Operational Plan report.

Beaven/Wilson

CARRIED

18.

Minor Items Not on the Agenda continued

Item	Topic	Councillor / Staff
2.	Gravel trucks on River Road (extension of Te Mata Road) received complaints over the weekend about trucks driving too fast, raising dust, and allowing cars access through open gates to areas they would not normally have access to	Councillor Beaven
3.	Farm Forestry Field Day Held last Wednesday, on Swinburne property, previous winner of the Farm Forestry Award which included a visit to the Pa site (Te Whiti o Tu) on the property.	Councillor Scott

Mr Brian Gregory, in closing, thanked the Chairman, staff and Councillors involved in the Committee meetings and wished everyone a very Merry Christmas before offering a closing karakia.

Closure:

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 2.00pm on Wednesday, 9 December 2015.

Signed as a true and correct record.

DATE: ................................................ CHAIRMAN: ...............................................