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Mr Adye presented this paper along with Land Management
Staff who were present: Ian Millner, Joe Devonport, Brendan Powell and
Warwick Hesketh.
Following on from a report presented to this Committee
earlier in the year, which resulted in agreement from council for the Land
Management teams goals & objectives. Today’s paper sets out work
programmes currently being undertaken.
Key work programmes have been divided down into 4 broad work
streams as shown in attachment.
All members of the Committee commented that it was good
to see this paper and the work being undertaken by the Land Management team.
In response to Committee members questions the following comments were noted:
·
A question on the
existence of a local irrigator’s user group; it is believed no specific group
still exists however this will be checked on and reported back. ACTION –
MA
·
There will be a focus on Treaty
Claimant Groups, as the process on treaty negotiations progresses.
·
It was questioned whether Land
Management assistance is getting through to the right people. How do we work
on changing people’s attitudes. Staff noted that this is an ongoing issue. Through
the Regional Landcare Scheme (RLS) funding has already been fully allocated
for the year ending June 2011.
·
Staff are working in
conjunction with industry leaders such as Beef & Lamb NZ, Federated
Farmers, MAF who are continually looking for ways to assist their members, including
promoting economic and environmental planning.
·
In response to a question
on the Afforestation Grants Scheme (AGS) Joe Devonport reported the current
scheme only runs for 1 more year. There is no government guarantee there
will be any future funding. Money allocated from the scheme this year
provides the funding for planting in the following year.
·
Warwick Hesketh advised
that there is plenty of scope for more Coastal Restoration Groups. The
majority are set up in conjunction with TLA’s. He noted a Wairoa group was
being established at present.
·
Assisting Landowners with
resilience planning and adjusting to ‘climate change’ pressures was part of the
Land Management team brief.
·
Through its involvement
with the Ballance Farm Environmental Awards Council will be able to showcase
winning properties. These properties clearly show how it is possible to
enhance the environment and be economically viable.
·
Both Fonterra and Dairy NZ
– assist with developing nutrient budgets for their customers – tools and
avenues are in place to get more value out of these.
·
Councillors requested to
be kept informed as to when Field days, seminars, workshops take place.
Andrew Newman agreed this ACTION to be put in place in the New Year.
·
Land Management performance
measures will be captured when reported against LTCCP and Annual Plan in 2011.
·
Tukipo floating wetland is
not listed in these work streams as a priority catchment, work is ongoing
with Council’s science section.
·
In response to a question
on carbon credits from tree establishment and how it can be measured, Mr
Newman reported that it was now possible to track forest establishment and
expansion through satellite and Lidar imagery. MfE is land mapping the
entire country as part of a Kyoto protocol. This will eventually provide
information on forested land in Hawke’s Bay.
·
There was some discussion
on how to incentivise farmers. Staff suggested a good example of
incentivising farmers is one of the outcomes of the Huatokitoki project which
will be reported on next.
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