Minutes of Environment and Services Committee

1. Welcome/Apologies/Notices

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked Mr Brian Gregory to provide a Karakia.

Councillor Beaven’s absence was noted.

Councillor Wilson advised he would be unable to attend the Andy Lowe presentation planned for 3pm.

2. Conflict of Interest Declarations

There were no conflicts of interest declared.

3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Environment and Services Committee Held on 20 November 2013

ESC1/14

Resolution

Minutes of the Environment and Services Committee held on Wednesday, 20 November 2013, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and accurate record.

Pipe/Wilson

CARRIED

4. Matters Arising From Minutes of the Environment and Services Committee Held on Wednesday 20 November 2013

Councillor Graham highlighted a previous request from Councillor Beaven on the renaming of the Raupare Drain to a stream. It was noted that the TANK group would not meet until April so this item would remain on the table until after that time.

Call For Any Minor Items Not on the Agenda

That the Environment and Services Committee accepts the following minor items not on the agenda, for discussion:

1. Honey Bees – Cr Wilson

2. Ongaonga Flood update – Cr Hewitt

3. Pollution – Mahia and Ocean Beach – Cr Barker

4. Cats – Cr Barker

5. Charges for services for monitoring and science fees for orchards – Cr Barker

6. Environment Court - Cr Belford

7. CHB sewerage – Cr Belford

8. Transparent HB – Cr Belford

9. NKII – Cr Belford

10. MTG Hawkes Bay - Cr Belford

11. Black Aphid – M Adye

Follow-ups from Previous Committee Meetings

Field trips – Following a request Mr Adye advised an outline on proposed field trips would be provided and feedback accepted. He also noted that that Annual Plan provided good background information for Councillors on the many activities that Council undertakes.

Stopbanks – Provide Councillors with a copy of the last report on the state of our stopbanks for their information.

Use of prisoners on Council projects – Following a question on the use of prisoner labour Mr Adye advised that they had been used in the past, especially during the time of the sawfly remediation work. However since August 2013 the Hawke’s Bay prison service cancelled providing the services of prisoners from the local prison. He noted while the use of PD workers was still available they were not as effective. A request was made that the Corrections Department be sent a letter asking why the prison labour was stopped.

Fruit fly - Mr Campbell Leckie provided the Committee with an update on the recent fruit fly incursion into New Zealand. He advised that HBRC was part of and committed to a national Biosecurity network with MPI. He also noted that regular meetings were held with representatives from the hort sector, pip fruit, viticulture sectors, etc on biosecurity risks.

It was noted there is always a need to be prepared and that better coordination would achieve that.

Mr Leckie was asked to prepare a report on how we can best be prepared for any biosecurity breach. This should also cover foot and mouth and the effects of importation of honey into our region.

Recommendation

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives the “Follow-ups from Previous Committee Meetings” report.

Central Hawke’s Bay Pathways

Mr Adye presented the paper and provided an overview for the Committee. A discussion took place and the following points were noted:

· Any use of the forestry land for a mountain bike track would have restrictions in place and any investment on the land would be at the Trusts’ risk. A paper will be brought back to Council later in 2014 setting out HBRC’s investment in the block and options for its future.

· The land, 108ha of original farm land, was purchased for $1.6m. With a change in land use to a forestry block the value, as at 30 June 2013, was $400,000.

· The land is not currently within HBRC’s “Regional Park” framework.

· A condition on the current consent for the CHB waste water system on whether their floating wetlands reduce phosphorous must be met by October 2014.

· The entire forest would be required for the disposal of waste water should that need arise. This land use would make it unlikely to be compatible with a mountain bike track. It was suggested that other regions be looked at with similar situations.

ESC2/14

Resolutions

That the Environment and Services Committee:

1. Receives the Central Hawke’s Bay Pathways report

2. Notes that HBRC staff are working with the Rotary Rivers Pathway Trust to complete the construction of 2 pathways in Central Hawke’s Bay by the commencement of the 2014/15 summer, and will utilise the $100,000 committed by HBRC to fund a portion of the project.

The Environment and Services Committee recommends that Council:

3. Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Council’s adopted policy on significance and that Council can exercise its discretion under Sections 79(1)(a) and 82(3) of the Local Government Act 2002 and make decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community and persons likely to be affected by or to have an interest in the decision due to the nature and significance of the issue to be considered and decided.

4. Authorises the use of the forestry block off Mangatarata Road for a mountain bike park/track subject to satisfactory arrangements for that use being agreed between the Trust and the Chief Executive of HBRC.

Hewitt/Wilson

CARRIED 7/1

Submission to the Local Government Commission on the Draft Proposal for HB Local Government Reorganisation

Mrs Lambert presented the paper and provided an outline. The following comments were noted.

· Clarification was sought on why that, in her view, the submission “opposed” the proposal instead of being neutral. Mrs Lambert advised the proposal only gave an option of for or against.

· More emphasis to be put on our differences to TLAs, i.e. different timeframes and decision making processes; different functions undertaken; longer term budgeting and planning; integration of co-governance and planning; HBRC’s ten year plan work programme.

· Phrase our submission in a more positive framework.

· Challenge the ring fence of debt and how does that relate to dividends, i.e. Port of Napier.

· Community Boards – requires clarity on how and who strikes the rates.

· Co-Governance to be legislated by parliament.

· It was noted that the draft document will also be going to the Māori Committee and Regional Planning Committee for their comment before the 26 February Council meeting for adoption.

ESC3/14

Resolutions

That the Environment and Services Committee:

1. Considers the key points to be presented in the submission to the Local Government Commission and provides feedback to assist in the finalising of the submission.

The Environment and Services Committee recommends Council:

2. Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Council’s adopted policy on significance and that Council can exercise its discretion under Sections 79(1)(a) and 82(3) of the Local Government Act 2002 and make decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community and persons likely to be affected by or to have an interest in the decision due to the nature and significance of the issue to be considered and decided.

3. Approves in principle the submission, for lodging with the Local Government Commission, subject to feedback offered at the meeting of the Environment and Services Committee

Dick/Scott

CARRIED

On-Farm Water Storage

Mr Malcolm Miller, Consenting Manager, Resource Management Group was present to answer questions. The following was noted:

· Following a question on how many of the 19 applications for on farm water storage dams had proceeded, Mr Miller advised that to the best of his knowledge all consents were granted, however he did not know if they had all been subsequently built.

· The staff report provided is a public document and can be provided to anyone in the community. Councillors should forward this on to any members of the public they have received queries from.

· Dam construction rules are legislated by the Building Act, and are not within HBRC’s control.

· Submissions to the Annual Plan was the best platform to challenge Councils fees and charges.

ESC4/14

Resolution

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives the “On-farm Water Storage” report.

Scott/Pipe

CARRIED

10.	Council Flood and Drainage Scheme Riparian Enhancement
	Mr Adye provided an overview to the Committee and provided feedback. The following comments were noted: · No alternative tree species have been identified that have the same attributes of willows for river edge protection planting. · Other species have been trialled and or investigated including native species however native trees do not have suitable attributes required for river control and are hard to establish. HBRC focus is on species that grow in the harsh river berm environment. Exotics used include Alders and Poplars, both of which have good rooting structures. · The planting programme is ongoing to minimise risk of having a mono culture for edge protection trees. · The number of trees planted each year is limited by the labour needed for their aftercare. · As the Upper Tukituki was not as severely affected by the sawfly invasion the level of planting reflects that. · In the in early 2000s a range of seed was brought back from the United States, where sawfly is endemic. A breeding programme has identified new clones with good river protection attributes. These are now being distributed to the regions.. · The programme can be reviewed again during the LTP process.
ESC5/14	Resolution 1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives the “Council Flood and Drainage Scheme Riparian Enhancement” report. Scott/Wilson CARRIED
11.	Statutory Advocacy Update
	Esther Bate introduced herself and outlined her role in policy. An overview of the current activities was provided and discussed by the Committee.
ESC6/14	Resolution 1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives the Statutory Advocacy Update report. Wilson/Scott CARRIED

12.

Minor Items Not on the Agenda

Item	Topic	Councillor / Staff
1.	Honey Bees – Councillor Wilson advised he had attended a Landcare research presentation on bee populations. They are quite temperamental and under stress. RC will be doing some work with Landcare.	Cr Wilson
2.	Ongaonga Flood Update – With regard to the flood last November a public meeting will be held on 3 March in Ongaonga.	Cr Hewitt
3.	Pollution – Mahia and Ocean Beach – reported in the paper recently. Councillor Graham advised that e coli was detected within the Ocean beach estuary and staff were trying to find the source. It was thought to be feral geese causing this pollution and not attributed to humans. The Mahia/Oputama situation was probably from farm run off due to a big rain event – riparian planting will assist over time.	Cr Barker
4.	Cats – reduction of cats in our region - what progress has the Chairman made. Councillor Graham advised he had had a meeting with Campbell Leckie and Andy Lowe – feral cats was a big issue with the damage they inflict to our native species.	Cr Barker
5.	Charges for Services for monitoring and science fees for orchards. Orchardists have raised issues with the fees that they are being charged. Cr Graham noted that discussions with Twyford growers had gone well. Cr Scott suggested that Councillors find out the charges and speak directly to these people.	Cr Barker
6	Councillor Belford advised that the Environment Court had affirmed the authority of Regional Councils on GMOs in their region.	Cr Belford
7	CHB Sewerage – Cr Belford requested that a report be brought to this committee on how the floating wetland scheme is operating.	Cr Belford
8	Transparent HB – deputation from Transparent HB requested to be heard at the next Council Meeting on 26 Feb.	Cr Belford
9	NKII – Update sought on negotiations by 8 Feb with a further report to board of enquiry.	Cr Belford
10	MTG Hawkes Bay – As a contributor to this facility has HBRC expressed any concern on current issues being raised. Mrs Lambert stated that NCC is undertaking a review and will then talk to us.	Cr Belford
11	Black Aphid – impact on willows and will be monitored from this new incursion.	Mike Adye
12	A hearing on the application for the tyre recycling business will be heard in HBRC chambers on 27 February 2014.	Cr Scott

Closure:

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 11.55am on Wednesday, 12 February 2014.

Signed as a true and correct record.

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