MINUTES OF A meeting of the Regional Planning Committee
Date: Wednesday 1 June 2016
Time: 9:00am
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Venue: |
Council Chamber Hawke's Bay Regional Council 159 Dalton Street NAPIER |
Present: Mr Toro Waaka – Co-Chairman -Ngati Pahauwera Development & Tiaki Trusts
Cr Fenton Wilson – Co-Chairman
Cr Rick Barker
Cr Peter Beaven
Cr Tom Belford
Mr Karauna Brown, Ngati Hineuru Iwi Inc
Cr Alan Dick
Cr Rex Graham
Cr Debbie Hewitt
Ms Nicky Kirikiri, Te Toi Kura o Waikaremoana
Dr Roger Maaka, He Toa Takitini
Mr Peter Paku, He Toa Takitini
Cr Dave Pipe
Cr Christine Scott
Mr Allen Smith, Te Tira Whakaemi o Te Wairoa
Mr Rangi Spooner, Mana Ahuriri Incorporated
In Attendance: J Palmer – Group Manager Strategic Development
I Maxwell – Group Manager Resource Management
L Lambert – Interim CE
G Ide – Manager Strategy & Policy
S Swabey – Manager Science
A Hicks – Principal Scientist WQ & E
N van Pelt – Executive Assistant
M Tonks – Environmental Management Services Ltd
1. Welcome/Apologies/Notices
Karakia – Allen Smith
Chairman Toro Waaka welcomed everyone to the meeting
Resolution
RPC24/16 That the apologies for absence from Ms Tania Hopmans and Mr Nigel Baker be accepted.
Smith/Wilson
CARRIED
Notices – Cr Wilson and Cr Barker advised that they will need to leave the meeting early.
2. Conflict of Interest Declarations
There were no conflict of interest declarations.
3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Regional Planning Committee Meeting Held on 20 April 2016
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Minutes of the Regional Planning Committee meeting held on Wednesday 20 April 2016, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record. CARRIED |
4. Matters Arising from Minutes of the Regional Planning Committee Held on 20 April 2016
In relation to item 9 on page 24, Mr Toro Waaka updated the Committee on the status of the Terms of Reference review currently under way. He explained that some of the claimant groups are not as prepared as they need to be, and that all have agreed that they don’t want to rush the matter. Another update will be provided at the 3 August 2016 RPC meeting.
There were no further matters arising.
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Follow-up Items from Previous Regional Planning Committee Meetings |
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Mr Maxwell advised that staff are organising a workshop/fieldtrip around Riparian Assessment for Tukituki and TANK Catchments for June with the date yet to be confirmed, and that work on the Clean Air Compliance Strategy is ongoing and will be reported to a future meeting. |
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That the Regional Planning Committee receives and notes the “Follow-up Items from Previous Regional Planning Committee Meetings” report. CARRIED |
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Iwi - Hapu Engagement Plan for the Development of the Greater Heretaunga (TANK) Plan Change |
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Mrs Raihania gave an update on the TANK meeting held on 24 May 2016. Letters have gone out to treaty entities Mana Ahuriri, Maungaharuru Trust and He Toa Takitini regarding participation in the TANK project. Both Mana Ahuriri, Maungaharuru-Tangitu Trust have declined attendance at these meetings however wish to remain informed via correspondence. Feedback from He Toa Takitini is pending. A paper was submitted as part of the agenda and positive feedback from RPC members. There was discussion around how quickly this can be totally integrated into the TANK project and legal obligations, to which James Palmer replied that processes in place will ensure that Maori values will be incorporated within the TANK project in accordance to the Council’s statutory obligations. Feedback is currently being sought by Mana Whenua members of the TANK project and request to all RPC members for their input before the next meeting. |
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1. That the Regional Planning Committee receives and notes the “Iwi - Hapu Engagement Plan for the Development of the Greater Heretaunga (TANK) Plan Change” and staff report. 2. The Regional Planning 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. 2.2. Endorses the Iwi - Hapu Engagement Plan for the Development of the Greater Heretaunga (TANK) Plan Change, subject to: 2.2.1. finalisation by staff and the inclusion of any minor amendments arising from further iwi/hapu feedback 2.2.2. any material proposed amendments being brought back to the Regional Planning Committee for further recommendations. CARRIED |
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Effectiveness of Regional Plans for Managing Oil & Gas Activities |
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Mr James Palmer provided the background and context for this item, and introduced Miss Rina Douglas, HBRC Senior Planner, and Mr Murray Tonks, consultant for Environmental Management Services Ltd (EMS Limited). Council undertook, through the 2015-2025 Long Term Plan process, a review of the effectiveness of the RRMP aligned to the recommendations made in the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s (PCES’s) report on oil & gas exploration. A desktop review was completed by Rob van Voorthuysen and provided to Council staff at the end of 2015. This has subsequently been peer reviewed by EMS Limited, who have also carried out a more in-depth assessment of the applicability of the PCE’s recommendations and the extent to which they are (or are not) encapsulated by the RRMP. The EMS work included an assessment of the current state of oil and gas exploration and production in Hawke’s Bay. There was extensive discussion traversing relationships with other Hawke’s Bay territorial authorities, regulatory processes, timeframes and protection/prohibition of exploration activities over the aquifers. |
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1. That the Regional Planning Committee receives and notes the: 1.1 “Policy Review: Oil and Gas Exploration Development for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council” report prepared by van Voorthuysen Environmental Limited dated October 2015 1.2 “Review of Oil and Gas Exploration in the Hawke's Bay Region & Assessment of Relevance of PCE’s Recommendations for Hawke's Bay Regional Plan” report prepared by Environmental Management Services Limited dated May 2016. 2. The Regional Planning 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. 2.2 Agrees that an assessment of a plan change is not necessary until the 2020-21 review of the Regional Resource Management Plan, or an earlier related plan change as it presents. 2.3 Requests that staff bring a statement of principles regarding potential oil and gas development in HB to the RPC Belford/Dick Cr Scott moved an amendment, seconded by Cr Hewitt; being to: Amend 2.2 to read: Agrees that in the interim the current provisions of the RRMP together with the HDC District plan does provide adequate management for oil and gas drilling, and that no immediate plan change is required Add 2.4, being: Makes provision for work on a plan change managing oil and gas exploration and production in the 2018 -2028 Long Term Plan Scott/Hewitt For: Scott, Hewitt, Pipe Against: Wilson, Waaka, Smith, Spooner, Dick, Belford, Paku, Barker, Graham, Beaven, Kirikiri, Brown LOST The amendment was LOST and therefore the Substantive Motion was put: 1. That the Regional Planning Committee receives and notes the: 1.1 “Policy Review: Oil and Gas Exploration Development for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council” report prepared by van Voorthuysen Environmental Limited dated October 2015 1.2 “Review of Oil and Gas Exploration in the Hawke's Bay Region & Assessment of Relevance of PCE’s Recommendations for Hawke's Bay Regional Plan” report prepared by Environmental Management Services Limited dated May 2016.
2. The Regional Planning 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. 2.2 Agrees that an assessment of a plan change is not necessary until the 2020-21 review of the Regional Resource Management Plan, or an earlier related plan change as it presents. 2.3 Requests that staff bring a statement of principles regarding potential oil and gas development in Hawke’s Bay to the Regional Planning Committee. CARRIED |
The meeting adjourned at 10.25am and reconvened at 10.40am
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Tukituki Implementation Principles |
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Mr Maxwell introduced the concept of using principles to guide and inform policy implementation, noting that staff and a contractor are developing an initial document that sets out the intended way that PC6 will be implemented. This document is still in development and will be presented to the August meeting of the RPC. Mr Maxwell talked the Committee through the principles, how they will be used to inform the development of the final implementation plan. Discussion took place around PC6 and the RWSS Scheme. Concerns were raised over stream depletion and the impact of this, and why there is no specific principal regarding protecting the environment. The Committee requested that a principle be added that reflects the need to achieve outcomes for the river and a rewording of the principle that addressed business. |
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1. That the Regional Planning Committee: 1.1. Receives and notes the “Tukituki Implementation Principles” report 1.2. Identifies any principles that are missing or that need to be improved, and agrees amendments to be made. 2. The Regional Planning 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 be affected by or to have an interest in the decision. 2.2. Subject to the inclusion of amendments agreed in response to matters raised at the RPC meeting, adopts the Tukituki Implementation Principles for development of the PC6 implementation plan. CARRIED |
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Ngaruroro Water Conservation Order Update |
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Mrs Mary-Anne Baker provided an overview of the options outlined in the paper, for how best to work in the two processes to enable the least complicated process and at least cost given the issues that have been identified. Through discussions, staff advised that the concerns reported to Council in February still remain, and there are a number of issues that could arise should a Conservation Order application be accepted by the Minister. |
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That the Regional Planning Committee receives and notes the “Ngaruroro Water Conservation Order Update” report. CARRIED |
Cr Wilson left the meeting at 12.00pm
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Regional State and Trends of River Water Quality and Ecology |
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Dr Stephen Swabey and Dr Andy Hicks presented information from three technical State of Environment reports for catchments within the region and highlighted key findings from each. |
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1. That the Regional Planning Committee receives and notes the: 1.1. Waikare, Aropaoanui and Esk Catchments: State and Trends of River Water Quality and Ecology report 1.2. Wairoa and Northern Catchments: States and Trends of River Water Quality and Ecology report 1.3. Porangahau and Southern Coastal Catchments: State and Trends of River Water Quality and Ecology report. 2. The Regional Planning 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. 2.2. Approves publication and release of the: 2.2.1. Waikare, Aropaoanui and Esk Catchments: State and Trends of River Water Quality and Ecology report 2.2.2. Wairoa and Northern Catchments: States and Trends of River Water Quality and Ecology report 2.2.3. Porangahau and Southern Coastal Catchments: State and Trends of River Water Quality and Ecology report. CARRIED |
The meeting adjourned at 12.37pm and reconvened 1.10pm
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Verbal Update on the TANK Project |
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Mrs Baker gave a verbal update on the TANK meeting held on 24 May, 2016. Attendance was good and participants positive and engaged. Some questions around the science programme |
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That the Regional Planning Committee receives and notes the verbal “Update on the TANK Project” report. CARRIED |
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Verbal Presentation on the TANK Information Portal |
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Mr Anthony Gouder gave a presentation on the TANK information portal, which has been set up to share information between TANK stakeholder group and RPC members. |
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That the Regional Planning Committee receives and notes the verbal “Presentation on the TANK Information Portal” report. CARRIED |
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June 2016 Resource Management Planning Project Update |
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Mr Ide gave an update on the progress with Resource Management planning projects under way. |
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That the Regional Planning Committee receives and takes note of the ‘June 2016 Resource Management Planning Projects Update’ report. CARRIED |
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March 2016 - May 2016 Statutory Advocacy Update |
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Mrs Esther-Amy Powell gave an update on this report. Requested a report to summarise work completed by the HPUDS review TAG before next RPC meeting on 23 August. |
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That the Regional Planning Committee receives the March 2015 – May 2016 Statutory Advocacy Update report. CARRIED |
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Presentation of Pataka - A Resource Management Tool |
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Mrs Esther-Amy Powell gave an overview of Pataka. |
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That the Regional Planning Committee receives the “Pataka - A Resource Management Tool” demonstration. CARRIED |
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Minor Items Not on the Agenda |
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Karakia - Dr Roger Maaka
Closure:
There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 2.14pm on Wednesday 1 June 2016.
Signed as a true and correct record.
DATE: ................................................ CHAIRMAN: ...............................................