Minutes of Environment and Services Committee

1. Welcome/Apologies/Notices

Resolution

That the apologies for absence from Councillor Wilson be accepted, and that Councillor Hewitt be excused before 12noon and Mr Brian Gregory be excused at 2.00pm.

Barker/Beaven

CARRIED

2. Conflict of Interest Declarations

There were no conflicts of interest declarations.

3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Environment and Services Committee meeting held on 15 March 2017

ESC15/17

Resolution

Minutes of the Environment and Services Committee held on Wednesday, 15 March 2017, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record.

Kirton/Graham

CARRIED

Follow-ups from previous Environment & Services Committee Meetings

Mr Iain Maxwell advised the meeting that Item 1 – Feedlots is an item on the agenda, and that some preliminary discussions have been held with a date in July to be confirmed for Item 3 - CHB Fieldtrip. The plan is to look at CHB wastewater, ponds, some feedlot operations and also have a discussion with NIWA scientists regarding impacts on the Tukituki.

Mr Graeme Hansen advised that a number of issues have been raised through submissions on the Riverbed Gravel Management Review and should be resolvable through a collective informal meeting process prior to considering if a formal hearing is required.

ESC16/17

Resolution

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

Barker/Graham

CARRIED

Call for Items of Business not on the Agenda

Because of the importance of the Havelock North Water Inquiry the Committee requested that Mr Maxwell report immediately.

Havelock North Water Inquiry

Iain Maxwell gave a verbal report to the meeting on the staff review of the report following on from the information sent to Councillors via an email link.

Staff have worked through an analysis of Stage One to find key relevant items.

Key areas of fault or failing within the organisations who have responsibility for drinking water supply. There were no surprises in the Inquiry findings, the following four key areas were indicated, Consenting activities and how HBRC conditions water takes, application of National Environment Standard for Drinking Water Supply– the processes were not clear, Compliance monitoring - use of clauses around boreheads - generic clause not good enough and the broad State of Environment monitoring.

Mr Maxwell expanded further to give the committee an understanding of the findings, and told the committee that Stage Two would be making recommendations to aid HBRC make the necessary changes and improvements.

Staff are working through a process to systematically contact the 8000 known bore owners in the region. They are being asked to check wellhead security and borehead requirements and to check that HBRC held information is correct. The response rate is low (26%) and there is significant follow up required by staff including site visits. This may generate the need for unbudgeted spend or additional staff.

Mr Maxwell explained to the committee that HDC now treats their entire network of water supplies, and through the joint Working Group, further collaboration was seeing broader Heretaunga aquifer investigations being developed.

The email and memo sent to Councillors is publicly available information.

ESC17/17

Resolution

The Environment and Services Committee notes that they have heard item 1 and accepts the item 2 “Items of Business Not on the Agenda” for discussion as Item 16:

Minor items not on the Agenda

	Item Name
1.	Havelock North Water Enquiry - Issue has been analysed by staff since agenda distribution and Councillors anxious to hear staff reaction.
2.	Contamination incident in Ahuriri Estuary - Cr Kirton requested information at the meeting. Staff able to report verbally today

Bailey/Barker

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 10.38am and reconvened at 10.54am.

Transforming Biodiversity In Hawke’s Bay

Campbell Leckie gave a brief overview of the elements involved in Transforming Biodiversity and the role of the RPMP, and how that relates to operational delivery and operational plans. Biodiversity is a complex topic with two key strategic levers, one is removing a suite of predator pests and the second is how habitat restoration can be used to reconnect the landscape so that native species can thrive.

Mr Leckie spoke of predator pest management and Predator Free NZ 2050 with aims for zero invasive predators. He would like guidance from Councillors as to whether or not HBRC can align with Predator Free NZ 2050, the first region to do this. This would require resources and funding. Additional funding would be a discussion for the LTP process but also a significant difference can be made with existing resources, if applied differently.

Comment was made that biodiversity is a much bigger topic than just pest management, and the committee felt that this was a stunning initiative and this Council wanted to be the market leader in this space.

ESC18/17

Resolutions

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “Transforming Biodiversity in Hawke’s Bay” staff 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 be affected by or to have an interest in the decision.

2.2. Endorses the principle of Hawke’s Bay being the first region to align itself to the Predator Free NZ 2050 goal.

2.3. Requests that staff seek community feedback on this aspirational goal through the Regional Pest Management Plan review and discussion document

2.4. Requests that staff bring a detailed proposal for consideration to Council through the 2018-28 Long Term Plan development process, discussing the regional rollout of predator control alongside associated leveraged funding partners.

Graham/Barker

CARRIED

Councillor Hewitt was excused from the meeting at 11.30pm.

11.

Implementation of the Hawke’s Bay Biodiversity Strategy

Mr Jan Hania, Environmental Director for the Next Foundation, explained the Next Foundation and their long term goals, their key critical areas are environment and education. Environmentally they are interested in a predator free nz and biodiversity. He explained Predator Free Wellington, large scale urban predator free area. ZIP stands for Zero Invasive Predators, which is a different mindset, going from control to eradication.

He described the Taranaki Maunga project, how it was structured, funded and managed. The project is on Department of Conservation land from the mountains to the sea.

Keiko Hashiba gave a summary of the significant work of the Implementation Planning Group during the last 12 months and introduced Dr Charles Daugherty the independent chair of the Group. Dr Daugherty spoke of the long term commitment of the group to establish the strategy and a Biodiversity Foundation to facilitate the work required.

ESC19/17

Resolution

That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “Implementation of the Hawke’s Bay Biodiversity Strategy” staff report.

Barker/Bailey

CARRIED

Regional Pest Management Plan Review and Discussion Document

Mr Campbell Leckie explained that the RPMP plan will set the biosecurity expenditure for 10 years. He introduced Mark Mitchell who is leading the RPMP review. The review covers a wide range of topics, biosecurity is one part which delivers outcomes, killing pests by itself is not the end, it also includes habitat restoration recovery, native species recovery and economic outcomes.

Discussion needs to happen of how the plan can be communicated and framed across other activities in council and what is the long term sustainability of the plan.

Mr Leckie acknowledged that the document did contain some information in a little too much detail. Concerned was expressed that the targeted rate was for pest control not predator control. The transition from possum control to predator control, is not expected to be at any extra cost and after consultation local farmers were happy with that.

Mr Leckie suggested to the committee that included in the RPMP, could be a context around biodiversity. Staff will work on revising the working party’s Terms of Reference.

ESC20/17

Resolutions

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives and considers the “Regional Pest Management Plan Review and Discussion Document” staff 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 the Committee 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. Adopts the Terms of Reference for the Biosecurity Working Party, incorporating the agreed amendments requested by the Environment and Services Committee on 17 May 2017.

2.3. Accepts Regional Pest Management Plan Review discussion document, incorporating the agreed amendments as requested by the Environment and Services Committee on 17 May 2017.

Dick/Bailey

CARRIED

Biosecurity 2017-18 Operational Plan

Mr Campbell Leckie suggested that the paper be taken as read and asked for questions. Though he did point out to the committee that outcomes were a significant part of the picture.

Concern was expressed that in the plan – possum control was moving to predator control, which had implications for the landowners who pay the targeted rate.

ESC21/17

Resolutions

That the Environment and Services Committee:

1. Receives and notes the “Biosecurity 2017-18 Operational Plan” staff report.

2. Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy, and that the Committee 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.

3. Accepts the Biosecurity 2017-18 Operational Plans as the basis for HBRC Biosecurity Operations through the 2017-18 financial year.

Barker/Dick

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned for lunch at 12.56pm.

The meeting reconvened at 1.30pm

Processing of Water Bottling Resource Consent Applications

Mr Malcolm Miller gave the committee an update on the topic and sought direction and clarification from Council regarding the resolution from December 2016.

ESC22/17

Resolutions

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “Processing of Water Bottling Resource Consent Applications“ staff report.

2. The Environment and Services Committee recommends that Council:

2.2. Provides clarification of the Council policy position on the taking of water for water bottling to staff by:

2.2.1 Amending the definition of water bottling to read “taking and using water for bottling in bottles, bladders or other containers for human consumption, where the water taken makes up at least 90% content of the container.”

2.2.2 Amending the Hearings Committee Terms of Reference to include the delegations to hear and decide applications for lapse date extensions for water bottling resource consents.

2.2.3 Advising that all applications to change any of the conditions of a water take resource consent for water bottling will be publicly notified.

2.2.4 Advising that all applications to transfer a water bottling resource consent, in part or in full, from site to site will be publicly notified.

Beaven/Dick

CARRIED

10.

OECD Environmental Performance Review and Public Perception Survey of NZ’s Environment 2016

Mr James Palmer told the committee that the public appeared to be more concerned about environmental matters than ever before and were especially concerned about fresh water especially in conjunction with farming practices.

What the OECD is saying about the environment is consistent with the direction that HBRC is taking. On request Mr Palmer stated that it was possible for an additional sample from the Hawke’s Bay region can be added to this survey in 2018. Mr Palmer will contact Professor Hughey to see if this is possible.

ESC23/17

Resolution

That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “OECD Environmental Performance Review and Public Perception Survey of NZ’s Environment 2016” report.

Dick/Beaven

CARRIED

Item 11 was considered just after Item 5 to accommodate the presenter.

Brian Gregory left the meeting at 02:03 pm.

Councillor Barker exited the meeting at 02:07 pm

Councillor Barker returned to the meeting at 02:12 pm.

12.

Feedlot and Feedpad Management Update

Mr Brendon Powell explained that in the last 15 – 20 years feedlots and feedpads were the way of managing the problem of feed during the harder winter months, to produce fresh foods for supermarkets, not frozen like in the past. These feedlots/feedpads are often near rivers.

Mr Malcolm Miller explained permitted activities, and ambiguities within the rules. Concern was expressed of feedlots and feedpads that were not consented, and what is happening to the groundwater. HBRC now know who have feedlots and Council will be specifically doing flights to check where the feedlots are and whether they are consented or not HBRC will be asking for monitoring plans.

What has been identified through this exercise is that the rules are not helpful and have been poorly crafted and could be improved. There is a need to rewrite the rules and make them so that farmers can understand them.

ESC24/17

Resolution

That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “Feedlot and Feedpad Management Update” staff report and requests that staff work on a rule change in order to properly control Feedpads and Feedlots and report back to Regional Planning Committee.

Dick/Barker

CARRIED

13.

Stormwater Management

Mr Wayne Wright told the committee there are a number of resource consents for stormwater discharge held by HBRC and TLAs, and there are a number in process of being applied for.

The committee wants to know what the volume of the discharges are and the area of catchments involved. There is a general concern about the number of pollutants in historic wastewater systems, consents that were issued years ago and what the environmental consequences are now.

This issue is being investigated by the Stormwater Working Group within the TANK process, where they are doing a stocktake on the existing structure and to give advice on how to improve performance. The committee is interested in where the non-compliance is happening and what HBRC was doing about it. Concern was expressed about the “technical non-compliance” on the attachment to the item, this means the HBRC has not received documentation from the consent holder. It was mentioned that after the Havelock North Water situation HBRC has the opportunity to impress on TLAs of their responsibilities to provide the required information.

ESC25/17

Resolution

That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “Stormwater Management” staff report and asks staff to respond to the next Environment and Services Committee with an update on compliance processes, environmental issues and resource consent processes.

Barker/Kirton

CARRIED

14.

Clive River Dredging

HBRC staff regularly take measurements of the Clive River to monitor the sediment build up and the results are consistent with a programme for further dredging planned for 2018-19, however the waka ama group can currently only use the waters around high tide.

Mr Graeme Hansen spoke of the Clive River users agreement that was formed many years ago and appears to be working well, the waka ama are more recent users of the river.

ESC26/17

Resolution

That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “Clive River Dredging” staff report.

Barker/Kirton

CARRIED

15.

Regulation and Operational Update

This item comes at the request of the Chair, to bring some of the more sensitive matters being dealt with by staff to the attention of the committee. Also science papers being worked on, to flag to Councillors what is to be presented in the future.

Staff have tried to include matters that may be of interest. Good format and no surprises the best indication of what should be included, staff will also ensure that any legal processes occurring will be included in the future.

ESC27/17

Resolution

That the Environment and Services Committee receives the “Regulation and Operational Update” staff report.

Barker/Bailey

CARRIED

16.

Discussion of Items not on the Agenda

Item Name

Councillor

Havelock North Water Inquiry

Matter dealt with under urgency earlier in the meeting.

Contamination in Ahuriri Estuary

Mr Wayne Wright (Manager Resource Use) advised staff received a report just this morning and will report to Council as soon as possible. Interest expressed about sewage problems also.

Cr Kirton

Closure:

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 3.27pm on 17 May 2017.

Signed as a true and correct record.

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