Minutes of Environment and Services Committee

1. Welcome/Apologies/Notices

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and Brian Gregory offered a karakia.

Resolution

ESC32/18 That apologies for absence from Cr Rex Graham and Mr Peter Paku and for lateness from Cr Fenton Wilson be accepted.

Beaven/Barker

CARRIED

2. Conflict of Interest Declarations

There were no conflict of interest declarations.

3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Environment and Services Committee held on 4 July 2018

ESC33/18

Resolution

Minutes of the Environment and Services Committee held on Wednesday, 4 July 2018, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record.

Beaven/Kirton

CARRIED

Secretarial note: As there is no provision for discussion of the minutes other than confirmation of their correctness, points raised in relation to the 4 July meeting are recorded under item 4. following.

Follow-ups from previous Environment and Services Committee Meetings

In relation to Management Options to Protect Whitebait Species it was reported that there appears to be a return of some fish back into the rivers this season.

In response to a query in relation to Biosecurity Operational Plans and the RHDVK5 virus, Mr Iain Maxwell reported that the initial release of the virus was not as successful as anticipated, however the virus typically spreads very quickly during Spring and Summer.

In response to a query about Pandora Pond, James Palmer and Iain Maxwell advised that an update on the detailed work program (including budgets and timelines) around the stormwater and wastewater issues as they relate to the estuary will be on the 14 November committee agenda. Invitations will be extended to Napier City Council to present its Ahuriri Master Plan and to Te Komiti Muriwai o Te Whanga representatives to provide an update on its activities.

ESC34/18

Resolution

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

Bailey/Barker

CARRIED

Call for Items of Business not on the Agenda

Recommendation

That the Environment and Services Committee accepts the following “Items of Business Not on the Agenda” for discussion as Item 16:

Item	Topic	Raised by
1.	Ahuriri Estuary Committee report	Cr Neil Kirton
2	Ruapania
3.	Centenarian gravel meeting	Cr Debbie Hewitt
4.	CHB Catchment meeting	Cr Debbie Hewitt
5.	Productivity Commission Low Emission video	Cr Tom Belford

Sustainable Homes Policy and Funding Criteria

Mark Heaney introduced the item, highlighting:

· Council agreed, through LTP, to borrow up to $13 million over the next 10 years to provide financial assistance packages to help increase resilience in a civil emergency, improve water quality through the reduction of leachate from septic tanks, and increase the number of warmer, drier homes to reduce the health burden in the region.

· Solar will assist to move the HB region from the current renewal energy level of 85% to the planned 100% strategic goal of carbon neutral 2040.

· Assistance provided to homeowners to install solar systems, provide water storage (up to $20,000) and to replace older septic tanks – to be repaid through a targeted rate on the property with no impact on the general ratepayer.

· The HeatSmart programme will be subsumed into the Sustainable Homes Programme.

· HBRC is working with Hastings District Council on energy saving initiatives.

· It was agreed that criteria will be reviewed annually to match demand.

ESC35/18

Resolutions

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “Sustainable Homes Policy and Funding Criteria” 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. Accepts the Sustainable Homes Policy and Voluntary Targeted Rate (VTR) Funding Criteria.

Bailey/Dick

CARRIED

Delegations Register – Resource Consent Processes – September 2018

Malcolm Miller updated the Committee on the Delegations Register highlighting:

· The Consents processes were recently audited to maintain ISO 9001-2015 accreditation, and that Audit found that the delegations were not consistent with the new organisational structure.

· Staff have made the changes necessary to correct the position titles and to remove staff positions no longer involved in consenting processes.

· There was discussion and clarification requested around the Notification decision process and delegation, with James Palmer agreeing to provide a report to the next Council meeting outlining the processes.

ESC36/18

Resolutions

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “Delegations Register – Resource Consent Processes – September 2018” staff report.

2. The Environment and Services Committee recommends that Council:

2.2. Approves, pursuant to RMA s34A(1) the delegations set out in the updated Delegation Register – Resource Consent Processes (September 2018) as provided.

Barker/Beaven

CARRIED

Compliance 2017-18 Annual Report

Malcolm Miller reported, in Wayne Wright’s absence, on Compliance section activities during the 2017-18 financial year, highlighting:

· From next year the implementation of the new IRIS software system will make reports of this nature more straight forward.

· Statistics on the number of calls received to the pollution hotline, with a 20% increase.

· All 79 dairy farms in Hawke’s Bay are consented activities. Discharge consents allow farms to irrigate dairy shed effluent to land.

· There are no non-compliant Regional Council stormwater discharges.

· CHB’s current wastewater discharges and the compliance status of those

· Criteria needs to very clear in what is being used to evaluate the outcome.

· Suggested that actively engaging on issues is included in future reports.

· General comment made that there are a number of organisations not performing and should be addressed and more strict rules enforced.

ESC37/18

Resolution

That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “2017-18 Compliance Annual Report”.

Kirton/Beaven

CARRIED

Response to Ongaonga/Tikokino Bore Issues

Iain Maxwell introduced the item and Simon Harper gave a presentation on Ongaonga and Tikokino groundwater science, what monitoring data shows and the long-term effects of pumping. Discussions traversed:

· Well depth during summer and winter months, available drawdown and long term effects as well as potential implications of the Tranche 2 allocation.

· Ongaonga groundwater levels have been monitored since 2004. There is no monitor bore in Tikokino - the closest is along Butler Road.

· Greatest rates of decline are in summer, resulting in more seasonal variation over time.

· The long-term effects of groundwater pumping are difficult to predict and require numerical modelling.

The meeting adjourned at 10.42am and reconvened at 11am with Cr Fenton Wilson present and Councillor Rick Barker absent.

· Modelling of groundwater resources for PC6 shows that after equilibrium is reached and allocation limits set there will not be significant further declines of aquifer levels.

Cr Barker re-joined the meeting at 11.28am

· Applications for Tranche 2 water have not yet been publically notified as staff are awaiting information sought from the applicant before making the appropriate Notification Decision.

· Criteria for ‘efficient’ water takes as set by PC6 and efficient bores or takes are protected, whereas shallow or surface pump takes are deemed inefficient and therefore not protected – and possible Ongaonga and Tikokino domestic water security solutions will be investigated with CHB and other Stakeholders.

· It was agreed that staff will include Tranche 2 groundwater allocation recommendations in a further report on CHB groundwater issues to the 14 November Environment and Services Committee meeting.

· Staff to clarify the level of assistance available for water storage through the Sustainable Homes Policy and the impacts on the scheme.

ESC38/18

Resolutions

1. That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “Response to Ongaonga/Tikokino Bore Issues” staff report.

2. The Environment and Services Committee recommends that Council:

2.1. Given the public interest in the matter, publicly notifies the Tranche 2 resource consent applications should they proceed.

Dick/Belford

Wilson/ Hewitt/ Beaven abstained

CARRIED

2.2. Requests that potential solutions to Ongaonga and Tikokino domestic water security are investigated with Central Hawke’s Bay District Council and other stakeholders.

2.3. Requests that staff provide advice to confirm the impacts of providing up to $20,000 funding assistance for water storage under the Sustainable Homes Policy.

Dick/Belford

Wilson abstained

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 12.26pm and reconvened at 12.55pm.

11.

Call for Certificate of Appreciation Nominations

James Palmer introduced the item, highlighting:

· Councillors to email any nominations for good environmental stewardship before 28 September 2018 to prepare for an awards ceremony at the Council meeting on 28 November 2018.

· Councillors are encouraged to provide their nominations via email as outlined in the agenda item, for discussion at the 24 October Council meeting.

ESC39/18

Resolution

That the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council receives the “Call for Certificate of Appreciation Nominations” staff report.

Bailey/Beaven

CARRIED

10.

Forestry Slash Management

Malcolm Miller introduced the item, which was taken as read with discussions highlighting:

· key areas of the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry which came into effect on 1 May 2018.

· Expect NES best practice approach and provisions for monitoring and enforcement will result in measurable improvements of forestry slash management in time.

Councillor Barker re-joined the meeting at 1.05pm

· View expressed that no evidence the industry is taking pre-cautionary measures to prevent slash ending up in water bodies or operating responsibly so Council is being reasonably proactive with compliance

· Compliance teams will be working across the region to oversee the compliance of the permitted activity rule, working with industry groups and talking with individual forestry operators.

· The different responsibilities for TAs for specific parts of the forestry process are explicitly set out in the NES.

· Intent that there will be areas that are precluded from plantation forestry

· Suggested that Council host a public forum on forestry harvesting and management.

· Request for a copy of the risk zones map be provided to committee members, and information on the eight core plantation forestry activities as well as an outline of which Council has statutory responsibility for each.

ESC40/18

Resolutions

That the Environment and Services Committee

1. Receives and notes the “Forestry Slash Management” staff report.

2. Requests that staff develop a proposal for the Committee’s consideration, for HBRC to host a conference on forestry with particular reference to management and harvesting issues for the region with invitations for foresters, councils and interested community groups.

Barker/Dick

CARRIED

12.

Forestry Investments Update

James Palmer introduced the item. Discussions traversed:

· The Kahutia Accord with Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc has been signed and staff of both organisations are currently working on Provincial Growth Fund applications to support the joint work programme.

· Integrated Catchment Management teams are engaging with individual landowners who have expressed an interest in receiving support for farm environment planning, riparian fencing and erosion control planting.

· Three aspects of Kahutia Accord to be more formalised, being plant nursery, workforce and forest establishment, after consultation with the community on Council’s entering into a formal forestry investment partnership as proposed in the LTP.

· Potential partnership with NKII and Corrections in relation to plant nurseries

· Provincial Growth Fund proposals are being developed and a local Technical Advisors Group to peer review and test the project outputs is still to be established

ESC41/18

Resolution

That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “Forestry Investments Update” staff report.

Beaven/Barker

CARRIED

13.

Update on Tūtira Forestry Harvest

Chris Dolley introduced the item and Ben Douglas, who updated the committee on the harvest preparatory work and subsequent replanting plans. Discussions traversed:

· Construction and fencing of stage 1 roading is complete and tenders for Stage 2 of the road construction have closed.

· Seeking feedback on the Weighted Multi-criteria analysis to be used to score the suitability of replanting regimes.

· Community stakeholder group involved in the development of one of the two replanting proposals

Cr Barker left at 2.09pm.

· Views of community group will be provided in full to Council for analysis and comparison.

· Next steps will be cost-benefit analysis of options, followed by preparation of a financial analysis and recommendation for Council to consider and decide which option is undertaken.

ESC42/18

Resolution

That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “Update on Tūtira Forestry Harvest” staff report.

Kirton/Dick

CARRIED

14.

Irrigation Check-up Programme 2017

Monique Benson and Kate Jefferd introduced the item, highlighting:

· Iirrigation efficiency key building block to achieving Good Farming Practice

· Check-up program was designed to be a hands-on practical way of promoting efficient irrigation

· 41 properties (51 irrigation systems) were assessed

· Scope and outcomes of the project need to be clear and defined, with updates provided through this Committee.

ESC43/18

Resolution

That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “Irrigation Check-up Programme 2017” staff report.

Dick/Beaven

CARRIED

15.

Biodiversity Foundation update

Genevieve Bennet presented work to establish the Biodiversity Guardians and Biodiversity Foundation with various levels of membership. Discussions traversed:

· Funding strategies for related biodiversity activities to be used to educate the public, build profile and grow membership.

· Partnering with other local councils in the region to find ways for regional collaboration and leveraging things like advertising.

· A dedicated website for Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay has been developed and will become the hub for information and notifications - www.biodiversityhb.org.

· A Summary of the progress on six priority actions in the Action Plan

· some funds secured through the LTP and currently being allocated.

ESC44/18

Resolution

That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “Biodiversity Foundation Update” staff report.

Beaven/Hewitt

CARRIED

16.

Freshwater Improvement Fund Projects Update and Environmental Hot Spots Projects

Te Kaha Hawaikirangi and Anna Madarasz-Smith provided updates covering:

· Projects making significant environmental gains

· The Whakaki Lake Trust endorsed the Freshwater Improvement Fund with some conditions on working together moving forward.

· currently exploring possible options for Lake Whatuma and next step is to engage a project manager to assist.

· Report on Manuka to C&S committee on 3 October.

ESC45/18

Resolution

That the Environment and Services Committee receives and notes the “Hotspots Environmental & Freshwater Improvement Funded Projects 2017-18 Annual Report”.

Bailey/Wilson

CARRIED

17.

Verbal update on Future Farming Trust Initiative

Tom Skerman provided an update, highlighting:

· a recent meeting discussed next steps, resulting in an initial invitation being sent out to 11 farmers and consultants to participate in a group to help to determine the Terms of Reference, the objectives, goals and outcomes of the Trust.

· Councillors Belford and Wilson are HBRC appointees to the committee.

· Request for the letter of invitation to be circulated to committee members.

18.

September 2018 Operational Activities update

The item was taken as read, noting:

· Request for the Point Analysis (soil stability) project’s final report summary to be distributed to councillors.

· HBRC Gravel consent applications on hold pending receipt of some further information in relation to environmental effects requested.

ESC46/18

Resolution

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

Wilson/Bailey

CARRIED

19.

Discussion of Items not on the Agenda

Item	Topic	Raised by
1.	· Te Komiti Muriwai o Te Whanga had first two meetings with very different expectations of local authorities. · Napier City Council tabled very ambitious and significant plans and expects those plans will be adopted and approved to proceed however the balance of the committee may have a different view. · 8000 hectares of the catchment is in Hastings District · Te Komiti plays a significant Statutory role	Cr Neil Kirton
2.	· James Palmer, Rick Barker and Mike Mohi met with representatives of Ruapania two weeks ago in Waikaremoana. · Representation situation not clearly mandated however it was a very positive meeting with a great will to work closely with the Regional Council on the issues.	Cr Rick Barker
3.	· Met with 100 year old who shared some of his lifetime observations, particularly his concerns around gravel in heavy rainfalls with stopbanks breaking. · He also suggested that bridges over rivers aren’t named and to be the same as the actual rivers – to be taken up with Council just in terms of the history and ownership.	Cr Debbie Hewitt
4.	· Porangahau-Harakeke catchment meeting about the HotSpots work. · Sadly not well attended by public and suggest that Comms team is involved to raise more awareness of future public meetings.	Cr Debbie Hewitt
5.	A video was played, about transitioning NZ to a Low-emissions economy –https://youtu.be/ja75QgXuZyk	Cr Tom Belford

Closure:

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 3.42pm on Wednesday, 5 September 2018.

Signed as a true and correct record.

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