Minutes of Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee

1. Welcome/Apologies/Notices

The Chair, Cr Hinewai Ormsby welcomed everyone and Dr Roger Maaka led the group in offering a karakia to open the meeting.

Resolution

EICC40/20 That the apologies for absence from Councillors Martin Williams and Charles Lambert and Apiata Tapine, and for lateness from Cr Craig Foss be accepted.

Foley/Barker

CARRIED

2. Conflict of Interest Declarations

There were no conflicts of interest declared.

3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee meeting held on 16 September 2020

EICC41/20

Resolution

Minutes of the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee meeting held on Wednesday, 16 September 2020, 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 and Integrated Catchments Committee Meetings

The item was taken as read.

EICC42/20

Resolution

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

Barker/Kirton

CARRIED

Call for Minor Items Not on the Agenda

Recommendations

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee accepts the following “Minor Items Not on the Agenda” for discussion as Item 16

Topic	Raised by
Live stock exports	Cr Neil Kirton
Reporting	Cr Rick Barker
Water Security Group	Cr Rex Graham

Tūtira Regional Park and Tangoio Soil Conservation Reserve Forest Harvest Update

Chris Dolley introduced Ben Douglas, Forest Management Advisor, who presented an update on forestry activities in the Tangoio Soil Conservation Reserve and Tūtira Regional Park, covering:

· Tangoio Soil Conservation Reserve (TSCR) is Crown land managed by HBRC, and the proceeds from commercial forestry are held in a Reserve Fund

· Strategic objectives for Tūtira Regional Park include implementing land use practices that minimise the loss of soils from the land, controlling animal and plant pests to allow biodiversity to flourish and manage culturally significant sites appropriately and according to objectives agreed with tangata whenua

· Consultation is under way with tangata whenua and the Tūtira Community on a replanting plan which will be submitted to Council for approval in February 2021

· 90ha of the TSCR forest will be harvested over 2020-2027 with a crew scheduled to start in November 2020

· Approximately 45ha of the highest risk land will be regenerated to permanent native retirement with the remaining replanted with radiata pine

· HBRC has a strong relationship with Maungaharuru Tangitū hapu

· Need to maintain 48% productivity in commercial use of the forest to cover ongoing management costs

· A bridge over Kahikanui Stream will be constructed this summer to provide access for the Tūtira harvest

· A Communications Plan has been developed, relating to the harvest and logging in the area.

EICC43/20

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Tūtira Regional Park and Tangoio Soil Conservation Reserve Forest Harvest Update” staff report and requests that staff bring the replanting plans to the 3 February 2021 Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee meeting.

Barker/Graham

CARRIED

Hawke’s Bay Marine & Coast Group (HBMaC) and Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge Collaboration

Anna Madarasz-Smith and Becky Shanahan gave a presentation on organisational activities associated with HBRC’s collaboration with the Hawke’s Bay Marine & Coast Group (HBMaC) and the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge (SSNSC), their vision, mission and key objectives in implementing principles of ecosystem based management. Discussions covered:

· The project looks at what is required to enable ecosystem based management of the coastal marine area, in the real world

· HBMaC vision “to achieve a healthy and functioning marine ecosystem in HB that supports an abundant and sustainable fishery”

· SSNSC objective “to enhance utilisation of our marine resources within environmental and biological constraints” and vision is “NZ has healthy marine ecosystems providing value for every New Zealander”

· Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) is a holistic and inclusive way to manage marine environments and the competing uses for, demands on, and ways New Zealanders value them, in order to address cumulative impacts

· Many pieces of legislation operate in coastal space relatively independently if each other and not aligned to regional objectives

Cr Craig Foss arrived at 9.28am

· HBRC provides in-kind support to the challenge team (~0.3FTE)

· Stage 1 developed a systems map that identified the "goal-gap" between current and desired state and focused on the two main stressors of land-derived sediments entering the marine environment and seafloor disturbance from fisheries activities (i.e. trawling)

· Stage 2 will use scenario modelling to investigate the impacts of management tools, and combinations of tools, on reducing the gaps between the current and desired state using to feed into policy development for Kotahi

· Key outcome is to have policy developed based on the objective to be achieved.

EICC44/20

Resolutions

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee:

1. receives and notes the “Hawke’s Bay Marine & Coast Group and Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge Collaboration” staff report

2. requests that staff report to the next Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee meeting its long term marine and coastal science programme and the model to enable implementation of Ecosystem Based Management.

Kirton/Graham

CARRIED

Marine Biosecurity Programme Update

Alice McNatty provided an overview of the marine biosecurity programme, highlighting:

· HB not known to have any of the worst marine pests

· First dive survey to investigate presence of marine pests was undertaken in 2013

· Clean hull rule requires the operator of a vessel entering the waters of HB to ensure the hull or any structure has no more than a slime layer or goose barnacles

· Dive inspections are carried out on high risk vessels as assessed upon receipt of Incoming Vessel Form, and Vessels not compliant with the clean hull rule are directed to be hauled out to have the hull cleaned or to leave HB waters

· Will continue to work with Top of the North Marine Biosecurity Partnership and advocate for a national pathway management plan and vessel register

EICC45/20

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Marine Biosecurity Programme Update” staff report.

Barker/van Beek

CARRIED

Biosecurity Operational Plan and Annual Report

Iain Maxwell introduced the item, which is intended to raise awareness of what the Biosecurity team does. Mark Mitchell outlined the team’s activities, with discussions covering:

· Pest Plant team engaged with 2334 property owners to undertake weed control

· Established new Marine Biosecurity work programme

· Possum control was monitored across 80,000 ha

· 1267 feral goats eliminated

· Almost all programme objectives were achieved; some could not be achieved due to Covid-19 lockdown

· Areas of concern include 18% of properties failed possum monitor, ongoing problems with rabbits and the spread of chillean needle grass

· S17a report presented to Council in September highlighted several areas which require changes to the way activities are carried out, and the team is currently working through change proposals

· Suggest that staff make video presentations about pests such as chillean needle grass and predators such as hedgehogs, covering what they look like and how to control and/or exterminate them available on the Pest Hub

· Trap numbers are surfaced quarterly on Trap.NZ website

· Request for a map showing pest ‘hotspots’ and a more transparent way to track pest control numbers

· Increasing trend of landowners accessing subsidies for plant pest control

· increased bird numbers most publicly visible benefit of predator control, particularly urban.

EICC46/20

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Biosecurity Operational Plan and Annual Report” staff reports.

Graham/Barker

CARRIED

10.

Heretaunga Plains Flood Control Scheme Review Update

Craig Goodier and David Keracher presented an update on the Level of Service review of the Heretaunga Plains Flood Control Scheme. Discussions covered:

· Infrastructure resilience funding (IRG) will bring this work forward from 10 year delivery to 3 year delivery timeframe

· Tutaekuri River flood frequency modelling has been independently reviewed by NIWA and showed that current stopbank heights provide adequate protection for 1:500 year event

· Consequences of failure mapping undertaken for all rivers

· IRG funding confirmed and project manager engaged, but more resource required for delivery of the whole project within timeframes

· Forward work programme includes engaging a consultant on the feasibility engineering options and prioritisation and developing a flood risk register with items prioritised based on the risk, then the consequence

· There is no national ‘standard stopbank width’

· Staff are taking a more strategic approach to planting stopbanks

Cr Neil Kirton left the meeting at 11.08am

· Lots of work on climate change averages, but not on subsequent increases in flood flows (vary between 5% and 39%) so NIWA is scheduled to investigate the impacts of climate change on flood response in detail over the next 5 years

· Project encompasses ecological and environmental aspects as well as engineering and structural protection

Cr Neil Kirton re-joined the meeting at 11.12am

EICC47/20

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Heretaunga Plains Flood Control Scheme Review Update” staff report.

Barker/Graham

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 11.14am and reconvened at 11.27am.

11.

Crown Funded Flood Resilience Projects Update

Chris Dolley introduced the item, which was taken as read, noting that a fair amount of engineering front end work has been done on the two smaller projects and final contract is due to be signed on Friday.

EICC48/20

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Crown Funded Flood Resilience Projects Update” staff report.

Barker/Foley

CARRIED

12.

Presentation - Introduction to the Landcare Research Wetland Restoration Programme

Nathan Burkepile provided an overview of NZ Landcare Trust including the non-profit organisation’s mission to actively participate in the restoration, enhancement and protection of the environment. Discussions covered:

· work with landowners and other organisations to help improve biodiversity, particularly through the creation of wetlands, increase community skills and knowledge, and encourage participatory research so that farmers directly benefit from scientific knowledge

· consenting process costs for wetlands can be a deterrent for landowners

· dealing with land management issues and encouraging sustainable land management on a catchment-wide scale.

EICC49/20

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Introduction to the Landcare Research Wetland Restoration Programme” presentation from Nathan Burkepile.

Barker/Kirton

CARRIED

13.

Regional Drought Relief Fund

Iain Maxwell introduced the item, which was taken as read, with questions and discussions raised:

· Iain Maxwell will engage with the Disaster Relief Fund Trustees, as ultimate decision makers, to seek agreement to utilise the residual funds to develop a Resilience Strategy

· The Trust does not have the capacity or capability to develop the strategy themselves, so it will be developed in partnership with the primary sector, MPI, councils and the industry and will be facilitated by HBRC

· Following development, a focused implementation plan will assist to operationalise the Strategy on farm.

EICC50/20

Resolution

The Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Regional Drought Relief Fund” staff report and agrees with HBRC’s residual funding contribution being used for development of a Drought Resilience Strategy.

Barker/Foley

Against Kirton

CARRIED

14.

Implications of Climate Change on the Hawke’s Bay Region

Dr Kathleen Kozyniak introduced the item and the “Climate change projections and impacts for Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay” NIWA report, with discussions covering:

· Most comprehensive assessment of potential climate change risks undertaken to date

· Our Atmosphere and Climate 2020 report contains the most up to date information

· The report can be used to support HBRC’s climate action campaign currently underway, and further inform policies and actions to achieve Strategic Plan goals.

EICC51/20

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Implications of Climate Change on the Hawke’s Bay Region” staff report.

Kirton/van Beek

CARRIED

15.

Climate Change Survey Results

Rebecca Ashcroft-Cullen introduced the item and provided the key results from the Council-led survey about perceptions of climate change. Discussions highlighted:

· Public generally support the climate change direction Council is taking, specifically around water storage and tree planting projects and gaps for Council to take the lead in

· 62% of residents are concerned about the impact of climate change on the environment, with concern for future generations being a driving force for taking part in environmental actions

· Results provide a strong case for further Council efforts to increase public understanding of the severity and urgency of climate change issues

· In regard to the 80% of gross greenhouse emissions – it is suggested that “nett” greenhouse emission be noted to align with Council’s Carbon neutral programme.

EICC52/20

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Climate Change Survey Results” staff report.

Kirton/van Beek

CARRIED

16.

Discussion of Minor Matters Not on the Agenda

Topic	Raised by
Live stock exports · Seeking assistance from staff to manage the torrent of unsolicited SAFE NZ emails to all councillors	Cr Neil Kirton
Reporting · Requesting, again, a “dashboard” report to track how Council is giving effect to Climate Change mitigations, e.g. what decisions have been made, what’s been done and how we made a difference – for each EICC meeting	Cr Rick Barker
Water security group: · Dr Roger Maaka and Cr Rex Graham are part of a small group called “Wai whaka ata alliance” which meets every fortnight to discuss water security issues for Central Hawke’s Bay and Heretaunga · Tom Skerman has attended most of the recent meetings and discussions are making great progress.	Cr Rex Graham

Dr Roger Maaka offered a karakia to close the meeting.

Closure:

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 1.06pm on Wednesday, 4 November 2020.

Signed as a true and correct record.

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