Clifton
to Tangoio Coastal Hazards Strategy Joint Committee
Friday 24 September 2021
Subject: Communication and
Engagement Update
Reason for Report
1. This report gives a brief overview of communications and engagement
that has happened since the last Joint Committee meeting in June 2021.
2. It outlines a proposal for engaging with the wider community ahead
of formal consultation in early to mid-2022.
Executive Summary
3. Communications and engagement for the Strategy continues, with two
community workshops held, a follow up survey and one hui held under the mana
whenua engagement plan since the last Joint Committee.
4. Staff seek Joint Committee feedback on a proposed engagement
strategy for the wider community.
Discussion
5. Eight community workshops have now been held in the 2021 workshop
series, covering design, managed retreat, and signals, triggers, and
thresholds.
6. At the managed retreat workshop, Jonathan Clarke from Tonkin &
Taylor discussed his work looking at different aspects of how managed retreat
could work in practice in Hawke’s Bay, including potential costs, time
frames, planning, and more. This is the beginning of a wider conversation with
the community and councils. The report is now in the process of being finalised
for presentation to the Joint Committee.
7. In July we held the first of two workshops looking at developing
signals, triggers and thresholds for the adaptive pathways developed under the
Strategy. This workshop is the first example we can find of this work being
done in New Zealand.
8. The second workshop planned for August was disrupted by the recent
COVID-19 lockdown. We will reschedule this workshop once we are at Alert Level
1.
9. A newsletter update went out in early September featuring the
funding review, mana whenua engagement, community workshops, and the Joint
Committee tour of the northern part of the Strategy area.
10. The
Strategy continues to track towards a wider public consultation process in the
first half of 2022.
11. Ahead of
this more formal process, TAG have been engaging in a range of pre-consultation
planning and activities. The purpose of pre-consultation is to facilitate
information exchange, test ideas, and provide a lead-in to the formal
consultation process to support informed participation.
12. As part
of this pre-consultation, activities under the mana whenua engagement plan are
now in progress.
13. This plan
was presented to and supported by the Regional Planning Committee and Māori Committee in July and August.
14. The
project team held its first external hui under this plan with Te Taiwhenua o
Heretaunga at their Te Runanganui o Heretaunga hui, which had to be held by
Zoom given COVID-19 restrictions. It was still a great opportunity to connect
for a discussion about the Strategy and planned next steps.
15. Key
outcomes from this hui included specific feedback from Waitangi Marae,
Pukemokimoki Marae and Matahiwi Marae around their interest in further
information and discussion. The team are in the process of following up on
these requests.
16. Our next
round of hui have been impacted by COVID-19 Alert Level changes, but we are in
communications with marae, PSGEs and taiwhenua to reschedule when possible. We
hope to restart this process soon.
17. A second key component of pre-consultation is
engagement with the wider community.
18. This
engagement has been delayed by COVID-19 impacts but is planned to have an
on-the-ground focus, to make it relevant, easy to engage with, and high profile
for target audiences.
19. Engagement
is planned to occur in four parts:
19.1. Community
led: At our community workshop in July community members expressed an interest
in leading their own pre-consultation engagement with the community. The August
community workshop was to be used to help plan this in more detail, however
initial thinking is that engagement will take place through face-to-face
discussions, brief surveys, and through talking to their neighbours and close
community, incidental discussions along the beach, in public spaces, etc.
Community members will be supported with information and materials including
FAQs, survey questions, and handouts. It is a great opportunity to engage from
a neighbour-to-neighbour perspective, encouraging free and frank feedback.
19.2. Council-led:
Hastings District Council’s consultation shipping container (Figure 1)
has been made available for use. The container will provide information,
opportunities for feedback, and be a focal point for face-to-face engagement
with the community. Logistics are being worked through and subject to
appropriate COVID-19 protocols and adherence to alert level requirements, the
intention is to place the container at key locations through November and early
December 2021.
Figure
1:
Hastings District Council shipping container proposed to be re-purposed for
Strategy consultation
19.3. Digital
– To increase coverage and connect with different and broader audiences,
online engagement will be used as part of the package of engagement activity.
The updated website, social media, digital advertising, and an online feedback
form are the key components of this. Work is underway on these elements.
19.4. Walking
talks – a further concept being explored is to host ‘walking
talks’ over November and December to share information in the field.
Topics for these talks could include coastal ecology, coastal hazards, concept
designs for the pathways, historic information, etc. Content and speakers are
in the process of being identified however feedback on this concept is
welcomed.
20. There are
a range of key questions to explore through the pre-engagement process,
including risk tolerance, coastal change, funding of projects, and the role of
the Regional Council. The outcome of pre-consultation will support and inform
the formal consultation process in 2022.
21. The Joint
Committee will be updated on this engagement via email and at the November
Joint Committee meeting. Joint Committee members will also be informed of
opportunities to participate in events as details and timeframes are confirmed.
Next Steps
22. Key next
steps ahead of the November Joint Committee meeting include:
22.1. Holding
the final community workshop.
22.2. Continuing
to engage with mana whenua as part of the mana whenua engagement strategy.
22.3. Finalising
and launching wider community engagement activities
Decision Making
Process
23. Staff
have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to
this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the
decision-making provisions do not apply.
Recommendation
That the Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazards
Strategy Joint Committee receives and notes the “Communication and
Engagement Update” staff report.
Authored by:
|
Rebecca
Ashcroft-Cullen
Communications Advisor
|
Simon Bendall
Coastal Hazards Strategy Project Manager
|
Approved by:
|
Chris Dolley
Group Manager Asset Management
|
|
Attachment/s
There are no
attachments for this report.
