Minutes of Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee

1. Welcome/Karakia /Apologies/Notices

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and Will Foley opened with a karakia.

Resolution

EICC88/21 That the apologies for lateness from Councillors Jerf van Beek and Rick Barker be accepted.

Foss/Taylor

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 8 September 2021

EICC89/21

Resolution

Minutes of the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee meeting held on Wednesday, 8 September 2021, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record.

Ormsby/Foss

CARRIED

Follow-ups from Previous Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee Meetings

The item was taken as read.

EICC90/21

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Follow-ups from Previous Meetings”.

Ormsby/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 15.

Topic	Raised by
Forestry field day	Cr Will Foley

Future Farming Trust 2020-21 Annual Report

Tom Belford, Phil Schofield, David France and Greg Hart from the Future Farming Trust Board presented the committee with their 2020-21 Annual report. Discussions traversed:

Cr Rick Barker arrived at 9.11am

· A recent restructure of the Board of Trustees was undertaken and Liz Krawczyk appointed as Chair

· Recently employed a project manager on a part-time contract basis working on Crown Funding applications, planning events and promotional and fund raising activities

· Aim to promote those farming activities and building evidence of the benefits available for farmers and their communities if they adopt farm practises that improve soil function and environmental health in their landscapes

· Government is making funding available for research that explores new farming systems that improve farm environmental outcomes especially greenhouse gas reductions

· Partnered with Mangaone Catchment group to seek funding from MPI for large scale soil and water quality research

Cr Jerf van Beek arrived at 9.15am

· Next focus closing MPI funding for two major project proposals

· Plan to conduct farmer workshops to demonstrate alternative farming practices and sponsor broader public education events on Hawke’s Bay’s farming challenges

· A bi-monthly newsletter will be distributed to reach HB farmers and growers and the wider agribusiness community

· Continue to explore ways to involve Māori landowners.

EICC91/21

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the HB Future Farming Trust 2020-21 Annual Report and presentation.

van Beek/Williams

CARRIED

Biodiversity - Achieving Our Biodiversity Outcomes

Iain Maxwell introduced the item highlighting the challenges Council faces in the related biodiversity programmes and how these programmes are interrelated and work together for better biodiversity outcomes. Mark Mitchell’s presentation covered:

· Biodiversity is a global crisis and more needs to be done to accelerate work in this area

· Hawke’s Bay has suffered significant vegetation loss and all of our remaining lowland forest eco systems are either listed as chronically or acutely threatened

· Biodiversity loss is driven by pressures such as invasive species, land and sea use, direct exploitation of species, climate change and pollution

· Council has a range of programmes to help protect and enhance biodiversity, including Ecosystem Prioritisation, Possum Control, Predator Free, Erosion Control Scheme, Open Spaces and a range of Asset Management programmes that seek to protect and increase the biodiversity values of flood protection assets

· The National Policy Statement (NPS) for indigenous biodiversity will assist TLAs to identify, map and manage adverse effects on Significant Natural Areas (SNAs), support restoration and enhancement of SNAs and require implementation of an HBRC Biodiversity monitoring programme

· Next steps include development of an internal biodiversity operational strategy and a nationally consistent Tier 2 Biodiversity outcome monitoring programme, to prepare for implementation of the NPS-IB and develop proposals for the 2024-34 LTP for consideration

· Need to engage with community to assist with biodiversity programmes to achieve the desired outcomes.

EICC92/21

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Biodiversity - Achieving Our Biodiversity Outcomes” staff report.

Williams/van Beek

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 11.00am and reconvened at 11.10am.

Erosion Control - The Big Picture for Our Region

Iain Maxwell introduced the item noting that this is a very complex and expensive programme which brings together a broad and comprehensive set of activities across council which focus on supporting erosion management, and highlighting:

· Regulatory and non-regulatory programmes of work focus on reducing erosion and the impacts of sedimentation in waterways

· Non-regulatory programmes enhance and enable relationship building with tāngata whenua, landowners and other stakeholders.

Dean Evans’ presentation highlighted:

· Erosion control integral to the key strategic goal “By 2050, all highly erodible land is under tree cover” and follows an integrated approach with a broad set of activities

· Science allows for more effective and efficient decision making to ensure the ratepayer’s money is spent efficiently

· Environmental monitoring monitors and tracks progress over time

· Protection and Enhancement Programme (PEP) supports communities and stakeholders to focus on high value catchments

· Erosion focussed programmes need to be adaptable to change i.e Climate, pests, capacity and capability and regulatory changes

· Next steps include consideration of targeted erosion control programmes/tools once funding for the ECS and RTRP has ended, understanding the impacts and opportunities of Farm Planning regulations on the ability to deliver effective and timely erosion control and source external funding to support regional erosion control and ensure maximum value is added for landowners and the region’s ratepayers.

EICC93/21

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Erosion Control - The Big Picture for Our Region” staff report.

Kirton/van Beek

CARRIED

Tukipo Wetland

Thomas Petrie presented the successful delivery of the 1.6ha wetland in Tukipo, highlighting:

· Collaboration between HBRC, the White family, Fonterra, NiWA and Tukipo Catchment Care Group; built on the White family farm

· The 1.6ha wetland is 0.9% of the 180ha catchment and will remove 20-30% of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen from the catchment. DIN removal achieved by biological conversion (microbial denitrification) rather than plant uptake.

· Will provide significant biodiversity outcomes as a secondary benefit

· Next steps include beginning to monitor the wetland in late summer once the plants have established and investigating further Fonterra funding for projects targeting water quality improvement in the Tukituki catchment

· Fonterra agreed to fund a scoping exercise for the entire Ruataniwha Plains, to identify the best locations for a strategic network of constructed wetlands of various sizes on both private and HBRC owned land for Nitrogen stripping.

· A field trip to visit the Tukipo wetland and a recent photo of the project were requested.

EICC94/21

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Tukipo Wetland” staff report.

Foley/Williams

CARRIED

10.

Update on IRG Flood Control Resilience Funded Projects

Chris Dolley introduced the item, which was taken as read. David Keracher’s presentation highlighted:

Project 1 Heretaunga Plains Flood Control Scheme (HPFCS) Levels of Service - $20m

· introducing a chartership agreement between contractors and consultants to upskill one another and weaving mental health and wellness through contracts

· Physical works at Taradale due to commence early November

· Moteo and East Clive archaeology assessments completed

· Request for Tender will be sought for significant native planting programme to support environmental outcomes at Moteo, Ngatarawa, Roy’s Hill and East Clive berms

· As part of Social Procurement Outcomes, HBRC is looking to deliver training on tender and procurement processes to those contractors looking to upskill their competencies as well as looking to connect with HBRC’s key contributors to upskill contractors with literacy, numeracy and leadership training through third party training and MSD

· HBRC changing the way they currently procure to accommodate Tier 3 contractors.

Project 2 - Upper Tukituki Gravel Extraction Flood Control Scheme - $8 million

· 24 submissions received in response to call for Registrations of Interest (ROI) and anticipated that contracts for Tranche 1 will be awarded early December 2021 for a total volume of 120,300m³ gravel available.

Project 3 - Upper Tukituki Flood Control Scheme SH50/Waipawa Erosion - $1 million

· project was completed at a total value of $1.25 million

· Widely praised by ecologists for providing a more beneficial environment for endangered bird species.

Project 4 - Wairoa River, River Parade Erosion - $1 million

· cultural assessment completed

· looking to incorporate some artistic signing, planting and access to whitebait stand

· HBRC has been engaging with Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust, Wairoa Reserves Board – Matangirau (WRB) and Wairoa District Council to identify the aspirations and requirements of this project on the cultural values to the region.

EICC95/21

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Update on IRG Flood Control Resilience Funded Projects”.

Ormsby/Barker

CARRIED

13.

Youth Environment Council Update

Rebecca Ashcroft and Sally Chandler introduced members of the Youth Environment Council who provided an overview of their activities during the year, highlighting:

· perspectives on working with youth around climate change and the recent climate camp led by HBRC

· Initiatives and programmes at school i.e reducing waste, setting up a composting system, installing solar panels, community gardening, paper recycling and littering

· Encourage getting involved in community-led programmes such as community planting days

· Lack of engagement between Council and High School students

· Council should encourage more programmes and actions and overall youth involvement

· Proposed that councillors visit schools to form relationships as a starting point – liaise with Sally Chandler to arrange

· Youth are frustrated and anxious about the burdens the previous generations have left them to fix

· Often don’t feel big enough to fix problems and issues alone and need guidance from Council

EICC96/21

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Youth Environment Council Update” staff report.

Taylor/Williams

CARRIED

11.

Works Group 2020-21 Performance Update

Hamish Fraser introduced and presented the item, highlighting:

· Many challenges faced during Covid-19 lockdowns with strict protocols in place to ensure a solid business continuity programme (BCP)

· Majority of the Works Group is performed for Council (80%) and the rest (20%) for external clients

· Assisted during the Napier Floods in November 2020

· Had $6.98M turnover with 21% ($1.44M) External client works, 54% ($3.80M) committed Council work and 25% ($1.74M) of un-committed Council projects

· The Works Group is committed to reducing environmental impacts by following strict compliance with the Environmental Coded of Practice, that adhere to ecological management and enhancement plans

· Working hard to reduce carbon footprint by improving efficiencies, e.g, using 4 emission standards tractors and battery powered tools

· Key challenges include excavation of waterways, fish recovery

· Proposed that the Works Group annual report is presented to the Corporate and Strategic Committee in future.

EICC97/21

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the Works Group 2020-21 Performance Update and presentation.

Barker/van Beek

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 1.25pm and reconvened at 1.48pm

12.

Chilean Needle Grass Control Programme Review Update

Campbell Leckie introduced Kevin Collins, who undertook the effectiveness and efficiency s17a review of biosecurity programmes which was reported to Council in August 2020. Discussions covered:

· The current Chillean Needle Grass (CNG) programme is under resourced with significant pressure on staff workloads

· A more complete business case analysis is needed to examine whether the programme could be delivered more effectively in other ways, including different control methods and the use of contractors rather than landowner responsibility

· 2021 key findings included that the CNG programme is very unlikely to be “stopping the spread”, that current control tools have limited effectiveness and that more coordination and collective action would be useful

· Given all the questions raised during this item, the Committee is comfortable in their position that CNG is being managed within available resources

· Staff were advised develop a preferred approach to build into the next Long Term Plan.

EICC98/21

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Chilean Needle Grass Control Programme Review Update” staff report.

Williams/Kirton

CARRIED

14.

Social Ecology Technical Report from Edgar Burns, Waikato University Professorial Chair

Iain Maxwell introduced Dr Edgar Burns, Associate Professor in Integrated Catchment Management noting that Dr Burn’s report is not a Council related report.

· This item considers communication and engagement as central to achieving HBRC strategies and mandated tasks for water, land and communities

· Technical paper on communications closely relates to the Integrated Catchment (ICM) work

· Managing environmental issues is more than a biophysical challenge; it is a social challenge as well

· Social processes that are operating as they relate to the work acknowledges that Council is typically not “managing the environment” but working to understand and then manage the impacts of human activities in our environment

· Council staff are not trained in environmental sociology practices or theory

· Principles of good communication apply to every aspect of HBRC work

· HBRC can anticipate tipping points in public willingness and action (The Future is here)

· The three elements of communication—experience, examples, future is here—can be applied to enhance effectiveness

· A clear concept is a practical communication tool

· Use public discourse to create motivation for action

· Propose to take this report and “operationalise” it to change our communications behaviour throughout the organisation

· Council’s Executive Team has embarked on re-thinking the organisation’s communications and engagement programmes leading into the Kotahi challenge

· A recent Strategy day was part of the “reframing” how we engage with our community and stakeholders with the intention to look at all the interactions we have.

EICC99/21

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “What Forms of Communication Work for HBRC, Technical Report from Dr Edgar Burns, Waikato University Associate Professorial Chair”.

Barker/Ormsby

CARRIED

15.

Discussion of Minor Items not on the Agenda

Topic	Raised by
Another Farm Forestry field day at Mark Warren’s farm, Pan Pac Hawke's Bay Farm Forester of the Year, has been organised for 18 November. Contact Will if you’d like to attend.	Cr Will Foley

Closure:

There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 3.00pm on Wednesday, 10 November 2021.

Signed as a true and correct record.

DATE: ................................................ CHAIR: ...............................................