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James Palmer introduced the item,
noting the significant amount of staff activity that in some cases continued
through the holiday period. Queries and discussions covered:
· James Palmer advised that
National CDEM advisory messages to regions during the recent tsunami and
cyclone events were timely.
· Non-compliance issues
with Farm Environment Management Plan (FEMP) deadlines due to a lack of
accredited providers as an unintended consequence of the way the Plan
provision was written, e.g. 1000 FEMPs due on same day. It was noted that
these FEMPs are ‘renewals’ so there are existing FEMPs in place
while awaiting updated versions.
· The application period
for the recruitment of the Karamu and Ahuriri Catchment Coordinator roles has
been extended.
· Council presence at the
East Coast Farmers Expo will be focused on
the work that the Catchment Advisors do and how they can work with landowners.
· Nurseries need lead-in
time to scale up seedling production/supply and so Right Tree Right Place
project providing as much lead time as possible when signing up landowners.
· There will be a slight
delay for the Managed Aquifer Recharge trial while an alternative site is
selected.
· The TANK plan change
decisions are now expected in May. 200+ consent renewals will remain on hold
and exercising their current consents while awaiting the Decisions. Delayed
decisions should not significantly affect water security projects. The TANK
plan change has cost significantly more and taken much longer than Council
had planned for or anticipated. The RMA requires that decisions are issued
within six months of the completion of the Hearings.
· Solutions to fencing
challenges for the Erosion Control Scheme and Ecosystem Prioritisation are
being investigated, including with Council’s Works Group. Landowners
make the decisions about who supplies and installs fencing.
· Omarunui Landfill Expansion
resource consent decisions were released on 7 December and there have been no
appeals lodged.
· Priority target areas for
the Right Tree Right Place project are in the Wairoa area, where discussions
with landowners are advanced, whereas discussions with Central Hawke’s
Bay landowners – to trial the tool geographically spread across the
region – are in the early stages seeking potential pilot sites.
· Wairoa Rivermouth opening
was planned for February but brought forward in response to the forecast
Cyclone Cody. Sea swells closed the opening and staff are planning to carry
out the more permanent opening in February as previously planned.
· Query as to iwi/hapū
input to FEMPs particularly in relation to Te Mana o Te Wai
· Request for information
in relation to an assessment of potential impacts of facilities and the
installation of a toilet at the Waitangi Regional Park. It was noted that there
is no freedom camping allowed at Waitangi Regional Park, enforced by HBRC
rangers, NCC and HDC staff and the police.
· Tangata whenua members of
the Regional Planning and Māori committees met on 18 January and there
was widespread agreement around the purpose and what the Kotahi Plan intends
to achieve however expressed concern about mana whenua, iwi, hapū and
Taiwhenua resourced adequately to engage effectively in the plan change
development processes.
· In relation to Te Karamu
catchment plan, staff encouraged to go back to Heretaunga Runanga and
previous discussions.
· Suggestion made for
primary (strategic) project documents to be linked to enable councillors to
reference, including milestone reporting dates.
· Climate Action Ambassador
has been recruited and commences in February. The scope of work for that role
will be provided to the Environment & Integrated Catchments Committee.
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