Minutes of Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee

1. Welcome/Karakia /Apologies/Notices

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

Resolution

EICC100/22 That the apology for absence from Cr Jerf van Beek be accepted.

Barker/Williams

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 10 November 2021

EICC101/22

Resolution

Minutes of the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee meeting held on Wednesday, 10 November 2021, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record.

Kirton/Foley

CARRIED

Follow-ups from previous Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee meetings

Iain Maxwell introduced the item noting that a field trip to visit Tukipo Wetland will be organised. It was suggested that Māori Committee and Regional Planning Committee tangata whenua members be invited as well.

EICC102/22

Resolution

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

Ormsby/Barker

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 12:

Topic	Raised by
Meeting venues for future committee meetings	Cr Rick Barker
Staff operational capacity during Covid-19	Cr Neil Kirton

Developing ways of working with rural women

The Chair introduced Dr Edgar Burns who presented his research on the environmental contributions and leadership of women. Discussions traversed:

· Ways to engage with rural women in our region and how it can increase the effectiveness of and support improved on-farm environmental practices and climate change readiness

· Suggest that council considers being more systematic in establishing ways that women can be engaged with

· There is potential crossover between women’s perceptions and priorities to influence, lead, and contribute on Hawke’s Bay farms

· Women bring competencies, skills and abilities to farming like education, business and financial knowledge, emotional support, and flexibility

· Rural women bring resilience, emotional strength and support, and their own interests and views

· One way to strengthen HBRC’s efforts for rural environment improvement is to develop greater and more varied connections with regional rural women through opportunities, learning and support

· Coupling social change in environmental stewardship with relatively recent changes in the roles, education and opportunities for women today is worth pursuing

· It was suggested that a section be added to Dr Burns’ next report about how this work translates into HBRC’s work programmes as well as opportunities for HBRC to affect real change as well as the aims, goals, vision and outcomes this research is trying to achieve

· The Comms Team promotes the good work HBRC is doing.

EICC103/22

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Developing Ways of Working with Rural Women” report by Dr Edgar Burns.

Williams/Kirton

CARRIED

Climate Action Ambassador and Work Programme

Desiree Cull introduced Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau, newly appointed Climate Action Ambassador, who delivered a presentation outlining the work plan her role. Discussions traversed:

· In New Zealand we can expect to face cascading, compounding and aggregate impacts on cities, settlements, infrastructure, supply chains and service due to wildfires, floods, droughts, heatwaves, storms and sea level rise

· The IPCC WGII report identified ways to move from incremental adaptation to transformative adaption, conserve and restore ecosystems, effective governance, adaptative finance and nature-based solutions to enable conditions for climate resilient-development

· Actions to adapt to climate change require changes to underlying values, world-views, social structures, political and economic systems and power relationships and to look for long term solutions

· Successful adaptation to climate change is not only essential for economic resilience of our region, but also for human wellbeing

· Role of the Climate Action Ambassador is to coordinate the development of a regional collective action plan with documented milestones

· Three workstreams include (1) Collating and communications what we already know and what we already do (2) gaining more comprehensive information about regional risk and emissions, including our own HBRC footprint and (3) community engagement, partnerships and collaboration

· The key milestone in the near term is to develop a Regional Climate Action Plan by July 2023 with broad community involvement, support and engagement, which will feed into the 2024-2034 long term plans of the region’s councils

· Further goals are for HBRC to achieve carbon neutral by 2025 and the Region by 2050

· The Climate Action Ambassador is working with the Transport Manager and Waka Kotahi on impactful opportunities and innovative ways and adaptable solutions to change behaviours relating to the use of public transport

· Need for more consistent and cohesive approach to staff training on climate change – looking at opportunities to offer tailored training to increase knowledge and awareness on climate change issues

· One potential trainer offers online training on how to communicate

· Catalising collective action through champions

· The council is convinced that it will achieve its goal to be carbon zero by 2025

· The Climate Action Ambassador will deliver regular updates to this committee.

EICC104/22

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Climate Action Work Programme” staff report and provides feedback on the proposed work programme.

Williams/Kirton

CARRIED

Update on IRG Flood Control Resilience Funded Projects

Chris Dolley introduced Martina Groves , who highlighted:

· This $30m investment builds the resilience of existing infrastructure to the effects of climate change.

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

· Physical works to strengthen the Taradale stop bank have commenced and are targeted for completion in May 2022

· Looking at Moteo upgrade prior to winter 2022

· HBRC has committed to deliver 8 stop bank strengthening projects over the three-year period

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

· One contractor has started gravel extraction and a second is expected to start in early March

· Next tender round will go to market in March 2022.

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

· Work has been completed and a closedown report be prepared for IRG. No further reporting will be done on this project.

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

· Engineering and construction work is substantially completed

· Earthworks and slope stabilisation are underway with planting and grassing to be completed in April, working with tāngata whenua.

Social Procurement

· Schedule 3 of the funding agreement details Social Procurement Outcomes to meet contractual obligations. HBRC has proposed initiatives such as collaborating with Waiohiki Marae’s Kaitiaki Rangers and investment in the nursery and upskilling of marae staff and whanau

· Upskilling and training contractors/consultants includes tender training workshops

Progressive procurement toolkit

· Recently developed a progressive procurement toolkit in collaboration with Height Project Management

· Regional initiative which has been shared with river managers across the sector

· HBRC has been taking a leadership role with other regions in assisting with social procurement outcomes, however this activity is currently on hold as HBRC recruits a Regional Manager Assets.

EICC105/22

Resolution

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

Barker/Foley

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 11.05am and reconvened at 11.13am.

Ecosystem Prioritisation Programme update

Iain Maxwell introduced Mark Mitchell who presented on Ecosystem Prioritisation and associated Jobs for Nature projects. Discussions traversed:

· The Ecosystem Prioritisation Programme came into effect in 2018 to protect high biodiversity value remnants and a budget of around $300k this financial year (FY)

· Success hinges on close working relationships with key stakeholders and land occupiers

· Projects include Birch Hill, Motumokai Bush, Puahanui Bush, Gillies Bush and Pakuratahi Bush

· Birch Hill will be one of the largest protected black beech remnants on private land in Hawke’s Bay

· Puahanui Bush is considered the largest (130ha remnant) intact diverse lowland forest left in Hawke’s Bay

· Gillies Bush is one of the last forest remnants left on the seaward face of the Maraetotara plateau

· The 80ha Pakuratahi bush will be entirely retired and has been a catalyst for other opportunities such as the Kakabeak recovery programme, an important eco-sourcing site and development of a community nursery

· Main challenges are feral goats and deer; pest plants such as old man’s beard, Japanese honeysuckle, banana passionfruit; possums and constant increasing/escalating costs

· Aim to complete all these projects before the end of this year

· It was proposed that the Ahuriri Regional Park be included in the priority areas

· A request was made for more information on deer control and management. DoC is working on a National Strategy for Deer control and it will require multi-agency delivery.

Cr Barker left the meeting at 11.28am

EICC106/22

Resolution

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

Williams/Foley

CARRIED

10.

Predator Free Hawke's Bay Close Out Report

Iain Maxwell introduced Natalie de Burgh, Biodiversity Officer, who provided a comprehensive summary of activities undertaken over the last decade as part of the Predator Free Hawke’s Bay project. Discussions traversed:

Cr Barker re-joined the meeting at 11.35am.

· Council has invested considerably in Predator Free Hawke’s Bay (PFHB) over the last decade and the investment is due to conclude and the end of this financial year

· The Predator Free Hawke’s Bay Close out Report provided a summary of activities and key conclusions

· The aim was to capture the learnings in a way useful to other predator free projects and determine the best pathway forward for a predator free region

· Next steps include staff working alongside James Buwalda to prepare a companion technical report outlining the benefits from the investment and key lessons to be considered for future Predator Free investment

Apiata Tapine left the meeting at 11.43am and returned at 11.45am

EICC107/22

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Predator Free Hawke’s Bay Close Out Report and request that staff report back with a proposal to provide better visibility of the Predator Free Hawke’s Bay Close Out Report to the public.

Kirton/Barker

CARRIED

11.

Update on the PCA Partial RPMP Review Process

Iain Maxwell introduced Lauren Simmonds who gave a presentation on the Partial Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) review process. Discussions noted:

· The original date to conclude the review process was set as 30 June 2022 to operationalise the change 1 July

· The timeframe for completion is now extended to 30 October 2022 to allow staff to adequately meet the requirements set out in the Biosecurity Act, with implementation to occur in 2024-2025

· Council is pursuing the Enhanced PCA monitoring from 1 July and this has been contracted to commence soon

· A first draft proposal for consultation has been completed and provided to the Biosecurity Working Party (BWP)

· The communications and engagement strategy has been established, and external stakeholders engaged with the proposed changes (MPI, Federated Farmers etc)

· An independent expert (John Simmons) has been appointed to the BWP to provide technical expert advice

· The discussion and decision on funding and funding implications from a rates perspective will be worked through the Revenue and Financing Policy review, which will begin in April 2022

· Public consultation phase will run in June 2022 with final approval by Council at the 28 September meeting

· The next BWP meeting will review the proposal to have the document ready for the 11 May EICC meeting.

EICC108/22

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the “Update on the PCA Partial RPMP Review Process” staff report.

Barker/Foley

CARRIED

12.

Discussion of Minor Items not on the Agenda

Topic

Raised by

Meeting venues for future EICC committee meetings. It was proposed that committee meetings be held in other locations such as CHB and Wairoa to foster better community engagement and discussions

Deer. Concerns about the deer population, control and management. Request for an update on the current state of deer management and control in Hawke’s Bay to getter a better view of the problems/issues and measures are being undertaken.

Cr Rick Barker

Staff operational capacity during Covid-19. Seeking clarity about what impacts Covid-19 is having on staff delivering Council’s projects and whether or not council needs to make adjustments to meetings, including the timing of meetings.

Cr Neil Kirton

Councillor Foley led the group in a karakia to close the meeting.

Closure:

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 12.21pm on Wednesday, 9 March 2022.

Signed as a true and correct record.

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