Minutes of Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee

1. Welcome/Karakia /Apologies

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting noting that it was the first meeting of the triennium of the EICC in CHB and discussed the fieldtrip from the previous day and cr Hokianga opened with a karakia.

Resolution

EICC120/24 That the apologies for absence from councillors Martin Williams and Charles Lambert be accepted.

van Beek/Roadley

CARRIED

2. Conflict of interest declarations

Councillor Foley declared a conflict of interest in relation to item 5. Dangerous dams, Earthquake-prone dams and Flood-prone dams policy review as a landowner directly impacted by the proposed Dangerous dams policy.

There were no further conflicts of interest declared.

Councillor Hinewai Ormsby declared an interest in item 7. HBRC Recovery Work Programme update as a resident of Waiohiki which is currently in category 2.

3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Cyclone Recovery Committee meeting held on 8 November 2023

EICC121/24

Minutes of the Cyclone Recovery Committee meeting held on Wednesday, 8 November 2023, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record.

Siers/Roadley

CARRIED

Public Forum

The Chair advised that guest presentations from Mayor Walker and Central Hawke’s Bay Chief Executive Doug Tate, as well as Dr Roger Maaka from Tamatea Taiwhenua would be followed by an open public forum.

Mayor Walker introduced herself and Doug Tate and thanked the committee for their work in response to the Cyclone and in Recovery, noting that this committee had vital responsibilities for recovery in terms of catchment management. Key issues of interest for Central Hawke’s Bay District include:

· The ongoing situation in Pōrangahau where 138 properties are in category 2a; a huge weight with the looming decisions on the future of the village. In terms of flood protection consultation the Pōrangahau community is struggling as an isolated community that had not considered flood protection before. A granular approach to engagement is needed and cooperation between councils will help to achieve that.

· The significance of data, with the NIWA report creating uncertainty for Waipawa and Pōrangahau more resilience data is essential.

· The difficulties highlighted in the response, with 632 properties flooded and inspected and 54 still yellow stickered.

· Transport links were severed during the Cyclone and key infrastructure such as a the railway bridge had been challenging to repair – burdening the community.

· The CHB District Council is looking to increase investment in stormwater infrastructure and the management of integrated catchments has a direct relationship with this work.

· A number of District Council assets were vulnerable during the cyclone or had been identified as vulnerable to flooding. Work to improve, move or protect these assets is subject to flood protection and integrated catchments decisions.

· Rates rises for CHB are necessary to deliver three waters and roading work and it is a challenging time for the community. The rises will be staggered but front loaded.

· Mayor Walker asked that the committee asks tough questions as they receive independent flood reviews and oversee flood protection infrastructure.

Discussion covered:

· The tension between increasing rates couples with increasing regulation and the tension that creates.

· The responsibility of local leaders to inspire hope in their constituents and the importance of projects like Land for Life and Priority Ecosystems.

· The importance of engagement with Ngāti Kere especially in regard to Council’s timeframes and expectations.

Dr Roger Maaka, supported by Councillor Thompson Hokianga, presented on tangata whenua issues in Tamatea, noting that tangata whenua are ratepayers and residents and impacted by the same issues raised by Mayor Walker. He went on to acknowledge Paora Sciascia’s passionate speech to the Māori Committee about the situation in Pōrangahau and the weight on that community of not having a whare nui as well as having lost homes during the cyclone.

· Dr Maaka observed that the Regional Council had undertaken extensive flood protection at Waipawa and that tangata whenua didn’t know about it until after it had already happened – warning that this did not bode well for relationships.

· The Taiwhenua and PSGE worked together to build resource and capability around resource consents and reports are now delivered to marae.

Dr Maaka’s Lake Whatumā presentation highlighted:

· The lake is a major ecological feature 10 minutes outside of Waipukurau

· Previously highly degraded while in the Department of Conservation estate but returned as part of the Treaty Settlement process.

· A Project Committee was set up and Dr Maaka is the Chair. The two main goals of the Committee are to restore the lake to its orignal state of wellbeing and connect people to the lake.

· The project works with lake users and surrounding land owners including the duck shooting fraternity to make sure their goals are respected and to facilitate the needs of those other groups.

· Working to build an environmental restoration education centre at the lake, and in partnership with Massey University to develop infrastrcture to provide for cleaner runoff into the lake.

· Engaging with HBRC around alligator weed at the lake, and happy with the work undertaken, however, concerned at the lack of community education and awareness building about the problem and hopes that the Council will do more given the threat to the environment and community.

Public forum was a 5 minute conversation around things related to agenda.

Dangerous dams, Earthquake-prone dams and Flood-prone dams policy review

Saul Gudsell and Katrina Brunton presented the item and discussion included:

· The policy change is required by legislation.

· Concern was raised that the benefit of the policy might be small compared to the cost to landowners.

· The onus to determine the level of risk is on the landowner, and Council must have the policy for the landowner to use to carry out that risk assessment.

· Clarification that MBIE is consulting separately on the regulations.

· Consultation has not yet started and will commence with tangata whenua engagement next week.

· Consents information will be used to identify impacted dams – and is a small group because the average stock drinking dam is not included.

· Clear communications around this policy are essential.

EICC122/24

Resolutions

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee:

1. Receives and considers the Dangerous dams, Earthquake-prone dams and Flood-prone dams policy review staff report.

2. Recommends that Hawke’s Bay Regional Council:

2.1. Agrees that the decision to be made is not significant under the criteria contained in Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy, and that Council can exercise its discretion and make this decision without consulting directly with the community or others having an interest in the decision.

2.2 Adopts the Policy on dangerous dams, earthquake-prone dams and flood-prone dams 2024 as proposed, for consultation from 28 March to 28 April.

Roadley/Ormsby

For: Siers, Roadley, Hokianga, Ormsby, Mackintosh, McIlroy, Harding

Against: Kirton, van Beek

Abstained: Foley

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 12.30pm and reconvened at 1pm

Resilient Rivers Programme update

Chris Dolley and James Feary presented the item, noting that the programme had received funding in November 2020 as part of a Covid-19 stimulus package and had taken a back seat over the past year due to the cyclone response. Questions and discussion highlighted:

· The Wairoa River scour protection work was completed prior to the cyclone and suffered relatively minor damage, especially compared to the one on the other side of the river which was a write-off. A repair project is being developed.

· An application is underway for Kanoa funding for planting and a jetty on the Wairoa River and coordination efforts will ensure that works don’t conflict with other flood protection and recovery work.

· The costs of getting an independent engineers to review all stopbanks would be immense but experienced engineers work for the Council and provide that service.

· The controlled area notice for Chilean Needle grass expires at the end of March 2024.

· The scheme reviews underway will take the NIWA report into account.

· Design work is underway for recovery projects but scheme reviews will be considered and changes made if necessary.

· Gravel levels across the Tukituki are regularly assessed and reported on and an assessment was undertaken after the cyclone which will be reported back shortly.

· The impact of constraints on gravel will be factored into the project planning for the recovery programme.

· The Council is keen to partner with community groups to manage shingle, particularly outside of scheme areas.

EICC123/24

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the Resilient Rivers Programme update.

Siers/Ormsby

CARRIED

HBRC Recovery Work Programme update

Nic Peet introduced the item, noting that the governance board within the Infrastructure Programme Management Office (IPMO) structure is an assurance mechanism to sit between the CE’s office and the IPMO. Discussion and questions highlighted:

· Concern about the impacts of improving infrastructure where it might have provided a release valve by failing previously.

· The Scheme review will consider gravel management practices and is due in June.

· The NIWA report did not consider climate change but instead used historic data for modelling.

· It was noted that community meetings highlighted the need for Council to come back to the community when the design work is done for flood protection for Pōrangahau.

· The team has worked with CHBDC on engagement and will continue to do so and take feedback to improve.

· The IPMO was established to meet the demands of the capital work programme, and if the programme becomes smaller or larger in the future it will scale appropriately – important that it’s dynamic.

EICC124/24

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the HBRC Recovery Work Programme update.

Kirton/Ormsby

CARRIED

Te Mata Park Trust Presentation

Sarah Austin-Smith and Andrew Lewison from Te Mata Park Trust delivered a presentation, highlighting:

· The Trust provides significant cost benefit advantage for providing recreational open space and preserving the significant regional landmark.

· The operating, funding and governance model is unique regionally and possibly nationally and amplifies contributions by the Council.

Councillor Jock Mackintosh left the meeting at 2:41pm

Questions included:

· It is difficult to quantify the number of volunteers involved but a previous working bee had 200 - 300 people involved and the trees for schools programme involved thousands of volunteers.

· The Trust is working to implement their 50 year Ngā Tipuna strategy.

· The Trust is requesting funding for 2 FTEs through the Council’s upcoming Long Term Plan, and is attempting to develop better data and metrics for funding.

EICC125/24

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the Te Mata Park Trust presentation.

Ormsby/Siers

CARRIED

The meeting adourned at 2:57pm and reconvened at 3:16pm

Outcome of Chilean Needle Grass review

Iain Maxwell introduced the item and noted that more funding for a more technical piece of additional work has been confirmed, with an issues and options type item to come, taking diverging views within the agriculture sector into consideration.

Kevin Collins presented the findings of his review, noting:

· This review didn’t have scope to consider things like restrictions on the removal of gravel.

· In Australia a rigorous grazing regime was used to control the spread.

· Modelling showed that that the HBBRC effort is simply holding back a tide of CNG that would sweep across neighbouring catchments.

· CNG doesn’t favour gravel as an environment but grows in incredibly harsh environments and can be spread by the removal of gravel.

· Engagement with neighbouring regions and an issues and options paper are the next steps.

EICC126/24

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the Outcome of Chilean Needle Grass review.

Roadley/Ormsby

CARRIED

10.

Land for Life business case

Michel Basset-Foss presented this item to the Committee.

Cr Roadley noted that she may have a perceived conflict of interest.

Discussion covered:

· There is no proposal for the Council to be a capital investor

· There is still need for better understanding about the amount of investment that would be saved in other areas.

· The potential benefit for flood management and the potential reduction of costs had this been implemented prior to the cyclone.

· The need for assurance and security for the private sector.

EICC127/24

Resolution

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the Land for Life business case staff report.

Roadley/Ormsby

CARRIED

Closure:

There being no further business the Chair asked Cr Ormsby to lead a karakia and declared the meeting closed at 3.44pm on Wednesday, 20 March 2024.

Signed as a true and correct record.

Date: ................................................ Chair: ...............................................