Minutes of Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazards Strategy Joint Committee

1. Welcome/Karakia /Apologies

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and Di Smith opened with a karakia.

Resolution

CLI57/24 That the apologies for absence from Evelyn Ratima be accepted.

Van Beek/Price

CARRIED

2. Conflict of interest declarations

There were no conflicts of interest declared.

3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazards Strategy Joint Committee held on 15 March 2024

CLI58/24

Resolution

Minutes of the Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazards Strategy Joint Committee held on Friday, 15 March 2024, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record.

Corban/Price

CARRIED

Saving the Cape Coast: A legacy of frustration and hope presentation by Keith Newman

The chair welcomed Mr Newman, commending him on his work to compile the publication that had been provided to all Joint Committee members. Mr Newman presented to the Joint Committee highlighting:

· The community began eager engagement with this work going back to the 1960s.

· The subtitle of ‘A legacy of frustration and hope’ speaks to the hard work of passionate people over many decades against proposals that were viewed as a recipe for the destruction of a local community.

· Costs to put in infrastructure for adaptation have continued to increase over the years, however, the cost of doing nothing is higher than the cost of the infrastructure.

· The conversation around large sums of money to invest in protection was incomprehensible to the community. It was important to have a more direct conversation about the cost and benefit of the components of infrastructure to individual people and properties.

· Mr Newman received a letter from Peter Bevan, former HBRC councillor and chair of the Joint Committee, who said his greatest regret was not having pushed the councils harder to implement the strategy sooner.

· Attempts to work with the Regional Council previously had been frustrating. Specifically in relation to a project to build a sea wall – rejected by a staff member and ending with a letter from then CE James Palmer backing that initial position.

· Concerns expressed about a lack of vision, the lack of clarity around the consent-ability of projects and a lack of confidence in the availability of creative thinking to address challenges.

Questions and discussions traversed:

· The book was a collaborative effort pulled together over 14 years from reports to Hastings District and Hawke’s Bay Regional councils.

· Concern that the community may no longer agree with the adaptation pathway for the Cape Coast and the importance of one-to-one conversations.

· A need for funding to be split between the Cape Coast community and the wider Hawke’s Bay community.

· Frustration in the community that a new community group was established by Hastings District Council post-cyclone but had not been engaged with.

· In general increased communications are required to build passion in the community and assuage concerns about what will happen after the strategy is adopted.

Project Manager's May 2024 update

Simon Bendall introduced the item, noting that there had been no changes to the dashboard since the last meeting. Discussions covered:

· developed by the community in the wake of concerns about the significant implications of a breach into the lagoon. This came very close to happening shortly following Cyclone Gabrielle. This is a live discussion and the community is working with Hastings District Council.. A key issue is that the option being advanced by the community is different to the proposal developed by the community panels and now forming the strategy; it would not be helpful for HBRC to consult on an option through the Strategy in September that is fundamentally different to what the community are developing. Simon noted that the Te Awanga community wanted the Joint Committee to be engaged in this discussion and would look to attend a future meeting to make a presentation. Joint Committee members highlighted the importance of resolving any disconnect between community aspirations and the Strategy. Discussion highlights a need to create balance between adaptability and creating assurance and confidence for the community. The Joint Committee requested TAG to undertake analysis when more information is available to determine how the Strategy and the community proposal can fit together.

· A submission on the government inquiry into climate adaptation was made on behalf of the Joint Committee. This inquiry was rebooted under the finance and expenditure committee with a focus on funding and how different parties contribute. Select Committee is expected to report back in September and if legislation is required this will begin being developed in 2025.

CLI59/24

Resolution

That the Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazards Strategy Joint Committee receives and notes the Project Manager's May 2024 update.

Corban/Browne

CARRIED

Mātauranga Māori workstream update

Simon Bendall introduced the item and apologised on behalf of Aramanu Ropiha who couldn’t attend. Highlights of discussions included:

· A range of conversations have been had with Post Settlement Governance Entities (PSGEs) and other organisations. The general theme of conversations was a lot of interest in the work but no capacity to engage.

· A desktop analysis was started using information already in the public domain such as what was supplied for consents and plans already to develop cultural frameworks. PSGEs will be asked to review and ratify the information gathered.

· Moving forward to the consenting phase without Mātauranga Māori input will potentially result in a litigious process around consenting; this is an outcome that should be avoided through early and effective engagement.

· PSGEs are assessing large volumes of consents, dealing with significant workloads and priorities and mana whenua are suffering from hui fatigue, however work is important and it is important to understand the history of mana whenua engagement in the development of the strategy.

· The work under the Mātauranga Māori workstream will continue and the Strategy will continue through to consultation regardless as there has been no feedback from PSGEs indicating a wish to stop the process.

· HBRC has a large complimentary piece of work around Mātauranga Māori across council.

· The Ngāti Parau coastal management plan is a key resource that has been taken into consideration already as part of the desktop work

CLI60/24

Resolution

That the Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazards Strategy Joint Committee receives and notes the Mātauranga Māori workstream update staff report.

Smith/Corban

CARRIED

Regulatory Workstream update

Simon Bendall introduced the item, explaining that the regulatory component is essential.

Deborah Kissick delivered her presentation to the Joint Committee and discussions highlighted:

· Recommendations from the Strategy to the local regulatory framework are intended to influence plan writers and are not instructions.

· If HBRC adopts the Strategy it will need to be considered in the development of the Regional Policy Statement and Regional Plan, the former of which sets the direction for development of district plans.

· Further work might be required to assess if planning provisions are able to compensate for maladaptation and so a submission may be required to ensure appropriate weight is given during the Regional Policy Statement process.

· That officers on the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) were involved in the development of other plans, policies and strategies across the region and have ongoing conversations during the development of all of these about compatibility.

· This work may lower the bar for consenting and decrease costs but could take ten years to fully implement and so it may be important to consider a consenting strategy to prioritise these at a high level – all works should be consentable under the current regime.

CLI61/24

Resolution

That the Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazards Strategy Joint Committee receives and notes the Regulatory Workstream Background Paper staff report.

van Beek/Dixon

CARRIED

Communications and engagement update

Simon Bendall introduced the item, which was taken as read. Discussion highlighted:

· A desire to include town hall style meetings with the communities including at coastal marae in the engagement strategy for consultation.

· There’s a need to provide the means for people to understand how much they will be asked to pay toward implementing the strategy.

· It’s important to keep the conversations simple and tied to principles and context while being up front about the full gamut of interventions, costs and concerns.

· It’s also important to engage with Hastings and Napier ratepayers who are not in one of the 9 priority areas.

CLI62/24

Resolution

That the Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazards Strategy Joint Committee receives and notes the Communications and engagement update staff report.

Browne/Dixon

CARRIED

Current coastal projects update

Simon Bendall introduced the item, which was taken as read.

CLI63/24

Resolution

That the Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazards Strategy Joint Committee receives the Current coastal projects update.

Browne/Dixon

CARRIED

10.

Update on follow-ups from previous meetings

Simon Bendall noted that all follow-ups have been completed.

CLI64/24

Resolution

That the Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazards Strategy Joint Committee receives and notes the Update on follow-ups from previous meetings.

Browne/Dixon

CARRIED

Councillor Charles Lambert offered a closing Karakia.

Closure:

There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 12.07pm on Friday, 17 May 2024.

Signed as a true and correct record.

Date: by CTCHS Joint Committee resolution 14 June 2024 Chair: Cr Jerf van Beek