Meeting of the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee

 

 

Date:                        4 December 2024

Time:                       9.00am

Venue:

Council Chamber

Hawke's Bay Regional Council

159 Dalton Street

NAPIER

 

Agenda

 

Item          Title                                                                                                                                                                         Page

 

1.             Welcome/Karakia/Housekeeping/Apologies

2.             Conflict of Interest Declarations

3.             Confirmation of Minutes of the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee meeting held on 11 September 2024

4.             Public Forum                                                                                                                                                          3

Information or Performance Monitoring

5.             Update on the IRG flood control and drainage programme                                                                 7

6.             Update on the North Island Weather Events resilience programme                                              13

7.             Telemetry Network Outage – Critical Incident report                                                                          23

8.             Erosion Control Scheme programme update                                                                                          25

9.             Biosecurity Memorandum of Understanding                                                                                          31

10.          Biodiversity programmes update                                                                                                                 33

11.          Land for Life update                                                                                                                                          41

12.          Weather update                                                                                                                                                 47

13.          Follow-ups from previous Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee meetings  49

 


Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee

4 December 2024

Subject: Public Forum

 

Reason for report

1.      This item provides the means for the Committee to give members of the public the opportunity to address the Committee on matters within its terms of reference (attached).

Background

2.      The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s Standing Orders provide for public forums as follows:

14. Public Forums

Public forums are a defined period of time, usually at the start of a meeting, which, at the discretion of a meeting, is put aside for the purpose of public input. Public forums are designed to enable members of the public to bring matters to the attention of the local authority.

In the case of a committee or sub-committee, any issue, idea or matter raised in a public forum must also fall within the terms of reference of that meeting.

Requests must be made to the HBRC Governance Team (06 8359200 or governanceteam@hbrc.govt.nz) at least 48 hours before the meeting; however, this requirement may be waived by the Chairperson.

14.1 Time limits

A period of up to 30 minutes, or such longer time as the meeting may determine, will be available for the public forum at each scheduled Regional Council, Corporate & Strategic Committee, Environment & Integrated Catchments Committee and Regional Transport Committee meeting.

Speakers can speak for up to 5 minutes.  No more than two speakers can speak on behalf of an organisation during a public forum. Where the number of speakers presenting in the public forum exceeds 6 in total, the Chairperson has discretion to restrict the speaking time permitted for all presenters.

14.2 Restrictions

The Chairperson has the discretion to decline to hear a speaker or to terminate a presentation at any time where:

·      a speaker is repeating views presented by an earlier speaker at the same public forum

·      the speaker is criticising elected members and/or staff

·      the speaker is being repetitious, disrespectful or offensive

·      the speaker has previously spoken on the same issue

·      the matter is subject to legal proceedings

·      the matter is subject to a hearing, including the hearing of submissions where the local authority or committee sits in a quasi-judicial capacity.

14.3 Questions at public forums

At the conclusion of the presentation, with the permission of the Chairperson, elected members may ask questions of speakers. Questions are to be confined to obtaining information or clarification on matters raised by a speaker.

14.4 No resolutions

Following the public forum no debate or decisions will be made at the meeting on issues raised during the forum unless related to items already on the agenda.

Decision-making process

3.      Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

 

Recommendation

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the Public Forum speakers’ verbal presentations.

 

Authored by:

Leeanne Hooper

Team Leader Governance

 

Approved by:

Desiree Cull

Strategy & Governance Manager

 

 

Attachment/s

1

Environment & Integrated Catchments Committee Terms of Reference

 

 

  


Environment & Integrated Catchments Committee Terms of Reference

Attachment 1

 

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee

4 December 2024

Subject: Update on the IRG flood control and drainage programme

 

Reason for report

1.      This item provides the committee with an update on the IRG programme of work, including the current status of all projects within this programme. It is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all activities that have been undertaken; however, it provides a formal update to the committee.

Background

2.      In the 2020 Budget, Cabinet agreed to provide a $3 billion investment in infrastructure to support New Zealand's economic recovery as part of the 11 May Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund.

3.      New Zealand River Managers Special Interest Group collectively put forward an application to this fund for a programme of work associated with flood risk and climate resilience across New Zealand.

4.      This bid was successful, resulting in total programme funding of $30m for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, including co-funding requirements.

5.      As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle delaying the programme in June 2023, Council staff commenced negotiations on a variation to the Kanoa funding agreement to extend the funding timeframes and modify the agreed programme.

The IRG programme

6.      The original IRG programme consists of 4 main pillars as identified in the table below, together with co-funding requirements.

 

Work Programme

Programme Cost

Co-Funding (HBRC)

Funding

Status

1.    Heretaunga Plains Flood Control Scheme

Up to $20,000,000

Up to $7,200,000

Up to $12,800,000

Modified Programme

2.    Wairoa River Scheme – River Parade Scour Protection

Up to $1,000,000

Up to $360,000

Up to
$640,000

Completed

3.    Upper Tukituki Flood Control Scheme – SH50 Bridge

Up to $1,000,000

Up to $360,000

Up to
$640,000

Completed

4.    Upper Tukituki Flood Control Scheme – Gravel Extraction

Up to $8,000,000

Up to $2,880,000

Up to $5,120,000

Ongoing

Crown funding total: up to $19.2m            Local contribution: $10.8m

 

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

7.      The original programme of work sought to increase the rate at which works were complete to improve the level of service provided by the scheme to a 1 in 500-year flood level of protection, including allowances for climate change and sea level rise, together with improved resilience for the higher velocities anticipated from the increased flood flows.

8.      This funding was proposed to deliver 5 upgrades of the approximately 42 required to complete the level of service upgrade process.

9.      HBRC co-funding of $7.2 million was required to match IRG funds of $12.8 million.

10.    In conjunction with the extension of the funding timeframes associated with the Kanoa funding contract, the original programme of work has been modified to incorporate predominantly enabling works for potential future upgrades and/or scheme review related projects.

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

11.    Gravel aggradation across this scheme has been an area of concern for the last decade.

12.    This project involves the removal of 800,000m3 gravel from Central Hawke’s Bay rivers to maintain existing nameplate capacity of 1:100 level of protection from Upper Tukituki scheme.

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

13.    The left bank of the Waipawa River immediately upstream of SH50 bridge has eroded significantly over the past five years.

14.    In addition to stabilising the river, this project also provided a degree of protection works for the southern approach to NZTA’s SH50 bridge.

15.    This project received co-funding from Waka Kotahi to the value of $300,000.

Project 4: River Parade Scour Protection, Wairoa - $1 million

16.    The Wairoa River had gradually undermined the embankment immediately south of the Ferry Hotel. This had in turn compromised Wairoa District Council (WDC) water assets and, more recently, Carroll Street and River Parade.

17.    This project provided steel sheet-piled erosion protection works on the left bank of the Wairoa River.

18.    This project received co-funding from Waka Kotahi to the value of $180,000.

Social procurement

19.    In keeping with the purpose of the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund as an economic stimulus following lockdown, key conditions of the funding agreement with the Government stipulated the requirement to achieve social procurement outcomes.

20.    Acceptable social procurement outcomes include:

20.1.     New employment

20.2.     Preservation of jobs

20.3.     Redeployment of workers

20.4.     Supplier diversity

20.5.     Skills and training

20.6.     Environmental responsibility

20.7.     Investment toward more productive, sustainable and inclusive economy.

21.    The realisation of these outcomes occurs predominantly in the construction phase of the project.

Programme funding timeframes

22.    The original funding agreement committed to funding a 3-year programme of work commencing on the date of execution of the agreement 20 November 2020 and ending 20 November 2023. A variation has extended the funding deadline to 30 June 2025 and includes a modified programme for the Heretaunga Plains Flood Control Scheme component of the work programme.

Current programme status

23.    The Wairoa River Protection and SH50 Waipawa River Erosion Protection projects were completed in September 2021 and September 2022 respectively.

24.    In additional to an extension to the funding deadline, HBRC requested a change to the programme to undertake a number of enabling tasks for future Level of Service Upgrade projects.

25.    The revised programme consists of predominantly enabling works. The summary below provides project specific information on the proposed variation to programme.

26.    The Variation was approved by Kanoa on 13 May 2024.

Heretaunga Plains Flood Control Scheme Status Update

Moteo stopbank upgrade

27.    This project is part of the original programme. This project has a completed detailed design and all tender documentation is completed for the original design. Consenting was due to be completed by March 2023 with construction completed by November 2024.

28.    The revised programme includes advancing the project to fully consented status, and primarily includes completing a Cultural Impact Assessment to support the lodging of the Earthworks Consent Application with Hastings District Council.

29.    Findings from the Heretaunga Scheme Flood Scheme Review and Independent Review will be assessed to determine what if any modifications to the original design are required and associated consent, prior to going to construction.

30.    The project team is actively working with Mana Whenua to progress this project. However, capacity constraints may impact the ability for cultural impact assessments to be delivered in the project timeframes.

Omaranui stopbank upgrade

31.    This project is part of the original programme. This project has a detailed design completed to 60%. Consenting was due to be completed by March 2023 with construction completed by November 2024.

32.    The revised programme includes completing a Cultural Impact Assessment to support the lodging of an Earthworks Consent Application Hastings District Council. A draft Cultural Impact Assessment has been completed for the first half of the project site, with the Cultural Impact Assessment for the second half of the project site to begin shortly.

33.    Findings from the Heretaunga Scheme Flood Scheme Review and Independent Review will be assessed to determine what if any modifications to the original design are required and associated consent, prior to going to construction.

34.    The project team is actively working with mana whenua to progress this project. However, capacity constraints may impact the ability for cultural impact assessments to be delivered in the project timeframes.

Clive River erosion protection (Farndon Road)

35.    This project is part of the original programme. Detailed design was due to be completed by September 2023 with construction completed by March 2024.

36.    The revised programme includes completion of detailed design and construction of river erosion protection, and proposes that detailed design reaches completion in December 2024, with construction due to be completed by June 2025.

37.    Findings from the Heretaunga Scheme Flood Scheme Review and Independent Review, if available, will be assessed to determine what if any modifications to the original design are required and associated consent, prior to going to construction.

38.    This project is progressing with detailed design on the preferred solution nearing completion.

39.    Procurement of the rock required to deliver the project is currently being tendered.

40.    Negotiations with the neighbouring property are progressing well to secure access and usage for establishing the stockpiling site.

41.    Additionally, the project team is working with mana whenua and a cultural impact assessment is being completed to support the lodging of resource consent for the project.

East Clive stopbank upgrade

42.    This project is part of the original programme. Detailed design was due to be completed by August 2023 with construction completed by June 2024.

43.    The revised programme includes advancing the project to fully consented status and advancing the design to a level sufficient to support the consenting process. Due to the complex nature of the consenting requirements for this project, it is envisaged that consents will be achieved by June 2025.

44.    This project is progressing with the design scope now modified and nearing completion to support the consent process.

45.    A cultural impact assessment and an ecological assessment are being completed to support the lodging of resource consent for the project.

46.    The required resource consent applications are currently being prepared for lodgement.

47.    Findings from the Heretaunga Scheme Flood Scheme Review and Independent Review will be taken into account when finalising the design associated with this project.

Upper Tukituki Flood Control Scheme – gravel extraction

48.    This project is part of the original programme.

49.    Gravel extraction activities under the IRG programme were largely curtailed immediately following the cyclone, as contracting resource was required to assist with the rapid rebuild of stopbanks across the region. (The rapid rebuild did involve the extraction of 250,000m3 of gravel for rebuild activities, a proportion of which came from Central Hawke’s Bay Rivers.)

50.    Despite cyclone-related delays to extraction, Tranche 3 of extraction has been completed with the programme targeted volume of 800,000m3 of extraction reached, at a cost of approximately $6m, well below the budgeted amount.

51.    Tranche 4 has successfully been tendered with contracts awarded targeting the extraction of 59,500m3 from reaches either side of the State Highway bridge in Waipawa and Makaretu River.

52.    Work has commenced on Tranche 4 with 16,000m3 already extracted from the Waipawa River. Once river levels drop to a satisfactory level the extraction of the remaining 43,000m3 will be completed.

53.    Tranche 5 is currently being tendered and is targeting the removal of approximately 90,000m3 from the Tukipo and Mangaonuku Rivers in early 2025.

54.    It is likely that funding would have been fully consumed by April 2025.


 

Recommission the Maraenui Stopbank

55.    This project is not part of the original programme.

56.    This project is proposed to recommission the Maraenui Stopbank (previously decommissioned when the current Brookfields upper and lower stopbank was constructed) in order to provide a secondary level of protection from flooding to residential areas of Napier.

57.    The work will involve investigation, high level design and construction. It is envisaged that construction will be completed by June 2025.

58.    Geotechnical investigation and design support has been tendered and the contract awarded.

59.    The geotechnical investigations have been completed with the preliminary design completed and detailed design underway.

60.    A cultural impact assessment has been completed to support the delivery of this project and inform the design process.

61.    The project team is engaging with Maraenui Golf Course and NCC to sure all parties are informed of the project and overall impacts can be minimised.

Investigations to compile a catalogue of available borrow material

62.    This project was not part of the original programme.

63.    Work completed pre- and post-cyclone has highlighted that, although there is an abundance of silt in the region, not all of it is suitable for construction purposes. Material availability will be a critical element of all successful future flood resilience projects.

64.    This proposal involves completing geotechnical investigation in all reaches of the Heretaunga Plains Flood Protection Scheme, and permanent silt deposit sites created by the Silt Task Force to identify the quality and quantity of available borrow material throughout the scheme.

65.    This will enable the volume of suitable available borrow material to be quickly understood and targeted for all future stopbank construction projects.

66.    A mapping tool has now been developed to capture this information, and a summer student has been employed to source and upload all the available geotechnical data records.

67.    Following the completion of this additional geotechnical testing will be completed for areas that do not have existing records.

68.    It is envisaged this work will be completed by April 2025.

Investigation and design for future upgrade works

69.    This project was not part of the original programme.

70.    This proposal involves completing geotechnical investigation and detailed design for the following high priority reaches:

70.1.     Raupare Upper and Raupare Lower

70.2.     Chesterhope Upper

70.3.     Brookfields Lower

70.4.     Pākōwhai Regional Park.

71.    The project team are currently work with the different mana whenua groups associated with each of these projects to get cultural impact assessments completed to help inform the detailed design process and support obtaining resource consent in the future.

72.    Geotechnical investigation and design support for all of these projects have been successfully tendered and awarded with works now underway across all projects.

73.    It is envisaged this work will be completed by June 2025.

Undertake a partial Plan Change to the Hastings District Council District Plan

74.    This project was not part of the original programme, and at Kanoa’s request has been removed from the programme variation.

75.    The IPMO is advancing this work outside of the IRG programme to support land category and future stopbank related projects.

76.    Work has commenced on this initiative with assessments of both ecological effects and landscape visual effects completed to support the lodgment of the private plan change.

77.    An engagement plan has been developed identify all mana whenua partners and key stakeholders with engagement well underway.

78.    The draft documentation for the private plan change has been completed and is currently being reviewed before lodgement.

Programme summary

79.    This programme is summarised below.

Decision-making considerations

80.    Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

 

Recommendation

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the Update on the IRG flood control and drainage programme staff report.

 

Authored by:

Jon Kingsford

Manager Regional Projects

Thomas Petrie

Programme Manager Protection & Enhancement Projects

Approved by:

Chris Dolley

Group Manager Asset Management

 

 

Attachment/s

There are no attachments for this report.  


Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee

4 December 2024

Subject: Update on the North Island Weather Events resilience programme

 

Reason for report

1.      This item provides the committee with an update on the status of the North Island Weather Events (NIWE) Flood Resilience Programme.

Background

2.      The Crown and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) entered into the North Island Weather Events (2023) – Hawke’s Bay Crown Funding Agreement on 10 October 2023 (the NIWE Agreement).

3.      The NIWE Resilience Programme consists of a portfolio of initiatives to provide flood mitigation schemes to multiple communities across Hawke’s Bay. It also incorporates upgrades to both pumpstations and stopbanks associated with existing schemes, as well as telemetry upgrades and scheme reviews.

4.      The packages of work funded through this agreement are highlighted below.

Severely Affected Land Areas

Crown Funding

HBRC Funding

Total

Wairoa

$70,000,000

0

$70,000,000

Whirinaki

$8,300,000

$2,750,000

$11,050,000

Waiohiki

$7,500,000

$2,500,000

$10,000,000

Ohiti

$7,500,000

$2,500,000

$10,000,000

Pākōwhai

$37,600,000

$12,400,000

$50,000,000

Pōrangahau

$9,800,000

$3,200,000

$13,000,000

Sub Total

$148,200,000

$25,850,000

$174,050,000

Telemetry

$3,800,000

$1,200,000

 $  5,000,000

Pumpstation upgrades

$22,500,000

$7,500,000

 $30,000,000

Scheme Reviews

$2,300,000

$700,000

 $  3,000,000

Rapid Repair – Level of Service works

$22,500,000

$7,500,000

 $30,000,000

Total

$191,800,000

$40,200,000

$232,050,000

Havelock North – Cat 2 HDC delivered

$7,500,000

$2,500,000

$10,000,000

Total (incl Havelock North)

$199,300,000

$42,700,000

$242,050,000

*For the purposed of this table the value for Tangoio (now Cat 3) has been excluded from these values. Values have been rounded to nearest $100,000.

5.      Crown Infrastructure Partners (CIP) is the appointed Administrator for our Crown Funding agreement and is mandated to distribute and manage the funding support under the NIWE Agreement and the Local Government Flood Resilience Co-Investment Fund.

6.      The NIWE programme is being delivered by HBRC’s Infrastructure Programme Management Office (IPMO).


 

NIWE programme update

Summary

7.      The NIWE resilience programme has advanced significantly since our last update, with notable progress across key areas including land access and landowner negotiation, procurement, and the commencement of enabling works.

8.      However, key risks and challenges remain for the programme. These include:

8.1.       Unsuccessful or stalled land access negotiations in some communities, which will impact a project’s timeline

8.2.       Design amendments or evolutions which may prompt an Order in Council change process

8.3.       Cost pressure and funding shortfall particularly in Whirinaki. The challenge of a $15m funding shortfall in Whirinaki is being worked through with QS and NZTA, the latter being responsible for $11m of that number for asset upgrades.

9.      The project teams are progressing each project in an increasingly challenging environment.

10.    Public and media interest is at an all-time high across our NIWE programme, with increasing expectations from the community. These demands are being met by a robust Communications and Engagement (C&E) action plan being rolled out in each project area. However, alongside this rise in expectation, the programme and project teams are experiencing an expanded remit, with increasingly heavy involvement required with stakeholder groups, councillors and Crown agents.

11.    Since the last update, we have seen many achievements across the programme, including:

11.1.     Re-categorisation in Pōrangahau from category 2A to 2C – the last Hawke’s Bay community to move to 2C – as a result of a proposed solution being identified for the community to enable them a pathway to move to category 1

11.2.     Enabling works beginning in Waiohiki celebrated with a dawn karakia, marking the first NIWE project to break ground

11.3.     Four project delivery plans approved by Ministers and two more submitted for approval. This leaves five more left to submit

11.4.     Consenting progress across all projects

11.5.     Onboarding of Senior Technical Advisor and Recovery Director to enhance programme delivery

11.6.     Procurement of the Preferred Supplier List for main earthworks contractors for NIWE flood resilience programme, and shortlisting of pump station project design and build contractors. These procurement activities are ongoing.  Other various procurements activities continue with huge progress being made across both processes and risk management

11.7.     Positive progress with the Māori Land Court around the set-up of support for whanau in affected project areas in relation to supporting them through processes related to their whenua and will also provide a level of independent oversight to ensure that Council is acting appropriately. Their team has allocated a Pae Manawa to our region who is responsible for providing specialist facilitation, analysis and information services to Māori landowners and customers of the Māori Land Court to enable them to access specialist resources and professional advice.

11.8.     Progress around costings across the programme and projects with quantity surveying work underway to provide confidence in forecasting.

12.    See the attached Programme Dashboard for more information on Programme Summary by project, Spend and forecast Final costs, Programme metrics, Project Delivery Plan Update and Community Barometer.

Procurement

13.    The procurement strategy for the NIWE programme is designed to ensure the delivery of high-quality work within the required timeframes and budget while ensuring our progressive procurement and broader outcome principles are met. The procurement strategy aligns with both Crown and HBRC procurement policies, ensuring compliance and transparency.

14.    The procurement strategy for the NIWE earthworks projects focuses on first identifying the main contractors who can ensure delivery of high-quality work within the required timeframes and budget, then shortlisting this down so we can move quickly when designs are ready for pricing as there is limited time to go through a full procurement process.

15.    The contractors identified for the Preferred Supplier List met non-price requirements in the first phase of the procurement including relevant experience and track record, relevant skills and resourcing (including capability of teams and equipment), methodology and broader outcomes and progressive procurement.

16.    These contractors have been split into two Pools:

16.1.     Pool A has the capability to deliver the required earthworks in Wairoa and Pākōwhai (>$20m) – highly complex projects with multiple workstreams and requirements.

16.2.     Pool B also has the capability to deliver the required earthworks in Whirinaki, Waiohiki, Ōhiti and Pōrangahau (<$20m). While these projects may be considered less complex, significant works are still required.

17.    The next step is the main contracts are put out to closed tender to the different Pools in the Preferred Suppliers List as the design is refined and confirmed for the purpose of price tensioning to ensure we are getting the best value for our communities. The intention of appointments to both Pools is that HBRC should always have at least three suppliers who provide a closed tender as each Project RFT (Request for Tender) is opened. 

18.    On a wider scale the programme procurement strategy also focuses on breaking out works from the main contract where appropriate to create opportunities for local businesses, including Māori and Pasifika enterprises, and to foster a collaborative and inclusive environment.

19.    HBRC has a Progressive Procurement Toolkit – https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/assets/Document-Library/Procurement/HBRC-Progressive-Procurement-Toolkit-May-2021.pdf. The procurement strategy also includes meaningful KPIs and requirements into the main contracts to meet appropriate broader outcomes and progressive procurement principles.

20.    We aim to achieve this wider strategy by:

20.1.     Identifying opportunities for local engagement: Actively seeking to engage local suppliers and contractors, ensuring that our processes provide equal opportunities for all. This also includes prioritising contractors that demonstrate a commitment to upskilling and employing local workers particularly those from under-represented groups.

20.2.     Implementing a phased procurement strategy: Dividing into phases to streamline the process and ensure timely delivery.

20.3.     Emphasising broader outcomes: With a weighting of 15% to assist in the first phase for suppliers who can help us achieve our goals of increasing access for local businesses, upskilling the local workforce, and ensuring compliance with employment standards and health and safety requirements.

20.4.     Fostering a trust-based culture: We believe in a procurement culture that is comfortable with trust-based approaches. This means working closely with our suppliers and contractors to build strong relationships that can withstand the challenges of rapid delivery and complex project requirements

20.5.     Ensuring governance and capacity: Our tailored procurement strategy includes enabling governance structures and ensuring that our people, processes, and systems are fit for rapid delivery. We also focus on building appropriate procurement capability and capacity within our team.

21.    Currently, procurement plans are advancing, and option selections have been completed across five NIWE projects. Tailored procurement approaches have been developed to enable fast delivery, and design is advancing on three of these projects. Weekly operational updates are provided to CIP and Aurecon and a programme assurance structure has been implemented, with monthly meetings with CIP and the RRA.

Communications and engagement (C&E)

22.    Additional to the C&E activity across the NIWE projects, we are conducting regular engagements with elected officials and stakeholders in each project region to update them on the project and engagement, and to brief them ahead of community engagements should they wish to attend. C&E activity is also included in CIP and stakeholder reporting and tracked through HBRC’s project lifecycle management system.

What is coming up

23.    Submission of Project Delivery Plans for:

23.1.     Wairoa

23.2.     Whirinaki

23.3.     Pump Stations

23.4.     Scheme reviews

23.5.     Rapid Repair Level of Service upgrades.

24.    Approval and endorsements of Fast-tracking Funding initiatives.

25.    Preparation of re-categorisation for Waiohiki properties to Category 1.

26.    Geotechnical site investigations across Pākōwhai, Pōrangahau and Wairoa.

Land Category Projects Updates

Wairoa

27.    The Wairoa NIWE project, under the supervision of the Crown Manager, is moving forward confidently, and public engagement with affected landowners and the broader community is well underway, with some positive gains.

Project progress and engagement

28.    The preferred option is required to be agreed upon by the community by early February 2025. During the current engagement phase, the two current preferred options (1C and 1D) are being taken through to concept design to de-risk the timeline. The Project Delivery Plan (PDP) process has started and is on track to deliver by its due date of 31 March 2025.

29.    Land access negotiations will begin once the preferred solution is arrived at, however, again during this engagement phase, meetings are being held with the landowners of both options. The process for property and legal services is underway and it is anticipated we will require multiple suppliers due to the estimated volume of impacted landowners.

30.    From an engagement perspective, there are complex conversations happening in the community around which of the 18 options is the most viable flood solution, and this is driving uncertainty. Tātau Tātau o te Wairoa is conducting its own engagement process, separate to the Crown Manager’s endorsed approach. A dedicated website (www.wairoafloodproject.co.nz) and email address (info@wairoafloodproject.co.nz) have been created and are being well used by the community. The website houses all plans, information, maps, Stakeholder Group minutes and other information. We are now considering our social media presence.

31.    Hui with affected landowners have been held at Takitimu Marae, and a whole-of-community meeting hosted by the Crown Manager has been held, with another scheduled in early December.

Whirinaki

32.    The project is progressing with stopbank design, road raising, and culvert upgrade, and the incorporation of an additional retaining wall on the northern section of State Highway 2 to reduce the footprint. Currently they are planning for 1:500year Level of Service as per existing Level of Service for the existing flood mitigation infrastructure in Whirinaki area.

Project progress and engagement

33.    This project is experiencing a slight delay as landowner negotiations continue. Agreement has been reached with one of three affected landowners. The agreement with Pan Pac is close to being finalised.

34.    Positive progress is being made on geotech assessments at the SH2 and Ararata Urupā.

35.    The team is looking into valued engineering solutions to reduce costs across the stopbank and road raising by reducing stopbank height and reducing batter slopes. We have also looked at engineering alternatives in the form of a floodgate option across the SH.

36.    The project team continues to partner with Petane Marae on progressing a cultural impact assessment for the project area.

37.    Challenges with estimated construction costs due to the impact of level of service and climate changes factors on design. The team is working through these with urgency.

38.    Construction, including enabling works has been delayed and is now scheduled to start in April 2025. We are looking at opportunities to bring this forward where possible.

39.    Regular newsletters have been sent to the community outlining updates on geotech and plans for flood assessments after the refined design is received. A community meeting was not held during October but meetings were undertaken with the marae and affected landowners. The project website hub can be found on our website. The cultural impact assesment is due for delivery shortly.

Waiohiki

40.    Enabling works are starting this month and community support is high. Breaking ground on this first of the NIWE flood mitigation projects was marked by a dawn karakia on 11 November. Land agreements are nearing completion – a crucial step for advancing the community to Category 1 status.

Project progress and engagement

41.    Downstream impact assessments continue to progress and will require further input once the final decisions have been made and design work can progress to the next phase.

42.    The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is in progress with the golf course.

43.    Stream realignment and a planting plan is being co-designed with mana whenua.

44.    Bare Knuckle has been appointed as the contractor for the enabling works phase.

45.    Main construction is scheduled to start April 2025.

46.    Regular newsletters have been sent to the Waiohiki community, include hapū. Notices around the enabling works have also been shared, and more advertising material has been designed to inform on transport movements and expected impacts from the works. A community meeting was held at the marae, where updates on the project were shared.

Ōhiti

47.    Engagement is well underway with mana whenua, affected landowners, interest groups, and the broader community. Since the last update, community drop-in sessions have been held at the school and RD9 area to broaden the conversations and hear views from the upstream communities.  Uncertainty around the potential solution only protecting a small number of properties and the secondary impacts on infrastructure is continuing to unsettle the community. Between Two Rivers (catchment group) has entered into a partnership with Te Piringa Hapū.

Project progress and engagement

48.    This project is experiencing some delays as landowner meetings and negotiations continue. Also contributing to the delay is the increased requirement for further modelling and secondary effects.

49.    There has been a significant shift towards more community-led engagement and, to this end, we are negotiating Terms of Reference and the setting up of a community/stakeholder group.

50.    Final modelling has been completed and will feed into the upcoming preliminary design.

51.    Project team is working with Hastings District Council and Unison to identify any impacts on assets.

52.    Community engagement will continue to maintain a dual approach: utilising both traditional community channels and individual meetings to ensure inclusive participation and information sharing across all stakeholders.

53.    Stream works were scheduled to be undertaken in October 2024, however, we still need to obtain interest in some adjacent land to be able to stockpile fill from these works.

54.    Construction including enabling works is scheduled to start March 2025.

Pākōwhai

55.    Bespoke engagements with footprint landowners around land access have progressed further and have been received generally positively. The refined design of the stopbank was presented to the footprint landowners as a group and individually, and the next step is to present it to the broader community at a community meeting on 17 December 2024.

Project progress and engagement

56.    This project is on track.

57.    Progress is being made towards finalising the concept design.

58.    Landowner negotiations to support enabling works are underway, with site walkovers held earlier in the month.

59.    Construction including enabling works is scheduled to start September 2025.

60.    Community concerns about the Pākōwhai Hall surfaced in the media, and a subsequent meeting with the Hall Committee by the project team has resulted in negotiations continuing positively.

Pōrangahau

61.    Engagement is on track with landowner discussions well underway regarding potential property impacts and land access on both the southern and northern sides of the river. A lot of work has been done to bring the community on board, including several ‘drop in’ sessions and individual home visits by the Senior Project Manager and Comms & Engagement (C&E) team, which are proving valuable. The community moved from Category 2A to 2C in October, which attracted a lot of media attention.

Project progress and engagement

62.    This project is on track.

63.    Geotech, archaeological, preliminary site investigation of contaminated land and ecological assessments are underway. These have been occurring with the support of the project’s Cultural Monitor and mana whenua representative.

64.    The project and C&E teams have regular dialogue with both Central Hawke’s Bay District Council and Ngāti Kere Hapū Authority.

65.    Regular site visits by the project manager, supported by the C&E team have gained good traction within the community, and these are ongoing. Also ongoing are the regular update comms with the community through newsletters, drop-in days, website updates and social media.

Telemetry projects

Project progress and engagement

66.    This project is on track.

67.    The team has identified more than 32 critical sites for upgrade following the Horrell Report and further investigations by the Hydrology team.

68.    The delivery phase is scheduled to start in January 2025 but we have begun on several sites already.

69.    Resourcing and advertising has now begun for contract resources to deliver and manage this work.

70.    We’ve started with our bulk and phased procurement of technical equipment.

71.    A webpage for telemetry is now live.

Pump station upgrades

Project progress and engagement

72.    This project is on track.

73.    We’ve progressed detailed site investigations on contaminated land matters and further testing is required.

74.    The ecology report indicated no significant high risk items, and the first cultural impact assessments was obtained.

75.    The Request for Proposal in the design-build second stage tender has been released on Government Electronic Tender System (GETS) which has gone out to the 3 shortlisted contractors for the concept design and price. These are due Q1 2025.

76.    Construction including enabling works is scheduled to start June 2025.

77.    A webpage for the pump station project is live.

Scheme reviews

Project progress and engagement

78.    This project is on track.

79.    We have 3 packages of scheme review work underway with 18 scheme reviews in total. The 2 existing scheme reviews for Heretaunga Plains Flood Control Scheme and Upper Tukituki Flood Control Scheme have largely been completed with review work still being completed.

80.    We also have 2 drainage scheme packages underway for Esk Valley and Whirinaki.

81.    There are some challenges around costs for the wide breadth of reviews we would like to undertake within the allocated funding. A priority list is being created to assist in decision making should the need arise to reduce work to within funding parameters. 

82.    The 3 packages of work have now commenced.

83.    The engagement plan is under review currently.

Repair rebuild Level of Service Upgrades

Project progress and engagement

84.    Site prioritisation is underway to determine the order in which the projects can be executed. This includes the following four major sources of information:

84.1.     Existing Heretaunga Plains multi-criteria analysis which incorporates asset attributes and socio-economical assessment

84.2.     Cyclone Gabrielle stopbank damage sites information

84.3.     Scheme review information for Heretaunga Plains and Upper Tukituki schemes which includes current performance of the scheme and its assets

84.4.     Multi-criteria analysis to be developed for the Upper Tukituki scheme area in alignment with the existing Heretaunga Plains multi-criteria analysis.

85.    Based on the site prioritisation the top 10 sites will be selected for pricing and eventually physical works. The details of physical works will be captured in a site-specific format and not as part of this scope.

86.    Site prioritisation of the top 10 sites is almost complete and we expect this in early December 2024.

Havelock North

87.    This project is being delivered by Hastings District Council and the Crown contract administered by HBRC and Crown Infrastructure Partners.

Project progress and engagement

88.    This project is on track.

89.    Progress has been made on the property rights requirements with 55 properties identified and requirements mapped out.

90.    Maintenance with the stream continues.

91.    The project delivery plan has been approved; spend to date totals circa $412k as at October 2024.

Decision-making considerations

92.    Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

 

Recommendation

That the Environmental and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the Update on the North Island Weather Events (NIWE) resilience programme staff report.

 


 

Authored by:

Jess Bennett

Programme Finance & Controls Manager

Sarah Cameron

Team Leader - IPMO Communications & Engagement

Jon Kingsford

Manager Regional Projects

 

Approved by:

Chris Dolley

Group Manager Asset Management

 

 

Attachment/s

1

NIWE Programme Dashboard

 

Under Separate Cover
Online only

  


Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee

4 December 2024

Subject: Telemetry Network Outage – Critical Incident report

 

Reason for report

1.      This report updates the Committee on a Telemetry outage that occurred on 23 October 2024, the investigation to establish the route cause and the steps being taken to ensure the telemetry system notifies staff of outages.

Background

2.      The Hydrology team has been progressively upgrading important flood warning sites as part of the NIWE funded resilience plan. The objective is to have two water level sensors and at least two independent forms of telemetry communication at each important site relaying data back to Dalton Street.

3.      On Wednesday October the 23rd at 7am the Hydrology flood duty officer checked the HydroTel system (our primary system for interrogating things like our hydrometric data) and noticed that sites on the DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) system had failed. This failure had only affected the northern sites.  The DMR failure had occurred at approximately 3am that day.

4.      HydroTel had continued to operate during the DMR outage, and both the analogue radios and Satellite systems were unaffected and had continued to send data to our Dalton Street base, with no late data at important flood warning sites. This is both a good and bad outcome.

Discussion

5.      From a positive perspective, the system resilience that has been recently completed worked without fault and the sites that did not have a DMR connection were still sending data via their secondary communication paths.  Whilst not a planned test, this incident confirmed that the resilience measures put in place after Gabrielle work seamlessly.  Only one noncritical site (Fishers rainfall in the lower Esk Catchment) was not up to date as it currently has no back up communication system.

6.      The critical issue is that duty staff were not aware that there was a problem with the DMR system, because the system had not notified them and it was only discovered by the manual checks that happen every morning.

7.      Once staff checked the system and realized there was a problem they contacted our communication partners (Colvins, Kisters and Communicate) and asked for an immediate comprehensive check of their systems.

8.      Importantly all the partners responded immediately and reported back that their checks had not revealed any evident issues. By then the ICT team was supporting the response and undertook internal systems checks and restarts.  As part of the trouble-shooting, staff swapped communication paths from Dalton Street to Guppy Road, which allowed the manual call up of sites via DMR so that data could be retrieved. During this incident no data was lost and all sites were sending data back via DMR before 10am that day.

9.      The investigation thus far indicates that there was an issue with the new DMR repeater site in Taradale losings its microwave link and the system flipping to fibre.  This is still being investigated by our providers. The Taradale repeater has been examined, fixed and further testing is under way.

10.    As noted earlier, the key issue, beyond the repeater performance, is that staff were not aware that there was a DMR problem until they logged on to HydroTel and manually looked at the site table.  Staff have since copied a simple warning system that works with the analogue radios, where a site with only one form of communication sends a message to the Flood Duty officer if the data is late – this will also work for the DMR network.  This notification process will provide early warning of any communications problems to allow staff to actively manage the system to ensure data continues to come from sites and to also activate our providers to rectify any issues.

11.    Since this incident the network has continued to operate at 100% performance and, along with the new resilience sites added, will warn the Flood Duty officer of any communication issues so that a response can be initiated immediately if necessary.

Next steps

12.    Staff will conclude the investigation and document the findings as a critical incident for future reference if required.  Any additional actions arising from the findings will be actioned immediately.

Decision-making considerations

13.    Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision making provisions do not apply.

 

Recommendation

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the Telemetry Network Outage – Critical Incident report.

 

Authored by:

Peter Davis

Manager Environmental Information

 

Approved by:

Iain Maxwell

Group Manager Integrated Catchment Management

 

 

Attachment/s

There are no attachments for this report.


Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee

4 December 2024

Subject: Erosion Control Scheme programme update

 

Reason for report

1.      This item provides a year-six update, for the 10-year ECS programme. It will include commentary on two interrelated programmes:

1.1.       the Hill Country Erosion Fund (HCEF), and

1.2.       the HBRC Poplar and Willow Nursery.

Strategic fit

2.      The ECS and its supporting programmes align with the following HBRC Strategic Plan outcome:

“Hawke’s Bay farmers and growers are thriving and maximising returns from resilient farming systems through smart, sustainable land use.”

3.      It directly supports the strategic goals listed below:

3.1.       By 2025, Land Use Suitability information is available to all commercial landowners to inform smarter land use.

3.2.       By 2050, all highly erodible land is under tree cover.

Background

4.      Approximately 252,000 hectares of Hawke’s Bay hill country have been identified as being at high risk of erosion. It is estimated that this land contributes, on average, 3.27 million tonnes of sediment into the region’s waterways yearly.  That’s an average of 136,000 truck and trailer loads of sediment per year.

5.      Erosion impacts on farms represent a loss of current and future potential productivity on the farm. This high level of sedimentation also affects water quality and aquatic habitats within the region and the biodiversity (both aquatic and terrestrial) that depends upon them.

6.      HBRC’s Catchment Management team delivers three interrelated work programmes which collectively contribute to the Council's strategic goals of climate-smart and sustainable land use and healthy, functioning and climate-resilient biodiversity:

6.1.       the Erosion Control Scheme (ECS)

6.2.       the Hill Country Erosion Fund (HCEF), and

6.3.       the HBRC Poplar and Willow Nursery.

7.      The Erosion Control Scheme is a loan-funded grant scheme that enables non-commercial tree planting and other erosion control works on highly erodible land in Hawke’s Bay. The ECS has an operational budget of $30 million over ten years. This budget primarily funds on-ground erosion control works and leverages co-funding from landowners and other funding partners.

8.      The exception is an annual allocation of $350,000 to support a contestable ‘Strategic Partnerships and Innovation fund’. This helps fund research and other initiatives to maximise the uptake and effectiveness of the ECS, such as a pole trial of experimental poplar varieties to inform new variety selections for the nursery replanting programme.


 

9.      The Hill Country Erosion Funding Programme (HCEF is a partnership between MPI / Te Uru Rākau —New Zealand Forest Service, regional councils, and landowners. It provides funding for on-ground projects, building resources, and technical capability to deliver erosion control work. The HCEF has existed since 2007, and TUR continues to see the value in supporting erosion control across the country.

10.    HBRC’s Poplar and Willow Nursery: HBRC and its Catchment Board predecessor have operated a poplar and willow nursery at Pākōwhai since 1982. At its peak, the (20.5ha) nursery produced more than 30,000 three-meter poles annually for subsidised erosion control planting and river management.

Erosion Control Scheme (ECS)

11.    The ECS is the council's flagship, one-to-one with the landowners' programme.  It is in response to a ‘wicked’ problem that is having significant impacts on our land, freshwater and marine resources.  It represents a continuance of decades of investment by council and its predecessors in supporting a transition to long term sustainable land uses for erosion-prone land.  Our hill country farming community is strongly supportive of it.  Projects are delivered on-farm through direct relationships with landowners, reflecting a one size fits all approach does not work and that landowners need the specialist knowledge held by Council staff to create effective and affordable plans.

12.    The ECS is now in its sixth year. To date, $13.5 million of HBRC loan funding has leveraged around $10 million of landowner and co-funding investment toward erosion control works. For every $100 HBRC has invested into the ECS, the team has delivered over $171 in work through co-investment. This includes 5,075ha of erodible land treated and over 356km of waterway protected.

*Significant underspend in the 2022/23 FY due to prolonged wet conditions leading up to, and the impact of, Cyclone Gabrielle

Long Term Plan Levels of Service

13.    At the end of Year 6, the ECS programme supported the treatment of over 5,075ha of land.

14.    Early assumptions suggested that 2,000ha of severely eroding land could be treated annually through ‘non-commercial’ planting and other erosion control interventions. This was tempered to 900ha, mainly due to limitations in the availability of poplar and willow poles and the expense of other treatments.

15.    Co-benefits: While the ECS does not generally fund riparian retirement specifically, we do record waterways protected by default when parcels of land are permanently retired for erosion control.

 

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

TOTAL

Area of land treated

Target (ha)

2,000

2,000

900

900

900

900

7,600

Achieved (ha)

131

676

1,176

1,459

777

*856

5,075

 

Length of waterway retired

Target (km)

100

100

60

60

60

60

440

Achieved (km)

13.8

27

90

150

21

*55

356.8

*Does not include 118ha of land ‘re-treated’ and 19.8 km of waterway re-retired through remedial works following Cyclone Gabrielle

2023-2024 project year

16.    The 2023-24 year’s ECS budget was fully committed. It reflects a much more settled year, with landowners able to commit to planned works. It was also the final year for some large co-funded ‘jobs for nature ‘projects – in particular the Hapara Takatu (Shovel ready) riparian fencing programme. Some good momentum has been built, with a particularly strong interest in retirement and native reversion.

17.    In discussion with co-funding agencies, it was agreed that projects damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle would be eligible for ECS support to reinstate damaged mitigations. Of the 974.2ha of land treated, 118ha was remedial works. This included 19.8km of the 75km of fencing completed. Metrics for re-treated land are kept separate for consistency of reporting.

18.    New areas under treatment as of 30 June 2024 include:

18.1.     524ha of land treated with poplar and willow pole planting (22,350 poles)

18.2.     100ha of block planting (predominantly native)

18.3.     144ha retired for managed reversion.

Current Project Year 2024-2025

19.    The ECS budget for the current reporting year is fully allocated, having been reduced from $3.3 million in 2023-24 to $2.1 million. With less money for new projects, staff are taking the opportunity to review and report on the effectiveness of established works.

20.    Our planting season ended in early October. Staff are completing site/work inspections to process grant payments and plan next year’s work programme.

21.    A summary of challenges for the current 2024-25 year are discussed below:

Issue Challenge

Management

The team already has around 20 projects that could not be approved due to the ECS budget being fully committed. Most will likely be reconsidered for the 2025-26 project year.

    A priority selection process has been established to rank and approve projects based on erosion/sediment reduction value.

    Managing stakeholder expectations through early and effective communication

Reduced opportunity to leverage external funding as the ‘Jobs for Nature’ programme ends and other cuts are made to Ministry funding programmes.

    Project work will likely focus on private land where individual landowners can co-fund project works without further assistance

A steadily increasing pole supply with reduced ECS funding.

Pole-planting projects are a regional priority due to:

    Their value in terms of effective area treated/$

    Their role in maintaining the productive capacity of farm land

    HBRC’s investment to date in nursery development

    The co-funding it attracts through the Hill Country Erosion fund

NB: Every year, we need to allocate a budget to cover the cost of poles, which includes nursery production costs plus the 50% HBRC subsidy.

e.g. $400,000 of the ECS grant fund is needed to sell 22,500 poles.

    Funding will likely be prioritised for P&W pole planting over other projects.

    Maintaining pole production for demand outside of the ECS (e.g. Land for Life, river control works)

Predictions of an early dry season. Could experience high planting mortality

    Manage expectations and provide information for maximising survival (e.g. re-ramming/firming up poles, addressing pest and weed competition)

    Amending erosion control work plans as necessary.

 

Hill Country Erosion Programme

22.    The 2024-25 financial year was the first of a new 4-year HCE funding round. HBRC has secured $3,614,521 of funding over the next 4 years. In addition to funding on-ground work, HCE funding directly employs staff and provides soil conservation training and resources for staff and landowners.

HCE funds

Budget Yr 1

Actual Yr 1

Budget Yr 2

Budget Yr 3

Budget Yr 4

Staff (4 FTEs)

$551,040

$505,612

$562,061

$573,303

$584,768

Nursery re-development

$0.00

$45,428

$0.00

$0

$0

Soil Conservation training resources

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

$12,500

$12,500

Retirement/reversion

$199,490

$199,490

$203,480

$207,550

$211,701

Poplar/willow pole harvest and delivery

$125,000

$125,000

$125,000

$125,000

$125,000

Total

$885,531

$885,530

$900,542

$918,353

$933,969

 

23.    The HCE funds four Catchment Team staff, including two full-time staff in Wairoa, a project coordinator, and a part-time administrator. The project coordinator role was vacant for six non-consecutive months. We successfully negotiated with MPI for the balance of funding to contribute to our nursery redevelopment programme.

24.    Training and resource spending included vocational training, an ETS workshop to update staff on recent NZ Emissions Trading Scheme developments, and a debris-dam building demonstration and instructional video.

Soil Conservation Nursery

25.    Historically, demand for poplar and willow poles has tended to fluctuate (because of factors that include dry seasons and the level of financial support available). In recent years, the demand (for poles) has risen beyond what can be reliably supplied. Contributing factors include:

25.1.     recent severe weather events and predictions that these will increase in frequency and intensity

25.2.     grants for soil conservation and other planting

25.3.     the Emissions Trading Scheme and potential for space-planted trees to generate carbon credits

25.4.     better promotion and improved varieties of poplar and willow poles, and

25.5.     other regions are facing similar demand and shortages.

26.    In 2019, a ‘Nursery Operation Plan’ was commissioned to address declining yields, expand production, improve efficiencies, and introduce new clonal material. It included revisiting maintenance regimes and stool-bed replacement schedules and introducing new systems and efficiencies for maximising 3m pole production.

27.    Following Cyclone Gabrielle, this plan was reviewed and updated due to extensive site damage and loss of plant and infrastructure.

28.    This year's total pole harvest numbers were slightly higher than the previous year's. As expected, there has been some residual impact on yield volume from some younger stool beds due to prolonged wet conditions leading up to and following the cyclone.

Nursery Expansion Business Case

29.    To meet the anticipated regional demand and potentially service other North Island regions, HBRC assessed the feasibility of increasing annual poplar and willow pole production to between 50,000 and 90,000 3m poles.

30.    To date, HBRC has increased the total area of pole planting by 25%. This involved:

30.1.     extending the area under production at the Allen Rd nursery by 1.5ha

30.2.     planting an additional 3ha at a Johns Rd site near the expressway

30.3.     establishing a 2ha ‘satellite’ pole nursery on HBRC land near Waipukurau.

31.    There are plans to develop additional land at the Johns Road and Waipukurau sites during the 2025 winter planting season. Other options include a second satellite pole nursery in Northern Hawke’s Bay and supporting the establishment of commercially operated private pole nurseries. Our team has also provided advice and support to landowners looking to establish their own ‘on-farm’ pole nurseries.

Projections for poplar and willow prole production

A table with numbers and a green background

Description automatically generated

Decision-making considerations

32.    Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

 

Recommendation

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the Erosion Control Scheme programme update.

 

Authored by:

Warwick Hesketh

Principal Advisor Catchment Management

Bryan McCavana

Catchment Advisor Hill Country Erosion (Gisborne)

Paul Train

Catchment Management Lead Southern

Alice Anderson

Catchment Advisor

Jolene Townshend

Manager Catchment Operations

Paula Richardson

Catchment Management Lead

Approved by:

Iain Maxwell

Group Manager Integrated Catchment Management

 

 

Attachment/s    There are no attachments for this report.


Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee

4 December 2024

Subject: Biosecurity Memorandum of Understanding

 

Reason for report

1.      This item updates the Committee on a recently signed partnership Memorandum of Understanding between Te Uru Kahika, Biosecurity New Zealand (BNZ) and the Department of Conservation (DoC) on biosecurity matters.

Background

2.      Regional councils play a key role in the Aotearoa New Zealand biosecurity system alongside BNZ and DOC. It is imperative that this system works effectively to ensure that new and existing pests are managed to reduce impacts on our environment and economy. There are many barriers between agencies that affect how well we work together, which has become apparent during recent pest incursion responses. Senior leaders across the three organisations agreed that we needed focus on how we work together to deliver better biosecurity outcomes for our communities.

3.      In September 2023, representatives from BNZ, DoC and Te Uru Kahika directed officials to draft a new principles-based MoU. The purpose of the MoU is to provide an overarching framework for BNZ, DoC and Te Uru Kahika to work together on biosecurity matters in a more effective and efficient way. The scope of the MOU includes readiness (including surveillance and preparedness), response (including long term management and investigation) and the transition to and from the different states along this continuum.

4.      Staff from the three agencies developed the MoU (Attachment 1), which was endorsed by Regional Council CEOs at their 3 May 2024 meeting. On Friday 16 August, the MoU was signed by Michael McCartney (RCEO chair) on behalf of Te Uru Kahika, Stephanie Rowe on behalf of DoC and Stuart Anderson on behalf of BNZ.

Discussion – working towards a more productive partnership

5.      The premise of the MOU is for the regional sector, BNZ and DoC to work in a partnership arrangement. It’ll take some time to work through specific issues and bed in an improved ‘normal’ way of working, but all parties to the MoU are positive and willing.

6.      As part of this, it’ll be important for each council and the wider regional sector to play our parts to give life to the MoU. Where issues need to be raised with BNZ and/or DoC, councils should work through the Chief Executive to use the MoU partnership as a first step, which provides a key operational pathway through Te Uru Kahika to resolve these.

7.      Additionally, where appropriate, we will unify our voice with BNZ and DoC to provide clearer, single-message communications for our communities.

Next steps

8.      Regional staff will continue to work through the Biomanagers special interest group to support the implementation of the MoU at place.  Reports on progressing the MoU outcomes will be circulated in future.


 

Decision-making considerations

9.      Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision making provisions do not apply.

 

Recommendation

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the Biosecurity Memorandum of Understanding staff report.

 

Authored & Approved by:

Iain Maxwell

Group Manager Integrated Catchment Management

 

 

Attachment/s

1

Biosecurity Memorandum of Understanding

 

Under Separate Cover
online only

  


Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee

4 December 2024

Subject: Biodiversity programmes update

 

Reason for report

1.      This item provides an update of the programmes delivered by the Catchment Operations Biodiversity team during FY23/24, which include: Priority Ecosystem Programme, Targeted Catchment Works Fund and Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay Environmental Enhancement Contestable Fund.

Executive summary

2.      The Priority Ecosystem Programme budget for the 2023/24 financial year was $250,497 which was dedicated to deer fencing and undertaking pest control at sites of high biodiversity value.

3.      Alongside this, there was a further $689,767 of funding spent on protecting priority ecosystem sites through the ‘Jobs for Nature’ programme and the Pōrangahau Catchment Group Freshwater Improvement Fund. These programmes focused on deer fencing new sites or existing sheep fenced covenanted sites where feral deer and goats were impacting on the ecological integrity of these protected remnants.

4.      In securing these additional funds, $200,000 of matched funding was redirected from the HBRC COVID Recovery Fund. This was pivotal in the success of obtaining these additional funds.

5.      These budgets were used last financial year to deer fence 12 new sites, protecting 98 hectares of threatened forest types, as well as undertaking maintenance activities (largely pest plant and animal control) at 24 sites. This couldn’t have been achieved without external funding.

6.      The Targeted Catchment Works Fund budget last financial year was $261,536 which was used to support projects with biodiversity and other environmental outcomes that do not meet the criteria of other funding programmes, but provide significant environmental outcomes.

7.      A contribution of $50,000 was paid to the Environmental Enhancement Contestable Community Fund, which is administered by Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay.

Strategic fit

8.      Biodiversity is one of the four priority focus areas in the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan:  Healthy, functioning and climate-resilient biodiversity. Kia ora, kia āhei, kia mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi hoki te rerenga rauropi. There are four strategic goals:

8.1.       By 2020, regional priority locations for ecosystem restoration – including in the coastal marine area – have been identified.

8.2.       By 2030, key species and habitat (sites) are prioritised and under active restoration. Source: HB Biodiversity Strategy, 2015-2050 and Action Plan 2017-2020

8.3.       By 2050, a full range of indigenous habitats and ecosystems, and abundance and distributions of taonga species are maintained and increased in every catchment in Hawke's Bay. Source: HB Biodiversity Strategy, 2015-2050 and Action Plan 2017-2020

8.4.       By 2050, Hawke's Bay is predator free in line with NZ 2050 target. Source: Predator Free 2050

9.      Climate change also impacts biodiversity. With many of our lowland ecosystems reduced to small, fragmented remnants with poor connectivity, they and the species that live within them are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as drought, fire, heavy rainfall and sea level rise. Most of these sites have been identified as Priority Ecosystem sites.

10.    Other plans that feed into Council’s biodiversity programmes are Hawke's Bay Biodiversity Strategy, Hawke's Bay Regional Pest Management Plan and the Asset Management Ecological Management and Enhancement Plan. These plans have provisions or programmes that help protect and enhance Priority Ecosystem sites.

11.    The Te Mana o te Taiao- Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy 2020 was launched in August 2020. An implementation plan was produced in 2022, and this is currently being updated in partnership with the regional sector, as well as a shared Outcome Monitoring Framework. The National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPS-IB) was gazetted in July 2023 with the objective of maintaining indigenous biodiversity across Aotearoa New Zealand. Government reforms are currently underway which are likely to alter aspects of the NPS-IB, as well as the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, which includes provisions for the protection and restoration of natural inland wetlands.

Legislative imperative

12.    Council has a legal obligation under S30 part 1 of the Resource Management Act (1981) to:

12.1.     Every regional council shall have the following functions for the purpose of giving effect to this Act in its region:

12.1.1.     the establishment, implementation, and review of objectives, policies, and methods for maintaining indigenous biological diversity:

13.    While the Council has yet to establish its objectives and policies for biodiversity, the activity reported on here relates to the implementation of methods for maintaining indigenous biodiversity.

Background

14.    Indigenous biodiversity in New Zealand is in crisis. Around 4,000 species are currently threatened or at risk of extinction, including more than 75% of our indigenous reptile, bird, bat and freshwater fish species. A high proportion of these are endemic to New Zealand, i.e., they are not found anywhere else in the world. In the Hawke’s Bay region, 77% of the original indigenous forest and 96% of historic wetland extent have been lost. Half the remaining forest types are categorised as threatened, with the greatest losses being lowland forest types.

15.    Council has a range of programmes that help protect and enhance biodiversity. The Priority Ecosystem programme was initiated in the 2018-2028 LTP with a focus of securing remaining high biodiversity remnants in Hawke’s Bay from extinction. The main works undertaken are deer fencing, pest plant and animal control and planting. It involves working closely with a large number of external agencies and stakeholders, such as the QEII Trust, the rural sector and land occupiers. Ecosystem-based site prioritisation is a step forward in addressing biodiversity decline, focussing on sustaining, protecting, and improving a full representation of native species and habitats. Taking this prioritised focus put council in a strong position to leverage funding from Central Government’s Jobs for Nature programme.

16.    The Targeted Catchment Work Fund aims to deliver high value environmental outcomes on a sub-catchment scale such as improved water quality, riparian protection, biodiversity enhancement and wetland restoration. This fund complements other the Priority Ecosystem Programme and Erosion Control Scheme by covering work that will contribute to significant environmental outcomes but does not meet their funding criteria. It was established after rethinking the Hotspots programme established in the 2018-2028 LTP in recognition of difficulties delivering those projects successfully. Furthermore, this fund is used to leverage external funding.


 

17.    The Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay Environmental Enhancement Community Fund supports catchment or community groups to apply for funding to deliver biodiversity protection projects. A MoU was signed with Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay who deliver this fund and work with successful applicants in project delivery.

18.    A recent report has shown New Zealand could save more than $70 billion over the next 50 years by reversing its escalating biodiversity crisis through avoiding impacts like disruption to crops and poorer water quality and fish stocks, while safeguarding New Zealand’s clean and green image for tourism and the primary sector. In order to meet set targets, current investment would need to be boosted nearly sevenfold.

Discussion

19.    The Priority Ecosystem Programme was used last financial year to protect 12 new sites with the installation of 20,776m of deer fencing securing 46 hectares of acutely threatened forest types and 52 hectares of chronically threatened forest types. Maintenance activities were undertaken at 24 sites including post-cyclone fence repair at 4 sites, ensuring the ongoing exclusion of browsers from 157 hectares of covenanted forest, and pest control at 21 managed sites including 141 hectares of wetland, 336 hectares of acutely threatened forest types and 304 hectares of chronically threatened forest types. These projects are summarised in the below map.

A map of the ocean

Description automatically generated

Map 1 – Priority Ecosystem sites that received funding in the 2023-24 financial year

 

20.    The new sites protected through the programme last financial year include:

20.1.     Te Hiwi – Tukituki catchment. This is a 2.4 hectare swamp forest remnant of critically threatened kahikatea, totara and matai forest of which there is only 3.3% of its historic extent remaining. Swamp forest would have once covered large areas of lowland Hawke’s Bay where soils were poorly draining, but these areas have now been largely cleared and drained. The At Risk- Declining plant rōhutu is present in good numbers with a significant cover of seedlings. This precious remnant is now deer fenced in partnership with QEII, has had pest plant control undertaken and the threatened species Olearia gardneri and Pittosporum obcordatum have been planted which would have once been numerous in the area.

20.2.     Edenham – Tukituki catchment is a small remnant of totara/titoki forest, an extremely rare and threatened ecosystem occurring in warm to mild and drought prone areas of the Wellington, Hawke’s Bay and locally Manawatu-Wanganui regions in the North Island and in the Marlborough district in the South Island. To add further context, this remnant is situated in the Eastern Hawke’s Bay ecological district. This district comprises of 211,200ha and, sadly, only has 1.1% primary forest left in the entire district. Unfortunately, of the 1.1% that remains in the district, the majority are small in size and many are in average to poor condition, due to stock, pest animals and pest plants. This site was deer fenced in partnership with QEII.

20.3.     Ponui – Southern Coast catchment. This is a 21 hectare wetland protected with a Nga Whenua Rahui kawenata that includes a neighbouring area of coastal forest. Only 4% of historic wetland extent remains in Hawke’s Bay and very little coastal forest. A population of spotless crake (At Risk- Declining) is present in the wetland area. The lower area of the wetland is dominated by willow forest, and individual trees are spreading upstream. Last summer, aerial willow control was undertaken, and a follow-up operation is planned for this summer.

20.4.     Kowhai Downs – Te Ngarue catchment. This joint project with the Erosion Control Scheme and QEII protects 18 hectares of tawa/titoki forest, a chronically threatened forest type, as well as incorporating a number of seepage wetlands. The remnant is highly modified as has had ongoing stock access but was identified as significant because it contains one of the larger areas of kahikatea-dominated fertile slope forest in the southern part of the ecological district, of which approximately only 79 ha remains.

20.5.     Mangatawhiti – Mangaaruhe catchment. This joint project with the Erosion Control scheme and QEII protects 33 hectares of forest mapped as rata/tawa/kamahi/podocarp forest. The understorey has been heavily impacted by grazing, but the site has maintained a largely intact tall canopy, with abundant emergent podocarps, particularly large rimu which are a notable feature of the local skyline.

21.    Outcome monitoring has been undertaken at three sites each year for the past three years. Monitoring includes vegetation plots, bird counts and other fauna surveys. Size-class structure analysis of dominant canopy species in the vegetation plots show a highly distressed set of forest remnants. Seedling and sapling numbers are far lower, in comparison to large tree numbers, than is expected in a forest with healthy regeneration. Species with a high tolerance of browsing (e.g., mingimingi (Leucopogon fasciculatus), horopito (Pseudowintera colorata), lancewood (Pseudopanax crassifolius)) are the only species to show indications of long-term regeneration. There has only been limited analysis of these results undertaken due to staff vacancies.

22.    The Targeted Catchment Fund was used to support several projects last financial year that support biodiversity outcomes for freshwater ecosystems including:

22.1.     White wetland – a 1.6 hectare wetland constructed in the Tukipo sub-catchment designed to reduce dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus input to the Tukituki River which included the planting of 24,000 native wetland plants. This was a joint project with Fonterra, NIWA and the Tukipo catchment group.

22.2.     Waipatiki banded kokopu restoration – this included planting 3,000 natives along Kowhiro Stream which, when grown, will extend the riparian corridor that exists further upstream in Pan Pac’s native reserve and forest area, increasing the habitat of native species like banded kokopu which prefer cool, shaded environments. This project was a joint effort between Pan Pac, Eskdale School Te Huka Waiohinganga Esk River Care Group and a private landowner.

22.3.     Ahuriri Estuary upper catchment enhancement – planting and fencing have been undertaken on several properties in the upper Ahuriri catchment, which has included 6,550 plants and 130m fencing, to improve the health of both these riparian systems and the estuary downstream.

23.    The Environmental Enhancement Contestable Community Fund was used to fund 13 projects in the May 2024 funding round with $50,000 from HBRC. Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay administered this fund using its growing community network alongside reviewing applications, undertaking associated grant paperwork, distributing the funds, auditing and ensuring the success of these projects. Projects include a range of activities and locations including riparian and restoration planting, biodiversity monitoring and pest plant and predator control being run by community groups and landowners. Two of the successful projects are:

23.1.     Otaia/Lindsays Bush: Otaia/Lindsays Bush is a 10 hectare lowland podocarp forest identified as one of the most threatened forest types in Hawke’s Bay. The bush provides roosting trees for long-tailed bats (Threatened- Nationally Critical) and is likely a core roosting area for a local colony. To secure the future of this remnant, Forest and Bird Central Hawke’s Bay are working to remove weeds, control pests and continue remedial planting in lightwells and cyclone-damaged areas of the reserve.

23.2.     Te Ngahere: this project is to protect and enhance the number of pekapeka/long-tailed bays in Ball’s Clearing through predator control. Ball’s Clearing is a DOC reserve containing the chronically threatened kahikatea/rimu forest type, of which Hawke’s Bay appears to be the national stronghold. 1272 invasive predators were killed since 2019, benefitting not just pekapeka, but other birds, lizards and invertebrates present in the reserve. Two wananga about the ngahere and trapping were included as part of the application.

24.    Over the past six months, biodiversity as an activity has had significant presence across our Facebook page. These have generated great engagement across our Facebook and LinkedIn pages. These 10+ posts including the ‘meet the locals’ series have all been well received by the community. Typically, our Facebook posts reach between 3,000 and 5,000 people, however, with the majority of biodiversity posts these are performing higher than typical.  Notably, biodiversity posts generate higher than typical interactions, commonly positive comments and likes which is encouraging.

Next steps

25.    With a growing number of sites, the team is developing a ‘30-year plan’ to help map out maintenance (pest plant control) and funding requirements to ensure the ongoing success of projects and secure the investment made to date.

26.    Outcome monitoring is essential to understanding the impacts of our management and other activities we may need to undertake to ensure the maintenance of ecological integrity at these sites. However, limited monitoring occurs across our priority ecosystem sites due to budget constraints.

27.    We are also working on better tools (GIS) and policies to support our work.

28.    Finally, this is the last year of funding from the Jobs for Nature programme which has helped ‘fill the gap’ after ongoing budget reductions due to Cyclone Gabrielle. This funding not only significantly increased the number of Priority Ecosystem sites being protected over the four-year period, but it also allowed for the protection of large sites that would have otherwise been too expensive to protect. Several catchment groups who the team have partnered with to achieve significant biodiversity outcomes will also have their central government funding come to an end. The ongoing funding of Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay, who play an essential role in supporting local community groups is also uncertain. In order to make a significant difference to the region’s biodiversity, and ensure the ongoing ecological integrity of significant areas, it is essential the momentum of these programmes can continue.


 

Decision-making considerations

29.    Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision making provisions do not apply.

Recommendation

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the Biodiversity programmes update.

 

Authored by:

Annabel Beattie

Senior Scientist - Terrestrial Ecology

Mark Mitchell

Principal Advisor Biosecurity Biodiversity

Jolene Townshend

Manager Catchment Operations

James Park

Management Accountant

Paula Richardson

Catchment Management Lead

 

Approved by:

Iain Maxwell

Group Manager Integrated Catchment Management

 

 

Attachment/s

There are no attachments for this report.


Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee

4 December 2024

Subject: Land for Life update

 

Reason for Report

1.      This item provides the Committee with a brief update on the Land for Life (LfL) project:

1.1.       Present the executive summary of the business case for Stage 2

1.2.       Update on progress with Stage 3: validating the ability to scale

1.3.       Update on progress with securing funding for Stage 3 and associated activity to build project momentum.

Executive Summary

2.      Editing and formatting of the business case for Stage 2 has been completed and it in the process of being circulated to project partners under non-disclosure agreement.

3.      A project plan for Stage 3 has been developed. This stage aims to validate the ability to scale the LfL model in the Hawke’s Bay region and nationally.  The project plan identifies project workstreams and milestones.

4.      Stage 3 is estimated to cost $3.38M over two years. Funding is still being fully secured but anticipates to be split between in-kind contributions from HBRC and cash from MPI through an application to the Sustainable Future Farming Fund (SFFF), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), philanthropic donors and corporate partners.

5.      Non-binding preparatory work has begun on Stage 3 and a programme of communications and engagement is underway to support growing the momentum with the project. This includes invitations to ministers to visit the region.

Project Objectives for Stage 3

6.      As outlined in the update to the Committee in March and June 2024, Stage 3 of the project aims to validate that it can be scaled across Hawke’s Bay and to other regions. The project purpose, goal and objectives of Stage 3 were outlined in the June committee meeting.

Background and recent progress

7.      The executive summary of the business case completed as part of Stage 2 of the project was presented to the June committee meeting. It remains commercial in confidence as the project moves to commercial discussions and is being circulated to prospective project partners under non-disclosure agreement.

8.      Funding for the next stage totals $3.38M over the two and a half years. As previously reported, letters of co-funding commitment have been provided by HBRC and TNC/philanthropic donors. We await the final decision/announcement from MPI in relation to the $995,000 that has been applied for from the Sustainable Food and Fibers Futures Fund, which is currently being advanced by the Minister of Agriculture.

9.      To support the applications of funding and preparation for Stage 3, a programme of communications and engagement has been underway to assist build project momentum and keep the farming community and project partners informed.  As part of this, briefings have been provided to local MPs and ministers McClay and Hoggard (including on-farm visit), and separately to Minister Watts.

10.    Non-binding preparatory work has begun on Stage 3. This has included:

10.1.     A terms of reference for governance arrangements

10.2.     An expressions of interest process to onboard financial implementation partners

10.3.     Updating project plans, milestones and related framework to acknowledge delays incurred with securing funding

10.4.     Ongoing communications with key stakeholders including pilot farmers

10.5.     Early planning to secure corporate partnerships

10.6.     Identifying capability and capacity within each agency (capability workshop planned inclusive MPI, MfE, TNC, HBRC)

10.7.     Progress with integrating the LfL programme with the capability at HBRC including involvement in the technical advisory (TA) facility design.

Project structure and HBRC integration 11.    Integration of the project with HBRC internal resourcing commitments is being progressed as part of detailed project planning. It will also be shaped by the onboarding of implementation partners who will bring their (yet to be defined) capability and capacity for core resourcing requirements for the project that include farmer relationship management, toolsets and processes, catchment orientated activity, and measurement and verification systems.

12.    The project structure described in the business case is illustrated below. Internal HBRC resources involved with functions of the project team and TA facility previously reported to the Committee include:

12.1.     Project governance

12.2.     Project management and team (including vision and strategy, access to tools, communication and engagement)

12.3.     Leading TA facility particularly for supporting landowner engagement and planning

12.4.     Looking for options to influence and adjust local policy setting

12.5.     Support the scaling of LfL.

13.    The draft high-level view of the project’s structure and capability is illustrated below with the leadership of the TA facility by HBRC noted.

(initial high-level view)

14.    A more detailed look at HBRC related aspects of project resourcing is illustrated below and described further below.

(initial high-level view)

15.    The HBRC functions identified in the illustration above are further described:

15.1.     Rural partnerships

15.1.1.     Project governance

15.1.2.     Support for TA lead

15.1.3.     Dedicated catchment advisory role as LfL Engagement specialist for the landowners involved in the LfL programme

15.1.4.     Incorporate LfL into catchment planning activity

15.1.5.     Support with development and oversight of extension planning activity alongside partner agencies.

15.2.     Catchment delivery team

15.2.1.     Catchment advisors leverage current farmer engagement efforts to provide LfL information and referral service for those farmers interested in the programme

15.2.2.     Some LfL farm planning may incorporate existing Hill Country Erosion and biodiversity programme support and supply of poplar poles.

15.3.     Māori Partnerships

15.3.1.     Support the development and provide oversight for the involvement of Māori and whenua Māori in the programme.

15.4.     Communications

15.4.1.     Support communications as required.

15.5.     Science

15.5.1.     Support the development and provide oversight for the R&D, measurement, reporting and verification programmes.

15.6.     Policy

15.6.1.     Support for strategic regional policy development.

15.7.     Corporate

15.7.1.     Procurement, financial management and reporting.

Strategic policy settings to advance outcomes for nature

16.    As presented in the 20 March 2024 paper to the Committee, Wildlands and Cawthron were commissioned to work with the project team and HBRC science and biodiversity teams to complete a LfL technical paper: Additional Information on Gains for Nature.

17.    Expert assessment confirmed that the plantings identified in the business case from the bottom-up approach for indigenous revegetation are too low and need to be reset to recognise the ecological understanding of the rate of biodiversity loss when indigenous cover drops to below 15-20% of the land area.

18.    The paper identified the potential to maximise nature-based benefits during the next stage to deliver strategic and aspirational view of what LfL can and needs to achieve to deliver the significant nature-based benefits afforded by this approach.

19.    The report established a strategic view of benefits that LfL needs to target, which experts consider aspirational but achievable, and which align with:

19.1.     Increasing the overall level of planting to 20% of farms

19.2.     Returning ecologically appropriate indigenous cover and habitats to 15-20% indigenous cover across catchments

19.3.     Increasing the proportion of native planting to approximately 40-50% of total new planting area (toward achieving the 15-20% indigenous cover and habitat target above).

20.    Stage 3 of the project aims to validate that it can be scaled with one of the project objectives signed off by partners in the business case and supported by project funders to pursue opportunities to drive additional gains for nature, including to strengthen incentives for native planting.

21.    The business case strengthens the case that accelerating the roll out of LfL accelerates realisation of benefits at scale. With the stretched planting goals, to achieve 15-20% indigenous cover across catchments over time, with indigenous afforestation or agroforestry accounting for 40-50% of total new planting the business case identifies the benefits achievable:

21.1.     reducing sediment erosion by >25%

21.2.     21,000 km of rivers with improved management

21.3.     an estimated 15 million tCo2e sequestered over thirty years

21.4.     additional 101,300  tCo2e reduced from livestock emissions over thirty years

21.5.     16,385  ha of remnant native vegetation under improved management

21.6.     71,759 ha of land with improved management through afforestation or agroforestry

21.7.     4,500 ha of wetlands and lakes under improved management or protection

21.8.     292,267 ha of land under best management practice and regenerative interventions.

22.    To support this work, LfL will present to a future committee meeting with a view to having council adopt a ‘strategic policy position’ that align with the targets identified by Cawthron and Wildlands. This will help shape the programme development and ultimately guide the outcomes to stretch towards the nature-based benefits targets. It will also inform the development of the R&D and the monitoring and verification programme for the project. We note that this also strongly aligns with the objectives of project partners and funders.

Decision-making considerations

23.    Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

 

Recommendation

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the Land for Life update.

 

Authored by:

Michael Bassett-Foss

Land for Life Project Manager

 

Approved by:

Iain Maxwell

Group Manager Integrated Catchment Management

 

 

Attachment/s

There are no attachments for this report.


Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee

4 December 2024

Subject: Weather update

 

Reason for report

1.      This item provides an update on recent weather and current hydrological conditions, includes the seasonal forecast and highlights staff activity in response.

2.      Due to the dry late winter/spring period, staff thought it would be timely and useful to brief the committee on the climate, hydrological and land conditions for the last 6 months and present an outlook for the upcoming summer.

3.      The information presented draws on the current information that staff have available. 

Background

4.      The region experienced a wet start to winter, receiving in June almost double the month’s average rainfall.  Since then, monthly rainfall has typically fallen below average and temperatures have been warm, leading to lowering soil moisture and river flows.

5.      Early in the year, a La Niña was signaled to develop for the coming summer. It has been slow to fully establish and uncertainty remains whether thresholds will be met to confirm a La Niña event.

Discussion

6.      The region has experienced below average monthly rainfall since mid-winter.  Parts of the region are more affected than others.  The Heretaunga Plains is now into its fifth consecutive month of below normal rainfall, northern Hawke’s Bay is into its fourth and most other areas are into their third consecutive month of below normal rainfall.

7.      Soil moisture has progressively dropped with many areas recording soil moisture below median levels for the time of year.  In some cases, such as at Bridge Pa on the Heretaunga Plains, levels have dipped into the lowest 10th percentile of readings recorded at the site for late spring.

8.      River flows have been running below normal, resulting in low flows being closely monitored by staff and the Council’s website being kept up to date with any bans on irrigation water takes.

9.      The reduction in rainfall is gradually impacting groundwater levels, with some sites on both the Heretaunga and Ruataniwha Plains showing below average levels for the time of year.

10.    NIWA’s November to January seasonal forecast for Hawke’s Bay is for temperatures to be above average, rainfall totals to be near normal and soil moisture levels and rivers flows equally likely to be below normal or near normal.  NIWA indicated that the period might begin on a dry note but later “La Niña-like conditions could bring infrequent short and sharp rain events for the region”.

11.    Anticyclones have currently been blocking weather systems from advancing towards the region and delivering substantial rain.  Staff will continue to actively monitor current conditions and weather forecasts, and provide information to the public via the Council’s website, rural newsletters and through channels such as the Rural Advisory Group.

12.    Staff are meeting regularly to discuss the dry weather and the Rural Partnerships team are active in dialogue with our partner agencies and the agribusiness sector to ensure that information we hold is shared so that growers and landowners can continue to make informed decisions about their business operations.  Related to this we are rebranding and promoting the ‘drought app’ to the ‘Dry weather indicator’ to reflect its role as a decision-support tool for growers and landowners during dry weather periods such as the one that we are experiencing.

Decision-making considerations

13.    Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision making provisions do not apply.

 

Recommendation

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the Weather update staff report.

 

Authored by:

Dr Kathleen Kozyniak

Team Leader Marine, Air & Land Science

 

Approved by:

Iain Maxwell

Group Manager Integrated Catchment Management

 

 

Attachment/s

There are no attachments for this report.


Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee

4 December 2024

Subject: Follow-ups from previous Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee meetings

 

Reason for report

1.      On the list attached are items raised at previous Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee meetings that staff have followed up on. All items indicate who is responsible for follow up, and a brief status comment. Once the items have been reported to the Committee they will be removed from the list.

Decision-making considerations

2.      Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision-making provisions do not apply.

Recommendation

That the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee receives and notes the Follow-ups from previous Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee meetings.

 

Authored by:

Leeanne Hooper

Team Leader Governance

 

Approved by:

Desiree Cull

Strategy & Governance Manager

 

 

Attachment/s

1

Follow-ups from previous meetings

 

 

  


Follow-ups from previous meetings

Attachment 1