Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1           Accepts the apologies from Chairman Doug Leeder, Cr Matemoana McDonald, Cr Norm Bruning for late arrival and Cr Te Taru White for early departure  tendered at the meeting.

Rose/Iti

CARRIED

4.1

Monitoring and Operations Committee Minutes - 16 June 2020

Matters Arising:

·         An update on the Tauranga Marae OSET project would be provided to the next Monitoring Operations Committee scheduled for 15 December 2020.

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·         Raised concerns over air quality in the Judea area and requested an update at the next meeting.

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1           Confirms the Monitoring and Operations Committee Minutes - 16 June 2020 as a true and correct record.

Rose/Iti

CARRIED

5.1

Update on Glass Eel sampling on the Rangitāiki Awa

Presentation - Glass Eel Research on the Rangitāiki Awa: Objective ID A3628295   

NIWA Freshwater Fish Ecologist Dr Eimear Egan and NIWA PhD Masters Student Siobhan Nuri presented this item.

Key Points:

·         The earbones of the fish, known as otoliths, were similar to a fish’s diary and an important source of information for scientists

·         Very little was known about the marine lifecycle of eels

·         Rangitāiki River had the second longest database of eel populations in the country and was a nationally significant site

·         The population was monitored but not the glass eel life stage

·         The ocean was changing in New Zealand with sea surface temperatures warming and there was a vulnerability of species to climate change

·         Migration of the glass eel into the river and up the river was less known

·         Working on relating catches to environmental data e.g. barometric pressure.

Key Points - Members:

·         Commended the work and commitment involved in this research.

In Response to Questions:

·         A major challenge addressing the threat to extinction was that there was no glass eel monitoring in New Zealand, therefore no baseline data available to work from or gain an understanding of fluctuations and the numbers coming in from the sea

·         Barriers to heke migration included dams, weirs and culverts

·         Understanding the ocean and building this knowledge into predictions could assist in better understanding of what was driving decline in the species

·         Data to date plotted against the Maramataka showed a strong relationship with lunar phases for fishing

·         Some observations of whitebaiters were that it was possible to catch glass eels without realising, so community awareness and knowledge exchange were important

·         No progress had been made in New Zealand for breeding eels in captivity

·         There were opportunities for mana whenua to assist with monitoring data for a longer term database of an integrated monitoring programme.

Item for Staff Follow Up:

·     Requested a report to the Committee every six months on progress and to be kept informed of any requirements or assistance needed

·     Councillors  to receive the next Trustpower fish passage update from the Rangitāiki River Forum.

6.1

Chairperson's Report

Chair Cr Winters and General Manager Regulatory Services Sarah Omundsen presented this item.

Key Points:

·         All new structures had to be compliant with new fish passage requirements.

In Response to Questions:

·         Given compliance issues observed with water takes and reporting, this area would be targeted as a priority

·         A critical part of the policy lifecycle was keeping a record of implementation issues, both in terms of consenting as well as compliance. Staff keep a detailed record of all issues needing to be addressed for the next review cycle.

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1           Receives the report, Chairperson's Report.

von Dadelszen/Winters

CARRIED

6.2

Mount Maunganui Industrial Area Update

Compliance Manager – Urban, Industry and Response Stephen Mellor, Senior Regulatory Project Officer Reece Irving and Senior Regulatory Project Officer Sam Weiss presented this item.

Key Points - Staff:

·         The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) methyl bromide reassessment process was public and included a range of submitters.

·         Tauranga City Council had been updated about the intention of the Mount Maunganui Air Quality Working Party establishment and advised that once the Terms of Reference (ToR)  were approved a formal invitation would be sent.

In Response to Questions:

·         Fumigation distances referred to in the report were recommended by EPA staff to the decision-making committee as part of the methyl bromide reassessment underway

·         The decision-making committee had requested further modelling information, which would be peer reviewed before a decision was made

·         Minutes from the Mount Maunganui Air Quality Working Party would be included in future Monitoring and Operations Committee agendas.

Cr Crosby declared an interest in the resolution pertaining to the Mount Maunganui Air Quality Working party and abstained from voting.

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·         Medical Officer of Health to be specified in the Bay of Plenty District Health Board representation under the Working Party’s ToR.

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1           Receives the report, Mount Maunganui Industrial Area Update;

2           Approves the draft terms of reference for the Mount Maunganui Air Quality Working Party;

3           Appoints the Tauranga and Mauao constituency councillors to the Mount Maunganui Air Quality Working Party

Winters/Rose

CARRIED

Cr Crosby and Cr White abstained from voting.

6.3

2019/20 Annual Report for the Regional Pest Management Plan

Biosecurity Manager Greg Corbett and Biosecurity Team Leader Shane Grayling presented this item.

Key Points:

·         Cape Tulip was the only new incursion discovered through surveillance in the past year, which was considered a pest plant of national interest and managed by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI)

·         Despite the significant impact from the Covid-19 pandemic and alert levels there were no long term implications expected, with the possible exception of catfish breeding.

In Response to Questions:

·         A new system was being developed to address the current issue of gaps in data for Regional Pest Management Plan Indicators

·         Gorse was currently addressed through a boundary complaint issue which needed to come from an adjoining landowner to trigger a compliance process.

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·         Staff to liaise with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency regarding the issue of gorse near the railway and side of the road on State Highway 2 and Pacific Coast Highway to Whakatāne

·         Sellers of plants had been made aware of the illegality of selling pest plants such as pampas, but florists may not have been and it was important they were made aware also.

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1           Receives the report, 2019/20 Annual Report for the Regional Pest Management Plan.

Thurston/White

CARRIED

6.4

Review of the 2020 Drought and Water Shortage Event

Presentation - Standard Precipitation Index - Aug 2019 v Aug 2020: Objective ID A3628293

Data Services Manager Glenn Ellery and Regulatory Compliance Specialist Steve Pickles presented this item.

Key Points:

·         The Water Shortage Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was a good start and building upon this would be important leading into the coming season as it could potentially be the third year in a row with dry conditions.

In Response to Questions:

·          Numbers on the Standard Precipitation Index indicated deviations from long term normal rainfall

·          The effects of dry weather were being seen more on the shallow ground wells than the bores at the moment

·          The cumulative effects from a number of years with low rainfalls would start to become apparent and would be monitored closely

·          A decision matrix was being developed to look at a number of impacts in order to make future decisions on water shortage events.

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1           Receives the report, Review of the 2020 Drought and Water Shortage Event.

Crosby/Rose

CARRIED

6.5

An Overview of Wastewater in the Bay of Plenty Region

Compliance Manager – Primary Industry and Enforcement Alex Miller presented this item. 

In Response to Questions:

·         All non-compliances for territorial authorities (TAs) went through the same enforcement decision making process as any other consent holder.

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·          Further information to be provided regarding short, medium and long term solutions for Whakarewarewa forest irrigation block

·          Requested a report on performance as a regulator in terms of wastewater and stormwater.

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1           Receives the report, An Overview of Wastewater in the Bay of Plenty Region.

White/Rose

CARRIED

6.6

Resource Consents Annual Report 2019/20

Consents Manager Reuben Fraser and Consents Team Leader Hamish Dean presented this item.

Key Points:

·     There were two corrections to the agenda report:

o    Page 172 – The process status of the Transpower case was with the High Court, not completed as stated

o    Page 173 – 6.1 Risks and Mitigations should read ‘there are no new risks associated with the matters reported here’.

In Response to Questions:

·         There were generally two reasons that consents would be processed by consultants:

o   To  manage capacity of the consent planners as the workload fluctuated

o   To manage potential conflicts of interest, e.g. where the regional council was the applicant.

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1           Receives the report, Resource Consents Annual Report 2019/20.

Iti/Love

CARRIED

6.7

State of the Environment Reporting in the Bay of Plenty

Science Manager Rob Donald presented this item.

Key Points:

·         Approximately 1000 sites were currently being monitored at different intervals during the year and this was increasing

·         Monitoring requirements were becoming more prescriptive

·         Communities became more aware of the environment during Covid-19 lockdown.

In Response to Questions:

·         There was demand for further monitoring and information

·         PhD and Masters Degree Theses across the region were monitored through the University Chairs.

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·         Members requested information on the number of hits on the live feed data portal

·         Collation across entire suite of natural resource investigations

·         There was potential for increased capacity for communities to participate in monitoring, particularly with iwi.

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1           Receives the report, State of the Environment Reporting in the Bay of Plenty.

Nees/Love

CARRIED

6.8

National Wilding Conifer and Wallaby programmes

Biosecurity Manager Greg Corbett and Biosecurity Team Leader Shane Grayling presented this item, supported by Te Arawa Lakes Trust (TALT) Environment Manager Nicki Douglas.

In Response to Questions:

·         A consistent response had been received from people wanting to participate in the programme

·         Controlling wallabies and wilding conifers was high risk work, therefore health and safety was paramount and there was also a strong emphasis on this coming through from Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in their expectations of how funding agreements would be managed.

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1           Receives the report, National Wilding Conifer and Wallaby programmes.

Rose/Crosby

CARRIED

6.9

Investigating a Potential Biocontrol for Brown Bullhead Catfish

Presentation - Catfish Biocontrol: Objective ID A3628294   

Biosecurity Office (Aquatic Pests) Lucas MacDonald and Biosecurity Manager Greg Corbett presented this item.

Key Points:

·         Te Arawa Lakes Trust expressed full support of the proposal and the research programme.

In Response to Questions:

·         From MPI’s perspective if there was a trade e.g. money changing hands then there would be permitting and licensing involved

·         Catfish were not a sport fish and Fish and Game were interested in relation to potential impact on the trout fishing industry

·         Many assumptions were yet to be verified with research before the sterile male catfish would be released into lakes, which could take a minimum of two to three years.

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1           Receives the report, Investigating a Potential Biocontrol for Brown Bullhead Catfish.

von Dadelszen/Iti

CARRIED

6.10

Regional Wetlands Report

General Manager Integrated Catchments Chris Ingle and Environmental Scientist Shay Dean presented this item.

Cr von Dadelszen declared an interest.

In Response to Questions:

·         The additional 1324 hectares of freshwater wetland was likely due to improvements in the resolution of aerial photography enabling more accurate measuring

·         The loss of wetlands in the Whakatāne district across two sites was predominantly due to the management of contiguous plantation forestry and some conversion to plantation forestry.

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·         Follow up on funding matters relating to Kopurererua Valley.

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1           Receives the report, Regional Wetlands Report.

Clark/Nees

CARRIED

2020/21 Annual Work Plans: Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme and Rangitāiki Integrated Catchment Programme

Tabled Document 1 - Updated Rotorua Lake Trophic Level Index Summary: Objective ID A3628146

Integrated Catchments Manager Chris Ingle and Rotorua Catchments Manager Helen Creagh presented this item.

11.58 am – Cr White withdrew from the meeting.

In Response to Questions:

·         There were opportunities that provided multiple benefits around biodiversity for which further analysis and options were forthcoming  

·         Staff believed they could provide wetland interventions that would benefit lake water quality.

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1           Receives the report, 2020/21 Annual Work Plans: Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme and Rangitāiki Integrated Catchment Programme.

Crosby/von Dadelszen

CARRIED

6.11

2020 Residents Survey Findings

Communications Manager Angela Foster presented this item.

Key Points – Members:

·         Congratulated staff on the fact sheet that went out with Tauranga City Council rates and looked forward to separating out Regional Council rates to increase public awareness.

In Response to Questions:

·         A number of factors may have influenced Ōpōtiki residents’ perception, including a ban on shellfish collection which was unrelated to Regional Council, general rates and a delay in harbour projects

·         All data was aligned with the most recent population data available.

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1           Receives the report, 2020 Residents Survey Findings.

Rose/von Dadelszen

CARRIED

6.12

Customer Service Performance

Customer Contact Manager Rachael Burgess and Te Tuara Manager Annabel Chappell presented this item.

Key Points:

·         Bringing transport calls on board to be managed internally doubled the call volumes.

In Response to Questions:

·         Although passengers were registered individually by scanning the Bee Card, they were still encouraged to scan the QR code for government Covid tracing.

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1           Receives the report, Customer Service Performance.

Rose/Nees

CARRIED

6.13

Presentation: University of Waikato Coastal Chair Annual Report

Presentation - UoW Coastal Chair Annual Report: Objective ID A3628300

University of Waikato Chair in Coastal Science Professor Chris Battershill presented this item.

Key Points - Members:

·         Commended the valuable work and positive outcomes provided not just to the region but to the world

·         Considered the definition of coastal sustainability was too restrictive

·         More communication needed to take place around the success and potential of this work.

In Response to Questions:

·         Agreed that the coastal sustainability definition should be expanded and there was opportunity to be more proactive in thinking about enhancement and increased resilience in the changing environment

·         Selective breeding was being used for work on marine products such as seaweed, rather than genetic engineering

·         Had submitted draft guidelines for comment concerning genomic research on taonga species

·         There was a national programme led from the Bay of Plenty region which was looking at principles and ethics of genomic engineering and splicing

·         For food or anything related to the environment selective breeding was a far preferable option to enhance the viability or resilience of organisms

·         There were currently approximately 45 PhD students in the Bay of Plenty area.

Resolved

Resolution to exclude the public

1       Excludes the public from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting as set out below:

The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter, and the specific grounds under section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:

Rose/von Dadelszen

CARRIED