Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Accepts the apologies from alternate Rangitihi Pene and Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson for early departure tendered at the meeting.

Donaldson/Winters

CARRIED

5.1

Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group Minutes - 5 August 2020

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Confirms the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group Minutes - 5 August 2020 as a true and correct record.

Winters/Bennett

CARRIED

Matters arising

·       Item 6.5 – Rotoiti Rotomā Sewerage Reticulation Scheme (Status of Project); Funding Deed Contribution Adjustment

Resolution 3: “Instructs all officers to re-confirm the Deed Funding contribution to the final actual cost of the project in line with precedent policy and provides an update report to the next meeting of the Strategy Group”:

Members noted that BOPRC and RLC staff were currently working on a progress report in this regard which would be submitted to the Strategy Group in due course.

·       Item 6.6 – Presentation – Te Arawa Lakes Trust – Tarawera Collective Impact Update

Members reiterated that the order of items on future agenda should be accommodating to presenters; ensuring that their mahi received the exposure it deserved.

6.1

Appointment of New Representative for Te Arawa Lakes Trust on the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group

Tabled Document 1 - Letter of confirmation for replacement RTALSG trustee - Rangitihi Nene: Objective ID A3654747 ⇨  

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Receives the report, Appointment of New Representative for Te Arawa Lakes Trust on the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group;

2          Notes the resignation of Raina Meha as a Trustee of the Te Arawa Lakes Trust; and

3          Notes the appointment of Roana Bennett as the Te Arawa Lakes Trust member to replace Raina Meha and the appointment of Rangitihi Pene as the alternate member.

Leeder/Winters

CARRIED

6.2

Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme 2019/20 Annual Report

Presentation - Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Annual Report 2019-2020: Objective ID A3658430 ⇨

Presentation - Lakes Programme - Lake Health: Objective ID A3658434 ⇨  

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana Rotorua Catchments Manager Helen Creagh,  Lakes Operations Manager Andy Bruere and Dr Ian Kusabs, Environmental Consultant, Kusabs and Associates Ltd, presented the item.

Key Points:

·       Provided an overview on progress made with the restoration programme on the four priority lakes: Rotorua, Rotoiti, Ōkāreka and Rotoehu

·       Lake Health - Water Quality Results for the year

·       Lake Submerged Plant Index (Lake SPI)

·       Kōura and Kākahi Monitoring

·       Catfish Monitoring.

Key Points - Members:

·       Acknowledged the valuable contribution by community groups towards pest management and highlighted the importance of maintaining connections with these groups as part of solving the challenge

·       Noted that with regard to progress on the reticulation network for Rotoiti, a complicating issue for RLC was that for a number of multiple ownership properties the owners could not be easily identified and without the owners’ permission Council could not install pipes on these properties. This matter was currently receiving priority attention

·       The tender process for the onsite pre-treatment sewerage systems for the Rotoiti/Rotomā Wastewater Treatment Plant was expected to be finalised by mid-November

·       Noted that the comment “the reticulation network for Rotoiti is approximately 75% complete” (under bullet point “Lake Rotoiti” on page 27 of the agenda), related to piping infrastructure and not the project.

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·       Coordinate a future site visit to Lake Ōkāreka for members of the Strategy Group

·       Provide members of the Strategy Group with photos of Lake Ōkāreka displaying the success story with regard to the landscaping work/rock restoration for trout habitat (off Waitangi Stream and lower down into Lake Tarawera)

·       With regard to the Rotokawa Sewerage Reticulation Connections Project (200 homes) (Page 41 of the agenda), provide an update at a future meeting as progress seemed to be steady but slow

·       Lake Ōkāreka Stream Works: the total cost to BOPRC for the programme (including physical work/consents and pumping) to be provided to Cr Winters.

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Receives the report, Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme 2019/20 Annual Report; and

Winters/Chadwick

CARRIED

2          Approves the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme 2019/20 Annual Report for submission to the Minister for the Environment.

Bennett/Nicholson

CARRIED

6.3

Rotorua Lakes Aquatic Plant Management Plans

Presentation - Aquatic Plant Management Plans: Objective ID A3658428 ⇨  

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana Biosecurity Manager Greg Corbett and
Te Arawa Lakes Trust Environment Manager Nicki Douglas, supported by Senior Projects Officer (Marine & Freshwater) Hamish Lass, presented the report.

Key Points:

·         Issues with aquatic weeds - improved water quality combined with climate change were likely to make the problem worse

·         Origins of the Aquatic Plant Plans

·         The Plan provided a ‘roadmap’ for agencies, Te Arawa Lakes Trust and communities to work together on aquatic weeds

·         The new Plans signalled a change in focus

·         Engagement process followed for whānau/affected communities around the lakes

·         The impact of aquatic weeds on native species/mahinga kai

·         Development of the Plan visions and objectives for each lake were guided by the:

o    Strategy for the Lakes of the Rotorua District

o    Te Tuapapa o Ngā Wai o Te Arawa/Te Arawa Cultural Values Framework

o    Bay of Plenty Regional Pest Management Plan

o    Purpose of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group

·         The Plans would be used to guide aquatic pest plant operation planning in the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes and provide the basis for community groups to apply for third party funding to support specific aquatic pest plant projects that they have an interest in.

Key Point - Members:

·       Te Arawa Lakes Trust, in close liaison with whānau, was currently investigating traditional solutions involving harakeke weaved mats to be deployed on the lakes.

Resolved

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1          Receives the report, Rotorua Lakes Aquatic Plant Management Plans; and

Chadwick/Donaldson

CARRIED/LOST

2          Endorses the Te Arawa Rotorua Lakes Aquatic Plant Management Plans.

Bennett/Winters

CARRIED

7.1

Health Warning Issued for Lake Rotorua - Bloom of potentially toxic blue-green algae

Members noted a recent health warning issued by Toi Te Ora Public Health for toxic algal blooms in Lake Rotorua and the Ōhau Channel.

Key Points:

·       Maintenance work was currently taking place on Puarenga Alum Dosing Plant; the Plant would be operational before Christmas and dosing would be increased. However, until then more blooms were likely

·       Lake Rotorua had been subjected to high nutrient loads from intensive land use and sewage in the past and this legacy of pollution would take decades to recover

·       Everyone in the community needed to play their part by being mindful of how they contributed to the water quality

·       Climate change was causing prolonged, warmer temperatures which increased the likelihood of toxic algal blooms

·       Alum dosing had helped improve the water quality by preventing algal blooms, however was a short term strategy, which involved treating incoming streams with alum, reducing the impact of phosphorus on the lake and the frequency of toxic algae blooms

·       Long term, sustainable land use in the catchment was ultimately the solution to a healthy lake

·       BOPRC was working with Te Arawa, landowners, and the Rotorua Lakes Council to ensure that this change was delivered and that alum dosing was minimised.

Key Points - Members:

·       Continued, honest and timely communication with the community was critical

·       Suggested that a further press release be issued following the health warning by Toi Te Ora Public Health

·       Needed to take the opportunity to highlight to the community the importance of a change in long-term sustainable land use

·       Lake Taupō was experiencing a similar algal bloom

·       Supported alum dosing being re-commissioned as a matter of urgency

·       BOPRC would continue to monitor the situation and that any updates would be available on the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme's website, as well as Toi Te Ora Public Health.