Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group Rārangi Take (Agenda)

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the next meeting of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group will be held in Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Waiariki Room, Corner Fenton & Pukaki Street, Rotorua on:

Friday 12 February 2021 COMMENCING AT 09:30 am

 

Fiona McTavish

Chief Executive, Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group

3 February 2021

 


 

Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group

Membership

Poū Tākiwaiora

(Independent Chairperson)

Sir Toby Curtis

Deputy Chairperson

(appointed by Group)

Mayor Steve Chadwick (Rotorua Lakes Council)

Members

 

Two representative from each of the partner Councils one of whom must be the Chair/Mayor:

 

Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Chairman Doug Leeder

Cr Kevin Winters

Cr Te Taru White (Alternate)

Rotorua Lakes Council

Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson

To be confirmed (Alternate)  

Governance representatives from Te Arawa Lakes Trust

Roana Bennett

Nuki Nicholson

Rangitihi Pene (Alternate)

Observer from the Ministry for the Environment

Martin Workman (Director Water)

Quorum

One appointed member from each of the partner organisations

Meeting frequency

Quarterly

Purpose

To contribute to the promotion of the sustainable management of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes and their catchments, for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations, while recognising and providing for the traditional relationship of Te Arawa with their ancestral lakes.

Role

·                Provide leadership to the organisations and the community in relation to implementation of the Vision and Strategy for the Lakes of the Rotorua District originally adopted in 2000 and refreshed version adopted by the Strategy Group in 2013.

·                Identify significant existing and emerging issues affecting the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes and respond appropriately.

·                Approve, monitor, evaluate, and review agreements, policies and strategies and all other proposals to achieve integrated outcomes for the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes.

·                Identify, monitor, and evaluate necessary actions by the partner organisations and other relevant organisations.

·                Receive reports on activities being undertaken by the partner organisations and other relevant organisations.

·                Participate in the preparation of statutory plans in relation to significant issues. Such plans include but are not limited to Iwi and hapū management plans, district and regional plans, reserve management plans and annual plans.

·                Participate in applications for activities in relation to significant issues not addressed by existing policies of the partner organisations. Such activities include but are not limited to resource consents, designations, heritage orders, water conservation orders, restricting access to the lakes (during special events or in particular circumstances), and transferring and/or delegating of statutory authority.

Strategy Group Procedures

The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group is a permanent joint committee established under the Te Arawa Lakes Settlement Act 2006 (Te Arawa Lakes Deed of Settlement - Cultural Redress: Lakes Management and Relationships, clauses 9.1 to 9.3 - December 2004) and is not disestablished as a consequence of a Local Government election.

The Group’s Terms of Reference are derived from the Rotorua Lakes Strategy Agreement included in Part 1 of the Relationship Schedule to the Deed of Settlement, December 2004.

Meanings:

Organisations” means the Te Arawa Lakes Trust, the Rotorua Lakes Council, and the
Bay of Plenty Regional Council; sometimes referred to as “Partner Organisations”.

“Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes” means Lakes Rotorua, Rotoiti, Rotoehu, Rotomā, Ōkataina, Tikitapu, Ōkāreka, Tarawera, Rotomahana, Rerewhakaaitu, Ōkaro.

“Group” means the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group, formed as a Joint Committee under Clause 30 of Schedule 7 of the Local Government Act 2002; sometimes referred to as the “Strategy Group”.

Membership

·                The non-voting Poū Tākiwaiora (Independent Chairperson) is appointed by the members for a three year term in alignment with the Local Government triennium and is to be reviewed and confirmed at the first meeting of the Group following the Local Government elections.

·                The Poū Tākiwaiora is not deemed to be a member of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group for the purposes of a quorum.

·                The Poū Tākiwaiora shall assume the role and responsibilities as defined in the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group Poū Tākiwaiora Guidelines.

·               The Deputy Chairperson shall be appointed from the membership at the first meeting of the Group following the Local Government elections.

Quorum*

The special quorum for a meeting of the Group will be four members of the Group.

In the event that the ordinary quorum is not satisfied at three consecutive meetings of the Group in circumstances, where in the case of each such meeting:

·                It was notified in accordance with the Standing Orders;

·                Order papers were sent to each member of the Group in accordance with the Standing Orders; and

·                The meeting had not been cancelled for any reason, then the members in attendance may declare the third meeting inquorate according to the Standing Orders and the special quorum will then be substituted.

At any subsequent meeting, the ordinary quorum will be restored.

No matters that were not on the order paper for the meeting at which the special quorum was established can be considered by a special quorum meeting.

Power to Act

To make all decisions necessary to fulfil the role of the Strategy Group subject to the limitations imposed.

Each Council participating in a joint initiative will fund its own proportion of that joint initiative as determined by the Joint Committee.

Power to Recommend

To the partner organisations on any matters within the Strategy Group’s delegated functions as it deems appropriate.

The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group report directly to their respective organisations.


Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group                                                              12 February 2021

Recommendations in reports are not to be construed as Council policy until adopted by Council.

Rārangi Take
Agenda

1.       Karakia Whakatuwhera
Opening Prayer

2.       Ngā Hōnea
Apologies

3.       Wāhanga Tūmatanui
Public Forum

4.       Ngā Take Tōmuri
Items not on the Agenda

5.       Raupapa o Ngā Take
Order of Business

6.       Whakapuakanga o Ngā Take Whai Taha-Rua
Declaration of Conflicts of Interest

7.       Ngā Meneti
Minutes

Kia Whakaūngia Ngā Meneti
Minutes to be Confirmed

7.1      Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group Minutes - 27 October 2020 1

8.       Ngā Pūrongo
Reports

8.1      Te Arawa Lakes Trust Update Report                                                    1

Attachment 1 - 2021 02 02 TALT Update for RTALSG                                                    1

8.2      Progressing a Collective Impact Framework for the Tarawera Lakes System                                                                                                       1

Attachment 1 - 2021 02 02 Tarawera CIF Update RTALSG Feb2020                            1

8.3      Wastewater Scheme Funding                                                                 1



8.4      Ministry for the Environment Update

Presented by: Ministry for the Environment Representatives Juscinta Grace and Courtney Clyne

8.5      Rotorua Lakes Council Update Report                                                  1

8.6      Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme Status Update and 2020/21 Six Month Report                                                                                            1

Attachment 1 - DRAFT 2020/21 Six Month Report Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme                                                                                                                            1

Attachment 2 - Dasboard Status Report (12-02-2021)                                                   1

9.       Ngā Take Tōmuri Hei Whakaaroaro
Consideration of Items not on the Agenda

10.     Karakia Kati
Closing Prayer


Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group Minutes

27 October 2020

 

Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group

Ngā Meneti

Open Minutes

Commencing:             Tuesday 27 October 2020, 9:30 am

Venue:                         Nukuteapiapi Meeting Room, Te Arawa Lake Trust, 1194 Haupapa Street, Rotorua

Poū Tākiwaiora

Chairperson:               Sir Toby Curtis (Te Arawa Lakes Trust)

Heamana Tuarua

Deputy Chairperson:  Mayor Steve Chadwick (Rotorua Lakes Council)

Ngā Kopounga

Members:                    Te Arawa Lakes Trust (TALT):

                                    Roana Bennett; Nuki Nicholson

Rotorua Lakes Council (RLC):

Deputy Mayor David Donaldson

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana (BOPRC):

Chairman Doug Leeder; Cr Kevin Winters; Alternate Te Taru White  

Ministry for the Environment (MfE):

Observer Simon Ingham (via Zoom)

Te Hunga i Tae Ake

In Attendance:            BOPRC: Chris Ingle – General Manager Integrated Catchments; Helen Creagh – Rotorua Catchments Manager; Andy Bruere – Lakes Operations Manager; Greg Corbett – Biosecurity Manager; Hamish Lass – Senior Projects Officer (Marine & Freshwater); Gemma Moleta – Senior Planner (Water Policy); Merinda Pansegrouw – Committee Advisor

RLC: Geoff Williams – Chief Executive; Gina Rangi - Manahautū Māori (Māori Manager)

TALT: Nicki Douglas – Environment Manager; Elva Conroy – Consultant Conroy & Donald Consultants Limited

Other: Dr Ian Kusabs – Environmental Consultant, Kusabs and Associates Ltd; Chris Sutton - Rerewhakaaitu Farmer

Ngā Hōnea

Apologies:                  Alternate Rangitihi Pene (TALT)

 

Due to the late arrival of Poū Tākiwaiora Sir Toby Curtis, Deputy Chair, Mayor Steve Chadwick chaired the meeting.

 

1.     Karakia Whakatuwhera
Opening Karakia

A karakia was provided by Councillor Te Taru White.

2.     Ngā Hōnea
Apologies

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

 

3.     Ngā Take Tōmuri
Item not on the Agenda

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

4.     Whakapuakanga o Ngā Take Whai Taha-Rua
Declaration of Conflicts of Interest

No declarations of conflicts of interest advised.

5.     Ngā Meneti
Minutes

Kia Whakaūngia Ngā Meneti
Minutes to be Confirmed

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.     Ngā Pūrongo
Reports

Ngā Whakatau e Hiahiatia Ana
Decisions Required

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

 

Members expressed appreciation for the valuable mahi/contribution provided by
Te Arawa Lakes Trust representative Reina Meha. 

 

9:50 am - Poū Tākiwaiora Sir Toby Curtis joined the meeting.

 

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:

Strategy for the Lakes of the Rotorua District

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

Bay of Plenty Regional Pest Management Plan

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

 

11:00 am – Deputy Mayor Donaldson withdrew from the meeting.

 

7.     Ngā Take Tōmuri Hei Whakaaroaro
Consideration of Items not on the Agenda

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.

11:25 am – the meeting closed.

 

 

Confirmed                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                       Sir Toby Curtis

Poū Tākiwaiora/Chairperson, Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group


 

 

 

Report To:

Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group

Meeting Date:

12 February 2021

Purpose:

To receive the report

 

 

Te Arawa Lakes Trust Update Report

Recommendations

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1        Receives the report, Te Arawa Lakes Trust Update Report.

 

Tuhinga Tautoko
Attachments

Attachment 1 - 2021 02 02 TALT Update for RTALSG  

 


Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group                                                   12 February 2021

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


 

 

 

Report To:

Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group

Meeting Date:

12 February 2021

Purpose:

To receive the report

 

 

Progressing a Collective Impact Framework for the Tarawera Lakes System

Recommendations

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1        Receives the report, Progressing a Collective Impact Framework for the Tarawera Lakes System.

2        Endorses the recommendation and supports ongoing work between the Partner Organisations to progress.

 

Tuhinga Tautoko
Attachments

Attachment 1 - 2021 02 02 Tarawera CIF Update RTALSG Feb2020  

 


Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group                                                   12 February 2021

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


 

  

 

Pūrongo Ki:
Report To:

Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group

Rā Hui:
Meeting Date:

12 February 2021

Kaituhi Pūrongo:
Report Writer:

Helen Creagh, Rotorua Catchments Manager and Stavros Michael, General Manager Infrastructure

Kaiwhakamana Pūrongo:
Report Authoriser:

Chris Ingle, General Manager, Integrated Catchments

Kaupapa:
Purpose:

To consider recommendations related to funding of wastewater schemes at Rotoiti, Rotoehu and Rotoma under the Deed of Funding for the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme.

 

 

Wastewater Scheme Funding

 

 

Whakarāpopototanga
Executive Summary

This paper provides analysis on the forecast end to end expenditure of the Programme and further rationale for a proposed transfer of funding to Rotorua Lakes Council to assist completion of the Rotoiti wastewater scheme. The paper also considers the next steps for acquiring funding for reticulation at Lake Rotoehu and Ngamotu on Lake Rotomā.

Also considered is the overall effect of inflation on the ability of the Programme to achieve its goals in respect of reticulation, considering that the Deed was established over 15 years ago with no adjustments to reflect the escalating actual implementation costs.

 

Ngā tūtohutanga
Recommendations

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1        Receives the report, Wastewater Scheme Funding

2        Notes that the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group resolved on 5 August 2020 to “Instruct all officers to reconfirm the Deed-Funding contribution to the final actual cost of the project in line with precedent policy and provide an update report to the next meeting of the Strategy Group”.

3        Approves a reversion back to the total funding allocations for each Council as per the original 2005 Deed. That is, $32.5 million for Rotorua Lakes Council and $39.8 million for Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Note: A Deed Variation will be required.

4        Agrees to make a formal request to the Minister for reconsideration of the current Deed of Funding in respect of an adjustment on the basis of inflation of construction costs, acknowledging the 2005 cost estimates in the Deed do not reflect the 2021 actual costs to complete these works.

5        Agrees to make a formal request to the Minister for new funding support in relation to the wastewater reticulation of Lake Rotoehu.

 

1.       He Whakamārama
Background

Lakeside wastewater reticulation is delivered by Rotorua Lakes Council as the mandated service provider and has received Ministry for the Environment funding from the Funding Deed[1] for the Programme, from both Council and from landowners. The Ministry of Health has also contributed to lakeside sewerage reticulation outside of the four priority lakes not covered by the Funding Deed, where improved health outcomes were targeted.

Wastewater reticulation improves water quality and contributes to the various goals related to improvement of lake water quality in the Vision and Strategy for the lakes of the Rotorua District, the implementation of which is overseen by the Strategy Group. It also provides landowners with a cost effective method (due to economies of scale) for dealing with wastewater and with opportunities to develop their land appropriately should they wish to – also contributing to the delivery of the Strategy.

Under the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme - lakeside reticulation has been completed in the Rotorua, west Rotoiti and Okareka catchments. Lakeside reticulation is also underway in other parts of Rotoiti and the Rotoma catchment. Reticulation is also planned for the Tarawera catchment.

At its last meeting on 5 August 2020 the Strategy Group received a paper from Stavros Michael, Mana Hautu Tuapapa at Rotorua Lakes Council. The paper updated the Strategy Group that the actual costs of the Rotoma/Rotoiti scheme are expected to be a variance to the initial 2015 estimate and broadly within the limits of the initial estimate’s uncertainty of 30%.

That 5 August 2020 paper recommended that on the basis of precedent policy the actual variance to the estimate should be funded by 50% from the Deed. The Rotoiti/Rotoma scheme has always been treated as one single scheme. After consideration of that paper, Strategy Group resolved to instruct officers to reconfirm the Deed funding contribution to the final actual cost of the project.

This paper now provides analysis on the forecast end to end expenditure of the Programme and further rationale for the proposed transfer. This paper also considers the next steps for acquiring funding for reticulation at Lake Rotoehu and the overall effect of inflation on the ability of the Programme to achieve its goals in respect of reticulation, considering that the fund was established over 15 years ago with no adjustments to reflect the escalating actual implementation costs.

There also remains an opportunity for reticulation at Lake Rotoehu and Ngamotu (Lake Rotoma) settlements which can connect to the Rotoma/Rotoiti network, currently under construction and whose resource consent allows for such connection.  The Lake Water Quality Technical Advisory Group having advised that “…reticulation of lakeside communities for better treatment of sewage nutrients must be a standard recommendation, that has other benefits beyond nutrient reduction”.

 

2.       Transfer of Underspends to Rotoiti Reticulation (Recommendation One)

This paper recommends to transfer funds from underspends on completed lakeside reticulation projects in Okareka and Rotorua and other underspends within the Programme such as in Land Use Incentives Administration, to initially support the completion of the reticulation work at Lake Rotoiti. 

Previously reticulation at Okere Falls, Otaramarae and Whangamarino on Rotoiti was completed at a cost of $10,354,000. Lake Rotoiti reticulation works at Gisborne Point, Rotoiti and Hinehopu are now in progress. It is planned to reticulate 435 properties with a current total forecast spend (based on tenders received) of approximately $40 million (noting that tender negotiations and final contract award are still underway for the remaining parts of scheme construction). 

 

 

At its last meeting, the Strategy Group received a paper from Rotorua Lakes Council relating to the status and the challenges of the ongoing project. The paper recommended the Group instruct officers to ‘re-align the Deed Funding contribution to the final actual cost of the project in line with precedent policy’. The Strategy Group resolved to instruct officers to commence that process.

Changes to the Deed in 2014 (Schedule 2) re-allocated the Crown funding between Rotorua Lakes Council and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. The reallocation was largely as a result of achieving outcomes for less than the initial estimated costs, in the reticulation of Lake Okareka and Lake Rotorua. The changes to the total allocations to each Council can be viewed in Table One below. Smaller changes made in 2013 are also shown.

Table One – Total Funding Allocations between Original Deed (2005) Variation (2013) and Variation (2014)

The 2014 changes were made in the knowledge that Schedule 2 would likely need to be revisited as the Programme moved forward and the actual cost and appropriateness of interventions adapted over its life. Interventions completed later in the Programme (when the relative value of the funds is less and the complexity and costs of the construction higher) will incur more cost compared to those completed earlier in the Programme (when the relative value of the fund was higher and the complexity and costs of construction lower).

Following advice of the Programme’s Chief Financial Officers Forum, an updated end to end forecast has been prepared for the Programme, based on the current Draft Long Term Plan of both Councils (2021-2031). A summary of that work is provided in Table Two below. That forecast shows that to 2032, the Regional Council is forecasting to be underspent by $7,920,000 against the variation to the Deed that was made in 2014 and the District Council overspent by at least $11,603,000 against that 2014 variation.

Table Two – Forecast and Expenditure against Original Deed (2005) and Variation (2014)

The forecasted underspend by the Regional Council is largely a result of savings made in: the administration of the Incentives Scheme, alum dosing on Rotorua and Rotoehu and weed harvesting in Rotoehu. The forecasted variance by the Rotorua Lakes Council is driven by anticipated costs associated with reticulating Lake Rotoiti. The cost drivers are varied but predominantly have been led by: construction inflation, higher costs to meet consent conditions not known in 2015, improving access to the leased land at Haumingi 9B3B site, provision of higher quality pretreatment systems to address cultural impacts, additional security of installation for pretreatment systems on 180 sites where the systems must be installed below the water table and special legal processes to secure consents to install infrastructure on Maori land with multiple owners.

The recommended transfer of underspends back to the Rotorua Lakes Council (effectively reversing the changes to Schedule 2 of the Deed in 2014) would not prevent the Regional Council delivering its Deed funded work programme responsibilities including: the Lake Rotorua Incentives Scheme; further Advice and Support for Landowners affected by Plan Change 10; and engineering solutions in the Lake Rotorua catchment.

However, even with the reversal of the 2014 Deed changes, as proposed, Rotorua Lakes Council still faces a forecast overspend of $8,337,500 to complete the Rotoiti reticulation project and the Council will also need to find additional funds to provide its 50% contribution to the additional Crown funds, in accordance with the Deed of Funding.  

The Rotorua Lakes Council has yet to make a decision on how it proposes to fund this additional cost. Based on its current funding plan for the Scheme the Council will consider, as part of its Long term Plan deliberations options which may include:

•   Staying with its current funding plan requiring local property owners to pay an increased net capital contribution compared to the initial estimate, or

•   Make a contribution towards the costs of reticulation for community facilities such as Marae, sports club, schools etc, or

•   Increasing its financial assistance from the current $1500 per property, or

•   Debt funding some part of the increased costs, or

•   A combination of the above options.

As a result of the analysis above, Recommendation One of this paper is that Strategy Group approve a reversion back to the total funding allocations for each Council as per the original 2005 Deed. That is; $32.5 million for Rotorua Lakes Council and $39.8 million for Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Note that this will mean the total spend of each Council under the Deed of Funding varies to those set out in Schedule 2 of the current Funding Deed but the total Crown spend remains the same. This change will help fund the Lake Rotoiti reticulation project. It is noted that this will require a Variation to Schedule 2 of the Deed and the Ministry for the Environment will advise on the process for this.

3.       Review of Deed Funding in Respect of Inflation (Recommendation Two)

The Deed has total funding contributed by the Crown remaining static over its 25 year life at approximately $72 million. There are no terms within the Funding Deed that enable this contribution to be adjusted to address inflation. As a result, the increased costs of construction over the life of the Deed are currently, by default, borne exclusively by council funding sources. A preliminary assessment regarding inflation trends indicates that the CGPI[2] average annual inflationary changes from 2005 to Q12 2020 across these three classes is around 2.4%. Applying an annual 2.4% inflation over 15 years (2020-2005) on the $32 million allocated to Rotorua Lakes Council under the original Deed of Funding (which is all allocated to sewerage reticulation)  puts the inflation adjusted required funding at ~$45.6m (32m x (1+0.024)^15).

Mr Stavros Michael has advised that original estimates for the cost of the Rotoiti scheme in 2015 were $35 million with a +/-30% uncertainty margin due to the proposal to utilise on site pre-treatment systems that was not encountered in earlier schemes and the unique nature of Rotoiti/Rotoma area. Based on the recent tenders it is highly likely that costs will be well above the 2015 estimate of $35 million, but may potentially lie within the +30% margin.

Costs over and above those available in the Deed will need to be found from local funding sources (including those to meet the 50% local share requirement).

It is clear that the rising costs of construction and regulatory compliance in terms of completing large-scale construction projects like this one are not covered by the current Deed of Funding.

Therefore, it is considered highly appropriate to review the Crown’s contribution to the Deed in line with inflation trends.  This is requested in Recommendation Two of this paper.

4.       Reticulation of Lake Rotoehu/Ngamotu settlement (Recommendation Three)

Reticulation at Lake Rotoehu has clear justification in terms of delivering on the objectives of the Programme.  Sewerage reticulation was not a key deliverable for water quality improvement on Lake Rotoehu in the original Action Plan for the Lake. However, a workshop of the Water Quality Technical Advisory Group and Regional Council staff was convened in 2018 to establish actions required to address continuing poor water quality on Lake Rotoehu. That workshop resulted in a number of actions to address the matter, including changes to the alum dosing regime on the lake.

An exhaustive list of those actions is not provided here but another key action was to pursue sewerage reticulation, the minutes recorded that “This meeting considers that reticulation of lakeside communities for better treatment of sewage nutrients must be a standard recommendation and that is has other benefits beyond nutrient reduction”.

The rationale for delivering reticulation at Lake Rotoehu is a logical deliverable for water quality improvement on one of the four priority Deed funded lakes within the Programme, which continues to face complex water quality challenges. It is estimated that approximately $6 million dollars will be required to establish a sewerage reticulation network for Lake Rotoehu and Ngamotu settlements that will complete the Rotoiti/Rotoma/Rotoehu catchment wastewater reticulation process.

The resource consent for the Rototi/Rotoma scheme allows for these lakeside properties at Lake Rotoehu and Ngamotu to connect to the new Rotoiti wastewater treatment plant, for treatment and disposal. The conditions of this consent require that, as for the recently reticulated properties at Lake Rotoiti and Rotoma, there is some form of effluent pre-treatment provided for each property - prior to the waste being transferred. 

 

 

Recommendation three of this paper is that the Programme partners make a formal request to the Crown for additional funding to support this project as part of the Lakes Programme, noting that the Rotorua Lakes Council has reserved some $2.0 m from the 3 Waters Reform funding to support this proposal (subject to Deed Funding support).

These reserved 3 Waters Reform funds can be used to commence detailed design work enabling the proposed reticulation to connect to the Rotoiti/Rotoma scheme (as allowed by the consent) soon in this Financial Year, provided a commitment to secure additional Deed funding is also made.

  


Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group                                                   12 February 2021

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


 

 

 

Pūrongo Ki:
Report To:

Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group

Rā Hui:
Meeting Date:

12 February 2021

Kaituhi Pūrongo:
Report Writer:

Heidi Fraser, Programme Coordinator Integrated Catchments and Helen Creagh, Rotorua Catchments Manager

Kaiwhakamana Pūrongo:
Report Authoriser:

Chris Ingle, General Manager, Integrated Catchments

Kaupapa:
Purpose:

To provide a status update for the programme as at the date of the report and to provide the Strategy Group with the 2020/21 Six Month Report for their approval.

 

 

Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme Status Update and 2020/21 Six Month Report

 

Whakarāpopototanga
Executive Summary

The purpose of this report is to update the Strategy Group on progress with the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme since its last meeting (27 October 2020).

The report also seeks approval of the 2020/21 Six Month Report, which is to be provided to the Minister for the Environment in accordance with the Deed of Funding for the Programme.

 

Ngā tūtohutanga
Recommendations

That the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group:

1        Receives the report, Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme Status Update and 2020/21 Six Month Report.

2        Approves the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme 2020/21 Six Month Report for submission to the Minister for the Environment.

 

1.       He Whakamārama
Background

The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme was established following Te Arawa’s Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the Crown in 2006. As part of that settlement the Crown committed to restoring the lakes of Te Arawa. That commitment included a Funding Deed which provided $72 million of Crown funds to a restoration programme on four priority lakes: Rotorua, Rotoiti, Ōkāreka and Rotoehu. The Programme is a partnership between Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Rotorua Lakes Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group partnership was established to contribute to the promotion of the sustainable management of the Rotorua lakes and their catchments, for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations, while recognising and providing for the traditional relationship of Te Arawa and their ancestral lakes.

 

2.       2020/21 Six Month Report

The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme 2020/21 Six Month Report is provided in Appendix 1 and measures performance against the 2020/21 Annual Work Plan. Below is a description of progress with the Deed Funded interventions outlined in that report.

 

2.1      Deed Funded Interventions

Lake Rotorua

·      Syrinx Consultants are progressing a review of wetland opportunities including a staged process to implement wetland projects, under the Engineering Solutions project. A draft report has been received.

·      To date, the Incentives Scheme has secured 24.6 tonne of nitrogen.

·      Installation of the new alum dosing tank at Puarenga is complete.

·      22 sewerage connections have been made under the Brunswick-Rotokawa Sewerage Reticulation Project. Staff continue to work with remaining property owners that still require connections.

·      At the end of the six months, 147 properties were registered with Advice and Support. 44 resource consents have been granted under Plan Change 10 for properties over 40 ha, while 5 properties over 40 ha were assessed as being low-intensity permitted activities. 15 consented properties were monitored by staff with the remainder to be monitored by March 2021. There are 8 properties over 40 ha yet to be consented but all are engaged in the process, 1 has been referred to compliance. A process to engage the remaining landowners affected by Plan Change 10 is underway: approximately 100 of those are 10-40 hectares and 70 are 5-10 hectares.

Lake Rotoehu

·      Phosphorus locking was put on hold in June 2018 due ineffectiveness of the dosing. Changes in the vegetation and lake level have enabled Waitangi Soda Stream alum dosing to recommence in December to help counter phosphorus coming from the catchment.

Lake Rotoiti

·      Installation of the strengthening whalers is ongoing and is expected to be completed by July.

·      The reticulation network at Rotoiti is 75% complete, with remaining network and connections to be made following landowner approvals currently being sought. The treatment plant is open.

3.       Programme Status Report

The Six Month Report includes the key progress updates for Deed Funded activities. Some further detailed updates for each catchment (including non-deed funded activities) are provided below and on the Dashboard included in Appendix 2.

Rotorua

·      The final decision of the Environment Court in relation to the appeals on Plan Change 10 was issued just prior to Christmas. The decision allocates an additional 5 tonne of Nitrogen to Treaty Settlement Land within the Rotorua Catchment. The decision will not change any of the Managed Reduction Targets prior to 2032, so implementation of Plan Change 10 continues as planned. In order to meet maximum in-lake discharge targets the additional allocation to Treaty Settlement land will be taken from 2032 allocations to dairy and drystock land (above a minimum threshold). The decision also authorises other minor consequential changes.

·      Joint correspondence prepared from both Councils for those properties who remain un-connected to sewerage reticulation in the Brunswick-Rotokawa area is underway, to approximately 15 properties. Compliance action is planned under Regional Onsite Effluent Treatment Plan for those properties who remain unconnected at June 2021.

 

 

·      15 deals have been finalised under the Incentives Scheme totalling 24.6 tonnes of nitrogen. 3 deals are under negation for around 4.8 tonnes of in-lake nitrogen and staff are currently in discussion with a further 11 landowners. A further 33 landowners have been identified to be progressively contacted.  The dNITRO land use change tool has proved popular with landowners, enabling them to explore the financial implications of converting pastoral land to trees.

·      There are currently seven active projects being funded under the Low Nitrogen Land Use Fund, including hazelnut and hemp trials, a herbicide trial to support the establishment of mānuka plantations, a hedged mānuka for oil feasibility study, the establishment of a milk bottling plant and a trial to support more efficient harvesting of feijoas.

·      A temporary tank was installed at the Puarenga P-locking plant to enable alum dosing while the permanent tank was replaced. The permanent tank has now been replaced and is working through a commissioning process. The bloom on Lake Rotorua at Labour Weekend last year was thankfully short-lived and there have been no further blooms so far this summer. Regular algal monitoring is ongoing. Staff of both Councils recently met with Toi Te Ora to review processes in relation to notification of health warnings and the Regional Council has purchased some new Satellite Imagery out of the United States which will help to identify the extent of blooms and is another tool in helping us manage the health of the lakes for our people.

Rotoehu

·      Alum dosing at Waitangi Stream has recommenced and a consent application is progressing to renew expired consents.

Rotoiti

·      An application has been lodged to trial an alternative flow regime at Okere Gates, as per recommendations of Ngāti Pikiao Cultural Management Plan. This is associated with the resource consent for the operation of the gates.

Tarawera Catchments

·      Staff are working with landowners in the Inner and Outer Catchments of Tarawera to implement the actions in the Farm Environment Plans prepared for landowners in the catchments. These actions are receiving funding support from the Regional Council and also through Crown’s covid19 recovery funding. Actions include retirement of marginal land and significant features and detainment bunds.

·      Members of the Strategy Group visited the Lake Okareka outlet and associated erosion protection works in December 2020. 

 

4.       Ngā Whakaarohanga
Considerations

4.1      Ngā Mōrea me Ngā Whakangāwaritanga
Risks and Mitigations

There are no significant risks identified with adopting this report, the purpose of this reporting regime is to manage risk.

4.2      Huringa Āhuarangi
Climate Change

Ongoing adaptation by the Programme and its interventions will be necessary to respond to the impacts of Climate Change, as advised in the Statement issued by the Lake Water Quality Technical Advisory Group last year.

Adaptive Management and being informed by new science and information will be key to achieving our water quality goals on the Te Arawa Lakes.

4.3      Ngā Pānga ki te Māori
Implications for Māori

Fourteen Lakes within the Rotorua/Te Arawa boundaries are subject to the Lakes Settlement Act 2006 (‘Settlement Act’).

Under this legislation, the traditional, historical, cultural/spiritual relationships and associations that Te Arawa hapū and iwi have with the Te Arawa Lakes is recognised by the vesting of these Lakebeds in the Lakes Trust. The health of the Te Arawa Lakes is paramount to the Lakes Trust.

Te Arawa Lakes Trust have also lodged their Environmental Management Plan - He Mahere Taiao mo ngā wai o Te Arawa.  This document has been lodged with Regional Council and sets out clearly the interests that Te Arawa Hapū and Iwi have with their lakes and waterways and also sets out the protocols of engagements between council and Te Arawa Lakes Trust.

The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme is a partnership between Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Rotorua Lakes Council. This report outlines progress with programme deliverables that benefit the lakes and the lakeside communities.

4.4      Whakawhitiwhiti ā-Hapori
Community Engagement

Engagement with the community is not required regarding adopting this progress report.

4.5      Ngā Pānga ā-Pūtea
Financial Implications

There are no material unbudgeted financial implications and this work fits within the allocated budget.

5.       Ngā Mahi Whai Ake
Next Steps

The Programme workstreams will continue to implement the 2020/21 Annual Work Plan. The 2021/2022 Annual Work Plan for the Programme will be brought to the Strategy Group in May 2021. The 2020/21 Annual Report for the Programme will be tabled in October 2021.

Tuhinga Tautoko
Attachments

Attachment 1 - DRAFT 2020/21 Six Month Report Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme

Attachment 2 - Dasboard Status Report (12-02-2021)  

 


Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group                                                                   12 February 2021

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group                                                                   12 February 2021

PDF Creator 



[1]   The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme was established following Te Arawa’s Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the Crown in 2006. As part of that settlement the Crown committed to restoring the lakes of Te Arawa. That commitment included a Funding Deed which provided $72 million of Crown funds to a restoration programme on four priority lakes: Rotorua, Rotoiti, Ōkāreka and Rotoehu. The Programme is a partnership between Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Rotorua Lakes Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

[2]   Information from Statistics NZ for the classes covering Civil Construction, Land Improvements and PPE as a basis for most aligned inflation classes.