Open Minutes
Commencing: Thursday 18 August 2022, 9.30 am
Venue: Council Chambers, Ground Floor, Regional House, 1 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga, and via Zoom
Chairperson: Cr Paula Thompson
Deputy Chairperson: Cr Stuart Crosby
Members: Chairman Doug Leeder
Cr Jane Nees (via Zoom)
Cr Matemoana McDonald (via Zoom)
Cr Te Taru White
Cr Kevin Winters (via Zoom)
Cr Lyall Thurston (via Zoom)
Cr David Love
Cr Norm Bruning
Cr Bill Clark
Cr Stacey Rose (via Zoom)
Cr Andrew von Dadelszen
In Attendance: Namouta Poutasi - General Manager Strategy and Science; Julie Bevan - Policy and Planning Manager; Stephen Lamb – Environmental Strategy Manager; Nic Newman – Principal Advisor; Penny Doorman – Programme Leader Geothermal; Freya Camburn – Senior Policy Analyst; Lorraine Cheyne – Transport & Urban Planning Manager; Lisa Power – Senior Planner; Stephanie Macdonald – Community Engagement Team Leader; Nicki Green – Principal Advisor, Policy and Planning, Kate Barnes – Communications Partner, Anaru Vercoe – Pou Whainga – Principal Advisor; Elsa Weir – Planner; Karen Parcell – Team Leader Kaiwhakatinana; Jane Palmer – Senior Planner Climate Change; Katri Harmoinen – Transport Planner; Dean Howie – Programme Manager Regional Economic Development; Jenny Teeuwen – Committee Advisor
Please note that the open session of the meeting was livestreamed and the recording is available on the Council YouTube channel via this link (144) Strategy & Policy Committee (part 1) 18 August 2022 - YouTube
1. Opening Karakia
A karakia was provided by Cr Te Taru White. Cr White also acknowledged the passing of Sir Toby Curtis.
|
That the Strategy and Policy Committee: 1 Accepts the apologies from Cr Iti for absence, from Cr von Dadelszen for lateness, and from Chairman Leeder for early departure, tendered at the meeting. CARRIED |
3. Declaration of Conflicts of Interest
There were no none.
Minutes to be Confirmed
|
Strategy and Policy Committee Minutes - 3 May 2022 |
|
|
|
That the Strategy and Policy Committee: Confirms the Strategy and Policy Committee Minutes - 3 May 2022 as a true and correct record. CARRIED |
Strategy
|
Operating Environment Presentation: National Adaptation Plan for responding to climate change risks: Objective ID A4183669 ⇨ Presented by: Namouta Poutasi - General Manager Strategy and Science Julie Bevan - Policy and Planning Manager Nic Newman – Principal Advisor Penny Doorman – Programme Leader Geothermal Freya Camburn – Senior Policy Analyst Key Points: · The report covered following items: - Plan Change 9 update - Rotorua Geothermal System Management Plan - National Adaptation Plan for responding to climate change risks - Government reforms and change proposals - Upcoming legislative and government policy changes and potential impacts · National Adaptation Plan for responding to climate change risks: - The plan had been put out by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) with a rolling work programme over the next six years. - Critical actions, funding actions, and central government guidance were outlined. · Rotorua Geothermal System Management Plan: - Two key issues had caused a slight delay in timeframes for releasing the System Management Plan (SMP); firstly, Te Arawa had indicated that they needed some time to come together and reach agreement about a preferred approach for the development of the SMP, and secondly, the desire from the community to have hard numbers and certainty around the availability of the geothermal resource for use and development. 9.49 am – Cr von Dadelszen entered the meeting. In Response to Questions · National Adaptation Plan for responding to climate change risks: - The work programme would try to quantify what was needed and how it would be paid for. Projected costs suggested that New Zealand as a nation would not be able to afford it. · Rotorua Geothermal System Management Plan: - Science snapshot reports had already been made available to the community regarding the availability of the geothermal resource. Technical reports were also available on Regional Council’s website. To make the data more accessible, a series of short videos were being prepared on each of the key science work steams which would be available on the website and circulated to participants of the four hui held during May and June 2022. Public workshops would also be considered. - Whilst there was strong support for protecting the mauri of the resource, there was also reluctance from some parties to accept that continually taking heat and fluid from the system endlessly would affect that. Key Points - Members: · National Adaptation Plan for responding to climate change risks: - Concern was expressed at Regional Council’s ability to achieve the plan in the six year timeframe. - Generally the local government sector supported the framework as a starting point. - A sensible science based approach to where new homes were built was needed. - There was a need to be more analytical when viewing these types of documents. - To some extent, needed to let the buyer beware. The ratepayer should not have to foot the bill for these things. - How current reforms were going to be managed going forward, particularly in terms of prioritisation, needed careful and considered planning. · Geothermal System Management Plan: - It was important that Te Arawa were on board with this and they had indicated strongly that they wanted to be involved, resolve the issues and move forward. - Thanks were extended to staff for their continued work in this area. Staff Action · Circulate latest Department for Internal Affairs (DIA) Reform Diagram to councillors. |
|
|
|
That the Strategy and Policy Committee: 1. Receives the report, Operating Environment. CARRIED |
|
Whakatane Kawerau Spatial Plan Project Presented by: Lorraine Cheyne – Transport & Urban Planning Manager In Response to Questions · It was anticipated that there would be ongoing conversations in terms of bringing Ōpōtiki into the spatial plan. · A regional spatial plan was important to bring everything together. Staff were working to keep consistency at the regional level for sub-regional initiatives and would continue to work out the best way to piece the puzzle together. Key Points - Members: · The lack of spatial planning in the Eastern Bay of Plenty was having major social impacts.
|
|
|
|
That the Strategy and Policy Committee: 1 Receives the report, Whakatāne Kawerau Spatial Plan Project. CARRIED |
Regulatory Policy
|
National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPS-IB): Implications for Council Presented by: Namouta Poutasi - General Manager Strategy and Science Julie Bevan - Policy and Planning Manager Lisa Power – Senior Planner Key Points: · The NPS-IB was expected to be gazetted in December 2022. In Response to Questions · NPS-IB timeframes had been extended so there was no immediate action required but staff would be looking at prioritisation within the work programme and there was a strong awareness of resource requirements and timeframes. Recommendations on how to move forward in this space would be brought back to the committee for consideration following gazettal (possibly released in December 2022). · Identification of significant natural areas (SNA) was a responsibility for Territorial Local Authorities (TLA) under the NPS-IB; however, the exposure draft stated that if the TLAs requested assistance, regional councils must assist. Regional Council had sought clarification on this in their submission. · Criteria for the identification of SNAs was similar to what had previously been used and was already in the region’s district plans. Key Points - Members: · It was important to understand what providing assistance to TLAs meant in terms of the demands that could be placed on Regional Council. · Any work undertaken on developing a framework or strategy for indigenous biodiversity in the Bay of Plenty needed to be done in partnership with the Department of Conservation (DoC). Working closely with DoC was encouraged.
|
|
|
|
That the Strategy and Policy Committee: 1. Receives the report, National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity: Implications for Council. CARRIED |
10.35 am - the meeting adjourned.
10.50 am – the meeting resumed.
|
Toi Moana Essential Freshwater Policy Programme Update: Communications and Engagement 2023 Presented by: Stephanie Macdonald – Community Engagement Team Leader Nicki Green – Principal Advisor, Policy and Planning Kate Barnes – Communications Partner Anaru Vercoe – Pou Whainga – Principal Advisor Key Points: · Input and feedback on the working draft policy options was currently being sought from iwi and district councils, as well as from Rural and Environmental Sector Forum members. · Upcoming national changes relating to freshwater were outlined. · Attention was brought to a correction on Page 66 – Engagement on Freshwater Long-Term Visions - Tūhoe should show as being in the Kōhi constituency. 11.10am - the meeting adjourned, due to sound technical issues. 11.37am - the meeting resumed. In Response to Questions · There was a broad spectrum of understanding within the community and by key stakeholders regarding changes to freshwater policies. Communications would be tailored to ensure understanding across the board; where Regional Council was at in the process, what Regional Council would be doing moving forward, and how the community and stakeholders could be actively involved in the process.
|
|
|
|
That the Strategy and Policy Committee: 1. Receives the report, Toi Moana Essential Freshwater Policy Programme Update: Communications and Engagement 2023 CARRIED |
Non-Regulatory Policy
|
Rotorua Air Quality Action Plan - Review and future policy Presented by: Elsa Weir – Planner Julie Bevan - Policy and Planning Manager Karen Parcell – Team Leader Kaiwhakatinana Key Points: · The Rotorua Air Quality Action Plan set out a high level framework of actions needed to improve the air quality in Rotorua, and to meet the environmental standards for particle matter (PM10). · After 15 years, Rotorua was now meeting those national standards. · A review assessing the effectiveness of the actions concluded that the action plan was now complete; however, national standards were now being amended with a proposed move to a limit of particle matter (PM2.5). Monitoring indicated that the Airshed would not meet the proposed new standard. In terms of a policy response to this issue, working towards a new action plan was a good place to start. In Response to Questions · It had been difficult to quantify exactly how many people had been affected through health issues. · The sale of coal was an ongoing issue. · Staff would carry out preliminary work in readiness for when the new national standards were finally released. · One of the key views shared by Māori was around fuel poverty and that the removal of wood burners had resulted in cold damp homes. Regional Council incentives had moved to taking a whole of house approach where a cold damp home was not the result, just for the sake of improving the air. · The Airshed boundary had recently been expanded for growth areas and had been taken as wide as possible to try and future proof it. Key Points - Members: · The Chair paid tribute to and congratulated staff involved in this matter over many years – Karen Parcell, Marion Henton, Shane Iremonger, Max Mackay, Trish Peers-Adam and Elsa Weir. · The need for prioritisation of resources was reiterated. · Consideration and equity of involvement and engagement needed to be given to Māori who were disproportionally affected by this issue.
|
|
|
|
That the Strategy and Policy Committee: 1 Receives the report, Rotorua Air Quality Action Plan - Review and future policy. 2 Approves the publication of the Rotorua Air Quality Action Plan review document on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council website. 3 Approves preliminary policy work to commence for a new Rotorua Air Quality Action Plan. 4 Requests staff maintain ongoing public engagement and communications. CARRIED |
Other
|
Overview of the Emissions Reduction Plan - Implications for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Presentation: Overview of the Emissions Reduction Plan: Objective ID A4183670 ⇨ Presented by: Jane Palmer – Senior Planner Climate Change Katri Harmoinen – Transport Planner Dean Howie - Programme Manager Regional Economic Development Stephen Lamb – Environmental Strategy Manager Nic Newman - Principal Advisor Key Points: · Attention was brought to the following corrections to the report in the agenda: - Page 133 of the agenda, section 4.1.1, first paragraph, second sentence - Page 137 of the agenda, section 4.4, first paragraph, second sentence - Page 138 of the agenda, section 4.5, first paragraph, second sentence In all three cases, ‘per year’ should be replaced with ‘over 2022-25’. · Further corrections were also noted as follows: - Page 176 of the agenda, first bullet point under manufacturing activities, fertiliser manufacture should read fertiliser bulk storage - Page 176 of the agenda, second bullet point, diary product manufacturing also includes the Whakatāne district. · The Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) was very much a starting point and set out the first three carbon budgets – out to 2035. The plan itself focussed on the first emissions budget and would be one in a series of emissions reduction plans. · The plan had an overall vision of ‘A productive, sustainable and inclusive economy’ with three overarching themes – empowering Māori, equitable transition and working with nature. · Five sectors contributed 89% of the region’s emissions – manufacturing, construction, transport, agriculture, and waste services. · Transport was a key focus for Regional Council and was also a main focus in the ERP. A transformational shift was expected in this space. · ERP requirements were expected to flow through to Resource Management reforms but with the reforms still in draft, there was a lack of clarity around what this might look like. · The ERP required that councils aligned their spending and investments with climate change objectives. · Emission reductions would touch on all areas of council operations. The framework set by central government would enable local government to pay more attention and place more emphasis on this area. 11:59am - Cr Rose withdrew from the meeting. 12:08pm - Chairman Leeder withdrew from the meeting. In Response to Questions · Horticulture accounted for 40% of the agriculture GDP but only 10% of the agriculture emissions across the Bay of Plenty region. · Regional Council actively continued to support Toi Kai Rawa. · Regional Council had a Climate Change Programme led by Chris Ingle, General Manager Integrated Catchments and included key staff members from right across the organisation. Key Points - Members: · A list of actions that Regional Council would need to consider in terms of the direction from the Adaptation Plan and the Emissions Reduction Plan, was needed, that clearly identified what the Plans’ directions meant for Regional Council and how much it would cost. · Concern was expressed about the comparison with other world economies in this space e.g. Britain and the United States. What occurred in larger world economies was not realistic for New Zealand and a touch of realism was required. · Whilst it was important to understand the cost to Regional Council to carry out the work to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change, it was also important to understand what the cost would be if the work was not carried out.
|
|
|
|
That the Strategy and Policy Committee: 1. Receives the report, Overview of the Emissions Reduction Plan – Implications for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council CARRIED |
|
Overview of the Emissions Reduction Plan - Implications on the regional economy |
|
|
|
That the Strategy and Policy Committee: 1. Receives the report, Overview of the Emissions Reduction Plan – Implications on the regional economy CARRIED |
|
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:
CARRIED |
12.50 pm – the meeting closed.
|
|
Chairperson, Strategy and Policy Committee