Open Minutes
Commencing: Tuesday 7 March 2023, 9.30 am
Venue: Council Chambers, Regional House, 1 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga
Chairperson: Cr Kevin Winters
Deputy Chairperson: Cr Ron Scott
Members: Cr Stuart Crosby
Cr Toi Kai Rākau Iti
Cr Matemoana McDonald
Cr Jane Nees
Cr Lyall Thurston (via Zoom)
Cr Andrew von Dadelszen
Cr Te Taru White
Cr Kat Macmillan
Cr Malcolm Campbell
Cr Ken Shirley
In Attendance: Reuben Fraser – General Manager, Regulatory Services, Mat Taylor – General Manager, Corporate, Chris Ingle – General Manager – Integrated Catchments, Namouta Poutasi – General Manger, Strategy and Science, Presenters – as listed in the minutes, Amanda Namana – Committee Advisor
Apologies: Cr Paula Thompson, Chairman Doug Leeder
Chairman’s Opening Statement
The Chair advised that the public section of the meeting was being recorded and would be made available on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council website and archived for a period of three years. Refer to link to recording of the meeting: Monitoring and Operations Committee - 7 March 2023 - YouTube
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That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Accepts the apologies from Cr Thompson and Chairman Leeder tendered at the meeting. CARRIED |
Nil.
3. Declaration of Conflicts of Interest
None declared.
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Chairperson's Report Tabled Document 1 - Monitoring and Operations Committee Work Plan 2023: Objective ID A4334248 Chair Cr Winters and General Manager – Regulatory Services Reuben Fraser presented this item. Key Points: · Further information would be provided to a future meeting with lessons learnt from the Cyclone Gabrielle weather event. In Response to Questions: · Details were still to come on funding and cost recovery for Freshwater Farm Plans (FFPs). Upcoming regulations for FFP’s were expected to be gazetted by the next Committee meeting · External certifiers and auditors would be used – the key role of Council was endorsing certifiers to work in the region and provide context and information on the catchment challenges · Historically Farm Environment Plans were a voluntary requirement. This was the first time that FFPs would be a regulatory requirement under the Resource Management Act (RMA), and would be subject to compliance, monitoring and enforcement functions · All landowners over 5 hectares for orchards and 20 hectares for land use were required to have a FFP by 2025 · External laboratory services were cost recovered with a margin to cover overhead costs. The costing structure for the laboratory was being reviewed during 2023. |
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That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Chairperson's Report. CARRIED |
Information Only
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Rates Collection Update Manager, Special Projects Annabel Taylor and Rates Team Leader Jo Pellew presented this item. Key Points: · An additional $860,000 had been collected since the report had been written, equating to a total 97.2% collection rate · One of the key objectives for the project was having a more direct relationship with customers, highlighted by customer interactions throughout the process. In Response to Questions: · A consideration of bringing the rates in-house was to ensure an equitable solution, some rating may previously have been inconsistent across the region · The rating structure of Papakāinga housing had unique attributes and would be considered on an individual basis to reflect how each property was structured for ownership · Further information on the development of the rates remission policies would be included in future Long Term Plan (LTP) workshops to be considered · There had been a high uptake of direct debit payments and issues with existing direct debits had been worked through individually · Common questions from customers had been identified and analysed · Under the previous system, any debts collected from Territorial Local Authorities (TLAs) were distributed on a pro rata basis · Further information on remissions was being gathered as part of the policy review, and this was reliant on TLAs providing a full set of information to analyse. |
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That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Rates Collection Update; 2 Requests reports from staff to provide further information to a future councillor meeting covering: a) Rates remissions and postponements b) Crown owned land and rateable value c) History of Māori land and why rating is a significant issue. CARRIED |
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Customer Service Performance Update Customer Contact Manager Rachael Burgess presented this item. Key Points - Members: · Clarified that the survey result data on page 38 of the agenda related to customer satisfaction, rather than the number of calls received. In Response to Questions: · Timing of the ALGIM Customer Experience Survey was unfortunate due to coinciding with the peak rates period, and impacted Council’s ability to respond to ALGIM calls as they came in. This also reflected challenges faced by the team and results were expected to improve once some of these challenges were resolved · The after-hours service that was provided did not have the same detailed knowledge of queries as BOPRC staff, therefore a lower level of service was observed · Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park web search was popular due to the growing number of people using the park and seeking information on whether it was open. |
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That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Customer Service Performance Update. CARRIED |
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Climate Change Quarterly Report Presentation 1: Tourism Bay of Plenty - The Green Room: Objective ID A4323083 ⇨ Presentation 2: Blue Carbon: Objective ID A4324847 ⇨ Presentation 3: Corporate Sustainability: Objective ID A4324850 ⇨ Climate Change Programme Manager Nic Newman presented this item, supported by Senior Planner Climate Change Jane Palmer and presenters as listed below. In Response to Questions: · There was a grant proportion within the Sustainable Homes Scheme to assist low income home owners. This was only available outside of the Rotorua Air Shed and had a loan component which was presently on hold and likely to be resolved soon · Confirmed that Council owns, rather than leases all of its fleet vehicles · The bus decarbonisation feasibility study was moving into the business case development phase, and looked at a range of options including electric, hydrogen, renewable diesel and biogenic methane · Noted that Climate Change reporting was shifting from six monthly to quarterly. Key Points of Presentation 1: The Green Room – Stacey Linton and Oscar Nathan, Tourism Bay of Plenty · Outlined the Green Room programme strategy and long term-goals for sustainability and regenerative tourism · Demonstrated alignment with the Climate Change Action Plan 2021-23 · Getting operators on board – consumers wanted the programme, it was free, aligned with Government targets and kept the environment and community healthy · Described the content and outcomes of the course · Visitors and consumers wanted sustainable options when travelling · Summarised key wins to date · Across 100 businesses, this would make a significant difference over time. In Response to Questions: · Some backpacker accommodations encouraged beach clean ups, and eco-tourism was currently on a small scale but developing further · Next season would see a significant increase in cruise ships to the Port of Tauranga, after deep cleans being required following Covid-19 schedule delays. New Zealand maritime regulations had been raised, where Australia’s had not · Queried the future outlook and priority of servicing cruise ships to the region – suggested a cruise terminal or shared facility at Coronation Park which could be used for other purposes during the off-season. Transportation options also held many opportunities · The cruise sector had a target to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2035 and was another aspect to be considered in deciding what priority cruise tourism held for the region, along with social and economic outcomes · There was potential for long term collaborative opportunities being built into the course · Currently the programme focused on coastal Bay of Plenty, but was under discussion for other parts of the region e.g. Rotorua · There was a collective of 14 Māori tourism operators with a high proportion currently participating in the course · It was important to note that every rohe had its own story when it came to Māori tourism. Key Points of Presentation 2: Blue Carbon - Josie Crawford, Environmental Scientist · The term ‘Blue Carbon’ was used to describe coastal and marine ecosystems that had a high capacity to capture and store carbon · Blue Carbon Solutions: Coastal Wetlands – saltmarsh, mangroves and seagrass meadows · Saltmarsh rehabilitation/ restoration · Potential saltmarsh area for restoration · Current saltmarsh elevation · Potential sea-level rise impacts · Wainui Repo Whenua project · Carbon sequestration rates · Building blocks of unlocking blue carbon potential. Key Points – Members: · Noted the strong future potential for landowners to take advantage of the opportunity to convert land to wetlands and saltmarsh for carbon benefits · Needed to start looking at green/natural infrastructure initiatives as projects to invest in as communities. In Response to Questions: · Some values of mangroves had been investigated internationally and could potentially form part of the picture · Council’s working group was not undertaking mangrove-specific research, but NIWA were trying to differentiate and understand carbon storage across mangrove, saltmarsh and seagrass habitats · A framework did not yet exist for landowners to engage with staff on wetland and saltmarsh opportunities for carbon credit benefits · Saltmarsh systems potentially had higher storage rates than other systems and higher rates at which they sequestered · Mātauranga Māori was incorporated through partnership with local hapū on the restoration projects, including species of plantings and the overall design of each project. Key Points of Presentation 3: Internal Emissions - Baptiste Natali, Corporate Sustainability Officer · Toitu Report: Result · Current Initiatives: electrification of diesel flood pumps (Kaituna), monthly carbon monitoring, fleet optimisation, carbon sequestration measurement at Pāpāmoa Hill · Highlighted that a realistic pathway to net zero was not a straight line · Offsetting described purchasing carbon credits, whereas insetting was about undertaking the work inhouse. |
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That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Climate Change Quarterly Report. CARRIED |
11.25 am – The meeting adjourned.
11.42 am – The meeting reconvened.
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2021/2022 Compliance Activity Report Compliance Manager – Land and Water Alex Miller presented this item. Key Points – Members: · Expressed growing concern over forestry waste management and risks to the community during future extreme weather events, as had been observed recently in other regions. In Response to Questions: · Inspectional frequency was increased for continued non-compliance of dairy effluent discharges - generally well-managed systems were rewarded with less frequent inspections. Other options were being considered with dairy stakeholder groups to improve compliance and provide guidance · Plans were in place for permitted activities with high non-compliance · Future compliance results graphs would be modified to reflect further industry trend trajectories/analysis · Consents for forestry only covered certain phases of process, not the full 20 year cycle · Although forestry remained a risk, the region had a robust monitoring programme in place. A future report with more details would be brought forward from November 2023 to the next meeting in June. |
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That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, 2021/2022 Compliance Activity Report. CARRIED |
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Overview of Municipal Wastewater Compliance in Bay of Plenty Region Compliance Manager – Land and Water Alex Miller and Senior Regulatory Project Officer May Cheuyglintase presented this item. Key Points - Members: · Noted that the cause of this problem was a series of issues leading to a system failure. Needed to understand the whole system and what was breaking down from a historical perspective to look ahead and address the failures. In Response to Questions: · Staff would continue to work with TLAs to promote change and improvement · The biggest drivers of the system failures were funding, capability and capacity, and increased levels of service · The link between statistics on recreational water quality and sewerage overflows would be incorporated in future wastewater compliance reports. |
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That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Overview of Municipal Wastewater Compliance in Bay of Plenty Region. CARRIED |
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Mount Maunganui Industrial Area update Compliance Manager – Air, Industry and Response Stephen Mellor and Senior Regulatory Project Officer Reece Irving presented this item. Key Points: · Noted a correction to the information provided in the Executive Summary on page 134 of the agenda: one breach of the PM10 National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NES) had been recorded within the airshed, rather than two. In Response to Questions: · A mapping study was currently underway of unsealed land in the industrial area and results would be known by 27 March 2023 · Benefits to sealing unsealed industrial land were being weighed against permeability with high rainfall events · If an ambient air quality standard was breached, staff would investigate and look to identify measures to ensure the breach was not repeated. Council is also required to give public notices of any breaches. |
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That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Mount Maunganui Industrial Area update. CARRIED |
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Weather Events, January - February 2023 General Manager – Integrated Catchments Chris Ingle and Project Manager Paula Chapman presented this item. In Response to Questions: · Following the Auckland Anniversary weather event, the rivers and drainage team undertook immediate work in areas of the upper Kaituna catchment where high levels of debris had accumulated · Western Bay of Plenty District Council (WBOPDC) had contracted drone footage to be undertaken to identify areas where debris existed alongside waterways, which could potentially mobilise in a future weather event · There were stringent consent conditions on the operation end of the Ōkere Gates, therefore they needed to be managed according to these conditions · Communication was key in easing the anxiety of communities. |
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That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Weather Events, January - February 2023. CARRIED |
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Tauranga Moana Land Management Operations Update Presentation: Land Management Operations Update: Objective ID A4331453 ⇨ Land Management Officer Hayden Schick, Land Management Officer Katherine Glasgow and Principal Advisor, Land and Water Jackson Efford presented this item. Key Points of Presentation: · Outlined the Focus Catchments Programme · Tauranga Moana Freshwater Management Unit (FMU) Land Management Works since 2019 · Kopurererua: o Ongoing sediment and E Coli issues, diverse land use o Completed and planned works o Detainment bunds o Re-alignment · Waitao/Kaiate Falls water quality – Kaiate Falls water quality appeared to be improving, but would take up to five years · Uretara and Te Mania · It would take up to five years to confirm a positive or negative trend · Mangroves and Sea Lettuce update. In Response to Questions: · WBOPDC were responsible for the infrastructure at Kaiate Falls and were aware of the issues with the walkway bridge · Staff had a prioritisation list generated in-house and worked with willing landowners where areas had been identified at risk of erosion, sediment loss, etc. · Initially the Focus Catchment Programme’s resources targeted a small number of key areas, which were now being extended to other sub catchments of the harbour including Wairoa as a priority to address sediment and e. Coli issues. |
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That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Tauranga Moana Land Management Operations Update. CARRIED |
12.58 pm – the meeting closed.
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Chairperson, Monitoring and Operations Committee