Open Minutes
Commencing: Tuesday 12 November 2024, 9.30 am
Venue: Mataatua Room, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, 5 Quay Street, Whakatāne and via Zoom (Audio Visual Meeting)
Chairperson: Cr Kevin Winters
Members: Chairman Doug Leeder
Cr Matemoana McDonald (via Zoom)
Cr Jane Nees (via Zoom)
Cr Paula Thompson (via Zoom)
Cr Lyall Thurston (via Zoom)
Cr Andrew von Dadelszen (via Zoom)
Cr Kat Macmillan (via Zoom)
Cr Malcolm Campbell
Cr Ken Shirley
In Attendance: Fiona McTavish – Chief Executive (via Zoom), Namouta Poutasi – General Manager, Strategy and Science (via Zoom), Reuben Fraser – General Manager, Regulatory Services, Chris Ingle – General Manager – Integrated Catchments, Karen Aspey – General Manager, People and Leadership, Presenters – as listed in the minutes, Amanda Namana – Committee Advisor
Apologies: Cr Ron Scott, Cr Stuart Crosby, Cr Toi Kai Rākau Iti, Cr Te Taru White
Chairs statement:
The Chair advised that the meeting was being livestreamed and recorded, and that the recording would be available through Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s website following the meeting: Monitoring and Operations Committee Meeting - 12 November 2024 - YouTube. He then acknowledged the recent passing of Tā Robert Bom Gillies – the last surviving member of the 28th Māori Battalion.
|
That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Accepts the apologies from Cr Scott, Cr Crosby, Cr Iti and Cr White tendered at the meeting. CARRIED |
2. Declaration of Conflicts of Interest
None declared.
Minutes to be Confirmed
|
Monitoring and Operations Committee Minutes - 3 September 2024 Matters Arising In relation to Minute Item 4.4 – Maritime NZ Oil Spill Response, although Maritime NZ had indicated they may be able to make response resources more easily accessed from the East Cape in case of a maritime emergency event, staff now advised that buying more equipment for the area was unlikely in the short term. Based upon risk assessment across the country, redeployment may be a possibility and they would continue to advocate for this. There was a group of regional on-scene commanders who coordinated responses to various issues and shared knowledge of challenges etc. At the regional sector level, there was an ongoing dialogue with the Crown regarding Maritime activities in terms of ferries and future emergency response – a fit for purpose vessel/tug with oceangoing capacity was under consideration. |
|
|
|
That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Confirms the Monitoring and Operations Committee Minutes - 3 September 2024 as a true and correct record. CARRIED |
|
Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust Update Presentation: Kaimai Mamaku Restoration Project: Objective ID A4814416 ⇨ Presented by: Louise Saunders - Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
· Kaimai Mamaku Restoration Project covered an area of 300,000 hectares · Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust (MKMT) was a co-governed charitable trust established to receive and deploy funding and raise awareness of the issues · The $19.4m Jobs for Nature project administered by the MKMT resulted in 12 iwi/hapū led projects · A joint agency partnership was formed between MKMT, BOPRC, Waikato Regional Council (WRC) and the Department of Conservation (DOC) · There were multiple long term projects which needed to be integrated, coordinated and underpinned by consistent funding support · The Kaimai Mamaku ranges covered two regions, five districts, and was the rohe to 30 iwi/hapū · BOPRC funding of this programme was included in the Long Term Plan (LTP) alongside significant funding from other programmes and MKMT · Outlined some of the work programmes including feral goats managed by DOC, which had seen such success that complete eradication was now a possibility. The decline of kōkako had also been reversed, with successful stoat control increasing the breeding population · A conservation hunting wananga built capability and professional hunting to support conservation projects · Funding for this programme provided a significant return on investment, and the leadership and continued support from BOPRC was appreciated. In Response to Questions: · The initial funding aim was $5-6m per year for MKMT and its operations, including some of the community conservation groups. Central government support would potentially provide credibility to encourage business investment, but this support was strongly lacking at present · The science regarding use of 1080 was unequivocal, but MKMT had to bring people along on the journey and there was an education process that communities and iwi/hapū needed to undertake in order to understand and make decisions on the limitations of ground-based pest control · Noted evidence of 1080 resistance in some Australian possum populations, due to 1080 being found naturally in some of their vegetation · There were different mindsets between culling and recreational hunting, risking intelligent animals becoming trained through avoidance to be warier and more difficult to cull · Ecosystem valuation work was being undertaken with economists from BOPRC and WRC, including a new piece of work around avoided costs associated with a resilient forest and intact canopy to store more water.
|
|
Chairperson's Report Presented by: Reuben Fraser – General Manager, Regulatory Services, Matt Harrex – Compliance Manager, Land and Water, Marion Henton – Senior Regulatory Project Officer. Key Points - Members: · Commended staff for the outstanding and collaborative work in improving Rotorua air quality · Strongly supported the mussel restoration at Ōhiwa Harbour and highlighted the criticality of continued funding for this work.
In Response to Questions: · In relation to potential use of one of Council’s containment cells for material from the Whakatāne Boat Harbour, decisions about the consent authority process were delegated to staff, whereas decisions about permission as a landowner would go to Council. Also noted that the CS3 land was owned by Council but was also and ultimately Māori Land, therefore tangata whenua would need to be talked through both of the processes · The terminology of the Rotorua airshed title would change from ‘polluted’ to ‘gazetted’ after five years of no exceedances · The 40 properties of non-complying solid fuel burner use were not the total number within the Rotorua airshed. Some were active resistors, whilst others were still being worked with to gain compliant heating · A Summer Student had been tasked with accessing Rotorua Lakes Council electronic property information to identify evidence of old wood burners, which would go on a list to follow up and update records · National Environmental Standards (NES) set ambient air qualities across the catchment, whereas IPAR measures were different and more site specific · Central Government had indicated there would be no changes to the NES during the current term. |
|
|
|
That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Chairperson's Report. CARRIED |
10.37 am – The meeting adjourned.
10.54 am – The meeting reconvened.
Information Only
|
Rivers Scheme Advisory Groups - Summary of Meetings September - October 2024 Presented by: Kirsty Brown – Rivers and Drainage Assets Manager and Paula Chapman – Project Manager In Response to Questions: · In 2021, a satisfaction survey of River Scheme Advisory Group members was undertaken, resulting in a full review of the Terms of Reference · The Rangitāiki spillway project was on track for completion in early 2025. However, the budget may exceed its initial estimate by up to $200k. This figure was still being refined, and staff were actively exploring opportunities to offset the potential overspend · The contract for the Archimedes screw pump for Ford Road Pump Station was being finalised for delivery, transportation and insurance terms prior to ordering. The final price formed part of the contract negotiations and staff would follow up with the procurement team for an update · Southern Generation were likely to pursue the Fast Track option for reconsenting, with discussions set to commence by the Engineering Manager as soon as possible. |
|
|
|
That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Rivers Scheme Advisory Groups - Summary of Meetings September - October 2024. CARRIED |
|
Climate Change Programme Quarterly Report Presentation: Climate Change Programme Update: Objective ID A4824342 ⇨ Presented by: Nic Newman – Climate Change Programme Manager and Rebecca Immink – Facilities and Information Team Leader Key Points: · Staff were providing technical support for the Rotoehu/Rotomā Climate Change Working Group and would work through the adaptation cycle with them and local communities. A summer student would be looking at how to best support some of the community-led adaptation projects and help set up community monitoring · Provided an update on the National Adaptation Framework Development and the National Adaptation Practitioners Network · Geothermal energy potential was collecting momentum, with a management plan and information sessions being held for local businesses · 19 councils across the country had been working collectively on the Local Emission Data Platform · Provided an update on the organisational path to Net Zero, noting the fluctuating emissions reduction. Key Points - Members: · Questioned whether regular updates on the waste strategy should be considered as better suited to the Strategy and Policy Committee, given the pursuit of waste minimisation, the implications for other Territorial Local Authorities (TLA’s) and the community impacts. In Response to Questions: · Discussions had been held with WRC in relation to the partnership agreement for a central North Island waste strategy. A funding bid was currently being reviewed by Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and development of an early engagement plan was underway · The reason for the focus on sequestration being Pāpāmoa Hills was that the site was controlled by BOPRC and this target for Net Zero related to the organisation. The NZ SeaRise Programme was referenced to in regard to sea level rise, as it had the vertical land movement and sealevel rise mapped together · The natural capital regional resilience work being undertaken was a pilot programme, therefore identifying data gaps, what use the data was and next steps still needed to be established · Staff were working with communities who were ready and proactive about climate change adaptation. Districts were also starting to create their own climate risk assessments, which the priority communities would be identified through · The cost for the adaptation plan for Motuhora Island was $15k and expected outcomes were landowners understanding what the future may hold with coastal erosion and sealevel rise issues and having a plan to address these · Fleet electric vehicles were currently held for six years before replacement, due to being a high capital expense that devalued relatively quickly. The operational costs of keeping an electric vehicle in the fleet were very low and batteries were expected (and guaranteed by warranty) to last for at least 8 years before any impact on battery range. |
|
|
|
That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Climate Change Programme Quarterly Report. CARRIED |
|
Biodiversity Operations Report Presentation: Biodiversity Operations Report: Objective ID A4824340 ⇨ Presented by: Charles Harley – Coastal Catchments Manager and Shay Dean – Environmental Scientist Key Points: · Provided an update on new and existing Environmental Programmes (EP) on priority biodiversity sites · Provided imagery of the Matai Road biodiversity site, which recently sold with the EP included in the sale agreement so that work could continue. Pest animal control in the EP included using aerial 1080 and provided an opportunity to socialise this and educate the community · Lake Tahuna wetland covered 48 hectares and was home to threatened bird and fern species - one of four wetlands covered in an EP with the Putauaki Trust · Highlighted the biodiversity sites covered by an EP with Maketū-Ongatoro wetlands society · A Kānuka protection project was being explored near Thornton and conversations were being held with mana whenua and local residents. In Response to Questions: · Deer fencing on the Matai Road biodiversity site was underway and likely to be completed by the end of the year · Each environmental project was reviewed as they arose, with the longevity of the project being determined to ensure work carried out would be achievable long term. The Matai Road deer fence installation was a large initial investment but paid for itself in the long term by the exclusion ability. Aspiration needed to be balanced with logic when considering large projects and the long-term cost and obligations · Being involved with 1080 operations and working through the legislative requirements to simplify the process would enable the tool to be more readily available for use. This would build experience and knowledge to share with landowners, tangata whenua and communities. · Benchmarking was needed for biodiversity spending as it was currently difficult to measure biodiversity input. |
|
|
|
· Provide further context in future reports for members to gain a holistic view of EP activity, including the total budget under financial implications, the amount being spent on EP’s, and what spend was expected going forward. Also include a geographic spread across the region, representation of land users and the biodiversity being protected. |
|
|
That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Biodiversity Operations Report. CARRIED |
|
Overview of municipal wastewater compliance in the Bay of Plenty Region Presented by: Matt Harrex – Compliance Manager, Land and
Water Key Points – Members: · The best interests and cost profile of the wider community needed to be included when considering waste transportation across the rohe · Design and disposal methods held a high engineering component · Mātauranga Māori considerations needed to be acknowledged in these discussions. Including tangata whenua views on the way waste was treated was important during the decision-making process. In Response to Questions: · The three non-compliances noted in Katikati, Ōpōtiki and Maketū were due to a combination of poor maintenance and force majeure. In Response to Questions – Reuben Fraser, General Manager Regulatory Services and Ella Tennent – Consents Manager: · BOPRC was primarily concerned with the treatment system producing the required quality outcome of effluent and its appropriate disposal - were not overly involved with the design process beyond that · Highlighted that BOPRC may not be the decision makers for consents in this space in the future – Central Government was progressing with wastewater standards and depending on this outcome, there was the potential that consents would not be required. |
|
|
|
That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Overview of municipal wastewater compliance in the Bay of Plenty Region. CARRIED |
|
Consents Annual Report for 2023/24 Presented by: Ella Tennent – Consents Manager (via Zoom) Key Points - Members: · Commended staff on the favourable customer satisfaction results. |
|
|
|
That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Consents Annual Report for 2023/24. CARRIED |
|
People & Capability and Health & Safety Quarterly report Presented by: Karen Aspey – General Manager, People and Capability and Steven Slack – Risk and Assurance Manager Key Points: · This new report was intended to come to the Committee quarterly in the future. Key Points - Staff: · The results showed highly motivated, highly productive people, combined with a low turnover. 10% of staff turnover was considered optimal, therefore BOPRC’s was very healthy · The percentages in the engagement survey worked through a seven point scoring system from ‘strongly disagree’ to ‘strongly agree’, with each response across the spectrum receiving a relative percentage, which was then averaged from all results to receive the final percentage score · Using results from survey data, managers worked on any issues highlighted and aspects staff indicated needed to be improved upon. Verbatim feedback received also assisted in identifying teams with issues to be addressed · Safe behaviour was rewarded through the Health and Safety Committee, by recognition and coffee vouchers, with a morning tea or similar if it was a team being recognised. Safe behaviours rewarded throughout the year contributed to Kēkēwai Award nominations for Health and Safety · No positive tests for drug and alcohol had occurred for some time and there was no indication that this was an issue within the organisation · Near misses were reported by individuals through the Health and Safety reporting system – this was communicated and encouraged to staff · All BOPRC vehicles had GPS monitoring. |
|
|
|
That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, People & Capability and Health & Safety Quarterly report. CARRIED |
1.02 pm – the meeting closed.
|
|
Chairperson, Monitoring and Operations Committee