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Monitoring and Operations Committee Agenda

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the next meeting of the Monitoring and Operations Committee will be held via Zoom (Audio Visual Meeting) on:

Tuesday 8 March 2022 COMMENCING AT 9.30 am

This meeting will be livestreamed and recorded.

The Public section of this meeting will be livestreamed and recorded and uploaded to Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s website.  Further details on this can be found after the Terms of Reference within the Agenda. Bay of Plenty Regional Council - YouTube

 

Fiona McTavish

Chief Executive, Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana

1 March 2022

 


 

Monitoring and Operations Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Cr Kevin Winters

Deputy Chairperson

Cr Norm Bruning

Members

All Councillors

Quorum

Seven members, consisting of half the number of members

Meeting frequency

Quarterly

Purpose

·                Oversee and monitor the implementation of policies and strategies, promoting effective delivery and coordination between policy and implementation through recommendations to the Strategy and Policy Committee.

·                Monitor the implementation of Council’s activities, projects and services.

Role

Oversee and monitor:

·                Regulatory performance of permitted activities, resource consents and bylaw rules, including compliance and enforcement.

·                Delivery of biodiversity, catchment management and flood protection activities in the region.

·                Delivery of biosecurity activities, including implementation and monitoring of the Regional Pest Management Plan.

·                Effectiveness of navigation safety bylaw responses.

·                State of the Environment monitoring.

·                Implementation of specific programmes in place such as the Mount Maunganui Industrial Air Programme, and integrated catchment programmes (e.g. Rotorua Lakes and Tauranga Moana).

·                Receive information on environmental monitoring and performance monitoring trends and recommend to the Strategy and Policy Committee to inform policy review.

·                Monitor Council’s actions on Climate Change.

·                Operational activities that implement relevant national and regional plans and strategies, including:

§  science

§  flood protection

§  biosecurity

§  catchment management

§  rivers and drainage

§  compliance, monitoring and enforcement

§  resource consents

§  maritime

Power to Act

To make all decisions necessary to fulfil the role and scope of the committee subject to the limitations imposed.

The Monitoring and Operations Committee is not delegated authority to:

·                Develop, adopt or review strategic policy and strategy.

·                Approve Council submissions on legislation, policy, regulations, standards, plans and other instruments prepared by Central Government, Local Government and other organisations.

·                Identify, monitor and evaluate necessary actions by the organisation and other relevant organisations under co-governance arrangements.

Power to Recommend

To the Strategy and Policy Committee on matters necessary for reviewing plans, strategies and policies.

To Council and/or any standing committee as it deems appropriate.


 

Recording of Meetings

Please note the Public section of this meeting is being recorded and streamed live on Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s website in accordance with Council's Live Streaming and Recording of Meetings Protocols which can be viewed on Council’s website. The recording will be archived and made publicly available on Council's website within two working days after the meeting on www.boprc.govt.nz for a period of three years (or as otherwise agreed to by Council).

All care is taken to maintain your privacy; however, as a visitor in the public gallery or as a participant at the meeting, your presence may be recorded. By remaining in the public gallery, it is understood your consent is given if your image is inadvertently broadcast.

Opinions expressed or statements made by individual persons during a meeting are not the opinions or statements of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Council accepts no liability for any opinions or statements made during a meeting.

 


Bay of Plenty Regional Council - Toi Moana

Governance Commitment

mō te taiao, mō ngā tāngata - our environment and our people go hand-in-hand.

 

 

We provide excellent governance when, individually and collectively, we:

·        Trust and respect each other

·        Stay strategic and focused

·        Are courageous and challenge the status quo in all we do

·        Listen to our stakeholders and value their input

·        Listen to each other to understand various perspectives

·        Act as a team who can challenge, change and add value

·        Continually evaluate what we do

 

 

TREAD LIGHTLY, THINK DEEPLY,
ACT WISELY, SPEAK KINDLY.


Monitoring and Operations Committee                                                                          8 March 2022

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

Agenda

1.       Apologies

2.       Public Forum

3.       Items not on the Agenda

4.       Order of Business

5.       Declaration of Conflicts of Interest

6.       Public Excluded Business to be Transferred into the Open

7.       Minutes

Minutes to be Confirmed

7.1      Monitoring and Operations Committee Minutes - 7 December 2021 1

8        Reports

Information Only

8.1      Summary of care group and environmental volunteer activity 2021 1

9.       Presentations

9.1      Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust

Presented by: Louise Saunders, Chief Executive Officer, Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust

10      Reports

10.1    Chairperson's Report (Revised)                                                             1

Information Only

10.2    Customer Service Performance                                                              1

10.3    Mount Maunganui Industrial area update                                              1

Attachment 1 - Mount Maunganui Airshed PM10 exceedances at February 2022      1

Attachment 2 - 2022-03-01 Working Party meeting agenda and draft programme of work                                                                                                                                        1

10.4    Maritime Summer Programme Report for 2021/22                              1

Attachment 1 - Interactions                                                                                                1

Attachment 2 - Boat Ramp Surveys (Students)                                                               1

Attachment 3 - Infringements and Breaches                                                                    1

Attachment 4 - Moorings                                                                                                     1

Attachment 5 - Navigational aids                                                                                       1

10.5    Climate Change Programme Reporting                                                 1

Attachment 1 - Climate Change Programme Dashboard July-December 2021          1

10.6    Lake Rotorua Sustainable Land Gains 2017 - 2022                               1

10.7    Biosecurity Activity Budget Trends 2016 - 2021                                   1

Attachment 1 - RPMP Pest Programme Expenditure 2016 - 2021                                 1

10.8    Overview of WWTP Compliance in the Bay of Plenty Region - 2021/22                                                                                                                   1

Attachment 1 - Overview of WWTP Compliance in BOP Region - February 2022     1

8.       Public Excluded Section

Resolution to exclude the public

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:

Item No.

Subject of each matter to be considered

Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter

Grounds under Section 48(1) for the passing of this resolution

When the item can be released into the public

11.1

Public Excluded Monitoring and Operations Committee Minutes - 7 December 2021

As noted in the relevant Minutes.

As noted in the relevant Minutes.

To remain in public excluded.

 

Minutes to be Confirmed

11.1    Public Excluded Monitoring and Operations Committee Minutes - 7 December 2021

              Note: the only matter for consideration in the Public Excluded section is the confirmation of the previous minutes, confirming minutes only, therefore the Committee has the authority to confirm these minutes in the Public section of the meeting.

9.       Public Excluded Business to be Transferred into the Open

10.     Readmit the Public

11.     Consideration of Items not on the Agenda


Monitoring and Operations Committee Minutes

7 December 2021

 

Monitoring and Operations Committee

Open Minutes

Commencing:             Tuesday 7 December 2021, 9.30 am

Venue:                         Via Zoom (Audio Visual Meeting)

Chairperson:               Cr Kevin Winters

Deputy Chairperson:  Cr Norm Bruning

Members:                    Cr David Love

Cr Bill Clark

Cr Stuart Crosby

Cr Toi Kai Rākau Iti

Chairman Doug Leeder

Cr Matemoana McDonald

Cr Jane Nees

Cr Paula Thompson

Cr Andrew von Dadelszen

Cr Te Taru White

In Attendance:            Sarah Omundsen – General Manager Regulatory Services, Chris Ingle – General Manager Integrated Catchments; Namouta Poutasi - General Manager Strategy & Science; Reuben Fraser – Consents Manager; Greg Corbett - Biosecurity Manager; Marlene Bosch - Principal Advisor, Consents;  Shane Iremonger – Team Leader Science; Alex Miller - Compliance Manager – Land & Water; Stephen Mellor - Compliance Manager – Air, Industry & Response; Reece Irving - Senior Regulatory Project Officer; Sam Weiss – Senior Regulatory Project Officer; Jackson Efford - Principal Advisor, Land & Water; Pim de Monchy - Coastal Catchments Manager; Helen Creagh – Rotorua Catchments Manager; Tone Nerdrum Smith – Committee Advisor

Graeme Marshall – Chair, Mount Maunganui Air Quality Working Party

Apologies:                  Cr Lyall Thurston, Cr Stacey Rose, Cr Paula Thompson (late arrival)

Chairperson’s Opening Statement

Cr Winters welcomed those present and advised that the meeting was being livestreamed and recorded, and that the recording would be made available on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council website following the meeting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wG8pqmCG28

1.   Apologies

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Accepts the apologies from Cr Lyall Thurston and Cr Stacey Rose (both absence) and Cr Paula Thompson (late arrival) tendered at the meeting.

Bruning/Nees

CARRIED

2.     Public Forum

2.1    Mr Graeme Marshall – Update on Mount Maunganui Air Quality Working Party

Key Points:

·    It had been 12 month since the Working Party had been established

·    Recognised the challenges, however engagement with the community was positive and active

·    A key challenge was the tension between groups seeking elimination vs mitigation

·    Recognised the increase in air pollution complaints

·    Opportunities for parties to meet and the creation of open dialogue was a positive outcome of the establishment of the working party

·    Noted the beautification schemes that had commenced in the Mount Industrial area, driven by community groups

·    The possible retreat of Whareroa Marae due to natural hazard risks was a particular and separate issue and had not formed part of the Working Party’s discussions

·    Odour was an ongoing issue that was discussed at each meeting of the Working Party. Due to its nature, addressing the odour issue was challenging.

Key Points - Staff:

·    Are working through what additional monitoring could be introduced in the adjacent residential areas, i.e. beyond the current industrial area monitoring

·    Would bring back options regarding such monitoring at Committee meetings in 2022.

Key Points - Members:

·    Recognised the positive mahi undertaken by the Working Party, and acknowledged the significant commitment made by Graeme as Chair.

3.     Declaration of Conflicts of Interest

Item 5.8 - Land Management / Focus Catchments Highlights: Cr von Dadelszen – Chair, Kopurererua Valley Volunteer Group (Rotary).

4.     Minutes

Minutes to be Confirmed

4.1

Monitoring and Operations Committee Minutes - 7 September 2021

 

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

          Confirms the Monitoring and Operations Committee Minutes - 7 September 2021 as a true and correct record.

Crosby/Bruning

CARRIED

5.     Reports

5.1

Chairperson's Report

Presented by Councillor Winters, Sarah Omundsen – General Manager Regulatory Services, Chris Ingle – General Manager Integrated Catchments.

Key Points:

·    Council was working closely with mana whenua of Motiti Island with regards to the implementation of the new Motiti Protection Area

·    Including mana whenua in the monitoring function was important to provide engagement and connection

·    Council had approached the Ministry for the Environment regarding impact of recent high court decision on mangrove management rules

·    Water testing was paid for by suppliers and any positive results were reported to the regulators (e.g. Regional Council)

·    Worked closely with territorial authorities regarding water supply/quality

·    Liquefaction risk analysis was being undertaken by Civil Defence Emergency Management and would be reported back to a future meeting of the Committee.

Key Points - Members:

·    Recognised the challenges that the Three Waters Entities would face in the ongoing monitoring of water supply

·    Considered an assessment of sustainability of water supply in the Bay of Plenty should commence

·    Recognised the highly technical nature of researching surface flow vs ground water flows.

 

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, Chairperson's Report.

Winters/von Dadelszen

CARRIED

Decisions Required

5.2

Revised Regional Pest Management Plan Operational Plan for 2021 - 2022

Presented by Greg Corbett - Biosecurity Manager.

Key Points:

·    Noted the procedural nature of adopting the Operational Plan following on from the adoption of the Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) at the Council meeting in November 2021

·    Budget allocations within the Operational Plan included external funding support, mainly from Jobs for Nature

·    Council had ownership of approximately 100ha of land with kauri trees, and was partnering with other organisations in the control of kauri dieback

·    Central Government was not bound by the RPMP as there was no ‘Good Neighbour’ provisions in place. However, Council was actively working with Crown agencies with regards to cross-boundary pest management.

 

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·    Provide information regarding funding trends for pest management over the previous five years to the next meeting of the Committee.

 

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, Revised Regional Pest Management Plan Operational Plan for 2021 - 2022.

2        Approves the Revised 2021-22 Operational Plan for the Bay of Plenty Regional Pest Management Plan 2020 – 2030.

Nees/White

CARRIED

 

Information Only

5.3

Ballance Agri-Nutrients Limited Air Discharge Review

Presented by Reuben Fraser – Consents Manager, Marlene Bosch - Principal Advisor, Consents; Shane Iremonger – Team Leader Science.

Key Points:

·    Modelling exercises had identified three possible sites where air discharge could exceed the new lower levels, however the risk of such occurrence was considered low.

 

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·    Air discharge trends for the period 2010 – current to be provided to elected members.

 

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, Ballance Agri-Nutrients Limited Air Discharge Review.

von Dadelszen/Crosby

CARRIED

 

10.37am – the meeting adjourned.

 

10.55am – the meeting reconvened.

 

5.4

Mount Maunganui Industrial Airshed Update

Presented by Stephen Mellor - Compliance Manager – Air, Industry & Response; Reece Irving - Senior Regulatory Project Officer; Sam Weiss – Senior Regulatory Project Officer; Sarah Omundsen – General Manager Regulatory Services.

10.57am - Cr Thompson entered the meeting.

Key Points:

·    Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) were no longer included as a firefighting substance, however it was not clear if its use had been formally prohibited

·    Timberlands Ltd debarked timber logs in Murupara, however large scale debarking was not always an option for smaller timber suppliers

·    Clarified the graphs pertaining to levels and distribution of pollutant particles/dust

Key Points - Members:

·    Currently any logs exported to India required fumigation, which (to a lesser extent) was also a condition for timber export to China. This meant non-chemical debarking was not an option for these export markets.

 

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·    Clarify the legality of the use of PFAS and advise elected members accordingly.

 

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, Mount Maunganui Industrial Airshed Update.

Nees/Bruning

CARRIED

 

5.5

Rotorua Air Quality Implementation Programme Summary

Presented by Marion Henton - Senior Regulatory Project Officer, supported by Shane Iremonger – Team Leader Science and Stephen Mellor- Compliance Manager.

Key Points:

·    National environmental standards for air monitoring in the Rotorua Airshed had been met for the second year in a row

·    There was no national register for non-complaint woodburners and heat pumps, nor was there a requirement for owners to advise Council if the burners/heaters were removed

·    Regulations were in place preventing the installation of new (rather than replacements) woodburners in the Rotorua Airshed, and any new installations required a resource consent.

 

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, Rotorua Air Quality Implementation Programme Summary.

Iti/White

CARRIED

 

5.6

An Overview of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Air Quality Guidelines and Our Air 2021 Preliminary Data Release

Presented by Stephen Mellor - Compliance Manager – Air, Industry & Response

 

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, An overview of the World Health Organisation (WHO) global air quality guidelines and Our air 2021 preliminary data release.

Crosby/Nees

CARRIED

 

5.7

2020/2021 Regulatory Compliance Activity Report

Presented by Alex Miller - Compliance Manager – Land & Water; Stephen Mellor - Compliance Manager – Air, Industry & Response

Key Points:

·    On-site compliance monitoring visits were increasing, which was a reflection of previous years’ trend

·    Monitoring identified that compliance levels remained unchanged, i.e. above 80%

·    The number of hotline complaint calls had reduced and was being monitored to identify if this was the start of a trend

·    Staff were working through the implications of current statutory reforms and their impact on Council’s monitoring responsibilities

·    The timeframe in Courts from when charges were laid against non-compliance to an outcome being reached was currently 18-24 months

·    Notification to tāngata whenua regarding environmental incidents was becoming more proactive through increased levels of engagement, rather than being purely reactive.

 

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, 2020/2021 Regulatory Compliance Activity Report.

McDonald/Bruning

CARRIED

 

5.8

Land Management / Focus Catchments Highlights

Cr von Dadelszen declared a conflict of interest as the Chair of the Kopurererua Valley Volunteer Group (Rotary) and abstained from discussion and voting, beyond asking questions of clarification.

Presented by Jackson Efford - Principal Advisor, Land & Water; Pim de Monchy - Coastal Catchments Manager.

Key Points:

·    Council was meeting its Deed of Funding milestones and obligations to the Ministry for the Environment (MfE), with a recent audit confirming full compliance with deed conditions

·    Council would be trialling alternative and less expensive planting programmes in 2022 

·    Staff were working on linking the monitoring of the planting programme’s success with Council’s freshwater interactive engagement tool.

 

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, Land Management / Focus Catchments Highlights.

Clark/White

CARRIED

 

5.9

Te Arawa Lakes Programme - Pūrongo ā-tau 2020-2021

Presented by Helen Creagh – Rotorua Catchments Manager

Key Points:

·    Applications were still being received for the Incentives Scheme

·    Noted the finalisation and progress on implementation of the Lake Rotorua Nutrient Rules.

Key Points - Members:

·    Suggested the creation of a simple and clear information sheet regarding the Rotoiti/Tarawera reticulation schemes that could be presented to the various ratepayer and interest groups' AGMs.

 

Resolved

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, Te Arawa Lakes Programme - Pūrongo ā-tau 2020-2021.

White/Iti

CARRIED

6.     Public Excluded Section

Resolved

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:

Item No.

Subject of each matter to be considered

Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter

Grounds under Section 48(1) for the passing of this resolution

When the item can be released into the public

6.1

Public Excluded Monitoring and Operations Committee Minutes - 7 September 2021

As noted in the relevant Minutes.

As noted in the relevant Minutes.

To remain in public excluded.

Love/Iti

CARRIED

 

7.     Chairperson’s Announcement

The Chairperson drew elected members’ attention to Cr Lyall Thurston being shortlisted for the New Zealander of the Year award for his ongoing and successful efforts to get folic acid added to wheat flour.

 

12.00pm – the meeting closed.

 

 

Confirmed                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                   Cr Kevin Winters

Chairperson, Monitoring and Operations Committee


 

 

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Report To:

Monitoring and Operations Committee

Meeting Date:

8 March 2022

Report Writer:

Tim Senior, Land Management Officer

Report Authoriser:

Chris Ingle, General Manager, Integrated Catchments

Purpose:

Update on care groups and other volunteer activity

 

 

Summary of care group and environmental volunteer activity 2021

 

Executive Summary

The Council’s two Catchments teams between them currently support 65 land and estuary care groups. This paper provides a brief summary of the different programmes and mechanisms though which this support is channelled, with a focus on the care groups supported by the Rotorua Lakes and Coastal Catchments teams.

Brief presentations will be given by care group leaders to illustrate their work: Stuart Slade from the Nukuhou Saltmarsh Care Group; Andrew Thorpe from the Johnson Reserve Care Group; and Brian Breen from the Waioraka Care Group.

 

Recommendations

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, Summary of care group and environmental volunteer activity 2021.

 

1.        Introduction

Agencies such as regional or district councils and DOC are not able to carry out all the environmental protection and restoration work required across the region. The work of local volunteers is critical to the achievement of Council’s objectives. Council’s ongoing financial and practical support of care groups and other volunteer groups is, as outlined below, a success story that enables a significant contribution to some of council’s community outcomes. We acknowledge and appreciate the contribution from volunteers, along with the social capital it builds in our communities. 

The mechanisms through which council supports voluntary environmental work include:

·      Land and Estuary Care groups

·      Coast Care

·      Catchment groups

·      Environmental Enhancement Fund

·      Community Initiatives Fund

The gains achieved by this volunteer army considerably outweigh the modest investment by council.

1.1      Legislative Framework

The work of community care groups and other volunteer groups sits outside council’s statutory functions. It represents a voluntary effort by unpaid members of the community who are passionate about protecting their local environment.

1.2      Alignment with Strategic Framework

 

A Healthy Environment

We work cohesively with volunteers and others, to sustainably manage and improve our natural resources.

Freshwater for Life

We collaborate with others to maintain and improve our water resource for future generations.

A Vibrant Region

We work with and connect the right people to create a prosperous region and economy.

The Way We Work

We deliver value to our ratepayers and our customers.

1.2.1    Community Well-beings Assessment

Dominant Well-Beings Affected

¨ Environmental

High - Positive

¨ Cultural

Low - Positive

¨ Social

High - Positive

¨ Economic

Low - Positive

 

 

 

2.        Land Care and Estuary Care

2.1      How we work together

The 2 Catchments Teams between them currently support 65 land and estuary care groups. Care groups interested in their local environment approach Land Management staff with an idea. This idea is explored and developed and if the proposal meets Council’s criteria, we work together to produce a care group plan. This may involve planting, pest control, weed control, interpretation signage or ecological monitoring. The groups have ownership of their projects – they are not Council projects.

Council staff provide technical support, advice and funding for materials to be utilised by the group. To keep the process simple for the groups, we generally purchase and supply materials for them and include any training or other resources required for the job. These costs are usually very small - often less than $5,000 and no more than $10,000 per year. The in-kind contribution of volunteer labour by the groups far outweighs Council’s cash contribution. Most of the groups operate on publicly owned land and the landowning agency generally contributes in some way to the group’s work.

People engage in voluntary work because they want to make a difference on the ground, so they particularly dislike administration. Over the last couple of years staff have made an effort to streamline and simplify our requirements, so administration is kept to a minimum. Each group now has a short, simple plan which is put together collaboratively, agreed to and signed by both parties. This is revised annually – usually a simple task of agreeing on, and adjusting, the coming year’s work plan and budget to suit their needs.

Over the last year, the 65 Care Groups across the region between them:

·      Contributed ~50,500 hours of voluntary labour (1,262 weeks)

·      Trapped ~4,820 pest animals

·      Laid over 1,100kg of bait

·      Planted ~25,500 native plants

2.1.1    Western Catchments

Two groups have formed over the last year, and they will be carrying out native planting, weed and animal control.

Achievements of the western bay and Tauranga groups over the last year:

·      40 care groups active in the area

·      ~4,000 pests trapped

·      ~500kg bait laid

·      ~15,000 native plants planted

·      ~40,000 hours of voluntary labour contributed

·      13 care groups currently using the care group app

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Rob McGowan of the Waitao Care Group tends their plant nursery

In order to improve the capturing of information about care group activities across the region, staff initiated, with the support of a number of groups, the development of a mobile GIS mapping app (known as the ‘Care Group App’). This app supports groups with their administration and activity monitoring and recording. It is proving to be a very useful spatial platform for care group information to be stored and, easy analysis of, and reporting on, their data. It is hoped that over time this will be used by all groups and contribute towards a standardised region wide database. The app is being constantly refined and developed.

There are currently 55 groups in the BOP region which are using the app  for various task reporting purposes. The statistics to date since the uptake in 2020 can be seen in the dashboard image below. The app is able to record planting numbers, pest plant control and various biodiversity monitoring results in addition to the features shown below.

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Figure 1: Care Group App home page

 

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Figure 2: Care Group app trapping dashboard, highlighting the intensive trapping at Whakamarama being undertaken by Friends of the Blade

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Figure 3: Care Group app baiting dashboard

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Figure 4: Care Group app volunteer summary page

 

2.1.2    Rotorua Lakes

The Rotorua lake catchments have a number of dedicated and well established Care Groups that deliver great results within their areas.  The majority of the groups are based around the lake edges and help to enhance the biodiversity outcomes through planting, weed control and pest control activities.

The Rotorua land management team have had four new Care Groups signing up to the programme through the 2021-22 financial year.  The new care groups are:

·      Ngongotaha Stream Care who maintain the riparian plants alongside the Ngongotahā Stream have re-engaged after a number of years.

·      Waitetī Stream mouth Care Group who are looking after the wetland at the stream mouth.

·      Lake Tarawera Care Group.

·      Land Care Ōkāreka.

·      The Tikitapu Care Group.

·      Ōkere Reserve Care Group in Lake Rotoiti who have embarked on looking after the reserve.

·      Awahou Stream Care Group.

·      Project Whakahaumanu Care Group which is looking at restoring wetland areas near Ōkere Falls, Lake Rotoiti.

Achievements of the Rotorua groups over the last year:

·      9 care groups active in the area

·      ~300 kg of bait laid

·      ~7500 native plants planted

·      ~4000 hours of voluntary labour contributed

·      6 priority biodiversity sites are being improved.

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Members of the Waiowhiro Care Group planting

2.1.3    Eastern catchments

Most groups operate in DOC and District Council reserves, and adjacent private land. Most carry out revegetation planting and pest and weed control, many in priority biodiversity sites. While no new groups have formed over the last year, many of the existing groups are steadily expanding their operational areas.

Most of the groups operate in relatively small areas, so effective outcome monitoring of their work is difficult. Photopoints are a good way of telling a revegetation story over time. Where bird monitoring is carried out, the recovery of species as a result of pest control can be remarkable and we assume that similar pest control will have similar effects at other locations. In some situations, the groups’ work contributes to the outcome monitoring data gathered for State of the Environment reporting for places like Ōhiwa Harbour.

While generally very modest about the thousands of hours they contribute and the results of their work, care group members are proud of their achievements. Each year a number of these groups from the Optiki/Ōhiwa area get together to share their year’s experiences and highlights. These gatherings attract around 50 dedicated folk and is something of a highlight for the year. Many of these people now have considerable expertise in pest control, monitoring and biodiversity.

Achievements of the eastern bay groups over the last year:

·      16 care groups active in the area

·      ~820 pests trapped

·      ~670 kg of bait laid

·      ~3000 native plants planted

·      ~6500 hours of voluntary labour contributed

·      8 priority biodiversity sites are being improved.

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Hurike Care group (Ōhiwa Harbour). Almost every member of the local community joins in the annual planting events.

3.        Care Groups with Environmental Programmes

Some of the larger volunteer groups working on large areas and aiming to restore specific bird populations have environmental programmes, which cover some of their work. Other funding sources cover the care of the birds themselves.

3.1      Manawahe Kokako Trust

The Manawahe Kokako Trust have recently celebrated their 25th anniversary and in that time volunteers in their 22,000 hours of work have carried in 15.2 tonnes of pindone and made 25,200 trap visits. $15,000 budget in 2021/22.

3.2      Whakatāne Reserves/Kiwi Trust

This Environmental Programme (EP) includes land owned by Whakatāne District Council, DOC, Ngāti Awa Farms and a private landowner between Whakatāne and Ōhope. The partners work closely with the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust who manage all the kiwi specific tasks, a large proportion of the trapping network, wasp control, cat control and all the volunteers who undertake the work.   BOPRC manages the significant bait station network (2215 bait stations), bait delivery, a small portion of the trapping network, pest plant control operations, and pays for other materials and consumables.  The EP costs just under $300,000 with an annual contribution from regional council of $220,000. The current EP is being reviewed in June 2023.

The Whakatāne Kiwi Trust carries out much of the volunteer work as part of the wider project to protect kiwi and other birds on these sites. During the past year they have:

·      contributed ~5,650 hours of voluntary labour

·      trapped ~1,300 pests

4.        Extra LTP funding for Care Groups

An extra $215,000 was allocated to the care group programme in the Long Term Plan. For some time a number of groups have been asking for extra support for a number of initiatives that would help them further their environmental goals. Many of these are now able to be funded. Examples of funding allocated to date:

·      $5,000 for electronic equipment such as trail cameras and GPS units.

·      $18,000 for large scale weed control by contractors.

·      $5,000 for a wallaby control trial.

·      $14,000 for new traps and trap networks.

·      $20,000 for care group app upgrading and training.

5.        Coast Care BOP

The Coast Care Bay of Plenty programme began in 1994 as a partnership between coastal volunteers and the agencies with an interest in coastal management. Regional Council delivers the programme on behalf of the funding partner agencies, which include Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki District Councils and the Department of Conservation.

Over the 28 years since it started approximately 300,000 hours of volunteer time has been invested to plant and maintain 1.5 million sand binding plants along the sandy coastline of the Bay of Plenty. These efforts to restore the ecological integrity and resilience of coastal dune systems maintains a healthy natural buffer to storm events and climate change effects, and provides the best conditions for dune recovery. 

During the planting season last year:

·      142 sites were planted

·      83,606 native plants were planted

·      5,359 volunteers participated 

Coast Care works a little differently from Land Care in that there are no formal care groups acting independently with their own plans. Rather, the Coast Care contractors organise planting events at specific times and places and volunteers turn out to do the planting.

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Douglas Rd Coast Care planting day.

6.        Catchment Groups

In addition to the Land Care, Estuary Care and Coast Care programmes, which are typically focussed on protecting or enhancing biodiversity or amenity values at a site, in recent years Council has also supported the formation and running of a number of catchment groups. They are groups of landowners whose properties lie within a catchment where one or more water quality attributes are failing to provide for the ecological, cultural or community use values who come together to effect change at the catchment level. Examples include the Lake Rerewhakaaitu, Waiōtahe, Wai Kokopu, Paraiti, and Project Parore groups. Catchment groups are supported by Council, but also by other agencies such as MPI, MfE, Fonterra and NGOs such as NZ Landcare Trust. Their funding comes from a variety of sources. The landowners within a catchment group often enter into Environmental Programmes with Council under the Environmental Grants Policy.

These groups have a valuable role in assisting with Council’s Essential Freshwater programme by providing local leadership and coordination of individual projects, building landowners’ understanding of and insight into the issues facing their catchment, seeking funding from other agencies and most importantly driving the will to make environmental changes for the better.

7.        Environmental Enhancement Fund (EEF)

The EEF was set up to provide funding for community-based projects that improve the environment and raise environmental awareness. With a focus on volunteer mahi, the core EEF principle is enabling the community to use their own skills and enthusiasm.

Each financial year a pool of $300,000 is made available to groups and non-profit/charities in the Bay of Plenty area. Last year just over $160,000 was allocated over 12 months, compared to this financial year, where the full $300,000 has been allocated in just 5 months. From schools and kohanga reos to Rotary and Iwi groups, we have approved applications for 17 different groups and have another 5 interested when funding becomes available again. Applications include plans for projects on beaches, rivers and lakes, parks, reserves, and forests. These projects range from protecting our environment from pests to revitalizing green spaces with newly planted natives. While most of these projects are of a one off nature, over the years, a number of them have morphed into care groups engaged in longer term work. For example there is currently a significant restoration project funded through EEF at the Ohope Spit. It’s likely that the volunteers involved in this project will want to continue their work through the Land Care programme.

8.        Community Initiatives Fund

In the Long Term Plan 2021-31 Council allocated funding to the Bay Conservation Alliance, Landcare Trust and Envirohub, each of which complement Council’s work in the environmental volunteer sector in some way.

8.1      Bay Conservation Alliance

We have a three year agreement with BCA, $85,000 + GST per year.  They have picked up a few new groups since the funding has been in place and managed to deliver some training in a COVID impacted environment with further training underway.

8.2      NZ Landcare Trust

We have proposed a three year agreement, $100,000 +GST per year. There have been delays progressing this agreement, largely due to staffing changes at NZLCT. Draft deliverables have now been agreed and a final draft funding agreement has been prepared and is currently going through internal BOPRC sign off. It’s expected that NZLCT will support the catchment groups in their work described above.

8.3      Envirohub

A three year funding agreement has been signed, $100,000 +GST per year. The first quarterly report has been received and they have made strong progress in some areas but COVID caused delays in some other areas. Currently one of the big deliverables, Sustainable Backyards, has 90+ events scheduled during March across the region is due to be delivered.

9.        Predator Free BOP

This programme began in 2019 with the goal of engaging 1 in 5 households in long term back yard trapping to reduce rat and mice numbers, thereby helping wildlife to thrive within urban areas. Predator Free BOP continues to grow in popularity and expand in urban back yards throughout Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty. There are now 44+ suburbs with community groups trapping backyards in Tauranga City and Western Bay of Plenty Districts. The goal of 1 in 5 households has already been exceeded in some suburbs. In Maketū, 184% of the goal has been reached. To date, 4,002 traps have been registered and 12,033 trapped pests have been recorded through the online portal. This programme is partly funded by the EEF, along with TLA and some corporate funding.

10.      Community Participation Action Plan

Council’s recently approved Community Participation Action Plan includes a number of projects relevant to this paper. Progress towards achieving these projects will be reported in a separate paper.

11.      Summary

Council provides funding for voluntary environmental work through a number of successful programmes. The outputs of this support are considerable as described above. The outcomes are difficult to quantify in some cases but based on the projects where outcomes are monitored, staff consider that all the work described has positive environmental outcomes.

As pest control becomes more technical, there is growing demand for geospatial app access and technical support. There is also growing utility of that data for Council and the groups in demonstrating the benefits of their work both individually and collectively. There is demand for other technical devices such as trail cams. The recent increased flexibility in how Council can support volunteers and care groups has facilitated meeting this demand.

There are large pieces of work, such as weed control or extensive new trap networks for example, that are beyond the capacity of groups. This prevents them from reaching their objectives. The new LTP funding has allowed more contractor support for this work.

12.      Considerations

12.1    Climate Change

The matters addressed in this report are of a procedural nature and there is no need to consider climate change impacts.

12.2    Implications for Māori

Iwi and hapū are often supporters of the work of care groups and other environmental projects and are commonly engaged in some way in their projects, on occasion providing a blessing for projects in situations where the whenua concerned is of particular significance. Iwi are key partners in some of the larger projects, for example the Whakatāne kiwi project. Māori are also involved in some of the farmer-led catchment groups and make good use of the EEF.

The environmental enhancement work achieved by care groups has positive implications for Māori, as for the public generally. Efforts to enhance the outputs achieved by such groups is likely to be seen by Māori as a good investment.

12.3    Community Engagement

 

EMPOWER

Whakamanahia

To place final decision-making in the hands of affected communities.

As far as care groups care groups and EEF projects are concerned, staff are very conscious that the projects should remain community owned initiatives.  By doing so we ensure that a high level of engagement and independence is maintained.

12.4    Financial Implications

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

13.      Next Steps

We will continue to support a range of community initiatives, look for opportunities to refine the council processes and further enhance our relationships. We are always looking for further opportunities to work with community groups.

 

 


 

 

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Report To:

Monitoring and Operations Committee

Meeting Date:

8 March 2022

Report Authoriser:

Sarah Omundsen

 

 

Chairperson's Report

 

Executive Summary

This report provides an update on key matters of interest for Monitoring and Operations Committee members including an update on water shortage matters, and how Regional Council is preparing for implementation of the new Water Services Act.

 

Recommendations

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, Chairperson's Report.

 

1.        Purpose

This report provides an update on key matters of interest for Monitoring and Operations Committee members.

2.        Follow up information from previous Committee meeting

2.1      Improvements in SO2 emissions: Ballance

At the last Monitoring and Operations Committee meeting, a paper “Ballance Agri-Nutrients Limited Air Discharge Review” was presented. It included a figure showing Ballance’s acid plant SO2 emission reductions between 2016 and 2018. Councillors asked that additional information be provided to show data over a longer period of time, and that is more up to date.

The figures below show daily and monthly averages of SO2 emissions from the acid plant over 10 years. Significant improvements have been made since 2016.

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2.2      PFAs regulations

Councillors requested information on how PFAs are regulated in New Zealand.

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been widely used in a variety of products such as cosmetics, non-stick cookware, grease-proof paper, waterproof and stain resistant fabrics and fabric coatings, carpet and furniture protectants and electronic devices. Due to the breadth of products these compounds were used in they are now considered ubiquitous in the environment at low concentrations.

However, it is recognised that the use of legacy Class B firefighting foams continues to pose a risk to the environment. PFOS (perfluorooctane sulphonate) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) are two PFAS compounds that were historically used in the manufacture of Class B firefighting foams which were widely used in New Zealand and internationally from the 1970s due to their effectiveness in suppressing liquid fuel fires.

PFOS and PFOA are classified as a Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) under the Stockholm Convention, an international agreement on managing POPs to protect the environment and human health.

New Zealand became a signatory to the Convention in May 2001. Under the Stockholm Convention, POPs were banned in 2004. PFOS was listed as a POP, with effect from 2010 and PFOA was listed as a POP, with effect from 2020. PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulphonic acid) is currently being reviewed under the Stockholm Convention with the Committee adopting a decision recommending its inclusion is considered.

PFAS containing foams were excluded from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Firefighting Chemicals Group Standard in 2006, meaning they could no longer be imported into New Zealand.

In 2011, the Stockholm Convention decision recognising PFOS as a POP was written into New Zealand domestic law and all PFOS products were completely banned and strict controls were set to manage their storage and disposal.

The Fire Fighting Chemicals Group Standard was reissued in 2017 to take into account changes brought about by health and safety reforms, and amended in 2021 to include further restrictions on the use of fire fighting foam products containing PFAS under the Group Standard.

All products containing PFAS, including PFOS and PFOA related compounds must be managed in line with the directions in the Fire Fighting Chemicals Group Standard, the Hazardous Substances (Hazardous Property Controls) Notice and the Hazardous Substances (Disposal) Notice.

Products containing PFOS may be held, pending environmentally-sound disposal, as long as they are stored safely. They must not be used for training, testing, fighting fires or released into the environment. Products containing PFOS must never be dumped in landfill or sewerage sites, or in the environment on land or in the water, even if they have been diluted or absorbed into an inert material.

3.        Matters of potential interest

3.1      Motiti implementation

Our Maritime and Compliance teams continue to monitor compliance of the new Motiti Protection Area (MPA) rules, which were introduced on 11 August 2021. Interactions with people on the water so far have been very positive with the team providing educational advice and explaining how to load the MPA coordinates into their chart plotters correctly. 

In order to provide for ongoing use of the reefs for diving, an activity which was foreseen in the Court decision, Regional Council worked with representatives of the local diving community to develop a set of guidelines for safe anchoring on the reefs, to minimise the risk that anchoring might trigger a breach of rules relating to damage of flora or fauna. As part of this engagement, an online registration system was set up for diving clubs to notify council of any intentions to visit the reefs.

Dive clubs, shops, eco-tourism businesses, and research organisations are starting to use this online notification pathway and anchoring guidelines set out on our website www.boprc.govt.nz/mpa. The notification pathway provides advance notification for the compliance team of when groups or businesses will be out diving in and around the three areas making up the MPA. It is anticipated that the notification pathway will inform patrols and reduce complaints and conflicts.

The Science team have also sent out a notification process to the research science community about the rules and how they can comply with the scientific research  permitted rule, DD6A (g). This correspondence also encouraged research agencies to contact local hapū and iwi to notify them about their research proposals with a view to build and strengthen existing relationships.

A number of patrols were conducted over the summer months, including over the expected peak times of weekends and the Christmas period. During patrols, staff generally found a very small number of people fishing within the MPA; with the exception of one boat, which very quickly moved on upon sighting Taniwha, the majority of boaters have stated that they are from outside of the region and weren’t aware of the rules. Engagement has been largely positive and well received, with little hostility encountered, and those found fishing in the area have quickly moved on after being advised of the new rules. Council has not received any complaints from members of the public alleging that fishing is occurring within MPA.

This summer our maritime patrols offered to include mana whenua representatives from the Te Patuwai Tribal Committee, providing an opportunity for the hapū to build capacity in this area.  However, a combination of covid restrictions, and other commitments such as tangis, have meant that Te Patuwai could not take up this offer.  In addition, Science have offered to support six rangatahi to complete a free dive marine science course which will be an introduction to marine ecosystems.  This course is still being established.

Policy staff are in the process of establishing a science monitoring protocol for the protection areas with hapū and iwi. Over time, this science monitoring data will help us understand if the new protection rules have been effective and the protocol will assist with building relationships with hapū and iwi.  Staff are in discussion with Department of Conservation and Ministry of Primary Industries about how to effectively share data and exchange expertise to support this mahi.

The Communications team continue to promote the new rules on BOPRC owned channels (such as Boating in the Bay and Around our rohe newsletter) as well as other mediums like the Our Place magazine and free community newsletters. They also continue to keep an eye on online discussion forums, to understand concerns and themes. They will continue to track compliance with the rules and, if necessary, organise a short promotional campaign reminding people about the new rules.  A flyer has been prepared to support interactions with the public on the water and website updated to ensure GPS waypoints are obvious and accessible.

3.2      Preparing for implementing the new Water Services Act

The Water Services Act 2021 (‘Act’) commenced 15 November 2021. This Act is part of the Three Waters Reforms. It establishes drinking water standards and regulates all persons and organisations that supply drinking water.

The Act requires all drinking water supplies (other than single dwelling supplies) to be registered with Taumata Arowai. Those currently registered have 12 months to register while all other suppliers (unregistered) have 4 years to register (until Nov 2025). Implications for Regional Council largely centre around reporting on source water quality and quantity and assessing the effectiveness of ways to manage risks or hazards to source water.

The proposed amendments to the National Environment Standards for Drinking Water will require regional councils to map default Source Water Risk Management Areas for all drinking water supplies. The proposed amendments to the NESDW don’t include detail on what activities will be managed, however methodologies to delineate source water risk management areas are provided in the proposed amendments.

The relationship between regional councils and the new Act is set out in the diagram below. Regional Council is getting ready for implementing the new Act and the NESDW in the following ways:

·      Maintaining the laboratory’s International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) status to test source water, raw water and drinking water. The laboratory has registered itself as a provider of water testing services and as from the 15 November, the laboratory will notify Taumata Arowai of any drinking water sample that doesn’t comply with the current Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand.

·      Undertaking a ground-truthing exercise to check and update information we have on drinking water supplies. We will share this with Taumata Arowai

·      Developing a work programme to identify risks to drinking water sources. (Noting this is on hold while the NES progresses)

·      Challenging technical and strategic aspects of the proposed amended NESDW and offering to provide further input as it progresses towards gazettal.

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3.3      National Environmental Standards for Freshwater (NESF) and S360 Regulations: update

At the last Committee meeting, Councillors asked for a summary of operative dates for NESF provisions, alongside Regional Council implementation progress. This information is provided below:

Provision

Date operative

Regional Council implementation progress

Feedlots

3/09/2020

No Feedlots in Bay of Plenty

Temporary standards for intensification

a) Conversion of plantation forestry to pastoral land

b) Conversion of land on a farm to dairy land

c) Irrigation of dairy farm land

d) Use of land as dairy support

3/09/2020 - 01 Jan 2025

After 2025 they are rescinded because the council must have specific plan rules to take over (or at least be a long way through the process).

No applications to date

Natural Wetlands (protection)

3/09/2020

MfE consultation on proposed changes delayed- outcome due 2022

Reclamation of Rivers

3/09/2020

Processing consents where necessary

Passage of fish affected by structures

3/09/2020

Advice and support to those seeking to install structures.

Regional Inventory of dams underway.

Intensive winter grazing

1/11/2022

MfE consultation on proposed changes - outcome delayed – rules currently kick in November 2022

Stockholding areas (other than feedlots)

1/07/2021

Inventory of sites being compiled - consenting where necessary

Synthetic nitrogen cap

1/07/2022

Support/Input to national working group - first returns due from farmers 01/07/2022

Freshwater Farm Plans

Not yet specified

Support/input to national working group

Since the last report staff have continued their involvement in national initiatives advancing the refinement and delivery of the NES-F alongside other regional and national partners, specifically:

a)           Contributing to national working groups tasked with the development of

·    Freshwater Farm Plans,

·    The system for receiving synthetic nitrogen fertiliser information from farmers which is expected to be finished in time to receive the first data in July 2022,

·    A Wetland Implementation Group has been restarted to work with Central Government on improving the provisions of the NPS-FM and NES-F

b)          Undertaking assessments for the presence of “stockholding areas” on regions dairy farms using satellite imagery and our dairy compliance inspections. As of 31 December 2021 farmers that could not meet the NES-F Permitted Activity Conditions will require a consent.  We have located approximately 120 farms that have stockholding areas based on satellite imagery and staff will be working with farmers regarding the new requirements.

c)           An Intensive Winter Grazing assessment is being carried out at a national level using satellite imagery. The results are expected toward the end of 2022.  The changes to the IWG rules signalled by Central Government last year, have not been finalised yet and until they are gazetted we won’t know the final rule framework to advise farmers. The existing framework has a implementation date of November 2022.

d)          Consents staff continue to evaluate all incoming applications for relevant NES-F provisions, such as wetlands, barriers to fish passage, and stockholding areas. Where an NES-F requirement is triggered, this is included within the existing application if possible rather than seeking a separate consent application.

3.4      Rotorua Airshed update

On 1 February 2022 the Rotorua Airshed had a PM10 exceedance recorded at Moses Road, Ngāpuna (54 µg/m³) – Rotorua’s industrial area. The source of the particulate matter was identified and addressed to avoid a recurrence. Prior to this exceedance the Airshed had zero exceedances.  At this stage the Rotorua Airshed is still meeting the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality as it is permitted to have one exceedance per annum.

3.5      Water shortages 2021/22

This is the second update to the committee for the 2021/22 Water Shortage Event. It summarises the current situation and provides a forecast of what the remainder of the 2021/22 season is predicted to look like.

3.5.1    Rainfall

October and December rainfall across most of the Bay of Plenty was generally above average. This helped reduce the pressure on many of our waterways as we led into the start of 2022. Unfortunately, rainfall during January was well below long term norms, particularly in parts of the Rotorua Focus Zone. Rainfall in February (as of 18 February) has relieved some pressure, resulting in a sharp rise in soil moisture levels.

In general the La Niña conditions are occurring as predicted i.e. near average long term rainfall levels, but falling in condensed storm periods. It has also been very warm since December.

3.5.2    Rivers and Streams

Stream flows across the region have been flowing at near normal levels over the last few months, with the exception of those in the Rotorua Focus Zone. Many of the monitored streams in the Zone have been flowing at very low levels. In particular, both the Paraiti River and Ngongotahā Stream continue to routinely flow at lowest ever recorded levels for this time of the year.

3.5.3    Groundwater

In general groundwater levels across the region remain stable when compared to last year although some shallow well systems remain at risk of unreliable access to water.

Staff have initiated an enhanced saline intrusion monitoring programme which involves measuring conductivity within a series of private bores to help identify if abstraction pressure is allowing salt water to flow from the sea back inland. The risk of salt water intrusion can be raised by high cumulative abstraction combining with reduced groundwater flow.

3.5.4    Rotorua Focus Zone – Alert Level 1 (Reducing Water Availability)

As a result of the low and declining flows observed, and the warm and dry conditions experienced at the time, the Rotorua Focus Zone was moved to Alert Level 1 of the Standard Operating Procedure in mid-January. The remainder of the Bay of Plenty region remains at Alert Level 0.

Effectively Alert Level 1 focusses Council on increasing the monitoring effort within the area. As a result, a low flow monitoring programme has been prepared, however February’s rain has temporarily delayed the physical monitoring commencing.

In addition to the increased stream monitoring, communication with stakeholders was initiated. An email was sent to all water take consent holders in the Zone advising them of the raise in Alert Level. Iwi and key industry stakeholders were also advised. This was all supported by a media release, which resulted in several interviews being undertaken.

3.5.5    Forecast

The forecast for the period through to the end of March indicates more of the same warm and humid weather, with near normal rainfall and the continued risk of sub-tropical storm events. Near normal soil moisture and stream flows are predicted.

3.5.6    Predicted Outlook for remainder of 2021/22 season

As discussed above, stream flows are still low in many waterways within the Rotorua Focus Zone. If trends continue, a move through to Alert Level 2 is possible. Restrictions in that zone could also be possible if increased rainfall and aquifer recharge do not eventuate. Demand for kiwifruit irrigation is reducing as they move into harvesting. This will help reduce abstraction pressure.

Details of the SOP, along with up-to-date information on current Focus Zones, Water Shortage alert levels, Situation Reports and more can be found on Council’s Water Shortage Webpage.

3.6      Funding opportunities

3.6.1    Provincial Growth Fund

There are 274 projects now funded in the Bay of Plenty through the Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit – this includes the Provisional Growth Fund, COVID-19 recovery funding, the Sector Workforce Engagement Programme and the Regional Apprenticeships Initiative. The approved funding of these projects totals $689M, with $364M paid already.

The full list and details of these projects can be found at: What we have funded | Grow Regions[1]

3.6.2    Jobs for Nature

In 2020 the Regional Council successfully won a Jobs for Nature funding bid from the Ministry for the Environment. This provides the Council with $3M over two years to accelerate our focus catchments work that strives to improve water quality in those catchments, principally through fencing and planting of stream margins.

Staff in the Integrated Catchments teams have continued to make steady progress delivering work with landowners as the project moves through its second year. Completed works as of February 2022 include:

·      56 BOPRC/MfE co-funded Environmental Programme Agreements signed with landowners across Focus Catchments

·      A total of 103.9 km of new fencing work has been installed, representing 60% of the MfE Deed of Funding project target of 174 km;

·      Over 266,000 native plants have been established, representing around 60% of the MfE Deed of Funding project target of 450,000

·      Contractor, landowner and project management time towards delivering the MfE project has surpassed 33,000 people hours

The project is considered to be on track at this stage and despite some initial administrative delays, MfE is satisfied with progress to date. Monthly project meetings monitor progress and address any issues, risks and actions as they arise. MfE is also able to grant a one year time extension to the project in the event that further Covid-19 delays impact on delivery, ensuring that 100% completion of planned works is achieved.  

3.7      Constructed treatment wetlands underway

Earthworks have recently begun at three ‘constructed treatment wetland’ sites, one near Te Awa o Ngātoroirangi/Maketū Estuary and two in the Waihī Estuary Focus Catchments. The wetlands range 1-2 hectares in size and are located along drainage pathways in landscapes dominated by agriculture and horticulture with associated water quality issues.

NIWA has assisted in the design of the wetlands to ensure that treatment potential is maximised. As the water flows through the wetlands it transitions a series of deep open water sections and shallow vegetated sections, whereby containments such as nitrogen, phosphorus and bacteria will hopefully be removed. NIWA is also assisting Regional Council with an intensive monitoring programme on two of the wetlands, with plans for the inflows and outflows of water to be regularly tested throughout the year, such that the performance effectiveness of the wetlands can be truly quantified. This monitoring will help refine design parameters/guidelines for future wetlands, and inform focus catchment action plans and water policy work.

The wetlands are Regional Council capital projects completed in partnership with private landowners through Environmental Programme Agreements, with one of the wetlands being built by our own Regional Council Rivers & Drainage machine operators and long reach excavator. Consents were obtained for the wetlands and pre-works karakia (site blessings) were held with local Iwi/hapū who were supportive of the new wetland projects.

3.8      Kaituna Re-diversion Project wins another award

WSP Consultants were engaged by Council to play a major role in the planning, delivering and monitoring of the Kaituna River Re-diversion Project since 2013. Their role, and the project itself, have been recognised by the Association of Consulting Engineers with two awards in an online ceremony on 22 February.

3.9      Pāpāmoa Hills Upgrade Project stage 1 contract awarded

Following extensive work in partnership with mana whenua and consultants Law Creative and Boffa Miskell, Toi Moana now has a design for the new regional park entrance. This includes new tracks, a new carpark and new interpretation features. The necessary resource consents and archaeological authorities are in place, and Council has engaged HEB Construction Ltd to carry out the first stage of construction. Stage 1 includes implementing the land remediation plan, then placing clean fill, constructing stormwater retention features, and installing erosion and sediment controls.

The works will then be monitored for approximately six months while the new fill settles. Stage 2 is scheduled for the summer of 2022/23. The site was blessed by Waitaha koeke Wharekonehu Te Moni during a ceremony in October 2021, and will be subject to cultural effects monitoring by Ngāti He.

3.10    Whakatāne River Stopbank Encroachments

Work has begun on resolving urban encroachments on the Whakatāne River stopbank. This first stage involves 17 properties in Henderson Street, Whakatāne which back onto local authority land. Over time property owners have established vegetation, landscaping and fencing on the public land and in many cases on the stopbank batter.

The work is needed to ensure community flood protection assets are able to be maintained in the future and to remediate any potentially defective areas caused by the encroachments. For the most part property owners understand the need for the work and are supportive of flood protection improvements, however some have had private use of public land for many years and are apprehensive about the change.

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Tree stumps and roots previously within a private fence line, now removed from the toe of the stopbank.

3.11    Resource consents update

We have received 405 consent applications up to the end of January. This is 22% down on the numbers of applications at the same time last year (an exceptionally busy year) but is consistent with numbers we have received over the previous five years.

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Even though we are down on the number of applications received compared to last year, we have processed 394 consents for the period. This is 5% more than for the same time last year continuing on the increasing output trend over the last five years.

  97% of those applications were processed within the statutory timeframes. Of the 3% of applications that went overtime half were over by 1 day, two of them were completed as part of the backlog project. The others were as a result of a number of factors but representative of the increase in workload from the large number of applications received last financial year.

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A breakdown of consents granted by activity is shown below.

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3.11.1  Customer Service

25 customers responded to our customer satisfaction survey in Quarter Two. Of the 51 responses so far this year 87% were either very satisfied or satisfied with our service. Dissatisfied respondents commented on timeliness and cost of decision making.

Some of the positive responses from the survey:

§  Your help and patience was greatly appreciated

§  No suggestions on improvement, the service was outstanding

§  I had a very good experience with 2 members of your team and had my consent processed within 2 days... very happy with your service.

§  The planning team were receptive to having open dialogue and email correspondence with myself the consultant during the consent application process including submitting a draft application - this was very beneficial to all concerned, and should be encouraged for other applicants

§  I was a little worried before starting the process, as had been told some stories by other applicants. But to me the process was really easy and straight forward

We are also receiving positive feedback from those that have been using our new mapping system as a way for people to find information about consents as well as access information such as application documents, consent conditions, and officers’ reports directly. People can also search and filter and download blocks of information.

 

3.11.2  Matters of interest

Clarke Road

In 2018, we received an application to deposit 436,000m3 of fill on a Pirirakau Waahi tapu in Te Puna for a residential site. Pirirakau were opposed to the application, local residents wanted to be considered as affected parties and relationships were strained. Discussions were facilitated between the applicant, the neighbours and tangata whenua which has resulted in an increased understanding of perspectives by all parties.

The end result is that the proposal has been amended, including reducing the total fill to 29,360m3 and undertaking a Conservation Management Plan in partnership with Heritage NZ and hapū, to revitalise and protect the areas of cultural significance.

Furthermore, Pirirakau, the applicant and Western Bay of Plenty District Council entered an agreement and the property was sold to the District Council who will now be turning the areas of cultural significance into a reserve and one area away from the reserve into housing. It’s intended that the land is returned to Pirirakau in the future.

BOPRC ‘Global’ Consent    

In December, independent commissioners made the decision to grant consent to Regoinal Council’s Integrated Catchment Group to carry out erosion and flood protection works outside of identified River Scheme Maintenance Areas. The activities for which a ‘global’ consent is sought are small in scale and are undertaken primarily in streams adjoining rural production land to remedy bank erosion, protect people and property from flooding and to enhance riparian habitats. The works include:

·      Riparian earthworks to repair stream banks;

·      Channel maintenance;

·      Erosion protection structures in stream beds;

·      Vegetation clearance and maintenance of riparian areas;

·      Riparian planting; and

·      Occasional stream mouth opening and realignment within the coastal environment

This decision has been appealed by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi Trust.

Transpower  

The Court of Appeal has declined Transpower’s application for leave to appeal against the Hairini transmission infrastructure decision. The next step will be for the Environment Court to reconsider the application in light of the High Court’s findings.  The Environment Court may still find that consent should be granted, after reassessing the cultural effects in light of the High Court’s decision, or it may find that consent should be refused. This response was made to media enquiries:

Bay of Plenty Regional Council is currently considering the Court of Appeal’s decision which was received this morning. Resource consents help us to sustainably manage and protect our environment and assessing both the environment and community’s needs are top priorities in the consent application process. We look forward to reviewing the implications of this decision further over the coming days.

Transpower NZ Limited’s application has been through a robust application process, including being reviewed by Regional Council and Tauranga City Council, independent commissioners, the Environment Court and High Court. Best practice was followed with the public notification and engagement process, however, we welcome feedback and are always open to improving our practices where possible. We heard concerns from submitters, were responsive to their contact throughout the process and have appreciated them providing their feedback on this application.

3.12    Regulatory compliance update

3.12.1  Pollution hotline and complaint response

·       2092 service requests have been received since 1 July 2021, which is 6.5% less than we received in the same period in 2021. 34% of service requests were received after-hours.

·       68% of service requests were related to air quality – odour (759), smoke (416), agrichemical (62), and dust (121). This is consistent with longer term patterns.

·       500 (24%) of calls were substantiated (i.e. a breach of the RMA, Regional Plan, NES, or other regulation was confirmed), which is consistent with longer term patterns.

·       78% of calls received were actioned on the day of receipt. 99% of calls were actioned within 3 working days. All 50 urgent complaints were actioned within 12 hours of receipt of the initial call

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Regional distribution of complaints received to the hotline are shown below:

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3.12.1  Compliance monitoring

From 1 July 2021 – 31 January 2022, we completed 2012 compliance inspections, and received and reviewed 6518 performance monitoring returns from consent holders.

Compliance levels remain consistent with previous months, with 80% of site inspections identifying full compliance with consent requirements, and 86% of performance monitoring returns confirming that consent holders are meeting consented limits and/or reporting requirements. The majority of non-compliances observed are considered to be low risk with only 1.3% considered to be significantly non-compliant for site inspections.

2021/22 Dairy Compliance Programme

In October 2021, Council commenced its annual dairy effluent discharge monitoring programme, which involves drawing on the wider compliance team to visit a large number of dairy farms across the region throughout spring and early summer.

The majority of inspections have now been completed, with 357 farms visited. Initial results indicate lower compliance levels to previous years, with 62% of dairy farms complying with their consent, compared to 70% in 2020/21. The majority of non-compliance was determined to be low-risk, with only a small percentage (2.5%) graded as significantly non-compliant. All significant non-compliances have either been responded to with enforcement (abatement and/or infringement notices), or referred to the investigations team for further consideration.

In addition to checking compliance with dairy effluent consent conditions, this also provided an opportunity to talk to farmers about activities which might be covered under the NES for Freshwater, such as feedlots and stockholding areas, in order to build a better picture of where those activities are occurring within the region.

3.12.2  Enforcement

Regional Council has issued 72 abatement notices and 35 infringement notices, totalling $21,850 in fines, in the reporting period in relation to breaches of Regional Plan rules and/or Resource Consent conditions.

Since 1 July 2021, Regional Council has received decisions from the courts in relation to five prosecutions.

·      BOPRC v. CPB Ltd: On 16 July 2021, Council received the final decision from Judge Dwyer in relation to BOPRC v. CPB Contractors Pty Ltd. This case was in relation to a discharge of wastewater, which occurred after works associated with the Bayfair to Baypark Link project struck a sewer line. The wastewater discharged into the TCC stormwater network, and surface water, which ultimately drains to Tauranga Harbour. CPB plead guilty and were fined $63,000. In addition to the penalty issued by the courts, CPB engaged with tangata whenua to apologise for the incident, and committed to an environmental restoration project downstream of the discharge.

·      BOPRC v. Rotorua District Council: On 19 November 2021, Council received a decision from Judge Smith in relation to BOPRC v. Rotorua District Council, which was a prosecution in relation to discharges of leachate contaminated stormwater from the Rotorua Landfill in 2017, which reached the Tureporepo Stream, a tributary of the Puareanga Stream, which drains to Laka Rotorua. This matter was subject to significant litigation, and was originally set down for a trial by jury, before Rotorua District Council plead guilty in May 2021. Rotorua District Council were convicted, fined $60,000 (discounted from a starting point of $100,000), and ordered to pay $80,000 in reparations to a trust comprised of affected mana whenua.

·      BOPRC v CRS Ltd: On 8 February 2021, Council received a decision from Judge Dickey in relation to BOPRC v. CRS Ltd, which was a prosecution in relation to discharges of sediment contaminated stormwater from a container storage site in Mount Maunganui, which reached Tauranga Moana at Waipu Bay. This was the second time Council has prosecuted CRS for discharges of this nature. CRS plead guilty and engaged in a restorative justice process with Ngāi te Rangi and Ngāti Kuku; although parties were unable to reach agreement on appropriate reparations through mediation. CRS were convicted and fined $49,000 (discounted from a starting point of $70,000). In addition to the fine, CRS have lodged a formal undertaking with the court which commits them to $50,000 of environmental enhancement work at Whareroa, should Ngāi te Rangi and Ngāti kuku wish to accept it. As a result of the two prosecutions, and other enforcement undertaken by Council, CRS have now sealed their site, which will significantly reduce the risk of similar discharges occurring in the future.

·      BOPRC v. Kleadmak Farms Ltd: On 25 January 2022, Council received a decision from the Court for the matter of BOPRC v. Kleadmak Farms - a prosecution in relation to the grazing of pigs in the bed of the Umurua Stream, a tributary of the Ngongotahā catchment, which was identified through a complaint received in October 2020. Kleadmak farms plead guilty to the charges, and agreed to an enforcement order in relation to stock exclusion and removal of the pigs from the property as part of the sentencing process. Judge Smith chose to convict and fine Kleadmak $27,000, and imposed an enforcement order requiring the following:

All pigs were to be removed from property from 31 January 2022, are no pigs to be kept at or allowed on the property thereafter

Stock exclusion zones are to be set out as agreed with BOPRC, and those zones to be adequately fenced off by 31 March 2022; furthermore, these stock exclusion zones are to be protected via a covenant over the property

·      BOPRC v. Tio Faulkner: On 27 February 2021, Council received a decision from the court in relation to BOPRC v. Tio Faulkner, which was a prosecution in relation to illegal reclamation works in the coastal marine area on the Matapihi Peninsula, discharges of effluent from a pig farm sited on the illegal reclamation, and other associated charges. Following a week-long trial in July 2021, Mr Faulkner was found guilty of the offences, and has subsequently been sentenced to a prison term of three months and two weeks, and ordered to pay a $5000 contribution Council for costs associated with the prosecution. We understand that Mr Faulkner has since lodged an appeal to the high court in relation to this matter.

Regional Council currently has 5 prosecutions before the courts.

 


 

 

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Report To:

Monitoring and Operations Committee

Meeting Date:

8 March 2022

Report Writer:

Rachael Burgess, Customer Contact Manager

Report Authoriser:

Mat Taylor, General Manager, Corporate

Purpose:

To update the Committee on customer service performance

 

 

Customer Service Performance

 

Executive Summary

Improving Customer Service Performance remains a key priority and is driven by the feedback and insights gained from customers through data reporting and survey questionnaires. These methods are being used to gauge whether the improvement initiatives that have been implemented are resulting in an improved service and are having a positive impact on customer satisfaction levels.

Preparation is also underway for the rates transition project and a customer experience work stream is in place to ensure we manage the impact this change will have on our customer service channels. A review of technology solutions and payment processing will ensure the transition is as seamless as possible, and results in a positive customer experience for ratepayers.

 

Recommendations

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, Customer Service Performance.

 

1.        Introduction

A series of initiatives included in the Customer First work programme that commenced in early 2019, have ensured that we now have fit-for-purpose systems, and streamlined processes in place to support improved service delivery. Customer feedback is being used to gauge whether these initiatives are resulting in an improved customer experience and having a positive impact on customer satisfaction levels. This includes data reporting metrics and customer feedback surveys that measure the quality of customer service being provided by our customer contact, transport and consents teams as these are our largest customer service touchpoints.

The operational improvements that have been made over the past two years have improved the way we engage with our customers in terms of the technology we use, the processes we follow and the functionality of our public interfaces. This is important as it enables a high level of confidence as we progress towards collecting our own rates payments as part of the rates transition project.

The improvements have also ensured we have been able to adapt to the various requirements pertaining to the different Covid-19 operating levels with minimum impact on our overall service delivery quality.      

1.1      Alignment with Strategic Framework

 

The Way We Work

We provide great customer service.

 

We deliver value to our ratepayers and our customers

 

We continually seek opportunities to innovate and improve

 

 

2.        Customer Service Performance

2.1      Customer Contact Centre Highlights

In the 12 months ending 31 January 2022, approximately 68,000 customer queries were received across our six customer service channels. For queries that require a response, service tickets are generated in Zendesk, our customer relationship management system (CRM). There were just over 57,000 Zendesk service tickets generated and resolved during this period.   

Phone

Reception

Email

Web Query

Social Media

Antenno

Total Queries

Zendesk Tickets

43,624

64.4%

12,394

18.3%

10,030

14.7%

1566

2.3%

149

0.2%

73

0.1%

67,642

57,228

2.1.1    Call Volumes

Calls remain the most popular method of contact with a total of 43,624 calls received during the 12 months ending 31 January 2022. This is a 4.4% increase compared to the same period last year. The number of Baybus calls has doubled and maritime calls have tripled from what was received during the previous 12 months. Calls to the pollution prevention line are consistent with the previous year while general queries have reduced by 4000 calls in 2020/21. The reduction in general calls isn’t attributed to a specific business activity, all call categories have reduced when compared to the previous year.

The following graph shows that calls reduce significantly over the Christmas holiday period where there were almost 2,000 less calls received in January 2022 than there were in February 2021. Calls increase again in February once people return to work and schools reopen.

Volume of calls received from January 2021 to January 2022

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2.1.2    Call Categories

There are four separate phone lines that are managed by the call centre and these include the BOPRC general query phone line, the Baybus phone line, the pollution hotline and the 0800 5KNOTS maritime line.

The following graph shows the volume of calls received to each of these phone lines for the 12 months ending 31 January, 2022. Over the course of the year, the general queries and Baybus calls trended downwards while the pollution hotline and maritime calls remained relatively steady.

Peaks in general call queries were experienced in March and July and these coincide with the invoicing periods for Tauranga City Council’s (TCC) two rates instalments. Our call centre receives approximately 300 calls during the months of March and July from people who have queries that relate to TCC’s rates invoices and these calls are then referred onto the district council for a response. These queries should reduce once we begin collecting our own rates and our branding is removed from the TCC invoice.

Baybus related calls make up 40% of our total call volume where an average of 1500 calls are received each month. An increase in bus related calls was experienced in May when changes were made to the Whakatāne/Kawerau routes and again in November when the bus network refresh was rolled out in Tauranga.

Phone Line Statistics from January 2021 to January 2022

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2.1.3    Call Abandonment

Abandoned calls are calls which are abandoned or disconnected by the caller before connecting with a staff member. A call may have been abandoned by the caller due to an excessive wait time in the queue or due to a connection error.

The service level measure for call abandonment is based on the percentage of calls that are able to be answered each month. By analysing call abandonment data we can uncover call patterns that relate to the different types of calls that the call centre manage and when they are being abandoned.  The service levels are monitored as these provide an insight into the impact that peak call periods have on call centre operations and where staff scheduling might need to be adjusted to meet the demand during certain times of the day.

There are many reasons why a customer might abandon a call. More commonly this happens when there is an issue in the community that results in call volumes overwhelming call centre capacity, A good example of this is the bus network refresh that occurred in November which resulted in large volumes of calls being received between 7.00am and 9.00am over a couple of weeks.

Our telephony system records all abandoned calls so our call centre advisors are able to call back those people whose calls are inadvertently disconnected so their queries are still being resolved.  

Call Abandonment Service Level from January 2021 to January 2022

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2.1.4    Call Resolution

The CCC have a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) to resolve 97% of calls at the first point of contact. It is an ambitious target considering the first point of contact resolution was 57% in January 2020. The target was achieved from February to July 2021 before dropping to 88% in August and then increasing again over the following months. 

The call resolution metric reflects the level in which the call centre agents have increased their knowledge across the various call categories. There are some situations where calls need to be redirected to another organisation, such as TCC rates queries, and these impact on the call resolution results for those particular months as reflected in the results for August in the following graph.

Call Resolution Service Level from January 2021 to January 2022

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2.1.5    Visitor Numbers

Just over 12,000 people visited our offices in the 12 months ending 31 January 2022. This is a 48% decrease compared to the same period in the previous year when 18,500 people visited our offices. This significant reduction in visitors is largely due to Covid-19 operating levels and the second lockdown in August. There was also an influx in visitor numbers in the previous year due to the Regional Integrated Ticketing Solution (RITS) project that saw 7,500 people visit our offices over a two month period and subsequently increased overall visitor numbers for that year. 

When looking at the monthly trends, visitor numbers in Rotorua doubled in April due to the public transport review that was underway at that time while Tauranga visitor numbers halved. Visitor numbers halved in August and September due to the Covid-19 lockdown before increasing again in October and November. The same quieter holiday period pattern emerges in December and January as was experienced in the call centre, although January 2022 had significantly less visitors to all sites when compared to January 2021 due to a significant number of bee cards being issued ahead of schools reopening.

Bee Card queries remain the most common reason for people visiting our office sites, particularly in our Tauranga and Rotorua offices where approximately 60% of people visit our offices to obtain a bee cards or top-up.

Visitor numbers per site from January 2021 to January 2022

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2.2      Customer Satisfaction Feedback

The introduction of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system has provided the ability to develop customer satisfaction measures that enable customer service performance management and monitoring across a variety of different customer service touchpoints. This includes comprehensive data reporting to help us better understand our customers and their needs, as well as customer satisfaction surveys that provide valuable feedback in regards to the quality of our service.

Customer Satisfaction surveys are sent to customers who contact us by email or provide their email address over the phone. The survey is voluntary and it asks customers to rate the service they received. It also provides an opportunity for the customer to leave a comment about the service they received. The following table provides a high level overview of customer responses and average satisfaction results across our key service areas during this 12 month period.

From February 2021 to January 2022, a total of 36,088 surveys were sent to customers, with 1,256 responses received. This is a relatively small proportion however, it does provide an insight into where good service is being provided, and where it can be improved. Collecting this data over a 12 month period has enabled us to analyse the trends that emerge during times where there are issues arising in the community, such as bus route changes. We can then focus extra attention on these services areas to ensure the contact centre have the correct information they need to respond to queries and that response timeframes are reasonable.

Often the results reflect where there have been contentious issues in the community that people are generally unhappy about and these result in lower scores being achieved. By analysing these results, we can ascertain why certain categories areas might be scoring lower than others and share these finding with the respective teams to define specific areas that we need to improve. A good example of this is ensuring that we are communicating changes clearly, at the right time and using the appropriate methods to reach our target audience. The survey findings also inform the development of team KPI’s that are used to improve our communications, customer service and engagement work.

Customer Satisfaction Survey Results from February 2021 to January 2022

CALL CATEGORY

No. of Responses

SATISFIEDIcon

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DISSATISFIEDA red circle with a white symbol

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General Call Queries

885

77%

23%

Baybus Calls

371

75%

25%

Pollution Hotline

56

68%

32%

Maritime 0800 5 KNOTS

47

78%

12%

Consents Calls

118

81%

19%

The comments that are extracted from survey data are also valuable as they provide further opportunities to improve our service delivery both internally and externally. We receive a wide range of both positive and negative feedback and these are recorded and shared with the respective team activity areas, to ensure that reoccurring issues are followed up and instances where a customer has not received a response are addressed as quickly as possible. One of the key benefits of the CRM system is that a customer query cannot be ‘closed’ until it has been ‘resolved’ and this helps reduce the occasions where a customer does not receive a response.

2.2.1    Customer Satisfaction Results for Consents Service

When a consent is issued, customers are asked to take part in a customer satisfaction survey. Their participation is also voluntary with the survey providing applicants with an opportunity to give feedback on their experience and to identify potential areas for improvement. These results are regularly reported to council, as the consents team have a key performance indicator (KPI) in the Long Term Plan for customer satisfaction with a target of 83%.

Following a ‘deep dive’ review of the consents customer experience in 2020, the team have developed an action plan that includes a series of improvements to the consents process. These improvements and the quality of the service provided by the consents team (and the other parts of council they rely on) are reflected in the positive results the team has achieved over the last 12 months as shown in the following graph.

Consents Customer Satisfaction Survey Results February 2021 to January 2022

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2.2.2    Mystery Shopper Survey Results

Mystery Shopper surveys are carried out monthly and include a series of calls to each of our call lines as well as visits to our reception counters when Covid restrictions allow. Call quality is measured in terms of the service provided, the knowledge and understanding of the issue and whether the mystery caller was satisfied with the response. On-site visits also include the office surroundings and customer interaction aspects of the service being provided in person.

The following table provides an overview of the mystery shopping results for both calls and site visits. Similarly to the data reporting and customer satisfaction surveys, the mystery shopping reports provide valuable insights that the team can use to improve their service delivery. Individual report assessments are discussed with staff members as part of their performance appraisals to ensure a strong focus on customer service is maintained.

Results over 80% have been achieved for all service areas with the exception of the after-hours calls which dropped below 80% in June and November. This was due to a delay in our external call centre provider implementing the new mystery call system during the first month of the new contract.

November results reflect the challenges that arose when the bus network refresh was introduced and our afterhours call centre provider was working to resolve the overwhelming number of calls that were being received during this time. Due to Covid-19 operating restrictions there have been no mystery shopper visits since September, 2021.

Mystery Shopper survey results from June 2021 to January 2022

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2.3      Rates Customer Experience

The Customer First work programme included a series of improvements that have now been implemented however, the scope to further improve the technology we use and the processes we follow is always evolving. This is going to be important as we prepare to collect our own rates as part of the Rates Transition Project. From the research we have conducted with other councils, our customer service delivery model is well set up to be able to support the new rates team with queries and payments.

Improving the customer experience has been highlighted as a significant focus for the Rates Collection project and to achieve this we need to understand our different customer groups and their service expectations.

We have approximately 150,000 ratepayers. Many of these people live in urban areas where payment and internet facilities are easily accessible, and others live in isolated communities where access to payment facilities and internet coverage is limited. To ensure the Rates Transition Project is successful, we must ensure that our services cater to people of all ages, cultures and digital literacy.

We are working to increase our understanding around the level of digital exclusion in our communities so that we can offer alternative options to these people. This includes promoting the various payment methods available, including the benefits of direct debit payment plans to enable people to smooth their payments over the year. NZ Post will also be used as a payment agency to meet the needs of customers who choose to pay their rates over the counter, and to provide broad coverage across the region for this payment option.

3.        Considerations

3.2      Climate Change

Anything we can do to reduce carbon emissions is important, no matter how small, and that includes how we engage with our customers through our various customer service channels. We have four separate service channels available that provide an opportunity for our customers to connect with us digitally. This is important as recent customer service data shows a growing trend in people wanting to access customer services online and outside of normal business operating hours.

Our customers are able to access answers to many frequently asked questions through our website or send us a request by email or via social media. We also use the Antenno app which helps ensure members of our community are informed about issues affecting their area and enable another channel to log requests. In addition to this our customers can call us 24/7 and speak to a call centre agent. All of these options reduce the need for our customers to visit one of our office sites and this contributes to a reduction in travel emissions.

3.3      Implications for Māori

The Bay of Plenty region is growing and changing, and this is reflected in our increasingly diverse population. Embracing cultural differences in customer service empowers our people to better predict and accommodate the needs of their customers, as well as connecting with them on a more meaningful and human level.

Our customer service model is designed to provide inclusive and accessible customer service that all our customers can use and benefit from. Our staff training focusses on the need to be flexible, patient and empathetic to ensure that our customers have a positive customer experience.

3.4      Financial Implications

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

4.        Next Steps

Next Steps: What next? What resources are needed? Further analysis? Timeframes ahead. Any consultation planned. Remind Council of the process ahead. Next update to Council?

Conclusion: Short concluding remarks. Referring back to recommendations. No new content.

 

4.1.1    Rates Transition Project

A key focus for the Customer Contact team over the next five months is ensuring that the customer service initiatives being implemented by the customer experience workstream support the successful implementation of the rates transition project. 

 

Preparation is underway to ensure the relevant training and process reviews are completed prior to the rates ‘go live’ of 1 July 2022.

 

4.1.2    Phase Two CRM System Implementation

Scoping for Phase Two of the CRM system implantation is underway and will include the roll-out of Zendesk to other teams that have customer interactions such as our Land Management, Biosecurity and Maritime teams.  


 

 

 

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Report To:

Monitoring and Operations Committee

Meeting Date:

8 March 2022

Report Writer:

Reece Irving, Senior Regulatory Project Officer

Report Authoriser:

Sarah Omundsen, General Manager, Regulatory Services

Purpose:

To update the Monitoring and Operations Committee on activities underway to improve air quality and the overall environment in the Mount Maunganui Airshed.

 

 

Mount Maunganui Industrial area update

 

Executive Summary

This report provides an update on activities undertaken to improve air quality and the wider environment in the Mount Maunganui industrial area and airshed. The report covers the quarterly period from mid-November 2021 until mid-February 2022.

During this quarterly period, one breach of the PM10 National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NES) was recorded at the Totara Street monitoring site. Additionally, two exceedances recorded in September at an industry operated monitor were confirmed by the Ministry for the Environment to be included in our reporting. Public notification of these occurred in January.

The total number of confirmed PM10 exceedances for this NES reporting year so far (1 September to 31 August) is three. Only one exceedance per year is allowed under the NES.

 

Recommendations

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1.       Receives the report, Mount Maunganui Industrial area update.

 

1.        Introduction

This update continues the regular reporting on activities and actions undertaken to mitigate the impacts of industrial discharges to air and the wider environment in the Mount Maunganui industrial area. Air quality in the area has been perceived as degrading over time as industrial activities and vehicle movements have increased significantly in recent years.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council has an extensive work programme underway to improve air quality in this area. Measured breaches of National Environmental Standards (NES) for PM10 and SO2 have been reducing year on year, however the community remain concerned that airshed pollution is impacting human health. The objectives of the programme are:

Short term: meet our legislative requirements for air, land and water quality

Long term: deliver on the community’s expectation to live in a healthy environment

1.1      Legislative Framework

The Mount Maunganui Airshed was gazetted as a polluted airshed under the NESAQ Regulations 2004, coming into effect in November 2019. The gazetting was based on breaches of the limits for fine particulate matter, PM10. As per the regulations, five continuous years with no NESAQ PM10 breaches must be recorded for the polluted status to be reviewed.

1.2      Alignment with Strategic Framework

 

A Healthy Environment

We develop and implement regional plans and policy to protect our natural environment.

Freshwater for Life

We collaborate with others to maintain and improve our water resource for future generations.

Safe and Resilient Communities

We work with our partners to develop plans and policies, and we lead and enable our communities to respond and recover from an emergency.

A Vibrant Region

We work with and connect the right people to create a prosperous region and economy.

The Way We Work

We look to partnerships for best outcomes.

1.2.1    Community Well-beings Assessment

Dominant Well-Beings Affected

þ Environmental

Medium - Positive

þ Cultural

High - Positive

þ Social

High - Positive

þ Economic

Low - Negative

 

2.        Updates

2.1      Monitoring and exceedances in the current period

The full list of PM10 exceedances since the monitoring network was established is included in Attachment 1. Investigations of PM10 exceedances continue to show a single pollution source is seldom the cause and the cumulative effect of emissions from multiple sources is generally responsible.

During this reporting period, one PM10 NES exceedance was recorded at the Totara Street monitoring site. A compliance officer was on site during the period of elevated dust detection and apart from a higher than usual number of truck movements along Totara Street there were no other clear dust sources that can be pin-pointed as causing the exceedance. Additionally, two exceedances recorded in September at an industry operated monitor were confirmed by the Ministry for the Environment to be included in our reporting. Public notification of these occurred in January.

The total number of confirmed PM10 exceedances for this NES reporting year (1 September to 31 August) is three. Only one exceedance per year is allowed under the NES.

2.1.1    New monitors to be installed in Mount Maunganui residential areas

A trial of low-cost air quality air monitors has started within the Mount Maunganui area. This trial is being run in partnership with NIWA who purchased and provided the new monitoring equipment on loan.

Ten instruments have been installed around the Mount Maunganui industrial and residential areas as part of the trial to assess their operation and accuracy. Three of the units have been placed adjacent to our existing monitors to test their accuracy and to calibrate. Seven have been placed in residential streets east of the industrial area.

It is important to note that this equipment is designed to provide indicative monitoring to supplement existing reference networks used for regulatory purposes, such as the network we already have in place within the Mount Maunganui airshed. The monitors are calibrated to measure PM10, PM2.5 and nitrous oxide.

The advantage of this type of instrumentation is that it provides a cost-effective network that can expand across a large area. However, the quality of data is compromised and should only be used as indicators.  

The trial is expected to go on for 2-3 months after which an assessment of the data provided and its usefulness for our purposes will be undertaken.

A Clarity Node installed within a city for fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide monitoring.

Figure 1: Portable low cost monitors have been attached to power poles in the Mount residential area.

 

2.2      Mount Maunganui Air Quality Working Party

No meetings of the Mount Maunganui Air Quality Working Party have been held since the last report to this Committee in December 2021. A meeting is scheduled for 1 March, and the agenda and draft work programme is at Attachment 2 for Information.

2.3      Communications and Media

A community and industrial stakeholder newsletter was distributed in mid-November, covering a range of air quality related updates. This included a link to the preliminary ‘Our air 2021’ report by Ministry for the Environment. An additional shorter newsletter was sent to the subscriber lists in December which included a link to the final ‘Our air 2021’ report (which factored in the updated World Health Organisation Air Quality Guidelines). You can view these newsletters on the BOPRC webpage here.[2]

2.3.1    Industrial Pollution Prevention audit programme

Information was shared on the summer Industrial Pollution Prevention Programme audits which have now been running for 14 years across the region. These audits are an opportunity to work with colleagues in respective territorial local authorities and also provide employment and work experience for summer assistants / interns. At the time of writing the physical auditing of business premises continues with approximately 150 audits within the air-shed boundary complete and the project due to wrap up by the end of March. A full report on the outcomes will be available to the committee shortly.


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2.3.2    Report It

In late January a trial of an online pollution prevention reporting tool which can be used by the public along-side the conventional pollution hotline telephone number was launched. The trial is being undertaken in the Pāpāmoa residential area opposite Truman Lane, where residents often report being affected by odours emanating from a number of different activities in the area, including commercial composting, the transfer station and a large fertilizer works.

Named ‘Report It’, the online tool makes it easier and faster for the public to let response staff know about the impacts of odour by filling in a simple form on their mobile or other electronic device. In order to offer a high level of public service and response an additional customer response team member has been engaged on a short term contract for the duration of this trial, well placed to proactively monitor air quality in this area and respond as required.

To promote this trial we did a flyer drop to 2,500 addresses in the identified area and promoted the new app online via social media. The post was not able to be limited to the exact area where this tool is being trailed and therefore reached a broader audience. 

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2.4      Policy Matters

Since the last report there has been little change to the development of the high-level framework of provisions for Plan Change 18 – Mount Maunganui Airshed (PC 18). This is due to Plan Change 13 – Air Quality (PC 13) remaining before the Environment Court, and a series of developments involving central government legislation and external agencies, which are affecting its preparation.

To ensure consistency within the Regional Natural Resources Plan, PC 18’s progress will be limited until the resolution of the remaining PC 13 appeal and also requires clarity in relation to the NES, which is in the process of being amended by the Ministry for the Environment. The NES amendments are themselves reliant on Ministry analysis of two other sources of information: an impending national air quality study, “Health and Air Pollution in New Zealand”(HAPINZ), which is now expected to be released in April 2022, and the World Health Organization’s “Global Air Quality Guidelines”, released in late September 2021.

Council staff have been in regular contact with the Ministry in order to obtain updates on the timing of the possible release of the NES amendments, and in particular in relation to NES Regulation 17. The Ministry website initially suggested that the NES would be released by mid-2021, but Council staff understand that there is now no definite timeline for their release.

In mid-October, a letter was sent to the Associate Minister noting that the delays to the NES amendments are hindering Council introducing provisions to improve air quality within the Airshed, and requesting that the NES be released as soon as possible.

In his reply of December 10, the Associate Minister noted MfE’s undertaking to reform the RMA, and how national direction such as the NES will be incorporated into this work. He also confirmed that MfE are awaiting for analysis of the Global Air Quality Guidelines and the HAPINZ study, to inform its reforms.

Once the matters detailed above, which have delayed the development of PC 18, are resolved, the draft framework will be updated to reflect their requirements, and it will be discussed with key stakeholders in the Airshed, and their feedback sought.

2.5      Consents

There are currently nine businesses that have applied for new consents within the Mount Industrial air shed. There has been limited change in the status of these applications since last reported on, with the exception of those mentioned below:

Ziwi: The application was publically notified and a hearing has been set for 29 and 30 March 2022. Commissioners appointed are: Rob van Voorthuysen (Chair); John Aseli and Raru Kirikiri. The applicant has only applied for a one year term.

Ballance: An application has been received (beginning February) to renew their consent for the discharge of wash water to ground. The application is in progress.

Genera: The applications for the discharge to air from Methyl bromide fumigation at the Port of Tauranga and region-wide has been on hold for a number of months waiting for the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) decision on the future use of Methyl bromide. The EPA decision was released towards the end of 2021 and Genera subsequently requested that the application remain on hold to allow them time to amend the original application in line with the EPA direction. The amended applications were received in December 2021. The applications are currently being technically reviewed. Provided that the technical review does not require any further information and pending commissioner availability, it is anticipated that the Port application will be set for a hearing in the second quarter of 2022.

Genera have reported the following:

·      There is currently no methyl bromide log fumigation happening at the Port of Tauranga, which ceased at the end of 2021 (see 2.7 below).

·      Genera are working on new carbon recapture units that enable compliance with the new EPA requirements.

·      Some trials are planned for mid to late February.

·      If successful, commercial log fumigation will resume in the coming months and in full compliance with the EPA requirements.

·      A smaller, consolidated and centralized area in the port will be used for log fumigation, in order to comply with the new buffer zone distances.

2.6      Compliance – Pollution Hotline response

During the reporting period 101 calls were received through the Pollution Hotline relating to events within the Mount Industrial Airshed. Of these, 90 related to air quality, with 77 relating to odour which remains the main cause of calls to the Pollution Hotline.

Bitumen-like odour complaints made up 17% of all calls in the Mount Industrial Airshed during this time (17) and response staff confirmed an objectionable discharge from a bitumen manufacturing plant for which an abatement notice was issued.

Pollution Hotline Complaint Categories 15 November 2021 to 10 February 2022 – Mount Industrial Area

Category

# calls

% calls

Water and Land

4

4

Coastal

7

7

Air

90

89

Total

101

100

Pollution Hotline Complaint Sub-Categories 15 November 2021 to 10 February 2022 – Mount Industrial Area

Sub-Category

# calls

% calls

Water & Land - Discharges to Land

1

1

Air - Industrial

2

2

Water & Land - Discharges to Water

3

3

Air - Smoke

4

4

Coastal - Discharges

7

7

Air - Dust

7

7

Air - Odour

77

76

Total

101

100

All urgent calls were responded to within 12 hours and non-urgent calls responded to within three working days.

2.7      Industrial Activity updates

2.7.1    Activities at Ballance Agri-nutrients

In January 2022, a complete desktop compliance audit was undertaken on Ballance’s discharge consents for their site located at 161 Hewlett’s Road. The activities assessed included Ballance’s air discharge, industrial wastewater and stormwater discharge consents.

Works are currently underway to construct a new stormwater soakage system associated with the extension of Ballance's head office which is listed on the Hazardous Activities and Industries List (HAIL). These works are authorised under a resource consent issued by the Regional Council allowing the disturbance and remediation contaminated land

2.8      Fumigation

2.8.1    Methyl bromide

As a result of the August 2021 EPA decision on methyl bromide, there has been no fumigation of logs under tarpaulins since 1 January 2022. Nor has there been any ship fumigation using methyl bromide. This is a result of the greatly increased buffer distance requirements.

There has been far greater reliance on debarking and phosphine fumigation (during transit to a destination port) for logs. Container fumigation has largely been able to continue as before.

The fumigator is about to commence using activated carbon for recapture. Using this medium they hope to be able to recapture 90% of the methyl bromide remaining in the enclosed space following completion of the fumigation process. This will enable them to recommence fumigating at the Port in some areas based on a buffer distance of 150m.

2.8.2    Ethanedinitrile (EDN)

Before this fumigant could be used in in the Bay of Plenty it has three hurdles to overcome:

a)   approval from the EPA.

b)  acceptance by our overseas markets,

c)   resource consent issued by Regional Council

2.8.3    EPA

In January 2022, the EPA published what is expected to be the final documents before making a decision on the application to use EDN as a fumigant for logs in New Zealand. If approved (as appears likely) industry will move quickly to introduce it for log fumigation due to the benefits it offers, such as greatly reduced buffer distance requirements.

3.        Considerations

3.1      Climate Change

Improving air quality in the Mount Maunganui Industrial Area will not in and of itself impact on climate change. However, cleaner air will certainly ensure potential effects from contaminant discharges will be mitigated. In particular, methyl bromide is an ozone depleting substance and having strict controls on its use as guided by the EPA is important.

3.2      Implications for Māori

Ngāi Tukairangi and Ngāti Kuku ki Whareroa are the Ngāi Te Rangi hapū affiliated with Whareroa Marae and with whom Regional Council staff have been endeavouring to foster closer relationships to ensure council actions will have direct and positive impacts on the Taiaho Place and papakainga communities. Staff have also been working hard to ensure the communities are connected with agencies such as Ministry for the Environment and Toi te Ora and surrounding business and industry.

The establishment of the Air Quality Working Party has provided another platform for engagement with iwi and hapū and for their concerns to be heard around a wider table. This is a space of ongoing commitment from all parties involved as there is clearly still a degree of distrust of government agencies and actions held by the Whareroa community.

3.3      Community Engagement

 

Adobe Systems

INVOLVE

Whakaura

To work directly with affected communities throughout the process to ensure that their issues and concerns are consistently understood and fully considered in Council’s decision making.

 

3.4      Financial Implications

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

4.        Next Steps

Staff will continue to update this Committee on all work underway to improve air quality in the Mount Maunganui Industrial Area. There is a wider focus on all environmental discharges and ensuring the minimal impact on human health resulting from industrial activity. The six monthly updates on these works requested by the Minister for the Environment from Bay of Plenty Regional Council on this work continues to be provided with the next due in mid-June.

Attachments

Attachment 1 - Mount Maunganui Airshed PM10 exceedances at February 2022

Attachment 2 - 2022-03-01 Working Party meeting agenda and draft programme of work   


Monitoring and Operations Committee                                                                8 March 2022

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Report To:

Monitoring and Operations Committee

Meeting Date:

8 March 2022

Report Writer:

Jon Jon Peters, BOP Harbourmaster/Manager

Report Authoriser:

Sarah Omundsen, General Manager, Regulatory Services

Purpose:

To update the Committee on Maritime activities undertaken through the summer  of 2021/22

 

 

Maritime Summer Programme Report for 2021/22

 

Executive Summary

The Maritime’s Summer Programme is delivered by Regional Council’s Maritime Team with funding assistance from Maritime New Zealand. The programme focuses on recreational boating issues that have been highlighted on a national scale at the New Zealand Safer Boating Forum, but also issues that are specific to the region.

Our programme aims to improve the attitudes and behaviours of the boating public, in order to reduce non-compliance, assist in their education and to keep people safe. In addition to on water compliance work and boat ramp patrols, the programme involves media coverage, educational material drops to retailers and campsites, newsletter and social media content added to Marinas and boat clubs, and a student programme. 

This report provides an update on activities undertaken through the 2021-2022 summer season. Of note, interactions through our patrols increased by 40% over last year with a significant increase at the Rotorua Lakes and in the Eastern region.

 

Recommendations

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, Maritime Summer Programme Report for 2021/22.

 

1.        Introduction

The Maritime Summer Programme is designed to address the key Safer Boating issues highlighted by the New Zealand Safer Boating Forum and the National Recreational Boating Safety Strategy. These are issues that continue to be present with recreational boating within the Bay of Plenty Region including:

·       Failure to wear or carry a correctly fitting lifejacket

·       Failure to carry at least one form of waterproof communication equipment so that the skipper can call for help when in trouble

·       Speed of vessels within 200m of shore or structure and 50m of a vessel or person in the water

·       Towing without an observer

The programme aims to address attitudes and behaviours towards safety and boating education among recreational boating in the region. The promotion of these key messages is done through the use of branded collateral at both boat ramps and onwater patrols, newsletter additions to boating clubs, social media posts and enforcement of the bylaws on the water.

1.1      Alignment with Strategic Framework

 

Safe and Resilient Communities

We support community safety through flood protection and navigation safety.

The Way We Work

We provide great customer service.

 

 

2.        Activities undertaken over the 2021/22 summer

2.1      Summer patrols

Summer months in the Bay of Plenty are extremely busy for Maritime, with many people on the water in our rivers, bays, harbours and coasts. We undertake patrols over this period seven days a week throughout the region, and contract additional trained skippers to support the Maritime team over this time. Summer students are also critical to ensure this coverage, both on the water and at boat ramps.

This summer we had 33 patrol crew, 7 students and 7 Vessels working across the region. They interacted with 4533 vessels, and the students completed 1147 boat ramp surveys.  208 patrol shifts were undertaken In Tauranga, 116 in Rotorua and 45 in Whakatāne.

Summer patrols have been running in Ōhiwa and covering the outer islands for the first time.  Speed of vessels close to shore and towing safely continues to be a challenge that is best addressed with a heightened on water presence.  Time will tell if the increased enforcement action changes behaviour longer term.  Patrols along the coast and outer islands have raised compliance of divers flying dive flags. 

Attachments 1 and 2 provide a snapshot of interactions on the water an at boat ramps across the region through the summer. The significant increases in interactions this year are clear in these dashboards.

2.2      Compliance and enforcement

With more interactions on the water this year, it is expected that there would be an increase in the number of bylaw breaches and infringements issued. Attachment 3 provides a dashboard of the enforcement action taken over the summer period. In summary:

·      576 Breach of Bylaws were issued, a 20% increase on last year.

·      42% of breaches issued were to jet skis yet they make up only 18% of our total on water interactions

·      51% of breaches issued were to powerboats, and they make up 68% of our on-water interactions

·      31% of breaches were for excessive speed.

·      25% of breaches were for having no name on a vessel

·      17% were breached for lack of lifejackets on board.

Maritime Officers responded to 42% more service requests this summer compared to last summer. The Duty Harbourmasters actioned 459 requests through our call centre.

2.3      Moorings

The Maritime team are responsible for 449 moorings in the region, including managing mooring licenses and monitoring and auditing mooring maintenance and mooring areas. 95 % of the 449 moorings are within their service date – a measure we use to ensure they are safe for use. Attachment 4 provides a dashboard showing the service and compliance status of moorings across the region.

2.4      Navigation Aids

The Maritime team are also responsible for 830 navigation aids in region, including ensuring the aids are correctly positioned and maintained. The Long Term Plan includes a level of service that 95% of aids are in good condition. We are currently achieving 100%. Attachment 5 provides a dashboard showing the condition of navigation aids in the region.

2.5      Kia marutau ki te wai – Safe Boating Ambassador Programme

With Funding from Maritime New Zealand’s FED fund, a programme was created to support a positive change in Safer Boating Education in our Māori communities.

The Iwi Safer Boating Education programme has been designed around the concept of Ako – To Teach and to Learn.  A reciprocal teaching and learning environment whereby the teacher learns from the student and the student learns from the teacher, the tasks and the shared resources.

Currently there are nine students engaged in the programme.  We have two Rangatahi from Te Rereatukahia Marae in Katikati, three from Ōtāwhiwhi Marae in Waihī and four from Ngāti awa, across Te Teko, Ōhiwa and Edgecumbe. Four students have completed and passed their online Coastguard Boating education Day Skipper certificate.  Five are currently studying towards completing by end of March.

There are five programmed practical days planned to enhance their Day Skipper theory and increase their knowledge and skills.  One practical day has been completed, based on Safety Equipment onboard vessels and an introduction to an on-water patrol of our Tauranga Harbour.  Other practical days will include practical training on how to cross a bar safely, Navigation Safety Bylaws and how we educate around these both on the water and at boat ramps, trip reporting and the use of a marine VHF and other comms, Practical Boat Handling and an in water survival / wharf jump to showcase the use of lifejackets. 

Once these sessions have been achieved, we will be issuing uniform and Te Reo specific resources enabling them to teach safe boating education at their respective marae and boat ramps. 

We intend to bring on the next group of nine after Easter to train over winter ready for another busy summer.

2.6      Media

A summary of media and communications over the summer is below:

·      Safer Boating Facebook adds were shared across the region on our Facebook page and also across Bowentown, Ōmokoroa, Mount Maunganui and Tauranga Boating club’s social media pages to assist our safe boating education messages to local clubs as part of the Port and Harbour Safety Code Risk assessment review.

·      Boaty BBQ Safe Boating Education days were completed alongside MNZ at Sulphur Point, Ōhiwa and Pukehina Boat Ramps.

·      Our “Win a Boat load of Boating Booty Competition” attracted 137 entries with only 17 entrants getting all 10 questions correct.  Four winners were randomly chosen and have received their prize pack of $500 worth of Safety Equipment for their boat.

·      No Lifejacket, No Excuse campaign videos were produced and played out at Bayfair over December / January.

·      Don’t be a W-Anchor campaign ran on Hewlett’s Road for a month from 26th December.

2.7      Additional matters of interest

2.7.1    Whakatāne Flood Event

Our Whakatāne Officers were involved with preparing for the significant flood event in December that required boats to be moved off their moorings for safety.  Staff received praise from the community that the event was well communicated and the assistance provided by them to move people and boats was well received. It was the first time in over 30 years that all the boats were moved to safety during a flood event.

2.7.2    Rotorua patrol vessel

The new patrol vessel Eke Ngaru was blessed and officially launched on 2 February at Ōhinemutu. Kaumātua Kingi Biddle told the history and the importance of the lake front to his tribe.  He blessed Eke Ngaru and endorsed and encouraged the work Maritime do for safety around the lakes. 

 

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2.7.3    Feedback from the Port of Tauranga

The following feedback was well received from the Port of Tauranga recently:

Afternoon Jon Jon, 

As a group, all Pilots have noticed over the last few weekends, that the patrol boats really are doing a great job lately and are managing to be in the right place at the right time and coinciding their harbour positions and observation of recreational craft with shipping movements. 

This has made a huge difference for us, as it has meant that not only does it free up a portion of our concentration on the job at hand, but it has also been alleviating Captain’s concerns with recreational craft being in the way and posing a potential risk to them.  Coinciding patrols with shipping has been a huge help.

Please pass on our thanks to all of your staff and look forward to meeting everyone at some stage in the future.

Matt Birdsall

Marine Pilot, Port of Tauranga Limited

3.        Considerations

3.1      Climate Change

The matters addressed in this report are of a procedural nature and there is no need to consider climate change impacts.

 

3.2      Implications for Māori

Engaging with Māori is an important part of the Maritime Activity. Whether that is the patrols in Hunters Creek to make sure rules are being followed and to see where the  rules may need to be adjusted in the future, helping clean-up activities in waters surrounding marae, working with landowners in the Kaituna and other rivers or oil spill exercises undertaken.

Collaboration has occurred through a number of monitoring programmes to look at how busy areas of concern have become, recruitment of new staff, and the safe boating programme.

The decision to appoint a Sub-Committee for the Navigation Safety Bylaw review that includes Iwi representatives alongside Councillors is an important step towards ensuring that Māori are involved the development of rules for maritime safety.

3.3      Financial Implications

All work has been conducted within the current budget.

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

4.        Next Steps

These programmes support a positive change in Safer Boating knowledge and skills and a Safer Harbour for all users throughout the region. Work and progress will continue to be reported through this Committee.

 

Attachments

Attachment 1 - Interactions

Attachment 2 - Boat Ramp Surveys (Students)

Attachment 3 - Infringements and Breaches

Attachment 4 - Moorings

Attachment 5 - Navigational aids   


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Report To:

Monitoring and Operations Committee

Meeting Date:

8 March 2022

Report Writer:

Laverne Mason, Integrated Catchments Programme Manager and Alicia Burningham, Programme Coordinator Integrated Catchments

Report Authoriser:

Chris Ingle, General Manager, Integrated Catchments

Purpose:

To provide an update on the Climate Change Programme

 

 

Climate Change Programme Reporting

 

Executive Summary

This report provides a biannual update on the delivery of climate change actions set out in the Climate Change Action Plan. Monitoring and reporting on these actions occurs through the Climate Change Programme, covering the action plan projects along with related operational activities across the organisation.

 

Recommendations

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, Climate Change Programme Reporting.

 

1.        Introduction

Climate change is a strategic priority for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Council has a focus on ensuring the region is adapting to the changing climate and on helping to facilitate a community-wide transition to a low carbon economy. 

The detailed climate change actions are being managed through the Climate Change Programme, ensuring coordinated delivery, monitoring and reporting.

1.1      Alignment with Strategic Framework

 

A Healthy Environment

We develop and implement regional plans and policy to protect our natural environment.

Freshwater for Life

We collaborate with others to maintain and improve our water resource for future generations.

Safe and Resilient Communities

We provide systems and information to increase understanding of natural hazard risks and climate change impacts.

A Vibrant Region

We work with and connect the right people to create a prosperous region and economy.

The Way We Work

We look to partnerships for best outcomes.

1.1.1    Community Well-beings Assessment

Dominant Well-Beings Affected

þ Environmental

 

¨ Cultural

 

þ Social

 

¨ Economic

 

 

2.        Climate Change Programme

The revised Climate Change Action Plan, identified 19 Action Plan projects aligned to four goals:

1.   Bay of Plenty Regional Council is net zero carbon by 2050

2.   Reducing regional greenhouse gas emissions

3.   As a region we understand, are preparing for and adapting to a changing climate

4.   Our Bay of Plenty community is aware, engaged and resilient

The Action Plan provides the framework for the bi-annual reporting, as covered in the dashboard attached.

2.1      Programme highlights July-December

Community and iwi-led adaptation to climate change – two community-led climate change adaptation projects have so far received funding. These will result in adaptation planning including risks, key priorities and next steps, for two coastal hapū. More applications from coastal hapū are expected in the next round.

Climate change regional risk assessment – The first stage of this project is nearing completion and will result in a ‘first pass’ workbook of climate risks for the region. This stage has involved numerous stakeholders and partners in a series of workshops, hui and survey. The next stage will include a detailed risk assessment for the region which will be completed over Q2 and Q3 of 2022.

Bus network refresh - A refreshed bus network was launched on 15 November. The refreshed network is designed to provide more convenience and more direct routes. This should increase bus patronage, thus reducing single occupant vehicle usage, and carbon emissions. It will also reduce vehicle emissions through fewer empty ‘not in service’ or low-patronage buses on the roads.

Emissions Reduction Plan discussion document submission - Staff from across Council contributed to the BOPRC submission on the Emissions Reduction Plan discussion document, alongside a joint local authority submission co-ordinated by BOPRC and involving input from staff across the BOP local authorities.

2.2      National contribution

-       Staff are involved in a national adaptation network for local government focusing on sharing and supporting adaptation practice carried out by Territorial Authorities and Regional Councils across the country.

-       Staff have been invited to join a local government working group with Ministry for the Environment (MfE) to provide advice as the National Adaptation Plan is developed.

-       Council were involved in contributing to the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) Local Climate Risk Assessment Guide which has been published.

2.3      TLA strategies and action plans

As requested at the M&O meeting 7 September 2021 please see information below from the TAs regarding their strategies and action plans that are being developed.

Tauranga City Council

-       Currently undertaking a refresh of its strategic framework and developing a new vision for the city, with community input.

-       As a part of this strategic refresh TCC identified gaps in the areas of sustainability, environment, and climate change.

-       Working to develop a sustainability framework, environment strategy, and climate plan for the city.  The climate plan is expected to be completed in Q2 of the 2022/23 FY.  It will cover both mitigation and adaptation.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council

-       Establishing a framework for climate change and identifying relevant workstreams

-       Undertaking a risk assessment for Council owned infrastructure using the Lifelines mapping

-       Recently hired a risk specialist as part of the Finance team

Whakatāne District Council has LTP funding for a district wide climate risk assessment. They will use information from the regional climate risk assessment to leverage a local version to guide their adaptation planning. 

Rotorua Lakes Council completed a high level desk top climate risk assessment in 2019 as part of the their membership of the Global Covenant of Mayors for climate and energy. Current work is focused on infrastructure planning, particularly on stormwater infrastructure and potential climate impacts.

Ōpōtiki District Council - climate change considerations are built into everyday decisions that are made. For example, pursuing external funding to reticulate Hukutaia because it provides a good option for retreat over the next 20, 30, 50 years.

The region’s Territorial Authorities are part of a regional climate change group (covering general climate change and sustainably matters) and a specific climate adaptation staff working group, both established by and facilitated by BOPRC.

3.        Considerations

3.1      Risks and Mitigations

Climate change is listed on BOPRC’s Key Risk Register, due to the impact this will have on Regional Council’s decision making processes over the longer term.

Late in 2020, BOPRC completed an internal audit review of Climate Change Impacts Risks and Mitigations, as per the 2020/21 Internal Audit Work Plan. Based on the results of the review, the overall rating was Adequate. This reflects that BOPRC is able to demonstrate it is performing a majority of the mitigations listed in the Key Risk Register, with minor improvements recommended.

3.2      Climate Change

 

Mitigation

Adaptation

Reduce GHG emissions

Produce GHG emissions

Sequester carbon

Anticipate climate change impacts

Respond to climate change impacts

The Climate Change Programme delivers, monitors and reports on Council’s response to climate change in terms of priorities and actions around both mitigation and adaptation.

3.3      Implications for Māori

Climate Change could potentially have significant impact on hapū and iwi in the region. Many marae in the Bay of Plenty region are located in coastal or low lying areas, potentially exposed to flooding and coastal hazards.

The economic livelihood of many of the region’s iwi are linked to natural resources, through activities such as farming, forestry, aquaculture & tourism. These sectors may be impacted by the forthcoming national Emissions Reduction Plan and associated carbon budgets, as well as being potentially vulnerable to ecosystem changes caused by climate.

Our regional climate risk assessment process is helping to tease out both local Māori perspectives on climate change along with more specific risks. The funding we are providing for community adaptation planning (Action Plan project 14) is supporting hapū and iwi to develop their own climate change understanding and response.

Climate change is beginning to be identified specifically in iwi management plans with the inclusion of natural hazards as a key topic. Providing accessible and useful information around the climate impacts and hazard risks for the region through our climate change story maps (Action Plan project 17) will help to inform the response by iwi and hapū.

3.4      Community Engagement

 

Adobe Systems

INFORM

Whakamōhio

To provide affected communities with balanced and objective information to assist them in understanding the problems, alternatives and/or solutions.

There is no community engagement required in relation to the content of this paper. However, engaging with our community around climate change and specific actions related to climate change is a core part of our climate change work programme.

3.5      Financial Implications

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

4.        Next Steps

The Climate Change Programme will report back to Council twice yearly. Council will be kept updated on changes in legislation responding to direction received from Central Government.  

Attachments

Attachment 1 - Climate Change Programme Dashboard July-December 2021   


Monitoring and Operations Committee                                                                                8 March 2022

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Report To:

Monitoring and Operations Committee

Meeting Date:

8 March 2022

Report Writer:

Helen Creagh, Rotorua Catchments Manager and Scott Kusabs, Land Management Team Leader

Report Authoriser:

Chris Ingle, General Manager, Integrated Catchments

Purpose:

To update the Committee on gains made in the Lake Rotorua Catchment since 2017 in terms of sustainable landuse and reductions in nutrients entering the lake.

 

 

Lake Rotorua Sustainable Land Gains 2017 - 2022

 

 

Executive Summary

Since 2017 the Rotorua Catchments team have been implementing the Lake Rotorua Nutrient rules (previously known as Plan Change 10). This has been implemented alongside a number of other initiatives including the Lake Rotorua Incentives Scheme and property level Environmental Programmes, to reduce nutrient loss to Lake Rotorua and ultimately, improve water quality in the lake.

This report updates the Committee on progress towards the targets for Lake Rotorua outlined in the provisions of the Regional Policy Statement, and the Regional Natural Resources Plan. The report provides an analysis of gains made through sustainable land use practice in reducing nitrogen and phosphorous losses to the lake, from surrounding land uses.

The Council’s recently developed Nutrient Data Management System now allows us to report on progress towards a sustainable nitrogen load to Lake Rotorua. This report includes an analysis of progress towards that target.

 

Recommendations

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, Lake Rotorua Sustainable Land Gains 2017 - 2022.

 

1.        Introduction

Since 2017 the Lake Rotorua Nutrient Rules, previously known as Plan Change 10, have been implemented by the Rotorua Catchments team. These rules now have full legal effect, following the Environment Court decision in April 2021.

The Integrated Framework for Lake Rotorua is the pathway to sustainable water quality, without alum dosing. The framework has been adopted by the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group partnership. This Framework combines a regulatory approach that requires farmers to reduce nutrient loss from farms with other elements, which incentivise landuse change with Crown and Toi Moana funding. Engineering solutions complete the mix of interventions.

Staff have been assisting those impacted by the rules, through their individual consenting process, including the development of individual property level Nutrient Management Plans. Staff are now involved in monitoring compliance with the resulting resource consents. Work is also required to monitor permitted activity compliance.  

There has been considerable recent movement in the number of landowners working with Toi Moana and signing up to nutrient reduction agreements via the incentives and scheme for the Lake Rotorua Catchment. These agreements also require ongoing monitoring by the catchments team.

The Nutrient Data Management System (NDMS) collects farm nutrient data required by the regional plan provisions, accounting for farm system change over time. This ensures each farming activity in the catchment will make the changes required by their resource consent and any separate agreements. The NDMS allows us to report on progress towards meeting the sustainable nitrogen load in Lake Rotorua. An analysis of progress towards that target appears in section 3 below.

Finally, Land Management Officers have been working with landowners to identify non-regulatory opportunities to target those critical source areas on-farm that cause the most concentrated contaminant problems. The resulting Environmental Programmes (EPs) significantly contribute to improved water quality outcomes for Lake Rotorua. Provided in section 3 below is an analysis of the scale of that work since 2017.

Special Acknowledgement

Before we proceed with this report, we would like to take the time to acknowledge the recent passing of our friend and colleague Geoff Ewert.

Rotorua local Geoff was responsible for much of the on-the-ground work detailed in this report. Whether it was releasing plants, building fences, netting catfish, monitoring Environmental Programmes or even sewing weed cordons, Geoff was a highly skilled and tireless worker who made an enormous contribution to sustainable landuse, biodiversity and biosecurity work of the Regional Council over the years.

People with the work ethic and capability that Geoff had are hard to find, and Geoff is, and will continue to be sorely missed by our team. Our heartfelt condolences to his whānau.

 

1.1      Legislative Framework

The provisions of the Regional Policy Statement and the Regional Natural Resources Plan introduced policy and rules to limit the amount of nutrient entering

Lake Rotorua from surrounding landuses in the catchment.

This policy framework sets up the Integrated Framework which includes regulation, incentives, and Council and Crown funded projects. These projects are undertaken in Partnership with Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Rotorua Lakes Council and Toi Moana, to reduce nutrient loss to the lake and achieve a sustainable nitrogen load to the lake by 2032.

1.2      Alignment with Strategic Framework

 

A Healthy Environment

We manage our natural resources effectively through regulation, education and action.

Freshwater for Life

We collaborate with others to maintain and improve our water resource for future generations.

The Way We Work

We continually seek opportunities to innovate and improve.

The Lake Rotorua Integrated Framework is well aligned with many of the Council’s strategic objectives related to improving freshwater quality. The focus of our work in the Lake Rotorua Catchment is to improve water quality in the long term and to achieve the targets set in the Regional Natural Resources Plan, through the implementation of the Integrated Framework for Lake Rotorua.

A key driver of change is the regulatory framework under the Lake Rotorua Nutrient Rules. However, we also work collaboratively with the rural community to educate and enable environmental restoration work and landuse change to improve water quality, biodiversity, and overall environmental health. Including providing grants for this work as per Council adopted Grants Policy.

1.2.1    Community Well-beings Assessment

Dominant Well-Beings Affected

þ Environmental

 

þ Cultural

 

þ Social

 

¨ Economic

 

The Rotorua Catchments team works to improve environmental outcomes which have multiple benefits for all within the Rotorua community. The farming community are required to reduce farming intensity over time, but innovative farmers are working within the rule framework to reduce economic impact for themselves, and this is supported by funding provided by Toi Moana through the Advice and Support Service. The effects of the policy framework on the dominant well-beings (Environmental, Cultural, Social and Economic) have been considered as part of the lengthy Resource Management Act processes.

Our focus is to work collaboratively towards a healthy lake and surrounding catchment environment to ensure community well-being, support a thriving economy, and meet cultural expectations now and for future generations.

2.        Lakes Rotorua Catchment Update

2.1      Lake Rotorua Nutrient Reduction

2.1.1    Lake Rotorua Nitrogen Loss Analysis

The development of the NDMS and the monitoring of the Lake Rotorua nutrient rules, allows the team to capture the modelled nitrogen losses from each landuse within the catchment. This helps us understand where most of the nitrogen loss to the lake is coming from in the catchment, and where the gaps in our knowledge may be. 

The analysis through a series of graphs below, provides a snapshot of how the Rotorua Catchments team are progressing towards bringing all affected landowners into compliance with the Lake Rotorua Nutrient rules. The analysis also provides insight into what proportion of landuse there is by area in the catchment and the modelled nitrogen losses from each of those landuses.

Map 1 below, shows the area of the Lake Rotorua rural catchment that is now part of the monitored area under the Lake Rotorua Nutrient Rules (the rules exclude the urban area). As a result of this, we now have a very good understanding of the scale and intensity of landuse in the catchment which will improve as we complete implementation of the rules of the next 12 months.

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Map 1: Monitored area of Lake Rotorua Catchment rural landuse

We now have a good understanding of what the nutrient loss to the lake from 77% of the catchment is. Figure 1 below shows the area of land in the Lake Rotorua Catchment that the Regional Council holds monitoring data for. The data gaps refer to the farms that have not been monitored yet for nutrient loss to the lake.

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Figure 1 Monitoring data

As shown in Figure 2 below, of the 77% of the catchment, we have monitoring data for, 34% of that requires a consent (around 10,000 ha) and 66% is a permitted activity.

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Figure 2 Consented vs Permitted activity area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 3 below shows that 71% of the measured nitrogen loss of the Lake Rotorua catchment is coming from the consented area. 29% of the currently measured loss is from the Permitted Activity area. Focussing on ensuring consent compliance will deliver the best outcome for the lake. 

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Figure 3 Consented vs Permitted Activity Nitrogen Loss

Figure 4 below shows the area of each landuse in the catchment, based on information collected to date (consented land). Drystock farming makes up 36%, dairy farming 21%, and dairy support 13%.

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Figure 4 Area of landuse (consented)

 

Figure 5 below shows the nitrogen loss by landuse, based on the data collected to date (consented land). Pastoral dairy makes up 54% of the modelled loss of the files collected and pastoral drystock 28%.

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Figure 5 Nitrogen loss by landuse (consented)

2.1.2    Nitrogen reduction through incentives agreements

The Incentives Scheme is an important part of the Integrated Framework. It incentivises landowners to consider changing landuse to a lower nitrogen leaching landuse. Rotorua Catchments staff have worked with a number of landowners who want to look at alternative uses for their land. When landowners sign up to the scheme, they permanently reduce the nitrogen allocated to their land. This is a significant decision for landowners, and it can take time to work through the details and implications. To date 30.6 tonnes of nitrogen have been permanently removed from the lake annually, through 20 incentives agreements. 1,075 ha of pastoral land has been converted to trees through the Scheme, which is equivalent to roughly 1 million trees.

Figure 6 below, shows the landuse of the 20 properties with incentives Agreements in place, prior to the agreement being signed and then following the implementation of that agreement.

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Figure 6 Landuse of properties with Incentives Agreements

2.1.3    Phosphorus reduction via Critical Source Area management

The Environment Court decision on the rule’s framework for Lake Rotorua, included the need for farmers to identify and mitigate phosphorous loss off their farms. This came into legal effect on 15 August 2017. 

Critical Source Areas (CSA) for phosphorus, have now been identified for all farms that require a Nutrient Management Plan. Stormwater flow paths drive phosphorus loss off farms, so CSA are usually where stock are concentrated, and water can then mobilise nutrients and take them downstream, e.g., via pugging or inappropriate gate/trough location etc. 

Every CSA has a management strategy for resolving nutrient loss included within the property’s Nutrient Management Plan, and a due date by when that needs to be achieved. The inclusion of phosphorus within the rules allows Toi Moana staff to work with farmers through open discussion and sharing ideas to address phosphorus loss from farms. It also helps build a picture across the entire Rotorua Catchment of where these Critical Source Areas for phosphorous are. The management of these CSA will also have a positive effect on minimising E-Coli loss to the tributary streams of Lake Rotorua.

Critical Source Areas are monitored during site visits by staff using an App developed in house by our Geospatial team. This allows us to capture the CSA geospatially and monitor improvement over time using photos and observations.  The approach to monitoring compliance of this facet of the Nutrient Management Plans has been one of collaboration with landowners, and there has been noticeable improvement in the management of these areas through the last five years.

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Map 2 Shows location of Captured Critical Source Areas in the Rotorua Catchment

2.2      Gorse Programme

The Lake Rotorua Gorse Programme was intended to achieve a 30 tonne reduction of nitrogen leaching to Lake Rotorua, by converting mature gorse (existing at the time of the benchmarking period), to either forestry, native bush or other low nitrogen landuses.

The initial survey of mature gorse stands in the catchment, estimated the extent of gorse within the Rotorua Catchment to be approximately 870 hectares. This estimate was updated in 2019, following a flyover survey of flowering gorse in the catchment by Landcare Research, to 1,192 ha.

As of 2019, approximately 267 ha of gorse in the Rotorua groundwater catchment, was controlled by Gorse Agreements through the Lake Rotorua Gorse Programme, and a further 596 ha is being managed or controlled through alternative channels. 

An estimated 226 ha remains of uncontrolled gorse, which has not otherwise been classified. A large extent of this uncontrolled gorse occurs on land where the landowner does not yet have a consent under the Lake Rotorua Nutrient Rules. When consent is gained, this will be addressed under their consent conditions. Some of this uncontrolled gorse occurs within bush blocks and surrounding wetlands and may be addressed via future Environmental Programmes. The Rotorua Catchment team will continue to look for opportunities to control gorse through available funding avenues.

The total amount of gorse present in the catchment will change over time as new growth appears, and mature stands are controlled through the various means described above; intermittent flyovers will be undertaken to ensure gorse in the catchment remains well managed.

The table below shows how all gorse tracts identified by the 2019 flyover have been managed in collaboration with various landowners.

Table 1

Classification

Area (ha)

%

Gorse Agreements

266.67

22

Incentives Agreements

190.16

16

Plantation Forestry

111.19

09

Environmental Programme

95.39

08

Lake Rotorua Nutrient Consent

161.57

14

Retired independently by landowners

20.56

02

DOC land

17.60

01

Uncontrolled gorse

225.52

19

Paper roads, streams, road verges, rail corridor legal parcels

14.65

01

‘not gorse’ – misidentified species including broom and brambles (field checked)

88.58

07

TOTAL

1191.89

100

2.3      Environmental Programmes

Toi Moana offers advice and financial support for landowners who are interested in achieving environmental restoration objectives through Environmental Programmes on their land. Environmental Programmes can collectively have a significant impact on improving water quality of Rotorua’s streams and lakes.

All of the lake catchments in Rotorua are a Focus Catchment for Toi Moana, for improving water quality. The Lake Rotorua Catchment and the Tarawera Catchments (eight lakes in total) are a particular focus for the land management work of the Rotorua Catchments team. This is because of the policy focus on those catchments in the Integrated Framework and the Tarawera Lakes Restoration Plan.

 

 

 

2.3.1    Environmental Programmes in the Lake Rotorua Catchment

There has been wide uptake of Environmental Programmes within Lake Rotorua over the last five years, and we believe the work undertaken through these agreements will have major benefits for lake water quality immediately and in the years to come. 

Most programmes have been aimed at improving water quality and have focused on riparian retirement, wetland restoration and retiring unsuitable grazing land for erosion control. The focus for the team has mainly been on the stream catchments that have identified poor water quality (Ngongotahā, Puarenga, Utuhina, Waitetī). Any long-term improvements in the bacterial water quality in these streams, will contribute to the Council’s LTP target for swimmability.

The Rotorua land management team have worked with 44 landowners between 2017 and 2022 on environmental restoration projects on their land. The 44 projects have required 49 km of fencing to protect 157 ha of landuse change from pasture to native forest, and 120 ha of biodiversity protection. A total of 257,000 native plants have been planted within the catchment through these programmes.

The table below shows some of the achievements of that work in the Lake Rotorua Catchment, with a focus on those catchments affected by swimmability issues.

Table 2

Lake Rotorua Catchments

Ngongotahā

Puarenga

Utuhina

Waiteti

Other Catchments

Totals

Native Plants (no)

46,106

57,920

13,750

72,274

66,916

256,966

Fencing (km)

7.9

19.5

1.1

18.8

2

49.3

Landuse Change (ha)

32.1

49

3.8

33.5

38.6

157

Restoration Wetland Area (ha)

1

20

0

14

5

43

Restoration Biodiversity Area (SNA)

0

84.8

0

34.7

0

119.5

2.3.2    Environmental Programmes in the Tarawera Catchments

Another focus for the Rotorua Catchments team, is the work associated with the Tarawera Lakes Restoration Plan which was established in November 2014. The eight lakes included within the greater Lake Tarawera Catchment include, Rerewhakaitu, Rotomahana, Ōkaro, Rotokakahi, Tikitapu, Ōkāreka, Ōkataina and Lake Tarawera itself.

There has been significant focus on the Lake Ōkāreka Catchment through the Lake Ōkāreka Landuse Change Project since 2016. The landuse change targets for this catchment have now been met.

 

The Tarawera Lakes Restoration Plan has identified some key actions for nutrient reductions. All farms within the greater Tarawera Catchment have had a Farm Environment Plan produced that identifies critical phosphorous loss sites (most of these farms are in the Rerewhakaiitu Catchment). 

Staff have been working with landowners who have approached us, to fence and retire unsuitable grazing land as identified by the Farm Environment Plans. The table below shows the achievement of those Plans by lake catchment.

Table 3  

Catchment

Rotokakahi

Rerewhakaiitu

Total

Plants

2,300

41,352

43,652

Fencing (km)

0.8

15.1

15.9

Landuse change (ha)

6

13.7

14.3

The Tarawera Acacia control project was another action identified by the Tarawera Restoration Plan and has just finished its seventh year of control. 

Acacia has been identified as a significant source of nitrogen to Lake Tarawera as it fixes nitrogen into the soil where it can then be leached to groundwater and ultimately into the lake. This work has been carried out in partnership with Ngāti Rangitihi, Tūhourangi and the Department of Conservation. 504 ha of acacia have been felled to waste within this timeframe. This has led to a dramatic change in the landscape and encouraged native flora to replace the felled trees. The next phase of the project will move into the Rotomahana Catchment and continue to follow up the work within the Tarawera Catchment.

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Map 3     Area of acacia control Tarawera Catchment

3.        Considerations

3.1      Risks and Mitigations

The Integrated Framework was developed in conjunction with the Lake Rotorua Stakeholder Advisory Group and adopted by the Regional Council and the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group. It sets out a range of solutions in order to achieve the 320 tonne of annual nitrogen reductions needed to achieve the sustainable limit of 435 tonnes nitrogen per year. 

The recent review of Overseer, by an Independent Panel commissioned by the Government, brings into question the efficacy of the model for use in certain contexts. More work is being done which will assist us in understanding efficacy of the continued use of Overseer in the Lake Rotorua Catchment. The current uncertainty poses a risk to the ongoing successful implementation of the
Lake Rotorua Nutrient rules, and associated initiatives such as the Incentives Scheme.

The continued buy in of our rural community over the next 10 years as we work towards our 2032 target is essential. Greater consideration may need to be given to technological advancements and alternative modelling techniques and programmes, depending on the outcomes of the further work related to Overseer.

3.2      Climate Change

It is clear that climate change will have a major impact on all of the Rotorua Lakes and a warming climate may increase the frequency of algal blooms. The work being undertaken in the Rotorua Lakes Catchments through Environmental Programmes, Gorse Agreements and Incentives Agreements, will reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions through landuse change to trees, and less intensive livestock farming practices. The Programme will face ongoing challenges to improving water quality faced with the effects of climate change, including more frequent storm events transporting greater contaminant loads to the lake. There is a need for continued commitment to adaptation, to manage these impacts.

Mitigation

Adaptation

Reduce GHG emissions

Produce GHG emissions

Sequester carbon

Anticipate climate change impacts

Respond to climate change impacts

 

3.3      Implications for Māori

The Lake Rotorua Integrated Framework has direct implications for
Te Arawa iwi and hapu.

As owners of the lakes, Te Arawa Lakes Trust are a key partner of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme, and a partner to the decision making for that framework. Rotorua Catchments staff have engaged with Te Ahu Whenua Trusts and iwi/hapū, as we have looked to enhance environmental outcomes through the integrated framework. A number of iwi entities have been very active in embracing opportunities on Māori owned land and have been highly engaged in understanding ways to partner with Toi Moana in a number of projects.

The restoration and protection of these taonga lakes is of utmost importance to Māori and that is the aim of this Programme.

3.4      Community Engagement

The policy framework for Lake Rotorua is well embedded within the farming community and there seems to be an acceptance amongst farmers that they now farm within a nitrogen limited catchment, which has its challenges.

The number and proportion of landowners that have utilised the financial assistance made available by Toi Moana through environmental programmes is high. This reflects good working relationships developed over time.

3.5      Financial Implications

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

This report outlines progress with sustainable landuse in the Lake Rotorua Catchment over the last five years. While there are no implications for the budget of the current financial year, it is expected that demand from landowners and others to enter into Environmental Programmes with the Regional Council will continue to increase. A request for additional grants funding for the Rotorua Catchments Activity has been made to Council as part of the development of its 2022/2023 Annual Plan.

4.        Next Steps

The Annual Report of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme (including the Rotorua Catchments Activity) will come to the Monitoring and Operations Committee following the end of the current financial year.

 

  


 

 

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Report To:

Monitoring and Operations Committee

Meeting Date:

8 March 2022

Report Writer:

Greg Corbett, Biosecurity Manager

Report Authoriser:

Chris Ingle, General Manager, Integrated Catchments

Purpose:

Provide information and discussion on biosecurity activity expenditure trends for the previous five years.

 

 

Biosecurity Activity Budget Trends 2016 - 2021

 

Executive Summary

At its 7 December 2021 meeting, this Committee requested a report showing the expenditure trends of the Biosecurity Activity over the last five years. This report focuses on operational spend, that is, time, costs and revenue associated with delivering Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) pest programmes. The figures provided do not include corporate or overhead costs associated with the biosecurity team.

Over the last five years Council has increased the Biosecurity Activity budget in response to growing pressures with aquatic pests, wallabies and established plant pests. In addition to this, significant Government funding was received in 2020/21 to support wallaby and wilding conifer work.

This new funding over the last five years has resulted in a 345% increase in pest programme operational work. External revenue has increased significantly over the same period, primarily from the Government ‘jobs for nature’ funding and marine biosecurity surveillance service delivery for other regions.

 

Recommendations

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, Biosecurity Activity Budget Trends 2016 - 2021.

 

1.        Introduction

This report provides budget trends for each of Council’s Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) programmes (with pests grouped according to the current RPMP) and also discusses a number of Council’s larger, more complex species programmes. The operational expenditure and revenue for every pest species included in the RPMP over the last five years is attached to this report.

1.1      Alignment with Strategic Framework

 

A Healthy Environment

We manage our natural resources effectively through regulation, education and action.

A Vibrant Region

We work with and connect the right people to create a prosperous region and economy.

The Way We Work

We look to partnerships for best outcomes.

1.1.1    Community Well-beings Assessment

Dominant Well-Beings Affected

¨ Environmental

High - Positive

¨ Cultural

Medium - Positive

¨ Social

Medium - Positive

¨ Economic

Medium - Positive

 

 

 

2.        Biosecurity Activity operational expenditure and revenue

2.1      Expenditure and revenue trends for RPMP programmes over the last five years

The following trend graphs show the operational spend (and revenue) for each of the current RPMP programmes. Pests have been grouped according to current RPMP programmes that became operative in December 2020. 

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Over the last five years staff have increased effort in surveillance for exclusion and ‘new-to-region’ pests. Monitoring of naturalised plants has also increased to assess their potential to become problematic. Over this period in excess of 100 species were detected as either ‘new-to-region’ or naturalised. Six of these could be new to country and have been sent to Ministry for Primary Industries for their consideration. Detections included perch, water poppy (exclusion pests) and Asian paddle crab (new-to-region). 

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Expenditure on Eradication pests gradually increased up to 2019/20 and then jumped significantly in 2020/21 due to Jobs for Nature funding for wallaby control. This additional expenditure has allowed increased surveillance and intensified control. As a result 34 additional eradication pest sites have been identified bringing the total to 75. Of these, 41 have been reduced to zero-density and five are now deemed eradicated.

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Progressive Containment pest work has received a modest funding increase through to 2019/20, with a significant increase in 2020/21 due to Jobs for Nature funding for wilding conifer control. Nearly 500 hectares of wilding pines were controlled in 2020/21.

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The Sustained Control pest programmes has seen a steady annual increase in funding over the last five years reflecting Council’s interest in seeing greater effort on established pests such as woolly nightshade and wild ginger. While assessing the impact of this spend over last five years is difficult further commentary is provided in the next section of the report under woolly nightshade.

This increased funding has enabled an expanded biosecurity programme over recent years, and the recent development of an improved data management system, Geopest, has improved inspection efficiency and programme management. Over the period of this report pest plant property inspections have increased 152% and the number of infestations recorded have increased by 440%.

2.2      Expenditure and revenue trends for key pest programmes over the last five years

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Council’s aquatic pest programme includes catfish, other pest fish and lake weeds. This programme of work has doubled over the last five years, with a significant proportion of the funding spent on catfish.

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Council’s catfish control work has delivered interesting results that display no consistent trends. While netting effort over the last two years has been impacted by COVID related lockdowns, the catfish captures per net-night spiked significantly in 2019/20, but dropped again the following year. Whether this was due to the 2019/20 programme having a significant impact on catfish numbers is not currently clear.

Another recent aquatic programme enabled by additional Council funding has been boat ramp compliance (delivered in partnership with Te Arawa). Just under 2,000 inspections have been completed with only 26 boats/trailers intercepted with lakeweed.

While hornwort eradication work at Lake Ōkataina is making slow, but steady progress, control work in Lake Ōkāreka has produced specular results with no detections of hornwort (or Egeria) since the initial control work.

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Marine pest work has gradually expanded since the discovery of Mediterranean fanworm in Tauranga Moana in 2013. Expenditure increases in the last couple of years reflect the new Asian paddle crab partnership programme with Manaaki Te Awanui. Good progress has been made in reducing infestation of clubbed tunicate, however, Mediterranean fanworm sites appear to be slowly trending upwards.

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Council’s wallaby programme is delivered in partnership with MPI, Waikato Regional Council and Te Papa Atawhai (DOC). As shown in the graph above, the programme received significant additional Jobs for Nature funding in 2020/21. This funding has allowed a significant expansion of wallaby surveillance and control outside the wallaby containment area – the map below shows area covered by surveillance and control since 2020.

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Wild kiwifruit control programme funding has been relative stable with an increase in 2020/21 reflecting Council’s new agreement with Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH). Under this agreement, Council provides funding to KVH who now manage all control work. Council’s funding is matched by KVH, with further contributions from Zespri and landowners. KVH, in turn, provide Council with a contribution to support surveillance. While the graph above only shows Council’s expenditure, the total wild kiwifruit programme delivered by KVH in 2020/21 was $482,500. This programme has seen an increase in properties controlled in the last couple of years from 65 to 93 with the number of vines controlled increasing from 7,000 to 12,700.

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Investment in woolly nightshade has steadily increased over the last five years. During this time, the number of inspections focused on woolly nightshade has increased from 329 up to 1148. Levels of compliance have only recently been able to be reported (due to the development of Geopest) and sit at 30%, with a further 28% of sites currently being controlled.

3.        Considerations

3.1      Risks and Mitigations

This report has been provided for Council’s information. There are no risks associated with this report.

3.2      Climate Change

The matters addressed in this report are of a procedural nature and there is no need to consider climate change impacts.

3.3      Implications for Māori

This report has been provided for Council’s information. There are no implications for Maori associated with this report.

3.4      Community Engagement

This report has been provided for Council’s information. Community views have been previously considered through the development of Council’s Long Term Plan and the Regional Pest Management Plan.

3.5      Financial Implications

There are no financial implications associated with report.

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

4.        Next Steps

This report provides high level trends in the biosecurity activity over the last five years. Operational details can be viewed in Council’s RPMP Annual Reports, which are published each year.

 

Attachments

Attachment 1 - RPMP Pest Programme Expenditure 2016 - 2021   


Monitoring and Operations Committee                                                                                8 March 2022

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Report To:

Monitoring and Operations Committee

Meeting Date:

8 March 2022

Report Writer:

Alex Miller, Compliance Manager - Land & Water and May Cheuyglintase, Senior Regulatory Project Officer

Report Authoriser:

Sarah Omundsen, General Manager, Regulatory Services

Purpose:

To provide an update on the compliance performance for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants in the Bay of Plenty Region

 

 

Overview of WWTP Compliance in the Bay of Plenty Region - 2021/22

 

Executive Summary

This report is an annual update to the Monitoring and Operations Committee on municipal wastewater (treatment, conveyance, and discharge) in the Bay of Plenty Region.  There are 19 municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) servicing communities across the Bay of Plenty.

There are a significant number of challenges faced by Territorial Authorities in the operation of their wastewater treatment plants, which can result in failure to comply with their consent conditions. These challenges are experienced across the region, with a number of non-compliances identified throughout the 2020/2021 financial year, ranging from low-risk or technical non-compliance to significant non-compliance.

Network overflows continue to be a challenge for Territorial Authorities; however, the adoption of the best practice guide for the management of, and response to overflows from wastewater networks has helped to drive improvements in the quality and consistency of responses to such events.

Central Government is continuing to work through the three-waters reform, which proposes changes to wastewater asset ownership and operation, as well as oversight of regulation of wastewater activities.

 

Recommendations

That the Monitoring and Operations Committee:

1        Receives the report, Overview of WWTP Compliance in the Bay of Plenty Region - 2021/22.

 

1.        Introduction

The attached report is an update on the current situation with regards to municipal wastewater (treatment, conveyance, and discharge) in the Bay of Plenty Region.

There are currently 19 municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) servicing the various communities spread across the Bay of Plenty Region. There are a total of 37 resource consents held by the Territorial Authorities (TAs) authorising the discharges from these WWTPs. There are six TAs responsible for the operation of the WWTPs and compliance with the resource consents.

Additionally, there is one WWTP operated by a community organisation (Kāingaroa Village inc).

1.1      Alignment with Strategic Framework

 

A Healthy Environment

We manage our natural resources effectively through regulation, education and action.

Freshwater for Life

We collaborate with others to maintain and improve our water resource for future generations.

A strong regulatory oversight of wastewater treatment plants and systems allows us to ensure we have a healthy environment as we can pre-empt issues and work with Territorial Authorities to solve problems relating to non-compliant discharges. 

Collaboration and a good working relationship with TAs and Iwi is important to ensure we take a “no surprises approach”. The Regional Wastewater Management Group allows us to share ideas across the region. TAs that are more experienced in some areas can provide support to others.

1.1.1    Community Well-beings Assessment

Dominant Well-Beings Affected

þ Environmental

High - Positive

þ Cultural

Medium - Positive

þ Social

Medium - Positive

¨ Economic

 

 

 

 

2.        2020/21 Wastewater Infrastructure Performance

2.1      Compliance performance

There are a significant number of challenges faced by the TAs in the operation of their WWTP’s, which can result in failure to comply with their consent conditions. These challenges are experienced across the region, with several non-compliances identified throughout the 2020/2021 financial year, ranging from low-risk or technical non-compliance to significant non-compliance. These challenges include:

-   Increased inflow over the summer months as the local populations dramatically increase,

-   Infiltration into the pipe networks,

-   Unforeseen mechanical and electrical failures,

-   Aging infrastructure (both at WWTP’s and wastewater reticulation),

-   High strength trade waste discharges

-   Expected permanent population increase, and,

-   A lack of funding for upgrades and maintenance.

There were no TAs that were fully compliant with their resource consents for the 2020/2021 reporting period.

2.2      Network Overflows

Network overflows can present a risk to both the environment and the community. There are several factors that can lead to an unauthorised network overflow, including blockage as a result of wipes, congealed fat and roots. Whilst emergency discharges from WWTPs may be provided for by resource consent, network overflows are neither permitted nor consented. A Regional Wastewater Management Group, comprised of representatives from all of the TAs, Toi te Ora and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, was set up in order to develop a best practice guide for the TAs to follow in the reporting and management of overflows. The best practice guide was finished in November 2019 and is now fully implemented by all parties.

Given network overflows are uncontrolled events, they cannot be authorised as discharges under a resource consent; as such, adherence to the Guide, which includes maintenance and proactive measures to avoid overflows occurring, is a critical component in considering enforcement in relation to such discharges.

Throughout 2020/21, there were 137 network overflows across the region, as per the table below:

Territorial Authority

Number of sewer overflow incidents

TCC

63

WBODC

5

RDC

37

ODC

0

KDC

1

WDC

31

Kāingaroa Village Inc

Unknown

2.3      On-site effluent treatment systems and reticulation

There is a growing understanding around the link between on-site effluent treatment systems and water quality issues in lakes, rivers, coastal environments and groundwater, particularly in small communities with a large number outdated septic tank systems, and/or undersized lots. In response to this, several communities are either working through proposals to connect to reticulation, have been connected to reticulation, or have been designated as maintenance zones where more stringent rules can be set around the disposal of private wastewater and the maintenance of systems.

2.4      Three Waters Reform

Central Government recognises that Councils are facing system wide challenges in the management and capability of their wastewater systems, and the broader delivery of three waters infrastructure. It is Central Government’s position that targeted reform of environmental regulation of wastewater services is necessary. It is not expected that this reform will lead to any significant changes to Regional Council’s role in regulating Wastewater Treatment Plants; however, greater oversight of regulation is expected.

Council is working closely with Central Government, along with the wider Regional Sector and other local government partners, to provide input into this programme of work.

3.        2021/22 Year to date

For Q1 and Q2 of 2021/22, Council has conducted 20 site inspections and received and reviewed 98 performance monitoring reports from TAs in relation to WWTP compliance.

Compliance results indicated confirmed full compliance with consent conditions for 75% of site inspections, and 72% of reports reviewed. The majority of non-compliances are considered to be low risk, with only four significant non-compliances identified in relation to performance monitoring reports from:

·      Edgecumbe WWTP (Whakatāne District Council)

·      Katikati WWTP (Western Bay of Plenty District Council)

·      Ōpōtiki WWTP (Ōpōtiki District Council)

Further detail on these results will be provided in the 2021/22 Report.

4.        Considerations

4.2      Climate Change

The matters addressed in this report are of a procedural nature and there is no need to consider climate change impacts.

However, the impacts of climate change on wastewater infrastructure is a significant issue facing TAs, particularly in low lying coastal areas. The Bay of Plenty Lifeline Utilities Group (Emergency Management Bay of Plenty is a member) is tendering for a full Climate Change Risk Assessment which will focus on infrastructure, including the Three Waters. The outcomes will inform adaptation by individual Lifeline Utilities (including TAs).

4.3      Implications for Māori

Maori have identified discharges of treated and untreated wastewater to water to be of concern, particularly where that discharge is to freshwater. New consents such as the Rotoiti/Rotoma WWTP have included pre-treatment in response to cultural impact assessments developed by the relevant iwi, and will use land treatment and disposal methods. Other consents require the formation of Iwi Liaison and Kaitiaki Groups.

Staff understand that the key aspects identified by iwi include:

·      Active involvement in monitoring both before and after the consent is granted;

·      Consultation in the proposed WWTP design and disposal method;

·      Sharing of information;

·      Up-skilling of young people in environmental management and the RMA

·      Introduction of aspects of mātauranga Māori in monitoring and response to issues.

TAs are encouraged to notify tangata whenua of network overflows, and each TA is currently developing their own Iwi notification procedure following consultation.

4.4      Community Engagement

 

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Engagement with the community is not required as this is an operational/BAU matter.

 

4.5      Financial Implications

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

5.        Next Steps

Council will continue to monitor TA’s compliance with their respective consents relating to wastewater operations.

It is anticipated that the 2021/22 Wastewater Compliance Report will be presented to this committee in September 2022.

Attachments

Attachment 1 - Overview of WWTP Compliance in BOP Region - February 2022   


Monitoring and Operations Committee                                                                8 March 2022

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[1] www.growregions.govt.nz/established-funds/what-we-have-funded/

[2] www.boprc.govt.nz/our-projects/mount-maunganui-industrial-air-quality