Open Minutes
Commencing: Wednesday 29 June 2022, 9:30 am
Venue: Council Chambers, Regional House, 1 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga and Via Zoom (Audio Visual Meeting)
Chairperson: Cr Kevin Winters
Deputy Chairperson: Cr Norm Bruning
Members: Cr Bill Clark
Cr Stuart Crosby
Cr Toi Kai Rākau Iti
Cr David Love
Cr Matemoana McDonald
Cr Jane Nees
Cr Stacey Rose
Cr Paula Thompson
Cr Lyall Thurston
Cr Andrew von Dadelszen
Cr Te Taru White
In Attendance: Sarah Omundsen – Acting Chief Executive, Chris Ingle - General Manager Integrated Catchments, Reuben Fraser – Acting General Manager Regulatory Services, Pim de Monchy - Coastal Catchments Manager, Kirsty Brown – Rivers and Drainage Assets Manager, Reece Irving - Senior Regulatory Project Officer, Sam Weiss - Acting Compliance Manager – Air, Industry & Response, Greg Corbett – Biosecurity Manager, Davor Bejakovich – Wallaby Programme Lead, Glenn Ellery – Data Services Manager, Alex Miller – Compliance Manager – Land & Water; Via Zoom: Rob Donald – Science Manager, Helen Creagh – Rotorua Catchments Manager
Apologies: Chairman Doug Leeder
Declaration of Public Recording
The Chair advised that the public section of the meeting was being recorded and would be made available on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council website and archived for a period of three years.
Recording of the Meeting: Monitoring and Operations Committee Meeting 29 June 2022 - YouTube
That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Accepts the apology from Chairman Doug Leeder for absence tendered at the meeting. CARRIED |
The Chair advised that a Verbal Update on the Climate Change Programme had been requested and would be provided under Agenda item 10.
4. Declaration of Conflicts of Interest
None declared.
Minutes to be Confirmed
Monitoring and Operations Committee Minutes - 8 March 2022 Matters Arising |
|
|
That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Confirms the Monitoring and Operations Committee Minutes - 8 March 2022 as a true and correct record. CARRIED |
Coastal Catchments and Regional Parks Operations Update Presentation - Coastal Catchments Operations 2021/22: Objective ID A4130988 ⇨ Presented by: Pim de Monchy, Coastal Catchments Manager |
|
|
· The Coastal Catchments programme had an operating budget $5.5M and capital budget of $2M to deliver work across biodiversity, water quality, co-governance, coastal and community groups/volunteers and the Regional Parks Activity. · Provided an overview of project highlights and a dashboard snapshot of work distribution across the region. · The Ministry for the Environment’s Public Waterways Ecosystem Restoration (PWER)/Jobs for Nature Fund had provided $3M over three years for water quality, biodiversity and economic stimulus. Work to date was 70 percent complete with the remainder of the programme anticipated to be completed by the end of December 2022. 9:45 am – Cr McDonald entered the meeting. · Acknowledged volunteers, care groups and contractors that had contributed to the environmental outcomes achieved across the region. In Response to Questions: · Dashboard reporting information was used internally to provide Long Term Plan reporting on key performance indicators. · Clarified the process undertaken to update covenant instruments. Further detail could be provided on request. · E. coli data trends in the Waiōtahe estuary were accessible on the Water Ecology Tool (WET) on Regional Council’s website. E. coli levels were still above Ministry of Health guidelines and further work was needed to consistently reduce E. coli concentrations in the estuary. Essentially, more retirement of land was needed to substantially reduce contaminant inflows on a regular basis, and new freshwater limits and incentives/agreements with landowners would play an important role. Key Points - Members: · Sought consideration for discussion to be held with Quayside Holdings regarding the opportunity to connect and create further open space with the Rangiuru Business Park’s wetland development that was in the early stages of design. · Congratulated the results, dedication and joined up approach achieved by staff, coast care volunteers and landowners who were assisting to deliver positive environmental improvements and outcomes. Items for Staff Follow Up: · Consider forecasted changes over the next 10 years for discussion in the new triennium. |
Chairperson's Report 10:06 am – Cr Love withdrew from the meeting. Key Points: · The Chair outlined key matters from the report. ·
Rob Donald, Manager Strategy &
Science provided an explanation of the 10:14 am – Cr Love entered the meeting. In Response to Questions: · Regional Council had an open data policy and worked closely with NIWA, GNS Science and all other Crown Research Institutes. · Regional councils from across the sector were working on the best model and one approach for managing Synthetic Nitrogen Fertiliser. · The Regional Search & Rescue (RSRF) funding that was provided to the Rotorua mountain bike club supported their role as first responders in assisting emergency services in remote trail locations. · Environmental Enhancement Fund reserve funding criteria was spread across the region. · Regarding community concerns about the Te Puna Business Park, Consent Team Leader Nick Barnes was providing community liaison support as part of the resource consent process and staff would be working collaboratively with the Western Bay of Plenty District Council. · An application from Transpower for consent renewal of anchor blocks in the Tauranga harbour was being processed. The anchor blocks were defined as ‘accommodated infrastructure’ and would not be subject to a right of veto by customary marine title holders. However, it was noted that a hearing had been scheduled at the end of the year to decide whether Rangataua Bay should be given wāhi tapu status, which may have implications on consent processes and what could be granted. Transpower were engaging with iwi/hapū. Current understanding was that if consent could not be granted, Transpower may carry out further works on the pā site at the end of Maungatapu, which they and iwi/hapū wished to avoid. Current focus was to facilitate a process and agreement between all parties about what should happen. Key Points - Members: · Expressed concern regarding pollution hotline calls and odour complaints in Judea and to take stronger compliance. Key Points – Staff: · Acknowledged the patience of the Judea community and their openness to provide information to staff to make further progress on odour issues. Staff would keep councillors updated on this matter. The Phone App and odour inventory was being undertaken in the Mount Maunganui industrial area and regular updates would be provided. Items for Staff Follow-Up: · Provide advice on Rotorua Lakes Council’s contribution to RSRF funding. · Include regular reporting updates on the pollution hotline odour issues within the Judea industrial area. · Keep councillors informed of the Te Puna business park resource consent process and community liaison. |
|
|
That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Chairperson's Report. CARRIED |
Decisions Required
Building Future Sustainability and Resilience through Asset Management Presentation - Building future sustainability and resilience through asset management: Objective ID A4130994 ⇨ Presented by: Kirsty Brown, Rivers and Drainage Assets Manager Key Points: · Council took a whole-of-life approach in the management of its infrastructure assets, in line with national and international best practice. · Noted the opportunity to incorporate additional sustainability and resilience performance objectives/targets into the asset management framework at the next Long Term Plan/Asset Management Plan review. · Asset Management Plans enabled the setting of sustainability and resilience properties, levels of service and targets to support future measurement and reporting. · Linking objectives with the internal Sustainability Strategy (to be developed) would support a consistent approach across the organisation. In Response to Questions: · Sustainability specifications and components were considered as part of the procurement process checklist. · Regional Council was not ISO 55000 certified, but used the standards and the International Infrastructure Management Manual as the guiding documents for Council’s asset management practices and processes. Items for Staff Follow Up: · Report back to the September 2022 Monitoring and Operations Committee meeting on: o River Scheme Sustainability Project progress. o Implementation of the Flood Protection and Drainage Bylaws 2020, including co-designing of a Iwi Management Plan for Kōkōhinau urupa. |
|
|
That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Building Future Sustainability and Resilience through Asset Management. 2 Approves the proposed approach to further implement sustainability and resilience into our asset management practice. CARRIED |
11:00 am – the meeting adjourned.
11:18 am – the meeting reconvened.
Information Only
Dama Wallaby Annual Operational Plan 2022/23 and Programme update Presentation - Wallaby Update and Annual Operation Plan 2022/23: Objective ID A4130995 ⇨ Presented by: Greg Corbett and Davor Bejakovich · Provided an update on the wallaby programme, surveillance, control work, night shooting and fencing, noting consultation with mana whenua and landowners was progressing. 11:50 am – Cr White entered the meeting. · Communication and awareness via online platforms/newsletters had been positive. · Outlined 2022/23 Operational Plan priorities, budget and key activities. · Multiple detection surveillance activities would be used in risk areas to gain a better understanding of their effectiveness. · A proposed containment fence for Whakarewarewa would be reported to Regional Council for approval due to the procurement scope. · Ground operations would start to get underway however, noted there had been unforeseen delays due to the unavailability of ground control toxin as a result of the Ukraine war and that the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) were working to negotiate a way forward. In Response to Questions: · There were approximately 30 qualified night shooters comprising six contractors with a number of staff. Considered the market was competitive, including a strong interest from mana whenua to be involved in operations. · It was hoped that learnings would come from ground control operations on approaches to eradicate and learn about wallaby behaviour and changes. · MPI were currently undertaking a public perception survey on wallabies. Key Points - Members: · Considered it was important to educate and change public perceptions regarding wallabies as a pest. |
|
|
That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, Dama Wallaby Annual Operational Plan 2022/23 and Programme update. CARRIED |
River Scheme Advisory Group Liaison with River Co-Governance Forums Presented by: Kirsty Brown, Rivers and Drainage Assets Manager Key Points: · The report informed how better communication was being facilitated between the respective river scheme advisory groups and co-governance river forums through regular reporting, which would be ongoing. |
|
|
That the Monitoring and Operations Committee: 1 Receives the report, River Scheme Advisory Group Liaison with River Co-Governance Forums. CARRIED |
8. Consideration of Items not on the Agenda
9. Consideration of General Business
On behalf of the Committee, the Chair thanked Sarah Omundsen for her contribution to the committee and organisation and wished her all the best in her new role.
12:15 pm – the meeting closed.
|
Chairperson, Monitoring and Operations Committee