Open Minutes
Commencing: Tuesday 16 February 2021, 9.30 am
Venue: Council Chambers, Ground Floor, Regional House, 1 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga (Zoom recording)
Chairperson: Cr Paula Thompson
Deputy Chairperson: Cr Stuart Crosby
Members: Chairman Doug Leeder
Cr Jane Nees
Cr Matemoana McDonald
Cr Toi Kai Rākau Iti (via Zoom)
Cr Te Taru White
Cr Kevin Winters (via Zoom)
Cr Lyall Thurston
Cr David Love
Cr Norm Bruning
Cr Bill Clark
Cr Stacey Rose
Cr Andrew von Dadelszen
In Attendance: Fiona McTavish – Chief Executive; Namouta Poutasi – General Manager, Strategy and Policy; Chris Ingle – General Manager, Integrated Catchments; Mat Taylor – General Manager, Corporate; Julie Bevan – Policy & Planning Manager; Ruth Feist – Team Leader Urban; Karen Parcell – Team Leader Kaiwhakatinana; Mark Hamilton – Senior Policy Analyst; Elsa Weir – Planner; Jessica Durham – Committee Advisor
The Chair announced the meeting would be recorded and available on YouTube, in accordance with Council’s Live Streaming and Recording of Meetings Protocols and as noted within the Agenda.
2. Declaration of Conflicts of Interest
Cr Crosby declared an interest in Agenda Item 8, Change to the Rotorua Airshed Boundary, and would abstain from discussion and voting on the Item.
Minutes to be Confirmed
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Strategy and Policy Committee Minutes - 3 November 2020 |
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That the Strategy and Policy Committee: 1 Confirms the Strategy and Policy Committee Minutes - 3 November 2020 as a true and correct record. Rose/von Dadelszen CARRIED |
Strategy
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Operating Environment Report Presentation: Operating Environment and RMA Reform Process: Objective ID A3738530 ⇨ Presentation: Council's role in Urban Growth and Development: Objective ID A3738533 ⇨ Presented by: Julie Bevan – Policy & Planning Manager and Ruth Feist – Team Leader Urban Key Points – Staff: · Council's role in urban growth and development. · Upcoming work programme. · RMA reform process. Key Points - Members: · Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) had considered management of the workload that would feed out of Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) reforms. · Freshwater work was expected to continue as planned. · Territorial Local Authorities (TLAs) have various work occurring on managing natural hazard risks and climate change adaptation. · The One-Region; One-Plan approach did not have a clear outcome yet. · Preserving local democracy and the public’s ability to influence and input on decision making, particularly regarding the regional natural hazards plan was key. · Stormwater work within the Three Waters would be complex and challenging. · Management of the Three Waters had changed to an opt-out, rather than opt-in scheme, with models for management being discussed. A local government model, prioritising efficient and effective delivery rather than profit was likely. · RMA reforms would increase workloads in local government. · Public, tangata whenua, and stakeholders needed to be engaged and consulted meaningfully and thoroughly on changes. · Regional Sector Group (RSG) was considering RMA reforms and whether to react to, or attempt to pre-empt changes. · Recruiting and retaining qualified people was a challenge. · Otago Regional Council would be the first to implement Regional Policy Statement (RPS) changes and RSG would be looking at lessons to learn from their experience. · Decisions must be based on expertise, sound science and public engagement. · Councils around the country were concerned with the amount of change and consequential resourcing requirements for implementation within the required timeframes. |
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· Detail matters dealing with climate change within the work programme. · Overarching timeline of the work programme as a whole. · Seek to integrate with and input into SmartGrowth Leadership Group agendas. · Provide the presentation, Council's role in Urban Growth and Development: Objective ID A3738533 to Tauranga City Council Commission. |
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That the Strategy and Policy Committee: 1 Receives the report, Operating Environment Report. CARRIED |
10:30am - The meeting adjourned.
10:45am - The meeting reconvened.
Regulatory Policy
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Process to change the Regional Policy Statement to implement the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 Presentation: National Policy Statement - Urban Development Responsive Planning: Objective ID A3738531 ⇨ Presented by: Ruth Feist – Team Leader Urban Key Points: · Preliminary discussion whether a Schedule 1 Process, or Streamlined Planning Process to be used for the formal part of the plan change. · Scoping was underway on the RPS change for urban development in relation to the requirements of the National Policy Statement (NPS) – Urban Development. · Staff recommended early consultation and the Streamlined Planning Process, which they expected the Minister would approve given resourcing requirements, and that it implements the NPS – Urban Development. Key Points - Members: · Engagement should address why the RPS change was necessary. · Consultation must include iwi partners, the community, stakeholders, and landowners, as well as property developers. |
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· Report to the Committee once further scoping, consultation, and refinement of plans and processes were available before any planning process decisions. |
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That the Strategy and Policy Committee: 1 Receives the report, Process to change the Regional Policy Statement to implement the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020. 2 Agrees in principle to Council using a combination of both Section 55 of the Resource Management Act 1991 and the Streamlined Planning process to implement the responsive planning requirements of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020. 3 Notes subject to endorsing the above process for RPS changes staff will develop a detailed Project Plan, Communications and Engagement Plan, draft policy framework and a proposal to use the Streamlined Planning Process to be reported the Strategy and Policy Committee for consideration in the first quarter of 2021. 4 Notes use of the Streamlined Planning Process must be approved by the Minister for the Environment. CARRIED |
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Mount Maunganui Airshed – Direction and Scope Presented by: Julie Bevan – Policy & Planning Manager, Karen Parcell – Team Leader Kaiwhakatinana and Mark Hamilton – Senior Policy Analyst Key Points: · Mount Maunganui Airshed was introduced to improve air quality around the industrial area and Port of Tauranga, and to help address community concerns. · Staff proposed a plan change to the Regional Natural Resources Plan to further improve air quality, and sought Committee direction on the scope of the plan change. · The plan change would be independent of the Plan Change 13 appeal and Plan Change 13 rules. · Proposed scope would address sources of particulate matter from log handling and fugitive emissions, odour from industrial sources, and include specific policies and permitted, controlled, and restricted discretionary activity rules. Key Points - Members: · National air quality standards were under review and amendments were expected; the proposed plan change would elaborate on any changes to these standards and further specify limits and mitigation on certain contaminants, filling any gaps. |
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· Clarify Council’s ability to review consents prior to their expiry, and whether such review provision would be included within the plan or within the consent. |
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That the Strategy and Policy Committee: 1 Receives the report, Mount Maunganui Airshed – Direction and Scope; and 2 Provides guidance on the matters recommended for inclusion in the draft provisions to be later approved for community engagement. CARRIED |
11:29am - The meeting adjourned.
11:31am - The meeting reconvened.
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Approval of Plan Change 17 (Awatarariki Fanhead) Presented by: Julie Bevan – Policy & Planning Manager Key Points: · Due process was followed throughout the plan change and approval was the final step. · Acknowledged the long and difficult process residents had endured. · Must ensure future developments avoid similar issues. |
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That the Strategy and Policy Committee: 1 Receives the report, Approval of Plan Change 17 (Awatarariki Fanhead). 2 Approves all provisions of Proposed Plan Change 17 (Awatarariki Fanhead) to the Regional Natural Resources Plan and any consequential changes to the Regional Natural Resources Plan, to be effected by affixing the seal of the Regional Council. 3 Delegates to the Group Manager Strategy and Science to make minor corrections to Proposed Plan Change 17 (Awatarariki Fanhead) to the Regional Natural Resources Plan and any consequential changes if required. 4 Delegates to the Chief Executive the authority to set the date to make Proposed Plan Change 17 (Awatarariki Fanhead) to the Regional Natural Resources Plan operative. CARRIED |
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Change to the Rotorua Airshed Boundary Presentation: Changes to Rotorua Airshed Boundary: Objective ID A3738532 ⇨ Presented by: Julie Bevan – Policy & Planning Manager and Elsa Weir – Planner Cr Crosby declared an interest in this item and abstained from discussion and voting. Key Points: · Provided background to the air quality issues in Rotorua and the history of the removal of wood burners. · Outlined options proposed within the report. · Moving the boundary would continue to improve public health and compliance with the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NESAQ). · Current incentive schemes would conclude in April 2021. · Airshed-specific rules only applied to domestic burners - region-wide rules and responsibilities for other activities, including industrial, would continue to apply in conjunction with the boundary extension. Key Points - Members: · Concerned with the cumulative effects of pellet burners if usage increased, staff advised pellet burners offered a clean and controlled resource. |
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· Engage with Rotorua Lakes Council prior to 25 April 2021 regarding changes to Rotorua Airshed Boundary. |
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That the Strategy and Policy Committee: 1 Receives the report, Change to the Rotorua Airshed Boundary to extend the Rotorua Airshed boundary. 2 Directs that staff seek clarification from the Ministry for the Environment as to the level of consultation required prior to beginning the formal re-gazettal process, to ensure the application for re-gazettal is approved by the Minister. 3 Subject to timely engagement with Rotorua Lakes Council and Ngāti Whakaue, and subject to further reassurance and confirmation from scientists on the science behind the exclusion of the area surrounding Rotorua Airport, approves extending the Airshed boundary now based on a combination of topography, and growth and development areas as defined by Rotorua Lakes Council. 4 Approves application to the Minister for the Environment to re-gazette the Rotorua Airshed once consultation with affected parties is completed. CARRIED |
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Resolution to exclude the public 1 Excludes the public from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting as set out below: The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter, and the specific grounds under section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:
CARRIED |
12:04pm – the meeting closed.
Chairperson, Strategy and Policy Committee