I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Environment Committee will be held on:
Date: Tuesday, 11 December 2018 Time: to follow Strategy & Policy Committee Meeting Venue: Tararua Room Horizons Regional Council 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
AGENDA
MEMBERSHIP
Chair Cr GM McKellar Deputy Chair Cr WK Te Awe Awe Councillors Cr JJ Barrow Cr LR Burnell Cr DB Cotton Cr EB Gordon JP (ex officio) Cr RJ Keedwell Cr NJ Patrick Cr JM Naylor Cr PW Rieger, QSO JP Cr BE Rollinson Cr CI Sheldon
Michael McCartney Chief Executive
Contact Telephone: 0508 800 800 Email: [email protected] Postal Address: Private Bag 11025, Palmerston North 4442
Full Agendas are available on Horizons Regional Council website www.horizons.govt.nz
Note: The reports contained within this agenda are for consideration and should not be construed as Council policy unless and until adopted. Items in the agenda may be subject to amendment or withdrawal at the meeting.
for further information regarding this agenda, please contact: Julie Kennedy, 06 9522 800
CONTACTS 24 hr Freephone : [email protected] www.horizons.govt.nz 0508 800 800
SERVICE Kairanga Marton Taumarunui Woodville CENTRES Cnr Rongotea & Hammond Street 34 Maata Street Cnr Vogel (SH2) & Tay Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Rds, Sts Palmerston North
REGIONAL Palmerston North Whanganui HOUSES 11-15 Victoria Avenue 181 Guyton Street
DEPOTS Levin Taihape 11 Bruce Road Torere Road Ohotu
POSTAL Horizons Regional Council, Private Bag 11025, Manawatu Mail Centre, Palmerston North 4442 ADDRESS FAX 06 9522 929
Environment Committee 11 December 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Welcome / Karakia 5 2 Apologies and Leave of Absence 5 3 Public Forums / Deputations / Petitions 5 4 Supplementary Items 5 5 Members’ Conflict of Interest 5 6 Confirmation of Minutes Environment Committee meeting, 9 October 2018 7 7 Environmental Education Report No: 18-227 13
8 District Advice Update Report No: 18-228 17 Annex A - Horizons Feedback on Whanganui District Council Intention to Prepare a District Plan Change 55 Miscellaneous 21 9 Biodiversity, Biosecurity & Partnerships Progress Report Report No: 18-229 23 Annex A - Biosecurity Animals progress report 25 Annex B - Biosecurity Plants progress report 42 Annex C - Biodiversity progress report 51 10 Freshwater & Partnerships Progress Report Report No: 18-230 65 Annex A - Freshwater & Partnerships progress report 67 Annex B - Manawatu River Leaders' Accord 2016-21 Action Plan Progress Report 83 11 Science & Innovation Progress Report Report No: 18-231 107 Annex A - Science & Innovation progress report 109 12 Regulatory Management Report - August to September 2018 Report No: 18-232 121 Annex A - Wastewater reporting as at 23 November 2018 129 Annex B - Horowhenua Commercial Vegetable Growers report 135 13 Whanganui Coastal Streams Report No: 18-233 157 14 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Report No: 18-234 173 15 National Wilding Conifer Control Programme Report No: 18-235 183 16 Members’ Questions
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AGENDA
1 Welcome/Karakia
2 Apologies and Leave of Absence At the close of the Agenda no apologies had been received.
3 Public Forums: Are designed to enable members of the public to bring matters, not on that meeting’s agenda, to the attention of the local authority. Deputations: Are designed to enable a person, group or organisation to speak to an item on the agenda of a particular meeting. Requests for Public Forums / Deputations must be made to the meeting secretary by 12 noon on the working day before the meeting. The person applying for a Public Forum or a Deputation must provide a clear explanation for the request which is subsequently approved by the Chairperson. Petitions: Can be presented to the local authority or any of its committees, so long as the subject matter falls within the terms of reference of the council or committee meeting being presented to. Written notice to the Chief Executive is required at least 5 working days before the date of the meeting. Petitions must contain at least 20 signatures and consist of fewer than 150 words (not including signatories). Further information is available by phoning 0508 800 800.
4 Supplementary Items To consider, and if thought fit, to pass a resolution to permit the Committee/Council to consider any further items relating to items following below which do not appear on the Order Paper of this meeting and/or the meeting to be held with the public excluded. Such resolution is required to be made pursuant to Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended), and the Chairperson must advise: (i) The reason why the item was not on the Order Paper, and (ii) The reason why the discussion of this item cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.
5 Members’ Conflict of Interest Members are reminded of their obligation to declare any conflicts of interest they might have in respect of the items on this Agenda.
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Minutes of the eleventh meeting of the tenth triennium of the Environment Committee held at 10.06am on Tuesday 9 October 2018, in the Tararua Room, Horizons Regional Council, 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North.
PRESENT Crs GM McKellar (Chair), JJ Barrow, LR Burnell, DB Cotton (via audiovisual link), EB Gordon JP (ex officio), RJ Keedwell, JM Naylor, NJ Patrick, PW Rieger QSO JP, BE Rollinson (via audiovisual link), and CI Sheldon. IN ATTENDANCE Acting Chief Executive Mr C Grant Committee Secretary Mrs JA Kennedy ALSO PRESENT At various times during the meeting: Dr N Peet (Group Manager Strategy & Regulation), Mr R Strong (Group Manager River Management), Dr J Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships), Mr G Shirley (Group Manager Regional Services & Information), Ms C Morrison (Media & Communications Manager), Ms R Mercer (Senior Environmental Scientist Water), Ms E Daly (Environmental Scientist Ecology), Mr G Bevin (Regulatory Manager), Mr L Brown (Freshwater & Partnerships Manager), Mr S Moore (Environmental Programme Coordinator), Mr R Smillie (Biodiversity & Partnerships Manager), Mr D Robinson (Whanganui/Taranaki Conservation Board), Ms A Irvine (Department of Conservation), Mr R Casey (KC Fert Limited), Cr V Kaye-Simmons (Levin Ward), Mr A Grant, Mr R Hughes (Horowhenua District Council), and a member of the public.
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
APOLOGIES
ENV 18-90 Moved Keedwell/Burnell That the Committee receives an apology from Cr Te Awe Awe. CARRIED
PUBLIC FORUMS / DEPUTATIONS / PETITIONS Mr R Casey, KC Fert Limited had been granted a public forum.
SUPPLEMENTARY ITEMS There were no supplementary items to be considered.
MEMBERS’ CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Cr Patrick noted a potential conflict of interest through her employment with Te Kaahui o Rauru.
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CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ENV 18-91 Moved Keedwell/Burnell That the Committee: confirms the minutes of the Environment Committee meeting held on 15 August 2018 as a correct record, and notes that the recommendations were adopted by the Council on 28 August 2018. CARRIED
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Report No 18-179 This item provided Members with an Environment Education progress report for the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 September 2018. Ms Morrison (Media & Communications Manager) introduced the item on behalf of Mrs Williams (Environmental Educator). She took the report as read and highlighted the Enviroschools Activity Report, commented on Mrs William’s assistance with the Manawatu River Leaders’ Accord website, and announced the upcoming river festival scheduled for November 2018. Ms Morrison highlighted Mrs William’s support for the Palmerston North Girls High School Inaugural Environmental Conference, her assistance at the Manawatu Science and Technology Fair 2018, activities associated with animal pests, exploring the native birds and invertebrates, and an introductory workshop for trainee early childhood education teachers. Cr Keedwell commented favourably on the Palmerston North Girls High School Inaugural Environmental Conference. Mrs Morrison responded to Members questions relating to activities contained in the report. ENV 18-92 Moved Barrow/Patrick That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-179 and Annex. CARRIED
The meeting adjourned at 10.19am. The meeting reconvened at 10.33am.
PUBLIC FORUM Mr Casey, KC Fert Limited, presented data from an irrigated dairy farm, six years into trialling DM growth and pasture quality. He asked for assistance on how to get the information into the farming sector. Mr Casey responded to Members’ questions about his company and the results of the trial. The Chair thanked Mr Casey for his presentation and suggested he contact Dr Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships).
#PLANTINOURREGION CAMPAIGN 2018 Report No 18-180 This item provided Council with an evaluation of the 2018 #plantinourregion campaign. Mrs Morrison (Media & Communications Manager) provided an overview of the results from the campaign which was run over the 2018 winter to raise awareness of the substantial investment Horizons made in riparian and on-farm planting for soil conservation, erosion control and water quality. Mrs Morrison responded to Members’ questions about the volume of competition entries
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and clarification around the performance of social media. A short video clip from the campaign was shown. ENV 18-93 Moved Sheldon/Patrick That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-180 and Annex. CARRIED
BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS PROGRESS REPORT Report No 18-181 This item updated Members on the progress made in the Biosecurity and Biodiversity activity over the period 1 July to 31 August 2018. Dr Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships) introduced the item and elaborated further about the procurement process underway for external possum control and monitoring, the long-term plan target for pest management, maps outlining the areas of new work for possum control and monitoring, and the work undertaken to coordinate Horizons pest plan activity with the Department of Conservation (DOC). Dr Roygard then highlighted activities associated with the Biosecurity and Biodiversity Partnerships activities. Ms Irvine (DOC) commented on activity highlights for the Manawatu Estuary, Pukaha Mt Bruce, Te Apiti Manawatu Gorge Project, and the Northern Ruahine Battle for our Birds aerial operation. Ms Irvine and Dr Roygard responded to Members’ questions about the use of aerial 1080, and the work programmes and collaboration to deliver the biodiversity programme. Mr Smillie (Biodiversity & Partnerships Manager) responded to questions about the monitoring and results around biological control for Old Man’s Beard. Mr Robinson (Whanganui/Taranaki Conservation Board) offered congratulations to Horizons for its support for the various programmes. ENV 18-94 Moved Gordon/Keedwell That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-181 and Annexes. b. endorses Councillor Patrick as the Horizons representative on the Bushy Park Trust Governance Board. CARRIED
HOROWHENUA DISTRICT COUNCIL UPDATE Report No 18-185 Dr Peet (Group Manager Strategy & Regulation) introduced Cr Victoria Kaye-Simmons, (Levin Ward), Mr Andrew Grant, Mr Ryan Hughes (Horowhenua District Council (HDC)). Mr Grant and Mr Hughes spoke to a powerpoint presentation which gave a brief overview addressing the current status of HDC’s water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste. Cr Kaye-Simmons, Mr Grant and Mr Hughes responded to Members’ questions.
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The meeting adjourned at 12.11pm. The meeting reconvened at 12.47pm.
ENV 18-95 Moved Cotton/Burnell That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the presentation from Mr Andrew Grant and Mr Ryan Hughes (Horowhenua District Council). CARRIED
FRESHWATER & PARTNERSHIPS PROGRESS REPORT Report No 18-182 This item introduced the Freshwater & Partnerships Progress report for the period 1 July to 31 August 2018. Dr Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships) introduced the report. Mr Brown (Freshwater & Partnerships Manager) took Members through the highlights and progress for the Regional programme, the Manawatu Catchment, and the Whangaehu Catchment. He commented on the commencement of the ‘Future proofing vegetable production’ programme, and noted that as part of establishing the Terms of Reference for the Lake Waipu Freshwater Improvement Fund project, a Council resolution was sought to appoint a Horizons Councillor to the working party group. He then explained what the role would cover. Mr Brown and Dr Roygard responded to Members’ questions which included the performance measures and assessment against the Regional Freshwater programme and the Whangaehu Freshwater Improvement Fund, explained the efficiencies of using helicopters to undertake water sampling, commented on riparian planting through the Lake Horowhenua Te Mana o Te Wai project, and riparian fencing of target waterways. Dr Roygard commented on the challenges associated with understanding the extent of all stream fencing in the Mowhanau Stream and suggested an item be provided to the next Environment Committee meeting. Dr Peet (Group Manager Strategy & Regulation) provided an update on the process for identifying ‘at risk’ catchments. Recommendation (b) was amended to read ‘Working’ Group rather than ‘Governance’ Group. ENV 18-96 Moved Naylor/Patrick That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-182 and Annex. b. endorses Councillor Gordon as the Horizons representative on the Lake Waipu Freshwater Improvement Fund Working Group. CARRIED
SCIENCE & INNOVATION PROGRESS REPORT Report No 18-183 This item introduced the Science and Innovation Progress report for the period 1 July to 31 August 2018. Dr Peet (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships) highlighted the assessment work around the state and trends of water quality in the Horizons Region. Ms Mercer (Senior Environmental Scientist Water) highlighted key points around the delivery of the summer monitoring programmes, the work completed by the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, DairyNZ and Horizons around the assessment of periphyton drivers, the government
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national target around swimmability, and updates to the Land, Air, Water, Aotearoa (LAWA) water quality and quantity page. Dr Roygard then commented on the joint work being undertaken with Massey University around sediment transport research in the Oroua River. In response to Members’ questions, Dr Roygard gave an update on the Whanganui Climate Change Catchment project, and responded to questions around the LAWA website, and periphyton drivers. Mr Strong (Group Manager River Management) responded to questions about the management of sediment transfer. ENV 18-97 Moved Patrick/Barrow That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-183 and Annex; CARRIED
REGULATORY MANAGEMENT REPORT - AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER 2018 Report No 18-184
This report updated Members on regulatory activity for the period August to September 2018. Dr Peet (Group Manager Strategy & Regulation) commented on the focus around the earthworks programme and sediment control. He gave an update on the Foxton Wastewater Treatment Plant decision and responded to Members’ questions. He then commented on the implications of the National Environmental Standard for Production Forestry (NES-PF) which recently came into effect, and gave a brief summary of completed inspections of the growers in the Horowhenua district. Mr Bevin (Regulatory Manager) noted that the hearing for the Eketahuna Wastewater Treatment Plant would be reconvened on 27 November 2018, provided an update on staffing levels, the Manawatu Gorge project, and other earthwork programmes, and responded to Members’ questions. Further questions around the Regulatory action taken during the reporting period, the process and action taken in response to burning of tyres, and the responsible authority for the environmental effects on roads due to forestry logging were responded to. ENV 18-98 Moved Gordon/Rieger That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-184. CARRIED
MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS There were no further Members’ questions. The meeting closed at 2.10pm.
Confirmed
______CHAIR GROUP MANAGER STRATEGY & REGULATION ______GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
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Item 7 Item Report No. 18-227 Information Only - No Decision Required
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is to provide members of Council’s Environment Committee with an Environmental Education progress report for the period from 1 October 2018 – 31 December 2018. 1.2. For the purpose of this report, both the ‘Educator’ and the ‘Regional Coordinator’ refer to the Horizons Regional Council (Horizons) Environmental Educator. .5FTE of the role is regional coordination of the Enviroschools Programme, with the remaining .5FTE of the role delivering Horizons Environmental Education programmes.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-227 and Annex.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. This is a public item and therefore Council may deem this sufficient to inform the public.
5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 5.1. There is no significant business risk associated with recommendations in this paper.
6. ANNUAL PLAN TARGETS
Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Actual Number of Enviroschools 47 48 48 47 102 Waiora sessions conducted 4 7 11 32 34 Community engagements 13 14 27 31 87
6.1. The measure for Waiora sessions conducted includes only sessions run by Mrs Williams. Sessions conducted using Horizons’ kits without Mrs Williams are not included. 6.2. The measure for community engagements does not include Waiora sessions. This measure tracks all other events and activities that fall within Environmental Education. If a school has multiple classes completing set activities then these are counted as individual; sessions.
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Item 7 Item 7. ENVIROSCHOOLS DATA 8. In addition to the official Enviroschools, there are 35 school/centres on the Friends of Enviroschools list in the Region. The Friends list allows schools/centres to try out the programme to see how it fits within their own context before taking the next step to become an official Enviroschool. We also use this list to determine who will be our next Enviroschools when funding becomes available. 9. ACTIVITY REPORT – WAIORA 9.1. Mrs Williams conducted the following Waiora sessions: four sessions with Parkland School on the Manawatū River at Ruamahunga Park; one session with a Palmerston North church group on the Pohangina River at Totara Reserve. 9.2. Two Waiora studies are also planned for mid-December with Moawhango School. One will be on the Moawhango River at Moawhango and the other on the Rangitīkei River at Mangaweka. These are included in the annual plan targets. 10. ACTIVITY REPORT – ENVIROSCHOOLS 10.1. Mrs Williams attended the three day Enviroschools National Early Childhood Education (ECE) hui in Auckland from 9 – 11 September. 10.2. Mrs Williams was part of the interview panel for selecting a new Enviroschools Facilitator for the Ruahine Kindergarten Association. 10.3. Mrs Williams held an unpacking workshop for Westmere School. 10.4. New Enviroschools: Freyberg High School. 10.5. Mrs Williams was part of the sharing and decision making team for the Bronze holistic reflection at Feilding Kindergarten. It was great to see other early childhood centres and parents attending as part of this process and supporting Feilding Kindergarten on their special day. 10.6. Linking community organisations with Enviroschools is part of the kaupapa of the programme so Mrs Williams met with volunteers from Plant to Plate to learn more about the programme and see how we can work together. Many of our Enviroschools use Plant to Plate’s programmes so connecting with them will help both parties to achieve their goals.
11. ACTIVITY REPORT – OTHER 11.1. Mrs Williams ran some water quality activities for the Rangitāne o Manawatū emerging leaders FUSION camp. Rangitahi who attended the camp planned the activities they wanted to do for the week, with the first day being a hikoi and korero about Turitea Stream. PNCC organised the day which began with a tour of the water treatment plant at Turitea Dam followed by discussions about the Green Corridors project and biodiversity in the area. Paul Horton lead the group through the cultural importance of the stream and the area. 11.2. Enviroscapes is a catchment model which is used to teach types of point and non-point source pollution and its effects on streams and rivers. Although we have had this model for a number of years, Mrs Williams recently refurbished the kit and began using it with schools. Four classes from Parkland School completed the Enviroscapes activity which is an introduction to where pollution can come from and how it can get into our waterways and as a precursor to undertaking a Waiora stream study which they subsequently did a week later. 11.3. Mrs Williams together with Biodiversity Advisor, Ruth Fleeson, ran a native tree identification activity for three classes at Dannevirke South School. The school has extensive grounds and wanted help to connect their students to the biodiversity right on
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their doorstep. This was the third activity that Mrs Williams had done with the school with 7 Item sessions on water quality, invertebrates and birds completed earlier in the year. 11.4. As a following up to last terms discussions with Kumeroa School on water quality and native fish, Mrs Williams met with students twice this term to do some practical activities around these topics. The students from the ‘water testing’ group have borrowed a Waiora kit for the term to do weekly testing on the Awapikopiko Stream which is part of the Manawatū River catchment. Mrs Williams gave the students some training in collecting the data. On another occasion, Mrs Williams assisted Mike Patterson, Senior Scientist, to run a practical native fish activity where the students checked the fish traps set the previous day and saw a demonstration of electrofishing and how we use these methods to monitor our native fish. 11.5. Mrs Williams together with the Science team have judged the Manawatū Science and Technology Fair (MSTF) for a number of years. This year we have expanded our reach to include judging at other science fairs throughout the region. Mrs Williams and Mike Patterson judged at the Dannevirke Regional Science Fair which was held at Dannevirke High School on 25 October. In common with our prizes offered at the MSTF, we offered four students the opportunity to join our Internship Day, together with the six already offered to attend from the MSTF. 11.6. Nine of the ten science fair prize winners attended the Internship Day on Friday 23 November. Mrs Williams together with Erin Bocker, Research Associate (Ecology), organised a day to showcase the science we do and our role in managing freshwater and terrestrial environments. Students went to Totara Reserve and looked at the variety of biotic and abiotic data we collect to measure the state of our rivers. This was led by Research Associates, Ariane Blackwood and Jasmine Robb, who ran activities on native fish, macroinvertebrates and assessing algal cover, including an electrofishing demonstration. While Senior Research Associate, Emma Prouse, showed the students the Smarttroll technology and how we use information on temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen to help us build a picture of our river health. In the afternoon, Dr Elizabeth Daly, Research Associate (Ecology) and Aaron Madden, Biodiversity Coordinator, talked about our role in managing privately owned native bush remnants and wetlands. Students completed some basic native tree identification, looked at pest animal tracks and talked about invasive weeds and their effect on our native bush habitats. 11.7. Mrs Williams attended the Manawatū River Festival and provided an activity for families to look at the macroinvertebrates that live in the river. This was well received. 11.8. Mrs Williams met with the enviro-group at Westmere School to talk about mammal skulls and how they can help us work out what food the animal eats and how they find their food. The students have set rat traps in their school grounds and have been catching quite a few animal pests. 11.9. Mrs Williams will be attending the opening of Enviroschool South Makirikiri School’s fitness track on 7 December. They received a Community Grant to pay for native plantings which are now complete.
12. The following activities were also undertaken in this reporting period however are not counted as community engagements in the table under Section 6. 12.1. Mrs Williams met the new educator at Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery Centre to learn about their education resources and programmes and see how we can add value. 12.2. As part of her ongoing professional development, Mrs Williams attended a native fish training session with members of the Freshwater and Science teams. 12.3. Mrs Williams is a member of the Big 5 Sustainability group and recently presented to Council on helping the organisation to become more sustainable.
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Item 7 Item 12.4. Mrs Williams ran a training course for members of the Freshwater team and a representative of Rangitāne o Tamaki nui a Rua in using the Waiora stream study kits. The attendees were running activities for Huia Range School that Mrs Williams was unable to attend herself due to commitments with another school.
13. SIGNIFICANCE 13.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Parkland School – Waiora, Mawawatū River Kumeroa School – native fish activities
Manawatū River Festival Native Plant Identification – Dannevirke South School
Students at the Internship Day Students at the Internship Day
Sarah Williams Chrissie Morrison ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
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Item 8 Item Report No. 18-228 Information Only - No Decision Required
DISTRICT ADVICE UPDATE
1. PURPOSE 1.1. This report is to inform Members of the District Advice activities carried out over the last financial year and the five month period from 1 July to 30 November 2018.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-228 and Annex.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. The coordination of this function is part of the role of the Coordinator District Advice and is included in the 2018-28 Long Term Plan under the Community Relationships Activity.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. This is a public item. Therefore, Council may deem this sufficient to inform the public.
5. BACKGROUND 5.1. The District Advice Office is responsible for responding to requests for information from the general public and territorial authorities for properties in our Region. 5.2. It provides information to the public to inform on land valuations, insurance matters, prospective purchases and hazard risk for new developments and activities. 5.3. It also provides comments and advice to the Region’s Territorial Authorities (TAs) to assist with their assessments of building consents, land use consents, and subdivision decisions. Comments and advice include any relevant information that Horizons Regional Council (Horizons) may hold on the property, particularly natural hazard information, and information on One Plan policies and rules. 5.4. The Coordinator District Advice (CDA) manages Horizons’ obligations to the Building Act in relation to dams. 5.5. The CDA coordinates Horizons responses to draft and proposed plan changes that are notified by TAs within our Region.
6. INFORMATION REQUESTS 6.1. The total District Advice responses for 2017-18 financial year was confirmed at 979. This compares to a total of 925 responses during the 2016-17 financial year. This shows that the trend for requests for information was a 6% increase in volume on the previous year. 6.2. This report provides the summary of statistics for the first 5 months of this financial year from 1 July to 30 November 2018. 6.3. The District Advice Office responded to a total of 439 requests. 235 of these requests were for the general public and 204 for TAs.
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6.4. The total requests for the same time last financial year (from 1 July to 30 November 2017) was 433. This shows that the trend for requests is slightly higher compared to the same
Item 8 Item time last financial year.
Figure 1
6.5. Figure 1 above illustrates the number of enquiries responded to in the first five months of this financial year (2018-19), by property location. 6.6. The greatest number of enquiries are for properties within the Manawatū District, followed by the Rangitikei, Whanganui, Horowhenua Districts, and Palmerston North City. 6.7. Given the growth developments in the Region, we are expecting to see a continued high number of enquiries in these areas in the next reporting period. Total Inquiry Types Received by Property Location 90 80 70 Flooding 60 Subdivision 50 Building Consent 40 Property Purchase 30 General/Other 20 RMA (TAs) 10 RMA (One Plan) 0 MDC RDC WDC HDC TDC PNCC RuaDC
Figure 2
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6.8. Figure 2 shows the enquiry types that District Advice Office has received by property 8 Item location. 6.9. The main type of enquiry is for flooding (187), and this is consistent across most districts. This is followed by subdivisions (130), building consents (42) and property purchases (40).
7. DAMS - BUILDING CONSENTS 7.1. To date this financial year there has been one general dam enquiry. No dam proposals have been received to assess if a Building Consent is required or not.
8. DISTRICT PLAN AND DISTRICT ENGAGEMENT UPDATE 8.1. The following is a brief update on CDA’s involvement in recent draft and proposed Plan Changes that have been prepared by TAs in our Region.
Horowhenua District Council 8.2. Horowhenua District Council are in the initial stages of preparing a ‘Proposed Plan Change 3 – Urban Growth’ and they sought Horizons feedback. The CDA commented on each of the following areas: proposed re-zone on the urban edge of Levin (for industrial purposes), Foxton Beach (Residential), Foxton (Residential), Ohau (Greenbelt Residential), Manakau (Greenbelt Residential), Waikawa Beach (Greenbelt Residential), and Tokomaru (Residential and Greenbelt Residential. Comments related to natural hazards (flooding, faults, and liquefaction susceptibility) and One Plan considerations including comments about stormwater management. In early 2019 Horizons Manager of Investigations and Design and the CDA will meet with Horowhenua District Council staff to discuss feedback.
8.3. Manawatū District Council 8.4. Horizons Senior Policy Advisor has participated in discussions on the Draft Plan Change 65 - Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes prior to consultation. 8.5. Provided comment on the Draft Plan Change 64: Boarding and Breeding Kennels in regards to flood prone areas. 8.6. Continued discussions with Manawatu District Council on the Draft Plan Change 51 (re- zoning Precinct 4). Horizons Senior Policy Analyst and CDA are meeting MDC staff on 10 December to provide feedback on the Draft Plan Change.
Palmerston North City Council 8.7. Horizons Senior Policy Analyst and Biodiversity team met with Palmerston North City Council staff in regards to habitats of local significance. This was to assist Palmerston North City Council with spatially defining significant habitats in their District Plan. 8.8. As advised in the last report, Horizons supported the notified proposed plan change and variation 22A-G. This included sectional reviews on: subdivisions, transport, and natural hazards. Horizons staff attended the hearing in October in support of the sectional reviews. 8.9. In the process of drafting feedback on the provided map where Palmerston North City Council has identified future growth areas in its Long Term Plan.
Whanganui District Council 8.10. Provided feedback on Whanganui District Council’s notification of intention to prepare a District Plan Change 55 Miscellaneous to rectify errors and duplications. Confirmed Horizons Designations in the Industrial Zone and provided corrected versions of other Horizons Designations in the district. A copy of this letter is attached at Annex A. 8.11. Supported the pre-notification of Whanganui District Council’s Land Stability Stage 4 geotechnical assessment, with intention for a Plan Change. This assessment gives effect
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to the regional policy framework for natural hazards set out in Chapter 9. Previous pre-notification stages were also supported by Horizons.
Item 8 Item 8.12. Provided District Advice comments on Whanganui District Council’s notification of intention to undertake two plan changes; Springvale Structure Plan Change (Plan Change 53) and Kaierau Residential (Plan Change 56).
Remaining Territorial Authorities 8.13. No new notifications received during this reporting period from 1 June to 30 November 2018 for Tararua and Ruapehu District Councils.
9. SIGNIFICANCE 9.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Sarah Carswell Ged Shirley CO-ORDINATOR DISTRICT ADVICE GROUP MANAGER REGIONAL SERVICES & INFORMATION
ANNEXES A Horizons Feedback on Whanganui District Council Intention to Prepare a District Plan Change 55 Miscellaneous
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Item 8 Item
7 September 2018
Hester den Ouden Senior Policy Planner Whanganui District Council File ref: RAI04072018 PO Box 637 2018 Whanganui 4500 SC
Dear Hester
CONSULTATION: WHANGANUI DISTRICT COUNCIL DISTRICT PLAN: CHANGE 55 MISCELLANEOUS
Thank you for your recent correspondence in regards to notifying your intention to prepare a Plan Change to rectify errors and duplications.
Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council (Horizons Regional Council) currently has seven Designations in the Wanganui District Plan as listed in the District Plan Appendix B (reference
D70, D71, D72, D73, D74, D233; and D234). Annex A
As discussed in the email correspondence on 31 August 2018, the Designation Reference D233 (Stopbank in Balgownie Industrial area) has had no physical changes and Horizons Regional Council wishes for this existing Designation to be rolled over.
As previously discussed the Kowhai Park Stopbank Designation has had some physical changes (please refer to the attached shapefile Ref D234). The legal descriptions pertaining to these current Designations remain the same.
Horizons Regional Council has five Designations that are flood control detention dams as part of the Matarawa Flood Control Scheme (reference D70 to D74). There have been no physical changes to these designations, however the attached shapefile Ref D70-74 show the actual detention dam ponding areas more accurately. The legal descriptions pertaining to these current Designations remain the same.
Horizons Regional Council has reviewed the other sections of the District Plan and there are no other suggested changes.
If you have any questions, or require further information, please contact the undersigned of this letter.
Yours sincerely
Sarah Carswell Coordinator District Advice
Encls Attachment 1: Shapefile Ref D234 (Kowhai Park Flood Control) Attachment 2: Shapefile Ref D70-D74 (Matarawa Flood Control Scheme)
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Item 9 Item Report No. 18-229 Information Only - No Decision Required
BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS PROGRESS REPORT
1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is update members of Council’s Environment Committee on the progress made in the Biosecurity and Biodiversity activity over the period 1 September to 31 October 2018.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-229 and Annexes.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. This is a public item and therefore Council may deem this sufficient to inform the public.
5. SUMMARY AND HIGHLIGHTS Biosecurity Animals 5.1. Procurement for the external delivery of possum control and possum monitoring has been advanced with contracts set to be finalised in November and work to start soon after that. 5.2. The internal team have completed 13 possum control areas and have started 12 further areas. Overall they have completed around 30 percent of the programmed 70,671 bait station fills. 5.3. The aerial rook control programme has been completed with an increase in the number of active nests treated this year compared to last year. Biosecurity Plants 5.4. The biosecurity plants programme has completed a large range of work over the reporting period with some highlights including a further management plan from a district council being received and the old man’s beard gallmite being approved for release as a part of the biological control programme. 5.5. This item will be accompanied by presentations on the wilding conifer work and the old man’s beard gallmite approval. Biodiversity 5.6. The Biodiversity Team has focussed on continuing the Rapid Ecological Assessments (REAs) for bush remnants and wetlands and the preparation of site summaries for bush remnants and wetlands that are a part of the priority sites programme.
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5.7. Many of the biodiversity partnership projects have been further advanced during the period and work is underway to contact the recipients of the 14 community grants to ensure the
Item 9 Item projects are on track. 5.8. Work at Totara Reserve is focussed on the clean-up after the flood event earlier in the year in preparation for the camping season opening at labour weekend. The work programme has been further scoped in preparation for the Totara Reserve Advisory Group meeting scheduled for late November.
6. SIGNIFICANCE 6.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Rod Smillie BIODIVERSITY & BIOSECURITY PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES A Biosecurity Animals progress report B Biosecurity Plants progress report C Biodiversity progress report
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BIOSECURITY ANIMALS ACTIVITY 1 Overview 1.1.1 This report is to update Council on progress of the programmes giving effect to the Biosecurity Animals Operational Plan for the period 1 September to 31 October 2018. The report is
Annex A presented in four sections: . Possum Control . Possum Monitoring . Rook Control; and . Amenity Pest Management. 1.1.2 The Long Term Plan targets, and progress against them, is shown in the table below.
Long Term Plan Target Progress Target Progress to date update Pest Animal Management Possum densities are maintained at/below 10% residual Procurement of monitoring trap catch (RTC) in all existing/new possum control <10% underway, some pre- On-track operations. This is to enhance production, biodiversity, monitoring completed disease protection and amenity values. Additional hectares included in the PCO programme 7.3 % of 135,668 184,555 ha 13,552 ha target ha allocated completed
All known rookeries are treated annually to reduce crop Aerial control operation losses and damage. completed On-track One ground-based operation complete Provide an urban/peri-urban animal pest management service to assist urban ratepayers with specialist advice 281 enquires, 100% met within 100% On-track and equipment; animal pest control assistance/ timeframe. enquiries responded to within two working days.
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1.1.3 Activity during the reporting period includes having the Operational Plan signed off, starting possum control including completing control in three Possum Control Operations (PCOs), initiating the procurement for the externally-delivered possum control, possum monitoring and rook control. The amenity pest programme received 164 enquiries and all replied to within the Long Term Plan target timeframe of two working days. 2 Possums 1.2 Activity Overview 1.2.1 This year 95 PCO areas will receive control, including the 16 new ex-Ospri PCO areas added to the
programme this year (Map 1). Seventy-nine of the 120 maintenance PCO areas that were part of the programme last year will receive ongoing maintenance work. Forty-one of the 120 maintenance operations will be ‘deferred’ from control i.e., no control work will be undertaken this year. Total possum control activities in 2018-19 will cover 1,292,519 hectares, an increase of Annex A 184,555 hectares on the programme size last year. Progress against the Long Term Plan targets is presented in the section above.
1.2.2 Horizons’ Regional Response Team (RRT) and external service providers will undertake the operational work (Map 2). In summary, the split of work is: . Internal team delivery of 62 PCO areas, 59 maintenance PCO areas and three new ex-OSPRI PCO areas. . External contractors will deliver 33 PCO areas, 20 maintenance PCO areas and 13 new ex- OSPRI PCO areas. 1.3 Year to date progress Table 1 Progress reporting for the Possum Control Programme against Operational Plan targets for 2018-19. Operational Plan Measure Progress to Date This Period % Completed Target Regional Response Team PCOs completed 1 13 10 61 21% New hectares completed2 13,552 4,482 46,612 29% External Contractors PCOs completed - 0 33 0% New hectares completed - 0 137,943 0% Combined PCO PCOs completed 13 10 95 13.7% New hectares completed - 13,552 184,555 7.3%
1 Maintenance PCOs 2 Ex-Ospri PCOs
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1.4 Activity Highlights The Regional Response Team 1.4.1 Current status (Map 3) of PCOs being worked by the Regional Response Team (Horizons internal staff team): . 13 PCOs have been completed; . 12 PCOs have been started; and . Further 20,861 bait stations have been filled of the 70,671 programmed (30%). 1.4.2 The RRT is tracking well through the scheduled work programme and on track to complete all PCOs within prescribed time frames.
1.4.3 The new team based out of the Taihape depot have been able to hit the ground running and are
working well with 4,133 stations completed so far.
1.4.4 The RRT is two operators below full capacity:
. One of our long-serving Field Officers based in Levin has resigned and finished in mid-
Annex A October. An assessment of the location for the replacement position to operate from has been completed and recruitment is underway for a position based in Taihape. . One RRT member is on ACC leave due to an accident which damaged his knee. 1.4.5 Training for RRT members:
. All members of the RRT will attend professional developement training over several months. That includes training in Microsoft Office programmes. . Four members of the RRT have attended a training day on wax tag monitoring. This will provide internal capacity to monitor external contractor operations. 1.4.6 The PCO data management project is still in progress.
External
1.4.7 Procurement for the 13 new and 20 maintenance PCOs that are to be controlled by external contracts is nearing completion. To recap the process to date: in late August 2018 the registration of interest (ROI) document was loaded into TenderLink seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified animal pest companies to undertake the possum control contracts. The ROI closed on 10 September with 10 companies registering their interest. Following a review of the ROI submissions, eight companies were selected to proceed through to the request for proposal (RFP) stage. The RFP document was loaded into TenderLink on 11 September and six companies submitted their proposals by the RFP closing date. These proposals were evaluated on 1-2 October with three companies selected for the maintenance contracts and four for the new work. A report on the procurement of external possum control contracts was submitted to a Council meeting on 30 October and the recommendations in the report were approved. Table 2 provides a list of the PCOs with the successful contractors.
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1.4.8 Contract documents are being drafted and are to be signed in November with control work to commence shortly after.
Table 2 Results from the 2018-19 possum control procurement process for maintenance PCOs. Maintenance PCO’s PCO Name Hectares District Successful Contractor Apiti 11,921 Manawatū Xpests Ltd Eketahuna South 11,965 Tararua Xpests Ltd Matahiwi 13,222 Ruapehu Xpests Ltd Morikau 9,467 Ruapehu Xpests Ltd Norsewood 7,435 Tararua M&M Contractors Ltd Pohonui 12,892 Rangitikei M&M Contractors Ltd Raetihi Buffer Stage 2 15,631 Ruapehu Xpests Ltd Tararua Ground 7,367 Tararua Xpests Ltd Tatu Heao 9,681 Ruapehu Ecofx Ltd Turakina Valley 16,508 Rangitikei M&M Contractors Ltd
Annex A Umutoi 12,109 Manawatū M&M Contractors Ltd Waihi Valley 7,962 Tararua Xpests Ltd Waikaka 11,007 Ruapehu Ecofx Ltd Waikaka South 15,738 Ruapehu Ecofx Ltd Waitaanga 3,232 Ruapehu Ecofx Ltd Weber 14,459 Tararua Xpests Ltd West Raetihi 4,417 Ruapehu Ecofx Ltd Whakarongo 11,052 Palmerston North M&M Contractors Ltd Whangamomona 26,949 Stratford Ecofx Ltd Total Maintenance Hectares 223,014
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Table 3 Results for the 2018-19 possum control procurement process for new PCOs (ex OSPRI) New PCO’s (ex OSPRI) PCO Name Hectares District Successful Contractor Hikumutu 15,939 Ruapehu Ecofx Ltd Kaitieke 13,067 Ruapehu Ecofx Ltd Kirikau 9,861 Ruapehu Ecofx Ltd Makino North 5,093 Ruapehu Xpests Ltd Mangaohane 7,602 Rangitikei Xpests Ltd Niho Niho 16,437 Ruapehu Ecofx Ltd North Whangaehu 8,092 Rangitikei M&M Contractors Ltd Papaiti Sage 2 8,996 Whanganui KB Environmental Services Ltd
Raetihi Buffer Stage 1 5,940 Ruapehu Xpests Ltd Rangiwae 7,800 Rangitikei M&M Contractors Ltd Taumarunui Rollback 15,930 Ruapehu Ecofx Ltd Te Hape 8,872 Ruapehu Ecofx Ltd
Waimiha 14,314 Ruapehu Ecofx Ltd Annex A Total New Work Hectares 137,943
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Annex A
Map 1 Possum Control Operation 2018-19.
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Annex A
Map 2 Possum Control Operation 2018-19 RRT vs External Contractors.
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Annex A
Map 3 Status of current RRT Possum Control Operations as at 31 October 2018.
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2 Possum Monitoring 2.1 Activity Overview 2.1.1 In 2018-19 all monitoring work will be targeted to the possum control operations, with no monitoring of rabbits planned. Consistent with the upgraded possum monitoring programme, this year 31 of the existing 120 maintenance PCOs will be monitored, including nine which are being ‘deferred’ from control this year i.e., no operational work will be undertaken in these areas (Map 4). The balance of the maintenance operations (22) will be monitored after this year’s control work has been completed (Map 4). We will also be undertaking pre-control and post- control monitors in five of the new ex-OSPRI operations to assess the effectiveness of control work (Map 4).
2.1.2 In total 36 PCOs will be monitored, 31 by external contractors. The Regional Response Team are scheduled to complete monitors in five of the maintenance operations. Note: the RRT will only monitor work completed by external contractors.
2.1.3 In all of the monitored PCOs, 25 wax tag lines will be set up, providing there is enough possum Annex A habitat to do so, with the line position being randomly selected in areas of possum habitat. Each line will have 10 wax tags out in the field for seven nights.
2.1.4 This monitoring contributes to reporting against the Long Term Plan Target for possum densities in the possum control programme to be less than 10% Residual Trap Catch (as shown in previous sections). Reporting against that target will not be able to start until some of the monitoring is complete. Reporting against the Operational Plan targets is shown in Table 3 below. 1.3 Year to date progress Table 4 Progress reporting for the PCO monitoring programme in the 2018 -19 year. Reporting Period YTD Measure 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Averag Target % e Number of Maintenance PCO monitors 0 31 0% completed 0 0 Possum densities Maintenance PCOs Residual <10% RTC Trap Catch (RTC) result 0 0 Number of Pre/Post PCO monitors completed 0 3 0 10 30% Possum densities: Pre/Post control PCOs Residual Trap Catch (RTC) 0 3.4% 0 <10% RTC result
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2.2 Activity Highlights 2.2.1 Three of the five pre-control monitors that are scheduled to be undertaken this year have been completed. Work is scheduled to commence in the two remaining pre-control monitors in the near future.
Table 4 Progress report for the PCO pre-control monitoring programme in the 2018 -19 year. PCO RTC Result Kirikau 2.3% Mangakahu 0.1% Niho Niho 7.9%
2.2.2 The procurement process for the balance of the possum monitoring work is also nearing completion. As with the possum control work, the term of the monitoring contract(s) will be
Annex A three years rather than for one year, which has been the case in past years. Over the next three years a total of 101 PCO wax tag possum monitors are planned with the total number of individual lines estimated to be 2,505.
2.2.3 The outcome of the procurement process is that only one contractor, Darrin Spillane Ltd, advanced to the supplier panel. Council approved the decision to award the work to that company at its meeting on 30 October.
2.2.4 It was anticipated that the contract documentation would be signed by mid-November and that the first of the monitors would commence shortly thereafter.
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Annex A
Map 4. Possum Control Operation Monitoring plan for 2018 -2019.
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3 Rooks 3.1 Activity Overview 3.1.1 This report summarises the operational and management work involved in the 2018-19 regional rook programme. A more detailed overview of the programme is provided in the Biosecurity Animals Operational Plan 2018-19.
3.1.2 The Long Term Plan target for rook control is to treat all known rookeries annually to reduce crop losses and damage. Reporting against this target and operational plan targets is shown in Table 5. 3.2 Year-to-date progress
Table 5 Progress reporting for the rook programme in the 2018 -19 year. Measure To Date Reporting Period Total Operational Completed % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Plan Target Existing rook colonies 72 0 72 Record 100 (rookeries) (a)
Annex A New rookeries (b) 0 0 6 Record 100 Total rook colonies 0 0 78 Record 100 (rookeries) (a + b) All known rookeries are treated annually to 0 0 78 100% 100 reduce crop losses and damage Ground poisoning Control 0 0 1 100 operations attempted Report ground control efficacy (% estimated 0 0 0 Record 0 kill) Breeding rookery database updated by 0 0 yes Record 0 January 2019
3.3 Activity Highlights 3.3.1 A supplier was selected and contracted to deliver aerial rook control in September and October 2018.
3.3.2 An advertising campaign was conducted throughout the Region in an effort to identify new rookeries.
3.3.3 The aerial control portion of the rook programme was delivered in October (Map 5).
. 678 nests were treated with 152 found to be active in that they contained eggs or chicks. . A single large rookery at Otupae has impacted significantly on the programme’s statistics with 31 active nests treated at the site.
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3.3.4 One rookery within the Whanganui City boundary (Map 6) was treated using an arborist.
. Three nests were treated with one found to be active. 3.3.5 Aerial rook programme trends.
AERIAL ROOK CONTROL ACTIVE NESTS TREATED REGION 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 Taumaranui 0 0 0 0 Tararua 127 117 100 98 Manawatū 33 4 3 8 Taihape 28 20 32 46 TOTAL 188 141 135 152
Annex A
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Annex A
Map 5. Aerial-based rook control for 2018-19.
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Annex A
Map 6. Ground-based rook control with an arborist for 2018 -19.
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4 Amenity Pests 4.1 Activity Overview 4.1.1 Horizons receive a large number of enquiries from landowners across the Region relating to pest animal issues. Most enquiries relate to ‘nuisance’ animals including possums, mustelids and rabbits etc in ‘amenity’-type situations, e.g., around lifestyle blocks, gardens etc. In these situations, Horizons’ animal pest management staff provide advice on control techniques and supply loan traps, and in some cases toxins, to affected landowners.
4.1.2 We also receive complaints about pests, mainly rabbits, spreading from neighbours’ properties and causing problems. In these situations, ground inspections and discussions with affected
landowners are required and if the problem is unable to be resolved enforcement options can be used.
4.1.3 The Long Term Plan target is for Horizons to provide a urban/peri-urban animal pest management service to assist urban ratepayers with specialist advice and equipment, and that Annex A 100% of animal pest control assistance/ enquiries are responded to within two working days. 4.2 Year-to-date progress Table 6 Progress reporting for the amenity pest managment programme in the 2018 -19 year. Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Actual Number of enquiries 117 164 281 received Percentage responded to within two working 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% days
4.3 Activity Highlights 4.3.1 A total of 164 enquiries were received during the reporting period. Figures 1 and 2 provide further information on the type of pest the enquiry related to as well as the spread of the enquiries across the districts of the Region. Possums and rabbits were the predominate pest type prompting enquiries during the reporting period and the largest number of enquiries was in the Palmerston North and Whanganui areas.
4.3.2 All landowners making enquiries were contacted and/or visited within the prescribed timeframes and provided with advice, equipment such as traps, or small amounts of toxins to help them deal with their pest issues.
4.3.3 The ‘All other’ section comprised enquiries relating to rodents (3), pigeons (1), peafowl (1), ants (1), wasps (1), plague skinks (1) and general enquiries (2).
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60
50
40
30 This Year Last Year 20
10
0 Possums Mustelid Magpie Rabbit Rook Cat All Other
Figure 1 Pest Animal Enquiry Summary – by Pest Type.
35 30
Annex A 25 20 15 10 5 0
Figure 2 Pest Animal Enquiry Summary by District - 1 September 18 to 31 October 18.
Jason Hart REGIONAL RESPONSE TEAM COORDINATOR (ANIMALS)
Eric Dodd ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR (ANIMALS)
Rod Smillie BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY, AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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BIOSECURITY ACTIVITY - PLANTS 1 Biosecurity Plants 1.1 Overview
Annex B This report is to update Council on the progress of programmes giving effect to the Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) and other works, according to the 2018-19 Pest Plant Operational Plan approved by Council during the reporting period 1 July to 31 August 2018.
During this period staff were fully occupied with control programme implementation. We were operational against the spring flowering species and continued work against pest conifers. We have liaised with district and city councils (Territorial Local Authorities, TLAs) regarding Management Plans and facilitated the annual Project Yellow meeting which coordinates invasive legume control work along most of the Desert Road. We began field work within the biocontrol portfolio, including sampling old man’s beard as well as successfully presenting to the Environmental Protection Agency for use of the old man’s beard gall mite.
Table 1 Long-term Plan performance measures (2018) PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR LEVELS OF SERVICE 2018-19 Number of managed sites at zero-levels increases for Overall % of managed sites at zero-levels increases by pest plants identified for eradication in the Regional Pest 10% Management Plan. Number of managed sites at zero-levels increases for Overall % of managed sites at zero-levels increases by pest plants identified as progressive containment - 10% mapped in the Regional Pest Management Plan. Financially support the national bio-control agent development programme and report annually to Council Financial support provided and annual report to Council on this programme. Monitoring of some released biological agents will be completed to assess establishment and host damage, 20 assessment plots will be monitored using the national protocol. Pest plant enquiries received are responded to within 95% of enquiries will be responded to within three three working days. working days
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2 Progress Report Pest plant management is mandated under the Biosecurity Act (1993) and Horizons has chosen to undertake management via a Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) as well as activities detailed in an annual Operational Plan. These activities focus on transformative pest plants which, if left uncontrolled or unmanaged, would reduce the value of the Region’s biodiversity and productive capacity by either increasing the costs of traditional production or preventing it entirely. This report overviews the work undertaken according to the Operational Plan structure, which features the RPMP programmes first followed by the other programmes.
2.2 Exclusion Pest Plants Activity Overview For those pests that are in New Zealand but not in our Region, our goal is to prevent
Annex B establishment via the Exclusion programme. Our aim is to detect these pests before they become widely established in the Region and facilitate a quick response through appropriate funding that will enable the control or management of these species on rateable land.
No work was conducted in this programme during September and October.
2.3 Eradication Pest Plants Activity Overview High-risk species that we believe should be totally removed from the Region are managed via the Eradication programme.
Species worked against this period: Alligator weed (emergence check), blue passion flower, cathedral bells, Chilean rhubarb, knotweed, Senegal tea and woolly nightshade.
The Taumarunui alligator weed site was inspected with no emergence into the fallow paddock noticed. Inspections will continue and spraying will be used if a large amount of regrowth is found; digging will be undertaken if plants have been reduced to the expected isolated patches.
Five historic sites of African feather grass in the Horowhenua were treated, highlighting the successful management of these sites and the long-term effort needed to maintain good control. These sites have been contained and reduced over 20 years; early efforts needed 600-800 litres of spray mix where now only need 10-20 litres are required.
Cathedral bells and blue passion flower, both of which are pretty when flowering and were once sought-after garden plants, were targeted. Cathedral bells require attention twice a year as they have prolific seed potential throughout the growing season. Blue passion flower is new to the
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Eradication designation and we have increased the number of sites this year from 21 to 41, following intensive urban surveillance in Whanganui last year. Blue passion flower is difficult to eliminate from a site so these sites will require maintenance for many years.
Chilean rhubarb was targeted as the foliage is more susceptible to herbicide prior to Christmas. Many control sites are aerial or abseil accessible only. (Figure 2)
Annex B
Photo 1 Chilean rhubarb beginning to dominate a Pohangina slope. (J.Keast)
2.4 Progressive Containment – mapped Pest Plants Activity Overview Where population levels or difficulty and expense of control prevent achievement of a Region- wide zero-density objective, high-threat pest plant species will be managed under a Progressive Containment objective. For each species managed this way, an active management zone is defined within which the pest plant species will be controlled wherever it is found, as per the Eradication designation.
Species worked against: Banana passionfruit, boneseed, Darwin’s barberry and Pinus contorta.
Our pest conifer programme is in full swing and this includes work against new species added to the RPMP across the Active Management Zone (AMZ) as well as within the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme, where we are supported by government money to eradicate pest conifers from the Kaimanawa Management Unit.
Owhaoko A and Owhaoko B & D are two Operational areas within the National programme near the Rangitikei River headwaters and were surveyed and treated on 20 September 2018. These blocks have been part of the pest conifer programme for a number of years and are showing very good results. We found 130 trees with four coning trees, 71 juveniles and only 55 seedlings.
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Two staff attended the New Zealand Wilding Conifer Groups (NZWCG) annual conference in Omarama at the end of October. The NZWCG represents the wilding conifer control sector and its two-day conference is the sector hub of information exchange and updates. With more 95 attending, including the Minister for Primary Industries, it was one of the biggest conferences to date. Craig Davey presented on the North Island’s current wilding/pest conifer work with a particular emphasis on the Central North Island Conifer Groups biannual meeting. He also reported on work undertaken by Horizons and the National Programmes in the North. Malinda Matthewson presented on the work Horizons has completed in conjunction with Ohinewairua Station since the early 2000s. She also outlined the knowledge we have gained from various approaches to pest conifer management. Malinda has kept accurate infestation records since the start and the benefit of good data collection impressed the attendees as it is one of the longest
running data series of control operations, recording the age class and recently size, of trees found. This enabled Malinda to show the investment in clearing trees is working, the infestation is diminished and through tracking the type of trees we can plan return periods and be alerted to quality control issues.
Annex B
Photo 2 Queenstown District Council Douglas fir forest filling up surrounding landscape above Millbrook, with Arrowtown to the left. (C.Davey)
The extent of the issues in the South Island it is quite sobering as many areas are vulnerable and being invaded at a rate faster than control can take place. One of the most aggressive wilding species in the south is Douglas fir and there were many examples of large areas taken over by this species, even including wilding forests of other species as Douglas fir is shade tolerant. It is more vulnerable in drier climates but there are a number of risky blocks within our Region. The right tree in the right place is something that Horizons staff need to embrace when advising land owners on forestry plantations.
We are fortunate for the legacy created by our predecessors in the earlier catchment boards and district noxious plant authorities of the Central Plateau that nominated Pinus contorta to become a noxious plant, as well as forming the Pinus contorta Coordinating Committee in 1983 to drive change.
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The Central North Island experience is a lesson to the South that you can restore landscapes if you tackle the source, if you coordinate agencies across a landscape, and if funds are committed over a long period.
Staff learnt of the latest science around detection using hyperspectral imagery and control options from best practice ground-applied chemicals to drone options. We will be interested to see these developments become available as finding, then killing, trees the best and cheapest way possible is our goal.
2.5 Progressive Containment – un-mapped Production Pest Plants Activity Overview
Production pests are managed using a mix of a clear land rule and a good neighbour rule. These species are widespread but parts of the Region are clear of them and it is desirable to keep those areas clear.
Species we dealt with during this reporting period were blackberry, field horsetail, gorse, and
Annex B tutsan.
We have had a number of complaints across the Region regarding neighbours’ weeds and district and state highway road networks. Field horsetail is very lush at this time of year and is a common reason for complaints. It is new to the RPMP and has rules requiring control so we anticipate more enquires requesting support.
Table 2 Good neighbour rule activity Description Report period numbers Boundary complaints received and actioned outside of 6 compliance RTCs (Required to Clear) issued 0 NODs (Notice of Direction) issued 1 Resolved in this period 3
Horizons facilitated the annual meeting of Project Yellow (formerly known as the Desert Road Invasive Legume Control Group) in Ohakune. It was decided to continue the control-orientated spend again this year and programme the relatively expensive monitoring mapping exercise for another year. The most current monitoring mapping for broom was produced in 2016 and shows a big reduction in broom infestation size and extent. Images taken by the NZ Transport Agency’s annual New Zealand-wide road imaging exercise shows large reductions in the target species since 2012 at control points along the Desert Road.
Staff received the second Management Plan from a district council. We now have received two plans from Whanganui and Tararua, which have been approved against the requirements of the RPMP, which describes the level of service for management of the pest where they must be managed to reduce spread.
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The Regional Pest Management Plan requirement to report by the end of July 2019 is helped with a plan to reference. Management Plans recognize occupier/agencies responsibilities and put forth a proactive and pragmatic approach to managing the expanded number of species now required. The remaining agencies yet to submit Management plans will be contacted before the end of the calendar year to discuss progress towards forming plans. If agencies choose not to submit, staff will look to issue Notices of Direction where there are clear breaches of the Plan.
A staff member was driving through the Pohangina Valley and saw a digger restoring the water table. They noticed there was field horsetail in the drain, so followed up on what depth was being removed, what if any field horsetail was associated, and where was this being taken. It turned out it was getting spread in a farmer’s paddock up the valley, so the staff member rang the land owner and discussed options including ceasing and desisting the operation. The site is near a
previous site of horsetail and the local council will undertake a spraying programme in the area where the spoil was dumped.
The table below shows the progress of engagement with the local councils and the Crown.
Annex B Table 3 Progress towards AMP or other liaison Measure Reporting Period YTD Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Actual MOU/Liaison progress 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 11 27%
2.6 Response Activity Overview The Response programme aims to provide immediate and effective assistance for all national or regional biosecurity incursions and any transitions to long-term management.
Two Whanganui land owners with velvetleaf infection zones on their farms were given information and advice around crop management options as they wanted to grow maize in the paddocks that are likely to contain velvetleaf seeds. Both are growing maize for grain, one to be removed in late March, the other in June, and both are to use the best recommended herbicides as well as prepare for mid-season rogueing to remove any plants. Machinery hygiene, harvest planning and infestation assessment were discussed to ensure there is zero spread risk. Both paddocks either had none or three plants discovered last year, so cultivating and spraying will help to strike and reduce any seedbank remaining. This will be combined with agreed roguing, which involves removing plants with undesirable characteristics from agricultural fields, and Horizons’ use of the detector dog in late November. We are comfortable that these measures will allow the paddocks can be used for maize grain.
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2.7 Investigation and Surveillance Activity Overview Our Investigation and Surveillance programme aims to prevent the propagation, sale and distribution of legislated plants, determine the current extent in our Region of potential plants, investigate management options and prevent further establishment of notifiable plants by working with other pest management agencies.
Phragmites karka is the subject of spray trials, with six sites on the banks of the Rangitikei River and one on the Whangaehu. We are trialling seven different herbicides and two control techniques and hope to learn if there is a control solution suitable for these environments.
2.8 Biological Control Activity Overview
Annex B Many entrenched pest plants in the Region are now the target of our Biological control programme, which aims to assist the development of insects and diseases to control a wide range of pest plants and to release, distribute and monitor those within the Region.
To help enable us to best match any further biological control agent searches to where old man’s beard originates, in the northern hemisphere, staff collected shoot samples of old man’s beard from across the Region to be used for DNA analysis by Landcare Research. This is part of a national collection project funded by Horizons to build up the genetic picture of the New Zealand infestation. In tandem with this is overseas collections being provided by Landcare Research staff and collaborating science providers in the northern hemisphere.
Staff inspected one of the 2017 privet lace bug release sites in Horowhenua but no sign of chewing or leaf damage was noted and we will inspect the sites again through the season. We have two release sites established in 2017 and have two more planned for this season, likely to be in the Ruapehu and Whanganui districts.
2.9 Awareness and Promotion Activity Overview Alerting the community to the issues, threats and solutions of weed management is the aim of our Awareness programme.
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The pest plant team received 30 enquires with the main topics being: . Production Blackberry, gorse and field horsetail . Zero-Density Old man’s beard . Non-Strategy Arum lily Frontlines September - October 2018 18 17 16 14 12 10 9
8 6 4 4 2 Annex B 0 0 0 Production Zero-Density Freshwater Surveillance Non-Strategy
Graph 1 Pest plant enquiries summary - reporting period.
Staff were able to respond to 93% (cf., 95% target) of all enquires logged in the Frontlines database within the expected timeframe. Two took five days to receive responses, rather than three, due to a staff member being on leave. We endeavour to address all enquires as soon as practicable, though staff leave and the work programme dictating staff availability.
The Taihape staff member spoke to the Taihape Garden club on 6 September and the talk was well received.
New freshwater pest signs for Lake Otamangakau have been erected as a joint venture with the Department of Conservation and Genesis.
Photo 3 Brenda Lawson from DOC putting the last finishing touches to the Stop the Spread sign at Te Whaio Dam, Lake Otamangakau in the Ruapehu district, with an Auckland canoe training team in the background. (R.Bashford)
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3 Activity Summary Project Key Deliverables YTD Progress Wilding Conifer - Work with partners and other Central North stakeholders re: Island Regional 1. Planning for management Ministry of Primary Industries - Horizons contract signed, Steering Group unit activity and reporting partners’ variations signed. Work beginning on the ground. (RSG) – Fund holder 2. Bi-annual meetings and Chair scheduled Waimarino- Coordinated control across Tongariro National public and private land to Park Darwin’s Programme nearly completed. increase the protection of barberry control previously cleared areas. programme Support group activity with Rangitikei Horsetail population releases and Sites are being selected for a small number of releases. Group monitoring. No activity undertaken on the ground. Landcare Research Support group activity with technician returned from the last Sustainable Farming Tutsan Action Annex B population releases and Fund (SFF) funded trip to Georgia seeking more leaf Group monitoring. beetles and seed-fly breeding stock to replenish the nursery at Lincoln. . Relationship between parties maintained. . Memorandum of Desert Road Successful meeting delivered three agencies using one Understanding maintained Invasive Legume contractor to undertake landscape-wide removal of target and out-worked Control Group species with pro-rata payments. . Coordinated action in priority areas is undertaken against the target species Representing Horizons at Freshwater Pest national forum to champion Partnership behaviour change and Programme and freshwater pest protection. Advocacy work started on 1 October at Lake Otamangakau Check, Clean, Dry Attendance at high-risk events and continues. (CCD) advocacy and strong advocacy with the programme. main users of waterways in our headwater areas.
Craig Davey ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – PLANTS
Rod Smillie BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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BIODIVERSITY ACTIVITY 1. Overview 1.1.1 The purpose of this report is to update Council on the progress of programmes giving effect to the 2018-19 Biodiversity Operational Plan during the period 1 September-31 October 2018. The report
Annex C is presented in four sections: . Priority site protection . Biodiversity partnerships . Tōtara Reserve Regional Park management; and . Collaboration projects with the Department of Conservation 1.1.2 Activity during the reporting period was dominated by the stocktake of priority sites and additional reporting to inform future involvement/management of these sites. Activity also included work on many of the 34 biodiversity partnership projects. Other work included the continued clean-up at Tōtara Reserve Regional Park since the June 2018 flood. A summary of the Long Term Plan targets and progress to date is provided in the Table below.
% of target Long Term Plan Target Target Allocated Completed completed Protect/enhance priority habitat remnants Additional top 100 wetlands actively managed 4 4 0 0% Additional top 200 bush remnants actively managed 7 4 1 14% Support community involvement in biodiversity protection Support existing community-based biodiversity 12 34 1 3% improvement projects*4 Tōtara Reserve Regional park Annual report on the management of Tōtara Reserve Regional Park for biodiversity and recreational values, 1 1 0 0% including managing the camping facility.
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2 Priority Sites Programme 2.1 Activity Overview This programme was initiated to deliver on a One Plan method to have 100 of the Region’s priority wetlands and 200 of its best bush remnants under active management by 2028-29. At the end of the 2017-18 year, the programme reported 65 priority wetlands and 131 priority bush remnants to be under active management. The priority sites programme underwent a review in 2017-18 and the Operational Plan has introduced some changes to the way sites are assessed and managed; much of this reporting period has been dedicated to work to implement that system. The Long Term Plan targets and year-to- date progress on these are provided in the table below.
Table 1 Progress reporting for the priority sites programme Long Term Plan targets for 2018 -19. % of target Long Term Plan Target Target Allocated Completed completed Protect/enhance priority habitat remnants Additional top 100 wetlands actively managed 4 4 0 0%
Annex C Additional top 200 bush remnants actively managed 7 1 1 14%
2.2 Activity Highlights General
2.2.1 The aim during 2018-19 is to complete 70 Rapid Ecological Assessments (REAs) on sites that have previously undergone management by Horizons, and the sites that are new to the programme and have not had an REA undertaken. During September and October the Biodiversity Team completed 36 REAs as part of the Biodiversity stocktake. REAs and site summaries will be prepared for each site for which Horizons has provided some management input, through the bush remnants and wetlands programme. The REA visits are planned to gather data that will inform the prioritisation of sites for future management.
2.2.2 Biodiversity staff have spent time contributing to the new Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord website and the Biodiversity Hotspot segments for Horizons’ social media campaign.
High priority wetlands
2.2.3 Four new high priority wetland sites are scheduled to be added to the managed list. One of these, McDowall’s Wetland, is now fenced, planted, and requires an updated REA to confirm that it is eligible for inclusion on the list. This site and the other three wetlands will be reported on as they enter the managed list.
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2.2.4 The Biodiversity Team completed 19 wetland site summaries in this period, with eight at management level 2 and 11 at management level 3+. Please refer to the Operational Plan for details on management levels.
2.2.5 Three wetland sites were visited for REAs and/or audits. During site audits, staff check for evidence and impact of stock or pest animals, new pest plant infestations, fence integrity and any other damage.
Assessment/ Wetland Site Priority Pest Plants Treated Audit Monitoring Bailey’s Wetland A - Yes REA McDowall’s Wetland C - Yes - Tannock’s Lagoon (Horo53W) C - Yes REA
High priority bush remnants
2.2.6 Seven new high priority bush remnant sites are scheduled to be added to the managed list this Annex C year with the first added during the previous period.
2.2.7 The Biodiversity Team completed 63 bush remnant site summaries of which 21 were at management level 2 and 42 were at management level 3+.
2.2.8 Thirty-six high priority bush sites were visited for pest plant control, audits or REAs. During a site audit, staff check for evidence and impact of stock or pest animals, new pest plant infestations, fence integrity and any other damage.
Photo 1 One of the greenhood orchid species (Pterostylis australis) flowering during the REA visit at Dougherty Bush. This site has a covenant registered with the QEII National Trust.
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Aud Assessment/ Bush Remnant Site Priority Pest Plants Treated it Monitoring Bob Wakelin Bush (Man76) B - Yes REA Norwood Bush (Rang163) A - Yes REA Laird’s Bush (Rang129) B - Yes REA Sutherland’s Mangahoe (Rang117) B - Yes REA Sutherland’s Puriri (Rang116) A - Yes REA Te One Bush (Rang181) B - Yes REA Monckton’s Bush (Rang162) B - Yes REA Priest’s Bush (Man125) B - Yes REA Highden Estate Bush (Man206) B - Yes REA Midland Road Bush (Man189) B - Yes REA Pakipaki Dune Forest (Horo85) B - Yes REA
Fullerton-Smith’s Back Bush (Rang146) B - Yes REA Fullerton-Smith’s Bush (Rang147) B - Yes REA Bird Grove Bush (Rang118) B - Yes REA Concretion Terrace (Man53) B - Yes REA Reu Reu Forest (Man221) B - Yes REA
Annex C Manawatū Gorge (Palm05) A - - REA Tōtara Reserve (ManX1) A Cherry plum, ivy - REA Wheeler’s Bush (Rua24) B - Yes REA Graham’s Bush (Rua23) B - Yes REA Oio No.1 Rd Forest (Rua11A) B - - REA Oio No.1 Rd Forest Extension (Rua11A) B - - REA Kelly’s Bush (Rua36) B - - REA Fife Forest (Rua02) A - Yes REA Ohorea Homestead Bush (Rua54) B - - REA Ohorea River Bush (Rua53) B - - REA Winstone’s House Bush (Rua61) B - - REA Field’s Track Roadside Bush (Whan37) B - - REA Whangaehu Fragments (Whan33) B - - REA Bristol’s Roadside Bush (Rua27a) B - - REA Bristol’s Beehives Bush (Rua27b) B - - REA Bristol’s River Bush (Rua27c) B - - REA Kelly Bush Pending - - REA Dougherty Bush (QEII covenant) Pending - - REA Darwin’s barberry Davis Bush (Tara19) B - - (in buffer zone) Banana passionfruit Mangaone Stream Bush (Tara17) A - - (in buffer zone)
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3 Biodiversity Partnerships 3.1 Activity Overview 3.1.1 The Biodiversity Partnerships activity encompasses work completed in collaboration with others to deliver biodiversity and recreational benefits to the Region via projects such as the Manawatū Gorge and Pukaha Mount Bruce, and projects to support community-led initiatives such as the Rangitīkei Environment Group’s (REG) efforts to control old man’s beard. The Long Term Plan target and year-to-date progress against this are reported in the table below.
Table 2 Progress reporting for the Biosecurity Partnerships programmes Long Term Plan targets. % of target Completed completed Target Allocated
Support community involvement in biodiversity protection Support existing community-based biodiversity 12 34 1 3% improvement projects*4
Annex C
3.1.2 The 34 projects approved in 2018-19 are made up of seven Biodiversity Collaborations, 13 Community Biodiversity projects and 14 Community Grant projects. Progress updates on these projects are provided in the sections below.
Biodiversity Collaborations 3.1.3 Progress against the seven Biodiversity Collaborations is overviewed in Table 3 below.
Table 3 Progress against Biodiversity Collaborations. Estimated % Project Update Status Complete 1 Rangitikei Environment Group Control work started in late Started 15% (REG) October. 2 Kia Wharite See Section 5 Collaboration projects. Started 33% 3 Weedbusters Palmerston North Project starts in November. Not started 0% 4 Tawata Mainland Island Pest animal control ongoing. Started 33% 5 Waitarere Beach Community Staff met with WBRPA to plan this Started 40% Project season’s control work and the first round of spraying has been completed. This will be followed up prior to Christmas. 6 Pukaha Mt Bruce See Section 5 Collaboration projects. Started 33% 7 Te Āpiti Manawatū Gorge See Section 5 Collaboration projects. Started 25% Enhancement
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Community Biodiversity projects 3.1.4 Progress against the 13 Community Biodiversity projects is shown in Table 4 below.
Table 4 Progress against Community Biodiversity projects. Estimated % Community biodiversity projects Update Status Complete 8 Te Potae o Awarua Predator See Section 5 Collaboration projects Started 33% Project (first point under Northern Ruahine Battle for our Birds). 9 Massey Hill Weed control on this site began in Started 25% October. 10 Turitea Reserve Pest animal control ongoing. Started 33% 11 Bushy Park Pest animal control ongoing. Started 33% Councillor Patrick attended a Governance Group meeting. 12 Kahuterawa Stream The hare control contract will start in Started 33% Biodiversity project November. A stakeholder meeting was held in September and included
Annex C an update from Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) on the Palmerston North to Linton walkway/cycleway that passes through the Kahuterawa project. The project team has been asked to assist with the planting plan for the area where the new bridge will cross the Kahuterawa Stream. 13 Foxton River Loop Nothing to report. Not started 0% 14 Manawatū Estuary & Predator See Section 5 Collaboration projects. Started 33% project 15 Awahuri Forest - Kitchener Park Drafts for additional signage work are Started 35% being considered by the Trust and it is hoped three new signs will be installed before Christmas. 16 Ahimate Reserve (previously A planting and weed control Started 35% Waitoetoe Park) maintenance partnership between PNCC and Horizons was agreed. It involves annual funding input from PNCC of $13,000 and $7,000 from Horizons for weed control maintenance and planting of the greater park area. 17 Gate Pa Bush Restoration Weed control for the upcoming Started 5% season has been agreed with NZDF and Spotless. Actual control work won’t start until November. 18 Ōhau Beach Walkway Nothing to report. Not started 0% 19 Cape Turnagain Horizons’ stakeholder contribution Started 25% has been paid for this year. 20 Genesis Moawhango River Contractor engaged but not due to Started 1%
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Estimated % Community biodiversity projects Update Status Complete Restoration start willow removal until December at the earliest. Community Grant projects 3.1.5 Community Grant projects were funded through a grants process that was run in April/May. Twelve projects were successful through this round. A further two projects from the previous year were extended into the current year to enable their completion.
3.1.6 Progress against the 14 Community Grant projects is shown in Table 5 below, and staff will be contacting the groups involved prior to Christmas to track progress.
Table 5 Progress against Community Grant projects. Estimated % Community Grant projects Update Status Complete
21 Bulls River Users Group Nothing to report. Not started 0% Annex C 22 Kaitieke School Nothing to report. Not started 0% 23 Te One Bush Restoration Most of the sycamore control work Started 90% Project has been completed. 24 Kimbolton School Nothing to report. Not started 0% 25 Mount Biggs School Nothing to report. Not started 0% 26 Progress Castlecliff Whanganui Nothing to report. Not started 0% 27 Kai Iwi School Nothing to report. Not started 0% 28 Puddleducks Montessori Nothing to report. Not started 0% 29 Milson Scout Troup Traps have been constructed and Started 50% will be put out on site late November. 30 Timona Park Orchard Trust Nothing to report. Not started 0% 31 Matipo Community Nothing to report. Not started 0% Development Charitable Trust 32 South Makirikiri School Nothing to report. Not started 0% 33 Kairanga School (carried Wetland project completed and Completed 100% forward from last year) grant claimed. 34 Bushy Park community project Nothing to report. Not started 0% (carried forward from last year)
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4 Regional Park Management 4.1 Activity Overview 4.1.1 The work at Tōtara Reserve Regional Park is focussed on remediation of the June 2018 flood damage and enhancing flood protection, some works around safety in the park including management of trees and upgrades to the area around the effluent treatment system, additional signage and reviewing pest management in the park.
4.1.2 The Long Term Plan target and year-to-date progress against this are reported in the table below.
Table 6 progress update for the Regional Park Long Term Plan target. % of target LTP Performance Measure Target Completed completed Annual report on the management of Tōtara Reserve Regional Park for biodiversity and recreational values, including managing 1 0 0% the camping facility.
Annex C 4.2 Activity Highlights 4.2.1 Tōtara Reserve camping season opened at Labour Weekend. The old (Kahikatea) campground remains closed due to flood repair work.
4.2.2 Work during the initial part of the year was focussed on organising clean-up and repair work following the June flood event, which caused major damage to the reserve, infrastructure and buildings. Not all of the work can be claimed back on our insurance so those funds will need to be diverted from the walking track upgrades that had been planned.
4.2.3 Planning for the year’s work programme has been advanced and will be discussed at Tōtara Reserve Advisory Group meeting scheduled for late November.
Aaron Madden ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – BIODIVERSITY Rod Smillie BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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5 Collaboration Projects – Horizons / Department of Conservation (DOC) 5.1 Activity Overview This report captures some Horizons and DOC collaborative projects that are not covered elsewhere in Environment Committee reports. 5.2 Activity Highlights Kia Whārite
5.2.1 Long-term monitoring to determine the state of the kiwi population through kiwi call rates across the National Park is hoped to be repeated in 2019 after the recorders failed last May. Extra funding has been gained to replace the acoustic recorders if necessary.
5.2.2 Surveys of whio in the Manganui-o-te-Ao/Retaruke security site were carried out in September and October. Eighteen pairs and seven single birds were seen on the Manganui o te Ao while 11 pairs Annex C and three singles were seen on the Retaruke, with a guard male on the Morinui Stream and two singles on the Kaiwhakauka Stream. Fortnightly maintenance and checks on the stoat trap network continue. One whio was found preyed upon on the Kaiwhakauka Stream.
5.2.3 A pest control operation using aerial 1080 on the Mangapurua-Whitianga Trust land was completed on 17 October. The operation went smoothly with no protest action on-site. Post- operation rat monitoring was to be completed in early November to determine the effectiveness of the operation. A total of 32,000 hectares of ngāhere has received treatment this season. Water testing of the awa and tributaries took place on the day of the operation and the following day at the selected sites by an independent operator.
5.2.4 The 1080 ground work in the Aramahoe Reserve, west of Raetihi Township, was undertaken in the first week of September 2018. The 1080 application involved the placement of 500 grams of No.7 1080 pellets into the 800 mini philproof bait stations in the reserve. Six weeks after the toxic application all uneaten bait was removed from the stations.
5.2.5 Predator trapping in the Retaruke and Manganui o te ao River Catchments, to aid in whio protection, and Waimarino Forest and Ohorea Station for North Island Brown Kiwi protection, is ongoing. The traps being used are a combination of DOC 200 and 250s, and cat kill traps. During the coming months we anticipate a lift in the number of mustelids being caught, as juvenile animals start to venture into areas away from their denning sites.
5.2.6 Campsite trapping continues with self-resetting traps located at all hut and campsites on the Whanganui Journey.
5.2.7 Weed control in the Whanganui River trench will be carried out during summer.
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5.2.8 More kiwi work will be carried out during May-June 2019. DOC dog handlers will follow up on territory and home-range monitoring of the transmitted Mangapurua kiwi in May 2019.
5.2.9 The pre-journey season goat control in the trench is complete and goat hunting in other blocks is ongoing. Further goat control will be carried out in May 2019.
Pukaha/Mount Bruce
5.2.10 The Medical Officer of Health has approved the application for an aerial 1080 operation to control rats in the 943 ha forest reserve. Contractor Bioworks is awaiting a favourable weather window to apply the pre-feed and toxic applications.
5.2.11 Pūkaha buffer trapping was carried out in September and timed to coincide with the ferret mating
season, using a mixture of leg hold and cage traps. The area covered was extensive and included the buffer country against the eastern side of the reserve, southern end along the Ruamahanga River, and road edge and country from the Ruamahanga Bridge to the ANZAC Bridge. We also pushed cage traps up in to the reserve in several key hot spots. The trapping period in most cases
Annex C continued for a week.
5.2.12 The result was interesting with three ferrets, four possums and two cats caught. This is down on previous years, so we remain hopeful that our work is having an impact. What is of concern is that two of the ferrets were caught inside the reserve and the third right on the edge. All were on the eastern side and within range of known kiwi. This is a great result but once again proves that we cannot relax. Another great result is that there were no captures along the western road edge where we have been catching good numbers of ferrets for the past two years. Our kill traps have been quiet for some time now and this buffer pulse was a way of testing/confirming that. Once again, though, there was a dead male ferret run over on the road in that area pre-trapping, again showing that we need to stay vigilant.
5.2.13 We are investigating the feasibility and legality of keeping a captive female ferret to use in scent lures for trapping. If we can use that scent in traps at this time of year our efforts will be even more effective.
5.2.14 Pest control outcomes for the Pūkaha Mt Bruce project are shown in the table below. Catches are for September 2018.
Pest Species Horizons Pukaha GWRC Ferrets 0 3 0 Stoats 1 0 1 Weasels 1 1 0 Cats 0 0 1 Hedgehogs 3 0 10 Rats 23 24 30
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Manawatū Estuary
5.2.15 The Manawatū Estuary Management Group, involving Horizons, Horowhenua District Council, DOC, iwi and community met in October for the first time in 12 months. The meeting was well attended and a key focus was the 2018-19 work programme including ground-based survey and control of the spartina weed, animal pest control, dune protection and potential movement of the bird hide.
5.2.16 Whitebait law enforcement work was carried out. General behaviour has been good and most people have been complying with regulations.
5.2.17 An online Ramsar Information Sheet update is underway for Manawatū Estuary. The report is with
iwi for their input regarding cultural values and will be available on the International Ramsar website once it is completed.
5.2.18 A Welcome to the Waders event was hosted by the Manawatū Estuary Trust on 28 October. The event celebrated the annual arrival of the migratory birds, including the godwits, which is core to
Annex C the Ramsar listing and status. Such events increase awareness for the protection of these special birds.
Te Āpiti Manawatū Gorge Project
5.2.5 The weed control contract has been signed and work was to begin in November. The planned animal pest operation, which includes aerial application of 1080, is scheduled for prior to 7 December 2018.
5.2.6 The tracks are continuing to be well used. Work is occurring to enable the upgrade of the Tawa Loop Track at the Ashhurst entrance. The work is being funded through DOC capital funding and will result in the track being re-surfaced, including with gravel and slip matting.
5.2.7 Work on the Ferry Reserve Boardwalk is underway and is expected to be completed by mid- December.
5.2.8 Enabling of cultural stories is continuing. The Minister of Conservation has been invited to the unveiling of a carving by Craig Kawana, at the eastern entrance to the Gorge, which is expected to take place before the end of February.
5.2.9 The Te Apiti Manawatū Gorge Governance Group are scheduled to meeting on 3rd December.
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Photo 2 and Photo 3 Carving by Craig Kawana for the eastern entrance to the gorge.
Manawatū River
5.2.10 Signs have been installed at access points to gravel flats along the Manawatū River to raise Annex C awareness of, and hopefully minimise disturbance to, native bird species such as banded dotterels and pied stilts. Shorebirds such as these are not as numerous as they once were as their nest sites on gravel riverbeds are vulnerable to disturbance and predation.
5.2.11 The Department of Conservation provided content for the signs and Palmerston North City Council paid for them to be constructed and installed at main access points to gravel flats near Palmerston North City. The five signs will be in place throughout the shorebird breeding season. Shorebirds may be nesting and raising chicks from August to February.
5.2.12 This initiative reflects the strong awareness of the river as a result of Horizons leadership of the Manawatu River Leaders’ Forum. The idea for the signs came about after a member of the public raised concerns about recreational users causing disturbance to nesting birds on the Manawatū River gravel flats near Palmerston North City.
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Annex C
Photo 4 Gravel nesting bird sign in Ashhurst Domain
Northern Ruahine Battle for our Birds aerial 1080 operation
5.2.13 Volunteer trap checking has recommenced in the Northern Ruahine Ranges following the 1080 operation in late 2017 and winter of 2018. This work is critical in keeping predator control when there is no landscape-scale 1080 operation planned or required.
5.2.14 Rat monitoring is occurring at three-monthly intervals and the results will inform consideration of a 1080 operation in 2019, when a beech mast is predicted.
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10 11 December 2018
Report No. 18-230 Item Information Only - No Decision Required
FRESHWATER & PARTNERSHIPS PROGRESS REPORT
1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is to introduce Members of Council’s Environment Committee, the Freshwater & Partnerships Progress report for the period 1 September to 31 October 2018.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-230 and Annexes.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper. It is noted that the report does update Councillors on a number of items related to financial management of the programme.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. The Freshwater programme at Horizons is reported on publicly to the Environment Committee regularly throughout the year and also communicated via various forums and methods.
5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 5.1. There is no significant business risk associated with this report.
6. SUMMARY 6.1. During the reporting period two community project-funding rounds have been run. One for the Manawatū Catchment and the other for the Whangaehu, both these being funded through the Freshwater Improvement Fund projects. In total 15 community projects have been funded, nine in the Manawatū and six in the Whangaehu with the projects to be completed prior to the end of the 2018-19 financial year. 6.2. During the report period 16 swim spot signs have been installed, eight in the Manawatū Catchment, five in the Rangitīkei, two in the Whanganui, and one in the Kaikokopu. In addition, the Mowhanau, Kai Iwi, and Ototoka Streams have had Health Risk warning signs installed to advise people against swimming in these areas. 6.3. The reporting period has been busy around Manawatū Accord work, with work on the new website, and the Manawatū Accord progress report. Both of these being soft launched at the Manawatū River Leaders forum held on the 16th November 2018 and the official launch occurring at the Manawatū River Festival held on the 24th November 2018. 6.4. Over the coming reporting period an advertising campaign is to occur in the Manawatū and Whangaehu Catchments to publicise the stream fencing and riparian planting components of the Freshwater Improvement Fund projects. This is to be done through the delivery of fridge magnets to rural delivery addresses prior to Christmas.
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Riparian Fencing Riparian Planting
Item 10Item Percentage Percentage Target Allocated Completed complete to Target Allocated Completed complete to target target Km Km % Plants Plants % Regional 12 23 3.9 33% 20,000 41,909 11,439 57% Manawatū 50 45.4 17.2 34% 40,000 53,463 33,575 84% Whangaehu 17 17.2 0.9 5% 3,333 7,525 225 7% Total 69 85.6 22 63,333 102,897 45,239 6.5. Three sites for constructed wetlands on horticultural areas have been identified in the Horowhenua Region. These constructed wetlands are currently being progressed through to applications for works under the programme that involves working with the Horticulture sector. 6.6. The coming months will see the team continuing to respond to enquiries from landowners and the public and within the Tararua there will be a focused campaign within the Mangahao Catchment to encourage more stream fencing based of the results from the contact recreation season from 2017-18. 6.7. The condition of Dudding Lake has prompted some further advice being sought due to the risks of the lake permanently flipping from a macrophyte dominated lake to an algal dominated lake. More information on this is provided in the attached report.
7. SIGNIFICANCE 7.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Logan Brown FRESHWATER & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES A Freshwater & Partnerships progress report B Manawatu River Leaders' Accord 2016-21 Action Plan Progress Report
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FRESHWATER ACTIVITY 1 Waterway Enhancement & Protection
1.1 Activity Overview Annex A Horizons Freshwater Team is a small group that works closely with other Horizons teams and people external to the organisation, to implement water quality improvement works. We draw on the scientific monitoring work carried out by Horizons and other agencies to prioritise and focus implementation efforts. The team works with landowners and a number of external agencies, including iwi/hapū, district and city councils, central government, industry and community groups to undertake collaborative projects. The team also actively seeks funding from other sources, allowing the acceleration of works.
The team’s main activities include riparian fencing and planting for water quality improvement and fish habitat enhancement including the identification and enhancement of whitebait spawning habitat and fish passage improvement (Table 1 and Figure 1). Other activities include a wide range of works on projects such as the Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord, Lake Horowhenua Accord, and Freshwater Improvement Fund (FIF) projects; these works include sewage treatment plant upgrades and lake weed harvesting.
Table 1 Summary of riparian fencing and planting in 2018 -19 financial year.
Riparian Fencing Riparian Planting
Percentage Percentage Target Allocated Completed complete to Target Allocated Completed complete to target target Km Km % Plants Plants % Regional 12 23 3.9 33% 20,000 41,909 11,439 57% Manawatū 50 45.4 17.2 34% 40,000 53,463 33,575 84% Whangaehu 17 17.2 0.9 5% 3,333 7,525 225 7% Total 69 85.6 22 63,333 102,897 45,239
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Annex A
Figure 1 Location of the completed Freshwater Grants works for 2018 -19 including the Regional, Manawatū and Whangaehu programmes. Each point on the map represents one fencing, planting or community project.
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2 Manawatū River Accord/Freshwater Improvement Fund 2.1 Activity Overview 2.1.1 The Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord Action Plan includes an array of activities related to improving water quality, to achieve the goals of the Accord. This activity funds works to improve water quality in the Manawatū Catchment as part of the Accord, including excluding stock from streams, riparian planting, improving fish passage and supporting community projects. During this financial year and the following four years the targeted rate is to be used as Horizons’ contribution to the Freshwater Improvement Fund project. 2.2 Targets
Table 2 Annual Plan performance measures and assessment against the year -end for 2018-19 for the Manawatū FIF project.
Measure Year to date Target % Complete % Allocated
Annex A Stream fencing (km) 17.2 50 34% 91% (45.4 km) Riparian plants 33,575 40,000 84% 134% (53,463) Fish barrier remediation 0 4 0 125% (5) Community project funded 0 9 0 100%
2.3 Activity Highlights Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord and Action Plan
2.3.1 The next Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord Forum is scheduled for 16 November 2018. 2.3.2 A Manawatū FIF Governance Group meeting was held on 19 October to decide on the applications to the Manawatū Accord Community Fund. The fund received 10 applications, with nine of the applications meeting the funding criteria and being within budget. The successful applicants and projects are:
B & P Drysdale and Te Kauru – continuation of riparian fencing and planting of the source of the Manawatū River (near Norsewood);
New Zealand Landcare Trust – riparian fencing and planting in the Stoney Creek catchment;
Mangaone West Landcare Group – riparian fencing and planting in the Mangaone West catchment;
Dannevirke Host Lions Club – growing rata to be planted in riparian zones;
Save Our River Trust – feasibility study for the construction of a wetland to treat water discharged from Kings Canal prior to entering the Foxton Loop;
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Oroua River Catchment Care Group – riparian enhancement and weed control in Timona Park;
Te Rangimarie Marae – feasibility study into creating an access way to the Oroua Awa from the Marae;
Manawatū Source to Sea – Education and removal of plastic from water; and
Ngā Kaitiaki ō te Rerenga Rauropi – Restoration of Pioneer Highway Stream.
2.3.3 The next Governance Group meeting is scheduled for 19 January 2019.
2.3.4 An upgraded Manawatū River website www.manawaturiver.co.nz and the progress report on the Accord Actions was scheduled for a public launch on 24 November, coinciding with the
Manawatū River Festival.
2.3.5 The first quarterly report for the Manawatū River Freshwater Improvement Fund has been completed, approved by the Governance Group and submitted to the Ministry for the Environment (MfE).
Annex A
2.3.6 On 25 October freshwater staff helped Te Kauru host Huia Range School for a Waiora stream study at Anzac Park in Norsewood.
Photo 1: Freshwater Team member Courtney Bond helps students from Huia Range School look for bugs in the stream during their Waiora study.
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2.3.7 The focus during this reporting period has been on confirming plant orders with landowners and nurseries ready for next planting season, completing the first round of the FIF community grant application process and confirming funding for successful projects. The fish barriers for fixing this summer have been identified and staff continue to respond to enquiries as they are received. The Freshwater Team have also contributed to the upgrade of the Manawatū River website.
2.3.8 The Freshwater Team met with members of the River Management Team to discuss a more streamlined approach to planting along drainage scheme waterways and ongoing monitoring of these plantings. Also discussed were some new approaches to drain maintenance and planting that could be trialled at suitable sites.
2.3.9 An advertising campaign is to be undertaken in the Manawatū Catchment before Christmas with
fridge magnets to be delivered through rural delivery and a follow up with landowners in the Mangahao Catchment to encourage further stream fencing and planting. The Mangahao Catchment has been chosen as a result of last summer’s contact recreation monitoring programme showing an increase in E.coli concentrations between the upstream and downstream
sites. This information provides us with a focus area for the next 12 months within the Manawatū Annex A Catchment. 3 Regional Freshwater Programme 3.1 Activity Overview This programme focuses on the protection and enhancement of waterways across the Region, excluding the Manawatū and Whangaehu FIF projects. The main component of the Regional Freshwater Programme is supporting stock exclusion from waterways via Freshwater Grants, advice and education, riparian enhancement and planting where desirable, aquatic habitat enhancement and supporting industry and community-led initiatives. A summary of progress against the Annual Plan targets for the 2018-19 year is in Table 3. 3.2 Targets Table 3 Annual Plan performance measures and assessment against year -end 2018-19 for the Regional Freshwater Programme, excluding the Manawatū and Whangaehu FIF projects.
Measure Year to date Target % Complete % Allocated 3.925 190% (23.140 Stream fencing (km) 12 33% km) Riparian plants 11,439 20,000 57% 150 (41,909)% Fish barrier remediation 0 1 0 0% Community project supported 1 1 100% 100%
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3.3 Activity Highlights Work with individuals, community groups and iwi to improve waterways
3.3.1 During the reporting period the focus for the programme has involved working through all enquiries to confirm fencing and planting projects going ahead this financial year and establishing working areas for the new team. This work is continuing as plant orders for next season start to roll in.
Swim Spots
3.3.2 A number of swim spot signs have been installed around the Region. There have been two main
types of swim spots installed. The sign in Figure 2 is an example that has been installed at the Rangitīkei at Bulls swim spot and is aimed at providing information on what to look for in terms of swim spots and information on the work that Horizons is undertaking within the catchment.
3.3.3 The other swim spots signs are Health Warning signs installed at the Mowhanau, Kai Iwi and Annex A Ototoka Streams after the monitoring results from the 2017-18 contact recreation monitoring season. Since they were installed the sign at Ototoka Stream has been severely vandalised with gun shots and also pulled out of the ground (refer Photo 2).
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Annex A
Figure 2: Image of the swim spot sign installed at the Rangitīkei at Bulls swimming spot.
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Photo 2: Ototoka Health Warning sign showing damage three weeks after installation.
Coastal Lakes
3.3.4 Horizons has recently commissioned a gap analysis to look at what information Horizons holds in relation to coastal lakes and what information is required to feed into informing restoration plans for these systems. This information was broken into two reports one for shallow and deep coastal lakes. These reports are available on request.
Dudding Lake
3.3.5 Recent monitoring of Dudding Lake has shown some concerning results which resulted in staff seeking external advice as there is concern that the Lake may be in the process of flipping. Those concerns have been confirmed by Max Gibbs that the lake is in the process of flipping. The process of flipping is a lake going from a macrophyte dominated lake to an algal dominated lake. Lake Horowhenua is an example of a lake that flips on an annual basis due to the macrophyte species that are present and the ability of that species to produce turions (equivalent of seeds)
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and the regrowth of those species. The dominant macrophytes present within Dudding Lake do not release turions and only grow from vegetative material. This means that as the macrophytes collapse within Dudding Lake it is unlikely they will be replaced and the lake system is likely to become algal dominated. External advice suggest that the process of Lake flipping can be prevented but requires reasonably immediate action (weeks to months not years) to allow for the algae to be removed and allow for sunlight to reach the lakebed and for the macrophyte bed to continue growing. There is recognition that the macrophyte species in the lake are introduced and can be surface reaching interfering with recreational activities in the lake. However, the presence of macrophytes in a lake is considered better for both recreational use and ecological health compared to the alternative of no macrophtytes and an algal dominated lake. Alternative control mechanisms can be looked at for nuisance growths of macrophytes.
3.3.6 Initial feedback from external scientists is that for Dudding Lake we can prevent the lake from flipping however, action needs to be taken now. Staff are currently gathering further information around these preventive measures, regulatory requirements, and indicative costs for undertaking the work. Staff will provide an update during the committee meeting. Whatever measures are put in place are short term in-lake interventions and moving forward a coordinated catchment Annex A process will be required to prevent this from happening again.
Photo 3: Samples from Dudding Lake. Sample on left taken from below the thermocline and on the right a sample form the surface. The photo on the right a photo of the lake surface.
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Item 10Item 4 Whangaehu Freshwater Improvement Fund 4.1 Activity Overview This programme focuses on the delivery of the Ngā Wai Ora o Te Whangaehu Freshwater Improvement Fund project, which focuses on the protection and enhancement of waterways within the Whangaehu Catchment. The main components of the programme are supporting stock exclusion from waterways, riparian enhancement and planting where desirable, aquatic habitat enhancement and supporting industry and community-led initiatives. 4.2 Targets Table 4. Annual Plan performance measures and assessment against the year -end for 2018-19 for the Whangaehu FIF project.
Measure Year to date Target % Complete % Allocated 101% (17.160 Stream fencing (km) 17 5.3% Annex A 0.895 km) Riparian plants 225 3,333 7% 226% (7,525) Fish barrier remediation 0 2 0% 0% Community project funded 0 4 0% 150%(6)
4.2.1 The second Governance Group meeting was held for the Whangaehu Freshwater Improvement Fund (FIF) project on 14 September and a further meeting was held on 4 November to assess the community grant applications and approve the first quarterly report. The next meeting is scheduled for 17t January 2019.
4.2.2 A drop-in day was held on 4 October for potential applicants to the Whangaehu FIF community grants to receive advice and information on the fund and to talk through ideas for projects; five parties attended.
4.2.3 Applications for the community grants closed on 23 October and seven applications were received with the following six approved for funding:
YMCA – improve the access track from the camp to Raukawa Falls on the Mangawhero River and enhance the track through planting and signage.
Mote Katoa Marae – willow removal and riparian planting along Makotuku River just north of Raetihi.
Ohakune 2000 Inc – walkway development from Carrot Park to Burns Street and track around the meeting of the waters.
Ohakune 2000 Inc – enhancement along Thames Street reserve area.
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Raetihi Promotions Charitable Trust – development and enhancement of walkway next to the Makotuku Stream.
Friends of the Mangawhero Walkway – willow removal and riparian planting along Mangawhero River.
4.2.4 Work continues to find enough landowners to allow for completion of the 17 km of steam fencing that is contained in the Freshwater Improvement Fund project, with a mail drop of fridge magnets to advertise the stream fencing and riparian planting projects prior to Christmas. 5 Lake Waipu Freshwater Improvement Fund
5.1 Activity Overview The Lake Waipu Freshwater Improvement Fund project specifically seeks to remove the discharge from the Rātana Wastewater Treatment Plant into Lake Waipu. The removal of the discharge from Lake Waipu is to be led by Rangitikei District Council (RDC) as the consent holder and the Horizons project relates to monitoring the effect of the removal of this discharge from the lake and to understand the internal lake Annex A processes. The aim is to develop a restoration plan that deals with the legacy issue as a result of the current discharge.
Table 5. Annual Plan performance measures and assessment against year -end 2018-19 for the Lake Horowhenua Accord, including the Freshwater Improvement Fund project.
Measure Year to date Target % Complete Annual report to Council on the Waipu Catchment Freshwater Improvement 0 1 0 Fund project.
5.1.1 The second working party meeting was scheduled for 16 November, with a site visit to the Rātana Wastewater Treatment Plant and an update in terms of progress for the land purchase by RDC and monitoring of Lake Waipu by Horizons to the working party.
5.1.2 Work continues with the Ministry for the Environment in terms of signing off the Deed of Funding for this project. An important note here is that Horizons will be contracted to the MfE for delivery of the project. However, contracting of Horizons should not been seen by parties as removing the need for a normal resource consent process to allow any proposal to be assessed as required by the One Plan and the Resource Management Act 1991.
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Item 10Item 6 Lake Horowhenua Accord and Lake Horowhenua Freshwater Clean-Up Fund 6.1 Activity Overview The Accord is a partnership between the Lake Horowhenua Trust, Horowhenua Lake Domain Board, Horowhenua District Council, Horizons Regional Council and the Department of Conservation to address water quality issues in Lake Horowhenua. Several Clean-Up Fund projects have an ongoing work component. Horizons also had a role in delivering some of the Te Mana o Te Wai projects which were to be completed by October 2018, and a component of the Freshwater Improvement Fund project which started on 1 July 2018. 6.2 Targets Table 6 Annual Plan performance measures and assessment against year-end 2018-19 for the Lake Horowhenua Accord, including the Freshwater Improvement Fund project.
Annex A Measure Year to date Target % Complete Annual report to Council on lake restoration activity including the Freshwater Improvement Fund project 0 1 0% for Lake Horowhenua.
6.3 Activity Highlights The Lake Horowhenua Accord, Te Mana o Te Wai and FIF project
6.3.1 Weed control has been undertaken within the sediment trap land for the control of purple loosestrife and willows.
6.3.2 A costs hearing was held in the High Court on 2 November against Hōkio A Trust regarding the recovery of costs associated with the unsuccessful appeal by Hōkio A Trust to the High Court after the Environment Court decision. Approximately $22,000 in costs was awarded to Horizons and this cost hearing resulted in a payment plan being agreed with Hōkio A Trust and the first payment being received. A further hearing is scheduled for December 2018 in the Levin District Court for cost recovery of approximately $130,000 associated with the Environment Court hearing and the costs awarded to Horizons.
6.3.3 Work on the Heritage NZ and Māori appellate court process has been in a holding pattern while processes related to the election of the Lake Trust have been subject to court processes. The planned Māori Appellate Court hearing for November has been deferred with a tentative date set for February 2019, however this may be further delayed.
6.3.4 Monitoring at the lake has remained on hold while Horizons staff have worked through the logistics and permissions.
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7 Freshwater Improvement Work with the Horticultural Sector 7.1 Activity Overview Building on previous work with the Tararua Growers Association as a part of the Freshwater Clean-Up Fund project, Horizons established new funding of $70,000 per year for work with the horticulture sector to reduce nutrient and sediment loss from horticulture farms. This funding will be used in part to contribute to a Sustainable Farming Fund project future proofing vegetable production.
The balance of the funding will be prioritised to implementation of work to reduce nutrient and sediment losses from horticultural farms including establishment of sediment traps etc, similar to the way freshwater grants are paid for fencing and planting of waterways. It is noted that this funding may be utilised to design the proposed interventions. 7.2 Targets Table 7 Annual Plan performance measures and assessment against year -end 2018-19 for Annex A Freshwater Improvement Work with the Horticultural Sector.
Measure Year to date Target % Complete Annual report on work with the horticulture sector through the freshwater and partnerships programme 0 1 0% to improve water quality.
7.3 Activity Highlights Future proofing vegetable production
7.3.1 The Future Proofing Vegetable Production Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) project has started with an initial project establishment meeting at Te Takere in Levin with a good attendance of growers. Horizons was represented as well as science support providers Landcare, Plant and Food, Groundtruth and other stakeholders including Foundation for Arable Research, Ballance AgriNutrients and Potatoes New Zealand. Follow up meetings with growers have also been held. The work programme contains several projects and progress to date on these is below:
Within the Arahwata Catchment at the follow up workshop the theory of common pool resource management using Elinor Ostrom’s ‘eight principles for managing a commons’ was discussed. This involves all stakeholders taking responsibility and determining how to collaboratively manage the resource fairly and sustainably. In the context of this project the common pool resource management could be contributions to the catchment’s nitrate load. This will form part of the ongoing programme within the catchment;
The Good Practice Survey is currently underway;
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Nitrate test strips to assess available soil nitrate have been distributed to project farms in Levin and Gisborne, and farmers have been trying them out;
Horizons and Massey University have appointed a PhD candidate to undertake a study in the Arawhata Catchment in parallel with the SFF project. The working title of the research is, “The capacity of grower management to reduce nitrogen losses to Lake Horowhenua”. The intent is for the PhD research to independently monitor the effectiveness of the different management strategies trialled; and
Discussion around the monitoring of waterways that pass through farmed areas and where this is to be undertaken in the Arawhata Catchment.
7.3.2 During the reporting period the Freshwater Team visited two landowners who want to install wetlands for sediment and nitrate removal from water. These visits are proceeding to applications for works (wetland construction and planting) to occur in this financial year.
Annex A
Photo 4: Stream fencing in the Whangaehu Catchment completed under the Whangaehu Freshwater Improvement Fund project.
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Photo 5: Riparian planting in the Whangaehu Catchment as part of the Ngāti Rangi sub -project under the Whangaehu Freshwater Improvement Fund.
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Photo 6: Riparian fencing in the Rangitīkei Catchment on the left and fencing of the riparian area undertaken by Horizons staff on World Rivers Day in the Lake Horowhenua Catchment.
Lucy Ferguson FRESHWATER COORDINATOR Logan Brown FRESHWATER AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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Report No. 18-231 11Item Information Only - No Decision Required
SCIENCE & INNOVATION PROGRESS REPORT
1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is to introduce Members of Council’s Environment Committee, the Science and Innovation Progress report for the period 1 September to 31 October 2018.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-231
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. The Science and Innovation work programme at Horizons is reported on publicly to the Environment Committee regularly throughout the year and also communicated via various forums and methods.
5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 5.1. There is no immediate financial impact associated with this report.
6. SUMMARY General 6.1. Activity over the reporting period has included: The completion of a report on the State and Trends of Water Quality which was presented to the Strategy & Policy Committee in November; Preparation for the upcoming irrigation season, including reporting on the status of Horizons’ water metering programme in relation to national water metering regulations; Recruitment of summer swim spot monitoring staff and preparation for the monitoring to begin in November; Advertisement of two PhD studies in relation to nutrient management in collaboration with Massey University; Scoping and procurement work in relation to sedimentation in the lower Manawatū River; and Further work on the State of Environment report that is due for release in early 2019. 6.2. These items and further activity during the reporting period are outlined further in the attached progress report.
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7. SIGNIFICANCE 7.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
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Abby Matthews SCIENCE & INNOVATION MANAGER
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES A Science & Innovation progress report
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SCIENCE & INNOVATION ACTIVITY 1 Activity Overview Horizons’ Science and Innovation Team oversees delivery of monitoring and research across a broad range of Council activities including Water Quantity and Quality, Land, Biosecurity and Biodiversity, and Annex A Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring. Programmed work for 2018-19, as set out in the Science Operational Plan includes: .Delivery of core monitoring programmes; .Ongoing investigations into regional drinking water security; .Delivery of the national groundwater pesticides survey; .Fluvial surveying of the Pohangina and Whangaehu Rivers; .A review of the biodiversity programme and implementation of recommended changes; .Provision on new data on the LAWA website; .Research into the impacts of climate change in the Whanganui Catchment; .State of Environment reporting; and .Development of a science communication strategy.
This activity report covers the reporting period from 1 September to 31 October 2018.
Performance measures, as set out in the Long-term Plan 2018-28, include the presentation of an annual report on monitoring and research activity, provision of public information via Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) and State of Environment (SoE) reporting, research into climate change and public drinking water security, and the development and implementation of a science communication strategy. An overview of progress against these targets is provided in Table 1 below.
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Table 1 Year-to-date progress against performance measures set out in Horizons’ Long -term Plan 2018-28. Performance Measures for Levels of Service Target 2018-19 Progress Update Water Quantity and Quality Water quantity and water quality information Data provided to LAWA as Data has been provided to LAWA and is made available to the public via LAWA required is now available on the website. (www.lawa.org.nz) and Horizons’ website. Annual report on water quantity and quality Develop an annual An annual report on water quantity monitoring and research activity. reporting framework and and quality activity was developed produce an annual report and presented to Council in August 2018. Land Management
Annual report on the land and fluvial Develop an annual An annual report on land and fluvial monitoring and research activity. reporting framework and activity was developed and presented produce an annual report to Council in August 2018. Biodiversity and Biosecurity Annual report on biodiversity monitoring and Develop an annual An annual report on biodiversity Annex A research activity. reporting framework and research activity was developed and complete an annual report presented to Council in August 2018. Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring Provide an annual summary report on the Annual reporting The State of Environment report is on state of the environment. framework is developed track for delivery in early 2019. and a report produced Develop and implement a science Strategy and Work is currently underway to communication strategy. implementation plan develop this strategy. developed Complete drinking water supply research with 1 This work is contracted and we are a focus on Council-operated drinking water currently supplying data to the supplies and complete an annual report on provider. this to Council. Investigate one aspect of climate change 1 Planning is in progress for a study impact in the Region and report on this to focusing on the Whanganui Council. Catchment. Air quality is monitored in Taihape and Completed Monitoring is ongoing and data made Taumarunui and reporting is made available available to the public via the to the public via LAWA and the annual State Horizons and LAWA websites. of Environment report. Our State of Environment report is due out in early 2019. Undertake an annual public education air 1 The winter radio advertising quality campaign. campaign is complete. Further public information will be made available throughout the reporting year.
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2 Water Quantity and Quality Water is an important resource that provides for the cultural, environmental and economic needs of our Region. The Science and Innovation Team serves the Water Quality and Quantity activity of Horizons’ Annual Plan through a range of science monitoring and research programmes that track changes in the water resource and inform decision-making around water management. 2.1 Water Quantity Water Metering
2.1.1 Horizons’ Water Metering team are well into the season’s programme, with the first few installations of telemetry already complete. Staff are following up with consent holders who are
required to install a water meter in preparation for telemetry.
2.1.2 Reporting on the status of the water metering programme in relation to the National Regulations is progressing, with staff undertaking an audit of consent monitoring data to ensure accurate
reporting. Quality assurance of the WaterMatters website is also underway in preparation for the Annex A summer season’s increase in water abstraction activity and potential low flow restrictions that may occur.
2.1.3 Lower than normal rainfall for this time of the year saw an early but short-lived onset of flow restrictions in some parts of the Region, with the Manawatū at Teachers’ College recorded at the lowest November flow since 1989. The team is working closely with Council’s Communications Team to keep people informed and spread the usual messages about water conservation during the summer months.
Summer Swim Spots
2.1.4 Swim Spot monitoring began on 11 November 2018. This summer we will be monitoring 83 sites. New sites include Mangawharariki at Ruahine Dress Circle (Manawatū) and Ototoka Beach (Whanganui).
2.1.5 Joanna Taylor and Sara Williams have joined Ian Hurst to collect samples across the Region every week on Sundays and Mondays. Sampling in the northern area of the Region will again be covered by Ngāti Rangi, with sampling taking place on Tuesdays.
2.1.6 Results will be published as soon as they become available on the Horizons Safe Swim Spots website (http://www.horizons.govt.nz/managing-natural-resources/water/safe-swim-spots-map) and on LAWA under the “Can I swim here?” module at https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore- data/swimming.
2.1.7 Initial meetings with Public Health and Territorial Authorities were held on 19 October 2018, prior to the initiation of the summer monitoring programme. We received increased interest and support for the programme from all participants.
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2.2 Biomonitoring Macroinvertebrates
2.2.1 Macroinvertebrate monitoring will begin in early December. The Science and Innovation Biomonitoring team sample about 95 sites across the Region annually, collecting substrate and periphyton data as well as samples of the macroinvertebrate species (insects, worms, snails, etc.) that are found in the river or stream at each site. These are then sent to a laboratory where they are sorted. From this assemblage of species we can determine a number of different metrics of water quality. Because many of these species have a long obligate aquatic stage i.e they need to live in the water for extended periods, they are exposed to the range of conditions that our waterways experience and so provide a good indication of long-term water quality. Surveys
typically occur during summer and early autumn, with exact timing being determined largely by local flow conditions.
Fish Pass Monitoring
Annex A 2.2.2 The team is also preparing to monitor one of the recently installed fish passes that have been provided to improve the amount of habitat available to our whitebait species. As these species must migrate from the sea to freshwater as part of their life cycle, the presence of structures such as perched culverts can impede the ability of fish to access upstream habitat. By installing fish passage devices, which are typically ramps of some sort, at these structures we are able to open up significant areas of habitat.
2.2.3 Horizons have now installed several different types of fish passes, and the purpose of this work is to ensure they are functioning properly. The focus for 2018-19 is assessing the effectiveness of a steel fish pass near Koputaroa in the Manawatū Catchment, to test the suitability of this infrastructure for further fish passage installation. 2.3 Catchment Characterisation Horizons & Massey University Collaborative Research
2.3.1 Advertisements for two PhD studies offered through the collaborative research partnership between Horizons and Massey University have now closed. Applications were received for both PhDs and the process of recruitment is now underway. These studies aim to further develop methods to map the influences of different catchment characteristics on the spatial variability of nitrogen attenuation capacity; and develop a system to evaluate different management and mitigation practices to reduce contaminant loads to streams and rivers.
2.3.2 These PhDs are in addition to a study investigating nutrient losses from vegetable production systems in the Horowhenua area that was due to begin in November 2018. Another PhD investigating the hydrogeology of the Porewa catchment has been underway since 2016 and is progressing well.
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2.4 Drinking Water 2.4.1 With additional funding for research into the management of drinking water supplies committed through Horizons’ Long-term Plan 2018-28, we have initiated a work programme for 2018-19 that will provide:
.An assessment of water ‘contribution zones’ for large public water sources in the Region, to identify possible sources of contamination; .Inspections of groundwater bores to assess wellhead security; and .An updated summary report of current compliance, including any work undertaken by Territorial Authorities since the inception of the project in 2017. 2.4.2 An initial workshop with City and District Council asset managers was held in June 2018. Data
required by Pattle Delamore Partners Ltd (PDP) for the development of source protection zones has now been delivered and we are working with Territorial Authority (TA) asset management teams to provide further data relating to the drinking water supplies. Field inspections of bores is due to begin by December 2018. PDP and Horizons are working with territorial authorities to
deliver this programme, with Richard Templer (Manawatū District Council) acting as Project Annex A Sponsor on behalf of the Region’s district and city councils. 2.5 Coastal and Estuarine Environments 2.5.1 Salt Ecology has been engaged to undertake estuary habitat mapping for the 2018-19 reporting year. Field work will commence in January 2019 and will include:
Fine-scale mapping of the Manawatū Estuary. This will complete the three-year baseline monitoring for our largest estuary and provide important information about estuary health and pressures from nutrient and sediment inputs.
The first year of fine-scale mapping of the Whanganui Estuary. This is the first year of a three- year baseline monitoring programme and will include two monitoring sites in the estuary.
The second year of synoptic monitoring of the Waikawa estuary to identify changes in estuary habitat, sedimentation and nutrient pressures. This work will be scheduled to align with monitoring associated with the Ōhau-Waikawa catchment characterisation investigation.
The second year of sedimentation monitoring at the Whangaehu Estuary. This programme continues the assessment of pressures from increased sediment inputs into the estuary.
Synoptic monitoring of the Kai Iwi and Mowhanau estuaries. Monitoring will focus on habitat changes, water quality and sedimentation pressures.
Reports from the estuary monitoring programme are expected by the end of June 2019.
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2.6 Swimmability 2.6.1 The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) directs all regional councils, including unitary authorities, to set regional targets to improve the quality of freshwater streams, rivers and lakes so they are more often suitable for primary contact, i.e. swimming or immersion in the water. In 2017 the Government set a national target of making 90 per cent of New Zealand’s large rivers and lakes swimmable by 2040, with an interim target of 80 per cent swimmable by 2030.
2.6.2 Modelling by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE), published in early 2018, suggested that 60 percent of large rivers in the Horizons Region could be swimmable by 2040 as a result of work already underway. Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee recently resolved to set a more
ambitious target of 70 per cent swimmable by 2030, which would require an increase from 43 percent for large rivers and 55 percent for lakes. A further target of 80 per cent swimmable by 2040 would provide for further improvement during the following decade.
2.6.3 Further detail of the swimmability targets for the Horizons Region is available in the
Annex A 13 November 2018 Strategy and Policy Committee report.
3 Land Land Activity covers both the Land Management and Fluvial programmes and provides technical support to Horizons’ main land-based initiatives: our Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) and River Management programme. Land Activity also informs One Plan implementation and policy development for both wastewater and nutrient management. 3.1 Fluvial Survey 3.1.1 Cross-section surveys of the Pohangina and Whangaehu Rivers have been underway since September 2018 and the Survey Team is making good progress. If time and budget allow, a start will also be made on surveying southeast Ruahine Catchments. 3.2 Sediment Transport Research 3.2.1 Following an initial analysis of the application of LiDAR data for assessing changes in sediment in the Oroua River, by Dr. Ian Fuller and the team at Massey University, the focus for this year is on understanding sediment transport in the Lower Manawatū Scheme.
3.2.2 LiDAR and cross-sectional surveys have now been completed in the Lower Manawatū. A comparison between the 2017 and 2007 LiDAR data will give estimated changes in river berms over the past 10 years. Bed level changes will be assessed using cross-section analysis and will follow on from the 2017 Lower Manawatū River gravel resource study. This analysis is now underway.
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3.2.3 These studies, along with last year’s assessment of sediment movement in the Oroua River, will feed into an analysis of options to reduce, manage or mitigate the effects of sediment processes in both the Oroua and Lower Manawatū Schemes. Expressions of interest have been sought for the delivery of this work as a collaboration between the River Management and Science and Innovation teams.
4 Biosecurity and Biodiversity Biosecurity and biodiversity management are core functions of Horizons that add significantly to the environmental, economic, social and cultural prosperity of the Region, by enhancing the quality of indigenous ecosystems and reducing the impacts of pest plants and animals.
The work programme for 2018-19 includes the completion of the review of the Priority Sites (Bush Remnants and Wetlands) monitoring programme, including a stocktake of all managed sites, along with implementation of the Singers and Rogers ecosystem classification.
4.1 Priority Sites Annex A 4.1.1 Site report cards are currently being prepared for all sites that have received Horizons management input since the inception of this programme. These report cards will include a short description and map of the site, as well as an outline of management work completed and ongoing works for sites at management level three or higher (level three sites are those which continue to receive ongoing input from Horizons). 4.2 Biodiversity Implementation Support 4.2.1 Potential Ecosystems are those ecosystems that we would expect to see in a particular area under natural conditions. This is used as baseline information of how the Region used to be prior to human occupation. Potential Ecosystems are classified using the most comprehensive of all classifications available in New Zealand: Singers and Rogers (2014) ‘A classification of New Zealand’s terrestrial ecosystems’ and Horizons is now in the process of completing this mapping. Preliminary mapping has identified areas north-east of Taihape as requiring additional information to achieve the necessary level of accuracy.
4.2.2 Zonation is a decision support tool that combines spatial information on current land cover and potential ecosystems cover for the Horizons Region to allow identification of priority sites for indigenous biodiversity management. Supporting documentation for Zonation is nearly complete with Zonation modelling scheduled to begin in mid-November. Workshops to review the first draft are scheduled for February 2019 with the final report due on March 31 2019.
4.2.3 Rapid Ecological Assessments (REAs) are standardised onsite surveys to identify the extent of remaining habitat, collect ecological data such as species composition and identify threats to current condition such as the presence of pest plants and animals. Staff REA training days have been held at a further three sites: Manawatū Gorge, Totara Reserve and one wetland site. This
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training is important to ensure that all staff have the required skills and that information is being collected to a similar standard across the group.
5 Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring Effective management of the Region’s natural resources depends on accurate and timely information about the environment and its health, along with ready access to this information and having it packaged in a way that is understandable for the intended audience.
During 2018-19 we will focus on the continued delivery of data to the LAWA website; responding to public enquiries and general requests for monitoring data and information; and supporting national work
programmes including development and implementation of the National Environmental Monitoring Standards (NEMS). We will also be producing a science communication strategy, and developing a framework for annual SoE reporting, following the release of our next SoE report early in 2019.
The air quality monitoring programme will continue to monitor and report on air quality in Taihape and Annex A Taumarunui, airsheds designated under the National Environmental Standard for Air Quality (NES- AQ). 5.1 Air Quality 5.1.1 The NESAQ require that council’s monitor and report exceedances of the short–term World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline values for outdoor air quality. Monitoring of air quality is undertaken by Horizons in two designated airsheds: Taihape and Taumarunui. Data collected over the last 12-month period at Taihape and Taumarunui are presented below. The graphs are from Horizons’ AirQuality Matters website and comprise telemetered ‘raw’ data.
Taihape
5.1.2 The daily mean PM10 concentrations recorded at Taihape are shown in Figure 1 below. Despite a couple of elevated concentrations in December 2017 and April this year, the monitoring data shows compliance with the NES-AQ during the 2017-18 year.
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Figure 1 Air quality monitoring for particulate matter at Taihape from mid -October 2017 to 24 October 2018, reported as a 24-hour average (µg/m3)
Taumarunui Annex A
5.1.3 The Taumarunui recording site was moved in late January 2018 from the Baptist Friendship Centre at 250 Taupo Road to the Horizons Service Centre, to eliminate issues encountered with regular power supply to the Beta Attenuation Recorder (BAM) unit (seen as gaps in the data the
daily mean PM10 concentrations recorded at Taumarunui, as shown in Figure 2, below). Figure 2 shows compliance with the NES-AQ for the 2017-18 year.
Figure 2 Air quality monitoring for particulate matter at Taumarunui from mid -October 2017 to 24 October 2018, reported as a 24-hour average (µg/m3).
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5.1.4 During the reporting period, MfE released the Our Air 2018 report which provides national information about the state of our air, the pressures on this state, and what that means for us and the environment. According to MfE, “Our Air 2018 shows that air quality in New Zealand is generally good and that the overall trend is getting slightly better, with downward trends recorded for some pollutants. But the report also shows that the situation is not perfect. Some of our activities in certain parts of the country and at certain times of the year, mainly winter, are putting our air quality under pressure”. A copy of the report is available on the MfE website: https://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/environmental-reporting/our-air-2018. 5.2 LAWA 5.2.1 Horizons provides science support for the continued evolution of the LAWA website, a Regional
Council-driven initiative to present data and information about New Zealand’s environment and natural resources. Updated data for the River Quality, Lake Water Quality, Can I Swim Here? and Water Quantity modules were released publicly during October 2018. Horizons staff are actively engaged in the development of modules and continued improvement of analysis and reporting of
Annex A environmental data. 5.3 Community and National Engagement 5.3.1 External information sharing is an important part of Horizons’ science programme, with an increasing focus on communicating science to our wider community. Opportunities to communicate information can range from data provision, over-the-phone (non-RMA) advice, site visits, and provision of guidance material, through to community workshops. Activities throughout the reporting period included:
.Supporting Territorial Authorities, iwi and local communities around investigations into per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, as well as supporting the All of Government working group; .Staff attended the Dannevirke Science Fair to judge and present Horizons’ prizes and will host local science fair prize winners at an internship day in November 2018; .Supporting the development of National Environmental Monitoring Standards (NEMS) for periphyton, soil quality and fish monitoring; and .Engagement in the development of the Regional Councils’ Science, Research and Technology Strategy and to inform the development of future research themes for Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research.
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5.4 Activity Progress Report Key Deliverable Progress to Date . Water Quality and Quantity .Deliver core monitoring programmes for water .Monitoring programmes are progressing as scheduled; quantity and quality, and biomonitoring groundwater pesticides sampling is now complete and results will be reported in 2019. .NIWA are scheduled to complete another round of Lake SPI monitoring in the Region this year. Where possible, priority is being given to lakes that are included in the national Lakes380 programme. .Freshwater invertebrate monitoring to begin early in December, weather permitting. .Review groundwater allocation limits .Currently in scoping stage. This may be deferred to 2019-20
however, it will be advanced this year if resourcing permits. .Provide support to One Plan review and ‘Our .Staff are providing technical support to Horizons’ Regulatory Group Freshwater Future’ including catchment accounting and supporting the scoping and development of ‘Our Freshwater Future’. .Information has been provided to the Policy Team on the water quality outcomes of Proposed Plan Change 2 (PPC2) for the Upper
Annex A Manawatū Catchment. .Report on Horizons’ regional swimmability targets .A paper outlining the targets was presented to Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee on 13 November 2018. .Prioritise our lake monitoring programme .Preparation of data is underway, with analysis scheduled for November 2018. .Complete estuary habitat mapping of Manawatū, .Contracting is underway with mapping to be carried out Whanganui, Waikawa, Hōkio and Kai Iwi Estuaries, throughout summer, as weather permits. and sedimentation monitoring of Whangaehu Estuary Land Management .Complete fluvial surveys of the Pohangina and .Surveying has been underway since October 2018 and the Whangaehu Catchments Pohangina survey is now complete. .Investigate contamination of Bulls public water .Investigations into Bulls water supply are underway. Staff continue supply by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl (PFAS) primarily to provide technical input and support to the All of Government arising from the use of fire-fighting foam. working group and other local investigations such as Ohakea and Palmerston North Airport. .Advance and report on sediment transport .Scoping for a sedimentation study of the Lower Manawatū, which investigations in the Oroua Catchment will incorporate the Oroua work complete in 18-19 is underway. This study will look at mitigation and/or remediation options for sedimentation. .Support research into the management of nutrients .A range of investigations are underway including the Future in the Region Proofing Vegetable Production project led by LandWISE and the PhD programme with Massey University. Biosecurity and Biodiversity .Deliver core monitoring programmes for priority .A review of monitoring for wetlands and forest fragments will be sites (wetlands and forest fragments) initiated in September 2018. .Science is currently working alongside the Biodiversity team to .Complete a stocktake of all managed sites complete this stocktake. .A draft map has been received and final map with associated report .Complete Potential Ecosystem Mapping is expected in November.
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Key Deliverable Progress to Date .Zonation modelling for representativeness and site .This work is contracted and will commence in November. prioritisation Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring .Deliver core monitoring programme for air quality .Monitoring is ongoing. .An investigation into climate change impacts on the region is being .Investigate climate change impacts on the region. scoped. .Delineate drinking water protection zones and .This work is underway. inspect groundwater bore supply infrastructure .State of Environment reporting is underway and is due to be .Report on the State of Environment and develop a published in early 2019. This will inform the development of a framework for annual reporting framework for future reporting. .Ensure environmental data is made available to the .Data will be made available to the public as per the LAWA reporting public via the LAWA website schedule. .Undertake an annual public education campaign .The winter 2018 radio advertising public campaign is now around air quality complete; planning for 2019 will be undertaken in due course. .Produce an annual activity report for Science and .An annual activity report was provided to Council in August 2018. Innovation
Annex A
Lizzie Daly SCIENTIST - ECOLOGY Staci Boyte SCIENTIST - LAND Harold Barnett ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST Janine Kamke SCIENTIST – WATER QUALITY Mike Patterson SCIENTIST - FRESHWATER Stephen Collins SCIENTIST - GROUNDWATER Maree Patterson SENIOR SCIENTIST – WATER QUALITY Raelene Mercer SENIOR SCIENTIST – WATER QUANTITY Abby Matthews SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MANAGER Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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Report No. 18-232 12Item Information Only - No Decision Required
REGULATORY MANAGEMENT REPORT - AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER 2018
1. PURPOSE 1.1. This report updates Members on regulatory activity, for the period October to November 2018. This report updates members on significant issues and focuses on the municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) programme. The report also includes a final report on compliance with the cultivation rules in the One Plan by commercial vegetable growers in Horowhenua.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-232.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. At present, it is too early in the financial year to identify impacts on the budget across the regulatory business. However, we are still anticipating that there will be significant costs associated with processing large and complex applications, which may in turn be subject to appeal. Also, on-going investigations and prosecutions within the compliance monitoring programme, coupled with an increase in environmental incidents being received are likely to have an impact on both expenditure and revenue within this programme. Regular updates will be provided to the Audit and Risk Committee throughout the year.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. This is a public item and therefore Council may deem this sufficient to inform the public.
5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 5.1. There is no significant business risk associated with this item.
6. OVERVIEW 6.1. In relation to the major applications, the following provides a summary of their current status: i. The Department of Conservation (DOC) Whakapapa WWTP applications have been notified. DOC have been providing regular updates and are near to a position to confirm their final design and application. Once this is confirmed, the consent will continue to proceed through the consenting process. The application is significant for iwi given the cultural importance of the location in Tongariro National Park. ii. The interim decision for the Foxton WWTP was released on 31 August. The interim decision is to grant the respective resource consents for 31 years (with the exception of the discharge to the Foxton Loop, which is for three years). Work on conditions has been completed and we are waiting on the final decision from the Court. Overall, the result is positive in that the discharge from the wastewater plant will occur to land once plant construction is completed. Officers are now considering how to deal with
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Item 12Item ongoing cost recovery from Horowhenua District Council. Cost recovery is likely to be constrained given that the case was a direct referral to the Environment Court. iii. Re-consenting of Pahiatua wastewater treatment plant remains the subject of a mediation process. This process is confidential to the parties involved. iv. The hearing for the Eketāhuna WWTP occurred on 27 November. We will be able to report further on progress once the commissioners report back. v. An application for re-consenting the Woodville WWTP was received in August 2018. The application is now on hold as further information is being sought from the Tararua District Council (TDC). Once this information has been received a decision on notification will be made. vi. The Tokomaru WWTP is now onto its second iteration of draft conditions, which are being reviewed by technical staff. It is anticipated that feedback on the draft conditions will be sought prior to Christmas. vii. AFFCO have withdrawn their appeal in relation to the Feilding processing plant. However, a late appeal is being sought by one of the Section 274 parties. A decision for the late appeal will need to be determined by the Environment Court and if successful, may result in amendments to the conditions. It is expected that this will be resolved by the end of the year. viii. Further information requested of Horowhenua District Council’s (HDC) application, relating to the discharge of stormwater into the Koputaroa Stream catchment, has been received. However, information relating to water quality effects, erosion and flooding effects has not been fully addressed. The latter relates to ensuring the proposed attenuation ponds will appropriately manage the risk of increased run-off and how storm events that exceed design will be managed to reduce the risk erosion and scour. The next step in the process is to determine whether the applications need to be notified in accordance with section 95 of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). ix. HDC has lodged a consent application for the operation of the Levin WWTP discharges (commonly known as ‘The Pot’).The application has been notified at the request of HDC, with submissions closing on 14 December 2018. 6.2. The Manawatu Gorge replacement project “Te Ahu a Turanga” is progressing. 6.2.1. At present the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) have lodged a Notice of Requirement (NOR) with PNCC, MDC and Tararua District Councils, which has been publically notified. This will see the envelope of the project defined and will be processed by the District Councils. 6.2.2. Horizons staff have been meeting with NZTA experts in relation to various technical matters that will impact on the regional consenting process, including discussions around baseline aquatic monitoring protocols. At this stage NZTA are anticipating lodging resource consents with Horizons in July next year. 6.2.3. Officers have also been liaising with Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) to understand and be ready for the regulatory demands of such a major civil construction project. These lie in three main areas: large numbers of consent variations that need to be managed and processed following the main consenting process; large volumes of management reports and compliance inspections required to enable works to occur or follow up on consent conditions; and a significant administration process to manage large volumes of data and information. As an indication GWRC dedicated a team of four staff solely to this work. Officers expect to bring Council a view on resource demands for the “Te Ahu a Turanga” project during the first quarter of 2019 as the route designation becomes clearer.
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6.3. Horizons has written to Horowhenua District Council (HDC) regarding its timeframes for 12Item lodging the required resource consent application(s) for the discharge of stormwater from Levin Township into Lake Horowhenua. Horizons still expects a resource consent application to be lodged by 24 December 2018. 6.4. HDC is preparing a consent application seeking to discharge stormwater from the Foxton Township to the Manawatū River. 6.5. Staff continue to work with district councils around consent renewals. The focus has been on ensuring that appropriately detailed applications are lodged to minimise unnecessary delays through the process. Another focus of these meetings is to ensure that district councils have clear project plans and milestones in place in relation to consent preparation and lodgement.
7. COMPLIANCE PROGRAMME The intention of this section is to focus on one key part of the regulatory business and provide an overview of the compliance programme for the reporting period. The focus for this report is to provide a summary of the municipal wastewater treatment plant programme. Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants Compliance Programme 7.1.1. There are 46 municipal WWTPs in the region that are consented. Nineteen of these are currently operating under the existing use provisions of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), whilst the remainder are operating under current resource consents. There are seven WWTP consents that are due to expire between now and 2020. As previously reported, those WWTP operating under existing use provisions are still required to comply with their resource consents. 7.1.2. The WWTP programme is categorised, based on a number of factors that include; the potential environmental risk the site poses, its compliance history, nature of the receiving environment and the complexity and public interest of the consent. Under the present programme there are 11, 19, 16 category 1, 2 and 3 sites, respectively. 7.1.3. Since 1 July 2018, Horizons has undertaken 14 assessments of WWTP. These assessments are a combination of both site inspections and data assessments. The latter effectively assesses information provided by the consent holder, as required by their resource consent. It is important to note that data assessments can take some time, as the information provided by consent holders can be long, complex and require significant analysis. 7.1.4. Of the 14 assessments completed since 1 July 2018, one WWTP is complying whilst six and seven are non-complying and significant non-complying, respectively. It is important to note that currently 22 WWTP are being assessed and 16 are due for assessment in the New Year. Therefore, actually reporting on the compliance status of the programme at present would not provide an accurate picture of the actual or current compliance situation. It is intended that reporting on compliance across this programme will occur in August or September next year, when Horizons provide an annual report on its key compliance programmes. 7.1.5. Notwithstanding the above, Annex A summarises the current compliance status of the WWTP in the programme and where a significant non-compliance has been identified, what action has been taken. It is important to note, the compliance status of a number of WWTP is based on assessments done earlier in the year (and reported to Council in June 2018) and that a number of these sites are now being assessed. Therefore, the compliance grading for some of the WWTP may change in the next couple of months. 7.1.6. Non-compliances generally relate to issues associated with reporting and maintenance, whilst significant non-compliances typically relate to non-compliance with those conditions
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Item 12Item of consent that directly control adverse environmental effects, such as discharge standards; or there has been a repeated non-compliance, such as a continued failure to provide information. 7.1.7. Where a significant non-compliance occurs, Horizons will in the first instance typically seek an explanation for the significant non-compliance and a timeframe by which the non- compliance will be resolved. If the significant non-compliance continues, and/or is having an actual or potential adverse effect, which is more than minor on the environment, Horizons would typically consider taking more formal enforcement action, such as issuing Abatement and Infringement Notices.
8. COMPLIANCE AND NON-COMPLIANCE 8.1. During the reporting period there were 58 compliance monitoring assessments. Of these, four non-compliances and 15 significant non-compliances were detected. This equates to a 68% compliance rate across the entire programme for the reporting period. 8.2. Below is a breakdown of the non-compliances by consent area, for the reporting period: Industry: Two non-compliance and seven significant non-compliances; and Rural: Two non-compliance and eight significant non-compliances. 8.3. The number of scheduled compliance assessments completed is behind what is anticipated. The reasons for this include an increase in the number of incidents received since 1 July, the time taken to investigate two significant compliance matters and there being two vacancies within the team. 8.4. As noted above there are number of significant compliance assessments currently underway as annual reports are being reviewed and reported on for Category 1 and 2 WWTP. Undertaking these annual reviews involves reviewing and assessing large volumes of information and preparing detailed compliance reports 8.5. Horizons currently has four prosecutions before the District Court, including one sentencing. There are also two significant investigations underway. Table 1 provides a summary of where the various prosecutions are at in the Court.
Table 1. Prosecution Summary
Defendant Summary Whanganui District Council Sentencing to occur on 13 December in Whanganui District Court Fyfe Williamson Potential defended hearing in Wellington in February PGG Wrightson and Carfields Plea to be entered Pacific Farms Development Limited Guilty plea entered, remediation package being discussed
8.6. As previously reported, staff have just completed inspections of the growers in the Horowhenua district. A copy of this report is attached as Annex B. In summary, the project found that generally commercial growers are complying with Rule 13-4, with a variety of mitigations being adopted to control sediment release. Understanding of Rule 13-4 varied with larger operators generally being more aware than smaller operators and there was a general desire amongst those growers visited for the need to manage their operations in an environmentally sustainable manner.
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9. INCIDENTS 12Item Over the reporting period, a total of 232 complaints were received, compared to 148 for the previous reporting period. For this reporting period, the majority of these complaints (148) related to discharges to air. The remainder of the complaints related to discharges to land (42) and water (67). 9.1. Year to date 475 incidents have been received, compared to 238 for the same period last year. 9.2. All complaints are categorised and responded to accordingly. A response can include an immediate or planned inspection, a phone call, or being referred to another agency such as a Territorial Authority or Civil Aviation.
10. REGULATORY ACTION 10.1. During the reporting period 11 and four abatement and infringement notices, respectively were issued. Table 2 below provides a summary of the formal regulatory action taken during the reporting period.
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Item 12Item Table 2. Regulatory action taken during reporting period.
Person Regulatory District Section of Details Action RMA Taken Contravened McCarthy Infringement Ruapehu 15(1)(b) Discharge contaminant onto Transport Limited Notice land where it may enter water Kakariki Proteins Infringement Horowhenua 15(1)(c) Discharge of objectionable Ltd Notice odour Horizons Infringement Horowhenua 15(2A) Discharge of objectionable Regional Council Notice smoke (River Management Group) Murray Spiers Infringement Horowhenua 15(1)(c) Burning of prohibited material Notice on an industrial or trade premise Daniel and Ina Abatement Manawatu 15(1)(b) Silage and bedding material Grace Fraser Notice left on unsealed base for months next to a drain, dead goats dumped in a drain Daniel and Ina Abatement Manawatu 15(1)(b) Silage and bedding material Grace Fraser Notice left on unsealed base for months next to a drain, dead goats dumped in a drain Mellington Dairy Abatement Rangitikei 15(1)(b) Overflowing effluent storage Notice pond. McCarthy Abatement Ruapehu 15(1)(b) Overflow of engine oil from Transport Limited Notice truck yard sump. Ben Hodge Abatement Tararua 9(2) Large scale scrub spraying Notice Daniel and Ina Abatement Manawatu 15(1)(b) Change date for previous Grace Fraser Notice notice AFFCO NZ Ltd Abatement Whanganui 15(1)(c) Cease unauthorised discharge Notice of objectionable odour beyond the boundary Rangitikei District Abatement Rangitikei 9(2)&15(1)(b) Unauthorised land disturbance Council Notice and sediment discharges Kakariki Proteins Abatement Horowhenua 15(1)(C ) Cease unauthorised discharge Limited Notice of objectionable odour beyond the boundary Mountain Dairies Abatement Tararua 15(1)(b) Effluent ponding and runoff Limited Notice from irrigator to waterbody. Murray John Abatement Horowhenua 15(1)(d) Discharge building waste into Spiers Notice land. Landfill discharge consent expired.
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11. SIGNIFICANCE 12Item 11.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Greg Bevin Nic Peet REGULATORY MANAGER GROUP MANAGER STRATEGY & REGULATION
ANNEXES A Wastewater reporting as at 23 November 2018 B Horowhenua Commercial Vegetable Growers report
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12Item Wastewater Reporting as of 23 November 2018 (*denotes WWTP compliance assessed since 1 July 2018)
Rangitikei District Current compliance Under Category Description of non-compliance Action Expiry Date Council status assessment Variation application draft Taihape 1 Significant Non Comply* Discharge Volume exceedance 1- July -27 received Comply Marton 1 NA NA 31-Mar-19
Discharge volume exceedance, E.coli Variation application being Hunterville 2 Significant non comply* 1- July 37 exceedance in effluent processed. Significant non Comply Being addressed through Bulls 1 Discharge volume exceedance 1- Nov- 06 consent application Significant non Comply Being addressed through Ratana 1 Discharge Volume exceedance 31-July - 18 consent application
Comply Y Mangaweka 3 NA NA 19-Mar-24
Comply Koitiata 3 NA NA 1-Jul-24
Comply Duddings Lake 3 NA NA 27-Feb-2023 Annex A Horowhenua Under District assessment Council Shannon WWTP 1 Comply Not applicable NA 20-Mar- 48 Going through the consent Waitarere 3 Comply – At risk Minor ponding in irrigation area 27-Jun-07 renewal process Levin Pot 2 Comply Y Not applicable NA 31-Dec- 18 Levin WWTP Comply Y Not Applicable NA 1-July 2034 Being addressed through Foxton 1 Significant Non Comply* Daily Discharge Volumes 1-Dec-14 Renewal application
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Item 12Item Currently going through consent Tokomaru 3 Significant Non Comply Discharge Volume 24- Jan -17 renewal process Foxton Beach 3 Comply* Not applicable NA 11-Mar-28 Under Palmerston North assessment Palmerston North 1 Comply Y Not applicable NA 16-May-28 Whanganui District Under Category Combined rating Description of non-compliance Action Expiry Date Council assessment Mary Bank 3 Comply Y NA NA 27-Sep-21 Y inspected 9th Nov Report in Mowhanau 3 Comply NA 1-Dec-21 progress Whanganui District Y Discharge standard being exceeded 1 Significant Non Comply In progress 7-Jun- 19 Council sulphides
Manawatu District Under
Council assessment y Infringement issued and MDC Reporting deadlines, Soluble Inorganic have provided explanation on Feilding 1 Significant non Comply 22- Aug -26 Nitrogen limits exceeded in effluent. how they intend to increase Annex A nitrogen treatment. Himatangi Beach 3 Comply NA NA 1-Jul-25 Daily discharge volume exceeded to Please provide an explanation Halcombe 3 Significant Non comply land regularly exceeded, Exceedances of how MDC intend to address 28-Jun-16 in E.coli and particulate organic matter the quality issues Being addressed through Discharge flow data not available Cheltenham 3 Non Comply* consent renewal application 17-Jul-16 at start of assessment process Dissolved Reactive Phosphorous, Being addressed through 11-Nov-17 Rongotea 3 Significant Non Comply* Ammoniacal nitrogen and suspended consent renewal application
solid exceedances in effluent process
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12Item Effluent quality (Ammoniacal nitrogen, Timeline to fix flow meter as Kimbolton 3 Significant Non Comply dissolved reactive phosphorous and currently recording as nil 1-Sep-19 E.coli), flow meter discharge Consent holder advised of non- Awahuri 3 Non Comply* Discharge Volume exceedances 27-Jul-26 compliances Under Ruapehu District assessment Taumaranui Y Suspended solid and E.Coli Consent holder advised of non- 2 Non Comply 26-Nov-12 (Hikumutu) exceedances in effluent compliances To be addressed through National Park 2 Non Comply Discharge volumes exceeded. consent renewal application 17-Nov-15 process Rangataua 3 Comply Comply NA 20-Dec-05 Y Pipiriki 4 Comply Comply NA 1-Jul-35 Y Being addressed through Raetihi 1 Significant Non Comply Effluent suspended solid exceedances consent renewal application 17-Nov-15 process y Being addressed through the
Annex A Ohakune 2 Significant Non Comply Effluent suspended solid exceedances consent renewal application 17- Nov-15 process Ruatiti 4 Comply Not applicable NA 19-May-27 Tararua District Under
Council assessment Pahiatua 2 Significant Non Comply y Discharge volume exceedances Hearing decision appealed 30-Jun-05 y Upgrades at Eke did not occur due to prioritisation of the upgrades at Eketāhuna 1 Significant Non Comply Waiting on hearing decision. 1-Jul-15 Dannevirke, Woodville, Norsewood and Pahiatua WWTPs.
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Item 12Item y Being addressed through Woodville 2 Significant Non Comply Effluent DRP exceedances consent renewal application 31-Mar-11 process y To be addressed through Norsewood 3 Significant Non Comply Discharged Volume exceeded consent renewal application 1-Jul-26 process Pongaroa 3 Significant Non Comply y Effluent E.coli UV treatment now installed 30-Apr-19 y Requested an explanation of Ormondville 3 Significant Non Comply Discharge Volume how they intend to address by 1-Jul-26 1/7/18 y Effluent dissolved reactive Asked for timeline for Dannevirke 1 Significant Non Comply 9-Dec-14 phosphorous exceedances completion of current upgrades
Annex A
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12Item Non TA Volume exceedances, irrigation Whakapapa 1 Significant Non Comply* Application process to address 1-Dec-14 area insufficient NZDF Ohakea 3 Non Comply ^ Verification of flow meter overdue Follow up with NZDF re-certification 1-Jul-15 Requested explanation of how the Whanganui Prison 2 Significant Non Comply* Volume exceedances volumes are going to be reduced by 1-Jul-34 2/7/18 Advised to comply with timeframes in NZDF Waiouru 1 Non Comply ^ Late reporting 1-Jul-29 consent Hato Paora College 4 Non Comply* Insufficient monitoring Monitoring now occurring 25-Aug-08
Annex A
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Item 12Item
Annex A
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12Item Horowhenua Commercial Vegetable Growing: Assessment of Cultivation Rule 13-4 of the One Plan
Annex B
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Item 12Item
Annex B
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12Item Introduction – what the project was about Commercial vegetable growing has been identified as a contributor to sediment and nutrients in waterways. The soil resource is an important part of any commercial vegetable growing system, thus retaining soil and its characteristics is critical to successful vegetable growing operations. Once soil has been lost from a property it is not just a loss to the grower, but also creates problems in waterways, where the clean-up cost is borne by the community.
To manage the environmental risks cultivation activities present, the One Plan has a regulatory regime that is based around Rule 13-4. Accordingly this project sought to investigate how rule 13-4 of the ‘One Plan’ was being applied by commercial vegetable
growers in the Horowhenua district.
Project Scope Horowhenua was chosen as the study area for this project as it is the main horticulture area
Annex B in the region and has several catchments, namely Lake Papitonga, Lake Horowhenua, and Waikawa that are identified as target catchments in the ‘One Plan’.
A total of 13 growers were assessed, with properties ranging in size from 7 hectares (ha) to 550 ha. These operations were grouped into three size classes being 5-20 ha (5 growers 38%), 30-84 ha (4 growers 30%) and 100-550 ha (5 growers 38%). A total area of 1,254 ha of commercial vegetable growing land was assessed during the project (shown in Figure 1). A wide variety of crops were grown including: fresh (e.g. leafy vegetables, brassicas, and lettuces) and root vegetables (e.g. potatoes, radishes, onions), as well as asparagus and kabocha.
In addition to assessing the application of the rule 13-4, general information on growing practices was collected from each site, including: water use, nutrient management and record keeping, and whether the grower is part of New Zealand Good Agricultural Practice (NZGAP) programme.
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Item 12Item
Annex B
Figure 1: Map displaying commercial vegetable growing operations assessed in Horowhenua
This was a joint project undertaken by Consent Monitoring, Consent Planning and Rural Advice staff. Initially staff reviewed information available to Council and liaised with Dan Bloomer, an industry practitioner, who has been working with Horowhenua growers to help reduce sediment loss and implement good management practice. A questionnaire was developed to fill in any knowledge gaps (Appendix 1). A list of growers and contact details was gathered and staff liaised with growers to organise a time that suited them to visit their site. Site visits took place between 15 August and 11 September 2018.
Project Limitation Horticulture New Zealand estimates there are approximately 50 growers in the Horowhenua district. A limitation of this assessment is that many small growers were unable to be assessed due contact details for many being unavailable, language barriers and operations being too busy to meet with staff.
Regulatory framework Rule 13-4 of the ‘One Plan’ sets out those standards which must be complied with the ensure cultivation can be undertaken as a permitted activity. Rule 13-4 is detailed in table 1
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12Item below. In the event cultivation fails to meet the conditions identified below, resource consent is required under Rule 13-7.
When assessing aspects of Rule 13-4, consideration must be given to how some key terms are defined in the One Plan and/or Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). For example, when assessing condition e(i) and (ii) the RMA defines a “River” as being a continually or intermittently flowing body of fresh water; and includes a stream and modified watercourse; but does not include any artificial watercourse (including an irrigation canal, water supply race, canal for the supply of water for electricity power generation, and farm drainage canal). Whereas condition c makes reference to water quality standards for visual clarity in a receiving “water body”.
The RMA defines a “water body” as a freshwater or geothermal water in a river, stream, pond or wetland, or aquifer, or any part thereof, that is not located within the coastal marine area. Accordingly, roadside drains or other artificial water courses are not considered a
Annex B water body and therefore activities occurring next to these ‘artificial watercourses, are not subject the restrictions under Rule 13-4(c). Given that multiple operations discharge into artificial watercourses prior to these discharges entering a water body, assessing compliance and attributing non-compliance to any particular operation is difficult.
Table 1: Horizons ‘One Plan’, Rule 13-4 Rule Activity Classification Conditions/Standards/Terms Control/Discretion Non-Notification 13-4 Except as Permitted (a) The activity must not take place Cultivation regulated by on land^ that is within a coastal * Rules 13-6, 13-8 foredune*. and 13-9, any cultivation* and (b) Bunding, silt traps, interception ancillary land drains or other alternative disturbance* for methods to minimise sediment the purposes of run-off to water^ must be constructing installed prior to and maintained erosion and during cultivation*. sediment control methods to (c) Any ancillary discharge^ of minimise sediment into water^ must not, sediment run-off after reasonable mixing, cause
into water^ the receiving water body^ to pursuant to s9(2) breach the water quality RMA standards for visual clarity set and any ancillary: out in Schedule E for that water body^.
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Item 12Item Rule Activity Classification Conditions/Standards/Terms Control/Discretion Non-Notification (a) diversion of (d) For vegetable crops listed within water^ the Commodity Levies pursuant to (Vegetables and Fruit) Order s14(2) RMA 2007 a paddock assessment must on the land^ be undertaken in accordance where the with the Code of Practice for cultivation* is undertaken, Commercial Vegetable Growing or in the Horizons Region (b) (Horticulture New Zealand) discharge Version 2010/2. ^ of sediment
into water^ (e) The activity must not occur on pursuant to land^ that is in, or within 5 m of: s15(1) RMA resulting from (i) the bed^ of a river^ that is
Annex B the cultivation* permanently flowing, or the use of ancillary erosion (ii) the bed^ of a river^ that is and sediment not permanently flowing and control methods has an active bed* width to minimise greater than 1 m, sediment run-off into water^. (iii) the bed^ of a lake^.
(f) The activity must not occur on land^ that is in, or within 10 m of:
(i) A wetland^ as identified in Schedule F,
(ii) Sites valued for Trout Spawning as identified in Schedule B,
(i) Sites of Significance - Aquatic as identified in Schedule B.
Advice Note: Examples of alternative methods for minimising sediment run-off can be found in the Code of Practice for Commercial Vegetable Growing in the Horizons Region (Horticulture New Zealand).
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12Item
Key Findings Rule 13-4 was broken down and each condition assessed. The project found the following:
13-4 (a) assessment identified no commercial vegetable growing operations were occurring in the coastal foredune area.
While almost all farmers were meeting Rule 13-4 (b), by having some method to reduce runoff, these varied in their construction and therefore in their effectiveness (Photographs of some of these practices are attached as Appendix 2).
Extreme rainfall events have increased in frequency and intensity and therefore, water quality standards for visual clarity (outlined in Rule 13-4 (c)) are likely to be being breached frequently. However assessing compliance against this condition is
problematic due to how the term water body is defined and the cumulative nature of Annex B the discharge. On site assessments found that fresh vegetable growers were the highest risk for sediment runoff due to more crop maintenance required and greater area of bare soil.
Rule 13-4 (d) assessment found that paddock assessments in accordance with the Code of Practice were carried out, but on an ad hoc basis (especially for smaller growers).
13-4 (e) and 13-4 (f) was being complied with throughout the project area as there were very few rivers meeting these conditions in the immediate catchment. Any areas meeting these definitions have 5m and 10m buffers respectively.
Other significant challenges faced by growers are the erosion and flooding effects caused by run-off from roading infrastructure. In some cases these effects are compounded by the fact that some infrastructure is undersized or non-existent (shown in Figure 1 and 2 below).
Figure 1 and 2: showing culverts along Buller Road and non-existent stormwater infrastructure for State Highway 1
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Item 12Item
Annex B
Knowledge of Rule 13-4 varied with 31% of growers being well aware of the rule and 69% of growers having some awareness. There was confusion for several growers on when the rule applied, particularly when trying to identify whether a waterway was a river or a drain, which then determines whether the required separation distances apply.
Fifty four percent (54%) of growers were well aware of the Code of Practice, 31% being somewhat aware and 15% had no understanding. Smaller growers tended to have less understanding of the Code of Practice and the cultivation rule, which may be attributed to the fact that the smaller operations were unable to regularly attend the meetings run by Dan Bloomer.
Record keeping
Record keeping varied from very little to highly detailed. Of the 13 growers assessed, 85% kept paper records, one had paper and digital copies and another had very minimal paper copies and kept most of the information in their head. All growers were advised to keep
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12Item detailed records of their vegetable growing operation as they may be a required to be submitted to Horizons in future.
Water use
Significant water can be used for both the irrigation and washing of vegetables. Improper irrigation management can lead to loss in production, inefficiency of water use and increase sediment loss from vegetable growing operations. Out of the growers assessed 77% used irrigation. Of the growers that irrigated eighty percent (80%) had irrigation consents with the remaining 20% complying with the permitted activity rule. Also, 40% of growers used soil moisture probes, with the remaining 60% using visual assessments to time irrigation.
Sixty two percent (62%) of growers had vegetable washing operations, with the majority being small in volume (e. g. up to 2m3 of wash water).
Nutrient Management
Annex B
The project focused mainly on ascertaining what records were kept in relation to fertiliser applications. In summary, these records varied with some operators basing fertiliser applications on a visual assessment of how well the crop was growing, whilst others had more sophisticated processes including herbage tests and regular soil testing to manage fertiliser application.
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Item 12Item Conclusion Generally commercial vegetable growers are complying with Rule 13-4, with a variety of mitigation measures being adopted to control sediment release; however, these would vary largely in effectiveness. There was a mixed understanding of Rule 13-4, with the larger growers being more aware of the requirements, whilst some of the smaller growers had limited understanding. There are restrictions to Rule 13-4 which makes assessing compliance problematic. This revolves around the terms river and water body noted in the Rule. Most growers want to manage their operations in an environmentally sound manner and are keen to adopt best practice. Ongoing support from the Horticulture industry is important to achieve this aim.
Annex B
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12Item Appendix 1
Annex B
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Item 12Item
Annex B
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12Item
Annex B
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Annex B
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Annex B
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Appendix 2 Good practice examples of what was seen on ground:
Item 12Item Silt trap and grassed buffer
Annex B
Riparian margins and sediment retention pond
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12Item Grassed headlands and swales
Grassed headlands and low tillage for asparagus
Annex B
Grassed headlands or swale
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Item 12Item
Grassed headlands or swale
Annex B Grassed swales and headlands
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12Item Silt trap and grassed swale
Grassed swale reducing sediment runoff to the waterway
Annex B
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Item 12Item Areas for improvement Vegetable washing operation
Annex B
No grassed swale
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12Item Sediment runoff into grassed swale
Tracking and water ponding
Annex B
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Report No. 18-233 13Item Information Only - No Decision Required
WHANGANUI COASTAL STREAMS
1. PURPOSE 1.1. This item is to update Council on the swimmability of the Mōwhanāu, Kai Iwi and Ototoka Streams following permanent health warning signs being established at swim spot sites on these streams. The report also overviews the actions to improve swimmability in these streams to date and some options for further work to improve swimmability in these catchments. The item also provides some background information on the NPS-FM Swimmability targets adopted by Council, including some catchment based summaries of State and Trends for E. coli.
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2.1. Horizons Regional Council (Horizons) has recently set its swimmability targets as required by the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM, 2017). The targets seek to improve the swimmability of the regions rivers and lakes (as measured by the methodology of the NPS-FM) to 70% by 2030 and 80% by 2040 for the year round targets and to 90% by 2040 for the “summer only“ period. 2.2. Horizons has accelerated it‘s programmes to complete physical works to improve swimmability of the regions rivers over recent years through a range of partnership projects. Predominantly these projects have applied for and secured government funding to be used alongside local funding, including ratepayer and landowner funding. In addition, Council has provided further grant resourcing and staff capacity through the Long-term Plan. Demand for freshwater grants continues to grow and overall we are close to full allocation for the 2018-19 year. 2.3. The Mōwhanāu, Kai Iwi and Ototoka Streams are three small catchments that enter the Tasman Sea north of Whanganui and are popular sites for swimming and recreation. While these streams provide a physically safe place for young children to be able to swim when compared to local beaches, persistently high levels of E.coli throughout summer often result in these streams being flagged as unsuitable for swimming. As a result, permanent health warning signage has been established at three swim spots in these catchments. 2.4. Monitoring and investigations carried out by Horizons have identified land use and wastewater as the primary sources of E.coli. Faecal source tracking (FST) has been undertaken in all three of the catchments with the majority of the E.coli in all of the catchments being derived from ruminants. 2.5. Horizons has been working with land owners, iwi and community groups in these catchments over the past decade to improve the health of these waterways and increase their suitability for swimming and recreation. Steps to reduce the levels of E.coli in these streams have included both regulatory and non-regulatory activity. Regulatory action has included the recent prosecution of Whanganui District Council for the discharge of wastewater from a pumping station into the Mōwhanāu Stream in January 2018. Non- regulatory activity has included the development of farm plans to reduce the amount of sediment and bacteria from land further up the catchments, as well as stock exclusion and riparian planting. 2.6. Further exclusion of stock from waterways (where practicable) will lead to further reductions in faecal contamination throughout these catchments. However, the scale and
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speed at which these works is occurring is limited. In order to speed up the rate at which these works can be achieved there are a number of different mechanisms that could be used. These include:
Item 13Item an increase in resourcing levels for the non-regulatory programme (staffing and grant dollars) specific to these catchments; or a re-direction of current resources to these catchments at the expense of the regional programme (noting that with current allocation levels the earliest this could start would be the 2019-20 financial year); or either of the above options in addition to an increase in the grant rate to incentivize the uptake rate for works in these catchments; or a regulatory intervention; or a mixture of the above. 2.7. If swimming at the monitoring locations is the focus of immediate works, commencing stock exclusion from the swimming site and then working upstream is the most logical approach, as this takes advantage of the natural ability of sunlight to kill E.coli as the water makes its way downstream toward the more popular swim spots.
3. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-233.
4. BACKGROUND Swimmability in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region 4.1. Horizons Regional Council has recently set its swimmability targets as required by the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (2017). The targets seek to improve the swimmability of the regions rivers and lakes (as measured by the methodology of the NPS-FM) to 70% by 2030 and 80% by 2040 for the year round targets and to 90% by 2040 for the “summer only“ period. 4.2. An assessment of the current state of swimmability is provided in Table 1 and Figures 1-3 below. These results indicate that 44% of the length of regions larger rivers (order 4 and above) are considered suitable for swimming by the methodology of the NPS-FM. The table also shows the information summarised by the freshwater management units. Overall this shows that the Manawatū and Whanganui Catchments have the largest lengths of rivers within the D and E bands that are considered “unswimmable”. On a proportional basis the Manawatū and Turakina/Whangaehu Catchments have the greatest proportion of the catchments considered as unswimmable with both having in the order of two thirds of their river length (of large rivers, Order 4 and above) considered unswimmable. 4.3. The recently completed state and trends report (as reported to Strategy and Policy committee in November) shows an overall improving trend in E. coli across the region. However within this overall improvement there are some sites that are showing declining trends (Table 2 and Figures 4 and 5). Notably within the Manawatū Catchment approximately two thirds of the sites were showing declining trends over a ten year period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2017.
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Item 13Item
Figure 1: Map of Swimmability across the Region for large rivers as reported by the Ministry for the Environment, 2017 showing the target catchments for nutrient management.
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Table 1: Summary of the state of swimmability in the Manawatū -Whanganui as assessed by the Ministry for the Environment for the larger rivers (order 4 and above).
Item 13Item Swimming East Category Band Region Coast Horowhenua Manawatu Rangitikei Turakina/Whangaehu Whanganui Blue A 576 18 92 284 72 110 Green B 567 29 93 113 62 271 Yellow C 1,062 15 4 292 173 111 468 Orange D 1,992 223 5 610 134 446 573 Red E 790 16 14 321 136 48 253 Grand Total 4,986 254 70 1,408 841 739 1,675
Swimming East Category Band Region Coast Horowhenua Manawatu Rangitikei Turakina/Whangaehu Whanganui Blue A 12% 0% 25% 6% 34% 10% 7% Green B 11% 0% 41% 7% 13% 8% 16% Yellow C 21% 6% 6% 21% 21% 15% 28% Orange D 40% 88% 7% 43% 16% 60% 34% Red E 16% 6% 21% 23% 16% 7% 15%
Figure 2: Kilometers of River order 4 or more in each swimming category by Freshwater Management Unit.
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Item 13Item
Figure 3: Percentage of River order 4 or more in each Swimming category by Freshwater Management Unit.
Table 2: Probability of improving trend in E. coli by FMU over the 10 year period 1July 2007 – 30 June 2017 the number in brackets is the standard error for the probability (Fraser and Snelder, 2018).
Area Probability of Improving trend Number of sites Region 52.5% (4%) 80 East Coast 100% (18.9%) 2 Horowhenua 33.3% (15.3%) 6 Manawatu 32.5% (5.5%) 40 Rangitikei 76.9% (10.1%) 13 Turakina/Whangaehu 81.8% (10.8%) 11 Whanganui 75% (14.4 %) 8
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Item 13Item
Figure 4: Probability of improving trend in E. coli(flow adjusted) over the 10 year period (1 July 2007 – 30 June 2017) with target catchments.
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Item 13Item
Figure 5: Probability of improving trend in E. coli over the 10 year period (1 July 2007 – 30 June 2017) by FMU.
Actions to improve swimmability in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region 4.4. Horizons Regional Council has accelerated it‘s programmes to complete physical works to improve swimmability of the regions rivers over recent years through a range of partnership projects. Predominantly these projects have applied for and secured government funding to be used alongside local funding, including ratepayer and landowner funding. The programmes include: two Freshstart for Freshwater Clean-up projects (Manawatū Catchment and Lake Horowhenua Catchment), four Te Mana o te Wai projects (Manawatū Catchment, Lake Horowhenua, Rangitikei Catchment and Kai iwi Catchment), the Sustainable Land Use Initiative (region wide); and four Freshwater Improvement Fund projects (Manawatū, Lake Horowhenua, Whangaehu, and Lake Waipu near Ratana). 4.5. In response to the additional funding from the Freshwater Improvement Fund for projects that start this year, Council increased staffing and provided additional rate payer funding to enable stream fencing and planting grants to be provided in catchments where there is not a Freshwater Improvement Fund project. Council has also enabled the use of reserve funding to complete additional fencing and planting grants in recent years, including this year for both the Freshwater and SLUI programmes. The levels of allocation remain high and there is strong demand for grants as shown in the Freshwater and Partnerships report to the Environment Committee. Overall there is a significant additional workload to deliver the increased scale and scope of the programmes.
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4.6. There are actions within the Freshwater and Partnerships programme beyond the fencing and planting that contribute to improved swimmability of the regions waterways including work to improve discharges of treated wastewater to water and funding to transition these
Item 13Item to discharges to land. 4.7. The regulatory programmes of the Regional Council and the effort of landowners doing work themselves and the work of other agencies also contribute also contribute to improvements in swimmability in the region. The Kai Iwi, Mōwhanāu and Ototoka Streams 4.8. The Kai Iwi, Mōwhanāu and Ototoka Streams are located just a short drive to the northwest of Whanganui City. Both the Kai Iwi and Mōwhanāu Streams are located near Kai Iwi Beach and a neighbouring holiday park, which attract both locals and visitors to the region. The beach is patrolled throughout summer and is often frequented by surfers, while the streams provide a more sheltered area for swimming. Information can be found at https://www.visitwhanganui.nz/kai-iwi-beach, including a video showcasing the Mōwhanāu Stream and Kai Iwi Beach. The Ototoka Stream is a short drive further to the north and is most commonly accessed near the coast at Ototoka Falls. 4.9. All three streams drain separate catchments and discharge to the Tasman Sea, north of Whanganui. The streams hold a number of values including inanga spawning and whitebait migration, Mauri, life supporting capacity and amenity values (in addition to other values). The Mōwhanāu Stream is valued as an aquatic site of significance within the One Plan. All three streams are particularly valued by the community for swimming and contact recreation as these streams provide a physically safe place for young children to be able to swim when compared to local beaches. 4.10. Persistently high levels of E.coli throughout summer often result in these streams being flagged as unsuitable for swimming, even at times when stream flows are low. Swim spot monitoring results from 2017-18 showed persistently high levels of E.coli at all three sites throughout last summer (Figure 6).
Figure 6: E.coli monitoring results from the 2017-18 contact recreation season. 4.11. The Mōwhanāu Stream has a long history of being monitored as part of Horizons’ contact recreation programme. It was through this monitoring that the need for more intensive and extensive monitoring was identified, and this included identifying sources of elevated levels of E.coli in the wider Mōwhanāu Catchment. This monitoring resulted in a targeted approach to stock exclusion in the Mōwhanāu Catchment through non-regulatory mechanisms and Horizons’ Freshwater and Partnerships team have been actively working with local landowners and iwi in recent years to reduce sediment and bacteria inputs through run-off. 4.12. The Kai Iwi and Ototoka Streams are recent additions to the contact recreation monitoring programme. Monitoring in both of these catchments commencing in November 2016 with the expansion of the contact recreation monitoring programme. Results to date show that the majority of the time these sites are unsafe for swimming. This resulted in the installation of Health Warning signs for the 2018-19 contact recreation season (Figure 7).
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Item 13Item
Figure 7 An example of the Health Risk Warning signs that have been installed at all three of the Whanganui coastal streams. 4.13. Faecal source tracking (FST) has been undertaken in all three of the catchments with the majority of the E.coli in all of the catchments being derived from ruminants. This information is useful as it guides the interventions that need to be undertaken within the catchment. In this situation the exclusion of stock from waterways will be the most effective tool to reduce E.coli concentrations within the streams. However, the catchments in themselves and the tools that we currently have available to us provide some limitations on what can currently be achieved. 4.14. Much work has been undertaken by Horizons and others to improve water quality in these catchments including stream fencing, riparian planting, land retirement, and forestry. This is outlined in further detail in the following section of this report.
5. DISCUSSION 5.1. The contact recreation monitoring sites for each of these streams is at the base of the catchment prior to them entering the Tasman Sea. The monitoring therefore is a reflection of all that happens with the catchment. 5.2. Land use within each of the catchments is varied and is generally driven by the land topography. Understanding these limitations is also important in driving the intervention logic for each of the catchments and where the greatest wins will be made at the lowest cost. With the majority of the faecal contamination in these streams being derived from ruminants the most effective method to reduce instream concentrations will be through the exclusion of stock from waterways. 5.3. In order to reduce the impact of E. coli on bathing suitability across the region, Horizons has been working to prioritise areas across the region where E. coli levels exceed
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guideline values. This work includes intensive monitoring surveys to identify tributaries contributing high concentrations of E. coli, faecal source tracking to determine the source of the bacteria (cows, sheep, birds or human) and working with landowners in identified
Item 13Item catchments to exclude stock from waterways and plant riparian margins. 5.4. In 2017, Nga Rauru supported by Horizons was successful in receiving funding through the Ministry for the Environment Te Mana o te Wai Fund for a project to improve the health of the Kai Iwi, Okehu and Ototoka Streams. Work included removal of willows, stream fencing to exclude stock, and riparian planting and was co-funded by Horizons Regional Council through the Regional Freshwater programme. Mōwhanāu Stream 5.5. The Mōwhanāu Stream has high contact recreation value, providing freshwater swimming opportunities for children from Whanganui and the surrounding area. The stream flows into the sea at the very popular Mōwhanāu/Kai Iwi Beach and is adjacent to a large playground and holiday camp. 2 5.6. The Mōwhanāu Catchment area is small, only 29 km with predominately pastoral agriculture throughout the catchment. Land use is mostly sheep and beef (73%), with little woody vegetative cover. Dairy farming is estimated to be less than 20% of the land use and there is only one dairy effluent discharge consent to land. 5.7. Monitoring is undertaken at the Mōwhanāu Stream at Footbridge site as part of Horizons State of the Environment monitoring programme on a monthly basis (since 2008)3 and weekly during the bathing season as part of the contact recreation programme since 2004. 5.8. An assessment of One Plan compliance shows that the Mōwhanāu at Footbridge site meets One Plan criteria for ammoniacal nitrogen and temperature but fails to meet the criteria for dissolved oxygen (Table 3). In Table 3 the cells highlighted in grey are water quality targets that require flow for a complete assessment. There is no flow statistics for this site and as such they have been graded using all data within the specified time period. Indicative results also suggest that the site fails to meet the criteria for clarity, nutrients and bacteria (Table 3). Table 3 One Plan criteria show mixed results for the Mōwhanāu Stream. Red indicates failure to meet targets, green indicates the target is being met.
Parameter One Plan Status Clarity Field Dissolved Oxygen Saturation Dissolved Reactive Phosphorous E. coli (Bathing) E. coli (year round) Ammoniacal-N (Mean) Soluble Inorganic Nitrogen Field Temperature
3 This site was not reported on in the recent River water quality state and trends report as it is really an estuary water quality site.
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5.9. Monitoring of the Mōwhanāu Stream (at the Footbridge) frequently did not comply with the 13Item Ministry of Health contact recreation water quality guidelines (Figure 8). There has been a reduction in the proportion of samples greater than 550 E. coli / 100ml (red) since 2006-07 although the 2011-12 and 2017-18 seasons had a number of samples greater than 550 E. coli / 100ml. The data in the figure includes all samples taken during the period 1 November – 30 April in the respective bathing seasons.
Mowhanau Stream at Footbridge 100%
90%
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70%
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30% PercentHealth in CategoryRisk 20%
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Figure 8: Summary of bathing risk for the Mōwhanāu Stream over the past 14 years. Green should be safe for swimming, Amber could be a health risk and Red avoid swimming. 5.10. In response to identifying the initial water quality problems in the Mōwhanāu Stream an intensive monitoring survey was undertaken in 2008 (McArthur et al., 2010). The investigation found that in some locations high E. coli concentrations could be associated with catchment rainfall washing faecal matter into the stream and out to the estuary. However, at several sites the relationship between flow and E. coli suggests direct faecal input from stock at low flows are the cause of the high concentrations in the stream and at the estuary. As such, the report recommended stock exclusion to reduce E. coli concentrations. 5.11. The aim of the implementation work in this catchment is to fence the riparian margin to exclude stock, particularly cattle, to reduce summer E. coli levels. In conjunction, a proportion of the lower reach of the stream is being fenced to improve inanga spawning habitat and planting to create stream shading to improve native fish habitat. 5.12. Through the Freshwater and Land programmes, Horizons has co-funded around 17 km (12.7 km completed under the Freshwater programme and 4.3 km through the Land programme) of stream fencing in the Mōwhanāu Catchment (Figure 9). Of the 17 km of fencing, 3.7 km is on first and second order streams (very small streams) while the remainder is on third and fourth order streams (the larger streams in the catchment). Within the catchment we have identified 48.8 km of total stream length from the River Environment Classification (REC) database.
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Figure 9 Mowhanau Stream Fencing map showing works completed by Horizons’ Land and Freshwater and Partnerships teams as at November 2018. 5.13. The measurements provided above only include fencing work co-funded by Horizons and does not include those areas were landowners have undertaken such works without the assistance of the Regional Council. It is therefore, difficult to establish the actual amount of existing stream fencing in the catchment at this stage. This is not unique to the Mōwhanāu and exists across all catchments in the region. There are of course options to estimate/measure this and options to do further work in the catchment.
Kai Iwi Stream 5.14. The Kai Iwi Stream (Figure 10) is located just northwest and a short walk from the Mōwhanāu Stream and holiday park. The catchment area is approximately 191 km2, with the predominant land use being sheep and beef (51%), followed by exotic forest (29%) and native cover (19%). Intensive land use comprises 1% of the total catchment area. 5.15. Monitoring is undertaken at two sites within the catchment. Kai Iwi at Handley Road is monitored as part of Horizons State of the Environment monitoring programme on a monthly basis (since 2015), and Kai Iwi at Archers Bridge is sampled weekly during the bathing season as part of the contact recreation programme since (2016).
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Figure 10 Kai Iwi Stream 5.16. The state of water quality at Handley Road is generally good in terms of nitrate and ammonia toxicity and dissolved reactive phosphorus however, does not meet targets for clarity, plant available nitrogen or E. coli (Table 4).
Table 4 NOF and One Plan assessment for the Kai Iwi Stream Criteria Parameter Status NOF Nitrate A (Band A-E) Ammonia B E. coli E One Plan Status Clarity Fail (Pass/Fail) Field Dissolved Oxygen Saturation Pass Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus Pass E. coli (Bathing) Fail E. coli (year round) Fail Ammoniacal-N (Max) Pass Ammoniacal-N (Mean) Pass Soluble Inorganic Nitrogen Fail
5.17. Within the Kai Iwi and Northern Coastal streams (as identified in the One Plan) the Freshwater and Land team have undertaken a range of works within the catchment as shown in Figure 11. This map illustrates that while some work has been undertaken by both the Freshwater (black line) and Land (blue line) programmes, the total area were works could be undertaken is significant in scale and there is scope for further improvement to be undertaken.
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Figure 11 Stream fencing completed in the Kai Iwi (West_2) and Northern Coastal (West_1) sub-catchments as at October 2018.
Ototoka Stream 5.18. The Ototoka Stream is around 20 km northwest of Whanganui, to the west of the Kai Iwi and Mōwhanāu Streams. The iron sand beach is popular with swimmers, walkers and fossil hunters while the stream itself is generally accessed at the Ototoka Falls located along the walking track from the carpark toward the beach (Figure 12). 2 5.19. The Ototoka Catchment is around 29 km and the land cover is largely pastoral agriculture – predominately sheep and beef (around 80%) and some woody vegetative cover. Dairy farming is estimated to be 13% of total land use and there are eight dairy effluent discharge consents within the catchment. State of Environment monitoring is not carried out in the Ototoka Stream so One Plan and NOF assessments are not available for this catchment. 5.20. During the 2016-17 bathing season monitoring was undertaken at William Birch Pool, which is a concrete freshwater pool constructed in the 1930’s and accessed from State Highway 3. As this site is not recommended to be used for swimming, from 2017 we have monitored at a site further downstream near the coast. 5.21. E. coli concentrations are higher at the downstream site than they were measured at the William Birch Pool site (although we do not have concurrent measurements of the two sites). 5.22. Staff are currently designing a synoptic survey of the Ototoka Catchment between William Birch Pool and the current monitoring site to determine potential hot spots for E. coli in the catchment and identify further sites to undertake Faecal Source Tracking. This survey will be undertaken over the summer period.
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nd
5.23. Compliance staff undertook inspections the 5 dairy farms on the 22 of November. All 13Item farms were compliant with the conditions of consent at the time of inspection.
Figure 12 Ototoka Stream and Beach.
Faecal Source Tracking 5.24. In January 2014 the first round of faecal source tracking was undertaken in the Mōwhanāu Catchment and identified cattle as the predominant source of E. coli. However, some human sourced bacteria was also identified indicating potential inputs from septic tanks and/or a sewage treatment plant in the catchment. Targeted monitoring and investigations have identified occasional discharges of effluent from the sewage treatment plant. 5.25. During the 2016-17 bathing season a discharge from the Whanganui District Council waste water pump station into the Mōwhanāu Stream occurred whilst staff were undertaking swim spot monitoring. This lead to public health warnings and prosecution of the District Council. 5.26. Subsequent work to identify other potential sources of E coli at the three sites was completed during 2017-18. Faecal source tracking was conducted both upstream and at the swim spot sites in the Kai Iwi and Mōwhanāu Streams. The analysis showed ruminant contamination of up to 50% at the Mōwhanāu and Kai Iwi sites but it was unclear whether the source of contamination was from cows or sheep. At the Kai Iwi stream at Archer’s Bridge site, faecal tracking indicated birds were also a source. As bird faecal indicators were not detected at the upstream site of Kai Iwi stream, contamination from birds likely enters the stream between the two sites. 5.27. Faecal source tracking at Ototoka Stream at Beach Road revealed strong contamination from ruminants, making up 50-100% of the faecal input at the site and specifically identified cows as a contributor (accounting for 10-50%).
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5.28. Based on these results, stock exclusion from streams in these areas could help improve water quality and swimmability. Stream fencing and riparian planting is already taking place in the Whanganui region close to the identified sites. The results from this season’s
Item 13Item monitoring suggest that positive effects may not be seen immediately and efforts in these areas to exclude stock from streams should continue. Prioritizing work areas 5.29. E.coli is known to be killed via UV light. The longer E.coli is exposed to sunlight, the lower the concentrations will become (assuming there are no further inputs). In this regard, if the concern is the monitored swimming spots in the interests of prioritizing resources, it would make logical sense to start any campaigns for stock exclusion from the swimming point and then work upstream. However, it is important to note that the current work undertaken by the Freshwater team is non-regulatory in nature and while this prioritisation could theoretically occur it would require participation and co-funding from the landowner. Further incentives such as increased co-funding may be necessary to ensure that land-owner uptake is focussed on these priority areas.
6. TIMELINE / NEXT STEPS 6.1. Over the coming summer, further work is to be undertaken within the Ototoka Catchment to identify the potential inputs of E.coli contamination. This work will allow us identify future areas for undertaking works. 6.2. The most likely intervention to reduce ruminant contamination will be the exclusion of stock from waterways. Given current allocations for stream fencing in the Freshwater Team and existing staff resourcing, the ability to proactively work in these catchments is presently limited. Proactively working within these catchment (for example, by staff approaching landowners) is unlikely to achieve the desired outcome of greater uptake if there is a lack of available grants or staff capacity to undertake the works. 6.3. However, if Council is of the opinion that stock exclusion within these catchments should occur at a faster pace, there are options that could be considered. These include consideration of a higher grant rate to actively encourage more landowners to complete fencing, and/or having funds that are specifically targeted to these catchments. Any programme that commences work specifically in these catchments will need to factor in that engagement with landowners and progress towards stock exclusion will take time. 6.4. In addition, there will be areas within the catchment were it is simply not practical to exclude stock from waterways. There are however, other mechanisms that could be considered, such as reducing the likelihood of stock entering waterways. This can be achieved through the provision of reticulated water, which reduces the likelihood of stock accessing the streams.
7. SIGNIFICANCE 7.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement. Maree Patterson SENIOR SCIENTIST – WATER QUALITY Abby Matthews SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MANAGER Logan Brown FRESHWATER AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER – NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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Report No. 18-234 14Item Information Only - No Decision Required
PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS)
1. PURPOSE 1.1. This report provides Council with an update on progress around investigations into contamination of land and water by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), primarily arising from the use of fire-fighting foam. This includes an update on PFAS sampling programmes at Ohakea Air Base and Palmerston North Airport, as well as a progress update and outline of next steps for the Bulls public water supply investigation.
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2.1. PFAS is an acronym for a group of chemical compounds known as per- and poly- fluorinated alkyl substances that have been extensively manufactured and used worldwide. PFAS is an emerging issue following detection in soil and water on and around New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and other sites. 2.2. In the Horizons Region, PFAS have been identified in soil, surface water and groundwater in and around NZDF Base Ohakea, near Bulls, at levels that exceed a range of human health and environmental guidelines values, at low-levels in the Bulls public water supply; and more recently in soil, surface water and groundwater in and around Palmerston North Airport. Further at-risk sites in the Horizons Region have also been identified as part of a national PFAS site prioritisation work programme. 2.3. This report provides a general update on activities relating to PFAS in the Horizons Region however, does not discuss regulatory actions undertaken in relation to any of these activities. This report also provides an update to Council around an investigation into the detection of PFAS in the Bulls Water Supply (which has been co-ordinated by Horizons in collaboration with Rangitīkei District Council) and outlines the next steps for this work programme.
3. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-234. b. endorses the proposed approach.
4. FINANCIAL IMPACT 4.1. Costs associated with this emerging issue include project management, sampling, analysis, reporting and national and community engagement. Associated costs are additional to those identified as part of the proposed Science and Innovation work programme presented to Council through the recent Long Term Plan process. Additional funding up to $100,000 was approved by Council earlier this year to investigate the source of PFAS in the Bulls water supply bores. The approximate spend to date, excluding staff time, is in the order of $40,000.
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5. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 5.1. Community engagement has not been undertaken in preparation of this report.
Item 14Item 5.2. To date the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) as All of Government lead agency has led communication around the national response to PFAS. A guidance document ‘PFAS Communication, Engagement and Information Sharing Guidelines’ was developed by MfE and a copy is available on their website. 5.3. With regard to Ohakea, communication was initially lead by NZDF however, as investigations progressed, Manawatū District Council (MDC) has increasingly taken a lead role in communication locally with support from Rangitīkei District Council (RDC) and Horizons. Rangitīkei District Council has also engaged with local water users as part of the Bulls water supply investigation, as required. Horizons staff have attended community meetings, hui with local iwi, and meetings with land owners directly affected by contamination at Ohakea. Our intention is to continue to support our City and District Councils around community engagement, including providing communications support where necessary. 5.4. Communications around the detection of PFAS at Palmerston North Airport has been a collaborative initiative between Palmerston North City Council (PNCC), Palmerston North Airport Limited (PNAL) and Horizons. 5.5. Information for communities about PFAS is available: Specific animal health or food safety questions can be directed to 0800 00 83 83 Specific health enquiries can be directed to your GP or Healthline 0800 611 116 Ministry for the Environment’s website: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/land/pfas-and-poly- fluoroalkyl-substances/about-pfas Environmental Protection Authority website: https://www.epa.govt.nz/ Further updates from Palmerston North Airport Limited will be made available at: https://pnairport.co.nz/news
6. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 6.1. There is no immediate significant risk associated with this report.
7. BACKGROUND 7.1. PFAS is an acronym for a group of chemical compounds known as per- and poly- fluorinated alkyl substances that have been extensively manufactured and used worldwide. 7.2. PFAS compounds are a complex family of more than 3,000 synthetic fluorinated organic chemicals, although not all are currently in use or production. These compounds have been used since the 1950s to give a wide range of products some unique physical and chemical properties. These products can resist heat, stains, grease and water, and include furniture protectants, floor wax, treated fabrics and leather, paper products, non-stick cookware, food packaging, insecticides and specialised firefighting foams. 7.3. PFAS include both per- and polyfluorinated chemicals. Perfluorinated chemicals, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), are a subset of PFAS with carbon chain atoms that are totally fluorinated, while polyfluorinated chemicals have at least one carbon chain atom that is not totally fluorinated. 7.4. PFOA and PFOS are chemicals that have been used in firefighting over the last 50 years to improve the ability of fire-fighting foams to smother fire. These foams have been used for flammable liquid fires at airports and other fire training sites across New Zealand.
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7.5. Knowledge and understanding of PFAS impacts on both human health and the 14Item environment are rapidly evolving. PFAS compounds in the environment are considered to be emerging contaminants of concern because they are known to be environmentally stable, mobile, persistent, and bioaccumulative. 7.6. PFAS are found globally in both remote and urban environments, and some PFAS compounds are present in various matrices including humans, soils, sediments, surface and groundwater, and wildlife. 7.7. There is evidence there may be health effects associated with sustained exposure to some PFAS. Interim guideline limits for drinking water have been established by the Ministry of Health (MoH, 2017), and Australian Government Department of Health (AGDoH, 2017) for non-potable water / contact recreation. Site specific screening limits for stock water and fodder irrigation have also been established. Working with Central Government 7.8. An All of Government (AoG) governance group spanning MfE (as lead agency), Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Ministry of Health (MoH), Fire and Emergency, NZDF and Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) was established to oversee and co-ordinate the response to PFAS contamination in New Zealand. Sarah Gardner (Otago Regional Council) is the LGNZ representative at governance level. 7.9. A national working group provides technical guidance and co-ordination of national efforts, and presently includes representatives from local councils including Shayne Harris (Manawatū District Council) and Abby Matthews (Horizons Regional Council), as well as staff from Fire and Emergency NZ and a number of other regional councils and unitary authorities. 7.10. The working group have largely been responsible for co-ordinating the compilation of national guidance material and ensuring the AoG governance group is aware of progress relating to both regional and national investigations. This has included the development of draft guidelines for sampling and analysis of PFAS, and disposal of PFAS containing water to trade waste (lead by EPA). 7.11. Information is regularly updated on the MfE website: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/land/pfas-and- poly-fluoroalkyl-substances. This includes information about the AoG National PFAS Programme, the latest health and environmental information, as well as guidance material and information for agencies involved in responding to PFAS contamination.
8. DISCUSSION Ohakea Air Base 8.1. Horizons was initially approached by MfE representatives in late November 2017, and officially advised of contamination at the Ohakea Air Base in December 2017. Investigations at Base Ohakea were initiated by NZDF in 2015 and identified high risk areas for PFAS contamination. Initial sampling undertaken by NZDF identified PFAS in soil, surface water and groundwater (including in a groundwater bore beyond the Ohakea property boundary) prompting the need for further investigation beyond Base Ohakea. 8.2. A sampling investigation has been undertaken by NZDF since December 2017, with a fourth round of testing for PFAS compounds at properties near Ohakea and Woodbourne Air Bases completed in September 2018. This has completed the seasonal testing needed to determine the possible effects of changing weather patterns on levels of PFAS compounds detected. 8.3. Investigations by NZDF have confirmed the presence of PFAS at and beyond Base Ohakea in soil, surface and groundwater. A number of these samples exceeded the interim drinking water guidelines (MoH, 2017); non-potable / contact recreation guideline; and a
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number of samples and/or Stock Watering and Fodder Irrigation screening values. Likely sources and pathways have also been identified through Detailed Site Investigation reports. Item 14Item 8.4. Sampling of soil, watercress, vegetables, milk, eggs and cattle tissue and pig tissue has been completed. Where necessary, advice has been provided to land owners. Further advice around the consumption of kai awa species from the Makowhai Stream and nearby tributaries was also provided by MPI and Horizons, Manawatū District Council and MfE have met with local iwi to discuss this advice and recommendations. 8.5. Ongoing testing has largely confirmed the initial results and extent of the subsurface contaminant plume where levels exceed the interim drinking water guideline limits. There remains some uncertainty around the full extent of the plume, in part due to a lack of suitable sampling sites. 8.6. Horizons Science and Innovation team continues to work closely with the AoG, MfE, Manawatū District Council, local iwi and landowners to provide technical advice and information. Engagement with NZDF and All of Government around Base Ohakea is lead by Horizons’ Regulatory Group. Bulls Public Water Supply 8.7. Sampling of the Bulls and Sanson water supplies was initially completed by NZDF at the request of Manawatū and Rangitīkei District Councils and Horizons Regional Council. Testing results were clear of PFAS in the Sanson water supply but returned low level positive results (below interim drinking water guideline limits) in four of the five Bulls water supply groundwater bores. 8.8. Initially, roles and responsibilities around PFAS investigations were unclear. While it was suggested that investigations would be overseen by AoG, the task eventually fell to local councils. Horizons Regional Council approved a budget of $100,000 to investigate the source (or sources) of PFAS in the Bulls water supply in collaboration with Rangitīkei District Council. Roles and responsibilities of agencies and landowners are now outlined in documentation available of the MfE website: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/sites/default/files/media/Land/Roles%20and%20responsibilities%2 0dd%2026%20July%202018.pdf. 8.9. In July 2018, Horizons engaged contaminated land and hydrogeology experts from Jacobs to undertake an initial sampling investigation to determine the extent of PFAS contamination and identify potential sources of contamination. This investigation is ongoing and is being delivered in close collaboration with Rangitīkei District Council. This report provides Council with an update of our findings to date and outlines recommended next steps. 8.10. The Bulls water supply provides water to an estimated population of around 1,700. The bore field comprises five production wells located close to State Highway (SH) 3, 100 m to 200 m north of the Rangitikei River. Bulls town centre lies approximately 1.2 km to the north; Base Ohakea is located on the southern side of the Rangitikei River approximately 1 km southwest of the well field. Four of these bores are shallow (with screen depths ranging from 4.5 to 11.7 m depth). One bore is deeper (screened from 25.6 to 31.6 m depth) and appears to be somewhat confined from the shallow bores. 8.11. Elevated levels of PFAS in the Bulls supply were not anticipated by NZDF or their technical team and as such, the source of PFAS in the Bulls water supply was initially uncertain. A number of potential sources were identified by NZDF and Horizons’ technical teams. These included known contamination present at Base Ohakea, potential contamination from the site of a 1996 Skyhawk crash, and potential contamination from land use related sources in the vicinity of the Bulls water supply. Our initial conceptual model is shown in Figure 1.
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Item 14Item
Figure 1 Initial Conceptual Site Model (August 2018) The section runs approximately SW to NE between Base Ohakea on the southern side of the Rangitikei River to the northern end of Bulls township and the former Bulls Landfill on Watson Street. Image courtesy of Jacobs.
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8.12. Base Ohakea is located across the Rangitīkei River and allegedly does not fit NZDF’s current contaminant transport model. Horizons has repeatedly requested a copy of the model and supporting data however this information has not been forthcoming. We have
Item 14Item recently been advised that model is currently being updated and that viewer files will be made available to Horizons early in 2019 once that update is complete. Until this information is received and reviewed, we are unable to rule out Base Ohakea as a potential source of PFAS to the Bulls water supply. 8.13. To inform the Bulls water supply study, NZDF agreed to investigate the Skyhawk crash site to determine whether firefighting foam used at the site could plausibly be a source of the PFAS in the Bulls water supply. Eight groundwater samples were collected from seven bores and analysed for PFAS. PFAS were not detected above the laboratory limit of reporting (<0.0010 µg/L) in any of the samples. 8.14. Other sources of PFAS contamination in close proximity to the Bulls well field include three potential sources within Bulls, comprising the Bulls Fire Station (potential storage and use of Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF)), the former Bulls (Rangitikei) Landfill (disposal of PFAS contaminated wastes) and the Bulls Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) effluent ponds (from influent trade waste contaminated with PFAS). 8.15. A survey of surface waterways and groundwater bores was undertaken to establish if this contamination is more widespread than just the Bulls water supply. The initial focus has been to establish the extent of contamination and identify the source (or sources) of PFAS. 8.16. Sampling to date has included shallow groundwater and surface water, as well as sampling of inflow and outflow from the Bulls wastewater treatment plant. The further sampling has confirmed the presence of PFAS in four of the five Bulls water supply bores at levels previously reported by NZDF (Figure 2). PFAS have also been detected in one of the Bulls Landfill monitoring bores (located to the north-west, up-gradient, of the water supply bores), Bullocks quarry bore (located to the south-west, down-gradient, of the water supply bores and landfill), and in the WWTP discharge.
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14Item
Figure 2 PFAS levels for Sum of Total PFOS and PFHxS in Bulls water supply samples reported by NZDF show lower levels than the interim guidance level for drinking water. 8.17. Analytical results for groundwater samples targeting the potential source areas indicate the presence of PFAS in shallow groundwater from at least south of Bulls township to the Rangitikei River and extending from at least the southern edge of the former Bulls landfill to the WWTP, a distance of about 2 km. The groundwater contains concentrations of PFOS & PFHxS between approximately 0.01 μg/L and 0.02 μg/L and PFOA concentrations of 0.0043 or less. The observed concentrations are low in comparison to concentrations detected in shallow groundwater within and immediately down gradient of Base Ohakea and are less than the interim drinking water limits for PFOS & PFHxS of 0.07 μg/L and PFOA of 0.56 μg/L. 8.18. The presence of PFAS in a former landfill monitoring bore, which is located up-gradient of the well field and directly down-gradient of the former landfill indicates a source of PFAS in leachate from the former landfill or from an unknown source up-gradient of the former landfill. Base Ohakea as a source of PFAS does not explain the presence of PFAS in former landfill monitoring well. 8.19. The presence of PFAS in the WWTP effluent perched above shallow aquifer indicates a PFAS source(s) from Bulls in the influent and the potential for effluent leakage to shallow groundwater. The source of PFAS in the WWTP effluent has not been identified and further investigation is required to ascertain the source (or sources). 8.20. The absence of PFAS in the Bulls water supply deep production well (Well 5) is consistent with the presence of potential confining layers between shallow and deeper groundwater. However, NZDF has noted the potential for pumping to transport contaminants from shallow to deeper groundwater. The shallow wells within the well field are currently used in preference to Well 5 owing to yield and quality issues, but this could change in the future. This may increase the risk of drawing PFAS contaminated groundwater down into the
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deeper groundwater however, the level of this risk is not presently known and would need to be established with further monitoring and modelling. 8.21. The initial investigation has identified PFAS in shallow groundwater down-gradient of Bulls Item 14Item Landfill and township, as well as in the WWTP discharge. While the results provide some indication of potential sources and travel pathways, further work is required to confirm these sources and determine the full extent of PFAS in shallow groundwater. We propose the following next steps: Continue with the development of the conceptual model, utilising NZDF’s modelling files if possible; Approach FENZ to obtain records on the storage, use and disposal of AFFF at the Bulls fire station; Investigate the viability of sampling an additional monitoring bore at the old service station, to establish the up-gradient extent of PFAS in shallow groundwater; Resample the former Bulls Landfill wells; if possible, obtain information on the operational history of the Bulls Landfill, including the origin and types of waste; Sample influent at the WWTP and review the construction of the ponds to assess the likelihood of loses to groundwater; determine sludge disposal practices; and Sample the ephemeral drains down-gradient of the landfill to establish whether there PFAS is present. 8.22. Presently, there does not appear to me an immediate health risk posed to the local community as a result of the positive detections of PFAS in the Bulls water supply and this water is considered safe for human consumption. 8.23. Further sampling of the Bulls WWTP, surface drains down-gradient of the closed Bulls landfill and an up-gradient monitoring bore (if present) will be completed during November through to December 2018. The aim is to delineate an upper boundary to the PFAS concentrations, and down-gradient extent in groundwater and surface water, and confirm the landfill as a likely source. 8.24. Further investigation of the landfill and wastewater treatment plant would be necessary to understand any future risk to the community. This will be advanced in consultation with Rangitīkei District Council. Scoping of this will follow the sampling outlined above. Palmerston North Airport 8.25. Horizons has been working with staff from Palmerston North Airport (PNAL), Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) and MidCentral Public Health Service to identify and investigate contamination arising from historic fire testing at the airport. 8.26. PNCC has carried out testing of Palmerston North public water supply. This testing confirmed that there is no presence of PFAS in the supply and that this water is safe for consumption. We consider the future risk to this supply to be negligible, given the depth of these bores and relatively confined nature of the deeper strata. 8.27. Initial testing of soil, sediment and water identified PFOS and PFOA in the former training area around the rescue fire station, and concentrations of PFOS and PFHxS in excess of the interim drinking water guidelines in all surface water samples taken from the stream north of the airport and the drain to the south of the airport. Subsequent sampling has identified elevated concentrations in the Mangaone Stream that exceed the interim drinking-water guidelines. None of the samples exceeded the aquatic ecotoxic limits for 90 per cent of species in disturbed water courses.
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8.28. Twelve private water supply bores were also tested. One of these samples had trace levels 14Item of PFOS above the limit of reporting but 58 times lower than the interim drinking-water guideline value. PFAS were not detected in the remaining eleven bore samples. 8.29. MidCentral Health has advised there is no acute health risk to residents. This means that exposure to PFOS and/or PFOA will not pose any significant health effects today. 8.30. MPI advises people to avoid food gathering such as eels and watercress from the following locations until further testing is carried out: Mangaone Stream Richardsons Line Drain (including its headwater tributaries that cross Railway Road to the east of the Airport) Various streams near the Airport flowing through – Madison Ave and Jefferson Cres area Clearview Park and McGregor Street. 8.31. Horizons continues to provide support to PNAL and PNCC in the delivery of this work programme. This is co-ordinated by Horizons’ Regulatory Group, with support from the Science and Innovation and Communications teams. Regional PFAS Site Prioritisation 8.32. A number of other potential PFAS-contaminated sites have been identified in the Horizons Region as part of a national prioritisation exercise. This list of sites (including high-risk landfills, wastewater treatment plants and airports) has been compiled using a site prioritisation tool provided by MfE, with the list of sites then provided to MfE. We are currently awaiting further direction on how the Minister wishes to proceed with further investigation of these sites. 8.33. A number of Councils are currently undertaking investigations into potential PFAS contamination in their regions. Environment Canterbury recently commissioned a study investigating non fire-fighting foam sources of PFAS contamination in New Zealand. A copy of the report is available on the MfE website: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/sites/default/files/media/Hazards/Tonkin&Taylor%20Non%20foam %20PFAS%20sources%20-%20FINAL.pdf. 8.34. Presently our focus is on advancing work programmes relating to Base Ohakea, Bulls and Palmerston North Airport and continuing to work with central government agencies as part of the AoG programme.
9. CONSULTATION 9.1. Consultation on the content of this report has not been undertaken.
10. TIMELINE / NEXT STEPS 10.1. Horizons continues to support PFAS work programmes in the region through participation in the AoG working group, and liaison with agencies and organisations investigating PFAS contamination in our region. Work programmes associated with Base Ohakea and Palmerston North Airport will continue to be co-ordinated by Horizons Regulatory Group, while Bulls Water Supply investigation is currently lead by Horizons Science and Innovation team. 10.2. The ongoing PFAS work programme continues to draw staff time away from other programmed work and may impact on timeframes or delivery of some aspects of the work programme.
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11. SIGNIFICANCE 11.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Item 14Item
Abby Matthews SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MANAGER Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER – NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES There are no attachments for this report.
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Report No. 18-235 15Item Information Only - No Decision Required
NATIONAL WILDING CONIFER CONTROL PROGRAMME
1. PRESENTATION 1.1 Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Horizons Regional Council (Horizons) staff will present to the Environment Committee on the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme and Horizons involvement within that. The presentation is a part of a wider communications drive by MPI to ensure that regional councils are aware of the programme and potential changes into the future.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the presentation from Ministry for Primary Industries.
3. SIGNIFICANCE 3.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Craig Davey ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES There are no attachments for this report.
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