I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Environment Committee will be held on: Date: Wednesday, 14 October 2015 Time: 9.00am Venue: Tararua Room Horizons Regional Council 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE AGENDA MEMBERSHIP Chair Cr CI Sheldon Deputy Chair Cr GM McKellar Councillors Cr JJ Barrow Cr EB Gordon (ex officio) Cr MC Guy Cr RJ Keedwell Cr PJ Kelly JP DR Pearce BE Rollinson 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 Wanganui 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 14 October 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Apologies and Leave of Absence 5 2 Public Speaking Rights 5 3 Supplementary Items 5 4 Members’ Conflict of Interest 5 5 Confirmation of Minutes Environment Committee meeting, 12 August 2015 7 6 Environmental Education Report No: 15-199 15 7 Rural Advisory Activity Report - July to September 2015 Report No: 15-200 19 8 Regulatory Management Activity Report - August to September 2015 Report No: 15-201 21 Annex A - Ruapehu WWTP Performance 29 9 National Park, Raetihi and Ohakune Wastewater Treatment Plants - Presentation by Ruapehu District Council Report No: 15-202 31 10 Biosecurity and Habitat Protection Progress Report Report No: 15-203 33 Annex A - Biosecurity & Habitat Protection Progress Report 35 11 Update on National Policy Direction for Pest Management 2015 Report No: 15-204 59 Annex A - National Policy Direction for Pest Management 2015 62 12 Freshwater and Science Progress Report Report No: 15-205 73 Annex A - Freshwater & Science Progress Report 75 13 Operational Plans (Biodiversity, Freshwater, Science) Report No: 15-206 129 Annex A - Biodiversity & Habitat Protection Operational Plan 2015-16 131 Annex B - Freshwater Team Operational Plan 2015-16 171 Annex C - Science Operational Plan 2015-16 215 14 Members’ Questions Page 3 Environment Committee 14 October 2015 AGENDA 1 Apologies and Leave of Absence At the close of the Agenda no apologies had been received. 2 Public Speaking Rights Notification to speak is required by 4pm on the working day prior to the meeting. Further information is available on www.horizons.govt.nz\Council\ or by phoning 0508 800 800. Petitions/Deputations Deputations: Written notice (fewer than 150 words) concerning the nature of the deputation must be lodged with the Chief Executive at least 2 working days before the date of the meeting and subsequently approved by the Chairperson. Petitions: Written notice to the Chief Executive is required at least 2 working days before the date of the meeting. Further information is available on www.horizons.govt.nz\Council\ or by phoning 0508 800 800. 3 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. 4 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. Page 5 Environment Committee 14 October 2015 Minutes of the tenth meeting of the ninth triennium of the Environment Committee held at 9.00am on Wednesday 12 August 2015, in the Tararua Room, Horizons Regional Council, 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North. PRESENT Crs CI Sheldon (Chair), JJ Barrow, EB Gordon (ex officio), MC Guy, PJ Kelly JP, GM McKellar, DR Pearce, BE Rollinson (via audiovisual from 9.00am to 11.30am). IN ATTENDANCE Councillors Rieger (to 2.48pm) Chief Executive Mr MJ McCartney Committee Secretary Mrs JA Kennedy ALSO PRESENT At various times during the meeting: Mrs S Craig (Corporate Information Manager), Dr N Peet (Group Manager Strategy & Regulation), Mr C Mitchell (Group Manager Environmental Management), Mr G Shirley (Group Manager Regional Services & Information), Dr J Roygard (Manager Freshwater & Science), Ms A Koehler (Media & Communications Manager), Mr J Lambie (Science Coordinator), Mr G Bevin (Regulatory Manager), Mr B Martyn (Environmental Manager-Biosecurity & Biodiversity), Mr E Dodd (Environmental Programme Coordinator (Animals)), Mr C Davey (Environmental Programme Coordinator- Plants), Mrs J Chambers (Manager Rural Advice), Mrs H Thomas (Environmental Educator), Mrs L Thomas (Coordinator District Liaison), Mrs A Pearce (Coordinator District Liaison), Ms K Synge, Ms H Low, Mr D Higgs (Environmental Protection Officers), Mayor B Duffy, Mr G Saidy, Mr D McCorkindale (Horowhenua District Council), Mr H Lowe (Consultant), Ms A Irvine and Ms S Owen (Department of Conservation), Mr R Ketu, Mr A Hurueui, and supporters (Ngati Whakatere), Mr C Andrews, Mr and Mrs G Paton, Mr J Beard, members of the public, and a member of the press. The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. APOLOGIES ENV 15-69 Moved Kelly/Gordon That an apology be received from Cr Keedwell. CARRIED The Chair noted an apology from Cr Cotton. PUBLIC SPEAKING RIGHTS Messrs R Ketu and A Hurueui, and Mr C Andrews had been granted public speaking rights to Item 9, Presentation Foxton Wastewater Treatment Plant. Messrs Ketu and Hurueui said they represented iwi groups in the lower part of the Manawatu River. They expressed their concern about the lack of consultation and delays in receiving information around the intended layout and design of Foxton’s new proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWT) on Matakarapa Island. They said without having confirmation of where Page 7 Environment Committee 14 October 2015 the WWTP pond would be located, made it difficult to prepare and submit a Cultural Impact Proposal. In response to a comment from Mr Hurueui about some new earthworks which had been observed at the northern part of the island, the Chief Executive said the matter was under investigation. Messrs Ketu and Hurueui responded to Members’ questions of clarification. Mr Andrews spoke of his concerns around the continued pollution of waterways. He commented on the length of time Horowhenua District Council had been allowed to continue operating the Foxton Wastewater Treatment Plant with an expired consent. Mr Andrews sought help from Horizons Regional Council to remedy the situation and stop the continued pollution of waterways. The Chief Executive suggested that Mr Andrews have a discussion with the Freshwater and Science Manager outside of the meeting in regard to the science and improvements to water quality over the years. SUPPLEMENTARY ITEMS There were no supplementary items to be considered. The Chair noted a tabled Order Paper from Rangitikei District Council Assets/Infrastructure Committee meeting Thursday 13 August 2015 for Members’ information. MEMBERS’ CONFLICTS OF INTEREST There were no conflicts of interest declared. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ENV 15-70 Moved Pearce/McKellar That the Committee: confirms the minutes of the Environment Committee meeting held on 9 June 2015 as a correct record, and notes that the recommendations were adopted by the Council on 30 June 2015. CARRIED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Report No 15-143 The purpose of this item was to introduce the Environmental Education progress report for the period 1 May to 30 June 2015. The Environmental Educator spoke to the item. She responded to Members’ questions about confirmation of facilitation funding partners for the 2015-2016 year, Enviroschool data, and the potential to source new funding partners. The Environmental Educator spoke to a powerpoint presentation on the results of the 2014 Enviroschools census. ENV 15-71 Moved Guy/Barrow That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 15-143. b. receives the presentation from Helen Thomas (Environmental Educator). CARRIED Page 8 Environment Committee 14 October 2015 RURAL ADVISORY ACTIVITY REPORT - JUNE TO JULY 2015 Report No 15-151 This report updated Members on the Rural Advisory issues and activity for the period June to July 2015. The Rural Advice Manager spoke to the item and highlighted the work undertaken by the Rural Advice team post the June flood event. Cr Barrow commented on some positive feedback he had received from local farmers in appreciation of timing around compliance checks since the June flood event. Dr Peet (Group Manager Strategy & Regulation) provided a brief overview of the contents of the Nitrogen Loss Mitigation Workshop scheduled to be held on 13 August 2015. He responded to Members’ questions about the nutrient management process and the level of soil analysis undertaken. ENV 15-72 Moved Kelly/Pearce That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 15-151. CARRIED FRESHWATER & SCIENCE PROGRESS REPORT Report No 15-144 This item introduced the Environmental Management Group reports for the period 1 March to 30 April 2015.