I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Environment Committee will be held on:
Date: Tuesday, 14 May 2019 Time: to follow the 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 & 19-21 Hammond 34 Maata Street Cnr Vogel (SH2) & Tay Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Rds, Street Sts Palmerston North
REGIONAL Palmerston North Whanganui HOUSES 11-15 Victoria Avenue 181 Guyton Street
DEPOTS Levin Taihape 120-122 Hokio Beach Rd 243 Wairanu Rd
POSTAL Horizons Regional Council, Private Bag 11025, Manawatu Mail Centre, Palmerston North 4442 ADDRESS FAX 06 9522 929
Environment Committee 14 May 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Welcome / Karakia 5
2 Apologies and Leave of Absence 5 Apology – Cr Rollinson Leave of Absence – Cr Barrow
3 Public Forums – Graham & Lyn Pearson 5 4 Supplementary Items 5 5 Members’ Conflict of Interest 5 6 Confirmation of Minutes Environment Committee meeting, 13 March 2019 7
7 Environmental Education Report No: 19-63 13
8 District Advice Update Report No: 19-64 17 Annex A - Horizons Submission on NOR for designation to accommodate a new SH north of the Manawatu George 22 Annex B - Horizons Feedback on PNCC's Future Urban Growth 31 Annex C - Horizons Submission on Whanganui District Council's PPC55 39
9 Biodiversity, Biosecurity & Partnerships Progress Report Report No: 19-65 41 Annex A - Biosecurity Animals progress report 43 Annex B - Biosecurity Plants progress report 57 Annex C - Biodiversity progress report 71
10 Freshwater & Partnerships Progress Report Report No: 19-66 91 Annex A - Freshwater & Partnerships progress report 93
11 Science & Innovation Progress Report Report No: 19-67 115 Annex A - Science & Innovation progress report 117
12 Regulatory Management Report - February to March 2019 Report No: 19-68 129 Annex A - HCL Abatement Notice 138 Annex B - HCL Response to Abatement Notice 151
13 Wastewater Treatment Plants Report No: 19-69 157
14 Rangitikei Farming for the Environment Report No: 19-70 159
15 Members’ Questions
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AGENDA
1 Welcome/Karakia
2 Apologies and Leave of Absence Cr Rollinson – Apology Cr Barrow – Leave of Absence
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 thirteenth meeting of the tenth triennium of the Environment Committee held at 9.00am on Wednesday 13 March 2019, in the Tararua Room, Horizons Regional Council, 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North.
PRESENT Crs GM McKellar (Chair), JJ Barrow, LR Burnell, EB Gordon JP (ex officio), RJ Keedwell, JM Naylor, NJ Patrick (from 9.11am), PW Rieger QSO JP, CI Sheldon, and WK Te Awe Awe, DB Cotton and BE Rollinson (via audio visual link). IN ATTENDANCE Chief Executive Mr MJ McCartney 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 R Smillie (Environmental Manager), Ms A Matthews (Science & Innovation Manager), Mr G Bevin (Regulatory Manager), Ms C Morrison (Media & Communications Manager), Mr L Brown (Freshwater & Partnerships Manager), Mrs S Williams (Environmental Educator), Mrs M Patterson (Senior Scientist), Mayor H Worboys, Mr R Templer, Mr S Harris, Mr G Young (Manawatu District Council), Mr P Wood (Health Protection Officer & Drinking Water Assessor, MidCentral Health), and a member of the press.
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
APOLOGIES
ENV 19-109 Moved Sheldon/Keedwell That the Committee receives an apology from Cr Patrick for lateness. CARRIED
PUBLIC FORUMS / DEPUTATIONS / PETITIONS There were no requests for public speaking rights.
SUPPLEMENTARY ITEMS There were no supplementary items to be considered.
MEMBERS’ CONFLICTS OF INTEREST During discussion of Item 9, Freshwater and Partnerships Progress report, Cr Patrick declared a conflict of interest through her employment with Te Kaahui o Rauru.
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CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ENV 19-110 Moved Rieger/Barrow That the Committee: confirms the minutes of the Environment Committee meeting held on 11 December 2018 as a correct record, and notes that the recommendations were adopted by the Council on 18 December 2018. CARRIED
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Report No 19-23 This item provided Members with an Environmental Education progress report for the period from 1 January 2019 – 1 March 2019. Ms Morrison (Media & Communications Manager highlighted the Annual Plan targets table at paragraph 6, and referred to the Enviroschools Snapshot 2018 booklet. Mrs Williams (Environmental Educator) then commented on the contents of the booklet, the engagement with schools around water quality projects and NCEA assessment, and met with teachers from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Manawatū with a focus on wai (water). Members’ questions were responded to and there was discussion around how to increase involvement of Enviroschools in the Horowhenua area. ENV 19-111 Moved Patrick/Sheldon That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 19-23. CARRIED
BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS PROGRESS REPORT Report No 19-24 This item updated Members on the progress made in the Biosecurity and Biodiversity activity over the period 1 November 2018 to 31 January 2019. Mr Smillie (Environmental Manager) highlighted the Possum Control Programme, explained a proposal for pre-monitoring of possum population numbers in ex-OSPRI areas, and commented on a purpose built possum tool, ‘PosSim’, in which pre-monitoring information collected would be entered to prioritise which areas to treat and which areas to defer. Members then discussed resolution b. and provided their comments. The Chair put recommendation b. ENV 19-112 Moved Keedwell/Rieger That the Committee recommends that Council: b. approves the use of up to $95,000 of reserves for pre-monitoring of possum population numbers in the ex-OSPRI areas that are available for the Possum Control Programme in 2019-20. Noting the Reserves are to be drawn based on the funding policy for the possum control programme in the Long-term Plan for this year and may be utilised in this and next financial year. CARRIED
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Mr Smillie highlighted the successful gall mite agent promotion undertaken prior to Christmas 2018, and responded to Members’ questions. He then commented on the Wilding Conifer Programme and played a video clip depicting the threat from wilding conifers to the landscape. Members’ comments and questions about the programme were responded to. Mr Smillie commented on progress with the Biodiversity programme and highlighted the inclusion of the ‘Management Level Descriptions’. Mr Smillie and Dr Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships) clarified Members’ questions relating to the Tawata Mainland Island project, reporting of community grant projects, and the threat of poplar sawfly. Dr Roygard commented on an upcoming Te Apiti Manawatū Gorge Governance Group meeting where the Terms of Reference would be discussed. He referred to recommendation c. which sought endorsement of representation from Horizons Regional Council. It was noted that while Cr Te Awe Awe would be proxy for both positions, he would not be proxy for the role of Chair. In instances where the Chair was not present, a Senior Manager from the Department of Conservation would chair the meeting. The Chair put recommendations a. and c. ENV 19-113 Moved Burnell/Te Awe Awe That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 19-24 and Annexes. c. reconfirms Chair Gordon as the Chair of the Te Apiti Manawatū Gorge Governance Group. Elects Councillor Keedwell as the other Councillor representative on the Te Apiti Manawatū Gorge Governance Group and approves Councillor Te Awe Awe as the proxy for these two positions CARRIED
FRESHWATER & PARTNERSHIPS PROGRESS REPORT Report No 19-25 This item introduced the Freshwater & Partnerships Progress report for the period 1 November 2018 to 31 January 2019. Mr Brown (Freshwater & Partnerships Manager) introduced the item, highlighted the targets and explained the focus for delivery of the riparian fencing and planting programme. There was discussion and questions relating to the high readings for E.coli at the Ototoka swim spot, and discussion around how to monitor unsubsidised stream fencing undertaken by farmers, with a suggestion to gather aerial information. It was proposed that a paper be written setting out the protocols for aerial information gathering across the region. ENV 19-114 Moved Sheldon/Keedwell That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 19-25 and Annex. CARRIED
The meeting adjourned at 10.38am. The meeting reconvened at 10.45am.
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SCIENCE & INNOVATION PROGRESS REPORT Report No 19-26 This item introduced the Science and Innovation Progress report for the period 1 November 2018 to 31 January 2019. Ms Matthews (Science & Innovation Manager) summarised the report. She highlighted the swim spot monitoring programme, the commissioning of a study to provide an overview of climate change impacts, the Lower Manawatū sedimentation study contract awarded to Tonkin & Taylor Ltd, expanded further on the regional drinking water programme, and said the State of the Environment report would be finalised for publication in May 2019. Members questions were responded to. ENV 19-115 Moved Rieger/Sheldon That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 19-26 and Annex. CARRIED
REGULATORY MANAGEMENT REPORT - DECEMBER 2018 TO JANUARY 2019 Report No 19-27 This report updated Members on regulatory activity, for the period December 2018 to January 2019, updated Members on significant issues and focused on Council’s investigations programme. Dr Peet (Group Manager Strategy & Regulation) said as a result of an investigation relating to the earthworks carried out by the Lake Horowhenua Trust, an infringement notice had been issued to the temporary Chair of the Trust. He commented on the increased focus both from the community and government which impacted on the regulatory business. Mr Bevin (Regulatory Manager) provided an update on the Waipuna Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) consent, and the aerial monitoring work undertaken in the Whanganui area. He and Dr Peet responded to Members’ questions and concerns relating to delivery and costs associated with the Three Waters programme, incident complaints relating to smoke and odour issues, the Whakapapa WWTP consent application, and the regulatory demands associated with the Manawatu Gorge replacement project.
This item was suspended to allow for a presentation from the Manawatu District Council.
MANAWATU DISTRICT COUNCIL - WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT Report No 19-28 Dr Peet (Group Manager Strategy & Regulation) introduced to the meeting Mayor Worboys, Mr Templer (Chief Executive (CE)), Mr G Young, and Mr Waugh (Manawatu District Council (MDC)). Mr Waugh presented a powerpoint presentation and briefed Members on the key points around the performance and resource consent compliance progress in regard to the Feilding Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mr Waugh provided clarification where required. Mr Templer (CE) acknowledged and recognised the good partnership, technical advice, and support received from Horizons Regional Council throughout the process. Mayor Worboys endorsed his comments. The Chair thanked MDC for their presentation.
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ENV 19-116 Moved Barrow/Burnell That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the presentation from Hamish Waugh, Manawatu District Council. CARRIED
REGULATORY MANAGEMENT REPORT - DECEMBER 2018 TO JANUARY 2019 Report No 19-27 (Continued) Members provided their questions and comments on activities contained in the report. The Chair referred Members to the Horizons Regional Council guidelines attached at Annex A. ENV 19-117 Moved Keedwell/Sheldon That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 19-27. CARRIED
MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS Members’ questions relating to dairy effluent consents were noted for followup action.
The meeting closed at 12.28pm.
Confirmed
______CHAIR GROUP MANAGER STRATEGY & REGULATION
______GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
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Item 7 Item Report No. 19-63 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 2 March 2019 – 6 May 2019. 1.2. For the purpose of this report, the Environmental Educator role is split. .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. 19-63.
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 57 57 57 47 121 Waiora sessions conducted 4 7 7 21 39 32 121 Community engagements 13 14 7 21 55 31 177
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 57 Enviroschools, there are 21 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. Periodically this list is revised depending on the commitment shown from the schools/centres. 9. ACTIVITY REPORT – WAIORA 9.1. Mrs Williams conducted the following Waiora sessions: 14 sessions with Monrad Intermediate School which comprised of 12 sessions on the Kahuterawa Stream at Kahuterawa Reserve and two sessions on the Manawatū River at Ahimate Reserve; seven sessions were conducted on the Pohangina River at Totara Reserve, made up of two sessions with Newbury School, two sessions with Taonui School and three sessions with Havelock North School. 9.2. Dannevirke High School and Longburn Adventist College borrowed two Waiora kits for use in their NCEA assessments. 9.3. Partnership through Collaboration (PTC) borrowed Waiora kits on two separate occasions for their stream field trips with support from Horizons Senior Scientist, Mike Patterson. 10. ACTIVITY REPORT – ENVIROSCHOOLS 10.1. Students from Enviroschools Tokirima and Matiere Schools near Taumarunui went to a local farm to look at the biological control beetle for Californian thistle. Many of these students live on farms so can see first-hand the impact thistles have. Mrs Williams worked with Horizons Biosecurity Officer, Dave Alker, to take students to a site where he collects the green thistle beetle from to create new populations on other farms infested with thistles. Once the students knew what they were looking for, they were very adept at locating and collecting the adult beetles which they released on to farms near their respective schools. They’ll be monitoring the progress of their beetle releases as part of their studies. 10.2. Mrs Williams attended the National Enviroschools secondary hui on 12 March 2019, held in Wellington. This hui looked at resources to implement a cross curricular project-based learning framework. This approach has helped secondary sector Enviroschools to embed the kaupapa into the curriculum, engage the community and local industry with schools, and help to create multi-subject projects and assessments which eases time efficiencies. Teachers from secondary Enviroschools schools in the region had the opportunity attend this professional development hui, and funding to cover the costs of teacher release from their regular roles was provided. 10.3. Mrs Williams co-facilitated another Enviroschools professional development event for early childhood education (ECE) teachers. This hui was held in Palmerston North on 18 March 2019 and was attended by 20 teachers from 16 centres across the region. This event focussed on ‘Exploring our Space’ with activities suitable for tamariki on birds, bugs and biodiversity. Teachers had a tour around the Wildbase Recovery Centre, hunted for invertebrates in native bush at the Esplanade, and then visited Hokowhitu Kindergarten where they made weta motels and window art. 10.4. Mrs Williams held a workshop on Enviroschools for trainee early childhood teachers studying with the Open Polytechnic. 10.5. Mrs Williams co-facilitated the Lower and East North Island Enviroschools Interregional hui on 16 April 2019. This hui, held in Palmerston North, brought together Enviroschools teams from Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne and Wellington to share their mahi, and increase the pool of knowledge in the network.
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11. ACTIVITY REPORT – OTHER 7 Item 11.1. Mrs Williams conducted 13 Enviroscapes sessions with Monrad Intermediate School and one session with the Hokowhitu cub scouts. 11.2. Mrs Williams provides activities exploring pest animal tracking and trapping. Schools can access either one or two sessions. The first session explores animal pests and the methods they can use to identify what pests they have in their grounds using tracking tunnels and chew cards. The second session, approximately one week later, looks at the results of the tracking tunnels and/or chew cards, and then looks at types of traps used to humanely dispatch pests. They also learn how to set up their own tracking and trapping programme should they so wish to do so. Colyton School and Hunterville School have undertaken two pest animal sessions, each with Mrs Williams. 11.3. Mrs Williams assisted Mike Patterson, Horizons Senior Scientist, to look for native fish at Mt Biggs School. The school have a pond in their wilderness area, and the senior students were sure that there were eels living there. Mr Patterson set some nets and fish traps which caught a number of shortfin eels, including one which was about one meter in length. Mr Patterson showed the students how to tell the difference between our eel species, and the students interviewed him for short documentary they are making on the eels in their pond. 12. Mrs Williams met with the new students in 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 enviro-group have a trapping programme in the school grounds, and these new students have taken over trap checks from past students.
13. Mrs Williams ran the final Spruce up your Swim Spot event at Bulls Bridge on 6 April 2019.
14. END OF FINANCIAL YEAR SUMMARY 14.1. There has been an increased uptake of environmental education activities in this financial year. The biggest increase has been in the number of community engagement activities which currently stands at 55, compared to 31 in the 2017-2018 financial year. 14.2. This year, there have been a number of new schools working with Mrs Williams which is heartening to see, in addition to those schools who are regular users of the education activities available.
15. SIGNIFICANCE 15.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Looking for green thistle beetles – Matiere and Tokirima Looking for green thistle beetles – Matiere and Tokirima Schools Schools
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Item 7 Item
ECE Regional Hui – web of life activity ECE Regional Hui – making weta motels
Enviroscapes – Hokowhitu Cub Scouts Checking tracking tunnel results with Colyton School
Looking for eels with Mt Biggs School Looking for eels with Mt Biggs School Sarah Williams ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR Chrissie Morrison MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
ANNEXES There are no attachments to this report.
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Item 8 Item Report No. 19-64 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 for a 10 month period from 1 July 2018 to 30 April 2019.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 19-64 and Annexes.
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 Service 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. This report provides the summary of statistics for the first 10 months of this financial year from 1 July 2010 to 30 April 2019. 6.2. The District Advice Service responded to a total of 853 requests. 480 of these requests were for the general public and 373 for TAs. 6.3. The total requests for the same time last financial year (from 1 July 2017 to 30 April 2018) was 781. This shows that the trend for requests is a 9.2% increase compared to the same time last financial year.
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Figure 1
6.4. Figure 1 above illustrates the number of enquiries responded to in the first ten months of this financial year (2018-19), by property location. 6.5. The greatest number of enquiries are for properties within the Manawatū District, followed by Horowhenua, Rangitikei, Tararua, Palmerston North City, Whanganui and Ruapehu Districts. 6.6. 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.
Figure 2
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Item 8 Item Total Inquiry Types Received by Property Location 180
160
140 Flooding 120 Subdivision 100 Building Consent Property Purchase 80 General/Other 60 RMA (TAs) 40 RMA (One Plan) 20
0 MDC HDC RDC TDC PNCC WDC RuaDC
Figure 3 6.7. Figure 2 shows the total enquiry type by percentage that the District Advice service has received. 6.8. Figure 3 shows the enquiry types that District Advice service has received by property location. 6.9. The main type of enquiry is for flooding (376), and this is consistent across most districts. This is followed by subdivisions (231), building consents (97) and property purchases (73).
7. IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES 7.1. With support from Information Management, District Advice has implemented an initiative to improve efficiencies and quality of information. This enables information from the Customer Services tool to be updated automatically to the District Advice database. This ensures faster response times as well as more accurate information recorded and provided to customers.
8. DAMS - BUILDING CONSENTS 8.1. 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. 8.2. Building Consent Authority collectives met in February and agreed to prepare a draft letter to the Minister, which will raise concerns about the delay to progress the regulation of dam safety in NZ, raise the liability issue and promote a Chief Executive meeting with the Minister. Chief Executives accepted the recommendations in April’s Regional Chief Executive Officers Group meeting. Bill Bayfield CE of Environment Canterbury will take the lead on this matter.
9. DISTRICT PLAN AND DISTRICT ENGAGEMENT UPDATE 9.1. The following is a brief update on the CDA’s involvement in recent draft and proposed Plan Changes as well as notice of requirements that have been prepared by TAs in our Region.
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Horowhenua District Council 9.2. In March relevant Horizons staff (including the Manager of Investigations and Design, the Item 8 Item Policy and Strategy team and the CDA) met with Horowhenua District Council (HDC) planning staff. This was to discuss Horizons feedback on HDC’s Proposed Plan Change 3, and to discuss future urban growth areas. Comments related to natural hazards (flooding, faults, and liquefaction susceptibility), One Plan considerations including comments about stormwater management, integrating infrastructure with land use, and transport planning.
Manawatū District Council 9.3. In December relevant Horizons staff (including Group Manager River Management, Senior Policy Analyst, Regulatory Manager and the CDA) met with Manawatū District Council (MDC) and their Consultant to provide feedback on MDC’s Draft Plan Change 51 (re-zoning Precinct 4). The main topic of discussion was about stormwater and its management through the District Plan. Horizons also discussed overland flow path information. Horizons noted that the draft provisions look to give effect to One Plan Part I: Regional Policy Statement policies around integrating infrastructure with land use (Policy 3-4), energy efficiency (Policy 3-7) and development in areas prone to flooding (Policy 9-2). In particular Horizons support the inclusion of rule performance standards requiring mitigation of the effects of a 0.5% Annual Exceedance Probability flood event. Horizons noted that it is comfortable that the plan is aligned with the Regional Land Transport Plan 2015 (2018 amendment) objectives and strategic priorities.
Palmerston North City Council 9.4. In December the CDA coordinated Horizons submission on the Notice of Requirement (NOR) from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZ Transport Agency) for a designation to accommodate a new state highway north of the Manawatū Gorge (Te Ahu a Tūranga; Manawatū Tararua Highway). A copy of this letter is attached at Annex A. 9.5. In December the CDA coordinated a response to Palmerston North City Council on their identified future growth areas in its Long Term Plan. Horizons noted the updated 30 year Infrastructure Strategy and Horizons intentions to work more collaboratively with territorial authorities in planning for urban growth, while still fulfilling our statutory requirements. Horizons provided other feedback in relation to natural hazards, Horizons One Plan and future consenting requirements, and strategic transport priorities. The response also included discussion on the stopbank network and the associated risk, required mitigation (if necessary) and forward planning. A copy of this letter is attached at Annex B.
Whanganui District Council 9.6. Horizons made a submission on Whanganui District Council’s (WDC) Proposed Plan Change 55 (PPC55). Horizons generally supported the overall aim of PPC55, to improve the clarity of the District Plan by addressing a number of relatively minor matters. However, Horizons had some concerns regarding the proposed amendments to the Rural Zones provisions, to allow minor residential dwellings as a permitted activity. Horizons does not agree that the adverse effects on the environment are the same in the Rural Zones as the Residential, principally because of the potential impact of an additional dwelling on on-site wastewater servicing. A copy of this letter is attached at Annex C. WDC has accepted Horizons submission and has amended the District Plan accordingly.
Remaining Territorial Authorities 9.7. No new notifications received during this reporting period from 1 July 2018 to 30 April 2019 for Tararua and Ruapehu District Councils.
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10. SIGNIFICANCE 8 Item 10.1. 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 Submission on NOR for designation to accommodate a new SH north of the Manawatu George B Horizons Feedback on PNCC's Future Urban Growth C Horizons Submission on Whanganui District Council's PPC55
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Item 9 Item Report No. 19-65 Information Only - No Decision Required
BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS PROGRESS REPORT
1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is to introduce Members of Council’s Environment Committee, the Biosecurity and Biodiversity activity over the period 1 February to 31 March 2019.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 19-65 and Annexes; b. receives the Totara Reserve Regional Park Annual Report for 2018-19.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. The Biodiversity, Biosecurity, and Partnerships 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. Favourable weather over the reporting period has assisted good progress being made across the biosecurity animals and plants and biodiversity activity. 6.2. The biosecurity animals activity has been focused on possum control and preparing for the next years work programme. There has been some reorganisation of the programme to ensure delivery at year end. The withdrawal of a contractor from the Papaiti PCO earlier in the year has somewhat been compensated for, however this job is not projected to be finished at year end. Overall the programme is already at 99 percent of the annual target for new hectares included in the programme and is expected to exceed the target by year end. During the reporting period seven pre-control monitors in ex-OSPRI areas have been programmed to inform design of the work programme for next year. 6.3. The biosecurity plants team has undertaken a range of control as outlined in the attached report. They have also assisted with an emerging issue in the Ruapehu where Tōtara trees have been noticed to be suffering dieback due to what may be a soil borne fungus. Velvetleaf inspections reported no plants detected indicating control is working well in the known sites.
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Item 9 Item 6.4. The implementation of the biodiversity programme review has continued with a further five Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA) completed during the reporting period to bring the total to 91 for the year. Eleven new high priority bush remnants were added to the managed list during this period and 22 high priority bush sites were visited for pest plant control audits or REA. The biodiversity partnerships activity has continued with many projects progressing well although it is becoming clearer that some projects will not be completed this year as outlined further in the report.
7. SIGNIFICANCE 7.1. 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 February 2019 to 31 March 2019. The
Annex A report is presented in four sections and results are shown in Table 1: . Possum Control . Possum Monitoring . Rook Control; and . Amenity Pest Management. Table 1 The Long-term Plan targets, and progress against them. Long-term Plan Target Progress Target Progress to date update Pest Animal Management Possum densities are maintained at/below 10% residual trap catch (RTC) in all existing/new possum control Pre-Control PCOs 3.38% RTC <10% On track operations. This is to enhance production, biodiversity, Maintenance PCOs 1.5% RTC disease protection and amenity values. Additional hectares included in the Possum Control 99% of 135,668 175,559 ha 134,711 ha Operation (PCO) programme. target ha allocated completed
All known rookeries are treated annually to reduce crop Aerial control operation completed losses and damage. One ground-based operation On-track complete Provide an urban/peri-urban animal pest management service to assist urban ratepayers with specialist advice 644 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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1.1.2 Activity during the reporting period involved ongoing possum control in the Regional Response Team’s (RRT’s) Possum Control Operations (PCOs) and commencement of the external contractors’ PCO contracts. The possum monitoring work has also commenced in the ex-Ospri and maintenance PCOs. The amenity pest programme resulted in 145 enquiries and all were 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 1,283,523 hectares, an increase of 175,559 hectares on last year. Progress against the Long-term Plan targets is presented in the section above.
Annex A
1.2.2 Horizons RRT and external service providers will undertake the operational work (Map 2). In summary, the split of work is: . Internal team delivery of 60 PCO areas, 56 maintenance PCO areas and four new ex-OSPRI PCO areas. . External contractors will deliver 35 PCO areas, 23 maintenance PCO areas and 12 new ex- OSPRI PCO areas. 1.3 Year to date progress Table 2 Progress reporting for the Possum Control Programme against Operational Plan targets. Operational Plan Measure Progress to Date This Period % Completed Target Regional Response Team PCOs completed 1,3 37 11 60 62% New hectares completed2,3 37,433 12,494 55,608 67% External Contractors PCOs completed 1 16 9 35 46% New hectares completed2 97,278 41,378 128,947 75% Combined PCO PCOs completed1 53 20 95 56% New hectares completed2 134,711 53,872 184,555 73%
1 New and Maintenance PCOs 2 New (Ex-OSPRI) PCOs 3 Includes Papiti Stage 2
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1.4 Activity Highlights The Regional Response Team 1.4.1 The current status of PCOs (Map 3) highlights the operational work: . 37 PCOs have been completed; . 10 PCOs have been started; and . 46,231 bait stations have been filled of the 70,671 programmed (65%). 1.4.2 The RRT is now going to set up an ex-OSPRI PCO Papaiti Stage 2 which originally was planned to be done by contractors. Toe Toe and Moka originally planned for the Taihape RRT will now been done by contractors. It is unlikely that Papiti Stage 2 will be finished by the end of June.
1.4.3 The RRT was tracking slightly behind the scheduled work programme in part due to staff
injuries and vacancies. Current projection is for all but Papiti Stage 2 to be completed by year end.
1.4.4 A new Regional Response Officer based in Taihape started work in March.
Annex A 1.4.5 RRT capacity has been increased with two temporary Regional Response Officers, in Taumarunui and Woodville.
1.4.6 Training for RRT members: The RRT received refresher four wheel-drive training and Health and Safety training in the use of the Vault health and safety system phone apps.
1.4.7 The PCO data management project is still in progress, although the project lead Adrienne Bonnington is leaving and the project is been picked up by Mark Coetzee and Emma Prouse. External 1.4.8 The contract documentation for this year’s external work was signed in November 2018.
1.4.9 Good progress has been made during the reporting period with four maintenance operations and five initial contracts completed. Map 3 shows the current status of the operational work.
1.4.10 A number of changes have been made to the external programme. As a consequence of the decision for the RRT to commence work in the Papaiti Stage 2 PCO, two maintenance PCOs that were originally programmed to be undertaken by the RRT (Toe Toe and Mokai) will now be undertaken by external contractors. This will allow the RRT to put additional personnel into the Papaiti PCO. The Toe Toe PCO will now be worked by M&M Contractors Ltd and the Mokai contract by Xpest Ltd.
1.4.11 The West Raetihi PCO that was originally contracted to EcoFx Ltd will now be undertaken by Xpest Ltd
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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 Possum Control Operations (RRT and External Contractors) as at 31 January 2019.
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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, 33 of the existing 120 maintenance PCOs will be monitored this year, including nine which are being ‘deferred’ from control this year i.e., no operational work will be undertaken in these areas. The remaining 24 maintenance operations will be monitored after this year’s control work has been completed. We will also be undertaking eight pre-control and post-control monitors in the ex-OSPRI operations that are being worked in this financial year and 7 pre- control monitors in ex-OSPRI areas that are programmed to be worked next year.
2.1.2 In total, 45 PCOs will be monitored, 40 by external contractors and the balance by the Regional Response Team. 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 Annex A possum habitat to do so, with the line positions being randomly selected. 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 the Operational Plan targets is shown in Table 3 below. 1.3 Year-to-date progress Table 3 Progress reporting for the PCO monitoring programme in the 2018 -19 year. Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Average Number of Maintenance PCO monitors 33 42% completed 0 0 11 3 Possum densities Maintenance PCOs Residual <10% 0 0 1.5% 4.8% 2.2%% Trap Catch (RTC) result RTC Number of Pre-/Post-PCO monitors completed 0 3 2 1 15 40% Possum densities: <10% Pre-/Post-control PCOs Residual Trap Catch 0 3.4% 3.3% 2.9% 3.3% (RTC) result RTC
2.2 Activity Highlights 2.2.1 The procurement process for the monitoring work (2018-21) is complete, with the contract documentation signed in November between Horizons Regional Council and Darrin Spillane Ltd.
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2.2.2 Three maintenance operations were monitored during the reporting period with results ranging from 0.1% to 10.4% RTC. The average result was 4.8% RTC (see Table 4). The Waimarino Pipipi PCO is a ground-based 1080 operation that is worked on a three-yearly rotation. There has been no work in the area for the past 2 years and as a consequence possum numbers have risen slightly over the 10% target; control will be undertaken in the 2019-2020 year.
Table 4 PCO maintenance monitoring completed during the repo rting period. PCO RTC Result Bunnythorpe 4.0% Fordell 0.1% Waimarino Pipipi 10.4%
2.2.3 The first of the post-control monitors (Waimiha) was completed during the reporting period. The result of 2.9% RTC indicates that the possum populations reduced by approximately 51%
Annex A when compared to the pre-control result. Control work has just been completed in the Niho Niho PCO and the post-control monitor will be undertaken in April-May.
Table 5 Combined ex-OSPRI monitors – pre-Control. PCO Pre-control Monitors RTC Results Post-control Results Mangakahu (will not post-control 0.1% monitor) North Whangaehu (will not post- 0.9% control monitor) Kirikau 2.3% Waimiha 5.7% 2.9% Niho Niho 7.9%
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Annex A
Map 4 Status of current Possum Control Operation Monitoring as at 31 March 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 6.
3.2 Year-to-date progress Table 6 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
Annex A Existing rook colonies 72 0 72 0 0 Record 100 (rookeries) (a) New rookeries (b) 0 0 6 0 0 Record 100 Total rook colonies 0 0 78 0 0 Record 100 (rookeries) (a + b) All known rookeries are treated annually to 0 0 78 0 0 100% 100 reduce crop losses and damage Ground poisoning Control 0 0 1 0 0 100 operations attempted Report ground control efficacy (% estimated 0 0 0 0 0 Record 0 kill) Breeding rookery database updated by 0 0 yes 0 0 Record 0 January 2019 3.3 Activity Highlights 3.3.1 A report of a large number rooks on freshly cultivated paddocks near Taihape was followed up but because they did not take pre-feed and then dispersing, no poisoning was attempted.
3.3.2 The aerial and ground control portion of the rook programme was delivered in October (Map 5 and Table 7).
. 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. . One rookery within the Whanganui City boundary was inspected by an arborist, and one nest that was found to be active was treated. No dead birds have been retrieved by staff.
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Table 7 Aerial rook programme trends. AERIAL ROOK CONTROL ACTIVE NESTS TREATED AREA 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 and ground-based rook control for 2018-19.
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4 Amenity Pests 4.1 Activity Overview 4.1.1 Horizons receive a large number of enquiries relating to pest animal issues from landowners across the Region. Most 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 100% of animal pest control assistance/ enquiries are responded to within two working Annex A days. 4.2 Year-to-date progress Table 8 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 117 164 218 145 644 received Percentage responded to within two working 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% days
4.3 Activity Highlights 4.3.1 A total of 145 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 enquiries across the districts of the Region. Possums and rabbits were the predominant pest type prompting enquiries during the reporting period and the largest number of enquiries was in the Manawatū and Whanganui areas.
4.3.2 All landowners making enquiries were contacted and/or visited within the prescribed timeframes and provided with advice and equipment, such as traps or small amounts of toxins, to help them deal with their pest issues.
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4.3.3 The ‘All other’ section comprised enquiries relating to hares (1), peafowl (1), wasps (6) and general enquiries (1).
70
60
50
40 This Year 30 Last Year 20
10
0 Possums Mustelid Magpie Rabbit Rook Cat All Other
Figure 1 Pest Animal Enquiry Summary – by Pest Type.
Annex A
40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
Figure 2 Pest Animal Enquiry Summary by District - 1 February 2019 to 31 March 2019. Daniel Hurley 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 February 2019 to 31 March 2019.
Another two months of relatively settled weather has allowed staff and their contractors’ good access and conditions for search and control; staff report that historic sites are diminishing. We participated in the Central Districts Field Days and combined with the communications staff for a trip and lesson with two country schools to one of our successful biological control agent nursery sites. We received 47 pest plant related enquiries and responded to 96% within the required timeframe. Staff inspected our velvetleaf infected paddocks with no detections found.
Table 1 Long-term Plan performance measures (2018) PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR LEVELS OF SERVICE 2018-19 Any exclusion category pest plants that are found in the Exclusion category pest plants are found in the Region Region are promptly managed.
An initial response plan will be completed within 2 weeks Any exclusion category pest plants that are found in the of finding these. Region are promptly managed. Response plan enacted (if not enacted before 2 weeks).
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.
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PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR LEVELS OF SERVICE 2018-19 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
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.
Annex B
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 establishment via the Exclusion programme. We aim 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.
Staff inspected potential locations which may harbour our target species: Californian bulrush, Chilean needle grass, heath rush, humped bladderwort, Manchurian wild rice, Noogoora burr, Phragmites australis, saffron thistle, Sagittaria platyphylla, sweet pittosporum and tussock hawkweed. None were found.
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: African feather grass, alligator weed, cathedral bells, Chilean rhubarb, climbing spindleberry, knotweed, nassella tussock and woolly nightshade.
Staff are always on the lookout for new sites of our target pest plants as members of the public are sometimes quite attached to their gardens and the pests within. The Pest Plant Team are well served by knowledgeable staff from across the organisation; a recent example of this was
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Biodiversity team member Ruth Fleeson spotting a wild Chilean rhubarb plant at Pukehoi, near the Mangahao River. Pest plant staff controlled this site and then traced the origin back to a show garden over the hill. This garden housed large numbers of plants. Plants were dug out and taken to a burn pile in a nearby paddock.
Annex B
Figure 2 The garden source of wilding Chilean rhubarb; before and after. (J.Keast)
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Alligator weed
The excluded infection zone at Hikumutu, in Ruapehu District, has been sprayed recently to control regrowth from the dug areas and knock back other vegetation to allow late season surveillance.
On the strength of previous delimiting before the spray, the area excluded will be reduced by approximately 15% next season. Our intention is to return as much of the area as possible to full production as soon as we have proof of freedom. We are doing this by pushing back the more recent and easier to control less dense and shallower rooted locations to the entrenched original source.
Areas with the heaviest weed concentrations have been marked to monitor any new growth.
One site was found and controlled in Pond 2 of the Ruapehu District Council oxidation ponds.
Annex B
Figure 1 Herbicide applied during February. (D.Alker)
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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, Darwin’s barberry, old man’s beard, Pinus contorta and Pinus sylvestris.
Old man’s beard control has taken the majority of staff time this period, with control operations from Manakau in the south through to Waimiha in the north. We currently have 2,274 sites under active management and of these 1,566 (70%) are not seeding and expiring so control is much reduced. The number of sites has increased by 344 this season due to surveillance finding
Annex B new sites and some larger sites being split to better capture the type of infestation. We will report final figures for the season in next financial year’s Operational Plan. It is noted that these site numbers reflect the presence in the areas we control.
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 generally widespread but some parts of the Region are clear of them and it is desirable to keep them clear. For occupiers of large land areas, farmers and organisations, we have the ability to allow responsibility to be acknowledged and actions planned via Approved Management Plans. The intent of these plans is to meet the objective of rules and contribute to the outcomes of the RPMP by eradicating or reducing the spread of pests from the place(s) occupied or managed by the Plan maker.
Species we dealt with during this reporting period were blackberry, gorse and tutsan.
We have received a small number of complaints across the Region, predominantly regarding neighbours’ and roadside weeds. A subdivision adjacent to the Rangitikei River was the cause of multiple complaints regards blackberry growing from the river corridor through a roadside fence. The road is private but provides access to multiple parcels. Before LINZ can take responsibility an undertaking called a status check is required. This costs many thousands of dollars and would not be covered by LINZ; it also will take some months. Horizons will be assisting the land occupier to address the immediate problems caused by the overgrowing vegetation.
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Table 2 Good neighbour rule activity Description Report period numbers Boundary complaints received and actioned outside of 9 compliance RTCs (Required to Clear) issued 1 NODs (Notice of Direction) issued 1 Notices resolved in this period 1 of 1
Crown and Local Territory Authority (TLA) engagement
Staff met with Treescape to firm up the content of what is required within an Approved
Management Plan for pest management in the rail corridor. Given the amount of pest plant control required, both proactive good neighbour responsibilities and reactive responses to complaints outside what is planned or budgeted for a given year, we are working towards a multi-year management plan from 2019/20. The plan is to include stretches of track to be worked and the pest species targeted. We are expecting a report on pest plant control within the
Annex B rail corridor for 2018/19. Kiwirail were also acknowledged for their financial assistance to the broom and tutsan biological control projects.
The table below shows the progress of engagement with the local councils and the Crown, with eight out of eleven councils and Crown agencies met with and agreement reached around pest programmes.
Progress in having Approved Management Plans developed and agreed to has been slower than expected; however, there is regular contact between Horizons and the appropriate staff in councils and Crown agencies to encourage and guide them to develop and adopt the plans. Staff turnover from four organisations has meant a delay in receiving plans and/or engaging with the appropriate new staff member.
At the time of writing we are expecting a meeting with Higgins and New Zealand Transport Agency representatives to discuss the benefit of creating an Approved Management Plan and the annual requirement to report on pest plant management. Other agencies part way through completing Approved Management Plans are; Ruapehu and Rangitikei District Councils and Palmerston North City Council; and Horowhenua District has yet to reconnect given staff turnover. We have received plans from Whanganui, Tararua and Manawatu District Councils.
Table 3 Progress towards an asset management plan (AMP) or other liaison Measure Reporting Period YTD Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Actual MOU/Liaison progress 2 1 1 4 0 0 8 11 73%
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2.6 Response Activity 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.
Pea Weevil
We received the latest update on the Controlled area for pea weevil, which covers the lower Tararua District and Wairarapa. The response is well on the way to eradicating pea weevil, however the Controlled Area Notice currently in place remains in force and will continue through the 2019-20 growing season.
The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) market access group advised that in order to declare New Zealand free of pea weevil, New Zealand’s export customers require at least two years with no detections of pea weevil. The last detections were in 2017-18 so a further round of trap crops
are planned for locations near these detections. Soak testing of peas from around the country is Annex B being undertaken to check whether pea weevil has spread or re-introduced.
Velvetleaf
John Taylor and Rusty the velvetleaf detector dog were contracted to survey paddocks in early March. The aim was to sniff out any late germinating velvetleaf plants within the cultivated higher risk paddocks. Nothing was found in the paddocks in Whanganui, which was good news but not surprising given the diminishing plant numbers in recent years due to zero seeding and farmer vigilance. Two paddocks had been sown in maize, which is potentially very high risk for velvetleaf management because detection and weed control can both be difficult with this crop. Both paddocks were given top notch chemical weed control through the season and walked through, with no plants detected. The fail-safe deployment of Rusty ensured the harvest was able to take place with zero risk of distributing velvetleaf.
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Figure 3 John Taylor with Rusty at an historic Whanganui velvetleaf location, followed by a well - deserved wash prior to leaving the Region. (R.Sicely)
Annex B
Myrtle Rust
Myrtle rust was found again in Taumarunui. A staff member inspecting a ramarama plant approximately 1 km from the previously found infection confirmed myrtle rust was present and informed MPI as per the protocol.
Emerging Issue
A staff member provided soil samples last year to Landcare Research from the base of totara trees across the Ruapheu District after many were noticed to be suffering die-back, which has been happening for a few years. The results were not conclusive but point to a soil-borne fungus.
We have also recently had enquiry from farmers noticing the die-back effects and subsequently MPI have now become involved. SPS Biosecurity Ltd, who are contracted to MPI, visited in late March and took several samples comprising of soil and leaf or needles, and branches from two sites – at Ongarue and at an Okaihae Road property where this die-back was first noticed. Results were expected to be available in late April.
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Annex B
Figure 4 Totara near Taumarunui suffering from die-back that is more than likely caused by a fungus. (D.Alker)
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2.7 Biological Control Activity Overview
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.
Bioagent population releases were made of green thistle beetles, ragwort plume moth, Japanese honeysuckle Hoonshu white admiral butterfly and the tutsan beetle.
The field horsetail weevil release sites were inspected by Landcare Research and staff. No agents were found, which was disappointing. We are hopeful for establishment but, given the relatively
low rate of breeding and large areas of field horsetail, it may be some time before the effects are noticeable and the weevils discoverable.
Annex B
Figure 5 Lindsay Smith (LR) explaining what horsetail weevil damage should look like to Paul Peterson (LR) and staff. (R.Sicely)
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2.8 Awareness and Promotion Activity Activity Overview The aim of the Awareness programme is to alert the community to the issues, threats and weed management solutions.
Media picked up stories about our Region’s wilding pine control efforts and the Environmental Protection Authority decision to allow the old man’s beard gall mite into New Zealand. Other media has included the following Local Focus Videos: . Wilding Pines are a blanket of green - NZ Herald . Tree-mendous efforts pole axe pernicious pines - NZ Herald
The pest plant team received 47 enquires with the main topics being: . Production Blackberry and gorse . Zero-Density Old man’s beard and banana passionfruit . Non-Strategy Bamboo, privet, unknown plants
Annex B
Frontlines: February and March 2019
20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 19 18 1 0 9 0 Production Zero-Density Freshwater Surveillance Non-Strategy
Graph 1 Pest plant enquiries summary - reporting period.
Staff were able to respond to 96% (c.f., 95% target) of all enquires logged in the Frontlines database within the expected timeframe. We endeavour to address all enquires as soon as practicable, however leave and out of office work programmes occasionally dictate staff availability.
One of our staff combined with our Environmental Educator and hosted 40 school children from Tokirima and Matiere schools at a green thistle beetle nursery site. The topic of thistles and why it’s important to control them led to a lesson on the biological control of weeds.
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After being shown what to look for, the students all had a go at finding and collecting the beetles and larvae. They did very well and a number were collected for them to release closer to their schools, which will then allow ongoing monitoring by the children.
Annex B
Figure 6 Dave Alker with school children from Tokirima and Matiere schools discovering all about green thistle beetles. (S.Williams)
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3 Activity Summary Project Key Deliverables YTD Progress Wilding Conifer – Work with partners and other Central North stakeholders re: Ministry of Primary Industries - Horizons contract signed, Island Regional 1. Planning for management partners’ variations signed. Work finished in Horizons area, Steering Group unit activity and reporting continues in all others. (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 completed. increase the protection of barberry control previously cleared areas. programme Weevil numbers from the rearing facility at Lincoln are Support group activity with disappointingly low and those that are emerging are Rangitikei Horsetail population releases and coming in dribs and drabs, making sizeable population Group monitoring. batches hard to achieve. No weevils found this month, 10 adults introduced after summer breeding in containment.
Support group activity with Annex B Tutsan Action A small number of releases have been made by Horizons population releases and Group staff. last meeting scheduled for 3 April. monitoring. . 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. No update since. . Coordinated action in priority areas is undertaken against the target species. Representing Horizons at Freshwater Pest national forum to champion Advocacy work started on 1 October at Lake Otamangakau Partnership behaviour change and and continues. Good partnership formed with Ngāti Rangi Programme and freshwater pest protection. volunteers for Ohakune-based events. Planning underway Check, Clean, Dry Attendance at high-risk events for last event of the season, the 1 Above T42 adventure (CCD) advocacy and strong advocacy with the race. 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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Annex B
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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 February to 31 March 2019. The
Annex C report is presented in four sections: . Priority site protection . Biodiversity partnerships . Tōtara Reserve Regional Park management; and . Collaboration projects with the Department of Conservation (DOC) 1.1.2 Activity during the reporting period was once again dominated by the stocktake and maintenance of priority sites, along with additional reporting to inform future involvement with and management of these sites. Activity also included work on many of the 34 biodiversity partnership projects. Other work included management of Totara Reserve Regional Park. A summary of the Long-term Plan targets and progress to date is provided in the table below.
Table 1 Progress reporting for the Biodiversity Activity 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% Additional top 200 bush remnants actively managed 7 n/a 13 186% Support community involvement in biodiversity protection Support existing community-based biodiversity 12 34 5 42% improvement projects 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 was reviewed 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.
The review of the biodiversity programme has introduced changes to the way sites are assessed and managed. These changes include the introduction of a new classification of the level of management that sites are receiving. This adds more detail to the previous reporting on sites, whether or not they are being actively managed. The management level rating (see Box 1 on the following page) incorporates assessments of the level of knowledge of the biodiversity at a site through a Rapid Ecological Assessment
Annex C (REA) and whether Horizons has completed some restoration work at the site, which was previously the mechanism the programme used to indicate whether a site was actively managed. The programme review also introduced the requirement for site management plans, and these, along with frequency of visits, are key factors for achieving management level 3. The level of priority works in the site management plan that are being implemented are also part of the management level index with level 4 indicating all priority works are being completed. Levels 5 and 6 reflect sites receiving a greater level of management. Reporting will now cover only the new management level index for sites that have been worked on during the reporting period and the original prioritisation category (e.g., A, B, C, D) will no longer be reported on. Please note the management level index framework is continuing to be refined as we gain more experience with its implementation.
Table 2 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% Additional top 200 bush remnants actively managed 7 n/a 13 186%
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Management Level Descriptions To achieve consistency in reporting over the coming 18 months the site list has been reconciled and the number of sites at each management level will be reported. Draft management levels have been outlined below.
Management Level Zero: Sites that we know exist but have not visited yet, which will not be reported.
Management Level 0.5: A holding level for sites that have received a contribution toward management from Horizons but have not yet received an REA, or the REA has expired (i.e., is greater than 10 years old). Many of these sites existed in the Whanganui and Ruapehu districts. The Biodiversity team has visited most of the sites previously listed at this level and completed REAs, moving them to level 2.
Management Level 1: Sites at management level 1 will have been assessed using the REA process. Sites, including the GIS layer, will be included in our inventory. This management level is valid for 10 years, when a new REA must be completed or the site returns to level 0.5. Sites (and GIS layer) that were a level 1 and are returned to a level 0.5 will still exist in our inventory, but the level reflects the dated, and possibly now
incorrect, data that we have on that site. Annex C
Management Level 2: Sites at management level 2 will fulfil the requirements on level 1 and have had a previous contribution to their management by Horizons. This contribution may have been a ‘one-off’, such as fencing or other management contribution. This would include sites that were previously managed but where support has been withdrawn for any reason. These sites will have brief site summaries which detail why management is not continuing but for historical sites this will only be possible where this information is available.
Management Level 3: Sites at management level 3 will fulfil the requirements of level 1 and have site visits to assess works required at least biannually. These sites will have a site summary and management plan. Identified works required will be prioritised. Some work may be deferred if appropriate. Landowners will be supported and encouraged to contribute to the management of these sites.
Management Level 4: Sites at management level 4 will fulfil the requirements of level 3 and have all high priority works carried out as required. Landowners will be supported and encouraged to contribute to the management of these sites. Tōtara Reserve is an example of a site at this management level.
Management Level 5: Sites at management level 5 will fulfil the requirements of level 4 management and have true management partnerships established. Alternatively, they may be managed by the landowner, iwi or community group with only surveillance and advice from Horizons. Manawatū Gorge and Cape Turnagain are examples of sites at this management level.
Management Level 6: Sites at management level 6 will meet at least management level 4 and be receiving control for all animal pests. Bushy Park is the only site that meets the criteria for this level.
Box 1 Management level descriptions
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2.2 Activity Highlights General
2.2.1 Included below is a summary of the management level index for all sites on the managed list. Please note the management level index framework is continuing to be refined as we gain more experience with its implementation.
Table 3 Priority Sites Management Level Index Management Bush sites Wetland sites All sites Level 6 1 0 1 5 1 2 3
4 7 3 10 3 36 12 48 2 100 49 149 Sub-total for Level 2+ 145 66 211
Annex C 1 231 58 289 0.5 4 6 10 Total 380 188 568
2.2.2 The aim during 2018-19 was to complete 70 REAs on sites that have previously been under management by Horizons, along with sites that are new to the programme and had previously not had an REA carried out. REAs and site summaries were to 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.
2.2.3 During February and March the Biodiversity team completed a further 5 REAs. This takes the total for this year to 91 REAs (87 bush remnants and 4 wetlands).
High priority wetlands
2.2.4 Four new high priority wetland sites are scheduled to be added to the managed list. One of these, McDowall’s Wetland, has been fenced and planted this year, and requires an updated REA to finalise its inclusion on the list. Fencing of the remaining three is underway.
2.2.5 Seven wetland sites were visited for pest plant control, audits, monitoring or REAs during this period. During site audits, staff check for evidence and impact of stock or pest animals, new pest plant infestations, fence integrity and any other damage.
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Table 4 Wetland sites. Management Assessment/ Wetland Site Pest Plants Treated Audit Level* Monitoring Broadlands Wetland 3 - Yes Fish barrier (Man12W) assessment Tree Daisy Wetland 3 - Yes - (Tara6W) Kohinui Road Oxbow 3 Old man’s beard - - (Tara14W) OMB Cape Turnagain (Tara45W) 5 - - Vegetation and moth survey Ferry Reserve (Tara33W) 4 OMB - - Fault Fen (Tara32W) 3 Broom - -
Waitatapia Wetland 1 - - REA * Please see Box 1 – Management Level Descriptions
High priority bush remnants
Annex C 2.2.6 Eleven new high priority bush remnants were added to the managed list during this period, following workshops with the Biodiversity and Science teams. Along with several new sites, there were sites identified that we were working on but which had not been included in the list. The sites added were on Otawhao Station (Tara83, Tara85B, Tara85C), Dandy Pond Bush (Tara317A), True Kelly’s Bush (Rua66), Reu Reu No.1 Forest (Man221), Highden Property (Man206), Cousins’ Bush (Man219), Priest’s Bush (Man125), QEII Davis Bush (Horo100) and Williams’ Bush (Rang12).
2.2.7 Twenty-two 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.
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Table 5 Bush Remnant sites. Management Assessment/ Bush Remnant Site Pest Plants Treated Audit Level* Monitoring Smith 2 Bush (Rang142) 2 Karaka, elderberry, holly Yes Bat monitoring Cathedral bells, elderberry, Priest’s Bush (Man125) 3 - - banana passionfruit Clausen’s Bush (Man213) 3 Tradescantia, ivy - - Hikawai Bush (Man165) 1 - - REA update Stafford’s Bush (Rang210) 2 - Yes - QEII Davis Bush (Horo100) 3 Ivy, gorse Yes - Nitschke Bush (Man227) 3 OMB, gunnera Yes REA Manderson Bush (Man212) 3 OMB, ivy, elderberry, Yes - Prunus spp
Williams’ Bush (Rang12) 3 OMB - - Sutherland’s Puriri (Rang116) 4 OMB - - Sutherland’s Mangahoe (Rang117) 4 OMB - - The Falls QEII (Tara30) 3 OMB - - Tōtara Reserve (ManX1) 4 OMB, tutsan, Japanese - -
Annex C honeysuckle, karaka Scout Camp Bush (Tara09) 3 Gunnera, yellow - - passionfruit, climbing spindleberry Barrell’s Rd Bush (Tara18) 3 OMB - - Rangedale Bluffs (TaraX2) 2 - - REA Laird’s Bush (Rang129) 4 - Yes - Climbing asparagus, stinking Nevill’s Back Bush (Man230) 3 - - iris Cousins’ Bush (Man219) 3 Pampas Yes - Pryce’s Rahui Bush (Rang149) 4 Karaka - - Pouwhakaura Bush (Rang96) 2 - - REA update Coles’ Bush (Man234) 3 Ivy, pampas, gorse - - * Please see Box 1 – Management Level Descriptions
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Annex C
Photo 1 Kingfisher burrows in a tree fern at a bush site that two of the Biodiversity team visited with the Whanganui Botanical Society. 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 6 Progress reporting for the Biosecurity Partners hips programmes Long-term Plan targets. % of target Target Allocated Completed completed
Support community involvement in biodiversity protection Support existing community-based biodiversity 12 34 1 3% improvement projects*4
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3.1.2 The 34 projects approved in 2018-19 include 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 the table below.
Table 7 Progress against Biodiversity Collaborations. Estimated % Project Update Status Complete 1 Rangitikei Environment Group Weed control almost complete for On track 95% (REG) this season.
2 Kia Wharite See Section 5 Collaboration Projects. On track 75% 3 Weedbusters Palmerston North Weed control ongoing. On track 60% 4 Tawata Mainland Island No pest control has started on this Not started 0% project and it appears unlikely to go ahead this year, in which case the budget will be re-allocated to other
Annex C projects. 5 Waitarere Beach Community Weed control ongoing. On track 80% Project 6 Pukaha Mt Bruce See Section 5 Collaboration projects. On track 80% 7 Te Āpiti Manawatū Gorge See Section 5 Collaboration projects. On track 75% Enhancement
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Community Biodiversity projects 3.1.4 Progress against the 13 Community Biodiversity projects is shown in Table below.
Table 8 Progress against Community Biodiversity projects. Community Biodiversity Estimated % Update Status projects Complete 8 Te Potae o Awarua See Section 5 Collaboration projects (see On track 90% Predator Project Northern Ruahine Battle for our Birds). 9 Massey Hill Weed control is almost complete for the year. Nearing 95% completion 10 Turitea Reserve Pest animal control ongoing. On track 80% 11 Bushy Park Pest animal control ongoing. On track 80% 12 Kahuterawa Stream Regular hare control is achieving good results. On track 75% Biodiversity project Weed control in preparation for the upcoming planting of the Palmerston North to Linton walkway/cycleway, which passes through the Kahuterawa project, is underway. 13 Foxton River Loop Save our River Trust (SoRT) are organising a Started 5%
planting job that will use all the budget for this Annex C project. 14 Manawatū Estuary & See Section 5 Collaboration projects. On track 75% Predator project 15 Awahuri Forest - Streambank protection works have been Nearing 85% Kitchener Park completed on a section of the Makino Stream completion (see photo at the end of this section). New for the year solar-powered lights have been installed in the car park. As part of the Tū Te Manawa project, Ngāti Kauwhata will be erecting one of the eight educational whare in the Park. 16 Ahimate Reserve Horizons’ share of the weed control On track 80% (previously Waitoetoe maintenance and planting of the greater park Park) area has been spent and any additional costs will be paid by Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) as previously agreed. About 3,000 plants will go into the area in May-June. 17 Gate Pa Bush Weed control work has been delayed due to Started 5% Restoration contractor availability but indications are that the budget will be spent this year. 18 Ōhau Beach Walkway Horowhenua District Council (HDC) has Project not 0% confirmed this project will not proceed in the proceeding current financial year. Savings will be redirected to the Cape Turnagain project. 19 Cape Turnagain Horizons’ stakeholder contribution has been On track 90% paid for this year. 20 Genesis Moawhango Willow removal begins in early April. Started 5% River Restoration
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3.1.5 The majority of the projects are on track or have been completed (9/13), two have just started, one will start with planting in late autumn, and one isn’t proceeding with its resources being re- allocated to the Cape Turnagain project. Staff are liaising with all project groups to ensure completion if possible.
Annex C
Photo 2 Streambank protection works on the Makino Stream at Awahuri Forest - Kitchener Park.
Community Grant projects 3.1.6 Community Grant projects were funded through a grants process run in April-May 2018, with 12 projects successful. A further two projects from the previous year were extended into the current year to enable their completion. Applications for the following financial year open in April and close in May.
3.1.7 Progress against the 14 Community Grant projects is shown in the table below, and staff contacted each of the groups early in 2019.
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Table 9 Progress against Community Grant projects. Estimated % Community Grant projects Update Status Complete 21 Bulls River Users Group Weed control completed and On track 40% planting is planned for May. 22 Kaitieke School Planting completed. Nearing 95% completion 23 Te One Bush Restoration Almost completed. Nearing 95% Project completion 24 Kimbolton School Project completed. Completed 100% 25 Mount Biggs School Project completed. Completed 100% 26 Progress Castlecliff, No updates received from applicant. Unknown 0% Whanganui 27 Kai Iwi School Planting completed. Nearing 95% completion 28 Puddleducks Montessori Plants have been ordered and Started 10% fencing is about to begin. 29 Milson Scout Troup Project completed. Completed 100% 30 Timona Park Orchard Trust Most of the grant has been spent. Nearing 95% completion Annex C 31 Matipo Community Project completed. Completed 100% Development Charitable Trust 32 South Makirikiri School No updates received from applicant. Unknown 0% 33 Kairanga School (carried Wetland project completed and Completed 100% forward from last year) grant claimed. 34 Bushy Park community project No updates received from applicant. Unknown 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 focused 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.
4.1.2 The Long-term Plan target and year-to-date progress against this are reported in the table below.
Table 10 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
Photo 3 Most of the group that participated in the Manawat ū Walking Festival event at Tōtara Reserve Regional Park’s Fern Walk.
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4.2 Totara Reserve Regional Park Annual Report for 2018-19 Introduction
4.2.1 Totara Reserve Regional Park was vested in Horizons’ management at the beginning of the 2011- 12 financial year. For several years prior, it was managed in partnership with Manawatū District Council.
4.2.2 An Advisory Group is in place to handle the strategic management of the Regional Park and it meets twice a year. The Advisory Group consists of two Councilors, two staff representatives (ex officio), two iwi representatives, two representatives from the local community and the Chair of Camp Rangi Woods Trust.
4.2.3 This project has a targeted uniform annual charge (UAC) rate and 90% of the rate funding is generated by a UAC on Manawatū District and Palmerston North City ratepayers. Further income is generated by camping fees, rental from the caretaker’s house and the Camp Rangi Woods Trust lease.
Annex C Activity in 2018-19
4.2.4 The budget for 2018-19 provides a similar quantum of overall rate funding to the previous year and includes an even higher estimate of revenue. Last year, revenue was lower than budgeted and we need to be mindful of this.
4.2.5 A significant flood event on 12 June 2018 sent a great deal of water through the Kahikatea campground and deposited silt over much of the camping area and in the ablution block. The flows were so strong that the water crossed Churchill Drive into the forest and exited right behind the ablution block in the Kereru campground, resulting in further water damage and silt deposition there and in the adjacent playground.
4.2.6 The first few months of this financial year were dedicated to repairing the damaged assets and returning the campgrounds to a fit state in time for camping season. It included replacing all the “softfall” bark mulch under and around the playground equipment and replacement of carpet and GIB® board in the Kereru ablution block. Just over $20,000 of the clean-up and repair costs were able to be claimed back on insurance but some items, such as repairing scoured tracks and re-grassing the deposited silt, had to be taken out of the operational budget.
4.2.7 The budget for flood protection works was prioritised to upgrade the flood protection levels in the Kahikatea campground. Other areas of the Regional Park that required bank protection works could not be addressed with available budget and the river took away another section of walking track on the Gilchrist Loop. A new track has been created in that area, routed well away from the current river course and bypassing the former poplar nursery – a site that our staff and contractor agreed was becoming increasingly dangerous due to the age and instability of those trees.
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4.2.8 Several trees and branches that posed a threat to visitors in the campground and around Camp Rangi Woods were removed.
4.2.9 Campground fees were raised this year with powered sites going from $20/night to $35/night and unpowered sites from $12/night to $15/night. Despite the expected minor drop in patronage, campground income exceeded $35,000 – up by more than $2,000 on the previous financial year. Campground numbers were 453 camper nights in February and 869 camper nights in March.
4.2.10 The weed control programme continued to make good progress against the highest priority weeds in and around the Regional Park. Of special note, the biological control agents for Tradescantia are showing plenty of promise. A leaf spot fungus will be added to the programme
next year to go along with the three species of beetle currently in the establishment phase.
4.2.11 Animal pest control was primarily targeted at possums, and staff will be looking to increase the number of bait stations through the interior of the forested areas. Wasp control was also undertaken in response to higher wasp numbers around the campgrounds later in the camping
Annex C season. Our track maintenance contractor and one of our Biodiversity Team are certified to use the latest poison for wasps (Vespex®).
4.2.12 The Totara Reserve Advisory Group had a strategic planning workshop in February and will follow that up with another one later in 2019. The draft strategic plan is being based on the successful Te Āpiti Manawatū Gorge Governance model of 4 pillars – Biodiversity, Cultural, Recreation and Education.
4.2.13 A tender process has begun for the Totara Reserve Regional Park campground maintenance contract and will be posted on the Tenderlink website before the end of May. The new contract will be for a three year period.
4.2.14 The necessary safety upgrade to the effluent treatment area has been scheduled for the 2019-20 financial year, along with several other CAPEX items, including sealing roads.
4.2.15 Additional boardwalks and steps planned for the Fern Walk this year were delayed due to the flood repair costs that weren’t able to be claimed on our insurance.
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 Wharite
Mangapurua – Whitianga Aerial Pest Operation
5.2.1 Post-operation monitoring for rats and possums has been completed. Rat monitoring showed tracking rates had fallen from 67% tracking pre-operation to 0% tracking after the operation. Waxtag monitoring for possums showed a decrease from 27% to 15%. The Ministry of Health operation audit report has been received with no concerns. Annex C
Whanganui National Park (part of Kaukore Reserve) pest control
5.2.2 This operation is being run by Ngā Whenua Rāhui to reduce possum numbers in part of the Whanganui National Park in and around Pipiriki.
Air New Zealand Biodiversity
5.2.3 Whanganui Journey campsite trapping – using self-resetting traps at hut and campsites on the route, continues to be maintained and checked monthly.
5.2.4 Whanganui River trench weed control – between Whakahoro and Pipiriki and concentrating on three priority pest species. Three-quarters of the contract has been completed, with the last work scheduled for the second week of April, weather permitting.
5.2.5 Whanganui River goat control – completed before the Whanganui Journey season. Additional work scheduled for June.
Whio
5.2.6 Surveys of whio in the Manganui-o-te-Ao River Retaruke security site have been completed. Results for the season will be updated in the next report. Maintenance and checks on the predator network continue.
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Captive-breed whio release - Kaiwhakauka
5.2.7 On 23 January, 12 captive-bred whio (blue ducks) were released on the Kaiwhakauka Stream. This was to ensure the best chance of survival for these birds, to boost whio within the Retaruke Catchment. It was thought best to keep this release low key to enable it to go ahead without holding the birds for too long. Members of Te Rōpū Mana Whenua (TRMW) supported the day. The adjoining landowner, Dan Steele, was involved with the release.
Annex C
Photos from the whio releases
Captive-breed whio release - Manganui o te Ao
5.2.8 On 6 March, 12 whio were released on the Manganui-o-te-Ao River. Rangi Bristol and Aiden Gilbert (members of TRMW) were present along with DOC staff, Horizons councillors and staff and tamariki from Orautoha kura, Raetihi and Ohakune school.
5.2.9 We especially acknowledge the assistance of Peter Russel and Rufus Bristol (known by the tamariki as Koro Rufus) for their whio knowledge and expertise. An education programme was held with the tamariki following lunch. This event was well attended by the community.
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5.2.10 Present were tamariki from Orautoha kura, Raetihi and Ohakune school. A special acknowledgment was made by Aiden Gilbert to Koro Rufus Bristol for his whio expertise.
Annex C
Bruce Rollinson Koro Rufus & Lorrie Iwi Leader Aiden and tamariki
5.2.11 Kiwi
5.2.12 The long-term monitoring programme on the kiwi population in the Whanganui National Park will be continued during May-June 2019.
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5.2.13 Michelle Impey (K4K) has applied for additional source sites for western brown kiwi. Iwi consultation is still to be confirmed. DOC Whanganui continues to advise K4K on the importance of maintaining relationships with Te Rōpū Mana Whenua (the DOC & iwi mandated relationship group).
5.2.14 The K4K project has commenced, with sourcing birds more challenging than expected.
5.2.15 Whanganui DOC is considering the option for K4K to source birds from areas under active protection within Tongariro National Park and surrounding lands to support this project. Locations would exclude areas where kiwi are monitored so as not to directly affect this monitoring work.
Myrtle Rust Response
5.2.16 Whanganui District staff have not been required to collect seed this year. The Ministry for Primary Industries continues to run the hotline for myrtle rust for the public to notify any finds. DOC continues to work with the national DOC myrtle rust team as required.
Annex C 5.2.17 Manawatū District staff are still collecting seed from some of the less common members of the myrtle family (myrtaceae) and with iwi consent obtained, seed collection at Paengaroa was scheduled for April.
Pukaha/Mount Bruce
5.2.18 Aerial 1080 was applied to 943 hectares at this site on 17 December 2018.
5.2.19 Trapping results for the Pukaha Mt Bruce project are shown in the table below for February 2019. March totals not yet available.
Pukaha Greater Horizons Total Wellington Regional Regional Council Council Ferrets 2 3 1 6 Stoats 1 0 1 2
Weasels 0 0 0 0 Cats 1 6 2 9 Hedgehogs 3 52 26 81
Rats 37 45 12 94
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Manawatū Estuary
5.2.20 Final spartina (sporobolus) survey for the summer was organised on 1 March 2019 for community and tangata whenua to participate. No spartina was found.
5.2.21 Sporobolus was reported via I-naturalist further south from Waikawa Estuary. Staff visited the site and treated three small patches of spartina within a week of DOC being notified of these plants.
5.2.22 DOC staff have also carried out control of the highly invasive silver poplars around the sandspit.
Te Āpiti Manawatū Gorge Project
5.2.23 The initial 5-minute bird counts at 30 points across both the north and south sides of the gorge were completed in late February. These counts will be carried out annually.
Annex C 5.2.24 Several DOC200 traps along the Manawatu Gorge track were interferred with recently in an act of vandalism. Most were salvageable, but three were destroyed. DOC Manawatū are purchasing replacement traps, and the Ashhurst volunteer stoat trappers continue to do a great job checking the traps. A trap that was thrown down a steep bank is pictured below.
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5.2.25 A Te Apiti Manawatū Gorge Governance Group meeting was held in February. The agenda included a review of the work programme, a gorge road update, a presentation about the potential for species reintroduction and the terms of reference for the Governance Group. The terms of reference discussion was deferred until the next meeting as key Governance Group members were absent. The first phase of the species reintroduction work indicated that there is potential for species reintroduction in the Te Āpiti Manawatū Gorge area. The second phase of this work will be presented at the May meeting. The Governance Group also discussed the new gorge road and their submission to the related hearing process.
Northern Ruahine Battle for our Birds aerial 1080 operation
5.2.26 The 2019 beech seed monitoring data have been analysed and confirm that a very heavy mast is occurring in the Northern Ruahine area and through the South Island forests. The extent of this beech mast is the greatest since recording began in 1975.
5.2.27 Planning and consultation for a potential aerial 1080 operation in spring 2019 is continuing, but
Annex C funding is not yet confirmed as higher priority sites such as those at risk of losing nationally endangered species like rock wren, may be prioritised over the Northern Ruahine block.
5.2.28 The Ruahine Whio Protection Trust has purchased 200 double-set DOC stoat traps using funds from the DOC Community Fund. These traps will be placed around the areas where the Trust had found kiwi outside the previously known range; the survey was funded by the previous year’s DOC Community Fund grants.
5.2.29 Rat monitoring continues every 3 months in the Northern Ruahine area. Results to date:
Date tracking tunnel papers put in tunnels Rat tracking index Mouse tracking index 8 June 2017 (pre-pest control operation) 11% 3% 7 December 2017 (3 weeks post-operation) 0% 0.6% 27 January 2018 0% 0.6% 7 May 2018 1% 16% 27 August 2018 3% 23% 6 November 2018 15% 38% 13 February 2019 27% 16%
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Report No. 19-66 10Item 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 February to 31 March 2019.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 19-66 and Annex. b. receives the Annual Report for the Manawatū Catchment Freshwater Improvement Fund project. c. receives the Annual Report for the Whangaehu Catchment Freshwater Improvement Fund project. d. receives the Annual Report for the Lake Waipu Catchment Freshwater Improvement Fund project. e. receives the Annual Report for the work with the horticulture sector through the Freshwater programme. f. notes the Annual Report for the work on the lake restoration activity including the Freshwater Improvement Fund project for Lake Horowhenua was presented to Council at the Regional Council meeting on 25 September 2018.
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. Overall the Freshwater programme is progressing well and is on track to deliver 125 km of fencing for a target of 69 km and 107,000 plants for a target of 63,333. So far this year 40 km of riparian fencing and 44,728 riparian plants have been planted. Further detail on the individual programmes is provided in the attached annex.
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Item 10Item 6.2. The Long Term Plan identifies several reporting targets for the Freshwater programme including the provision of an annual report for each of the three Freshwater Improvement Fund projects that Horizons is leading in the region. The annex to this report contains these annual reports. 6.3. The Long Term Plan also identifies annual reporting requirements for the Lake Horowhenua Freshwater Improvement Fund projects and this was presented to Council in September. A further Annual Report on the work with the horticulture sector is also identified in the Long Term Plan. The annex to this report contains these annual reports.
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
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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. The team 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 27.495 14.134 118% 20,000 34,242 14,761 74% Manawatū 50 79.021 23.893 48% 40,000 65,683 24,513 61% Whangaehu 17 19.142 2.329 14% 3,333 7,925 5,454 164% Total 69 125.66 40.36 63,333 107,850 44,728
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Annex A
Figure 1 Location of the Freshwater Grants works for 2018-19, including the Regional, Manawatū and Whangaehu programmes. Each point on the map represents one fencing, planting, fish pass 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 passages 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. The following report provides the annual summary to Council on the Manawatū Freshwater Improvement Fund project as required by a Long Term Plan target.
2.1.2 The Manawatū Awa Freshwater Improvement Fund project is to be delivered over five years, across a number of project, organisations and funding partners as shown in Table 2.
2.1.3 The Long Term Plan targets for the Manawatū River Accord are to be achieved through the $410,000 targeted rate, Freshwater Improvement funding and landowner co-funding. The Annex A revenue received from the Manawatū Accord targeted rate therefore results in significant leverage of funding to enable works within the catchment. The targets for the 2018-19 financial year are shown in Table 3. These targets are aligned with the deliverables contained in the Deed of Funding with the Ministry for the Environment for the Freshwater Improvement Fund project.
Table 2: Proposed budget for the Manawatū Awa Freshwater Improvement Fund project ov er the five- year term.
2.1.4 In regards to the annual programme for this project, Horizons has committed $440,0003 of funding for freshwater initiatives in the Manawatū Awa this year. This funding will help to
3 $30,000 comes from Policy for the Freshwater Improvement Fund Mātauranga Māori and cultural monitoring project.
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advance the goals of the Manawatū Accord. Table 4 below gives further details on how this funding is proposed to be spent this year. Staff costs are additional to the amounts in the Tables above and below and do not count towards the overall spend for the Freshwater Improvement Fund.
2.1.5 In addition, the Manawatū River Accord has money sitting in reserves and Council has provided permission via a resolution to allow works to be allocated up to the amount held in reserves. This will allow further freshwater initiatives/investments within the Manawatū Catchment in the 2018-19 financial year.
Table 3: Proposed Horizons budget for the Manawatū Awa Freshwater Improvement Fund project for the 2019-20 year.
Annex A
2.1.6 As a requirement of the Deed of Funding for the Freshwater Improvement Fund project a Governance Group has been established. Cr Keedwell and Mr McCartney are the Horizons representatives on the Governance Group. 2.2 Targets Table 4 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
Stream fencing (km) 22.893 50 48% 158% (79km) Riparian plants 24,513 40,000 61% 164% (65,683) Fish barrier remediation 5 4 125% 125% Community project funded 0 9 0 100%
4 This works on the assumption of the landowner contributing 50%. The Deed of Funding with MfE allows the split to be 33:33:33. Depending on allocation levels and the ability to meet the milestones the landowner contribution may need to be decreased. 5 This works on the assumption of the landowner contributing 50%. The Deed of Funding with MfE allows the split to be 33:33:33. Depending on allocation levels and the ability to meet the milestones the landowner contribution may need to be decreased. 6 This is budgeted on no contribution from the structure owner. It is normal practice to receive some contribution from the structure owner.
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2.3 Activity Highlights Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord and Action Plan
2.3.1 The next Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord Forum is to be held on the 7th May 2019. 2.3.2 The third quarterly report for the Manawatū River Freshwater Improvement Fund is currently being prepared to go to the Governance Group and then to be lodged with the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) by the end of April 2019. The team are currently organising auditors to be able to undertake the annual audit report at the end of the financial year.
2.3.3 The Freshwater Improvement Fund Governance Group are to meet on the 18th April to be updated on the quarter three works, consider the work plan for the 2019-20 financial year, and to decide on the process for the Manawatū Accord Community Funds next grant round.
2.3.4 The majority of the programme during the reporting period has focused on confirming plant
orders, liaising with landowners to ensure that site preparation is being undertaken, and signing Annex A off fencing claims. The team still continues to receive enquiries regarding fencing and planting however, any planting enquiries are being pushed into next winter due to availability of suitable plants and staff capacity.
2.3.5 The team are in regular contact with the successful applicants to the Manawatū Accord Community Fund. Most of the projects are making significant progress with the majority not able to be completed until the planting season commences. All project leads have been provided with reporting templates for when their projects are completed. Providing the reporting templates early allows the right information to be captured and in future these reporting templates will be provided to applicants at the same time as they sign the contracts for the work.
2.3.6 The remaining projects in the Freshwater Improvement Fund project lead by other parties are processing well. A brief snapshot of these projects being:
. Tokomaru WWTP discharge to land – Horowhenua District Council have purchased the land that is required to enable the discharge to land to occur. All that remains this financial year for the project is a covenant being placed on the land and the next financial year moves into design and resource consenting processes. . Environmental Iwi Management Plans – five sub-contracts have been signed with each of the iwi in the Manawatū Catchment. Regular updates are being received from the parties around progress with the preparation of the iwi management plans. Drafts of the iwi management plans are to be received from all parties by the end of June 2019. The 2019-20 financial year will see at least two of the iwi finalise their environmental iwi management plans. . PNCC urban eels and streams project – this project is spread across two main catchments within the PNCC boundary these being the Turitea and Mangaone. Both streams have had significant willow clearance undertaken, prep work undertaken for riparian planting and design work
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completed for the urban eels platform to enable lodging of a resource consent application with the Regional Council. Construction of the urban eels platform is unlikely to be undertaken until next summer.
Annex A Figure 2: The photo above shows the area at the confluence of the Mangaone Stream and Manawatū River which has had the willows removed (right hand side of Mangaone Stream) in preparation for the walkway and planting season.
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 5. 3.2 Targets Table 5 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
Stream fencing (km) 14.134 12 118% 229% (27.495 km) Riparian plants 14,761 20,000 61% 171% (34,242) Fish barrier remediation 0 1 0 100% 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 The majority of the programme during the reporting period has focused on confirming plant orders, liaising with landowners to ensure that site preparation is being undertaken, and signing off fencing claims. The team still continues to receive enquiries regarding fencing and planting however, any planting enquiries are being pushed into next winter due to availability of suitable plants and staff capacity.
3.3.2 Updated educational signage has recently been installed at Lake Pauri, Wiritoa, and Dudding around reducing the spread of macrophytes between waterbodies.
3.3.3 Staff attended a Moawhango Catchment community meeting. This group has established a number of monitoring sites in the Upper Moawhango River to understand the effects that they are currently having on the river and to enable them to monitor progress as they implement action on the ground. This is a community lead initiative with support from Horizons through the
Annex A Land and Freshwater Teams were appropriate.
Figure 3 Image of the updated lake weed sign for Lake Pauri.
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Te Mana o te Wai, Nga Puna Rau o Rangitīkei
3.3.4 In 2018, a Restoration Options Report was completed for Lake Oporoa. One recommendation was to reduce the input of organic matter to the lake from poplars in the catchment.
3.3.5 Following on from the poplar poisoning that occurred around Lake Oporoa in January 2019 site preparation is being undertaken to allow for the manuka and lakeside native plantings to occur in May 2019. The site is now completely stock proof with the last of the fencing completed in early April 2019.
3.3.6 Further fencing work is occurring in the Pourewa Catchment with the aim of undertaking riparian planting along the Pourewa Stream at Rata Marae near Hunterville. Planning is also underway for
riparian fencing and planting for two projects on private land along the Hautapu River near Taihape.
Lake Dudding
Annex A 3.3.7 During the reporting period further monitoring information has been collected from Lake Dudding and a workshop to develop lake restoration options for Lake Dudding has been scheduled for late May. The workshop will be chaired by Dr Clive Howard-Williams on NIWA and will involve staff from Horizons, Rangitikei District Council, Department of Conservation, Public Health, NIWA and other research agencies. Horizons provided a submission on applications for carp release to Lake Dudding and two other locations in the Rangitikei. The applications to the Department of Conservation were lodged by Rangitikei District Council. 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. The following report provides the annual summary to Council on the Ngā Wai Ora o te Whangaehu Awa Freshwater Improvement Fund project as required by a Long Term Plan target.
4.1.1 The Ngā Wai Ora o te Whangaehu Awa project was submitted on behalf of numerous stakeholders in the Whangaehu catchment, the project was mostly developed through the Ngā Wai Ora o te Whangaehu Awa group that Ruapehu District Council established for the catchment. The originally proposed project was to be delivered over a five-year timeframe. However, this was shortened to three years as a result of the Freshwater Improvement Fund assessment process.
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4.1.2 The projects that Horizons will lead over the three-year life of this project are:
Stream fencing (50 km); Riparian planting (10,000 plants); Fish barrier remediation (5 fixes); Community projects (10 projects); Governance, Health and Safety. 4.1.3 A restoration project specific to the Tokiahuru Catchment is to be managed by Ngāti Rangi. The project commenced on 1 July 2018 with the establishment of a Governance Group with Cr Rollinson as the Chair and Horizons representative. The three-year budget for the Ngā Wai Ora o te Whangaehu Awa project is contained in Table 6.
Table 6: Proposed budget for the Ngā Wai Ora o te Whangaehu Awa Freshwater Improvement Fund project over the three-year term.
Annex A
4.1.4 Breaking the project into the budget for this financial year, the allocations for individual projects are contained in Table 7.
Table 7: Proposed Horizons budget for the Ngā Wai Ora o te Whangaehu Awa Freshwater Improvement Fund project for the 2018 -19 year.
7 This works on the assumption of the landowner contributing 50%. The Deed of Funding with MfE allows the split to be 33:33:33. Depending on allocation levels and the ability to meet the milestones the landowner contribution may need to be decreased. 8 This is budgeted on no contribution from the structure owner. It is normal practice to receive some contribution from the structure owner. 9 This project is being led by Ngāti Rangi and has no financial contribution from Horizons.
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4.2 Targets Table 8. Annual Plan performance measures and assessment against year -end 2018-19 for the Whangaehu FIF project.
Measure Year to date Target % Complete % Allocated
Stream fencing (km) 17 14% 113 (19.142 kms) 2.329 kms Riparian plants 5,454 3,333 164% 238% (7,925) Fish barrier remediation 0 2 0% 100 (2)% Community project funded 1 4 25% 150%(6)
4.2.1 The next Governance Group meeting is to be held on 17 April 2019. This Governance Group meeting will discuss the work plan to date, approve the work plan for next financial year, and decide on the process for the next round of the community grants.
4.2.2 All successful community projects have been provided with a reporting template that is to be
Annex A submitted when the project is completed. All projects are progressing towards hitting their milestones with the majority of works remaining dependent on the planting season to be able to complete the projects.
4.2.3 The Ohakune Carrot Park project for which the grant funded part of the overall vision for the area has been completed. This specific project looked to encourage more people to engage with the waterway by making the area safer for access. Some photos of before and after are below.
4.2.4 Works over the coming period will focus on the completion of the fish passes which are due for completion in Mid-April, remaining in regular contact with the successful community grant recipients to ensure the projects are completed prior to the 20th June 2019, regular check ins with landowners for the completion of fencing, and signing up further works for the new financial year particularly the riparian planting jobs which generally occur in August and September in this area.
4.2.5 The remaining project in the Whangaehu is the Tokiahuru Stream fencing and planting project that is being led by Ngāti Rangi Trust. This project has hit its milestone for riparian planting getting 2,400 riparian plants in the ground against a target of 2,000. The project has 5 km’s of stream fencing as the annual target with fencing currently occurring on two properties.
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Annex A
Figure 4: Photo of the stream edge along the Carrot Park prior to the work s, note the steep drop off.
Figure 5: Photo of the stream edge after the works with a lower gradient to access the stream compared to prior.
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Item 10Item 5 Lake Waipu Freshwater Improvement Fund 5.1 Activity Overview The Lake Waipu Freshwater Improvement Fund project specifically seeks to remove the discharge into the lake from the Rātana Wastewater Treatment Plant. This is to be led by Rangitikei District Council (RDC) as the consent holder and Horizons’ project relates to monitoring the effect of the removal of discharge from the lake and to understand the lake‘s internal processes. The aim is to develop a restoration plan that deals with the legacy issue resulting from the current discharge. The following report provides the annual summary to Council on the Lake Waipu Freshwater Improvement Fund project as required by a Long Term Plan target.
Table 9. 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 Annex A Catchment Freshwater Improvement Fund 1 1 100% project.
5.1.1 The success of the Lake Waipu Freshwater Improvement Fund project was first announced in September 2017. Horizons in collaboration with Rangitīkei District Council, Nga Wairiki Ngati Apa, Rātana Communal Board, and the Department of Conservation had submitted an application for the removal of the wastewater discharge to an unnamed tributary of Lake Waipu (and ultimately to Lake Waipu) and instead discharge to land.
5.1.2 The Deed of Funding is currently being finalized with the Ministry for the Environment with a draft currently being with Rangitīkei District Council for review.
5.1.3 More intensive monitoring on Lake Waipu has commenced following the recommendations in the Enviro-link commissioned gap analysis for lakes restoration reports which identified gaps in the information that Horizons holds to be able to develop detailed restoration plans for our lakes.
5.1.4 This data collection is to continue over the first four and a half years of the project as the Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades occur. Once this information is collected a restoration options report for Lake Waipu will be prepared as one of the final deliverables for the overall project.
5.1.5 Lake Waipu is small (6.79 hectares) drowned valley dune lake, with a surface water catchment of 531 hectares and an estimated 407 hectare groundwater capture zone. The single outlet from the lake flows into the Turakina River. The lake is of cultural importance with a significant kakahi bed known to be still present within the lake. The lake is also used recreationally for duck hunting.
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5.1.6 Water quality monitoring of Lake Waipu commenced in October 2015, with quarterly water quality samples being collected via helicopter. The monitoring data collected to date shows that water quality in the lake is significantly degraded when compared to the One Plan targets for lakes and the National Policy Statement for Freshwater (NPS-FM) attributes (refer Tables 1 and 2). Lake Waipu does not meet the One Plan targets for Chlorophyll a, Total Nitrogen (TN), or Total Phosphorous (TP) and falls into Band D of the NPS-FM for TN and TP.
5.1.7 The Trophic Level Index (TLI) for lakes is a common measure of ecological health or the trophic state in lakes. Based on the TLI lakes can be classified in seven trophic categories ranging from <1 ultra-microtrophic (pristine) to >6 hypertrophic. As the TLI score increases, the ecological condition of the lake declines. Lake Waipu has a trophic lake index resulting in a grading of hypertrophic.
5.1.8 Lake Submerged Plant Indicators (LakeSPI) has been undertake in Lake Waipu. This bio- assessment method that uses the degree of development by native submerged plants, and level of impact by non-native, invasive weeds to indicate an ecological condition. Lake Waipu was
surveyed in November 2015 and sits on the cusp between a vegetated and non-vegetated state. Annex A As submerged vegetation covers did not exceed 10% at two of the three sites observed, the lake receives a default LakeSPI score of 0%.
Image 1 Image of the surface water and groundwater catchments for Lake Waipu.
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Table 10 Water quality assessment against the One Plan targets for Lake Waipu.
One Plan One Plan Chlorophyll One Plan Chlorophyll One Plan Total One Plan Total Site Name Ammoniacal a (average) a (maximum) Nitrogen Phosphorous Nitrogen
Lake Waipu Fail Fail Fail Fail NA
Table 2 Water quality assessment against the Freshwater National Policy Statement attributes for Lake Waipu.
NOF: Lake NOF: Lake Phytoplankton NOF: Lake Total NOF: Lake Total Phytoplankton (Max) Nitrogen Phosphorous (Median)
Lake Waipu B C D D
Annex A
Photo 1 Photo of Lake Waipu. 5.1.9 Rātana Township currently has a two pond oxidation Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) that discharges to an unnamed tributary of Lake Waipu. During summer/late autumn the only surface water inflows to the lake are sourced from the Rātana WWTP discharge.
5.1.10 In April 2017, Central Government opened applications to the first round of the Freshwater Improvement Fund initially seeking to distribute $20 million across freshwater projects around the country. Horizons in collaboration with Rangitīkei District Council, Nga Wairiki Ngati Apa, Rātana Communal Board, and the Department of Conservation submitted an application for the removal of the WWTP to the unnamed tributary (and ultimately the lake) and to discharge to land. In addition, it proposed a monitoring programme to be established to allow for the development of a restoration plan after five years worth of monitoring information being collected.
5.1.11 In September 2017, the project was announced as being successful and was funded in its entity with the $1.75 million project receiving $875,000 through the Freshwater Improvement Fund administered through the Ministry for the Environment (MfE). $1.6 million is to be spend on the purchase of land and the infrastructure required for irrigation of wastewater to land and the
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remaining $150,000 is for monitoring and the development of the restoration plan in particular to recommend options to deal with the legacy issues created by the current WWTP discharge to the lake.
5.1.12 The Deed of Funding is currently being signed between MfE and Horizons and then a sub- contract will be developed between Horizons and Rangitīkei District Council for the delivery of the Rangitīkei District Council competent of the project.
Annex A
Photo 2 Photo of the current discharge into an unnamed tributary of Lake Waipu. 5.1.13 Since the project was announced a number of actions have commenced to ensure the delivery of the project over the five year time period. To date the following has started:
. Establishment of the working group which has representatives from Rangitīkei District Council, Horizons Regional Council, Nga Wairiki Ngati Apa, and Rātana Communal Board. This group has meet three times with the most recent meeting involving a trip to the Feilding WWTP discharge to land to look at land irrigation in practice; . Horizons commissioned and completed two Envirolink-funded reports to review existing data for lakes and to identify knowledge gaps for restoration planning. The reports were split based on lake types using examples of a small number of deep lakes (including Lakes Pauri, Wiritoa and Dudding) and shallow lakes (including Lakes Waipu and William). The reports focused on what information was needed in order to develop restoration options. Future monitoring through this projects intents to fill these knowledge gaps for Lake Waipu as budget allows; . Horizons State of the Environment (SOE) quarterly monitoring via helicopter has continued, bathymetry of the lake has been completed; . As of the 9 April 2019 a monitoring buoy is collecting continuous data measuring pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and 0.5 and 2 metres deep. This data is being telemetered back to the office; and . Sediment cores have been collected from three locations in the lake for analysis of total nitrogen and phosphorus to establish the internal nutrient load and amount of internal cycling as a result of the internal nutrient load.
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Annex A
Figure 5 Lake depth contours and weed biomass profile for Lake Waipu, Horizons Region. Image courtesy of Biobase.
5.1.14 The Enviro-linked funded gap analysis identified the following regularly collected information was required to enable a complete restoration plan to be developed:
. Increasing lake water quality monitoring to a monthly time-scale to support state and trend analysis; . Undertaking the collection of continuous data to establish stratification events, residence times and groundwater inputs (monitoring to include lake level and water quality parameters – for example temperature and dissolved oxygen); and . Undertaking heterocyte counts on quarterly cyanobacteria analysis over a year of monitoring as an indication for N-fixation potential in monitored lakes. 5.1.15 Additionally the report recommended one-off research that could also inform the development of restoration plans, including:
. One-off investigations of sediment geochemistry to determine the likely extent of internal nutrient loading from sediments during anoxic or high-pH events (collection of sediment cores);
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. Introducing surface and groundwater monitoring to enable mass balance modelling of nutrient loads and water balances of the regions lakes. Note, in most cases this will require installation of piezometer’s and monitoring bores, as insufficient surface water monitoring of inflows and outflows exist; . Bathymetric survey; . Implementing pest fish surveys to assess their impact on internal nutrient cycling within the lakes; . One-off seasonal nutrient limitation investigations of a selection of priority lakes, including nutrient ratios and nutrient bioassays; . Continuation of one-off seasonal macrophyte biovolume surveys; . Waterbird counts to quantify nutrient loading by birds; and . Paleolimnological investigations of a few priority lakes to evaluate reference conditions for dune
lake types in the region and paleo-history of water quality. 5.1.16 Over the first four and a half years of the project the intention is to fill as many of these information gaps as possible and then during the last six months of the project a complete Restoration options report will be prepared.
6 Lake Horowhenua Accord and Lake Horowhenua Annex A 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 11 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 lake restoration activity including the Freshwater Improvement Fund project for 1 1 100% Lake Horowhenua.
6.3 Activity Highlights The Lake Horowhenua Accord, Te Mana o Te Wai and FIF project
6.3.1 A comprehensive update on lake restoration activity was provided to Council in September 2018 (Regional Council meeting). This provides the annual report identified in the LTP target.
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6.3.2 Weed control for purple loosestrife and willows has been undertaken within the sediment trap land. 6.3.3 Work on the Heritage NZ and Māori Appellate Court process has been on hold 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 date set for June 2019. The requirement for elections has delayed the Lake Trust’s input into Heritage NZ and Māori Appellate Court processes. These delays will further delay lake weed harvesting activity for another year with the aim now being for a spring 2020 start. The weed harvesting activity aims to address the generation of cyanobacteria which can close the lake for recreational purposes and also has ecological impacts.
6.3.4 The lake restoration activity by Horizons is focusing on work with the horticultural sector and drainage and sediment management in the Arawhata Subcatchment. A procurement process is underway to assist with the development of a plan to identify works or actions that will maintain or improve the drainage network effectiveness and water quality outcomes in the catchment.
Annex A 6.3.5 During the reporting period work has progressed on the design of the boat ramp with sampling being undertaken during March to inform the type of foundations that will be required for the boat ramp. The results of this sampling and the design of the boat ramp are due to be completed by 30th June 2019.
Figure 6: Lake Horowhenua sampling to inform the design of the boat ramp for the weed harvester. Photo on the left is the collection of a sediment core on the lake edge, and the photo on the right compaction testing of the lake bed.
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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 (SFF) 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. This funding may be utilised to design the proposed interventions. The following report provides the annual summary to Council on the work with the horticulture sector through the Freshwater programme as required by a Long Term Plan target.
7.2 Targets Annex A
Table 12 Annual Plan performance measures and assessment against year -end 2018-19 for 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 to improve 0 1 0% water quality.
7.3 Activity Highlights Future-proofing vegetable production
7.3.1 This project is mainly funded through the Sustainable Farming Fund with a number of other co- funders. The project is not specific to the Lake Horowhenua catchment, although a lot of the ground work and trials are to occur within the catchment where the relationships have already been established through other work programmes such as the Clean-Up Fund. The intent is that once these projects have been trialled in the Lake Horowhenua catchment they can be moved out into other parts of the Region. This project has three main deliverables:
Guidelines for Novel Nitrogen Recapture Techniques;
Updated Good Nutrient Management Practices;
Common Pool Resource Management which is about getting actual change for the better happening on farms.
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7.3.2 The Sustainable Farming Fund project is also being supported by Gisborne District Council, Landwise and Potatoes NZ. Horizons has asked that the work be presented to growers outside of the Horowhenua as a part of the project. A Massey PhD study with support from Horizons Science and Innovation programme is aligned with this work.
7.3.3 The Future Proofing Vegetable Production Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) project has achieved the following throughout the year:
. Milestone One report was submitted to the Ministry for Primary Industry at the end of October 2018. Work completed in this report included: o 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.
o Within the Arahwata Catchment at the follow up workshop the theory of common pool
Annex A 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;
o The Good Practice Survey is currently underway;
o 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;
o 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
o Discussion around the monitoring of waterways that pass through farmed areas and where this is to be undertaken in the Arawhata Catchment.
. Milestone two report was submitted to the Ministry for Primary Industry at the end of January 2019. Work completed in this report included: o Completion of fertiliser calibration assessments to assess the accuracy of equipment used for fertilising plants. Work is to continue with the development of tools for growers to calibrate their own equipment and planning a workshop to demonstrate how this is undertaken;
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o Irrigator assessments have commenced in some areas to ensure that excessive irrigation isn’t occurring as this can cause nitrate leaching, or too little irrigation causing yield loss due to moisture stress;
o Work continues on Overseer and its applicability to intensive vegetation production.
. Milestone three report will be submitted to the Ministry for Primary Industry at the end of April 2019. Some of the work completed in this milestone is: o As part of this work, there is interest in understanding the movement of nutrients through the Arawhata catchment. Horizons has committed to undertaking two monitoring runs during the first half of the 2019 calendar year. This monitoring includes physico-chemical sampling, flow measurement and stable isotope sampling at up to 25
sites throughout the Arawhata Catchment. Additionally, staff and growers are testing the efficacy of nitrate strips to determine whether these might provide a cost-effective and reliable option for local growers to undertake their own monitoring. The first sampling run was undertaken at the end of March during low flow conditions.
Annex A 7.3.4 The implementation component of the budget is seeking to complete on-farm works to reduce sediment and nutrient input to waterways. Several jobs have been investigated during the year and some proposed works have not eventuated. Works on one farm are still programmed to occur and some of this funding has been directed to monitoring inside the Arawhata Catchment to assist with targeting of freshwater improvement works. In this initial year of the budget this approach is considered sensible in order to prioritise the expenditure.
Lucy Ferguson FRESHWATER COORDINATOR Scotty Moore FRESHWATER COORDINATOR Logan Brown FRESHWATER AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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Report No. 19-67 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 February to 31 March 2019.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 19-67 and Annex.
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. The Science and Innovation activity over the recent reporting period has included work to finalise monitoring programmes over the summer, track and report on water allocation during the irrigation season, initiate a new water quality monitoring programme in the Arawhata Catchment and progressing a technical review of Horizons’ groundwater allocation limits. 6.2. The land science programme has continued as scheduled. This has included work on the Bulls water supply PFAS contamination investigation, and the processing of onsite wastewater system approvals and gravel use records. 6.3. Biodiversity monitoring and research activity has focussed on the completion of Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA) and preparation of site report cards for priority sites (bush remnants and wetlands). 6.4. The environmental reporting and air quality monitoring activity has largely focused on the completion of the 2019 State of Environment report which will be presented as part of a separate item to this Committee today. 6.5. Further detail on the activity of the Science & Innovation Team is provided in the annex attached.
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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 of new data on the Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website; .Research into the impacts of climate change in the Region; .State of Environment (SoE) reporting; and .Development of a science communication strategy.
This activity report covers the reporting period from 1 February 2019 to 31 March 2019.
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 LAWA and 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 Target 2018-19 Progress Update Service Water Quantity and Quality Water quantity and water quality Data provided to LAWA as Data has been provided to LAWA and is information is made available to the required now available on the website. public via LAWA (www.lawa.org.nz) Work is underway to prepare the data for and Horizons’ websites. the 2019 data request Annual report on water quantity and Develop an annual reporting An annual report on water quantity and quality monitoring and research framework and produce an quality activity was developed and activity. annual report presented to Council in August 2018. Land Management Annual report on the land and fluvial Develop an annual reporting An annual report on land and fluvial monitoring and research activity. framework and produce an activity was developed and presented to annual report Council in August 2018.
Annex A Biodiversity and Biosecurity Annual report on biodiversity Develop an annual reporting An annual report on biodiversity research monitoring and research activity. framework and complete an activity was developed and presented to annual report Council in August 2018.
Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring Provide an annual summary report Annual reporting framework The State of Environment report is on on the state of the environment. is developed and a report track for delivery in May 2019. produced Develop and implement a science Strategy and implementation Work is underway to develop this communication strategy. plan developed strategy. Complete drinking water supply 1 This work is contracted and is progressing research with a focus on Council- to schedule for presentation to Council in operated drinking water supplies June. and complete an annual report on this to Council. Investigate one aspect of climate 1 A presentation by NIWA on the potential change impact in the Region and impacts of climate change on the Region report on this to Council. will be made to Council on 14 May 2019. Air quality is monitored in Taihape Completed Monitoring is ongoing and data is and Taumarunui and reporting is available to the public via the Horizons made available to the public via and LAWA websites. LAWA and the annual State of State of Environment report is due out in Environment report. May 2019. Undertake an annual public 1 The 2019 winter radio advertising education air quality campaign. campaign was completed. 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 Plans 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 2.1.1 Despite a dry start to the irrigation season in late 2018, the occurrence and timing of low flows measured in our streams and rivers has followed a fairly typical pattern for a Manawatū summer. Applications for new takes have been coming in at a steady but not overwhelming rate, with a
number of the applications being for replacement consents for existing takes. Four large takes in the Lower Manawatū, totalling 34,918 m3/day, have recently lapsed without having been exercised. This water is now available for allocation once more, although the Lower Manawatū has relatively low levels of demand compared to water availability. 2.2 Water Quality Annex A 2.2.1 The Arawhata catchment is the focus of a Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) project investigating opportunities to reduce nitrogen from commercial vegetable growing operations. The “Future proofing vegetable production” project is led by Dan Bloomer of LandWISE with support from Horizons. As part of this work, there is interest in understanding the movement of nutrients through the Arawhata catchment. Horizons has committed to undertaking two monitoring runs during the first half of the 2019 calendar year. This monitoring includes physico-chemical sampling, flow measurement and stable isotope sampling at up to 25 sites throughout the Arawhata Catchment. Additionally, staff are testing the efficacy of nitrate strips to determine whether these might provide a cost-effective and reliable option for local growers to undertake their own monitoring. The first sampling run was undertaken at the end of March during low flow conditions by staff from the Environmental Data, River Management and Science teams.
2.2.2 A water quality workshop scheduled for the 2 May in Palmerston North was to disseminate the findings of several water quality research projects being undertaken by external scientists during the financial year to the science, policy and rural advice teams, and bring to a close the invertebrate drivers work that was co-funded by Horizons and Dairy NZ. 2.3 Biomonitoring 2.3.1 Summer field work progressed rapidly due to an extended period of settled weather. Macroinvertebrate monitoring is complete and fish monitoring underway.
2.3.2 During State of the Environment fish monitoring in the Kahuterawa Stream, a population of lamprey (Geotria australis) were discovered. These rarely seen and unusual fish spend much of their juvenile life in freshwater environments buried into stream substrate, filter feeding from
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the flowing water above them. They have several life stages, first as a brown and blind ammocoete, before undergoing a metamorphosis into strikingly blue and silver macropthalmia. Ultimately they change into an adult lamprey which migrate to sea and attach themselves onto the sides of fish. Here they rasp a hole through the skin and feed parasitically on the fish, before ultimately returning to freshwater streams to breed. During the survey, both ammocoete and macropthalmia life stages were found. There are only two previous records of lamprey in the Kahuterawa Stream in the national freshwater fish database, one of which was recorded in 1963.
2.3.3 Nutrient Diffusing Substrate (NDS) sampling was able to be undertaken in the Ohau River and Waikawa Stream during the 2018-19 summer. The aim of this research, in collaboration with NIWA, is to further our understanding of the linkages between instream nutrients and periphyton growth.
2.4 Regional Water Resources 2.4.1 Horizons’ groundwater allocation limits are undergoing a technical review with a final report due by mid-2019. Under Horizons’ One Plan, groundwater allocation limits are calculated as 5% of the
Annex A average annual rainfall across the area of each Groundwater Management Zone (GWMZ), which is generally considered a conservative approach to setting groundwater allocation limits. This project is using more detailed information to review groundwater allocation limits, including updated estimates of groundwater storage and recharge in the Region’s aquifers. The purpose of this project is to review the allocation limits for all the zones generally, but it will also focus on three key management zones and consider alternative approaches to allocation of groundwater in those areas.
2.4.2 The first area of focus is the Rangitikei GWMZ, where a large proportion of water use is concentrated near the bottom of the zone. This is leading to a decline in groundwater levels in that area, despite the overall allocation still being well within the limit set for that zone. The Horowhenua GWMZ is also a focus due to the potential effects of further abstraction on the health of Lake Horowhenua. The third area is the Tararua GWMZ, where the allocation limit does not appear to accurately reflect the available water resource due to the natural constraints of the aquifer system.
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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 Contaminated Land 3.1.1 Investigation of contamination of the Bulls water supply by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl (PFAS), primarily arising from its use in fire-fighting foam at Ohakea air force base, continues. A variation to the current contract saw additional groundwater sampling take place; further developments to
the hydrological conceptual model; and reviewing the initial assessment of groundwater flow paths and the connectivity between the Bulls public water supply and the Ohakea contamination. A final report will be provided at the conclusion of the investigation.
3.2 Wastewater Management Annex A ONSITE WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
3.2.1 Science and Innovation team members work with the councils in the Region to provide advice to their staff and the public, and carry out approvals of onsite wastewater systems in rural and un- reticulated areas. Such systems are required to meet Rules 14-13 and 14 of the One Plan and if the rules cannot be met as a permitted activity, a resource consent from Horizons is required. More specifically, staff have been approving all new onsite systems in Horowhenua District under a Memorandum of Understanding between the councils since 2004. The Rangitikei District Council approached Horizons and has had a similar service since 2013. More recently, the Tararua and Ruapehu district councils have informally begun to send designs for Horizons to review/ approve.
3.2.2 Thirty-nine approvals for onsite wastewater system were completed during the reporting year (from 1 July - 30 March 2019) . They were for Horowhenua District (20), Rangitikei District (12), Tararua District (4), Ruapehu District (2) and Palmerston City Council (1). A further 19 consent applications were reviewed: Horowhenua (5), Manawatu (2), Palmerston North City Council (1), Rangitikei (2), Ruapehu (4), Tararua (3) and Whanganui (2). 3.3 Gravel Use 3.3.1 Gravel use records are processed quarterly to provide information on the amount of gravel being taken for use, and to ensure that rates for gravel use are appropriately calculated and charged to consent holders.
3.3.2 Figure 1 below shows the estimated gravel volumes reported for the third quarter of the 2018-19 financial year, which are slightly lower than the volumes reported in the same quarter last year.
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600,000 ) 3 500,000
400,000 Q4 300,000 Q3 200,000 Q2 Q1
100,000 Gravelvolume extracted (m
0
2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 Financial Year
Figure 1 Plot showing the amount of gravel taken through consented takes each quarter for the last eight years. Q1 = July to
Annex A September, Q2 = October to December, Q3 = January to March, Q4 = April to June.
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 completing 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 4.1.1 Site report cards are being prepared for all sites that have received Horizons management input since the inception of this programme (management level 2 and above). These report cards include a short description and map of the site and, where appropriate, an outline of management work completed.
4.1.2 Site report cards have been compiled for all sites that have an Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) and have received management input by Horizons (management level 2 and above). We plan to complete proofing and editing of all report cards this financial year. 4.2 Zonation 4.2.1 Zonation is decision support software that assists in the spatial prioritisation of sites for conservation. Modelling for the Horizons Region was recently completed and staff are now interpreting the results, understanding discrepancies and defining how this information will be
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applied. A report summarising our findings and recommendations will be made available to Council on completion.
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 our focus is on the 2019 State of Environment report; 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 the Taihape and Taumarunui Annex A airsheds, which are designated under the National Environmental Standard for Air Quality (NES-AQ). 5.1 Air Quality 5.1.1 The NES-AQ require councils to 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 during 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.
5.1.2 The Beta Attenuation Monitoring (BAM) instruments at Taihape and Taumarunui were due for their annual pre-winter independent calibration checks by WaterCare technicians towards the end of the April 2019.
Taihape
5.1.3 The daily mean PM10 concentrations recorded at Taihape for the 12-month period to 10 April 2019 are shown in Figure 1 below. As advised in the last Committee report, the data being received from the BAM recorder since mid-November 2018 is unreliable. While the plot shows compliance with the NES-AQ over winter of 2018, NES exceedances recorded in December 2018, January 2019 and again in April 2019 are a result of malfunctioning equipment. Following calibration the instrument may require further evaluation as to its reliability. As discussed with Council during the development of the Long-term Plan, Horizons’ air monitoring equipment is now due for replacement and provision will need to be made for this if monitoring is to continue.
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Figure 2 Air quality monitoring for particulate matter at Taihape from Apri l 2018 to 10 April 2019, reported as a 24-hour average (µg/m 3)
Taumarunui
Annex A 5.1.4 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 BAM unit. Figure 2 below shows the daily mean PM10 concentrations recorded at Taumarunui for the 12-month period 10 April 2018 to 10 April 2019. It shows compliance with the NES-AQ for the 2018 year and the early part of 2019.
Figure 3 Air quality monitoring for particulate matter at Taumarunui from 10 April 2018 to 10 April 2019, reported as a 24-hour average (µg/m 3). 5.2 Science Communication Strategy 5.2.1 Sound communication of science is critical to inform stakeholders, advise decision-makers and empower communities. We recognise that scientific information is often targeted to the science community and this can create difficulties in conveying this information in ways that engage the wider public. By ensuring the communication of science is purposeful and targeted to key
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audiences we can increase uptake and improve understanding of the issues and, in turn, empower those involved in making decisions about how natural resources can best be managed.
5.2.2 During 2018-19, we have undertaken to develop a strategy around the communication of our science. The objective of this strategy is to provide a foundation, based on an agreed set of core principles and objectives, that supports staff developing communications plans for science and research, and provides greater transparency around our approach to science communication. 5.3 Community and National Engagement 5.3.1 Staff recently attended the NZ Land Treatment Collective’s (LTC) Annual Conference in Southland. The theme of the conference was primary production and land treatment. The
conference provided updates on land treatment science and practice, a field trip, regional updates and discussion by council representatives about land treatment.
5.3.2 The National Environmental Monitoring Standards (NEMS) define standards and methods for environmental monitoring carried out by Regional Councils to ensure consistency in data
collection across the country. Staci Boyte (Scientist - Land) is currently on the working group for Annex A the development of a new NEMS document for soil quality and trace elements monitoring. The first working group meeting was held on 8 April 2019. Soil quality is monitored by most Regional Councils and while there are current guidelines available, these are now 10 years old and there is still variation in the way soil quality data is obtained. Soil quality and trace element monitoring is used as early warning of changes in soil quality over time and effects of land use on soil. Consistency in monitoring data as a result of the NEMS document will be imperative to aggregated national analyses.
5.3.3 A presentation about the Science team’s monitoring work in the Manawatū Estuary was given at the biannual meeting of the Manawatū Estuary Management Trust. The presentation included results from the contact recreation, SoE water quality and habitat monitoring programmes. The presentation was well received. There was a request to make estuary data available on LAWA, which is planned as part of the LAWA coastal module, although the launch date is not yet known. The meeting showed further possibilities to work with local community groups at Foxton Beach, iwi and DOC. The group requested regular attendance of the water quality scientist at these meetings.
5.3.4 Staff recently attended a course on continuous water quality monitoring by Pat Rasmussen of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) organised by the National Institute of Water and Air (NIWA), in Christchurch. The course focused on field set up and maintenance of continuous water quality instruments as well as data processing, quality control, quality assurance and reporting. Comparison between different NZ organisations, USGS and National Environmental Monitoring Standards (NEMS) showed that further development of NEMS for continuous data would be beneficial and would be welcomed by many regional councils.
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5.3.5 The biannual Coastal Special Interest Group (C-SIG) meeting was attended by Horizons water quality scientist Janine Kamke. The first day of the meeting included updates from regional council staff, Department of Conservation (DOC), Ministry for the Environment (MfE), Land Information NZ (LINZ), Pest Control Research (PCR) and Resource Management Group (RMG). Noteworthy are seafloor mapping surveys by multibeam currently being undertaken by LINZ across the country. There is a possibility for regional councils to contribute to these surveys to gain information about their Region’s biogenic habitats and hydrogeographic information of the subtidal zones of the Coastal Management Area (CMA). This information would identify the Region’s values in the CMA and enable better modelling for coastal inundation/flooding studies under climate change scenarios. Such information is currently not available and retrieving this information independently of LINZ would double the price. The second day of the meeting
focused on discussions around standardised nationwide monitoring and reporting. 5.4 Activity Progress Report Key Deliverable Progress to Date . Water Quality and Quantity
Annex A .Deliver core monitoring programmes for water .Monitoring programmes are progressing as scheduled; groundwater quantity and quality, and biomonitoring pesticides sampling is complete and results will be reported in 2019. .Another round of lake submerged plant indicators (SPI) monitoring has been completed by NIWA. The report is due to be completed in May. .Freshwater macroinvertebrate monitoring has been progressing well due to settled weather. Fish and research monitoring will come on line as macroinvertebrate monitoring tails off. .Review groundwater allocation limits .A contract has been let to PDP Ltd to review Horizons’ groundwater allocation limits. Data has been provided to PDP to begin this review. .Provide support to One Plan review and ‘Our .Staff are providing technical support to Horizons’ Regulatory Group and Freshwater Future’, including catchment supporting the scoping and development of ‘Our Freshwater Future’. accounting .Information has been provided to the Policy team on the water quality outcomes of Proposed Plan Change 2 (PPC2) for the Upper Manawatū Catchment. .Report on Horizons’ regional swimmability .A paper outlining the targets was presented to Council’s Strategy and targets Policy Committee on 13 November 2018. .Prioritise our lake monitoring programme .A draft prioritisation of the Region’s lakes has been completed. This will be compared to the Zonation analysis completed for the Region’s biodiversity sites to further refine results. A lake management update was reported to the Strategy & Policy Committee in March 2019. .Complete estuary habitat mapping of .Estuary habitat mapping was completed in January 2018 with reporting Manawatū, Whanganui, Waikawa, Mowhanau due later in the financial year. and Kai Iwi estuaries, and sedimentation monitoring of Whangaehu estuary Land Management .Complete fluvial surveys of the Pohangina and .Surveying has been underway since October 2018 and the Pohangina Whangaehu catchments survey is now complete. The Whangaehu survey is in progress .Investigate contamination of Bulls public water .Investigations into Bulls water supply are close to completion. Staff supply by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl (PFAS) continue to provide technical input and support to the All of primarily arising from the use of fire-fighting Government working group and other local investigations such as foam. Ohakea and Palmerston North Airport.
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Key Deliverable Progress to Date .Advance and report on sediment transport .The Lower Manawatū sedimentation study contract has been awarded investigations in the Oroua catchment to Tonkin & Taylor Limited and is underway. This study incorporates the Oroua work completed in 2017-18 and will look at mitigation and/or remediation options for sedimentation in the Manawatū catchment. .Support research into the management of .A range of investigations are underway including the ‘Future Proofing nutrients in the Region Vegetable Production’ project led by LandWISE and the PhD programme with Massey University. Biosecurity and Biodiversity .Deliver core monitoring programmes for .A review of monitoring for wetlands and forest fragments was initiated priority sites (wetlands and forest fragments) in September 2018. .Science is working alongside the Biodiversity team to complete this .Complete a stocktake of all managed sites stocktake.
. Complete Potential Ecosystem Mapping .Mapping is now complete. . Zonation modelling for representativeness and .Zonation modelling and the associated workshop are complete. Work is site prioritisation now focused on interpreting results. Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring
.Deliver core monitoring programme for air Annex A .Monitoring is ongoing. quality .NIWA has been commissioned to complete a report that will increase .Investigate climate change impacts on the our understanding of the impact of climate change on our Region and Region. on the Council’s business. .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 published .Report on the State of Environment and in early 2019. This will inform the development of a framework for develop a framework for annual reporting future reporting. .Ensure environmental data is made available .Data will be made available to the public as per the LAWA reporting to the public via the LAWA website schedule. .Undertake an annual public education .The winter 2018 radio advertising public campaign was completed; campaign on air quality planning for 2019 will be undertaken in due course. .Produce an annual activity report for Science .An annual activity report was provided to Council in August 2018. and Innovation
Lizzie Daly SCIENTIST - ECOLOGY Staci Boyte SCIENTIST - LAND Harold Barnett ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST Janine Kamke SCIENTIST – WATER QUALITY Stephen Collins SCIENTIST – GROUNDWATER
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Mike Patterson SENIOR SCIENTIST - FRESHWATER 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
Annex A
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Report No. 19-68 12Item Information Only - No Decision Required
REGULATORY MANAGEMENT REPORT - FEBRUARY TO MARCH 2019
1. PURPOSE 1.1. This report updates Members on regulatory activity, for the period February 2019 to March 2019. This report updates members on significant issues and focuses on Council’s investigations programme.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 19-68.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. 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. Regarding the Department of Conservation (DOC) Whakapapa Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) application DOC is engaging with iwi on whether the discharge should be located either within or outside of Tongariro National Park. A potential move to locate the plant outside the dual World Heritage Area and its associated ecological, environmental, and cultural values is significant. Whilst this engagement will delay the final consenting process, it is important that it occurs. The focus of this process is to make sure that the best possible solution for the maunga and waterways is identified. At the same time DOC are still progressing with significant upgrades to the current WWTP to improve its environmental performance. ii. Re-consenting of Pahiatua wastewater treatment plant remains the subject of a mediation process. This process is confidential to the parties involved. iii. A decision on the Eketāhuna WWTP was made on 11 March 2019. This has subsequently being appealed to the Environmental Court.
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Item 12Item iv. Submissions closed for the Woodville WWTP on 19 April 2019, with seven submissions being received, of which 6 were in opposition. v. The Tokomaru WWTP is now onto its second iteration of draft conditions, which are now with the Horowhenua District Council (HDC) for review. vi. Further information requested of 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 and HDC is undertaking further investigation in this area and also further consultation with affected parties. It is expected that HDC will be provide the outstanding information and outcomes of consultation by end May this year. After this 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). Should the requisite information not be supplied by the end of May Horizons is likely to make a decision on notification based on the information it has. Horizons has a statutory obligation to avoid unreasonable delay in processing resource consents. Accordingly this is HDC’s final chance to engage proactively with its community and supply the required information prior to Horizons proceeding to the next stage in the process. vii. HDC has lodged a consent application for the operation of the Levin WWTP discharges (commonly known as ‘The Pot’). At the close of submissions 17 submissions had been received. Most are in opposition to the proposal. viii. HDC lodged a resource consent application prior to Christmas, seeking to authorise the discharge of stormwater from the Levin township into Lake Horowhenua for a period of five years. Further information has been requested and HDC has asked for time to engage with the relevant parties. Given the tensions around Lake Horowhenua this is not expected to be a simple process. ix. HDC is preparing a consent application, seeking to discharge stormwater from the Foxton Township to the Manawatū River.
6.2. The Manawatu Gorge replacement project “Te Ahu a Turanga” is progressing. 6.2.1. The hearing relating to the Notice of Requirement (NOR) occurred during the reporting period. At present we are anticipating draft conditions to be released by 10 May with a final recommendation being made by the end of May. 6.2.2. Horizons staff have been meeting with New Zealand Transport Authority (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 the main resource consents with Horizons in July next year. 6.2.3. Also, over the reporting period staff have met with the two Alliance Parties to discuss aspects of the project. These discussions have largely been high level and have focused on matters relating to consent and compliance process. 6.2.4. To date, Horizons has received one ‘enabling’ consent application in relation to geo- technical investigations in the Manawatu River. NZTA have indicated that further enabling consent applications are likely to be lodged in the near future. 6.2.5. Officers have also been considering the regulatory demands that such a major civil construction project will have on its business. These lie in three main areas: the 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.
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6.2.6. To this end staff have initially assessed the capacity and capability required to meet its 12Item statutory obligations in these areas. This assessment indicates that a Special Projects Team (the Team) of at least four full time equivalent (FTE) will be required. This FTE would consist of a Senior Planner, Senior Compliance Officer, a Compliance Officer and an Administrator. Staff have had initial conversations with NZTA as to how the costs associated with the establishment of the team may be met. Once these conversations have advanced, officers expect to bring Council a view on resource demands for the “Te Ahu a Turanga” project and how these demands can be funded. 6.3. Mercury Energy have announced they are to commence construction of the Turitea Windfarm in August this year. The conditions associated with these resource consents are extensive and the project will require development and implementation of a robust compliance monitoring programme. At present the focus is on the certification of a number of management plans associated with the project and the processing of consent variations. Once construction commences, Horizons will be undertaking active monitoring of the site, with a particular focus on ensuring land disturbance activities are being undertaken in accordance with the various resource consents and management plans. 6.4. Staff are continuing to follow-up on the issues identified as part of the aerial monitoring undertaken as part of the National Environmental Standard for Production Forestry (NES-PF). As part of this report, there is a presentation from staff on how the regulatory component of the NES-PF programme has been implemented.
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 Incident Response programme. Incident Response Programme 7.1.1. As discussed in previous Environment Committee reports, this programme focuses on Horizons 24-hour incident response function and involves incidents relating to both consented and unconsented activities. When received, incidents are categorised on priority basis from 1 to 5. The categorisation is based on a number of factors, including environmental risk, compliance history and public interest. From an operational perspective, the categorisation means that for: Category 1 incidents - there must be an immediate response. These incidents are normally characterised by an organizational wide response, such as the Raetihi diesel spill in 2013; Category 2 incidents are to be responded to within one day; Category 3 incidents are to be responded to within two weeks; Category 4 incidents are to be responded to when an officer is next in the area; and Category 5 incidents no physical response is required.
7.1.2. As noted above, incidents can vary from the large and complex to the simple and small. They cover the spectrum of environmental activities including discharges to air, discharges to water, land use and vegetation clearance and requests to attend emergency situations, such as vehicle crashes and fires from police and fire service. Figures 1 and 2 below represent some of the incidents responded to during the reporting period.
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Item 12Item
Figure 1. Smoky Fire. Appliances and green waste Figure 2. Discharge from derelict house septic system
7.1.3. Year to date, Horizons has received 1066 complaints. This is a significant increase in the number of incidents from previous years (see figure 3 below), which has meant more staff time has been diverted into this programme. This has had a consequential impact on Horizons proactive compliance programmes.
7.1.4. As a result of the increase in demand officers are planning to separate Horizons after hours duty team that currently covers both emergency management and the pollution hotline and run two dedicated services. This reflects both demand and the increasing complexity in both areas. For example incident response increasingly requires officers to be able to collect evidential information. At this stage the aim is to have separate services running from early July 2019. Key to this process is ensuring Horizons has enough staff to cover both services.
Incidents 2005-2019 1200
1000
800
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Figure 3.
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8. COMPLIANCE AND NON-COMPLIANCE 12Item 8.1. During the reporting period there were 90 compliance monitoring assessments. Of these, 13 non-compliances and 8 significant non-compliances were detected. This equates to a 76% 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: Nine non-compliance and eight significant non-compliances; and Rural: Four 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, implementation of the NES-PF and the time taken to investigate significant compliance matters. 8.4. TDC are presenting at the Environment Committee. Table 1 summarises the current compliance status of the TDC WWTP. It is important to note some WWTP are due to be subject to a detailed audit by the 1 July and others are currently going through a consent renewal process, which if complied with, will result in improved environmental outcomes. Regarding the Danniverke WWTP enforcement action is now being considered.
Table 1. TDC WWTP Compliance Summary
Tararua Categor Combined Description of Non Expiry District Action y rating Compliance Date Council Whilst this non- compliance is on-going, Significant Discharge volume it is being addressed via Pahiatua 2 30-Jun-05 Non Comply exceedances the consent renewal process. Hearing decision appealed Installation of the UV The new consent has Treatment prior to been granted and is discharge has not subject to appeal; Significant occurred due to the Eketahuna 1 however, there is a 1-Jul-15 Non Comply prioritisation of the proposed condition, upgrades at Dannevirke, requiring UV disinfection Woodville, Norsewood to be installed. and Pahiatua WWTPs. Being addressed through consent renewal application process. Significant Effluent DRP Woodville 2 Submission process 31-Mar-11 Non Comply exceedances complete. Due for full assessment by Horizons before 1 July 2019 To be addressed through consent renewal Significant Discharge volume application process. Norsewood 3 1-Jul-18 Non Comply exceeded Due for full assessment by Horizons before 1 July 2019
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Item 12Item TDC have advised that UV disinfection, Aqua the upgrades are Mats and rock filter not planned for in the Long installed (held up due to Term Plan for 2018-2020 other commitments). and a more accurate Significant Pongaroa 3 timeframe has been 30-Apr-19 Non Comply Effluent E.coli levels requested by 1 July exceeded. 2019. Note a renewal Delay in the providing application for this the annual report consent has now been received. An explanation has been requested of how they Moderate Wastewater monitoring Ormondville 3 intend to address the 1-Jul-26 Non Comply Provision of information non-compliances. This is due by 7 June 2019 A request has been made to TDC to explain what actions they intend to take to remedy the Effluent dissolved exceedances and bring Significant Dannevirke 1 reactive phosphorous the WWTP into 9-Dec-27 Non Comply and E.coli exceedances. compliance. This is due 7 June 2019. Horizons are currently assessing whether enforcement action is required. 8.5. Horizons currently has three prosecutions before the District Court, including two sentencings. There are also three significant investigations underway. Table 1 provides a summary of where three prosecutions are at in the Court. It’s important to note that one prosecution has yet to have its first court appearance. Therefore, the details of this matter cannot at this stage be made public and have been excluded from Table 1.
Table 2. Prosecution Summary.
Defendant Summary Fyfe Williamson Guilty plea entered. Waiting on assessment from probation before commencing to sentencing PGG Wrightson and Carfields Convicted and sentenced. PGG Wrightsons and Carfields fined $75,000 and $71,250, respectively. Ninety percent of the fine is payable to Horizons. Pacific Farms Development Limited Guilty plea entered, remediation package being discussed
9. INCIDENTS Over the reporting period, a total of 227 complaints were received. For this reporting period, the majority of these complaints (162) related to discharges to air. The remainder of the complaints related to discharges to land (23) and water (42). 9.1. 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.
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10. REGULATORY ACTION 12Item 10.1. During the reporting period 16 abatement and 17 infringement notices were issued. Table 2 below provides a summary of the formal regulatory action taken during the reporting period. 10.2. A region wide Abatement Notice has been issued on Higgins Contractors Limited (HCL), requiring it to cease all unauthorised land disturbance activities within the region and the associated discharge of sediment onto or into land where it may enter water. The HCL response to the abatement notice has been positive and as a result of the abatement notice they have instigated changes within its corporate business to improve its environmental performance and compliance. Copies of the Abatement Notice and the HCL response are Annexed to this report. 10.3. Members will note a series of infringement notices to AFFCO in Whanganui related to odour. This has elevated this situation to a formal investigation. Further breaches of consent conditions, should they occur in this period, will be logged as part of considering whether a further regulatory step is required
Table 2. Regulatory action taken during reporting period.
Person Regulatory District Date Issued Section of Actions Action RMA Taken Contravened
Graham Sexton Infringement Palmerston 19/03/2019 14 (2) abstraction of water notice North above PA volumes Palmerston North Infringement Palmerston 22/02/2019 9(2) Illegal use of land for Industrial & notice North Land Disturbance. Residential Developments Ltd Palmerston North Infringement Palmerston 22/02/2019 15(1)(b) Illegal land disturbance Industrial & notice North resulting in a discharge Residential of sediment to land Developments Ltd where it may enter water. Higgins Infringement Palmerston 22/02/2019 9(2) Illegal use of land for Contractors notice North Land Disturbance. Limited (Fletcher Building Limited) Higgins Infringement Palmerston 22/02/2019 15(1)(b) Illegal land disturbance Contractors notice North resulting in a discharge Limited (Fletcher of sediment to land Building Limited) where it may enter water. Higgins Infringement Whanganui 21/03/2019 15(1)(b) Discharge of sediment Contractors notice to land where it may Limited enter water. Higgins Infringement Whanganui 21/03/2019 9(2) Unauthorised Contractors notice earthworks Limited HWR Properties Infringement Rangitikei 15/03/2019 15(1)(b) Discharge of truckwash Limited notice where it may enter water.
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Item 12Item Higgins Rangitikei Infringement Rangitikei 15/03/2019 15(1)(b) Discharge of truckwash notice where it may enter water. AFFCO Infringement Whanganui 26/03/2019 338(1)(c) Failure to comply with Whanganui notice Abatement Notice AFFCO Infringement Whanganui 26/03/2019 15(1)(c) Objectionable odour Whanganui notice AFFCO Infringement Whanganui 26/03/2019 338(1)(c) Failure to comply with Whanganui notice Abatement Notice AFFCO Infringement Whanganui 26/03/2019 15(1)(c) Objectionable odour Whanganui notice AFFCO Infringement Whanganui 26/03/2019 338(1)(c) Failure to comply with Whanganui notice Abatement Notice AFFCO Infringement Whanganui 26/03/2019 15(1)(c) Objectionable odour Whanganui notice Murray Spiers Infringement Horowhenua 4/03/2019 15(2A) Discharge contaminants notice (demolition material) onto land. Wayne Henderson Infringement Horowhenua 4/03/2019 15(2A) Discharge contaminants notice (demolition material) to land Raymond Cyril Abatement Tararua 14-Feb-19 15(2A) Burning Prohibited Johnstone and Notice materials Diane Johnstone Higgins Abatement Manawatu- 2-April-19 9(2) undertaking Contractors Notice Whanganui unauthorised land Limited Region disturbance SDG Horopito Abatement Ruapehu 19-Feb-19 9(2) undertaking Limited (site 1) Notice unauthorised land disturbance SDG Horopito Abatement Ruapehu 19-Feb-19 15(1)(b) Stabilise unauthorised Limited (site 1) Notice earthworks SDG Horopito Abatement Ruapehu 19-Feb-19 9(2) Cease unauthorised Limited (site 4) Notice earthworks SDG Horopito Abatement Ruapehu 19-Feb-19 15(1)(b) Stabilise unauthorised Limited (site 4) Notice earthworks Dylan Ivan Mead & Abatement Ruapehu 12-Mar-19 9(2) Cease unauthorised Courtney Brooke Notice earthworks Vickery (site 2a) Dylan Ivan Mead & Abatement Ruapehu 12-Mar-19 15(1)(b) Stabilise unauthorised Courtney Brooke Notice Earthworks Vickery (site 2a) Ivan Thomas Abatement Ruapehu 12-Mar-19 9(2) Cease unauthorised Mead & Suzanne Notice earthworks Helena Mead (site 2b)
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Ivan Thomas Abatement Ruapehu 12-Mar- 15(1)(b) Stabilise unauthorised 12Item Mead & Suzanne Notice 19 earthworks Helena Mead (site 2b) Stephen Barry Abatement Ruapehu 19-Feb- 9(2) Cease unauthorised McGougan & Notice 19 earthworks Desley Jean McGougan (site 3) Stephen Barry Abatement Ruapehu 19-Feb- 15(1)(b) Stabilise unauthorised McGougan & Notice 19 earthworks Desley Jean McGougan (site 3) Graham Sexton Abatement Palmerston 15-Mar- 14(2) Cease unauthorised Notice North 19 water abstraction above permitted activity Palmerston North Abatement Palmerston 25-Feb- 9(2) & Cease unauthorised Industrial & Notice North 19 15(1)(b) earthworks Residential Developments Ltd Palmerston North Abatement Palmerston 25-Feb- 9(2) & Stabilise unauthorised Industrial & Notice North 19 15(1)(b) earthworks Residential Developments Ltd John Turkington Abatement Whanganui 28-Mar- 15(1)(b) Stabilise unauthorised Limited Notice 19 earthworks
11. RURAL ADVICE 11.1. During the reporting period the team has continued to provide pre-consenting advice to farmers, and technical review of consents that have been submitted – with a particular focus on effluent discharge consents. 11.2. The team has continued to communicate broadly with the sector, including meeting with rural banking specialists and a range of scientists based in Lincoln. 11.3. Work has continued with Dairy NZ to collate data in relation to testing elements of our policy drafting.
12. SIGNIFICANCE 12.1. 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 HCL Abatement Notice B HCL Response to Abatement Notice
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Report No. 19-69 13Item Decision Required
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS
1. PRESENTATION 1.1 Blair King, Chief Executive of Tararua District Council will make a presentation to the Environment Committee on wastewater treatment plants (approximately 1.00pm).
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the presentation from Tararua District Council.
3. SIGNIFICANCE 3.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Nic Peet GROUP MANAGER STRATEGY & REGULATION
ANNEXES There are no attachments for this report.
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Report No. 19-70 14Item Decision Required
RANGITIKEI FARMING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
1. PRESENTATION 1.1 Roger Dalrymple will make a presentation to the Environment Committee on the Rangitikei Farming for the Environment Group (approximately 1.30pm).
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the presentation from Mr Roger Dalrymple.
3. SIGNIFICANCE 3.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Nic Peet GROUP MANAGER STRATEGY & REGULATION
ANNEXES There are no attachments for this report.
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