I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Environment Committee will be held on:
Date: Tuesday, 10 April 2018 Time: 9.00am Venue: Tararua Room Horizons Regional Council 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
AGENDA
MEMBERSHIP
Chair Cr GM McKellar Deputy Chair Cr PJ Kelly JP Councillors Cr JJ Barrow Cr LR Burnell Cr DB Cotton Cr EB Gordon JP (ex officio) Cr RJ Keedwell Cr NJ Patrick Cr PW Rieger, QSO JP Cr BE Rollinson Cr CI Sheldon Cr WK Te Awe Awe
Michael McCartney Chief Executive
Contact Telephone: 0508 800 800 Email: [email protected] Postal Address: Private Bag 11025, Palmerston North 4442
Full Agendas are available on Horizons Regional Council website www.horizons.govt.nz
Note: The reports contained within this agenda are for consideration and should not be construed as Council policy unless and until adopted. Items in the agenda may be subject to amendment or withdrawal at the meeting.
for further information regarding this agenda, please contact: Julie Kennedy, 06 9522 800
CONTACTS 24 hr Freephone : [email protected] www.horizons.govt.nz 0508 800 800
SERVICE Kairanga Marton Taumarunui Woodville CENTRES Cnr Rongotea & Hammond Street 34 Maata Street Cnr Vogel (SH2) & Tay Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Rds, Sts Palmerston North
REGIONAL Palmerston North Whanganui HOUSES 11-15 Victoria Avenue 181 Guyton Street
DEPOTS Levin Taihape 11 Bruce Road Torere Road Ohotu
POSTAL Horizons Regional Council, Private Bag 11025, Manawatu Mail Centre, Palmerston North 4442 ADDRESS FAX 06 9522 929
Environment Committee 10 April 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Welcome / Karakia 5
2 Apologies and Leave of Absence 5
3 Public Forums / Deputations / Petitions 5
4 Supplementary Items 5
5 Members’ Conflict of Interest 5
6 Confirmation of Minutes Environment Committee meeting, 13 February 2018 7
7 Environmental Education Report No: 18-48 13 Annex A - Summary of Key Results Enviroschools Census 2018 19
8 Presentation: Keeping New Zealand Beautiful Report No: 18-49 21
9 Presentation : Palmerston North City Council Wastewater Treatment Plant Update Report No: 18-50 23
10 Regulatory Management and Rural Advice Activity Report - February to March 2018 Report No: 18-51 25
11 One Plan Implementation Dashboard - April 2018 Report No: 18-52 35 Annex A - One Plan Implementation Dashboard April 2018 37
12 Freshwater & Partnerships Progress Report Report No: 18-53 39 Annex A - Freshwater & Partnerships progress report 41
13 Science & Innovation Progress Report Report No: 18-54 57 Annex A - Science & Innovation progress report 60
14 Biodiversity, Biosecurity & Partnerships Progress Report Report No: 18-55 85 Annex A - Biodiversity progress report 87 Annex B - Biosecurity plants progress report 98 Annex C - Biosecurity animals progress report 120
15 Members’ Questions
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AGENDA
1 Welcome/Karakia
2 Apologies and Leave of Absence At the close of the Agenda no apologies had been received.
3 Public Forums: Are designed to enable members of the public to bring matters, not on that meeting’s agenda, to the attention of the local authority. Deputations: Are designed to enable a person, group or organisation to speak to an item on the agenda of a particular meeting. Requests for Public Forums / Deputations must be made to the meeting secretary by 12 noon on the working day before the meeting. The person applying for a Public Forum or a Deputation must provide a clear explanation for the request which is subsequently approved by the Chairperson. Petitions: Can be presented to the local authority or any of its committees, so long as the subject matter falls within the terms of reference of the council or committee meeting being presented to. Written notice to the Chief Executive is required at least 5 working days before the date of the meeting. Petitions must contain at least 20 signatures and consist of fewer than 150 words (not including signatories). Further information is available by phoning 0508 800 800.
4 Supplementary Items To consider, and if thought fit, to pass a resolution to permit the Committee/Council to consider any further items relating to items following below which do not appear on the Order Paper of this meeting and/or the meeting to be held with the public excluded. Such resolution is required to be made pursuant to Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended), and the Chairperson must advise: (i) The reason why the item was not on the Order Paper, and (ii) The reason why the discussion of this item cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.
5 Members’ Conflict of Interest Members are reminded of their obligation to declare any conflicts of interest they might have in respect of the items on this Agenda.
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Minutes of the seventh meeting of the tenth triennium of the Environment Committee held from 9.00am to 9.04am and from 10.10am on Tuesday 13 February 2018, in the Tararua Room, Horizons Regional Council, 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North.
PRESENT Crs GM McKellar (Chair), JJ Barrow, LR Burnell QSM, DB Cotton, EB Gordon JP (ex officio), RJ Keedwell, PJ Kelly JP, NJ Patrick (via audio visual link from 9am to 12pm and from 1.20pm to 1.58pm), PW Rieger QSO JP, CI Sheldon, and WK Te Awe Awe. IN ATTENDANCE Chief Executive Mr MJ McCartney Committee Secretary Mrs B Gillespie ALSO PRESENT At various times during the meeting: Mr R Strong (Group Manager River Management), Ms A Matthews (Science & Innovation Manager), Dr N Peet (Group Manager Strategy & Regulation), Mr G Bevin (Regulatory Manager), Mr R Smillie (Biodiversity, Biosecurity & Partnerships Manager), Dr J Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships), Mr C Davey (Environmental Programme Coordinator-Plants), Ms C Morrison (Media & Communications Manager), Ms J Kamke (Scientist Water Quality), Dr A MacDiarmid (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research), and a member of the press.
The Chair opened the meeting and explained that the meeting would adjourn for approximately an hour to allow for the Catchment Operations Committee to open and address several items. The Chair invited Cr Te Awe Awe to say a Karakia.
APOLOGIES
ENV 18-55 Moved Keedwell/Cotton that the Committee receives an apology from Cr Rollinson. CARRIED
PUBLIC FORUMS / DEPUTATIONS / PETITIONS There were no requests for public speaking rights.
The meeting adjourned at 9.04am. The meeting reconvened at 10.10am.
The Chair advised that due to severe weather conditions at Auckland Airport, Ms Saunderson, Chief Executive of Keeping New Zealand Beautiful, would be unable to attend the meeting. Therefore, the presentation at Item 7 of the Agenda would be re-scheduled to the April 2018 Environment Committee meeting.
SUPPLEMENTARY ITEMS There were no supplementary items to be considered.
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MEMBERS’ CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Cr Patrick noted a possible conflict of interest through her employment with Ngaururu Kitahi in regard to the Te Mana O Te Wai projects.
CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ENV 18-56 Moved Sheldon/Barrow That the Committee: confirms the minutes of the Environment Committee meeting held on 12 December 2017 as a correct record, and notes that the recommendations were adopted by the Council on 19 December 2017. CARRIED
MATTERS ARISING Cr Patrick asked for clarification of the minute on Page 11, Report No. 17-250, first paragraph, 7th line, “Only two non-compliant WWTPs impacted on water quality standards, Halcombe and Sanson. She believed the sentence should read, “Only two non-compliant WWTPs were known to impact on river quality standards, Halcombe and Sanson”. Dr Peet undertook to clarify the wording.
FRESHWATER & PARTNERSHIPS PROGRESS REPORT Report No 18-05 This report introduced the Freshwater Progress report for the period 1 November to 31 December 2017. Dr Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships) spoke to the report and highlighted the retirement of Mr Joe Martin (Freshwater Management Officer). Mr Martin had worked at Horizons Regional Council (HRC) and its predecessor organisation for a total of 46 years. Recruitment was underway for his replacement. To acknowledge the services of Mr Martin, the Chair suggested a new recommendation. It was also suggested that Mr Martin’s 46 years of service and contribution to the community be profiled on HRC’s website and also in community newspapers Dr Roygard summarised the riparian fencing, planting and habitat improvements activity and highlighted the completion of 7.53 kilometres of stream fencing in the Regional programme and 4.067 kilometres in the Manawatu catchment. Dr Roygard said an application for funding to the Sustainable Farming Fund by LandWise had been successful with work due to begin by 1 July 2018. He explained that $75k, which had been allowed for in the Long-term Plan as $25k per annum for three years, would be provided by HRC in support of the programme. In response to Members’ comments about the ability of staff in the Freshwater Team to deliver on the freshwater programmes, Dr Roygard explained that funding for a further staff position had been applied for, along with some re-allocation of staff time from the Sustainable Land Use Initiative. ENV 18-57 Moved Patrick/Barrow That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-05 and Annex. b. acknowledges the services of Mr Joe Martin to Horizons Regional Council and predecessor organisations over the past 46 years, thanks him for his contribution to the community, and passes on their very best wishes for his retirement. CARRIED
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SCIENCE & INNOVATION PROGRESS REPORT Report No 18-06 This item introduced the Science and Innovation Progress report for the period 1 November to 31 December 2017. Ms Matthews (Science & Innovation Manager) introduced the report and provided an overview of the Monitoring and Research programmes. She noted that the Swimmability Campaign had been very successful this year, communication had been good and public enquiries were up on last year. There had been some issues around signage, and comments and feedback provided by the public would be taken on board. There had been some pressure on staff with unexpected events such as the fire at the Levin depot, and the Ohakea water contamination. Dr Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships) responded to Members’ questions about concerns relating to the potential contamination risk to water supplies, and food contamination, as a result of foam used in firefighting exercises at the Ohakea air force base. He said signage about the health risks associated with the harvesting of watercress from the area would be raised with health officials. The Environmental Protection Authority was investigating whether other sites had been contaminated by the use of firefighting foam. The Chief Executive commented on the details of a government communication plan to set up a call centre where the community could access information about the Ohakea contamination. Dr Roygard responded to questions about the water metering model used by Horizons whereby equipment for the water meters was purchased by the farmer, with the telemetry equipment purchased and owned by Horizons. Investment would be made into replacing some older equipment which would reduce time spent on breakdown and repairs. Ms Matthews responded to Members’ questions about the promotion of water safety in association with the Summer Swimmability Campaign. She said water safety was a high priority for Council, and said staff worked closely with relevant partners around water safety. Dr Roygard said sites across the Region were assessed for any risks. Where a high risk had been identified, the swim spot signage had been moved to a safer swim area. Signage at swim spots had been updated and the Horizons website promoted good water safety practices. Ms Matthews introduced Dr Alison MacDiarmid from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research who spoke to a presentation about the Coastal Work Programme. She highlighted the large coastline of the Region and the lack of seabed mapping. She said ocean acidification was one of the biggest threats along with global warming to all Horizons catchments. Sixteen information gaps had been identified and the report suggested a two phase approach to filling those gaps. In response to questions regarding phosphorous leaching from land to rivers and ocean, Dr MacDiarmid advised that wind and tidal flows would help disperse large concentrations. Dr MacDiarmid responded to questions around funding sources available for future research. Dr Roygard advised that the research into sediment tracing should provide results by the end of the financial year, and would provide a good baseline for future programmes. ENV 18-58 Moved Kelly/Sheldon That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-06 and Annex. CARRIED
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BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS PROGRESS REPORT Report No 18-07 The purpose of this item was to update Members on the progress made in the Biosecurity and Biodiversity activity over the period 1 November to 31 December 2017. Mr Smillie (Biodiversity, Biosecurity & Partnerships Manager) introduced the report and highlighted the significant discovery of the Endemic giant land snails at Totara Reserve. He reported that the monitoring undertaken at Kia Wharite in the Matemateaonga area, and in the Northern Ruahines detected no presence of rats, and that bird counts were up in both sites. He said Alligator weed was under control and on the road to eradication. Mr Smillie then commented on the Possum Control Operation programme and reported the programme was progressing ahead of schedule and under budget. Mr Davey (Environmental Programme Coordinator-Plants) answered Members’ questions about the timeline around responding to frontline enquiries for plant pest control assistance, and commented on the confirmed presence of Gunnera species at Norsewood Road in the Pohangina Valley. In response to a query about what steps could be taken to list Privet as a noxious weed in the Pest Plant Plan, Dr Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships) said members of the public could ring staff at Horizons Regional Council in the first instance, to discuss options around their concerns. It was acknowledged that Privet was an environmental pest which spread quickly, and for some people, could add to allergy / hay fever problems. Mr Davey commented on the success of the Green Thistle beetle as a biological control in reducing thistle growth in the Region. He said biological control on Field Horsetail was ongoing. It was too early to see results and monitoring would continue. The Chair complimented the team on the great work they were doing in the area of pest control. ENV 18-59 Moved Te Awe Awe/Burnell That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-07 and Annexes. CARRIED
The meeting adjourned at 12.10pm.
Councillor Patrick left the meeting at 12.10pm (via audio visual).
The meeting reconvened at 1.00pm.
REGULATORY MANAGEMENT AND RURAL ADVICE ACTIVITY REPORT - DECEMBER 2017 TO JANUARY 2018 Report No 18-08 This report updated Members on regulatory activity for the period December 2017 to January 2018. Dr Peet (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships) and Mr Bevin (Regulatory Manager) spoke to the report and noted that four prosecutions were currently before the District Court. He then commented on the ongoing monitoring and discussions held with various councils to discuss issues in regard to waste water treatment compliance. Cr Patrick joined the meeting at approximately 1.20pm (via audiovisual link).
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Mr Bevin said a meeting had been arranged with the Manawatu District Council on 14 February 2018 to discuss a consenting strategy for non-compliant Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP). A meeting would also be held with Rangitikei District Council to discuss their consenting strategy for the Marton and Bulls WWTPs. Mr Bevin responded to Members’ questions about the Farm Dairy Effluent resource consent inspections programme, and provided a summary of the significant non-compliances associated with Tararua WWTPs. ENV 18-60 Moved Rieger/Keedwell That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-08. CARRIED
MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS Dr Peet (Group Manager Strategy & Regulation) responded to a query about the consenting process and infrastructure required for artesian bores.
The meeting closed at 1.58pm.
Confirmed.
______CHAIR
______GROUP MANAGER STRATEGY & REGULATION
______GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
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7 Item Report No. 18-48 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 December 2017 – 2 April 2018. 1.2. For the purpose of this report, both the ‘Educator’ and the ‘Regional Coordinator’ refer to the Horizons Regional Council (Horizons) Environmental Educator. .5FTE of the role is regional coordination of the Enviroschools Programme, with the remaining .5FTE of the role delivering Horizons Environmental Education programmes.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-48 and Annex.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. This is a public item and therefore Council may deem this sufficient to inform the public.
5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 5.1. There is no significant business risk associated with recommendations in this paper.
6. ANNUAL PLAN TARGETS
Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Actual Enviroschools workshops held 8 4 5 17 38 44% Waiora sessions conducted 5 5 17 27 34 79% Community engagements 8 7 9 24 30 80%
6.1. The measure for Enviroschools workshops held includes workshops run by the Regional Coordinator as well as workshops run by contracted Facilitators. 6.2. The measure for Waiora sessions conducted includes only sessions run by the Educator. Sessions conducted using Horizons’ kits without the Educator are not included. 6.3. The measure for community engagements does not include Waiora sessions or Enviroschools workshops. This measure tracks all other events and activities that fall within Environmental Education.
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Item 7 Item 7. ENVIROSCHOOLS DATA
Districts
Ruahine Palmerston Ruapehu Whanganui Rangitikei Manawatū Tararua Horowhenua Kindergarten Total North City Association Enviroschools 7 9 5 10 8 2 1 5 47 Friends of 1 3 3 3 6 4 4 7 31 Enviroschools 7.1. There are 47 official Enviroschools spread throughout the Region covering all districts. 7.2. There are 31 Friends of Enviroschools in the Region.
8. ACTIVITY REPORT - WAIORA 8.1. The Educator conducted the following Waiora sessions: One session with Mataroa School on the Hautapu River, four sessions with Waiouru School on an unnamed stream near the school, one session with Whangaehu School on the Whangaehu River, two sessions with Ohakune Primary School on the Mangawhero Stream, six sessions with Lytton Street School at Cone Creek, three sessions with Havelock North Primary School on the Pohangina River (Totara Reserve). This reporting period, the Educator took approximately 379 students through the Waiora programme. 8.2. Dannevirke High School borrowed two Waiora kits for use in their NCEA Level 2 assessments at the Manawatū River. 8.3. Tauramanui High School borrowed a Waiora kit for their monitoring at their local stream.
9. ACTIVITY REPORT - ENVIROSCHOOLS 9.1. The Regional Coordinator (RC) attended an Enviroschools hui in Wellington on 13 March 2018. This allowed RCs from the Lower North Island to connect and plan inter-region professional development opportunities and workshops. 9.2. The Regional Coordinator has met with all Facilitators to discuss their plans for 2018. 9.3. New Enviroschools: Tangimoana School 9.4. The Regional Coordinator held unpacking workshops for Pongaroa School and Riverdale Kindergarten. 9.5. The Regional Coordinator delivered two holistic reflections process workshops in the Whanganui District, plus one in Palmerston North City. 9.6. In late 2017, Toimata Foundation undertook a national Enviroschools Census to understand what schools/early childhood centres have been doing on their Enviroschools journeys. Our region had an impressive 78% response rate with 36 out of 46 Enviroschools completing the survey. There were many comments made from teachers in the region on the value of the programme to today’s education environment and how students/tamariki benefit from Enviroschools. [Enviroschools] …provides meaningful and authentic contexts, it’s cross-curricular, uses inquiry learning model …… it encourages healthy lifestyles, empowers students to lead learning, connect students to environment, raises awareness of the need for positive actions… …. Our children are our future citizens of [our] world and it is vital for them to grow, learn and develop an understanding and awareness of their contribution to humanity.
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7 Item Although regional results are yet to be released, the appendix to this report contains a national summary of key results. Once regional data is available, we are more than happy to share this with Council and the wider public.
10. ACTIVITY REPORT – OTHER 10.1. The Educator collected some macroinvertebrates (bugs) from the Mangawhero Stream to show students from Years 1 and 2 of Ohakune Primary School. The students had fun identifying the different bugs from the big pictures provided and how we can use them to indicate water health. To continue with their water studies, the Educator next met the students at a pond in Miro Park, Ohakune, to look at life in a pond environment and to see how different the bugs are to those found in a stream/river. 10.2. With many swim spot sites affected by the unseasonal high level of toxic cyanobacteria, students at St Anthony’s School, Pahiatua embarked on an inquiry to learn more about it and its affects. The Educator met with the students towards the end of their inquiry to see what they had learnt and answered many of their questions. 10.3. Students on camp from Kelburn Normal School, Wellington attended a day of coastal and stream themed activities at Kai Iwi Beach, provided by the Educator, DOC Whanganui, Whanganui Regional Museum and Sarjeant Art Gallery. The Educator provided an activity looking for macroinvertebrates at Mowhanau Stream. 10.4. The Educator met with geography teachers from Palmerston North Boys High School (PNBHS) and Freyberg High School who are teaching NCEA level 3 (year 13). They were looking at setting up projects which look at changes in water quality throughout a river catchment so wanted with some background knowledge and skills about water quality issues, learn about the types of simple tests which can be done to assess water quality and to grasp how the Waiora equipment works. 10.5. The Educator attended all three days of Central District Field Days and ran an activity looking at matching macroinvertebrates to their preferred water quality. 10.6. Seaweek 2018 ran from 3 March – 11 March 2018. The Enviroschools Facilitator for Whanganui, supported the DOC, Whanganui Regional Museum, Sarjeant Gallery and Castlecliff Coast Care in providing a range of beach and stream related activities at Kai Iwi Beach. HRC sponsored bus travel for two of the schools which attended. Approximately 500 students participated throughout the week. 10.7. In line with the Seaweek theme, the Educator held a community beach clean at Foxton Beach on 3 March 2018 which, had more than 50 people in attendance. Horowhenua District Council kindly disposed of the rubbish collected and reported that it weighed an impressive 250kgs. 10.8. Unfavourable weather meant that the planned activity for students on camp from Central Normal School could not go ahead. So instead, the Educator, gave a short presentation on the biodiversity of Totara Reserve and talked about what action the students could take to help keep our streams and rivers clean. 10.9. The Educator hosted the BBQ and provided communications support at Totara Reserve for the Manawatū Walking Festival, on 11 March. Aaron Madden and Ruth Fleeson from the Horizons Biodiversity team hosted walkers on the Fern Walk. Feedback about the hosts on the walk as well as the BBQ has been positive.
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Item 7 Item
11. The following activities were also undertaken in this reporting period however are not counted as community engagements in the table under Section 6. 11.1. The Educator attended a local environmental educators meeting convened by DOC Manawatū to bring together those working in the same space. The aim of this meeting was to start a process of collaborating on events in the district and sharing resources. 11.2. Following Annual Plan feedback, the Educator met with Hinerangi Carberry from Rangitāne o Tamaki nui a Rua to discuss our environmental education provision and how we can work closer together in that space, including providing kura teachers with professional development. 11.3. Tokirima School has collected 283 dynex sleeves to be recycled. They are supporting the initiative run by the Natural Resources and Partnerships Group for rural schools to be reimbursed a set amount per complete dynex sleeve. These sleeves are then collected by Horizons staff and sent away for recycling. 11.4. The Educator met with Linton Country School to discuss Enviroschools and potential environmental projects. This school reluctantly withdrew from the Enviroschools programme due to a low student roll so it is great to see that they are still really keen to build sustainability into their school. 11.5. The Educator met with Aaron Madden and the Curator of Kitchener Park to look at how they could engage local schools in using the area for studies and potentially adopting an area to care for.
12. SIGNIFICANCE 12.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Manawatū Walking Festival Manawatū Walking Festival
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7 Item
Seaweek 2018 Community Beach Clean, Foxton Seaweek 2018 Community Beach Clean, Foxton
Post-Waiora swimming at Totara Reserve with Havelock Kakahi found on a Waiora with Mataroa School North Primary School
Exploring pond life at Miro Park with Ohakune Primary Exploring pond life at Miro Park with Ohakune Primary School School
Sarah Galley ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR
Chrissie Morrison MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
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Item 7 Item
ANNEXES A Summary of Key Results Enviroschools Census 2018
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Item 7 Item
AnnexA
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Item 7 Item
AnnexA
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8 Item Report No. 18-49 Information Only - No Decision Required
PRESENTATION: KEEPING NEW ZEALAND BEAUTIFUL
1. PRESENTATION 1.1 Heather Saunderson, Chief Executive of Keeping New Zealand Beautiful will make a presentation to the Environment Committee.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the presentation from Heather Saunderson, Chief Executive, Keeping New Zealand Beautiful.
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 to this report.
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9 Item Report No. 18-50 Decision Required
PRESENTATION : PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT UPDATE
1. PRESENTATION 1.1 Palmerston North City Council will make a presentation to the Environment Committee, as one of a series, on progress towards re-consenting the wastewater treatment plant.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the presentation from Palmerston North City 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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Item 10 Item Report No. 18-51 Information Only - No Decision Required
REGULATORY MANAGEMENT AND RURAL ADVICE ACTIVITY REPORT - FEBRUARY TO MARCH 2018
1. PURPOSE 1.1. This report updates Members on regulatory activity, for the period February to March 2018. This report follows the revised format that was detailed to Council at previous meetings, (i.e. different report focus on different areas of the business) and focuses on the Incident Response Programme and provides an update on the implementation of the National Environmental Standard for Production Forestry (NES-PF).
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-51.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. We are currently forecasting an overall budget position of $35k favourable for the regulatory business. Significant costs are still anticipated, with the processing of large and complex applications, which may in turn be subject to appeal. Also, on-going investigations and prosecutions within the compliance monitoring programme are likely to have an impact on expenditure and revenue within this programme. Regular updates will be provided to the Audit and Risk Committee
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. Since the commencement of this financial year, Horizons has received 250 applications and granted 228 resource consents. This does not take into account that at the start of this financial year we already had approximately 36 applications still in process. These applications cover a wide range of activities, of varying complexity. 6.2. Horizons is continuing to progress a number of significant applications, including the Whakapapa, Pahiatua, Eketahuna and Foxton Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). As previously discussed, whilst the volume of these larger applications is comparatively low, the time taken to process them is significant. 6.3. In relation to the major applications, the following provides a summary of their current status:
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i. As previously reported, the Department of Conservation (DOC) Whakapapa WWTP applications have been notified. No hearing date has been set, as DOC are Item 10 Item still undertaking an alternatives assessment and are not in a position to confirm whether the applications will change or not.
ii. The hearing for the Foxton direct referral reconvened in December last year. A large focus of the hearing in December was around the intensive land use rules and the potential impact they may have on the project. In light of this, the Court is still considering the issue regarding the intensive land use component of the application. A decision from the Court is now pending
iii. In relation to the Pahiatua WWTP, the commissioners released their decision on 5 March 2018. The Commissioners granted a resource consent for just over 12 years. In making its decision, the Commissioners noted that the environmental effects of the proposal would not be significant and that TDC had made some upgrades to the WWTP. The Commissioners also recognised tangata whenua concerns over the proposal. At the time of writing this report, one appeal has been received.
iv. The hearing for the Eketahuna WWTP has been deferred. The applicant is seeking additional consent applications which need to be lodged for the wetland design. The further applications were to be lodged by 2 February 2018; however, the applicant sought and has been granted an extension to May. The hearing is expected to re-convene during the second quarter of 2018.
v. Tararua District Council (TDC) have committed to having a revised application for the Woodville WWTP provided to Horizons by the end of April 2018. TDC have advised they are on track with meeting this timeframe.
vi. As previously reported, a modest application for some legal costs, associated with this process has been made by Council in relation to the NZE Appeal. The costs decision has yet to be released by the Court.
vii. The decision relating to the AFFCO Whanganui rendering operation was released by the commissioners prior to Christmas. No appeals were received, therefore AFFCO are now operating under their new resource consent and associated conditions.
viii. The AFFCO Feilding processing plant appeal is still before the Environment Court. The appeal results from the granting of consents, by Commissioners, for discharge to land and water from the Feilding plant. As previously discussed, the substantive issue relates to the term of consent granted by the Commissioners, with AFFCO seeking a term of 32 years, as opposed to 12 years granted by the Commissioners. A Hearing before the Environment Court is likely in early 2018, subject to the Court’s availability. 6.4. As previously reported, staff are also part of the Statutory Approvals Working Group, in relation to the Manawatu Gorge alternate route project. This group currently consists of representatives from New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA), Palmerston North City Council, Tararua District Council, Manawatu District Council and Horizons. At the time of
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writing this report, no applications have been lodged in relation to the by-pass road for 10 Item Ashhurst. 6.5. A decision has been made on the alternate Gorge route. The decision provided indicative timeframes on when NZTA hope to commence works and complete the project. At present, there is no indication from NZTA as to what process will be followed in seeking to obtain the required resource consents for the project. However, it is important to highlight the project will have a significant impact on both the consent and compliance components of the regulatory business.
7. COMPLIANCE PROGRAMME The intention of this section is to focus on one key part of the regulatory business. The focus for this report is on providing an update on the compliance activities associated with the Incident Response Programme.
7.1. Incident Response Programme 7.1.1. As discussed in previous Environment Committee reports, this programme focuses on Horizons 24-hour pollution response. Incidents relate to both consents 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 characterized 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.
7.1.3. Whilst section 9.0 below provides an update on incidents received for the reporting period, the following sections provides a summary of incidents received by Horizons financial year to date.
7.1.4. Year to date, Horizons has received 630 complaints (compared to 400 complaints received for the same period last financial year). Table 1 summarises the incidents received for the period July 2017 to March 2018.
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 Category 5
0 6 92 403 105
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7.1.5. Most complaints relate to air quality (408), whilst other complaints related to land (113) and water (157). The high proportion of air quality related complaints is not unusual. It is not uncommon for Horizons to receive multiple complaints in relation to a single operation, and
Item 10 Item the complaints relating to this particular resource can include odour and/or dust associated with small open burning in a back-yard, spray drift associated with agri-chemical spraying, dust from earthworks sites and odour from large industrial sites.
Figure 1. Response to a spill of hydraulic oil spill at the Kiwi Rail yard, Palmerston North.
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Figure 2. Staff sampling drain as a result of a large fire at a car wrecking yard in Palmerston North.
8. COMPLIANCE AND NON-COMPLIANCE 8.1. There were 136 compliance monitoring interactions during the reporting period. Of these, 11 non-compliances and 2 significant non-compliances were detected. This equates to a 90% compliance rate across the entire programme. 8.2. Below is a breakdown of the non-compliances by consent area, for the reporting period: Industry: Six non-compliances and one significant non-compliance; and Rural: Five non-compliances and one significant non-compliance. 8.3. As previously reported, Horizons wrote to the Manwatu District Council (MDC), requiring it to provide a consenting strategy by 1 February 2018, which is to include steps to be taken to bring those WWTP which are significantly non-complying into compliance. The consenting strategy is due to be lodged with Horizons by 30 May 2018. Also of note is that Rangitikei District Council (RDC) will be providing Horizons with its re-consenting strategy by 30 April 2018. 8.4. Whilst not part of this reporting period, Horizons has recently issued MDC with an Infringement Notice for its continued failure to comply with the Soluble Inorganic Nitrogen (SIN) standard for its discharge into the Oroua River, from the Feilding Wastewater Treatment Plant. 8.5. In addition to the above, Horizons currently has four prosecutions before the District Court and two significant investigations underway. One of those prosecutions relates to wastewater.
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9. INCIDENTS 9.1. Over the reporting period, a total of 202 complaints were received. The majority of these complaints (143) related to discharges to air. The remainder of the complaints related to Item 10 Item discharges to land (22) and water (37). 9.2. As noted above, all complaints are categorised and responded to accordingly. A response can include an immediate or planned inspection, a phone call, or being referred to another agency such as a Territorial Authority or Civil Aviation.
10. REGULATORY ACTION 10.1. Table 2 below, provides details of the regulatory action taken during the reporting period. 10.2. Horizons has issued its first Abatement Notice requiring a consent holder to provide a nutrient management plan as required by a resource consent. The issuing of this notice followed repeated requests from Horizons to provide the nutrient management plan..
Person Regulatory District Date Issued Section of Actions action RMA Contravened Whisker Abatement Rangitikei 26/02/2018 9(2) Provide a Nutrient Farming Limited notice Budget to Horizons Regional Council as required by resource consent John and Delia Abatement Tararua 26/02/2018 15(1)(b) Discharge of effluent Carrington notice within a 20m boundary
PGG Wrightson Abatement Manawatu 29/2/18 15(1)(b) Cease unauthorised Limited notice discharge of effluent to land where it may enter water. Carrfields Abatement Manawatu 29/2/18 15(1)(b) Cease unauthorised Livestock notice discharge of effluent to Limited land where it may enter water. Rangitikei Infringement Rangitikei 9/02/2018 15(1)(a) Unauthorised discharge District Council notice of effluent to water (Marton WWTP discharge) Marotiri Limited Infringement Palmerston 1/02/2018 15(1)(b) Unauthorised discharge notice North of contaminant
11. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD FOR PLANTATION FORESTRY – IMPLEMENTATION 11.1. The National Environmental Standard for Production Forestry (NES-PF) was approved by Order in Council on 31 July 2017. It comes into force on 1 May 2018. Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) is leading its national introduction. 11.2. The NES-PF regulation, tools to help councils and foresters, and guidance to support NES- PF implementation is available on the MPI website: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/growing-and- harvesting/forestry/national-environmental-standards-for-plantation-forestry/ .
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11.3. The NES-PF was initiated by large forestry companies to address the variability they 10 Item experienced between local authorities in how forestry activities were regulated. It took about 10 years to develop. 11.4. Horizons made submissions and gave feedback as opportunities arose during the development process. The role of forestry for erosion mitigation and the predominance of small farm forestry in the Region, for that purpose, was a common theme in Horizons feedback. 11.5. The basics of the NES-PF regulation are shown in the figures below:
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. [Figures courtesy of Ministry of Primary Industries]
11.6. The regulation is 73 pages long and contains 36 rules. Responsibility for implementation rests with both regional councils and territorial authorities. The councils must be notified of forestry activities between 60 and 20 day before starting. Management plans required under the NES-PF must be provided to councils if they make a written request. 11.7. Determination of rule status (Permitted, Controlled or Restricted Discretionary) includes risk-based threshold tests for erosion susceptibility, fish spawning and wilding tree risk. Web-based tools have been developed for these assessments and are available on the MPI website (Refer clause 11.2). 11.8. Another key requirement is that management plans must be developed and used for forestry operations. These cover forestry earthworks activities, harvesting activities and quarry erosion and sediment management. The content of these management plans is specified in NES-PF schedules. 11.9. The evidence required to demonstrate an activity complies with Permitted Activity status and the requirement to develop management plans means that the forestry industry is likely to have to do significantly more work before notifying the councils than they did previously. 11.10. A small staff group, representing the Land Management, Policy and Regulatory teams has been working to ensure a smooth transition to implementing the NES-PF.
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Context 10 Item 11.11. Tree planting is a key erosion and sediment mitigation method in the Manawatū- Whanganui Region. This Region has about 8% of the national area of plantation forestry. Plantation forestry in our Region is dominated by small farm forestry blocks. Many of these were encouraged through soil conservation programs. Tree planting continues to be encouraged through the Sustainable Land Use Initiative. There is also a real opportunity for the Manawatū-Whanganui Region to make a significant contribution to the Government’s goal of planting one billion trees over the next 10 years. 11.12. It is predicted that there will be a harvesting peak of existing plantation forests between 2020 and 2024.
One Plan Alignment 11.13. Horizons currently regulates forestry as a Permitted Activity provided 17 standards and conditions are complied with (One Plan Rule 13-3). In general terms the NES-PF does the same thing, but includes a lot more good practice and management planning in standards that must be complied with to achieve Permitted Activity status. The NES-PF also has more rule options should an activity not meet permitted activity standards. 11.14. Some alignment of the One Plan with the NES-PF will be required. It is recommended that this be done in a straightforward manner. This means an approach that makes it as simple as possible for One Plan users and is consistent with the overall purpose of the NES-PF as a national regulation. 11.15. It is proposed that an advisory note directing One Plan users to the NES-PF be added to Chapter 13 of the One Plan, along with cross-references to One Plan schedules or parts of schedules that will be used as references for terms used in the NES-PF such as significant natural areas, outstanding freshwater bodies and outstanding natural features and landscapes in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region 11.16. Cross references to One Plan Schedules will mean that natural resources given additional protection in the One Plan will also be provided for during implementation of the NES-PF, e.g., indigenous biological diversity. 11.17. At this stage, it is intended that the Permitted Activity for Forestry [Rule 13-3] will be retained because it will continue to regulate non-plantation forestry activities such as soil conservation forestry, carbon sequestration forestry and, conceivably, Manuka plantations that will not be harvested for commercial gain. 11.18. Alignment using these principles can be done using RMA s44A (Local authority recognition of national environmental standards) after the NES-PF comes into force on 1 May 2018. Recommended amendments to the One Plan to recognize the NES-PF will be presented to the Strategy & Policy Committee in the future.
Implementation 11.19. Horizons already has a process in place to implement the current Permitted Activity in the One Plan. In general terms, land management officers make the initial responses to forestry activities and follow-up monitoring. If a resource consent is required or a significant compliance issue is discovered, land management officers escalate the matter to the Consents or Compliance Teams. 11.20. Land management officers have undertaken this work in the normal course of their advisory work. In many cases forestry is being undertaken on the properties of existing clients.
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11.21. It is intended that this same approach continue as we transition to implementing the NES- PF. An improvement has been made to how the industry records notifications and other enquiries. These are now directed to a common email address
Item 10 Item ([email protected]) and, based on the type of request, referred to an appropriate staff member. 11.22. It appears that the NES-PF will result in more consent applications from the forestry sector, especially for activities such as earthworks and quarrying. It is difficult to predict the workload. Consent applications will be received and processed in the usual manner by the Consents Team. 11.23. There is potentially more work to monitor forestry operations post NES-PF, especially if the number of resource consents increases as expected. It is intended to manage this by prioritizing monitoring based on environmental risk. This approach is consistent with the risk-based approach used in the NES-PF. Land Management Officers will carry out the initial monitoring and escalate any significant non-compliance to the Compliance Team as before 11.24. The NES-PF provides the opportunity for councils to set charges for monitoring earthworks, river crossing, quarrying and harvesting activities. The charges are set during the normal long-term plan and annual plan process. Provision for setting charges has been made in Horizons’ draft Long-term Plan 2018-2028. 11.25. Horizons approach to implementation will adapted further as experience is gained from working with the NES-PF.
Workshops with Industry 11.26. Horizons organized workshops for the forestry industry at Feilding on 26 March 2018 and Taumarunui on 27 March 2018. The workshops were jointly run by Horizons and MPI. They covered information that land owners, forest owners, and operational foresters needed to know about the NES-PF and its implementation. The workshops were well attended. 11.27. A similar workshop was organized by Greater Wellington Regional Council was held on 5 March 2018 in Masterton which catered to the industry in Tararua and Wairarapa.
12. SIGNIFICANCE 12.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Greg Bevin REGULATORY MANAGER
Nic Peet GROUP MANAGER STRATEGY & REGULATION
ANNEXES There are no attachments to this report.
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Item 11 Item Report No. 18-52 Information Only - No Decision Required
ONE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION DASHBOARD - APRIL 2018
1. PURPOSE 1.1. This item is for information purposes. It presents the four-monthly dashboard report showing One Plan implementation progress, attached as Annex A.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-52 and Annex.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There is no financial impact associated with this item.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. The dashboard is available through the public agenda for this meeting, and will be published on the Horizons Regional Council website.
5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 5.1. There is no significant business risk associated with this item.
6. BACKGROUND 6.1. The One Plan implementation monitoring dashboard is presented every four months to this Committee. The dashboard provides a high level overview of progress with implementation of the One Plan. It is intended to link to the more detailed information provided in other reports. 6.2. Most of the dashboard items are reported every four months. For other items, annual reporting is preferable as the measure sees little change from quarter to quarter. This allows reporting over the course of a year that rotates through a range of measures. Measures will continue to be refined and improved as more information becomes available.
7. DISCUSSION 7.1. Measures that have been updated since the previous dashboard (December 2017) are: mapping erodible land (including Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)) infield consents issued point source discharges water allocation nutrient management consents issued.
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7.2. Consented nitrogen reduction is also reported in every dashboard. There were no consents granted for existing dairy farms in targeted catchments since December 2017. 7.3. For this dashboard, the infield consents measure is focused on cultivation consents. There Item 11 Item were no infield cultivation consents issued in the December 2017/18 quarter. The average for the December quarter since 2013/14 has been 3.4 consents issued. The peak was 11 in 2014/15, when the One Plan became operative and in-field consents were introduced and publicised. 7.4. An additional water management sub-zone, Ratana, has been added into the Whangaehu / Turakina freshwater management water allocation reporting, to the sub-zones with allocable capacity. An allocation limit has not been set for Ratana, and there are no consented water takes (or applications). 7.5. Measures last reported in the April 2017 dashboard are: methods implementation priority lands with SLUI works top 100 wetlands and top 200 bush remnants riparian fencing. 7.6. The number of methods not yet implemented has changed from three to two. This is due to a change in the status of Method 8-3, working to develop a consistent bylaw to control vehicle use on west coast dunes and beaches. In April 2017, some preliminary work was carried out on this method. Since then it has been decided not to progress Method 8-3 further at present, as territorial authorities with jurisdiction over these areas have been developing their own by-laws. 7.7. The figures presented for Top 100 wetlands & Top 200 bush remnants are lower than those presented in the April 2017 Dashboard. This reflects changes to the status of some wetlands and bush remnants on the managed site inventory, which is currently being reviewed. The Science and Biodiversity teams expect to present a report on this review process to Environment Committee in June. 7.8. There has also been a small reduction in the cumulative total of riparian fencing completed as a result of on-going checks and corrections carried out using aerial photographs.
8. CONSULTATION 8.1. This report tracks implementation of One Plan methods across the organisation. Relevant teams have been involved in developing measures and supplying data.
9. SIGNIFICANCE 9.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Josh Knowles Pen Tucker POLICY ASSISTANT POLICY ANALYST
ANNEXES A One Plan Implementation Dashboard April 2018
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AnnexA
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AnnexA
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Item 12 Item Report No. 18-53 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 January to 28 February 2018.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-53 and Annex.
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 immediate financial impact associated with this report.
6. SUMMARY 6.1. The Freshwater programme is the implementation of the water quality and quantity activity in the Annual Plan, which is primarily driven through riparian fencing, planting, and aquatic habitat improvement in collaboration with landowners and multiple stakeholders. The activity also includes a range of other water quality intervention work as a part of collaborative work programmes such as the Manawatū River Leaders Accord, the Lake Horowhenua Accord and the Freshwater Improvement Fund projects. 6.2. The last two months have continued to see a high level of enquiry for co-funding of works around the region and a number of projects being completed. With some of the highlights of the last two months being: The remediation of five fish barriers within the Manawatū catchment, with more programmed to be completed by the end of March in the Regional programme; Contact being made with landowners to confirm riparian plant numbers, check in on fencing progress and organising spot spraying prior to riparian planting;
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Item 12 Item Due to the significant demand for riparian plants in the Tararua region and the logistical issues this has created, we have had to stop taking orders for riparian plants this planting season with a list being created for the 2019 planting season; and Work is continuing with community project leaders to ensure that the Manawatū Accord community projects are delivered by the end of June 2018. 6.3. Over the coming months the Freshwater and Partnerships team has programmed the remediation of another three fish barriers, completion of 16 permanent swim spot signs around the region, checking in with landowners to sign off fencing claims, confirming plant orders with nurseries and organising contractors to undertake the riparian planting.
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 AnnexA Horizons Freshwater Team is a small group that works closely with other Horizons teams, and people external to the organisation, to implement water quality improvement works. We draw on the scientific monitoring work carried out by Horizons and other agencies to prioritise and focus implementation efforts. The team works with landowners and a number of external agencies, including iwi and hapū, district and city councils, 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 (Figure 1), as well as the identification and enhancement of whitebait spawning habitat and fish passage improvement. Other activities include a wide range of works on projects such as the Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord, Lake Horowhenua Accord, and Te Mana o Te Wai (TMOTW) projects; these works include sewage treatment plant upgrades, establishing sediment traps and lake weed harvesting.
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AnnexA
Figure 1 Location of the proposed and completed Freshwater Grants works for 2017-18 including the Regional, Manawatū and Horowhenua programmes. Each point on the map represents one fencing or planting project.
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12 Item 2 Regional Freshwater Programme 2.1 Activity Overview This programme focuses on the protection and enhancement of waterways across the Region. This section of the report does not include work in the Manawatū and Horowhenua catchments, which are reported in another section of this report. 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.
2.2 Targets
Table 1: Annual Plan performance measures for 2017-18 for the Regional Freshwater Programme, excluding the Manawatū Accord work for the Manawatū Catchment and the Clean-Up Fund for the Horowhenua Catchment. Reporting Period % Measure Target % Allocated 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Complete AnnexA Continue to work with, and provide advice to, individuals, 131 135 145 150 landowners, (48 advice (57 advice (65 advice (70 advice 25 600% community and only) only) only) only) iwi groups to improve waterways *1 Freshwater Grants are provided each 78 grants year, with priority approved, 80 grants 80 grants 83 grants given to working (18 approved approved 20 approved 100% 400% in focus completed (20 (22 grants (allocated) catchments and or partially completed) completed) improving aquatic completed) habitat *1 *1 Annual Plan (AP)/ Long-term Plan (LTP) targets 2.3 Activity Highlights Work with individuals, community groups and iwi to improve waterways
2.3.1 Work continues with the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and stakeholders finalising work plans for the Freshwater Improvement Fund (FIF) projects for the Whangaehu River and Ratana/Lake Waipu. All projects are due to commence on 1 July 2018.
2.3.2 The Freshwater Team provided technical advice (but no funding) to 70 people during the first eight months of the 2017-18 financial year, and provided advice to the 80 people/groups that were
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approved for grants. This resulted in 150 people/groups in total (NB each project is only counted once, even if multiple people and/or visits are involved).
2.3.3 During the reporting period the Freshwater Team moved offices from Kiwi house to Tremaine Avenue. The team farewelled Joe Martin, who retired, and advertised for his replacement.
Freshwater Grant applications supported
2.3.4 There continues to be a significant demand for the Regional Freshwater Grants programme with 80 grant applications totalling nearly $400,000 of funding underway, and new enquiries coming in regularly. To meet this level of demand the team have allocated the entire budget for this financial
year and also the water quality and quantity targeted reserves (as approved by Council).
2.3.5 While we had some success in getting fencing projects started during summer, there will be a substantial logistical challenge to ensure all projects on the books, particularly planting, can be completed prior to the end of this financial year.
AnnexA 2.3.6 The currently approved 80 grants are for a total 43 kilometres of fencing along streams/rivers, and planting of 62,865 riparian native plants. Of these, claims have been finalised for 12 km of fencing and 19,013 riparian plants, with planting starting again in late April 2018.
2.3.7 Any further enquiries are being placed on a waiting list in the hope that there is funding available next financial year. Already we have over $175,000 worth of grant funding requested should it be available.
2.3.8 The draft Long-term Plan (LTP) has allocated $160,000 of funding for this type of work outside of the Manawatū and Whangaehu Catchments (where there are Freshwater Improvement Fund programmes that include fencing and planting).
2.3.9 This means the advice to people outside of the Manawatū and Whangaehu catchments wanting to undertake riparian work is that there may be funding available in 16 months - i.e. we are unable to assist until July 2019. This can be challenging, particularly when they want to do the works immediately.
2.3.10 So far, the projects seeking funding for the 2018-19 financial year include 14.8 km of stream fencing and 26,000 riparian plants (for planting in July/August 2018), with other jobs on the waiting list not yet visited and costed yet due to staff workloads. These figures only include those areas outside of the Freshwater Improvement Fund (FIF) areas (i.e. not including the Whangaehu Catchment which also has a number of projects proposed). We have mapped the regional distribution of these projects as shown in Figure 2. The highlighted catchments are those in which FIF projects will proceed.
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AnnexA
Figure 2 Location of the Freshwater Grant requests already scoped and costed for the 2018-19 financial year within the Regional Freshwater Programme. Each point on the map represents one fencing or planting project.
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2.4 Ngā Whenua Rāhui Work 2.4.1 Freshwater Team member Joe Martin retired as of February 9, 2018. There are some follow up pieces of work which are being worked through and information on sites being handed over to the Biodiversity Team. 3 Manawatū River Accord 3.1 Activity Overview The Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord Action Plan includes an array of activities related to improving water quality, to achieve the goals of the Accord. This activity funds works to improve water quality in the
Manawatū Catchment as part of the Accord, including excluding stock from streams, riparian planting,
improving fish passage and supporting community projects. 3.2 Targets
Table 2 Annual Plan performance measures for 2017 -18 for the Manawatū River Accord. These AnnexA figures include works as part of the Te Mana o Te Wai project in the Manawatū Catchment (Tū te Manawa). Reporting Period Allocated % Measure Target % Complete 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Work Allocated Stream fencing. Measure lineal metres (km) of 7.1km 9.6km 13.7km 15.8km 55.5 km 30 53% 185% fencing installed (all types). Improve native 39 52,268 29 35 fish habitat and 23 sites, sites, plants at sites, sites, fish passage. 11,944 38,159 65 sites; 18,088 37,390 20 195% 325% Number of sites plants plants 4 fish plants plants protected/ planted 2 fish passage planted planted enhanced. passes fixes Community involvement Nil Nil Nil Nil 7 4 0 175% projects.
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3.3 Activity Highlights Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord and Action Plan
3.3.1 The next Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord Forum will be held on 27 April 2018 at The Chalet, Palmerston North. 3.3.2 Work continues with the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and stakeholders, finalising work plans for the Freshwater Improvement Fund (FIF) projects due to commence on 1 July 2018.
Manawatū River Accord Targeted Rate
3.3.3 The focus during this reporting period was on completing fish passes and following up with landowners to confirm plant orders and planting plans for the coming season.
3.3.4 There has been considerable growth in the demand for riparian planting in Tararua District with the number of plants ordered more than doubling since last planting season to just over 30,000.
We have completely allocated the order of plants we have with a supplier in Woodville and are AnnexA using additional plants from other nurseries to make up orders. Due to the logistics of servicing all Environmental Grants, including correct placement of plants and delivery within the planting season, we are no longer taking any further orders from Tararua District for this planting season. Any new enquiries are being put on a list for next financial year.
3.3.5 We are continuing to take plant orders from the western side of the ranges, within the Manawatū and Horowhenua Districts at this stage.
3.3.6 There is currently 55.5 km of fencing programmed for this financial year with 15.8 km completed to date (53% of the annual target) while 38,159 riparian plants have been planted at 39 sites within the Manawatū Catchment this financial year and five fish passage solutions have been completed.
3.3.7 We have exceeded the Tu te Manawa project target of six fish passes to be completed over the life of the project, with seven completed to date. These fixes have ranged from culvert replacements to installation of baffles within a culvert, and the rock and concrete solutions shown below. 3.4 Spotlight on …. Fish passage 3.4.1 The majority of native fish within the Horizons region are migratory in nature and therefore require access to the sea at some stage in their life cycle. These life cycles can involve adults migrating from rivers/streams to the sea to be able to spawn and then the larvae returning to freshwater (eels), or adults spawning in streams and larvae being washed out to sea, then the juveniles returning to rivers (whitebait – inanga, kokopu); or adults moving down rivers to be able to spawn within the lower river reaches and then migrating back upstream once spawning has occurred (torrentfish). All of these life mechanisms require the free movement of fish both
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upstream and downstream in our rivers and streams. The main river systems therefore act as highways were fish can turn off into suitable habitat on their way upstream.
3.4.2 Humans have placed many structures such as poorly placed culverts, weirs, fords and other obstacles within waterways which impede the ability of fish to access habitat upstream of these structures.
3.4.3 The placement of such structures can therefore prevent the access of fish to large areas of suitable rearing habitat, such as riparian covered areas in the headwaters of the Region’s rivers. This explains why team members carrying out fish monitoring at sites encounter surprisingly low numbers and limited diversity where one would expect higher fish numbers or wider diversity. In
these areas the habitat can be perfect but not accessible.
3.4.4 These fish barriers can also result in local extinction of fish populations. Some native fish are known to release pheromones into the water column to attract the juveniles back upstream (banded kokopu) or to attract adults to suitable spawning habitat (lamprey). Over time, as barriers
prevent fish migrating upstream, the local population can become extinct above the barrier. If this AnnexA occurs it becomes even more difficult to attract fish back, as simply removing the barrier will not result in the pheromones being present. Therefore fish must be physically placed upstream of the fix.
3.4.5 The best approach is to simply the barrier completely and allow the stream to flow as it would have prior to the structure becoming a barrier. However, this is not always possible and it may be necessary to construct a rock ramp to enable fish to to overcome a barrier. Figure 3, Figure 4 and Figure 5 show the construction of a rock ramp over a barrier. In this case it is the penstock leading down into the Shannon Power Station so removal was not possible. A fish pass had previously been constructed but over time had eroded away. In this case the fish pass has been designed for native fish species that are good climbers (a steeper slope on the ramp) as these are the only species that would be expected to be in the area.
3.4.6 Other fish pass fixes may simply be the placement of baffles in culverts to slow down the flow of water at the bottom of the culvert. The speed at which water flows through some culverts, particularly those that are undersized, can result in a velocity barrier as the fish migrate upstream.
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AnnexA Figure 3 Barrier to fish passage on the Mangatangi Stream behind Shannon.
Figure 4 Placement of rocks to provide suitable gradient for native fi sh; rock placement water is diverted around the work site and culvert is placed with the rocks to hold it in place.
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AnnexA Figure 5 Fish pass completed and with water flowing down stream. 3.4.7 The restoration of native fish habitat requires a multi-pronged approach. This includes making sure that the area is accessible to fish by repairing fish barriers and ensuring the habitat is suitable for fish by restoring habitat that is currently degraded by planting riparian vegetation and providing habitat complexity.
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12 Item 4 Lake Horowhenua Accord and Lake Horowhenua Freshwater Clean-Up Fund 4.1 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. Horizons has the lead role in delivering on the Lake Horowhenua Freshwater Clean-Up Fund, which consists of eight projects designed to contribute to the restoration of the lake. The Clean-Up Fund has just been completed in terms of the funding arrangements with the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and the final project report is with the auditors. Several of the
projects within the Clean-Up Fund have an ongoing work component. Horizons also has a role in delivering some of the Te Mana o Te Wai projects and the upcoming Freshwater Improvement Fund project. 4.2 Targets
Table 1 Annual Plan performance measures for 2017 -18 for the Lake Horowhenua Accord and AnnexA Freshwater Clean-Up Fund. Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % Complete 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Actual Consents Obtain consents granted. and operate a lake High Court Tender weed harvester on decision in Three documents Tenders Lake Horowhenua June 2017 tenders prepared close Consents (Environment Court ruled in received, 1 100% for boat 6 February obtained process for favour of yet to be ramp 2018 consents Horizons to awarded construction completed and proceed 50 ha harvested)*1 with weed harvesting *1 AP targets 4.3 Activity Highlights The Lake Horowhenua Accord and Freshwater Clean-Up Fund
4.3.1 The Lake Horowhenua Clean-Up Fund project is now complete from the MfE perspective. The final audit report has been drafted and we are expecting the final report any time.
4.3.2 Prior to Christmas, NIWA provided a recommendation on the methodology for the pest fish monitoring that is required by the resource consent conditions for the fish pass on the Lake Horowhenua outlet into the Hokio Stream. This plan has now been lodged with the regulatory team, and once the work is completed the final report is to be submitted to the regulatory team by June 2018. This survey work has been programmed for completion.
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4.3.3 Preparation is continuing for the commencement of the Horizons component of the Freshwater Improvement Fund project in the Lake Horowhenua catchment. The Horizons lead work involves further refining the groundwater inputs into the lake and will focus on filling information gaps that have been identified in previous reports. This work is due to commence on 1 July 2018. 5 Te Mana O Te Wai Projects 5.1 Activity Overview The Te Mana o Te Wai Fund, administered by MfE, has had one round of project funding open to iwi/hāpu/marae for freshwater restoration works. Horizons supported a number of applications and four projects were successful in their funding bids. Approximately half of the available funding from the
TMOTW has been secured for work in our Region, although one project involves work in both the Taranaki and Manawatū-Whanganui regions. The projects run over a two-year timeframe with two officially beginning on 1 March 2016 and two on 1 July 2016.
AnnexA 5.2 Activity Highlights Rangitikei – Ngā Puna Rau o Rangitīkei
5.2.1 No further works were undertaken at the Moawhango, Paharakeke or Lake Oporoa sites during this reporting period.
5.2.2 The Pourewa Stream plantings had another release spray and weed control undertaken in February. There continues to be some erosion along this section of the stream, and remediation works have been discussed and agreed with the landowners, staff from River Management, and the Ngāti Hauiti project lead. This work is due to start in March.
5.2.3 The Governance group meeting was postponed from early February to 16 March 2018. Councillor Patrick and staff attended the Governance Group meeting.
Lake Horowhenua – Te Kakapa Manawa o Muaūpoko – The Heartbeat of Muaūpoko
5.2.4 After seeking expressions of interest for the sediment legacy work, a contract was established with NIWA and a report is due to be completed by the end of June 2018. The sampling was due to be undertaken in February, however, it was postponed due to the cyclone with the work being reprogrammed for later in 2018.
5.2.5 The Freshwater Team completed the planting required for the in-lake planting trial in November. Two rounds of visual monitoring are due before the end of June 2018 to fulfil Horizons’ commitments to this part of the project.
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5.2.6 The fencing and planting component of the project led by Horizons in continuing with 4.2 km of fencing completed and approximately another 2 km to be completed before 30 June 2018, the target of 5 km should be achieved. In total, 8,468 riparian plants have been planted to date and staff are continuing to search for other suitable areas to plant within the lake catchment to meet the overall target of 15,000.
5.2.7 A Governance Group meeting was held in February 2018.
Ngā Rauru – Te Wai Koiora Waterways Restoration
5.2.8 Plantings at Ototoka were checked and they are generally growing well despite the dry conditions
in early summer.
5.2.9 The Okehu Stream project has been fenced ready for a whanau/hapū and community planting day
in May. AnnexA
Figure 6 250 metres of the Okehu Stream downstream of SH3 at Maxwell fenced ready to plant in May 2018.
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Manawatū – Tū te Manawa
5.2.10 Horizons has been sub-contracted to complete the riparian planting and stream fencing component of the Tū te Manawa project. The work sub-contracted to Horizons over the life of the project is to complete 50 km of stream fencing, plant 60,000 riparian plants and remediate six fish barriers.
5.2.11 This projects work schedule has been extended to the end of the calendar year (31 Dec 2018). To date seven fish barriers have been remediated, 41.5km of fencing has been erected and 45,453 plants planted.
5.2.12 A Governance Group meeting was held in January 2018 and attended by Councillor Sheldon.
AnnexA
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12 Item 6 Activity Progress Report Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date .There have been 150 contacts this financial year with 70 for provision of advice only. .Staff are working with a number of iwi, councils and community groups towards Working with individuals, Provide advice and support to Freshwater Improvement Fund (FIF) projects community groups or iwi to 25 groups or individuals and connecting our communities back to their improve waterways. rivers/streams. .The FIF work programme documents for the Whangaehu River and Lake Waipu are being progressed for work to start in July 2018. .80 Environmental Grant applications have been confirmed for this year, for 43 km of fencing and 62,865 plants. This has allocated $400,000 of funding and reserves, with any new projects on waiting lists or put forward as Environmental Grant 20 Environmental Grants potential jobs for next year if funding is applications supported supported available. AnnexA .29 projects have been scoped and costed for the 2018-19 year outside of FIF catchments, for $175,000 of potential grant. This includes 14.8 km stream fencing and 26,375 native riparian plants. Works completed in accordance with the contract to Ngā Whenua Rāhui, including assessing Ngā Whenua Rāhui .No further works undertaken in this period. proposal for protection of bush remnants, wetlands and stream sites on Māori land .The next Leaders’ Accord forum is to be held on 27 April at the Chalet, Palmerston North. Manawatū River Leaders’ Meetings completed, Action Plan .Seven of the 11 applications for community Forum (MRLF) implemented grants projects have been approved with total funding of $75,645 awarded. Manawatū Accord Work to complement the goals of .The FIF work programme documents are implementation work the Manawatū Accord being finalised. .Lake Horowhenua Accord Group and Te Regular meetings and progress on Lake Horowhenua Accord Kakapa Manawa o Muaūpoko Governance the Lake Accord projects Group met in February. .The final project reports were completed on Lake Horowhenua Clean-Up 6 October 2017 and supplied to AuditNZ and Final project report Fund MfE. A draft audit report has been provided to MfE.
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Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date .Pourewa stream site released/weed control. .The Rangitīkei Governance Group meet to again in March. .Okehu Stream project has progressed Works completed in accordance significantly with fencing complete. Te Mana o te wai with the contract for various .Of the 50 km of stream fencing to be (TMOTW) TMOTW projects completed in the Manawatū Catchment, 41.5 km has been signed off and 45,453 of the 60,000 riparian plants have been planted. .The in-lake planting trial in Lake Horowhenua is completed.
Clare Ridler FRESHWATER COORDINATOR Lucy Ferguson FRESHWATER COORDINATOR
Logan Brown AnnexA FRESHWATER AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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Item 13 Item Report No. 18-54 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 January to 28 February 2018.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-54 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 team are making good progress with planned work programmes. Our core monitoring programmes are running to schedule, although we are battling the elements to complete our macroinvertebrate programme (which requires certain flow conditions) however, the team have been taking every opportunity to advance the sampling programme and as a result we have now less than 10% of the sites still to be completed. 6.2. Ecological mapping by NIWA using Lake SPI (submerged plant indicators) has been completed in Lakes Kaitoke, Herbert, Dudding and Heaton. Estuary habitat mapping was completed by Wriggle Consultants in the Manawatū (fine-scale mapping) and Rangitīkei, Whangaehu, Ōhau and Waikawa (broadscale mapping). Bird monitoring at Totara Reserve has also been completed by Wildlands, adopting their improved monitoring protocol. 6.3. Research completed to date includes the delivery of a stocktake of information on our coastal environment (NIWA); stocktake of fish data for the Horizons Region (Cawthron); Drinking water stocktake and risk assessment (PDP); delivery of a regional wastewater workshop (sponsored by Horizons); and an analysis of regional swimmability and the effects of management interventions on water quality improvement (MfE and LWP).
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Item 13 Item 6.4. Work underway, and due to be completed during the course of this year includes: further work around drinking water security (in partnership with TA’s); stormwater gap analysis (Morphum); surface water quality state and trends (LWP and NIWA), groundwater state and trends (PDP); regional water resource study (PDP); lake restoration options for shallow and deep coastal lakes (NIWA); Oroua sediment source and transport study (Landcare and Massey); SLUI sediment transport and water quality outcomes (Landcare); periphyton and macroinvertebrate health drivers (DairyNZ and NIWA); Rangitīkei catchment investigation (Horizons in collaboration with Massey, GNS, NIWA, and LWS Ltd). 6.5. National investigation continues into the contamination of land and water by PFAS (a group of chemical compounds known as per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances) that have been extensively manufactured and used worldwide since the 1950s in a range of products including furniture protectants, floor wax, treated fabrics and leather, paper products, non- stick cookware, food packaging, insecticides and specialised firefighting foams. The role of the science and innovation team to date has been to provide data, information, technical advice and guidance (in terms of local knowledge) to those undertaking investigations of contaminated (or potentially contaminated) sites in the Horizons Region. 6.6. With the recent departure of Manas Chakraborty, we are now seeking a Research Associate to support our terrestrial and freshwater ecology science programmes. Applications close 5 pm 15 April 2018. Water Quantity and Quality Monitoring and Research 6.7. The additional resourcing to support the water metering programme has progressed well this season with the team being able to inspect a greater number of sites than usual. This additional capacity has also enabled the team to attend to identified faults and address these in a timely fashion improving the quality of the data received. 6.8. The Rangitikei catchment hydrogeological survey is progressing well with the surface water quality and flow survey completed in March and the groundwater component being undertaken throughout April. These data will provide a baseline dataset of water quality, flow, groundwater levels and water age tracers to inform a longer-term study of land use impacts on water quality in the Rangitikei catchment. The data collected informs multiple external work programmes including our collaborative research programme with Massey University, the development of a national hydrological model, and a National Science Challenge project applying the physiographic mapping approach developed by Environment Southland to the rest of the nation. Land, Fluvial and Biodiversity Monitoring and Research 6.9. Our land and fluvial research programme is progressing well with a number of work streams operating in tandem under the watchful eye of our Natural Resources Scientist, Staci Boyte. This science and research is investigating the linkage between sediment and water quality to help inform the review of the SLUI programme, as well as inform current and future approaches to monitoring and management for both our River Management group and our Land and Freshwater and Partnerships Teams. 6.10. Our Biodiversity and Biosecurity science research programme has applied a strategic lens to our work programme this year. With reviews of our wetlands, forest fragments and bird monitoring protocol now completed (or close to completion), we are turning our attention to the design and implementation of the monitoring programme. This includes identifying opportunities for improved management of biodiversity data and information. Public Information and Community Engagement 6.11. The air quality public campaign is now underway for 2017-18 and we encourage people to stock up on firewood now to ensure it has sufficient time to dry prior to winter. We are promoting this message via radio ad campaign and social media channels.
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6.12. The swim spot public campaign has now finished for the 2017-18 year, although monitoring 13 Item continues throughout the Easter and ANZAC holidays. While the season has proved a difficult one with intermittent rain throughout, there have been many opportunities for people to get out and about and enjoy our Region’s swim spots. A summary of the season will be provided to Council in the June Environment Committee report.
7. SIGNIFICANCE 7.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
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 Water Quantity and Quality 1.1 Activity Overview
AnnexA Water is an important resource that provides for the cultural, environmental and economic needs of our Region. The Science and Innovation Team serves the Water Quality and Quantity activity of Horizons’ Annual Plan through a range of science monitoring and research programmes that track changes in the water resource and inform decision-making around water management.
The team’s Water Quality and Quantity activity during 2017-18 is focussed on improving our knowledge and understanding of the Region’s water resource. This information is important for ensuring Horizons is meeting its obligations under the revised National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (NPS-FM), informing decision-making and State of Environment (SoE) reporting, and supporting implementation of the One Plan with a particular focus on allocation and nutrient management. As set out in the Science and Innovation Operational Plan, work for 2017-18 includes: . Ensuring regional and national monitoring and reporting requirements – such as the national regulations for measurement of water takes, the revised NPS-FM and One Plan – are met; . Continuing our catchment characterisation work programme, with a focus on water quality and age tracers in the Rangitikei River catchment; . Monitoring 80 popular swim spots around the Region; . Working with the relevant agencies to improve communication about public water supplies and improve our knowledge and understanding of drinking water security in the Region; and . Supporting our Freshwater and Partnerships teams to ensure freshwater initiatives are informed by science and targeted to address water quality issues. The Water Quality and Quantity Activity is measured against three performance measures that require the Science and Innovation Team to report to Council on progress five times per year. As stated in the Annual Plan 2017-18, reporting includes both formal reporting and Council workshops.
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Measures include:
Measure Reporting Period YTD Target 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual Undertake research and monitoring to: Track changes in the health of the Region’s 80% 100% water resource *1 Inform policy and non-regulatory programme 80% 100% development *1 Assess policy implementation effectiveness *1 80% 100% *1 Annual Plan (AP)/Long-termPlan(LTP) targets
1.2 Activity Highlights This report covers the reporting period from 1 January to 28 February 2018. A summary of progress made against the targets for the year is in the table at the end of this section.
Water allocation AnnexA
Context
The Science and Innovation Team oversees the management and reporting of water allocation to ensure that Horizons is meeting the requirements of the National Regulations on Water Measurement and Reporting and the requirements under the One Plan. This also provides meaningful data for future freshwater accounting as required by the NPS-FM. Actual water use information is used for assessing compliance and to support resource management decision-making.
Activity
1.2.1 The summer field programme for the telemetered water metering programme has progressed well this season. With the additional temporary staff resource available this year, a far greater number of existing sites have been inspected than usual. Of the 347 flow meters that Horizons telemeters data from, 282 (81%) have been inspected to date. Most of those still to be visited are industry sites and can be attended to outside the irrigation season. The additional staff member has allowed the field team time to identify and address a number of faults that previously have not been able to be attended to – only five technical faults remain to be addressed at this time.
1.2.2 While progress on new installations has been slower than planned, with effort diverted to addressing the faults mentioned above, attention will be turned to completing these towards the latter part of the season. A number of data integrity issues at existing sites will also be addressed during the remainder of the season, to improve the quality of these data.
1.2.3 The Environmental Monitoring Team has continued to use the automated compliance checking tool to keep abreast of water user behaviour against consented limits. Following the dry conditions and low flows experienced earlier in the season, the number of streams at (or below) their One
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Plan minimum flow limits have been fewer than anticipated, with intermittent rainfall events maintaining river levels through much of the 2017-18 season.
1.2.4 Work is underway to review the type and amount of information required for irrigation abstraction consent applications. This will include consideration of recent work with Irrigation New Zealand on key information that should be provided by applicants, and some basic conditions for irrigation system commissioning, maintenance and efficiency that Horizons might consider adding to consents.
1.2.5 The first year of the publication of a dedicated Horizons section in the Irrigation New Zealand magazine is complete and we are currently looking into renewing the contract for contributions to
the INZ News magazine for the next financial year.
Lakes Research Context The objective of Horizons’ lake monitoring and research programme is to provide information that defines AnnexA the current state of water quality and ecological condition of a selection of the Region’s lakes, and measures changes in their health. Activity 1.2.6 The first phase of the national Lakes380 – Our lakes’ health: past, present, future project is now underway. This project is funded by the MBIE Endeavour fund, run jointly by GNS Science and Cawthron Institute in partnership with iwi and hapū, and supported by several regional councils, including Horizons.
1.2.7 The overarching theme is summarised by the project’s whakataukī: Me hoki whakamuri kia haere whakamua (to move forward we must be aware of the past); whereby unravelling the history of our lakes we may better inform strategies to protect and revitalise New Zealand’s lake ecosystems and their cultural and environmental values.
1.2.8 Lake sediments function as a natural archive for water quality and biodiversity and this project aims to characterise New Zealand’s lakes “by uncovering their environmental history from sediment cores taken from 380 lakes” around NZ. To achieve this, a range of techniques will be employed to characterise both historic and current lake health and investigate the rate and cause of changes over the past 1,000 years.
1.2.9 Horizons’ Science and Innovation team has provided suggestions for suitable lakes in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of which 22 lakes have been selected for the project. Several of these lakes are monitored regularly for water quality to assist in validating information collected from the sediment cores, including Lake Horowhenua (with permission) and Lakes Dudding, Westmere, Wiritoa, Pauri, Kohata, William, Heaton, Waipu, Koitiata, Herbert, Omanuka and Pukepuke Lagoon. To ensure a representative selection of lakes is include in the project, Karere
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Lagoon, Lakes Virginia, Pounamu, Otamataraha, Mahangaiti, Colenso, Papaitonga, Poroa, and Voss Lagoon will also be included.
1.2.10 The next phase of the project will be to organise access and permissions for lake sampling. Horizons will be assisting with the process.
Additional information about this research project can be found under https://lakes380.com/ 1.3 Spotlight On… Coastal Dune Lakes 1.3.1 Dune lakes are uncommon internationally, known to occur in New Zealand, on the eastern coastline of Australia, the Florida panhandle and Pacific Northwest of the US, Madagascar, the
Netherlands and United Kingdom.
1.3.2 The lowland coastal portions of the Horizons Region contain a relatively large number of coastal dune lakes. They comprise approximately 57 of the 330 coastal dune lakes that occur nationally,
and approximately 25% of lakes within the Region. AnnexA 1.3.3 With a total area of 304 hectares, Lake Horowhenua is the largest dune lake in the country. Most of the lakes in the Region are considerably smaller at typically less than 25 hectares and (on average) only 14.6 hectares. At 51 ha Lake Papaitonga, immediately south of Lake Horowhenua, is an exception.
1.3.4 Coastal dune lakes and lagoons are separated from the sea by barriers of sand and gravel, forming in depressions between consolidated dunes or where streams or river valleys have been blocked by younger sand dunes. Dune lakes are usually shallow, often elongated parallel to the coast with water that varies from fresh to brackish and even hypersaline where evaporation lead to high salt concentrations. Most dune lakes are thought to have formed relatively recently with many less than 6,500 years old.
Water Levels
1.3.5 Water levels within a lake are determined by rainfall, evaporation, surface water run-off, and groundwater recharge and discharge. Some lakes may be perched above the surrounding water table, being reliant on surface water inflows and outflows, while others may have a strong hydraulic connection with groundwater.
1.3.6 To understand the fluctuation of lake levels over time, Horizons monitors levels automatically (every 15 minutes) at Lake Horowhenua and Lake Koitiata, and also measures the levels of Lakes Poroa, Dudding, Pauri, Wiritoa, Westmere and Kohata manually on a monthly basis. These data provide baseline information about water levels throughout the year and how they fluctuate between the seasons.
1.3.7 Water level data has so far been used to calculate the water balance of two lakes that we have sufficient data for. A number of attempts to develop a water balance for Lake Horowhenua
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catchment have been made since 1994. The most recent water balance, developed in 2014 by PDP and NIWA, reconciled the various models with recent data and also investigated the linkage between groundwater (which accounts for around 60% of the recharge in the lake) and surface water inflows with water quality outcomes.
1.3.8 Pukepuke Lagoon was also recently modelled using data collected as part of an intensive and large scale hydrological basin study during the 1970s. During this study, a large number of sites were monitored for water levels (including lake water and surrounding groundwater levels), with monitoring continuing until the early 1980s. A water balance completed last year by Jacobs applied this historic data to determine the dominant source of water into the lake is via baseflow from groundwater, which contributed about 90% of total lake inflows.
1.3.9 A water balance of Lake Koitiata is currently being undertaken incorporating more recent water level data collected through our telemetry system.
1.3.10 Understanding and characterising the different sources and contributions of water to the lakes is
important for informing the management of water use (which can affect the volume of water AnnexA flowing into and out of the lakes), and land use (which can affect water quality and the ecological health of lakes).
Water Quality
1.3.11 Water quality is monitored at 15 lakes in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Each of these lakes is sampled at three different locations where a depth profile of several field variables (including temperature, pH, conductivity, barometric pressure, dissolved oxygen concentration and saturation), lake visibility and lake depth is assessed (for lakes monitored by boat only), and a sample for chlorophyll a concentration (an indicator of algal growth) is taken. At each of the three sites water samples are taken and combined into a composite sample for chemical, nutrient and microbiological analyses, in addition to phytoplankton analysis for the detection of algae that may produce toxins. A near-bottom water sample is also taken for nutrient and microbial analyses.
1.3.12 Our approach to lake sampling is tailored to the unique environment of each lake and the programme takes into account considerations such as iwi and landowner requirements, access, cost, and the health and safety of staff. Presently, 11 lakes are monitored by helicopter (since 2015) and lakes (Lake Dudding, Lake Wiritoa and Lake Pauri) are monitored quarterly by boat (since 2014). Lake Horowhenua is monitored monthly by boat and also has a permanent monitoring buoy deployed (since 2013) for continuous monitoring for a range of parameters at various water depths.
1.3.13 Water clarity, algal biomass (measured as chlorophyll a concentration), phosphorous and total nitrogen values are used to estimate the Trophic Lake Index (TLI), providing an indication of the life-supporting capacity of a lake. Lakes receive a score ranging from less than 1 (ultra- microtrophic) through to 7 (hypertrophic); the higher the number the poorer the quality.
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Table 1 New Zealand Lake Types and their corresponding Trophic Level Index Scores (Source: Burns and Bryers, 2000)
Lake Type Trophic Level Examples of New Zealand Lakes Ultra-microtrophic <1 - Microtrophic 1-2 Lake Wakatipu (ORC), Lake Waikaremoana (HBRC) Oligotrophic 2-3 Lake Wanaka (ORC), Lake Taupō (WRC) Mesotrophic 3-4 Lake Rotomahana (BoPRC) Eutrophic 4-5 Lake Rotorua (BoPRC) Supertrophic 5-6 Lake Wairarapa (GWRC), Lake Wiritoa (HRC) Hypertrophic >6 Lake Horowhenua (HRC),
Te Waihora - Lake Ellesmere (ECAN)
1.3.14 The most recent (2016) Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) analysis provides trophic lake index scores for the following lakes in our Region: Lake Horowhenua (TLI 6.7) is classed as hypertrophic while Lake Dudding (TLI 5.6), Lake Pauri (5.3), and Lake Wiritoa (TLI 5.8) are all classed as
supertrophic. LAWA is a regional council-driven initiative to present information about the state AnnexA and trends of New Zealand’s environment and natural resources.
Ecological Health
1.3.15 In addition to water quality and quantity, Horizons also undertakes monitoring of the ecological health of lakes in the Region. Lake Submerged Plant Indicators (SPI) are commonly used to assess the ecological condition of New Zealand lakes. The process involves a team of experts from NIWA who use scuba gear and snorkels to assess the submerged aquatic plants along a series of transects in each lake. These submerged plants act as indicators for lake ecological conditions.
1.3.16 Lake SPI has been completed for 16 coastal dune lakes (Table 3) surveyed prior to 2017, with the introduction of two new lakes (Lakes Kaitoke and Herbert) in 2017. Additionally, Lake SPI surveys have been completed for six inland lakes in the Region.
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Table 2 Overall condition scores for coastal dune lakes in the Horizons Region where Lake SPI surveys have been completed to date. Overall Condition Lake Freshwater Management Year Surveyed Unit High Omanuka Lagoon Rangitikei 2016 Moderate Lake Alice Rangitikei 2015 Lake Bernard Rangitikei 2015 Lake Dudding Rangitikei 2015/2017 Lake Heaton Rangitikei 2015/2017 Lake Koputara Rangitikei 2016 Pukepuke Lagoon Rangitikei 2015
Poor Lake Kohata Whanganui 2015
Lake Koitata Turakina/Whangaehu 2015 Lake Omanu Manawatu 2016 Lake Pauri Whanganui 2015
AnnexA Lake William Rangitikei 2015 Lake Wiritoa Whanganui 2015 Non-vegetated Lake Papaitonga Horowhenua 2015 Lake Waipu Turakina/Whangaehu 2015 Lake Westmere Whanganui 2016 - Kaitoke Lake Whanganui 2017 - Lake Herbert Rangitikei 2017
1.3.17 All coastal dune lakes are recognised in Horizons’ One Plan as threatened habitats, and therefore they are considered regionally significant wetland habitats.
1.3.18 A stocktake and prioritisation of the Region’s lakes will be underway shortly. Previous work suggests that three lakes have been considered internationally important (Pukepuke Lagoon, Lake Kaikokopu and Lake Koputara; Cromarty and Scott 1996), and 14 nationally significant (Papaitonga, Koitiata, Kohata, and Omanu, Kopuherehere, Hirutini, Lake Horowhenua (parts), Oturoa (rest of Koputara lake series), Oruakaitawa, Herbert, Alice, Vipan, Karamu, and Sarah pond; various sources). However, until the stocktake is complete, it is uncertain how many of the coastal dune lakes within the Horizons Region are of national significance ecologically.
1.3.19 The aim of the lakes prioritisation project is to develop an overarching strategy for lakes, including coastal lakes. This is particularly important given the complexity of these systems and the wide range of stakeholders involved in their management. The Science and Innovation Team is scoping the initial stocktake (phase 1) within this financial year, with the development of a prioritisation framework (phase 2) for all lakes in the Region to follow during the next financial year.
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1.4 Activity Progress Report Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date .Work continues on IRIS database to enable .Surface Water Allocation reporting, as originally scoped. Water Allocation .Groundwater Quantity, Quality and and .Monitoring was delivered as scheduled. Seawater Intrusion Groundwater .National Monitoring Programmes .Monitoring was delivered as scheduled. Monitoring .Water Metering and National .Work continues towards meeting obligations. Regulations .A work programme is underway to validate .Monthly SoE and Discharge monitoring and integrate different sources of water undertaken quality archive data. .Automated QC software is running on .Training of staff in applications such as the data Hilltop, GIS and ‘R’ is underway to improve .Lab tender is completed capability across the organisation. .Hilltop software training for new staff .The tender process for the lab contract is Water Quality almost complete. and Discharge .Sediment monitoring data processed and Monitoring .Monitoring and processing is ongoing. on the archive AnnexA .Continuous physico-chemical monitoring (such as temperature and dissolved .Monthly monitoring was completed as oxygen) data processed and on the scheduled. archive .External (contract) monitoring .Monitoring is ongoing as required. completed as per contracts .Monthly monitoring was completed as .Monthly periphyton monitoring scheduled. .Collecting of samples has continued during this period. Collection of final sites is .Annual macroinvertebrate monitoring currently being hampered by rainfall. Trend report for 2016-2017 is in final draft phase. .Didymo monitoring undertaken in all .Didymo monitoring for February completed. quarters except winter .Fish monitoring programme, including brown mudfish monitoring, undertaken .SoE fish monitoring to begin as weather .Sites of Significance Aquatic (SOS-A) SoE permits. monitoring undertaken Biological Monitoring .This work programme is being scoped with .Inanga spawning habitat restoration the freshwater team for delivery in March/April. .Macroinvertebrates drivers report – data has been provided to DairyNZ and analysis of the data is underway. .Periphyton drivers report – data analysis is .Macroinvertebrates Drivers Report largely complete and reporting by NIWA is .Periphyton Drivers report underway with a draft report expected in the next few weeks .A progress update was provided to Horizons staff during an October workshop, with final delivery of reports planned for early-mid
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Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date 2018. .Quarterly lakes sampling undertaken .Lake SPI has been completed for 2017-18 and .Lake Submerged Plant Indicators (SPI) reporting is now underway. monitoring undertaken .Bathymetric mapping for 2017-18 has been .Lake bathymetry monitoring undertaken completed for Lake Waipu. .Monthly monitoring of the coastal and Lake Monitoring .Monthly monitoring of coastal and estuary monitoring sites was delivered as estuary sites scheduled. .Broad-scale mapping in the Whanganui .Mapping of the Ōhau, Waikawa, Manawatū , and fine-scale mapping in the Manawatū Rangitīkei and Whangaehu estuaries has undertaken and reported been completed. .Weather permitting, this work will be .Nutrient diffusing substrate monitoring undertaken in the Ōhau and Waikawa catchments. .Preferential uptake of ammonia for .A medium Envirolink advice grant for this periphyton growth project is funded and work has been approved. A report is due by initiated 30 June 2018. Innovative .Work undertaken and report produced
AnnexA Science and .Undertake an investigation into the .This investigation will be carried out if Research ecological effects of cyanobacteria on weather permits. macroinvertebrates monitoring .Monitoring at reference sites to inform .Monitoring to be carried out if weather the development of the Stream permits. Ecological Valuation (SEV) calculator .Monitoring of the Turitea Stream .Monitoring to be carried during summer. restoration project ongoing .This work programme is carried out by the .Flow relationships, mean annual low Catchment Information Team and is flows (MALFs) and minimum flows progressing. .Water use accounting and reporting .WaterMatters continues to operate. Resource .Contaminant accounting – development Accounting .A catchment summary document for the of summary reports for target Upper Manawatū is being finalised. catchments .The stocktake and gap analysis report is now .Stormwater being finalised.
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Michael Patterson SCIENTIST – FRESHWATER
Stephen Collins SCIENTIST – GROUNDWATER
Janine Kamke SCIENTIST – WATER QUALITY
Raelene Mercer SENIOR SCIENTIST – WATER ALLOCATION
Maree Patterson
SENIOR SCIENTIST – WATER QUALITY
Abby Matthews SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MANAGER
Jon Roygard AnnexA GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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Item 13 Item 2 Land 2.1 Activity Overview The Land Management Activity covers Horizons’ main land-based initiatives, with a particular focus on Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI), and is reported to Horizons’ Catchment Operations Committee. Our Land and Fluvial Research and Monitoring programmes assist these programmes by informing prioritisation and monitoring the effectiveness of the work programmes.
Fluvial monitoring and research during 2017-18 is focused on advancing the collection and analysis of fluvial survey data, with a focus on processing the existing data for the Oroua River and advancing a survey of the Manawatū River. These surveys provide crucial information about the storage and transport of
sediment to inform the upcoming evaluation of Horizons’ policy and plan framework for the management of sediment in our Region.
A new research programme investigating sediment transport and its effects on water quality and flood schemes is underway. During the next two years, this programme will be delivered through partnerships AnnexA with Landcare Research and Massey University, and will focus on the following key outputs:
. Supporting the review of the Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) programme; . Continuing a National Science Challenge project investigating the transport of sediment and its effects within the Manawatū and Whanganui catchments; and . A collaborative work programme with Landcare Research and Massey University to further investigate sedimentation rates in the Oroua River, including analysis of changes in sediment deposition over a decade from 2006 and sediment source tracking using fingerprinting techniques and geochemical analysis. The Land Management Activity is measured against three performance measures that require the Science and Innovation Team to report to Council on progress five times per year. As stated in the Annual Plan 2017-18, reporting includes both formal reporting and Council workshops. Measures include:
Performance Measure Reporting Period YTD Target 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual Undertake research and monitoring to: Track changes in the health of the 80% 100% Region’s land and fluvial resources*1 Inform policy and non-regulatory 80% 100% programme development*1 Assess policy and implementation 80% 100% effectiveness*1 *1 AP/LTP targets. 2.2 Activity Highlights This report covers the reporting period from 1 January to 28 February 2018. A summary of progress made against the targets for the year is in the table at the end of this section.
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Context
Horizons provides science support for the continued evolution of the Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website, a regional council-driven initiative to present information about the state and trends of New Zealand’s environment and natural resources.
Activity
2.2.1 Launched in September 2017, the Land Cover module is one of the latest features of the LAWA website and the first module to display land information. Unlike the air and water modules, which share data collected by individual councils, this module presents a national dataset that
covers the entire country.
2.2.2 Land cover defines areas of land covered by different types of vegetation, urban areas, water surfaces and non-vegetated surfaces. The data used is sourced from the New Zealand Land Cover Database (LCDB) with updates from 1996, 2001, 2008, and 2012. This enables website visitors to
see changes in land cover types over time, providing useful context to information on water AnnexA quality, erosion and sediment loss and biodiversity.
2.2.3 Users of the LAWA land cover module can see a national picture or zoom in on a region. A toggle on the map allows for a quick visual comparison between 1996 and 2012 to see the areas that have changed.
Figure 3 LAWA Land Cover Map and regional overview.
2.2.4 Land cover is described at a broad land cover area which can then be broken down and described in more detail at the medium land cover class level. At both levels of detail users can see state
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and trend information. Figure 4 shows the state breakdown of land cover in 2012 for Horizons’
Region.
AnnexA
Figure 4 Land use in the Horizons Region in 2012. Source: LAWA website.
2.2.5 Trend information for land cover is determined by change in land cover over time (between 1996 and 2012) expressed as both a change in area (hectares), as shown in Figure 4 below, and a percentage change.
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AnnexA
Figure 5. Change in land cover at the medium classificat ion level between 1996 and 2012. Source: LAWA website.
2.2.6 In Horizons’ Region. the greatest change over that time has been a 25 per cent increase in exotic forest. This is balanced by a decrease mostly seen in exotic grassland. Most of the increase in exotic forest occurred between 1996 and 2001. Funding from Ministry for Primary Industries and Horizons’ Sustainable Land Use Initiative has maintained growth in this area between 2008 and 2012. Cropping and vegetable production has shown an increase of 11 per cent, mainly around Ohakune and Whanganui to Levin on high quality soils. However, it is important to remember that this land use covers only 1 per cent of the Region.
Gravel Use Monitoring
Context
Quarterly processing of gravel use records is a core task. This is a means to monitor the amount of gravel being utilised and to ensure that targeted rates for gravel use (gravel levies) are appropriately calculated and extractors are charged.
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Activity
2.2.7 Gravel use records collected at the end of the second quarter of the 2017-18 financial year (Figure 5) show that the reported gravel extraction volume was higher than for the same quarter in previous years.
600,000
)
3 500,000
400,000 Q4
300,000 Q3
200,000 Q2 Q1
Gravelvolume extracted (m 100,000 AnnexA
0 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 Financial Year
Figure 3 Plot showing amount of gravel taken through consented takes in each quarter during the last six years, including the first quarter of 2017-18 financial year. Q1 = July to September, Q2 = October to December, Q3 = January to March, Q4 = April to June. Please note that the gravel taken for Q2 2017-2018 is currently an estimate.
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2.3 Activity Progress Report Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date .Field surveying of the Manawatū River from Ashhurst to Opiki, and Opiki to the sea has .Cross-section field surveys and been planned and scheduled for 2018. Fluvial monitoring and information to inform gravel .The Ashhurst to Opiki portion of the survey research to inform gravel management and river has been completed under budget and the management management (Rangitikei River) remaining staff time will be spent advancing .Gravel use management surveying of the Ohau River. .Gravel extraction data continues to be collected and collated on a quarterly basis. .A science work programme in partnership .Contribution to determining with Horizons’ Land Team is underway to
SLUI support effects of SLUI on water quality inform the SLUI review project, with work outcomes for the SLUI review contracted to Landcare Research. .A draft report is due in March 2018. Our Land and Water .Whanganui catchment data has been .Provision of information and in- National Science Challenge – supplied and this work programme is kind support
Cascade of Sediment project underway. AnnexA .Sample collection and lab processing is Sediment Source Tracking in .Sediment source investigation complete. the Oroua River catchment and report .Reporting is due in early 2018. .Provision of data Oroua LiDAR Research .Work is underway and progressing to .Report on LiDAR analysis and Project schedule. utility of LiDAR The Suitability of Tephra to .Research update from Massey .The project is ongoing until June 2018. treat Municipal Wastewater .Conclusion of study (June 2018)
Staci Boyte SCIENTIST – NATURAL RESOURCES Harold Barnett ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST Abby Matthews SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MANAGER Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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Item 13 Item 3 Biosecurity and Biodiversity Monitoring & Research 3.1 Activity Overview 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. This group of activities includes Horizons’ species-led pest plant and pest animal control (Biosecurity function) and the protection of bush and wetlands though site-led approaches, including support of community biodiversity programmes (Biodiversity function).
The Biodiversity Monitoring and Research programme assists these functions by informing prioritisation of
biodiversity sites, measuring the effectiveness of biodiversity work programmes and undertaking research to inform pest management under the Regional Pest Management Strategy and Regional Pest Management Plan. The biodiversity and biosecurity monitoring and research activity also maintains functional links to biodiversity and biosecurity research-related activity occurring under the Land, Water
Quality and Water Quantity programmes. AnnexA
The work programme for 2017-18 includes: . Peer review of the efficacy of our wetlands and forest fragments monitoring programmes; . Support for the implementation of the Regional Pest Management Plan; and . Completing a stock-take and prioritisation of the Region’s significant lakes. Biodiversity and Biosecurity activity for scientific monitoring and research is measured against three performance measures that require the Science and Innovation Team to report to Council on progress five times per year. As stated in the Annual Plan 2017-18, reporting includes both formal reporting and Council workshops. Measures include:
Performance Measure Reporting Period YTD Target 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual Undertake research and monitoring to: Track changes in the health of the 80% 100% Region’s living heritage*1 Inform policy, habitat protection and 80% 100% biosecurity programme development*1 1 Assess policy implementation effectiveness * 80% 100% *1 AP/LTP targets 3.2 Activity Highlights This report covers the reporting period from 1 January to 28 February 2018. A summary of progress made against the targets for the year is in the table at the end of this section.
A significant initiative over this period is the implementation of a stocktake and review process of the non- regulatory biodiversity programme (colloquially known as the Top 100/200 programme). The first stage of
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13 Item this work is to complete a stocktake and review of current processes, tools and site inventory to be documented, with an initial stocktake on track for completion in May. This report will identify gaps where work needs to be done to achieve a more systematic approach to the management of biodiversity.
The second stage of this initiative will involve planning and scoping of the work required to fill the gaps. This scoping workflow is expected to occur over the next 12-18 months. It aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the non-regulatory biodiversity programme and align Horizons’ biodiversity work with that other Regional Councils.
Forest Fragments and Wetlands Monitoring
Context
Monitoring a selection of wetlands and forest fragments is a core function of Horizons’ Biodiversity and Biosecurity monitoring programme. Through these programmes Horizons collects information and maintains records on the condition and extent of high priority bush remnants and wetlands to determine if
management programmes are effective. AnnexA Activity
3.2.1 Staff are currently investigating the application of the Singers and Rogers potential ecosystem mapping process for the Region. Developed by the Department of Conservation and now adopted by most regional councils, this process draws on a wide range of resources available that describe both the biotic and abiotic attributes of ecosystems. Migrating to this system has the potential to introduce a range of opportunities for Horizons, including improvements to non- regulatory protection initiatives. This work contributes to the combined initiative between the Science and Innovation and Biosecurity, Biodiversity and Partnerships teams to complete a biodiversity stocktake for the Region. Nicholas Singers (NSES Ltd) will be engaged to complete this work.
3.2.2 A series of workshops is scheduled in March, April and May to define and document a range of processes concerning active management and decision making for the high value biodiversity sites in the Region. Local expert Peter Handford (Groundtruth) has been engaged to facilitate and document the outcomes of these workshops.
Totara Reserve Bird Monitoring
Context
Horizons’ biodiversity monitoring programme encompasses two key work programmes: the active management of 200 high priority bush remnants and of 100 high priority wetlands, and the monitoring of the relative abundance of native birds in Totara Reserve Regional Park.
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Activity
3.2.3 Annual bird monitoring in Totara Reserve Regional Park was completed in December 2017. This round of monitoring is the first applying an improved methodology recommended by Wildlands following a review of the monitoring protocol in 2017.
3.2.4 Changes to the sampling methodology included: .Significantly reducing the number of repeat five-minute bird counts within the season; .Discontinuing slow walk transects, as the method surveys the same population as five-minute counts; and .Increasing the number of five-minute bird count stations within each zone from 15 to 60 sites in total (20 in each zone).
3.2.5 Some interesting observations were:
.15 indigenous and 17 introduced bird species were recorded in 2017; .Kārearea (bush falcon; Falco novaeseelandiae ferox; at risk – recovering) was heard on the
Petifar Walk Zone; AnnexA .Pōpokatea (Whitehead; Mohoua albicilla; at risk – declining) was heard throughout the treated and untreated zones; .Kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae; not threatened) were abundant throughout the treated zones; .Pīpīwharauroa (Shinning cuckoo; Chrysococcyx lucidus lucidus) were observed in abundance, with many fledglings seen being fed by their riroriro (grey warbler; Gerygone igata) host parents; and .Sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galertita) were heard throughout all three zones. Native to Australia, these birds have established populations in Pohangina, Port Waikato, and Turakina. 3.2.6 The five-minute bird count data has not been analysed at this stage. Counts would need to be repeated in 2018 and 2019 before a full analysis can be undertaken. A note has been made to investigate the cost of surveying pest densities in Totara Reserve and the control block in 2018 and 2019.
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3.3 Activity Progress Report Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date Wetlands and Bush .10 actively managed bush .Monitoring will be delivered within the Remnants remnants surveyed reporting year. .This season’s survey was completed during the .Assessment of the trend in Totara Reserve reporting period and the final data and report native birds received. .Lake SPI surveys completed for 11 sites .Lake SPI for 11 lakes Lakes Monitoring and (including 9 new sites) .Lakes stocktake and Prioritisation .Scoping of a stocktake and prioritisation report prioritisation report is underway. .Provide biodiversity .Biodiversity-related data, information and Information and Advice information and advice as advice requests are tracking at just under required three per month. .Regular contribution to the Biodiversity Working Group .Continued attendance and contribution to National Engagement (Regional Council Special Biodiversity Working Group meetings.
Interest Group) AnnexA
Lizzie Daly SCIENTIST - ECOLOGY Abby Matthews SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MANAGER Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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Item 13 Item 4 Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring 4.1 Activity Overview 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. Reporting provides a summary of the information in a way that can inform decision-making and help to raise the community’s awareness of natural resources and their management. This includes the state of our natural environment, how it is changing and where there might be opportunities for further growth and development.
The delivery of the 2018 State of the Environment (SoE) report will be a key output for the year. Policy
effectiveness monitoring will continue to focus on assisting the Strategy and Policy Team with policy effectiveness monitoring of the implementation of the One Plan, in addition to supporting implementation programmes across the Natural Resources and Partnerships Group and the wider organisation.
The air quality monitoring programme will continue to monitor and report on air quality in Taihape and AnnexA Taumarunui, the two air-sheds designated under the National Environmental Standard for Air Quality.
The Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring programmes are measured against four performance measures that require the Science and Innovation Team to report to Council on progress five times per year. As stated in the Annual Plan 2017-18, reporting includes both formal reporting and Council workshops. Measures include:
Performance Measure Reporting Period YTD Target 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual Complete State of the Environment report including reviewing and updating 80% 100% environmental indicators*1 Undertake policy and programme implementation effectiveness monitoring and provide input into 80% 100% programmes and policies that are in development*1 Environmental information is made available to the public via Horizons’ website, Environment Committee 80% 100% reporting and on request, including contributions to national level reporting*1 1 Monitor and report on air quality* 80% 100% *1 AP/LTP targets
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4.2 Activity Highlights This report covers the reporting period from 1 January to 28 February 2018. A summary of the progress made against the targets for the year is in the table at the end of this section.
Air Quality
Context
New Zealand’s National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NESAQ) require that regional councils 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.
Activity
4.2.1 Data collected over the last 12-month period at Taihape and Taumarunui are presented below.
The graphs are from the Horizons AirQuality Matters website and comprise telemetered ‘raw’ AnnexA data.
Taihape
4.2.2 The daily mean PM10 concentrations recorded at Taihape are shown in Figure 3 below. Recent monitoring data showed a number of elevated results in February; however, on investigation these were identified as arising from an instrument error and this has been rectified. The data shows compliance with the NESAQ for the 2017 -18 year.
Figure 6 Air quality monitoring for particulate matter at Taihape from March 2017 to March 2018, reported as a 24-hour average (µg/m 3).
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Taumarunui
4.2.3 The Taumarunui recording site was moved in late January 2018 from the Baptist Friendship Centre at 250 Taupo Road to the Horizons Service Centre yard at 34 Maata Street, Taumarunui. This move will eliminate issues encountered with regular power supply to the BAM unit (seen as
gaps in the data the daily mean PM10 concentrations recorded at Taumarunui, as shown in Figure
4, below).
AnnexA
Figure 7 Air quality monitoring for particulate matter at Taumarunui from March 2017 to March 2018, reported as a 24-hour average (µg/m3). 4.3 Activity Progress Report Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date .Air quality monitoring and .Air quality monitoring continues in the Taihape and reporting Taumarunui airsheds. Air Monitoring .The 2017-18 public education campaign has been down- and Reporting .Air quality public scaled due to the budgeted cost being diverted to moving education campaign – the Taumarunui monitoring site. cleaner heating .Social media posts and radio advertising campaign promoting the early collection of firewood is now underway. .Seven Envirolink grants for a total of $119,194 in funding have been secured this financial year. Note that two of these .Secure Envirolink-funded grants were submitted on behalf of the groundwater forum Envirolink science relevant to and have national relevance as well as being useful to Horizons Horizons. One further grant application is pending at the time of writing. .The annual update of water quality information for the LAWA .Supply information as website was released in September. The new “Can I Swim required LAWA website Here?” module followed in December 2017. .Development of new .Support will be provided as needed. modules State of .Water quantity and quality data analysis and reporting of Air, .Project plan for delivery of Environment Biodiversity and Biosecurity, Fluvial and Land content is the 2018 SoE report Reporting underway.
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Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date .Key catchment Catchment information identified .Progress on the Upper Manawatū Catchment Summary is Summaries and .Reporting framework nearing completion. Report Cards developed .Information provision to external organisations has Public .Information provision to continued. Information and the public and external .Media requests continue to focus on swimmability and water RMA Advice agencies. availability as key topics of interest. .The Science and Innovation Team continues to promote and .Information provision via share information collected via science research and Community websites, public monitoring through a range of mechanisms, including the Engagement engagement and Irrigation NZ newsletter, Horizons’ Swim Spot campaign, and documentation reporting to Council. .Staff continue to lead and participate in regional council special interest groups and national working groups. National .Contribution to national .Staff are involved in the development of the National Engagement forums Environmental Monitoring Standard for Discrete Water
Quality, Periphyton and Macroinvertebrates. AnnexA Harold Barnett ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST Janine Kamke SCIENTIST – WATER QUALITY Abby Matthews SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MANAGER Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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Item 14 Item Report No. 18-55 Information Only - No Decision Required
BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS PROGRESS REPORT
1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is update members of Council’s Environment Committee on the progress made in the Biosecurity and Biodiversity activity over the period 1 January to 28 February 2018.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-55 and Annexes.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. This is a public item and therefore Council may deem this sufficient to inform the public.
5. SUMMARY AND HIGHLIGHTS 5.1. Earlier this year a Horizons Regional Council (HRC) biodiversity advisor spotted an Ornate skink (cyclodina ornata) at a sheep and beef farm east of Dannevirke. The Ornate skink is widespread throughout the North Island and on some offshore islands, however is classified as “in decline”. There had previously been a gap in its known range in Hawke's Bay, where it appeared to be absent. This find adds to the knowledge of this species distribution. Ornate skinks can be identified by markings around their face with a white or yellowish teardrop edged with black below each eye.
Photo: Tony Jewel
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5.2. Matagouri or wild Irishman (Discaria toumatou) is the only native plant with thorns, very rare to be found in our Region and uncommon in the North Island, growing in only a few coastal sites and was noted by our biodiversity staff on the Pipibank dunes on the east
Item 14 Item coast of the region. This is a biodiversity find. 5.3. Vandalism at Totara Reserve Regional Park has seen the unexpected replacement of the hot water system. Due to cellphone reception being unreliable, we have established a phone connection to the Council call centre for people to report suspicious behaviour. 5.4. Post operational monitoring of the Northern Ruahine Battle for our Birds operation has failed to detect any rats or stoats, and just one possum. This is an excellent result that will have benefitted the breeding success of the bird species present by less predators and more food available. Ongoing monitoring will be undertaken by the department. 5.5. John Taylor and his faithful dog Rusty returned to monitor known sites for velvet leaf, and located 17 plants in 2 paddocks. Rusty is an essential tool in the toolbox for the control of this weed. 5.6. Wilding conifer work in full swing and 75% complete, this programme and its approach is seen to be a successful model for other national biosecurity issues. 5.7. The combination of the internal and external possum control efforts has achieved a 65% completion of the PCO programme and is on track to complete all of the control areas before June 30th, 2018. 5.8. Landcare Research Ltd have workshopped the possum population model and will deliver the finished product in the near future. This tool will provide guidance of how long a PCO will remain under the possum control target, and allow managers to better allocate control resources to areas with higher possum populations. We will be keen to provide Council with a demonstration when we have the model up and working, and we are proficient in its use. To help inform the model we will be undertaking some pre and post control monitoring so we can provide a figure to represent the percentage killed which is an integral component of the population response calculation.
6. SIGNIFICANCE 6.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Rod Smillie BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES A Biodiversity progress report B Biosecurity plants progress report C Biosecurity animals progress report
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BIODIVERSITY ACTIVITY 1 Biodiversity Protection Programme 1.1 Activity Overview
This programme aims to have 100 of the Region’s best wetlands and 200 of its best bush remnants under AnnexA active management by 2028-29. Active management means that the site is being protected from livestock, pest animals and pest plants that threaten it, and that necessary enhancement work (e.g. planting) is undertaken. 1.2 Targets – Year to Date Progress Measure Reporting Period YTD Allocated Target*1 % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Actual Complete Additional top 100 wetlands actively 0 0 2 0 2 NA 3 67% 2 managed * Additional top 200 bush remnants 0 0 3 0 3 NA 6 50% 2 actively managed * Environmental 2 6 2 2 14 24 28 30 80% Grants supported *
1.3 Targets – Life to Date Progress Measure Reporting Period LTD LTD 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Actual Target*3 Total high priority wetlands under active 2 0 0 2 0 64 65 management * Total high priority bush remnants under active 2 0 0 3 0 127 130 management * *1 Annual target, * 2 AP/LTP targets, * 3 LTD target at end of financial year.
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1.4 Activity Highlights General
1.4.1 Early results from the trial with tradescantia leaf beetles being confined in cloches have been very encouraging. The photograph below was taken at the Totara Reserve Regional Park site and the ends of the cloche had to be opened up to allow the beetles to disperse as they had eaten all the
available tradescantia foliage.
AnnexA
Figure 1 Tradescantia leaf beetle feeding damage.
Community/private biodiversity support
1.4.2 Interest in Biodiversity Grants remains steady and the team is on track to meet annual targets.
High priority wetlands
1.4.3 No new high priority sites were added to the managed list during this reporting period. We are awaiting Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) analysis for additional sites that will be added to the list if they are confirmed as high priority. One of these sites is Pipibank Dunes near Herbertville Beach, where there is a very good population of matagouri plants, which are now very rare in the North Island.
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AnnexA
Figure 2 A few of the many matagouri plants at the Pipibank Dunes site. Cape Turnagain is in the distance.
1.4.4 Details of site maintenance, audits and rapid environmental assessment (REA) work for wetlands are listed below. During site audits, staff check for evidence and impact of stock or pest animals, new pest plant infestations, fence integrity and any other damage.
Pest Plants Assessment/ Wetland Site Priority Visit Month Audit Treated Monitoring Kohinui Road Oxbow C Jan OMB - - (Tararua) Pipibank Dunes Pending Feb - - REA (Tararua) Predator traps Broadlands Wetland A Jan - - monitored (Manawatū) and serviced Predator traps Ngaruru Lakes B Jan - - monitored (Rangitikei) and serviced
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AnnexA
Figure 3 A weasel being cleared from a predator trap at Broadlands Wetland.
High priority bush remnants
1.4.5 No new high priority sites were added to the managed list during this reporting period. We are awaiting REA analysis for additional sites that will be added to the list if they are confirmed as high priority.
1.4.6 Details of site maintenance, audits and REA work for bush remnants are listed below. 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. During the REA of Pope’s Bush in the Tararua District, our staff spotted and managed to photograph an ornate skink. Later discussions with lizard experts at DOC established that this site is outside the previously known range for ornate skinks.
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Figure 4 An ornate skink found during the REA survey of Pope’s Bush in the Tararua District.
Pest Plants Assessment/ Bush Remnant Site Priority Visit Month Audit Treated Monitoring Nitschke Bush B Jan Old man’s Yes - (Manawatū) beard (OMB), gunnera, banana passionfruit Pryce’s Rahui A Jan Karaka, OMB - - (Rangitikei) (in buffer zone) Lairds’ Bush B Jan OMB - - (Rangitikei) Sutherland’s Mangahoe B Jan OMB - - (Rangitikei) Sutherland’s Puriri A Jan OMB, karaka - - (Rangitikei) Macpherson’s Bush B Jan - Yes - (Rangitikei) Paki-iti Bush B Feb OMB Yes -
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Pest Plants Assessment/ Bush Remnant Site Priority Visit Month Audit Treated Monitoring (Manawatū) Nevill’s Back Bush A Feb Sycamore - - (Rangitikei) Ngawaka Bush B Feb OMB - - (Rangitikei) Clausen’s Bush B Feb Karaka, ivy - - (Palmerston North) Bob Wakelin Bush B Feb Holly, ivy, OMB - - (Manawatū) Mangaone Stream Pukerata Station A Jan OMB - - (Tararua) Otawhao Station Bush Pending Feb OMB - - (Tararua) Dandy Pond Bush Pending Feb - - REA
AnnexA (Tararua) Dandy Kahikatea Bush Pending Feb - - REA (Tararua) Pope’s Bush A Jan - - REA (Tararua) Otawhao Station Bush Pending Jan OMB - - (Tararua)
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14 Item 2 Community Biodiversity 2.1 Activity Overview The community biodiversity 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 Rangitikei Environment Group’s (REG) efforts to control old man’s beard. 2.2 Targets – Year to Date Progress (% complete) Progress on Specific Reporting Period Target YTD Actual Projects 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Support community involvement in biodiversity protection Continue to support existing community-based biodiversity 12 in part 12 in part 12 in part 12 in part 10 12 in part improvement projects*1 Support community involvement in biodiversity protection Operate a regional park and AnnexA camping facility that is appreciated by the community, responding to all enquiries and 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% complaints within 48 hours. response response response response response response Track and report the number of campers to the park and the number of complaints/queries as a % of this figure *5 *5 AP/LTP targets
2.3 Activity Highlights Totara Reserve Regional Park (Manawatū) 2.3.1 Thieves broke into the shower block at the old (Kahikatea) camping ground in early February, stealing the hot water cylinder and stripping all copper piping. Police have investigated the incident but no arrests have been made.
2.3.2 As the camping ground has no cellphone reception it was deemed important that we establish a means of communication for use in the event of an emergency or for lodging noise complaints, reporting undesirable behaviour etc. This has been achieved by connecting to the land line in the ablution block office by way of a call button and with receiver/speaker on the outside wall of the office. With appropriate signage stating “emergency only” the line is a direct link to the call centre where calls will be taken and directed to the appropriate emergency service or council officer. 2.3.3 Blue morning glory has thrived in the recent warm, humid conditions and has shown up again in an area of the park that was heavily infested 10 years ago but has been almost free of the weed in the intervening years. Other weeds controlled within the reserve or in the 3 km buffer zone during this period include old man’s beard, cathedral bells, banana passionfruit and ivy.
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Figure 5 Blue morning glory flowers make a vivid display and are easy to spot on the AnnexA otherwise green background of Totara Reserve Regional Park.
Weedbusters (Palmerston North) 2.3.4 Aerial spraying for old man’s beard has been completed. There were 65 occupier enquiries about weeds and all sites treated in the previous season were revisited.
Ahimate/Waitoetoe Park (Palmerston North)
2.3.5 Waitoetoe Park has had an official name change to Ahimate and Horizons is continuing to work with PalmerstonNOrth City Council and the community at this location. Our major focus is on weed control and native planting but the project has a wide scope that includes many recreational activities such as swimming and cycling.
Rangitikei Environment Group (REG)
2.3.6 REG predominantly targets old man’s beard and its members have been progressing well with this season’s control work. Health and Safety audits have been a regular feature this year and REG have proven to be compliant with all the requirements.
Aaron Madden ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – BIODIVERSITY Rod Smillie BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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14 Item 3 Collaboration Projects – Horizons / Department of Conservation (DOC)
3.1 Activity Overview This report captures some Horizons and DOC collaborative projects that are not covered elsewhere in Environment Committee reports. 3.2 Activity Highlights
Kia Whārite
3.2.1 Flooding from the recent storm event has resulted in the loss of about 30 stoat traps, which will need to be replaced.
Pukaha/Mount Bruce AnnexA
3.2.2 Predator control is being undertaken on private land in the buffer zone around Pukaha Forest. There is ongoing ferret control in the area and none of the 12 radio-tagged kiwi had been killed at the time of writing.
3.2.3 In the 2017-18 breeding season, four kiwi chicks from radio-tagged kiwi were intercepted, and seven Operation Nest Egg chicks, which were raised in the Pukaha Kiwi House, were released in Pukaha Forest.
3.2.4 Ongoing small mammal indexing shows that aerial 1080 application is not currently required in Pukaha Forest.
3.2.5 Old man’s beard in the Pukaha Mt Bruce buffer zone was aerially surveyed by Horizons then followed up with ground control. Staff shared the survey results with DOC/Pukaha Mt Bruce and suggested a control plan for the plants within the reserve boundary.
Manawatū Estuary
3.2.6 Phil Battley led a team of shorebird researchers and Massey vets cannon-netting red knot migratory shore birds at the estuary in mid-February. The knots have had GPS data loggers attached to them that will remotely send back data on the stopover sites the knots use on their migration to the Arctic.
3.2.7 Two researchers have been monitoring godwits and their departure behaviour at the Estuary currently. The first godwit departure for the season was observed on 3 March.
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3.2.8 Several cat sightings have been reported recently on the sandspit, where multiple vulnerable species roost. DOC has made contact with Horizons about the best way to deal with this threat.
3.2.9 An evaluation of the impact of a national kite boarding championship on shorebird behaviour at the Manawatu Estuary is now available on the DOC website at https://bit.ly/2ITtknC.
Te Apiti Manawatū Gorge Project
3.2.10 Rat control in Manawatū Gorge Scenic Reserve involved 462 bait stations being filled in late February/early March 2018.
3.2.11 Volunteers continue to carry out monthly checks of DOC200 traps along the Manawatū Gorge
track.
3.2.12 Operational planning is underway for an aerial 1080 operation in the Manawatū Gorge Scenic Reserve, scheduled for July 2018.
AnnexA 3.2.13 The NZ Conservation Authority met in Palmerston North in February and their field trip was to the Ballance side of the Manawatū Gorge, including visiting Ferry Reserve and walking the Manawatū Gorge Loop Track.
3.2.14 The development of the whare at Ferry Reserve is nearly complete and just waiting on signage. The walking track through the bush behind the whare has been limed and boardwalks are being costed for several wet areas. The whare, BBQ, and toilet areas have also been limed in part, with native planting complementing the area. All of this is now protected from vehicle access by bollards constructed using both posts and rocks. Feedback on this development at the reserve has been excellent.
Figure 6 Whare, BBQ and toilet area at Ferry Reserve.
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Northern Ruahine Battle for our Birds aerial 1080 operation
3.2.15 The Mangatera catchment has been surveyed for whio. The results have not yet been collated, but the observers have said that whio were present. This monitoring was undertaken to continue data collection for long term trend monitoring of the whio population at this site.
3.2.16 Result monitoring: Data has not been officially analysed for the January 2018 Northern Ruahine tracking tunnel measure, however a preliminary assessment of the data indicates no rats and no mice, although one tunnel had been interfered with by a possum. Tracking tunnels will continue to be monitored four times a year.
3.2.17 Outcome monitoring: Powelliphanta marchanti monitoring is being undertaken in mid-March at
the Mokai site. The Ruahine Corner site has been delayed due to weather and will now take place in May, after the roar. Powelliphanta marchanti is a species of land snail in the family Rhytididae, classified as being in serious decline.
3.2.18 Planned wilding pine control (mentioned in last Environment Committee Report) is underway in Ruahine Forest Park. AnnexA
3.2.19 Ground-based goat control has been undertaken over summer in the Ruahine Forest Park and will be followed up with aerial goat control later this month.
Duncan Toogood DOC OPERATIONS MANAGER, MANAWATŪ
Aaron Madden ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – BIODIVERSITY
Eric Dodd ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – BIOSECURITY ANIMALS
Rod Smillie BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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BIOSECURITY ACTIVITY - PLANTS 1 Biosecurity Plants 1.1 Activity Overview
AnnexB 1.1.1 The updated targets for this activity are shown below. Good weather for control operations enabled the team to complete the seasonal work. A low score for our 48 hour target for responses to Frontline enquires was due to the January holiday period and staff bundling responses, as they were taking advantage of the good weather to direct contractor operations or conduct their own; this kept them away from the office for extended periods and delayed their responses to Frontline enquiries. 1.2 Targets Reporting Period YTD % Measure Target 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Actual Complete Number of listed pest plant species controlled to zero density/containment increases as per 6 6 6 6 6 6 100% Regional Pest Plant Management Strategy (RPPMS) No new listed pest plants established in the Region 0 0 0 0 0 0 100% Financially support the national bio-control agent 0 0 2 0 0 4 50% development programme Frontline enquiries for plant pest control Not 78% 56% 76% 36% 70% 100% assistance are responded to within 48 hours achieved
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14 Item 2 Exclusion Pest Plants 2.1 Activity Overview 2.1.1 New Zealand has large number of pest plants that have the potential to expand their range and become a problem within Horizons Region. The Exclusion section of the Pest Plan identifies some of these and this section of the Operational Plan outlines the budget for their management. The programme has been developed to assist early detection of new invasive species arriving in the Region. The pest plants included in the Exclusion programme are not currently present in our Region but are often present in neighbouring regions. Therefore they are likely to find a suitable habitat within our Region.
2.1.2 Programme aims:
. Detect these pests before they become widely established in the Region. . Facilitate a quick response through appropriate funding that will enable the control or management of these species on rateable land 2.2 Year to Date Progress AnnexB Reporting Period YTD Measure 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Actual Survey and inspect all nurseries for National Pest Plant Accord 0 0 0 0 0 (NPPA) listed weeds Report all discoveries and action taken Reported below Survey and record status of all known and new Surveillance species 0 1 0 0 1 sites New sites 0 0 0 0 0 Total sites 27 27 27 27 27 Zero Density progress (cumulative sites at Zero Density) 18 18 18 18 18
2.3 Activity Highlights 2.3.1 We responded to a small number of enquires about Chilean needle grass after rural papers ran articles about the Hawkes Bay and Canterbury/Marlborough infestations. All enquiries turned out to be other grasses, particularly ripgut brome.
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Item 14 Item 3 Eradication Pest Plants 3.1 Activity Overview 3.1.1 Horizons’ eradication programme covers species for which the Council has opted in the Pest Plan to be the lead agency or partner in the eradication of these pests from the Region. These pests are present in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region but are limited in their size or extent of infestation, or their eradication is feasible and a cost-effective solution to protecting production or environmental values into the future.
3.1.2 The Region’s biodiversity and productive capacity is threatened by pest plants. They cause the collapse of forest canopies, smother regeneration in natural areas, invade alpine and tussock
land, degrade wetlands, clog waterways and reduce the productive potential of land. This section details the current state of target species and our planned activity against them.
3.1.3 Programme aim:
AnnexB 1. Eradicate the pest plants identified in Table 6 from the Region to eliminate their adverse effects on economic well-being and/or their effects on the environment. 3.2 Activity Highlights 3.2.1 Species worked against this period: African feather grass, alligator weed, banana passionfruit, Chinese pennisetum, knotweed, nasella tussock and woolly nightshade.
Alligator weed
3.2.2 The Hikumutu alligator weed site has only a small number of plants after herbicide application and following tillage. We sought advice from contractors and regional council staff from the Waikato who are more familiar dealing with alligator weed infestations of this size. As a result, we are preparing for a team of contractors to hand dig the plants.
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Figure 1 Current state of the alligator weed infestation, late February 2018, prior to hand digging. (D.Alker)
3.2.3 Regrowth of plants is very low, so it was decided that broadacre or spot herbicide application wouldn’t be effective given the relatively small leaf area compared to the large root system requiring poison. The Waikato experience has proven that reducing the root mass by digging has very quickly brought plant numbers down in following years and been a better solution to tackling the extensive root system that is well below machine cultivation depth.
African feather grass
3.2.4 All work against African feather grass has been completed. Our major vector of spread is the Whanganui and Manawatu rivers. These infestations are diminishing but the risk of future spread from high water events remains. Two days were spent surveying and controlling sites on the Whanganui River and the Manawatu River was partially surveyed with all historic sites treated. One new site was found along the Manawatu River in a high spread potential location. Other dryland sites at Okirae, Hunterville and Tokomaru are persistent but diminishing.
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Figure 2 The only new site in the upper Manawatu River. The flood plain location poses a high risk for downstream receiving environments. (J.Keast)
Purple loosestrife
3.2.5 Lake Horowhenua received targeted control of purple loosestrife at the southern and western shores by staff (Figure 3). Contractors were not comfortable working around the lake, so pest plant staff treated prioritised areas more vulnerable to purple loosestrife invasion. Work was halted after another altercation with Horizons staff on 28 February. The remaining uncontrolled infestation is significant, both within the lake environs and downstream through to Hokio. This infestation has spread over recent years as the work has not been able to be fully completed.
3.2.6 All other locations in the Tararua and Whanganui were controlled. The sites within Whanganui District Council lakes – Bason Reserve and Virginia Lake – were managed by contractors.
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Figure 3 Blue lines showing location of control actions against purple loosestrife 2018.
Chinese pennisetum
3.2.7 Control operations across both large farm infestations have taken place this year. Employees cut and bag seed heads then chemically treat the remaining plants. It is good to see both landowners actively pursuing this major pasture pest, especially as both farms are undergoing significant land use change. One farm is now more focussed on honey production than pasture growth while the Atihau-Whanganui Incorporation is similarly focussing their farming operation on their higher performing land and retiring significant amounts of less productive land, including some of the larger landscapes affected by this weed.
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Figure 4 A Whanganui River Valley medium-size Chinese pennisetum plant caught early in the morning when most visible; note the rank pasture. (R.Sicely)
3.2.8 Given the loss in value from pasture for these two farms there is potential for a reduction of investment in maintaining a weed-free state. Staff have met with management representatives to encourage them to continue control operations for the foreseeable future. This is the only part of our Region with this weed, and even without stock being present there is continued risk of spread by goats and deer, or down water courses. Therfore, we need to continue control actions.
3.2.9 The current best practice, to clip seed heads and then treat with herbicide, is very successful but time consuming. Staff were offered to trial a product in pre-production and were provided with 20 litres of a new product call X-grass produced by Etec Crop Solutions. It is an oil-carried grass selective herbicide designed to be applied at the base of clump-forming grasses such as nasella, pampas, and possibly Chinese pennisetum. The local staff member will undertake a trial using this product to assess its suitability for use, effectiveness and whether we can use it without having to clip the seed heads. Our goal is to find a methodology that is quicker to apply, cheaper to undertake, and certain to reduce the population. This would be a boon to landowners.
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Nasella tussock
3.2.10 Our sites of nasella in the Ruapehu and Rangitikei have been inspected and any plants found have been treated. All sites are at very low populations and we have been assisted by
landowners’ vigilance in spotting seedlings and removing plants.
AnnexB
Figure 5 The only plant found at the historic garden site at the Ohakune police station. (R.Bashford)
3.3 Progressive containment – mapped Pest Plants 3.4 Activity Overview 3.4.1 Progressive Containment involves reducing the geographical distribution of the pest within the Region over time. Total eradication throughout the Region is not a cost-effective solution to protecting production or environmental values into the future, but preventing the spread of these pest plants limits the effects they have on these values. Coordination with councils and central government agencies is a key component of success. All of these organisms are environmental and/or production pest plants.
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3.4.2 Classed as production and/or environmental pests, the pest plants in the Progressive Containment Programme are capable of causing adverse effects to the productive capacity of the Region, and/or to the Region’s environmental values. 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 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.
3.4.3 Programme aim:
1. Progressively contain or reduce banana passionfruit, boneseed, contorta pine, Darwin’s barberry, dwarf mountain pine, evergreen buckthorn, grey willow, moth plant, mountain
pine, old man’s beard and Scots pine to the Good Neighbour Process Zone identified for these plants, to reduce adverse effects on the environment. 3.5 Activity Highlights
AnnexB 3.5.1 Species targeted this period: Banana passionfruit, contorta pine, and old man’s beard,
Old man’s beard
3.5.2 The old man’s beard programme was in full swing during this period with operations carried out around the Region. Helicopter and ground surveys are used by staff to prove presence/absence and the infestation/habitat type, which helps to create task lists for staff and/or contractors to target appropriate actions at the various sites.
Figure 6 Targeted control of old man’s beard in the Oruakiritaki stream. (J.Keast)
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14 Item 4 Progressive containment – un-mapped Production Pest Plants 4.1 Activity Overview 4.1.1 Australian sedge, blackberry, broom species (exotic), field horsetail, gorse, nodding thistle, tutsan, variegated thistle, yellow bristlegrass, and yellow ragwort are grouped into the “Other Non-mapped Progressive Containment Pest Plants” on the basis that they are all production pests which are managed under the Pest Plan through using a mix of a clear land rule and a good neighbour rule. These species are widespread but there are parts of the Region that are clear of them and it is desirable to keep those areas clear. The clear areas cannot be reliably mapped with
the information available, hence the name for this group. The Pest Plan approach is more
appropriate than relying on voluntary action because it provides a fair means by which the costs associated with the spread of the pests can be allocated to exacerbators. The Pest Plan requires occupiers with small infestations to make the economically sensible decision to control these
pests. The geographic area that the Pest Plan applies to for the Other Non-Mapped Progressive AnnexB Containment Pest Plants is the whole Region.
4.1.2 Programme aims:
1. Localised Eradication – where these are found, and all individuals of the plant are destroyed. This applies to named species in the Eradication programme and to species in this programme where the infestation size is less than the Threshold infestation size (Table 5-10, Pest Plan) and the clear land rule is enforced to reduce the incidence of the pest locally where it is economically prudent to do so. 2. Boundary control – landowners are required to prevent the spread of listed species onto or across a common boundary. Boundary clearance distances are listed in the Pest Plan. Horizons typically becomes involved on a complaint basis.
4.2 Activity Highlights 4.2.1 Species we dealt with in this period are: blackberry, gorse, tutsan, and yellow bristle grass.
Yellow bristle grass
4.2.2 Despite best practice management occurring across a number of the pest locations and within the road management activity, especially on State Highway 4, a first site for Tararua District was discovered in January. Movement tracing at the site points to the infestation establishing through contaminated machinery or roading material from outside the Region.
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Figure 7 Craig Davey discovered yellow bristle grass near Weber in a road product storage site. (J.Keast)
4.2.3 A couple of years ago Horizons compiled a best practice guide for road managers to bring together the actions needed to contain roadside infestations and prevent yellow bristle grass getting into pasture. The Whanganui to Raetihi stretch of State Highway 4 (the Parapara Road) was identified as having a significant infestation requiring intervention and Higgins, the NZTA contractor for vegetation management along the highway, adopted best practice. A recent visit by NZTA, Higgins and staff highlighted the effective suppression of the infestation by adjusting berm mowing widths and timing of mowing to encourage growth to suppress yellow bristle grass.
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14 Item 5 Response 5.1 Activity Overview 5.1.1 Horizons has committed to become involved in a number of pest plant response activities against pests not included in the Pest Plan. Horizons is a member of the National Biosecurity Capability Network (NBCN), which provides a range of benefits including training and experience for staff when incursions occur in other regions. It also provides greater capacity if an incursion occurs in this Region. 5.2 Activity Highlights
Velvet leaf
5.2.1 Staff have been monitoring the high priority infected paddocks during summer. Staff inspect and liaise with the landowners to keep the surveillance requirements a priority and timely. We keep records of the crop or pasture history to add to the knowledge bank of why and when we are finding or not finding plants. AnnexB
5.2.2 Prior to once again using John Taylor and his dog Rusty to survey the most difficult to assess paddocks, seven velvet leaf plants were found by farmers and staff. At one site the farmer was keen to trial an application of Agritone against the plant to test whether a broadacre application would be effective. The result was promising.
5.2.3 John Taylor and Rusty arrived on February and searched for velvetleaf across six properties until 23 February.
5.2.4 Rusty found 17 plants in two paddocks, giving us a total ‘plants to date’ this year of 24 in four paddocks. All the seed pods were entire and had not dropped seed. We will repeat the surveillance in late March as some of the paddocks are in long season crops which provide good cover for velvetleaf plants to hide, mature and set seed sub-canopy.
5.2.5 We sent a few samples of velvetleaf plants to AgResearch Grassslands campus in Palmerston North as a genetic (DNA) analysis is being conducted to better understand the New Zealand plants and map these to northern hemisphere parentage.
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`
AnnexB
Figure 9 John with the largest of the three velvetleaf plants discovered by Rusty at this site. (VThe velvet leaf is just in front of John). (R.Sicely)
Pea weevil
5.2.6 Pea weevil operations and Controlled area notices continue to prevent the southern Tararua District producing peas, whether commercially or in home gardens.
5.2.7 A recent update from the Ministry for Primary Industries regards the pea weevil incursion in the Wairarapa follows:
National Surveillance for pea weevil
5.2.8 Sweep net surveys are complete for all but two crops in Canterbury. No pea weevil have been found.
Wairarapa Trap crops
5.2.9 All of the 21 trap crops have been surveyed for pea weevil and the crops sprayed then mulched.
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5.2.10 Only 14 pea weevil were found on one trap crop late last year. A new trap crop was planted on the site of that trap crop and we are waiting for it to flower.
5.2.11 The technical team will meet when surveillance and trap cropping are complete to examine the results and develop recommendations for Response Governance.
5.2.12 On 15 January, the Wairarapa Times Age (https://bit.ly/2FIusbZ) reported the find and suggested that the ban may be extended for a further two years.
5.2.13 No decision has been made. Response Governance will meet after the technical meeting to consider the next steps in the response.
Alternative crops
5.2.14 The Wairarapa Cropping Strategy group held a field day on 11 January to discuss the first round of trial crops. The project, managed by the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR), has funding from the MPI Sustainable Land Management fund, Wairarapa’s district councils and Greater
Wellington Regional Council. The trial includes durum wheat, high-grade milling wheat, purple AnnexB wheat and spelt; oil seed rape, lentils, chickpeas, sunflowers (high oleic acid content for quality oil) and pumpkin seeds for human consumption. We will follow market assessments and trials, and refine options over the next three years. For more information contact FAR at [email protected] 6 Investigation and surveillance 6.1 Activity Overview 6.1.1 A number of plants present in the Region may have the potential to become economically and ecologically damaging. This activity includes the following projects:
1. Potential Environmental Pest Plants programme included within the Horizons Regional Biosecurity Strategy; 2. National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA); and 3. Notifiable plant response 6.1.2 Programme aims to:
1. Prevent the propagation, sale and distribution of legislated plants. 2. Determine current extent in our Region of potential plants and investigate management options. This may include appropriate future management objectives for the listed potential plants. 3. Prevent further establishment of notifiable plants. 6.2 Activity Highlights 6.2.1 No work was conducted in this programme during the period.
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Item 14 Item 7 Biological Control 7.1 Activity Overview 7.1.1 The biological control programme supports the national collective investigation into, and development of, insects and diseases to control a wide range of pest plants. It also supports regional initiatives and release, distribution and monitoring of agents by staff.
7.1.2 Highlights for the reporting period include the first release and rapid growth of the Japanese honeysuckle agent, our first release of an agent against giant reed, numerous releases of the tutsan beetle, establishment of the woolly nightshade lace bug, widespread dispersal of the buddleja weevil and further additions to the field horsetail population; plus another round of
green thistle beetle impact assessments. Some of these highlights are described below. 7.2 Activity Highlights
Honshu White Admiral – Japanese honeysuckle biological control agent AnnexB 7.2.1 The breeding programme for tutsan moth was called off after an undetected disease spread through the quarantined facility causing all purchased shipments to be cancelled. Landcare Research offered an alternative agent as an act of good faith and we were supplied with 3000 White Admiral butterfly larvae. Japanese honeysuckle is a widespread smothering weed across the Region and particularly in Ruapehu District. The moth has only recently been available for purchase in New Zealand and is known to have successfully established in the Waikato and on Waiheke Island. The butterfly damages Japanese honeysuckle during its caterpillar life stage and its ability to have two or more generations per year means large numbers can build up and defoliate plants. It is hoped that this constant attack will weaken the vines, leading to death or at least a big reduction in leaf area.
7.2.2 As the tutsan moth was intended for distribution in Ruapehu District, it was decided to release these alternative agents in the same district. We have established two sites at Okaihae Rd near Taumarunui.
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Figure 10 Honshu white admiral butterfly caterpillar 10 days after release. (D.Alker)
Woolly nightshade
After releasing the woolly nightshade lace bug in late November for a second attempt to establish the bug, staff returned to the release site in late January to assess progress. We discovered a regional first establishment, a significant increase in numbers and even dispersal over approximately 40 metres up the gulley onto new woolly nightshade plants.
7.2.3 Staff duly removed heavily infected material into the next gully, to assist with bug spread and further establishment.
7.2.4 Other regions have experienced widespread movement and control of this widely scattered pest plant by the lace bug and we learned from their experience regarding site placement to identify the optimal release site.
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Figure 11 Damage caused by woolly nightshade lace bugs on lower leaves within two months of introduction to the site. (R.Sicely)
Ragwort plume moth
7.2.5 A number of releases of this high performing biological control agent were made in Whanganui, Tararua, Rangitikei and Ruapehu during this period. Ragwort infestations are generally declining due to this agent. It is proving so successful that finding suitable harvest sites is becoming problematic as the numbers of plants diminishes quickly between years. After a wet winter like last year’s, some of the traditional ragwort strongholds were able to establish because of what we assume was a low ebb in the moth population after previous infestation reductions. Staff identified those recovering infestations and once they were mature, transferred infected plant material to the few sites that do not have the plume moth.
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Figure 12 Left: ragwort plume moth receiving infestation in the upper Kawhatau; right, at another location, presence and damage one year after release. (M.Matthewson)
Arundo donax
7.2.6 The giant reed (Arundo donax) biological control agent was released, for the first time in the Region, at two sites near Levin. Horizons was able to make the most of a change to a project made available a colony of giant reed gall-forming wasp (Tetramesa romana) from the Landcare Research containment facility. We applied to release them in New Zealand as giant reed is emerging as a new problem across the country including our Region.
7.2.7 Although not yet widespread in New Zealand, giant reed is on the radar of a number of regional councils. Horizons supports Northland Regional Council, which led the application to release the wasp, together with a scale insect (Rhizaspidiotus donacis). Both of these agents have been released in the United States and Mexico, where the weed is a huge problem.
7.2.8 The first release of the giant reed gall wasp was made in Kohukohu, Northland, in early December. A further release was made in Northland just before Christmas, and two shipments of the wasp were released in our Region near Levin in January.
7.2.9 If the gall wasp releases are successful, small swellings should begin to appear on giant reed after a few weeks. Since the galls are quite obvious, monitoring to check for signs of establishment can begin this autumn. Terminal galls reduce the height and overall biomass of the plants and induce the plants to produce more side shoots, which are highly suitable for the scale insect to attack, further reducing the vigour of the plant. Releases of the scale insect are planned to begin next
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spring. Successful biocontrol of giant reed is expected to deliver environmental gains for vulnerable habitats such as wetlands and riverbanks, which are not suited to herbicide use. 7.3 Year to Date Progress Reporting Period YTD Measure 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Actual Monitor and report on bio-agent release sites: 0 7 40 12 59 Sites inspected. Monitor and report on bio-agent new releases and re-distribution: 3 3 3 16 25 New releases/transfers.
8 Non-rateable Land and Crown Agencies
8.1 Activity Overview AnnexB 8.1.1 The non-rateable land and Crown agencies activity captures Horizons’ staff liaison with the many agencies that manage land and associated pest issues affecting our ratepayers or our programmes. We draw attention to the Region’s standards and seek through either memoranda of understanding (MOU)or good relationships to achieve these standards. The territorial authorities adhere to our Regional Pest Plant Management Strategy rules while Crown agencies endeavour to act as good stewards of their land. We also have a couple of projects that involve multiple Crown agencies where we seek to manage pests on a landscape scale, irrespective of land tenure. 8.2 Year to Date Progress Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Actual MOU/Liaison progress 1 0 2 0 3 11 27%
8.3 Activity Highlights Regional Pest Management Plan engagement
8.3.1 The new Pest Management Plan and the implementation implications are being discussed with Crown and district authorities over the next few months.
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14 Item 9 Awareness and Promotion 9.1 Activity Overview 9.1.1 The aim of providing awareness and promotional material, activities and programmes is to encourage positive behaviour change across our community. If occupiers of land grow responsibly and dump garden waste responsibly then the transfer of weeds to vulnerable areas should reduce. Alerting the community to the issues, threats and solutions of weed management should result in more effective pest plant management.
ACTIVITY WHAT
Media World first bug control test for Horizons Region
Privet trees blamed for allergies - Manawatu Standard
9.2 Activity Highlights AnnexB 9.2.1 The main topics of enquiries during this period were:
. Production Ragwort, and blackberry . Zero-Density Old man’s beard . Freshwater None . Surveillance None . Non-Strategy Climbing plants
Frontlines - January and February
50 46 45 40 37 35 32 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 0 Production Zero-Density Freshwater Surveillance Non-Strategy
Figure 13 Pest plant enquiries summary - reporting period.
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Item 14 Item 10 Activity Progress Report Project Key Deliverables YTD Progress Met in August with Regional Steering Group (RSG) and wider stakeholders; held planning and update meeting along with two workshops; LINZ national Wilding Conifer - Work with partners and other Wilding Conifer Information System and Ministry of Central North Island stakeholders re: Primary Industry’s (MPI) wildings programme and Regional Steering 1. Planning for Management Unit current best practice workshop. Funding received and Group (RSG) – Fund activity and reporting work about to begin across the Kaimanawa holder and Chair 2. Bi-annual meetings scheduled Management Unit. Operations are ongoing with approximately 75% of budget used/area covered by end of February. Met in August with RSG and wider stakeholders and held planning and Waimarino-Tongariro update meeting along with two National Park Darwin’s workshops; LINZ National Wilding Programme completed on time during this period. barberry control Conifer Information System and programme MPI wildings programme and
AnnexB current best practice workshop Funding for group contribution completed. A first ‘soft’ release of a very small number of weevils was Rangitikei Horsetail made in Rangitikei District in November 2017. This Programme underway Group involved school children from Clifton School in Bulls in a major release event – organised by NZ Landcare Trust and Horizons. Met in early August and endorsed application to Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) for extension to project, which has been successful, for another three Funding for group contribution years of funding to assist with beetle breeding issues. Tutsan Action Group completed Inspected early 2017 release sites of tutsan fruit moth for damage and none was found. Met again in December to coincide with Landcare Research assessment trip. . Relationship between parties maintained. Meeting held on 17 October. No aerial photography . MOU maintained and Desert Road Invasive this year – coordinated control programmes outworked Legume Control Group highlighted again. . Coordinated action in priority
areas is undertaken against the target species Representing Horizons at national Freshwater Pest forum to champion behaviour Partnership change and freshwater pest Advocate out and about in Central Plateau. New Programme and Check, protection. Attendance at high risk North Island national coordinator role established and Clean, Dry (CCD) events and strong advocacy with interviews finalised. advocacy programme. the main users of waterways in our headwater areas.
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Craig Davey ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – PLANTS
Rod Smillie BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Jon Roygard
GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
AnnexB
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BIOSECURITY ANIMALS ACTIVITY 1 Possums (Possum Control Operations - PCOs) 1.1 Activity Overview
AnnexC This report summarises the operational and management work involved in the 2017-18 Possum Control Operation (PCO). A more detailed overview of the PCO is provided in the Biosecurity – Animals Operational Plan 2017-18. 1.2 Targets – 2017-18 Year Measure Reporting Period Complet Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th ed to Complete Date Internal PCOs completed 5 13 13 7 38 61 62% (by count and ha) 43,122 ha 112,944 ha 119,507 ha 81,498 ha 357,071 ha
13 10 8 5 PCOs in progress (by 115,673 ha 109,114 ha 108,558 ha 81,245 ha
count and ha) (58% (72% (47% (74% completed) completed) completed) complete)
Total control completed and in progress (by ha) 417,192ha 653,302 ha 64% External Contractors’ Maintenance 4 9 12 25 57 44% PCOs completed (by count 0 78,268 ha 118,873 ha 109,117 ha 306,258ha 532,966 ha 57% and ha) Total
PCOs completed(by count 5 22 44 63 63 118 53% and ha) Internal /External 43,122ha 312,896 ha 602,298 ha 853,035 ha 723,450 ha 1,106,644 ha 65%
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1.3 Activity Highlights Overall
The programme is delivering treatment to 118 of 120 PCOs totalling 1,106,644 hectares, and two are being deferred. This level of treatment exceeds that of previous years where typically 80 PCOs or 60-70% of the area was treated. The additional level of treatment is possible as the programme is not taking on any new areas this year. At this point in the year 65% of the planned work has been completed.
Internal
1.3.1 The 2017-18 Horizons Regional Response Team (RRT) programme will involve maintenance
control work in 61 of the 120 operational areas. Refer to Figure 2 for a snapshot of the status of the RRT PCO as at 28 February 2018.
1.3.2 The Levin-based RRT members suffered significant loss and damage to their base and resources
during the fire on 19 January 2018 at Horizons’ Levin Deport: AnnexC . The team have coped well with the loss and have focused on setting up their new base of operations; . They are now back to full productivity; . This down time resulted in a loss of approximately 12 person weeks of productivity. 1.3.3 The Christmas break resulted in some loss of productivity across the PCO due to annual leave and statutory holidays.
1.3.4 The remaining RRT is tracking well and is on target to complete the PCO programme within the appropriate time frames.
1.3.5 38 PCOs (62% of the total RRT PCO) have been completed.
1.3.6 Five PCOs are underway and on average are 74% complete.
1.3.7 Control measures have been delivered across 417,192 ha of the total 653,301 ha PCO area (64% of the total operational area).
1.3.8 Members of the RRT have delivered two post-wax tag monitors.
1.3.9 Planning has started for the setup of a new operational base for two RRT members from the Taihape depot.
. This will consist of a Regional Response Supervisor (new position) and a Regional Response Officer (relocation of an existing position). . These positions will be effective as at 1 July 2018.
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External
1.3.10 External contractors are being used in 57 of the 118 PCOs across the Region in 2017-18 with the balance done by the RRT. The external pest control companies range from large firms with multiple operational teams to smaller firms with one to three people.
1.3.11 By the end of February, 57% of the external contractor programme had been completed.
1.3.12 Twelve operations were completed during the reporting period, bringing the total completed for the year to 25. Control work is underway on a further nine contracts.
1.3.13 All PCO contracts being undertaken by external contractors are on track to being completed by
the end of the financial year.
1.3.14 A number of the external contractors were audited during the reporting period. All were compliant with contract specifications.
AnnexC 1.3.15 No health and safety issues were reported during the reporting period.
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Figure 1 Possum Control Operation 2017-18 (Year 12).
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Figure 2 Status of current RRT Possum Control Operations as at 28 February 2018.
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14 Item 2 Rooks 2.1 Activity Overview 2.1.1 Aerial Rook control was carried out in the spring of 2017 with excellent results due to feedback and information from the public regarding the presence of rooks. Ongoing assessment and treatment of rook populations has since occurred when reports have been received. 2.2 Activity Highlights 2.2.1 Reactionary ground-based rook control is ongoing throughout the year. The success of this programme depends on reports from the public and works in tandem with the aerial control
operations.
2.3 Outcomes
2.3.1 Sustained rook control has been delivered throughout the Region with good results. AnnexC
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Figure 3 Aerial and Ground control of Rooks throughout the Region as at 28 February 2018
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14 Item 3 Monitoring 3.1 Activity Overview This report summarises the operational and management work involved in the 2017-18 Regional Animal Pest Monitoring programme. A more detailed overview is provided in the Biosecurity – Animals Operational Plan 2017-18. 3.2 Targets – Year to Date Progress Reporting Period Measure YTD Actual Target*1 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Possum densities are maintained at/below 10% residual trap catch (RTC) in existing /new possum control 0 0 5.7%(2) 3.7%(2) 4.7% <10% RTC operation areas. This is to enhance production, biodiversity, disease protection and amenity values.*1
Possum densities are maintained AnnexC at/below 5% RTC for all maintenance 0 0 3.4%(1) 0%(2) 1.1% <5% RTC control programmes *1 Record all inputs associated with the All operational management and control of possums data to be in the PCOs including inputs (maps); collected as per input/habitat ratio; inputs (labour & the contract consumables); medical officer of specifications health approvals Undertake wax tag monitors (by 0 0 2 5 7 30 monitors count) *1 AP/LTP targets 3.3 Activity Highlights Possum monitoring
3.3.1 In 2017-18 the monitoring programme for possums has been significantly increased. In previous years the aim was to undertake monitoring in 10% of the PCOs. Through the Annual Plan this was increased to 25% to enable each PCO to be monitored once every four years, and for more monitoring in each of the PCOs when monitoring is done via 25 monitoring lines. This aims to increase our knowledge of the variability of possum populations within the PCO and to provide a more robust estimate of the populations within individual PCOs and the overall programme. This was based on advice provided in a report by Landcare Research in 2016-17. To deliver the 30 monitoring operations, 28 were put out to tender and two planned to be delivered by the internal team.
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3.3.2 The tender for the supply of possum monitoring services late last year was won by Holden Contracting Ltd. Holden Contracting isbased out of Nelson and has field staff operating in both the North and South Islands for various Regional Councils and OSPRI.
3.3.3 A further five of the 30 x PCO monitors planned to be implemented this year have been completed. Two of the monitors were ex-OSPRI operations with a 5% RTC target. Both of these operations (Waione and Branscombe) returned 0% results.
3.3.4 Three ex-initial operations were also monitored, returning results under the predetermined 10% RTC target. The operations monitored were Makuri A 2% RTC; Matamau South 5.4% RTC and Maunga 1.5% RTC.
3.3.5 Further work has been initiated this year to assist with the prioritisation of work within the existing PCO and the newly available area that OSPRI is no longer treating. The work has established possum models for each of the PCO areas, including the OSPRI areas. The models use population monitoring and control information to model populations going into the 2018-19 year
and beyond, and enable prioritisation of sites for control within the overall area. This system will AnnexC be used to prioritise control next year ,including which sites will be deferred. A report on this work is being finalised and a workshop was held in Palmerston North during the reporting period for staff and Landcare Research to discuss and advance this work.
3.3.6 The workshop with Landcare Research identified the need for monitoring information that we would design pre- and post-control, and additional operations are now planned for 2017-18. The results obtained from these monitors will provide information on the percentage reduction in possum populations following control work. This information will be used in the computer simulation model being developed by Landcare Research to forecast when operational work can be ceased in an operational area. The model will also predict the period of time that control work can safely be ceased/deferred for before needing to be recommenced again.
3.3.7 Table 1 Average results for monitoring completed to date as part of the possum control operation.
Monitor results for the life of the Possum Control Operation Ex-OSPRI NZ operations 5% target Initial operations 10% target 1.92% average (45 monitors) 4.4% average (75 monitors) Overall average 3.44% (120 monitors)
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14 Item 4 Amenity Pests 4.1 Activity Overview This report summarises the operational and management work involved in the 2017-18 Amenity Pest programme. A more detailed overview of the programme is provided in the Biosecurity – Animals Operational Plan 2017-18. 4.2 Targets – Year to Date Progress Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Actual Provide an urban/peri-urban animal pest management >300 service to assist urban 109 132 126 132 499 responses/ 166% ratepayers with specialist year advice and equipment Animal pest control assistance 100% (499 requests / enquiries are 109 132 126 132 100% 100% AnnexC responses) responded to with 48 hours *1 Close out or action all enquiries within 5 working days of 109 132 126 132 499 100% 100% receipt
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4.3 Activity Highlights 4.3.1 A total of 132 enquiries were received during the reporting period.
4.3.2 All landowners making enquiries were contacted and/or visited within the prescribed timeframes and provided with advice, equipment (traps etc) or small amounts of toxins to help them deal with their particular pest issues.
4.3.3 The ‘All other’ section comprised enquiries relating to ants (3), wasps (4), birds (1) and general enquiries (5).
Pest Animal Enquiry Summary for the Period 1 January 2018 to 28 February 2018 50
AnnexC 40
30
20
10
0 Possums Mustelid Magpie Rabbit Rook Cat All Other
Figure 4 Pest Animal Enquiry Summary – by Pest Type.
Pest Animal Enquiry Summary by District for Period 1 January 2018 to 28 February 2018 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
Figure 5 Pest Animal Enquiry Summary – by District.
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14 Item 5 Activity Progress Report Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date . 2017-18 operational work 42% complete. Operational implementation . Vertebrate toxic agents (VTA) permits have been obtained for all 2017-18 Possum Control Operation programmes. . 30 trend monitor designs completed. Success indicators . Seven monitors completed . Post-operational reports received. Data management . GPS data uploaded into GIS database. Aerial nest baiting . Completed.
. Four ground operations with three
Ground control abandoned due to birds not present; Rook Management one operation successfully completed. . Updating database with new sightings Rook database and confirming historical nesting sites . Frontline database reviewed daily. Respond to enquiries & complaints . 499 enquiries received to date this year. AnnexC within agreed timeframes . Individual ‘enquiries’ actioned. . Database updated regularly. . Ongoing – advice provided as Assist landowners with advice on appropriate. appropriate pest control techniques Amenity Pest Programme . Loan traps & other equipment supplied. Initiate appropriate enforcement action against land occupiers who do . No action required to date. not comply with strategy rules. Ensure that information on control methods for amenity pests is available . Ongoing (updated as required). at www.horizons.govt.nz . The 2017-18 monitoring programme Animal Pest Monitoring Possum Control Operation has commenced and an additional Programme 10 monitor designs are underway.
Jason Hart REGIONAL RESPONSE TEAM COORDINATOR (ANIMALS)
Eric Dodd ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR (ANIMALS)
Rod Smillie BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY, AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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