I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Environment Committee will be held on:
Date: Wednesday, 14 September 2016 Time: 10.00am Venue: Tararua Room Horizons Regional Council 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
AGENDA
MEMBERSHIP
Chair Cr CI Sheldon Deputy Chair Cr GM McKellar Councillors Cr JJ Barrow Cr EB Gordon (ex officio) Cr MC Guy Cr RJ Keedwell Cr PJ Kelly JP DR Pearce BE Rollinson
Michael McCartney Chief Executive
Contact Telephone: 0508 800 800 Email: [email protected] Postal Address: Private Bag 11025, Palmerston North 4442
Full Agendas are available on Horizons Regional Council website www.horizons.govt.nz
Note: The reports contained within this agenda are for consideration and should not be construed as Council policy unless and until adopted. Items in the agenda may be subject to amendment or withdrawal at the meeting.
for further information regarding this agenda, please contact: Julie Kennedy, 06 9522 800
CONTACTS 24 hr Freephone : [email protected] www.horizons.govt.nz 0508 800 800
SERVICE Kairanga Marton Taumarunui Woodville CENTRES Cnr Rongotea & Hammond Street 34 Maata Street Cnr Vogel (SH2) & Tay Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Rds, Sts Palmerston North
REGIONAL Palmerston North 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 14 September 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Apologies and Leave of Absence 5
2 Public Speaking Rights 5
3 Supplementary Items 5
4 Members’ Conflict of Interest 5
5 Confirmation of Minutes Environment Committee meeting, 29 June 2016 7
6 Environmental Education Report No: 16-186 13
7 Regulatory Management and Rural Advice Activity Report - July to August 2016 Report No: 16-187 19 Annex A - Current Consent status for WWTP's in the Region 31 Annex B - Current Compliance status for WWTP's in the Region 34
8 Science Progress Report Report No: 16-188 37 Annex A - Science Progress Report 39
9 Science Operational Plan 2016-17 Report No: 16-189 75 Annex A - Science Operational Plan 2016-17 77
10 Biosecurity and Habitat Protection Progress Report Report No: 16-190 121 Annex A - Biosecurity & Habitat Protection Progress Report 123
11 Freshwater Progress Report Report No: 16-191 151 Annex A - Freshwater Progress Report 153
12 Presentation: Climate Change Report No: 16-192 173
13 Members’ Questions
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Environment Committee 14 September 2016
AGENDA
1 Apologies and Leave of Absence At the close of the Agenda no apologies had been received.
2 Public Speaking Rights Notification to speak is required by 4pm on the working day prior to the meeting. Further information is available on www.horizons.govt.nz\Council\ or by phoning 0508 800 800.
Petitions/Deputations Deputations: Written notice (fewer than 150 words) concerning the nature of the deputation must be lodged with the Chief Executive at least 2 working days before the date of the meeting and subsequently approved by the Chairperson. Petitions: Written notice to the Chief Executive is required at least 2 working days before the date of the meeting.
Further information is available on www.horizons.govt.nz\Council\ or by phoning 0508 800 800.
3 Supplementary Items To consider, and if thought fit, to pass a resolution to permit the Committee/Council to consider any further items relating to items following below which do not appear on the Order Paper of this meeting and/or the meeting to be held with the public excluded. Such resolution is required to be made pursuant to Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended), and the Chairperson must advise: (i) The reason why the item was not on the Order Paper, and (ii) The reason why the discussion of this item cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.
4 Members’ Conflict of Interest Members are reminded of their obligation to declare any conflicts of interest they might have in respect of the items on this Agenda.
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Environment Committee 14 September 2016
Minutes of the fifteenth meeting of the ninth triennium of the Environment Committee held at 9.04am on Wednesday 29 June 2016, in the Tararua Room, Horizons Regional Council, 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North.
PRESENT Crs CI Sheldon (Chair), JJ Barrow (to 1.06pm), EB Gordon (ex officio), RJ Keedwell, PJ Kelly JP (from 9.57am to 12.07pm), GM McKellar (to 12.07pm, from 1.02pm), DR Pearce, BE Rollinson. IN ATTENDANCE Councillors Burnell, Rieger Chief Executive Mr MJ McCartney Committee Secretary Ms K Booth ALSO PRESENT At various times during the meeting: Dr N Peet (Group Manager Strategy & Regulation), Mr R Strong (Group Manager River Management), Dr J Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships), Mr T Bowen (Manager Policy & Strategy), Mr G Bevin (Regulatory Manager), Mr J Lambie (Coordinator-Science), Mrs H Thomas (Environmental Educator), Mr B Martyn (Manager Biosecurity & Habitat Protection), Mr A Madden (Environmental Coordinator Biodiversity), Mr E Dodd (Coordinator Pest Animals), Ms A Mathews (Senior Scientist Groundwater), Mr L Brown (Senior Scientist Water Quality), Mrs M Patterson (Senior Scientist Water Quality), Ms C Ridler (Freshwater Coordinator), Mr S Collins (Research Associate), Ms C Morrison (Media & Communications Manager), Mrs C Hesselin (Communications Advisor), Ms A Irvine (DOC Operations Manager – Palmerston North), two members of the public, and a member of the Press.
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
APOLOGIES
ENV 16-117 Moved Keedwell/Rollinson That an apology from Cr Guy, and an apology for lateness from Cr Kelly be received. CARRIED
PUBLIC SPEAKING RIGHTS There were no requests for public speaking rights.
SUPPLEMENTARY ITEMS There were no supplementary items to be considered.
MEMBERS’ CONFLICTS OF INTEREST There were no conflicts of interest declared.
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CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ENV 16-118 Moved Pearce/Barrow That the Committee: confirms the minutes of the Environment Committee meeting held on 11 May 2016 as a correct record with an amendment to page 8 (conflict of interest statement), and notes that the recommendations were adopted by the Council on 31 May 2016. CARRIED
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Report No 16-130 This item provided Members of Council’s Environment Committee with an Environmental Education progress report for the period 1 May to 29 June 2016 and a brief summary for the financial year 2015-16. Mrs Thomas took the report as read, and noted that a group of Myanmar’s young leaders were in New Zealand on a six month trip studying how democracy works and had visited Horizons Regional Council amongst other visits. She also highlighted the Waiora sessions, and the facilitation skills workshop. Mrs Thomas clarified Members’ questions on information in her report. ENV 16-119 Moved Barrow/McKellar That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-130. CARRIED
REGULATORY MANAGEMENT AND RURAL ADVICE ACTIVITY REPORT - MAY TO JUNE 2016 Report No 16-131 This report updated Members on regulatory activity for the period May to June 2016. It also included information on Rural Advice activity as it related to implementation of land use consents for intensive agriculture. Dr Peet (Group Manager Strategy and Regulation) introduced Mr Bevin (Regulatory Manager) who provided a presentation on strategic compliance framework. The presentation included the Team’s focus on keeping the large volume of regulatory business functioning well, planning the capacity and capability needs of the group over the next five years, and looking at alignment with sector compliance work. He said a new approach would be brought to the Committee early in 2017 which he then outlined, noting the need to work with current resources. The Chief Executive commented on an article in the media which said Horizons had the highest level of compliance amongst 14 regional councils, and Horizons assertive actions taken in regard to non-compliance ranked it third out of 14. Mr Bevin clarified Members’ questions around monitoring results undertaken with or without notice being given, the approach to monitoring dairy sheds with nutrient management coming on stream, the increasing number of consents to be reviewed, when enforcement options were considered, working with territorial authorities (TAs) in regard to community affordability, and liaison with industry on big issues.
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Mr Bowen (Manager Rural Advice) spoke about the Nutrient Management implementation and explained the Consented nitrogen reduction graph, and the Conversions graphic. Cr Kelly joined the meeting at 9.57am. Mr Bowen and Dr Peet clarified Members’ questions relating to the graphs, and consent conditions about managing sediment. Dr Peet explained why the approach taken by Council to consenting the farms within the Coastal Lakes catchments was different to other catchments. Mr Bevin highlighted the 98% compliance rate for the season of farm dairy effluent monitoring. He noted the Foxton Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) had been referred to the Environment Court, the Department of Conservation’s application for Whakapapa WWTP had been received, and the Pahiatua and Eketahuna applications had been notified. He explained the next steps. Members said they appreciated the full information in the report. Dr Peet and Mr Bevin responded to further questions about the report, and suggestions for future inclusions. ENV 16-120 Moved Keedwell/Barrow That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-131 and Annexes. CARRIED
FRESHWATER & SCIENCE PROGRESS REPORT Report No 16-132 This report introduced Members of Council’s Environment Committee to the Freshwater and Science Progress report for the period 1 April to 31 May 2016. Dr Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources and Partnerships) introduced the report. He referred Members to the graph showing swimming spot monitoring, explained ways of measuring risk from bacteria, and explained the graph of proportion of days above and below flow thresholds. He talked about the Safe Swim Spots page on Horizons website which was updated regularly, and showed an example of a public sign put by waterways which was endorsed by the Ministry of Health. The Chief Executive (CE) clarified the Chair and CE of the MidCentral District Health Board would respond back if there had been any recorded instances of illness through swimming. Members commented on people swimming in waterways in their areas with no known effects. The CE advised that module had been commissioned for the LAWA (Land and Water) website that allowed people to model water flows and deduce suitability for swimming. Dr Roygard said Horizons challenge was to increase the time suitable for swimmable versus wadeable. Dr Roygard commented on the progress of the Clean Up Fund, and the Dannevirke, Woodville, Pahiatua and Levin upgrades. Mrs Patterson (Senior Scientist Water Quality) gave a presentation on a joint research project with DairyNZ on the sources of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Semiment in the Mangatainoka Catchment. While it was based on the Mangatainoka, she said it could be rolled out across other catchments. She explained the difference between a culvert and a laneway. Dr Roygard commented on the fencing and planting programmes and referred to paragraph 1.2.6 where the work identified would then complete stream fencing in that important catchment. He highlighted fencing target had been exceeded in the Manawatu Accord, and he commented on community projects such as planting days and an eel release. Dr Roygard explained the benefit from fencing where plants and grass acted as a filter and they also provided shading and were a food source for fish. He updated Members on the Lake Horowhenua appeal process and he was waiting to hear if the Court needed more information. He referred Members to Dan Bloomer’s report on page 114 and the work being carried out with horticultural growers.
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Ms Matthews (Senior Scientist – Groundwater) introduced the report on water monitoring and research. She commented on Cr Keedwell’s question at the May Environment Committee meeting and referred to paragraphs 4.2.7 to 4.2.9 which provided clarification. She clarified Members’ further questions about careful consideration given to new consents. Dr Roygard then explained about the air quality breach in Taumarunui and advised of a recent one in Taihape. Equipment was being checked and Members would be kept up to date. An air quality camera were being installed in Taumarunui with another one planned for Taihape in the next financial year. He referred Members to pages 102 and 103 for examples of the new module on the LAWA website. Mr Lambie (Science Coordinator) updated Members on biodiversity research and monitoring. ENV 16-121 Moved Kelly/Pearce That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-132 and Annexes. CARRIED
FRESHWATER OPERATIONAL PLAN 2016-17 Report No 16-133 This report presented the draft Freshwater Operational Plan for 2016-17 to Members and sought Council’s endorsement of the Plan. Dr Roygard spoke to the report and noted there was no longer a section on the Manawatu Freshwater Clean-Up Fund as it had closed. He clarified Members’ questions around budgets, and the fencing stocktake being carried out. He explained about challenges retaining the fencing at Whirikino to protect whitebait spawning areas. ENV 16-122 Moved Keedwell/Rollinson That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-133 and Annex. b. recommends that Council formally adopts and releases the 2016-17 Operational Plan as described in this item. CARRIED
The meeting adjourned at 12.07pm. Cr Kelly left the meeting at 12.07pm. Cr McKellar left the meeting at 12.07pm. The meeting resumed at 12.51pm.
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ONE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS: DASHBOARD REPORT Report No 16-137 This report was for information purposes and presented the four monthly Dashboard report showing One Plan implement progress attached as an annex. Mr Bowen took the report as read. ENV 16-123 Moved Gordon/Keedwell That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-137 and Annex. CARRIED
BIOSECURITY & HABITAT PROTECTION PROGRESS REPORT Report No 16-134 This item introduced Members of the Environment Committee to the Habitat Protection and Biosecurity progress reports for the period 1 April to 31 May 2016. Mr Martyn (Manager Biosecurity and Habitat Protection) spoke to the report and advised the Environmental Grants were being paid out. Mr Madden (Environmental Coordinator – Biodiversity) updated Members on progress with the Lower Kahuterawa Stream Biodiversity project. A grant from Project Crimson had accelerated the planting programme. Mr Martyn advised the first draft of the Pest Plan had included changes identified during the Deliberations process and had been sent to the lawyers. It would come back to Council for formal approval followed by replies to submitters. It was on schedule to be completed prior to the elections. He advised Craig Davey (Natural Resources and Partnerships Coordinator – Plants) was attending a Wilding Pine workshop to determine how government funding would be utilised and shared throughout New Zealand. Mr Martyn advised the Horizons Pest Plan team would receive training on Velvet leaf and contact affected farmers. He updated Members on progress with Old Man’s Beard biocontrol. Mr Dodd (Environmental Programme Coordinator (Animals) updated Members on the possible use of 1080 in rough terrain. Cr McKellar joined the meeting at 1.02pm. Dr Roygard and Mr Dodd then updated Members on discussions with OSPRI around their proposed exit and the programme into the future. Cr Barrow left the meeting at 1.06pm. They then clarified Members’ questions about alternatives to 1080, areas deferred for a year once target was reached, and options to assist landowners with pest control. Ms Irvine (DOC Operations Manager, Manawatu) then joined the meeting and updated Members on DOC activities. She advised a study had been prepared by a consultant for the proposed mountain bike track in the Manawatu Gorge. A report would be delivered to Horizons in due course. A workshop would be held in July with Horizons’ officers around the Regional Pest Management Strategy. In regard to Pukaha, she referred Members to the comments in the report and distributed a graph of mustelid captures which showed a spike in stoat and ferret numbers. She explained the incredible protection provided by the buffer zone around Pukaha. Ms Irvine commented on the opening by the Minister of a flight aviary at Pukaha and the partnership with Horizons in that project. She explained the kiwi within the reserve were unmonitored and the number could only be estimated. The Chair thanked Ms Irvine for attending the meeting.
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ENV 16-124 Moved McKellar/Pearce That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-134 and Annexes. CARRIED
BIODIVERSITY OPERATIONAL PLAN 2016-17 Report No 16-135 This item presented the draft Biodiversity Operational Plan for 2016-17 to Members. Dr Roygard introduced the item and acknowledged Mr Madden’s assistance with the Plan. Members’ questions were answered.
ENV 16-125 Moved Pearce/Sheldon That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-135 and Annex. b. recommends that Council formally adopts and releases the 2016-17 Operational Plan as annexed to this item. CARRIED
REGIONAL PEST MANAGEMENT PLAN & STRATEGY OPERATIONAL PLAN 2016-17 Report No 16-136 This item presented the draft Regional Pest Management Plana and Strategy Operational Plan for 2016-17 to Members. Mr Martyn explained it was a combined Operation Plan for plants and animals and was a requirement of the Biosecurity Act. Dr Roygard referred Members to page 263 explaining the Plan. Mr Martyn asked Members to change a date on page 269 (para 4.2) to read 2017 and not 2016. A request was made for the Rook budget to include the previous year’s budget so changes could easily be identified. ENV 16-126 Moved Keedwell/Gordon That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-136 and Annex. b. recommends that Council formally adopt and release the 2016/17 Operational Plan as annexed to this item.
CARRIED
MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS There were no Members’ questions.
The meeting closed at 1.25pm.
Confirmed ______CHIEF EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
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Report No. 16-186 Information Only - No Decision Required
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION 6 Item
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 1 July to 2 September 2016.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-186.
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 % F/cast 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual Enviroschools workshops held 1 1 24 .04% 100% Waiora sessions conducted 4 4 32 12% 100% Community engagements 8 8 30 33% 100% 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 Regional Council’s 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. 6.4. For further detail on all of the measures see the Environmental Education summary table.
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7. ENVIROSCHOOLS DATA
Districts
Item 6 Item Ruahine Palmerston Ruapehu Whanganui Rangitikei Manawatu Tararua Horowhenua Kindergarten Total North City Association Enviroschools 5 10 5 10 8 3 1 5 47 Friends of 2 2 1 1 4 3 1 4 18 Enviroschools 7.1. There are 47 official Enviroschools spread throughout the Region covering all districts. 7.2. There are 18 Friends of Enviroschools in the Region.
8. ACTIVITY REPORT - WAIORA 8.1. The Educator conducted the following Waiora sessions: one session with St Matthew’s School (Marton) on an unnamed stream at James Wilson Park, Marton; three sessions with Koputaroa School on the Ohau River at Gladstone Reserve, Levin. 8.2. One Waiora kit remains booked out with an after-school programme on the Mangatera Stream in Dannevirke.
9. ACTIVITY REPORT - ENVIROSCHOOLS 9.1. Toimata Foundation, who supports the Enviroschools Programme at a national level, has had their funding contract with the Ministry for the Environment confirmed for the next six years. This is welcome news and ensures future development of the Programme and resources, as well as creating stability at a national level. 9.2. The following funding partners have affirmed their ongoing support of the Enviroschools Programme in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region: Manawatu District Council: $10,000.00 with 10 Enviroschools. Tararua District Council: $4,000.00 with 3 Enviroschools. Whanganui District Council: $10,000.00 with 10 Enviroschools. Rangitikei District Council: $5,000.00 with 5 Enviroschools. Ruapehu District Council: $7,000.00 with 5 Enviroschools. Palmerston North City Council: $10,000 with 8 Enviroschools. Ruahine Kindergarten Association: in-kind support with 5 Enviroschools. 9.3. The Regional Coordinator is in the process of signing on new Enviroschools to match increased funding and capacity in the Region. There are five still outstanding, but expected to come on as official Enviroschools in the near future: 1 in Ruapehu; 2 in Palmerston North City; 1 at Ruahine Kindergarten Association. This will take the total number of Enviroschools in our Region to 51. 9.4. All Facilitators have renewed their contracts for their respective districts: Georgina Morrison has been contracted to facilitate in the Palmerston North City and Tararua District; Rowena Brown has been contracted to facilitate in the Manawatu District; Ron Fisher has been contracted to facilitate in the Whanganui District and Rangitikei District; Natasha de Rose has been contracted to facilitate in the Ruapehu District 9.5. The Regional Coordinator has met with all Facilitators to discuss 2016-2017 financial year expectations and their individual plans for Term 3.
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9.6. New Friends of Enviroschools: Feilding Playcentre. 9.7. The Regional Coordinator ran two Enviroschools unpacking workshops with Follett Street Kindergarten and Feilding Intermediate School (both Friends of Enviroschools).
9.8. Country Kids ECE in Norsewood held a whole-centre reflection and celebrated their newly 6 Item attained bronze status. The Regional Coordinator and Facilitator for Tararua District were in attendance. 9.9. The Regional Coordinator, alongside the Teacher Facilitators for the Ruahine Kindergarten Association, ran a session for in-training Early Childhood Teachers from the Open Polytechnic. Roslyn Kindergarten hosted the session where the in-training teachers got to see, experience, and discuss Enviroschools in an early childhood setting. Feedback was very positive.
10. ACTIVITY REPORT - OTHER 10.1. The Educator supported the Chief Executive Michael McCartney (alongside Horizons’ staff Kay Booth and Kelly Curry) to host and facilitate a youth engagement workshop. Emerging leaders from our local high schools were invited by our Chief Executive to attend the workshop to share their ideas, feedback, and opinions on how Horizons Regional Council could engage with our youth. Five high schools were represented with two students (emerging leaders) attending from each: Awatapu College; Freyberg High School; Palmerston North Boys’ High School; Palmerston North Girls’ High School; Dannevirke High School. The positive message from the workshop was that our youth do want to engage with Horizons (and be engaged by Horizons), but there was no one firm approach to do this; there were many possibilities and plenty of potential to engage, but some thought is needed to go into what would be workable and add value. 10.2. The Educator ran three classes at Koputaroa School through River Journey in preparation for Waiora sessions. 10.3. The Educator supported Group Manager for Natural Resources and Partnerships Dr Jon Roygard at the Manawatu Science and Technology Fair 2016. Dr Roygard attended on behalf of Horizons Regional Council as a Special Awards Judge. Horizons supported the event with an internship prize for students whose projects were considered highly commendable. Three students were selected and the internship day is set for the Friday 16 September. The Educator is coordinating the day and aims it to be full of experiences and hands-on action for the students. Different teams within Horizons are coming together to showcase what Horizons does, and give the students the opportunity to do it themselves. The students will head out and do water testing, water gauging, electrofishing, tour flood protection (Burke’s Pump and Moutoa Floodgates), get involved with a cycle safety stop, and check out some fish passes and biodiversity enhancement. As well as the experience and chance to get hands-on, they’ll also have the chance to ask our staff plenty of questions and learn a bit about what we do and why we do it. 10.4. The Educator visited Alfredton School alongside Environmental Management Officer Ruth Fleeson. The school is looking to transform an empty field identified by students as “dead space” or space that isn’t used and has no purpose. Students have been working together to create a plan to replant and regenerate it into a native space with boardwalk access. The Educator and Ruth visited the school upon invite to discuss the kinds of plants that would survive and provide further research for the students to further develop the area. 10.5. The Environmental Education resource Kura Kaitiaki: Water Conservation has been reviewed and updated.
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10.6. The Educator was invited to attend a presentation by Kimbolton School students on a five- year project to enhance the local area. They presented their findings so far and offered predictions for the remainder of the project. Their project has been based in the local reserve with students conducting regular vegetation plot surveys to track regeneration, as
Item 6 Item well as various methods to control weeds to further enhance native regeneration. The school has previously won awards and been recognised for its efforts with Weedbusting in the Reserve. 10.7. The Educator is coordinating the Challenge Day at Totara Reserve for Conservation Week 2016. This event was run for the first time in 2015 with positive feedback received, both from schools who participated and from staff who were involved. Conservation Week runs from 10-18 September and the Challenge Day will be on 15 September. As with last year, the Educator will be supported by staff from across various teams, including biosecurity, biodiversity, freshwater science, and emergency management. These staff will host stations designed to challenge the students competing in an Amazing Race style event. 10.8. The Educator is coordinating the Environmental Education portion for Council Induction Day, as well as supporting other teams to come up with student focused and general public applicable interactive challenges/tasks. 10.9. The Educator supported the nationwide exercise on tsunami preparedness, Exercise Tangaroa. In the event of an emergency, the Educator supports the Communications Team in their role as Public Information Managers in an Emergency Coordination Centre. 10.10. The Educator supported the Communications Team with the launch of Accelerate25. 10.11. The Educator Helen Thomas is expecting her first child, due January 2017. Recruitment is underway for her maternity cover.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SUMMARY Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date Target 24 workshops held
YTD . Open Polytechnic workshop session at Roslyn Kindergarten Enviroschools 1 workshop held alongside the Teacher Facilitators from the Ruahine Kindergarten Association. NOTE: workshops run by Regional Coordinator unless otherwise stated Target 31 sessions conducted .One session with St Matthew’s School at James Wilson Park. Waiora YTD .Three sessions with Koputaroa School at Gladstone Reserve. 4 sessions conducted
.Attending Country Kids ECE’s bronze reflection day. Target .Supporting and facilitating a youth engagement workshop. 30 Community .Three River Journey sessions with Koputaroa School. Community engagements engagements .Supporting judging at the Manawatu Science and Technology Fair 2016. YTD .Visiting Alfredton School alongside Ruth Fleeson. 8 community engagements .Attending a presentation from Kimbolton School.
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11. SIGNIFICANCE 11.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
6 Item Helen Thomas ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR
Chrissie Morrison MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
ANNEXES There are no attachments to this report.
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Report No. 16-187 Information Only - No Decision Required
REGULATORY MANAGEMENT AND RURAL ADVICE ACTIVITY REPORT - JULY TO 7 Item AUGUST 2016
1. PURPOSE 1.1. This report updates Members on regulatory activity for the period July to August 2016. It also includes information on Rural Advice activity as it relates to implementation of land-use consents for intensive agriculture.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-187 and Annexes.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. As identified to the Audit and Risk Committee, there are significant costs being incurred by Council as a result of the appeals on several large consents, the volume of consenting work, and a prosecution. These costs will be regularly updated 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. There is still a significantly high demand for consents and compliance resources. Of particular note is the progression of significant applications, including the Foxton, Eketahuna and Paihatua Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP’s), the Levin landfill review, and the AFFCO Feilding processing plant. Horizons continue to deal with appeals relating to the Levin water supply, New Zealand Energy and Lake Horowhenua consents. 6.2. During the reporting period, progress has been made on a number of major applications. The Environment Court has released its final decision for the Fielding WWTP. The decision supported the ten year term granted by the Horizons hearing panel for the discharge to the Oroua River. A second pre-hearing occurred on 30 August 2016 in relation to the Eketahuna and Paihatua WWTP applications. 6.3. Council is still processing other significant applications, including those associated with the Ruapehu District Council and the Department of Conservation WWTP’s. Processing these applications will involve a significant amount of staff time and resource (including external resources).
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6.4. Industrial and Territorial Authority wastewater discharge consents are complex and usually attract submissions, and are increasingly subject to appeals. It generally takes at least 18 months to process these applications. Longer timeframes can occur where there are
appeals. Item 7 Item 6.5. It is important to note that where a consent holder is seeking to re-new a current consent, they are required to submit new applications six months prior to the existing permit expiring. Given the processing timeframes associated with the more complex and contentious applications, there will always be a period of time where activities are subject to the existing use provisions of the Resource Management Act (RMA).
7. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION
7.1. Catchment Trends 7.1.1. Twenty-one intensive land-use consents have been issued since the last Environment Committee report at the end of June 2016. One of these was a Controlled Activity consent in the Coastal Rangitikei, the remainder were Restricted Discretionary consents for existing operations, mostly in Tararua District catchments. 7.1.2. The distribution of nitrogen leaching reductions (for all catchments) is shown in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1: Existing farms base N leaching vs. target N leaching.
7.2. Conversions 7.2.1. No consents have been issued for conversion to intensive land-use in the two months since the last Environment Committee report. Total areas in each catchment for which conversions have been consented to date are presented in Table 1 below. These are unchanged from the last report.
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Catchment Converted Proportion Catchment Area (ha) Area (ha) Converted (%)
Target Catchments Item 7 Item
Mangatainoka 43216 258 0.60
Waikawa 7936 216.2 2.72
Southern Whanganui Lakes 19533 448.7 2.30
Upper Manawatu 130827 270.3 0.21
Coastal Rangitikei 65993 459.6 0.70
Non-Target Catchments
Northern Coastal Lakes 11910 230.6 1.94
Mowhanau 2901 397.3 13.70
Cherry Grove 169718 529.6 0.31
Tiraumea 94159 35.1 0.04
Oroua 90301 1122.2 1.24
Middle Manawatu 72362 167.5 0.23
Lower Manawatu 49005 911.2 1.86
Coastal Manawatu 56706 532.5 0.94
Middle Rangitikei 217588 52.8 0.02
Lower Rangitikei 58775 69.2 0.12
Lower Whangaehu 109627 135.9 0.12
Coastal Whangaehu 10096 29.1 0.29
Turakina 95723 162.7 0.17
Table 1: Area subject to conversion, by catchment.
7.3. Existing Use 7.3.1. Focusing on restricted discretionary consents issued for existing operations, the majority of farms are making reductions between 2 and 15 percent. Those farms not making a reduction were low-leaching operations taking reasonable steps to mitigate N loss. The distribution by catchment is shown in Figure 2 below.
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Item 7 Item
Figure 2: Frequency of percentage reduction in existing farms within the restricted discretionary rule stream by catchment.
7.3.2. Figure 3 below shows the percentage reduction in nitrogen leaching for controlled activities by catchment. The controlled activity rule requires farms to meet the targets specified in Table 14.2 of the One Plan. Therefore whilst most farms are making no reduction, and some are increasing, they are still complying with the nitrogen leaching limits specified in the One Plan.
Figure 3: Frequency of percentage reduction in existing farms within the controlled activity rule stream by catchment. A negative percentage is an increase in leaching.
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7.4. Progress with Implementation 7.4.1. Consenting continues to progress steadily. The economic climate will be having some impact on the rate at which consent applications are being received. We are working with
industry to maintain momentum, while also being sensitive to the situation of individual Item 7 Item operators. 7.4.2. There is now one outstanding farm in the Mangatainoka catchment that has not engaged in the process. As a result of this, the farmer has received a formal warning advising that an application must be lodged with Horizons by 20 September 2016 to avoid an escalation in enforcement action. Two farms are in the process of submitting applications. 7.4.3. During the reporting period letters were sent to those existing farms in the Rangitikei that had not lodged resource consent applications with Horizons. These farms are now required to lodge consent applications with Horizons by 1 November 2016 to avoid a formal regulatory response.
7.4.4. During the reporting period staff, in conjunction with the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR), sent letters to those cropping operations who were identified as being potentially affected by the nutrient management rules. Staff are currently working with FAR and Federated Farmers to develop a consent process tailored to cropping operations. Work to bring the horticulture sector into the consenting regime also continues. 7.4.5. Tables 2 and 3 below provide an overview of progress with the intensive land-use consenting process. Table 2 summarises consents issued by catchment, while Table 3 focuses on progress with consenting of existing activities. To date 162 consents have been granted for existing intensive land-use activities (up from 141 at the end of June), with an additional 27 in the process. Of those farms subject to the 1 January 2016 timeframe, 38 files are either with consultants or have had their base files checked and are awaiting assignment to a consultant. Nineteen farms in those catchments have not yet engaged in the process.
Conversion Existing Use Catchment Total Restricted Restricted Controlled Controlled Discretionary Discretionary
Target Catchments
Mangapapa 0 0 1 5 6
Mangatainoka 0 1 0 65 66
Waikawa 1 0 0 7 8
Lake Horowhenua 0 0 2 8 10
Lake Papaitonga 0 0 1 0 1
Other Coastal Lakes 0 2 1 11 14
Upper Manawatu 1 1 0 17 19
Coastal Rangitikei 4 2 26 18 50
Non-Target Catchments
Other West Coast 0 3 2
Whanganui 1 2 3
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Conversion Existing Use Catchment Total Restricted Restricted Controlled Controlled
Discretionary Discretionary Item 7 Item Other Manawatu 11 12 23
Other Rangitikei 1 2 3
Whangaehu 0 2 3
Turakina 0 1 1
Ohau 0 1 1
Total 19 29 31 131 210
Table 2: Intensive Land Use consents granted by catchment.
Files with
Consultants In Process Total (yet to be lodged) Date when (including number Catchment and base files applications have consents to be checked waiting to be lodged* Granted on hold) granted
assignment to Outstanding Consultant
Mangapapa 6 0 1 0 7 1 January 2015
Waikawa 7 0 0 0 7 1 January 2015
Other southwest 1 0 0 0 1 1 January 2015 catchments (Papaitonga)
Subtotal 14 0 1 0 15
Mangatainoka 65 17 0 3 84 1 January 2016
Other Coastal Lakes 12 1 9 11 33 1 January 2016
Coastal Rangitikei 44 3 29 5 81 1 January 2016
Lake Horowhenua 10 0 0 0 10 1 January 2016
Subtotal 131 21 38 19 209
Upper Manawatu (above 17 6 43 94 160 1 January 2017 gorge and Hopelands)
Subtotal 17 6 43 94 160
TOTAL 162 27 82 156 384
Table 3: Summary of Regulatory Implementation of Nutrient Management for Existing Use.
8. OTHER RURAL ADVICE 8.1. Most of the Rural Advice team time has continued to be occupied with nutrient management. Several complex applications currently being processed are a significant focus for the team. While the team continues to respond to general enquiries from the farming sector, the volume of office-bound work (largely associated with nutrient- management consents) has meant that very little proactive engagement has been possible.
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Request Type Number of Requests Effluent pond storage 9
Farm dairy effluent - general 8 Item 7 Item Irrigation 3 Dairy conversion information 3 Feed pads 2 Underpass 0 Nutrient management 11 Consent enquiries (post granting) 7
Table 4: Requests for Rural Advice (July-August 2016).
9. CONSENTS 9.1. Progress in relation to significant applications since the last report are summarised below:
a. Feilding WWTP The Environment Court has issued its final decision. Horizons focus will now be to ensure Manawatu District Council complies with the conditions of its consent. b. Department of Conservation (DOC) – Whakapapa WWTP DOC formally lodged a resource consent on 16 June 2016, seeking to re-new the discharge of wastewater from its Whakapapa WWTP. DOC has requested that the application be publically notified. At present, notification is likely to occur during mid- November. Staff have visited the site and requested further information.
c. Horowhenua District Council (HDC) - Levin Water Supply HDC has appealed the decision on the basis that, in HDC’s view, the conditions imposed compromise the level of service it can provide to Levin in relation to potable water supply. HDC also claims that the duration is too short. Discussions between Horizons and HDC staff are on-going in an attempt to resolve the appeal. d. Horowhenua District Council – Hokio Stream Cut HDC has withdrawn its appeal of the March 2016 decision, and is now working with the Hokio community to identify how best to use the proposed $45k mitigation fund. e. Horowhenua District Council – Foxton WWTP This matter is now with the Environment Court as part of the direct referral process. Mediation is set for October 2016 and a hearing is set for the week commencing 12 December 2016. f. AFFCO - Feilding This matter is set to be heard in November 2016. 9.2. The Regulatory Team has been providing pre-application support in relation to other significant applications that are due to be lodged within the next 12 months: g. New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) – State Highway 4 (SH 4) As a result of the June 2015 flood event, significant repair works are still required along State Highway 4. Staff have been meeting regularly with NZTA and their consultants to discuss the required resource consents.
9.3. The following provides a summary of the current consent status of community WWTPs in the region. This relates to both Non-Territorial Authority and Territorial Authority WWTP’s. Annex A further summarises this information.
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9.4. A number of community WWTPs are operating under the existing use provisions of the RMA. It is important to note that under the existing use provisions of the RMA, a consent holder is still required to comply with the conditions of the subject resource consent and in the event non-compliance occurs must take active steps to resolve the non-compliance.
Item 7 Item Accordingly, Horizons continues to monitor compliance against the conditions until such time as the new consents are granted. 9.5. All community WWTPs that are currently operating on the existing use provisions of the RMA are, as part of the consent renewal process, proposing upgrades which will result in improved environmental outcomes. 9.6. There are a total of 45 community WWTPs in the region. Twenty eight (28) WWTPs have current consents, whilst 17 are operating under the existing use provisions of the RMA (see Figure 4 below). 9.7. Over the last three years we have processed and granted eight community WWTPs resource consents, including the Whanganui District Council discharge to the coastal marine area. We are at the tail end of resolving the Feilding WWTP, and have resolved the PNCC consent review. Recently, several more applications have proceeded to either the direct referral (Foxton WWTP) and pre-hearing stage (Pahiatua and Eketahuna WWTP) of the consent process. Whilst these consents have been ‘moved along’ we have also processed a number of other significant applications such as the New Zealand Energy and Lake Horowhenua applications. Scrutiny continues to be applied to the legacy of consents with long existing use periods.
Figure 4: Non-Territorial Authority and Territorial Authority community WWTP current consent status.
9.8. The majority of the existing use consents (14) relate to Territorial Authority WWTPs. It is important to note that in addition to resolving those WWTPs currently operating under the existing use provisions, an additional 10 WWTP consents expire prior to 2020. Accordingly, the high demand on resource within the Regulatory Team will continue for the foreseeable future and Horizons will, along with the Territorial Authorities, have to continue to work together to ensure the current and expected renewals are processed effectively and efficiently with the resources available.
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10. APPEALS 10.1. The table below outlines the consents currently under appeal:
Applicant Status Item 7 Item New Zealand Energy Limited Hydro-electric Scheme - Raetihi Environment Court decision has been appealed to Consents 101987/1, 101990/1, 101991/1, the High Court. 101992/2, 101993/1, 102264/1, 104088, 104089, 104090, 104091, 106031, 106032 and 106033. Manawatu District Council Feilding Wastewater Treatment Plant. Final decision has been released. Consents 106945 – 106951 and 107070 – 107072. Horowhenua District Council Levin water supply. Staff currently working with HDC to resolve appeal. No date for hearing set down. Horizons Regional Council Lake Horowhenua Restoration Works. Waiting for Decision from Environment Court.
11. CONSENT MONITORING 11.1. Territorial Authorities The following is an update on what has been happening, and a look at the larger consents: a. Rangitikei District Council (RDC) As noted in previous reports, concerns have been identified with the Marton, Taihape and Hunterville WWTPs. In relation to Hunterville and Taihape, the primary issue relates to the inability of the WWTP to comply with the discharge volumes in the resource consent. As a result of on-going discussions with RDC, Horizons has required that either new applications or variations seeking to rectify this issue are lodged by 1 December 2016 for Hunterville, and 1 March 2017 for Taihape. During the reporting period RDC completed its further investigations into determining how much of the chromium detected in the Marton WWTP discharge is in the trivalent or hexavalent form. These investigations have identified the chromium in the discharge is not in the hexavalent or toxic form and consequently there is a low risk of a toxic effect on aquatic life. Horizons will continue to monitor RDC’s compliance with the conditions that relate to the Marton WWTP. If non-compliances occur then Horizons will consider taking regulatory action.
b. Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) As previously reported, the PNCC resource consent for the Totara Road WWTP was varied in November 2015. Under the varied consent, the first matters PNCC has to address are: i. Submit a River Monitoring Plan (RMP) to Horizons within 12 months of the final decision on the new conditions (Condition 19); and
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ii. Commence preliminary investigations no later than May 2017 and provide Horizons with a Statement of Intent on the specific actions over the following 12 months to achieve the milestone targets (Best Practicable Options (BPO) review Item 7 Item - Condition 23 B,C,D). PNCC has advised both these streams of work will commence later on in this calendar year, so it is in a position to meet both of the above requirements. This will include an ecologist developing the RMP and project set-up and initial tasks identified for the BPO review.
12. WATER USE PROGRAMME 12.1. During the reporting we have issued nine abatement notices requiring people to provide flow meter verifications as required by the National Regulations for Measuring and Reporting of Water Takes, 2010. One irrigator has failed to comply with their abatement notice and has consequentially received an infringement notice. We are continuing to follow-up on those people who have outstanding verifications for takes over 10 litres per second. 12.2. Staff will be sending out a pre-irrigation season letter to farmers during October. This letter will provide general information to consent holders about the Horizons water matters web- site, low flow checking and telemetry installations and checks.
13. WASTEWATER PROGRAMME 13.1. This section of the report details the current compliance status of the various community WWTPs in the region. Annex B summarises this information. 13.2. Of the 45 community WWTPs in the region, 11 are significantly non-complying and six are non-complying with the conditions of their consents. 13.3. The 11 significant non-compliances relate to continued failure to comply with environmental requirements of the resource consent, such as discharge volumes and quality and failure to install flow meters. Of these eight are currently at different stages of the consent process, which will result in new resource consents with tighter environmental controls. In light of this it is considered the most appropriate mechanism to deal with these non-compliances is through this process, rather than undertaking further enforcement action. The three remaining significant non-compliances (Marton, NZDF Waiouru and Koitiata WWTP) and are being managed by the consent holder and monitored by Horizons. Further regulatory action remains a possibility for these plants. 13.4. The six non-compliances are technical in nature (i.e. failure to provide required information, failure to undertake full sampling etc.) with the consent holder rectifying issues within specified timeframes. Horizons will continue to monitor these sites to ensure timeframes are adhered to. If timeframes are not met then Horizons will consider what enforcement action it may take.
14. DAIRY AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME 14.1. The reporting period has focussed on preparing for the coming dairy season. This season will see the formal ‘roll out’ of compliance monitoring for intensive land-use consents for dairy farms. At present we are expecting to undertake approximately 190 intensive land-use and 880 farm dairy effluent consent inspections. 14.2. The physical inspections for nutrient management consents will focus on conversations with the farmer regarding the adoption of agreed mitigations for nutrient reduction and inspecting those areas which have been identified for stock exclusion.
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14.3. The Snapshot and Routine inspection process will again be applied to dairy effluent consents. The Snapshot inspections will be applied to those farming operations that have been assessed as complying with conditions of consent and will focus on the effluent storage and disposal system. The Routine inspection process will focus on those farming
operations that have been identified as at risk or non-complying and will involve a full 7 Item assessment against the conditions of consent. 14.4. In addition to physical site inspections, staff are also planning to assess approximately 190 nutrient management plans to track how the farm is performing against the N leaching trajectory identified in their resource consent. Given an entire season needs to elapse before we can track how a farm is performing, we are not expecting to be able to complete assessing consented N numbers and the effectiveness of the agreed mitigations until December 2016. 14.5. During the reporting period staff attended the biannual Dairy Audit. The purpose of the audit is for regional councils and unitary authorities to assess consistency in relation to how compliance is being assessed. The audit demonstrated that Horizons is consistent with other councils in how it assesses compliance against dairy effluent consents.
15. COMPLIANCE AND NON-COMPLIANCE 15.1. There were 136 compliance monitoring interactions during the reporting period. Of these twelve (12) non-compliances were detected, and two (2) significant non-compliances. This equates to approximately 95% compliance rate across the programme. 15.2. Below is a breakdown of the non-compliances by consent area for the reporting period: Industry: Twelve (12) non-compliances and two (2) significant non-compliances. Rural: No non-compliances and no significant non-compliances 15.3. In relation to the above non-compliances, Horizons issued nine Abatement Notices and one infringement notice. The other non-compliances were either resolved by the time a follow-up inspection was undertaken or the consent holder is working towards resolving the non-compliances within specified timeframes.
16. ENVIRONMENTAL INCIDENTS 16.1. Over the reporting period a total of 72 complaints were received. The majority of these complaints (37) related to discharges to water. The remainder of the complaints related to discharges to land (29) and air (23).
17. SIGNIFICANCE 17.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Greg Bevin REGULATORY MANAGER
Tom Bowen MANAGER RURAL ADVICE AND ACTING GROUP MANAGER STRATEGY AND REGULATION
ANNEXES A Current Consent status for WWTP's in the Region B Current Compliance status for WWTP's in the Region
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Current Consent Status for Wastewater Treatment Plants in the Region
Rangitikei District Council Consent Commence Expire Date Existing Use Rights Current Status Next Step in the process Taihape 105518 3-Jun-14 1-Jul-27 N/A Currently non-complying with volume limits specified in Horizons have required that draft applications seeking 7 Item consent. RDC have advised the current limits cannot be to either re-consent or vary current consent is due by complied with despite proposed I and I work. 1 March 2017. Marton 7312 30-Apr-98 31-Mar-19 N/A Consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring. Hunterville 105833 7-Mar-14 1-Jul-37 N/A Currently non-complying with volume limits specified in Horizons have required that draft applications seeking consent. RDC have advised the current limits cannot be to either re-consent or vary current consent is due by complied with despite proposed I and I work. 1 December 2016. Bulls 6406 29-Oct-96 1-Nov-06 Yes Revised application lodged in 2015. Further information Decision on notification. was requested. Currently reviewing further information. Ratana 7400 26-Aug-98 31-Jul-18 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring. Mangaweka 101726 13-Apr-14 19-Mar-24 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring. Koitiata 105079, 106028 12-Dec-11 1-Jul-24 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring.
Horowhenua District Council Consent Commence Expire Date Existing Use Rights Current Status Next Step in the process
Shannon 106892 20-Mar-15 20-Mar-48 N/A New consents recently granted by Environment Court. N/A Discharge to land now operating. Waitarere 102220 18-July-02 27-Jun-07 Yes Comment of revised proposal has been made. Revised Focus has been on progressing Shannon and Foxton
applications now being prepared seeking a longer term, WWTP. Working with applicant to identify timeframe AnnexA with additional land is now being prepared. Applicant is by which revised application will be lodged. discussing revised application with submitters. Levin WWTP 107154 27-Nov-14 1-July-34 N/A Currently Consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring. Levin Pot 6610 27-Jul-98 31-Dec-18 N/A Currently Consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring. Foxton 103925 3-Dec-09 1-Dec-14 Yes Applicant has requested direct referral to the Mediation set for two days in October and evidence to Environment Court. The request has been approved and be prepared by all parties. the consent will be heard by the Environment Court. A Court date has been set for a week commencing 12 December 2016. Tokomaru 101227 15-Feb-02 24-Jan-17 Yes New application received on the 22 July 2016. Currently A decision on notification. being processed. Foxton Beach 102249 1-Apr-03 11-Mar-28 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring.
Palmerston North Consent Commence Expire Date Existing Use Rights Current Status Next Step in the process
Palmerston North 101829 16-May-03 16-May-2028 N/A Variation to consent now processed. PNCC is now Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring. working towards timeframes in amended consent. This includes having to lodge a new consent by 2022.
Whanganui District Council Consent Commence Expire Date Existing Use Rights Current Status Next Step in the process
Mary Bank 6735 18 Oct- 96 27 Sep-21 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring. Mowhanau 100749 15-Jan-07 1-Dec-21 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring.
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Whanganui District Council 101706 19-Feb-02 30-Jun-26 N/A Consented – Operating under consent below. Currently operating under short term consent to allow for construction of the new WWTP. Whanganui District Council APP-2015200171.00 7-Jun-16 7-Jun-2019 N/A Consent granted for 3 years to allow for discharge via the Construction to commence.
Item 7 Item ocean outfall for construction of new WWTP.
Manawatu District Council Consent Commence Expire Date Existing Use Rights Current Status Next Step in the process
Feilding 106945-106951 and 14 July 2016 10 years for N/A Appeals resolved and final decision issued from Consent holder to operate the WWTP under these 107072 and 107070 - water Environment Court 14 July 2016. No further appeals permits. 107072 discharge received. WWTP to operate under the split discharge 35 years for regime. land discharges Himatangi Beach 105938 31-Jan-12 1-Jul-25 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring. Halcombe 101252 19-Jul-01 28-Jun-16 Yes Application received 24 March 2016. Reviewing application. Applicant consulting with interesting parties. Cheltenham 103260 7-Aug-06 17 Jul- 16 Yes Application received 15 April 2016. Reviewing application. Applicant consulting with
interesting parties. Sanson 101839 9-Jul-02 18 Jun-17 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring. Rongotea 102242, 102245 2-Dec-02 11 Nov- 17 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring.
Kimbolton 103418 14-May-09 1 Sep-2019 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring. AnnexA Awahuri 103710 17-Aug-06 27 July 2026 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring.
Ruapehu District Council Consent Commence Expire Date Existing Use Rights Current Status Next Step in the process
Taumaranui 913243 5-Feb-93 26 Nov-12 Yes Decision issued, objection received in relation to Processing objection has, with applicant’s agreement, conditions. been placed on hold while applications for National Park, Raetihi and Ohakune were being prepared for lodgement. Staff to contact RuaDC to resolve objection. National Park 103403 and 106166 29-Feb-12 17 Nov-15 Yes Application received. Additional information requested Application on hold waiting for additional information. under Section 92. Rangataua 4926 5-Feb-96 20 Dec- 05 Yes Revised application received in August 2014. On hold Staff to contact RuaDC to discuss how and when under s92 and seeking affected party approval. Focus has application can be progressed. been progressing Raetihi, National Park, and Ohakune WWTP. Pipiriki 106225 18-Apr-13 1-Jul-35 Yes Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring. Raetihi 102379 17-Nov-05 17-Nov- 15 Yes Application received. Applicant requested application be Further research to be carried out regarding water placed on hold while further works are carried out quality in the catchment. regarding water quality within the catchment. Ohakune 101699, 101701, 101702 17-Nov-05 17-Nov-15 Yes Application received. Additional information requested. Application on hold waiting for additional information. Ruatiti 7126 10-Jun-97 19 May 2027 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring.
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Tararua District Council Consent Commence Expire Date Existing Use Rights Current Status Next Step in the process
Pahiatua 4369 21-Sep-95 30 Jun- 05 Yes Application was notified. Submissions received. Two pre- TDC will try to reach agreement on outstanding
hearings have now occurred. matters. Item 7 Item Eketahuna 103346 30-Jan-13 1-Jul-15 Yes Application was notified. Submissions received. Two pre- TDC will try to reach agreement on outstanding hearings have now occurred. matters. Woodville 104310, 101429 9-May-08 17-Apr-10 Yes Revised draft application lodged in August 2016. Currently reviewing draft application. Norsewood APP-2014016620.00 17-Jun-16 17-Jun-18 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring. Pongaroa 102885 20-May-09 30-Apr-19 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring. Ormondville 104163, 104164 10-Aug-09 1-Jul-26 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring. Dannevirke 100979 24-Jan-03 9-Dec-27 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring.
Non TA Consent Commence Expire Date Existing Use Rights Current Status Next Step in the process
Whakapapa 105684 1-Feb-12 1-Dec-14 Yes Revised application lodged in mid June 2016. Further Awaiting further information and will notify information requested. Staff undertaken site visit mid application in mid November.
August.
NZDF Ohakea 105171 12-Apr-12 1-Jul-15 Yes Further information received is being assessed. Decision on notification. NZDF Waiouru 102825, 105987 5-Jun-12 1 -Jul- 29 N/A Currently consented Application due 6 months prior to consent expiring. Hato Paora College 100228 15-Sep-1998 25-Aug-2008 Yes Working with College to get an application lodged.
Wanganui Prison 3767 31-Aug-95 31-Aug-13 Yes Reviewing revised application. Decision on notification. AnnexA
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Current Compliance Status for Wastewater Treatment Plants in the Region Type of Compliance Rangitikei District Council Category Description of Non Compliance Action
Assessment Status Item 7 Item Taihape 1 Data SNC Daily exceedances. A new consent or variation application is due by 1 March 2017. Compliance issues will be addressed through this process. A new clarifier has been purchased to improve plant performance and is expected to be installed by 1 October 2016.
Marton 1 Site and Data SNC Colour, discharge and instream quality. Additional information has been provided in October 2015 and July 2016 to address concerns associated with metal contamination. Both reports indicate the metal concentrations in the discharge are having a low environmental effect on Tutaenui Stream.
Hunterville 2 Data SNC Daily discharge volume, Installation of flow recording site. A new consent or variation application is due by 1 December 2016. Compliance issues will be addressed through this process. The addition of a clarifier has reduced reliance on the emergency discharge.
Bulls 2 Site and Data SNC Daily discharge volumes are been exceeded on a regular basis. A revised application was lodged in 2015. Issues regarding volumes and environmental effects are to be addressed through this process. Non-compliance with the current consent will continue to be formally recorded through the compliance monitoring programme.
Ratana 2 Site and Data C NA No action
Mangaweka 3 Site C NA No action AnnexB Koitiata 3 Site SNC Irrigation fields have not been installed. RDC is in consultation with the community with a final meeting to be held prior to 30 September 2016. RDC will be expected to provide timeframes by which the non-compliances will be resolved by 30 October. Type of Compliance Horowhenua District Council Category Description of Non Compliance Action Assessment Status Shannon WWTP 1 Site and Data C NA The land based irrigation system is now commissioned. The discharge to Stansells drain is authorised until 20 March 2017.
Waitarere 3 Site and Data NC Reporting incomplete. HDC will be rectifying this in the next Annual Report.
Levin Pot 2 Site C NA No action
Levin WWTP 2 Site C NA No action
Foxton 1 Data SNC Daily discharge volumes. Issues regarding non-compliance are now been addressed through the consent renewal process. Non-compliance with the current consent will continue to be formally recorded through the compliance monitoring programme.
Tokomaru 2 Site and data NC Daily discharge volumes. No action
Foxton Beach 3 Site C NA No action Type of Compliance Palmerston North Category Description of Non Compliance Action Assessment Status Palmerston North 1 Site and data C NA No action
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Type of Compliance Whanganui District Council Category Description of Non Compliance Action Assessment Status Mary Bank 4 Site C NA No action
Mowhanau 3 Site and data C NA No action 7 Item
Whanganui District Council 1 Data NC The Quantitative Microbial Risk Analysis (QMRA) Development Reports have been received and the QMRA Development Plan has been Plan and progress update was submitted late. approved. Non compliance has been documented. Type of Compliance Manawatu District Council Category Description of Non Compliance Action Assessment Status Feilding 1 Site NA NA Final conditions provided on 22 Aug 2016. A meeting is scheduled with MDC in September 2016 to go over the nine consents.
Himatangi Beach 3 Site C NA No action
Halcombe 3 Site SNC Water quality. Application currently being processed. Issues of non-compliance will be addressed via the resource consent renewal process. Non-compliance with the current consent will continue to be formally recorded through the compliance
monitoring programme.
Cheltenham 3 Data C NA No action
Sanson 3 Site C NA No action
Rongotea 3 Site and Data SNC Effluent quality. No action AnnexB
Kimbolton 3 Site C NA No action
Awahuri 3 Site C NA No action Type of Compliance Ruapehu District Council Category Description of Non Compliance Action Assessment Status Taumaranui 2 Site C NA No action
National Park 2 Site C NA Application currently being processed.
Rangataua 3 Site C NA Application currently being processed.
Pipiriki 4 Site C NA No action
Raetihi 1 C NA No action
Ohakune 2 Site C NA Application currently being processed.
Ruatiti 4 Site C NA No action Type of Compliance Tararua District Council Category Description of Non Compliance Action Assessment Status Pahiatua 2 Site and data C NA No action
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Eketahuna 1 Site SNC Upgrades did not occur due to the prioritisation of the A new application is being processed and a two pre-hearings have now occurred. upgrades at Dannevirke, Woodville, Norsewood and Pahiatua It is expected the non-compliances will be addressed through the consent WWTPs. renewal process. Non-compliance with the current consent will continue to be
formally recorded through the compliance monitoring programme. Item 7 Item
Woodville 2 Site C NA No action, application being processed.
Norsewood 3 Site C NA No action
Pongaroa 3 Site NC UV upgrades, rock outfall and aqua mats have not been The upgrades are expected to commence by end of 2016. completed due to TDC focusing on upgrades with other larger WWTP.
Ormondville 3 Site and data C NA No action
Dannevirke 1 site C NA No action Type of Compliance Non TA Category Description of Non Compliance Action Assessment Status Whakapapa 1 Data NC Annual report was late. Issues regarding non-compliance are now been addressed through the consent
renewal process. As part of the renewal process DoC are proposing various upgrades to the WWTP to improve its overall environmental performance and RuaDC are assisting with the process. Non-compliance with the current consent will continue to be formally recorded through the compliance monitoring
programme. AnnexB NZDF Ohakea 3 Data C NA No action
Whanganui Prison 2 Site and Data SNC Infiltration bed failures. The issues regarding non compliance are being addressed via the renewal application process. Non-compliance with the current consent will continue to be formally recorded through the compliance monitoring programme.
NZDF Waiouru 1 Data NC Verification certification required. HRC are requiring flow meters to be verified by 1 September 2016
Hato Paora College 4 Site SNC No monitoring, seepage of effluent to waterway. On-going consultation with Hato Paora College. Working with college to get an amended application lodged. Environmental effects associated with discharge are expected to be minimal and a sampling programme will commence in September to verify this. Non-compliance with the current consent will continue to be formally recorded through the compliance monitoring programme.
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Report No. 16-188 Information Only - No Decision Required
SCIENCE PROGRESS REPORT 8 Item
1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is to introduce Members of Council’s Environment Committee, the Science Progress report for June 2016.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-188 and Annex.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. The Freshwater and Science 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 focus for the Science and Innovation team through the June to July period of the year has largely focussed on the completion of projects for the 2015-16 year. Drafting of the Science and Innovation Operational Plan for 2016-17 has also been a focus for the team and this is presented to the Committee as a separate agenda item.
6.2. The attached reports provide updates on the various parts of the programme and, where appropriate, provide an overview of next steps to be completed in the new financial year. In summary:
6.3. Groundwater Monitoring and Research provides an update on several monitoring investigations during the reporting period and further work that has been completed on a range of the research projects, including the development of a 3D flow model for the Santoft area that was recently presented to Council and the Santoft Water User Group.
6.4. The Surface Water Allocation programme has continued to manage water use restrictions well into the new financial year. No further low flow restrictions have occurred within the region during the reporting period. By November 2016, national regulations for flow metering will be required for takes of 5 – 10 L/s.
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6.5. The Surface Water Quality and Biomonitoring section of this item provides an update on several monitoring investigations during the reporting period and also reports on the
research programme completed in collaboration with DairyNZ. Item 8 Item 6.6. The Environmental Research and Monitoring section overviews air quality information from the Taihape and Taumarunui Airsheds, including an update on the work following the exceedances of the National Environmental Standard for Air Quality in Taumarunui in March; in addition to an overview of the new AirQuality module recently released by Land and Water Aotearoa (LAWA). The report also provides an overview of the guidance material drafted by Pattle Delamore Partners Ltd. for Horizons on the interpretation of Policy 5-6, providing a framework staff can follow to undertake a reasonable application of the policy to help to maintain and enhance ground water quality in the region without unnecessarily restricting land use discharges. A synthesis of Environlink grants delivered during the reporting year is also provided. Finally, an overview of a report by NIWA on climate change predictions for the Region is provided.
6.7. The Land Research and Monitoring section provides updates on the fluvial monitoring programme, including an overview of the results of a PhD study investigating the use of tephra for removal of phosphorus from wastewater.
6.8. The Biodiversity Research and Monitoring section includes an update on the monitoring programmes, as well as an overview of Totara Reserve outcomes monitoring and pest management support.
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 Progress Report
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8 Item
Science
1 Water Monitoring & Research
1.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress (% progress)
YTD Reporting Period Target MEASURE ACTUAL 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Track changes in the health of the 20% 20% 20% 15% 17% 8% 100% 100%
Region’s water resource *1
Inform policy and non-regulatory 20% 20% 20% 15% 17% 8% 100% 100% programme development *1 Assess policy and implementation 20% 20% 20% 15% 17% 8% 100% 100% effectiveness *1
*1 AP/LTP targets AnnexA
The water monitoring and research activity summary is arranged in three sections to summarise work on groundwater, surface water quantity (allocation), and surface water quality and biomonitoring. A summary of targets for the 2015-16 reporting year has been provided in a table at the end of each section. A more detailed introduction to the monitoring and research programmes for this year is provided in the accompanying activity reports, along with brief updates for the reporting period (1 June 2016 to 31 July 2016).
1.2 Activity Report (groundwater)
Groundwater monitoring programme:
Groundwater monitoring is carried out across the Region for State of Environment (SoE) monitoring purposes and to contribute to national monitoring programmes including the National Pesticides Survey, National Groundwater Monitoring and National Groundwater Age Programmes.
1.2.1 Groundwater level monitoring throughout the Region has progressed as scheduled, with monthly surveys completed in June and July. Across the Region, groundwater levels have followed a similar pattern to recent years and continue to show a response to reduced rainfall recharge. At the time of reporting, groundwater levels across the Region for July 2016 were around 0.5 – 1 m lower than measurements recorded in July 2015. It is worth noting that even following periods of increased rainfall, there can be a delay in response in aquifers, particularly at depth, and recovery to previous levels will depend on longer-term rainfall recharge.
1.2.2 During the reporting period, staff carried out an audit of the Region’s annual allocation volumes, daily flow rates and maximum daily flow volumes for groundwater consents for all Groundwater Management Zones (GMZ). Data is now being processed by Horizons’ Catchment Information team to enable regional reporting of groundwater allocation, with the intention of presenting this
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information as part of the One Plan Implementation dashboard. This information will provide reporting information for future State of Environment reporting and national freshwater accounting, as required by the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM).
1.2.3 Quarterly groundwater quality monitoring has progressed as scheduled during the reporting year Item 8 Item and was completed in June 2016. This monitoring is carried out in 35 bores across the Region and includes a range of chemical parameters (such as chlorine, sulphate, fluoride), metals (including iron, manganese, arsenic), nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), as well as a bacteriological indicator Esterichia coli (E. coli). This monitoring is carried out to provide an indication of the state of groundwater quality in our Region across a range of depths and aquifer conditions. This monitoring is not intended to provide information about the suitability of water for human consumption in each well. Well owners, however, are provided with the data (on request) and encouraged to carry out the appropriate testing through an accredited laboratory, if they intended to utilise their bore for drinking water supply.
1.2.4 As reported in Horizons’ 2013 State of Environment report, and illustrated through ongoing monitoring – groundwater varies in quality across the Region. Due to a range of natural and human causes such as elevated metals (iron, manganese and arsenic), nutrients (nitrate-nitrogen) or bacteria (as indicated by the presence of E. coli), groundwater is not always suitable for human
consumption, and may require treatment prior to use.
1.2.5 Information on how well owners can ensure their water supply is secure is provided by Horizons in the form of a brochure and accompanying guidance document. This information is available on Photo 1: Secure groundwater Horizons’ website, or on request. bore at the Centennial
AnnexA Lagoon, Palmerston
1.2.6 Monitoring for early signs of seawater intrusion along the coastal margin continues. Groundwater level and conductivity are measured continuously at eight monitoring sites along the west coast and data is provided via telemetry to Horizons. Groundwater level data at these sites is available via Horizons’ Environmental Data webpage (Figure 1). Conductivity data is available on request. To date, there have been no signs of seawater intrusion in any of the continuous monitoring sites in our Region. Any concerns or public enquiries regarding seawater intrusion (or our wider groundwater monitoring network or programme) can be directed to the team at [email protected].
Figure 1: Groundwater level monitoring at MDC Himitangi Shallow – as shown on Horizons Environmental Monitoring webpage.
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Hydrogeology and Conceptual Modelling
The overall management of the groundwater system relies on a good fundamental knowledge of groundwater recharge, discharge and movement through the subsurface environment. While there is a
general understanding of the geology and hydrogeology on a regional scale, further development and Item 8 Item refinement of conceptual and hydrogeological models for groundwater management zones are required to maintain a cohesive approach to groundwater management in the Region.
1.2.7 A review of the existing conceptual hydrogeology of the Ohau and Waikawa Catchments has been provided by Pattle Delamore Partners Ltd (June 2016). Prior to finalising the report, analysis of additional data collected during 2015-16 will be carried out during the early stages of the 2016-17 reporting year. This will provide a more robust analysis by incorporating the results of the Ohau and Waikawa groundwater level survey, and draw on additional information provided by the age tracer and isotope analysis that is being carried out by GNS Science (Section 1.2.18).
1.2.8 The development of a 3D flow model for the Santoft area is now complete. This work follows on from the Rangitikei-Turakina conceptual hydrogeology and water balance work that was completed during 2013-15. The model provides a representation of recent trends in groundwater levels and predicts the potential pattern of groundwater levels, assuming different abstraction scenarios. The model is accompanied by a report that describes the modelling methodology and outlines the next steps required to support the development of a sustainable allocation limit, which
include:
Further assessment of the sensitivity of surface water bodies to reductions in discharge from groundwater, including assessment of the ecology and community value;
Development of thresholds to protect those surface water bodies, if required;
Applying those thresholds in the model to determine what they may mean in terms of an AnnexA allocation limit for the area.
A final report outlining the development of the model will be available following peer review.
1.2.9 A recommendation for further assessment of surface water body sensitivity has been incorporated into the 2016-17 Science and Innovation work programme, as set out in our Operational Plan. A cutaway 3D image of the model is shown in Figure 2 below.
1.2.10 A community workshop and meeting with the Santoft water user group was held. Staff provided a presentation of the monitoring and research work completed to date, which was followed by a discussion about the implications for future resource consents and the potential use of trigger levels as a mechanism for flow restriction.
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Item 8 Item
Figure 2: Cutaway of the 3D Model of Santoft, showing the modelled aquifer layers and different hydraulic conductivity values applied to the model.
AnnexA Massey University Collaborative Research Programme:
A collaborative research programme by Massey University and Horizons Regional Council investigates the transport and fate of nutrients from farms to the waterways in the Tararua and Rangitikei Catchments. The work is carried out through a range of PhD and MSc projects and at present we have three students contributing to different facets of this programme.
1.2.11 Two PhD studies investigating the fate and transport of nutrients from farms in the Tararua District are now in their third (and final) year. The field components of both the PhD studies are now complete and both are well into the report writing stage.
1.2.12 A BSc(Hons) project investigating nutrient flow pathways is progressing to schedule. The investigation includes natural and artificial surface waterways and groundwater pathways, on a dairy farm in the coastal sand country of the Santoft area. A number of piezometers have been installed to enable testing of shallow groundwater quality and the study is progressing to schedule with final reporting anticipated later in 2016.
1.2.13 Recent work in the Tararua Groundwater Management Zone (Tararua GWMZ) in the upper Manawatu River catchment has shown good agreement between redox characteristics and denitrification potential (Elwan, Singh, Horne, Roygard, & Clothier, 2015). However the spatial resolution of prior work is limited to testing of existing bores or and a limited number of piezometers to sample shallow groundwaters in the study area. A new MSc study by Pete McGowan, will further knowledge of the denitrification potential of specific combinations of rocks and soils present in the Tararua GWMZ, to identify spatial variation in capacity for attenuation of nitrogen. Ultimately it is hoped that the methodology employed, and identification of key characteristics of rocks and soils presented in this thesis may be of use to others outside the Tararua GWMZ study area (McGowan, pers. comm.).
1.2.14 Our collaborative research programme with Massey University continues to develop, with a number of new PhD research projects being scoped. While the Mangatainoka catchment
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continues to remain a focus for further research, the proposed PhD studies will focus on understanding the fate and transport of nutrients in the Rangitikei catchment, with a particular focus on the use of novel methods for characterising groundwater and surface water interaction.
One PhD study is already underway, mapping the geology of the Pourewa catchment. Item 8 Item Resource Accounting:
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) recently identified land use intensification, particularly in the Rangitikei, Manawatu, Tararua and Horowhenua areas, as a key opportunity for economic growth in Horizons’ Region (MPI, 2015). While supporting this growth, Horizons must also ensure the Region meets environmental targets set by regional and national policy, such as the 2014 National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.
To achieve this, a significant investment has been made by Council to fast-track our knowledge and understanding of the Region’s groundwater resources. Focus areas include the Rangitikei and Turakina groundwater management zones, where increasing demand for water has led to Horizons increasing both our monitoring coverage and targeted research programmes to better inform policy implementation in these areas. The Horowhenua and Tararua management zones are the focus of investigations of nutrient transport and attenuation to identify opportunities for reducing nitrogen loadings in these catchments.
1.2.15 An extensive investigation of groundwater and surface water interaction in the Ohau and Waikawa Catchments is progressing to schedule. Surface water quality and bio-monitoring will continue for
the remainder of 2016-17 to improve our understanding of seasonal changes in surface water
quality. The Ohau Waikawa investigation seeks to inform long-term natural resource use for both water quantity and water quality, particularly the implementation of nutrient management rules set by Horizons Regional Policy and Plan (One Plan) in the Waikawa catchment, and guide decision making around land use conversion in the Ohau catchment.
1.2.16 Analysis and interpretation of additional age tracers, collected from rivers and streams during 2013 AnnexA low flow conditions around the Region, is expected to be delivered by GNS Science early in the 2016-17 year. This co-funded project builds on the initial data set by providing additional spatial coverage to address gaps in the current data and further assist with our understanding of catchment transport (lag) times – i.e. the time it takes from water to enter the groundwater system and make its way to surface water bodies.
1.2.17 This regional-scale data set is unique nationally (and internationally) due to (a) its spatial coverage, and (b) collection at extreme low flow conditions, when water in our rivers and streams was primarily groundwater inflow (known as baseflow) and rainfall runoff was minimised. This information assists in our understanding of catchment flow and transport mechanisms and provides crucial information for informing natural resource decision making, particularly around land use and its potential effects on water quality.
1.2.18 Included in this report will be the age tracer and isotope results for Horizons State of Environment groundwater quality network, sampled in June 2014. These results will provide a better understanding of the residence times for groundwater in shallow wells to add to a previous analysis of groundwater age information sourced from public water supply bores and previous catchment investigations.
1.2.19 An additional co-funded project is also in place to analyse and report on the recent age tracer and isotope sampling carried out in the Ohau and Waikawa catchments, as part of an intensive groundwater – surface water investigation. Samples included radon, to identify areas of groundwater inflow to surface water bodies; stable isotopes, field parameters and chemistry to identify geo-chemical and hydrochemical processes; age tracers to establish catchment lag times; and nitrate isotopes to identify potential sources of nitrate-nitrogen in these catchments. A report is anticipated early in the 2016-17 reporting year.
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1.3 Groundwater Monitoring and Research Summary
Project Key deliverables Progress to date Monthly groundwater (GW) Monthly water level monitoring progressing to
Item 8 Item levels schedule. Sampling of 30 wells was completed in Sep, Quarterly GW quality Dec, Mar and Jun. Quarterly National Sampling of three wells was completed in Groundwater Monitoring Groundwater Sep, Dec, Mar and Jun. Programme (NGMP) quality Monitoring Programme A new seawater intrusion monitoring station New seawater intrusion site near Turakina Beach is now monitoring continuous groundwater level. Additional sites are being scoped for the National age tracer programme national age tracer programme, to the north of the Region. Historic and current State of the Environment (SoE) quality data has been GW quality data analysis analysed by GNS Science to provide guidance for quality coding and state and trend analysis. Data management
Groundwater quality data was successfully Continuous improvement of the migrated from Qualarc (a historic software groundwater data management programme) to Hilltop (our current data system management system for water quality and level data) Analysis of the existing data was carried out
AnnexA by PDP and provided to Horizons. Further Ohau/Waikawa analysis will be carried out early in the new conceptualisation financial year to include the groundwater level survey and findings of the GNS age tracer and analysis report. A co-funded research project carrying out analysis and interpretation of the age tracer Ohau/Waikawa age tracer and and isotope data collected by Horizons during isotope analysis the summer survey was initiated and is due to be completed early in 2016-17. Hydrogeology and Envirolink A 3D flow model was provided by PDP to determine the current effects of water use on the groundwater resource. The model was Santoft water balance also used to show the effects of abstraction at conceptual model development fully consented rates, if well owners were to exercise their permit using the full allocation volume. A co-funded research project to provide further analysis and interpretation of our Regional age tracers regional age tracer and isotope data set was initiated and is due to be completed early in 2016-17. Massey sampling programme Massey field research is now complete. Both PhD projects are nearing completion. Massey University Two MSc research projects were completed. Collaborative Research Completion of PhD studies The first investigated the use of radon as a Programme tracer of groundwater inflows to surface water; the second looked at the fate and transport of nutrients in the Rangitikei area. New Tararua MSc project A new MSc project to further refine our
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Project Key deliverables Progress to date
understanding of the denitrification potential of specific combinations of rocks and soils present in the Tararua GWMZ is now
underway. Item 8 Item A new research project investigating the movement of nutrients via surface and New Rangitikei BSc(Hons) subsurface drainage on a dairy farm in the project Santoft area is underway and due to be completed early in 2016-17. An Envirolink-funded workshop was delivered Advice grant for field study by GNS Science to Horizons staff in Sept Ohau / Waikawa 2015. surface water/ground An intensive catchment-scale investigation of water (SW/GW) GW/SW interaction, GW recharge and lag Investigation Field GW/SW investigation times was completed Feb-Apr 2016. Sampling for surface water quality and periphyton continues. Water level survey was carried out in Sept 2015 with a post-irrigation season survey Water level surveys planned for Apr-May 2016 to provide Santoft Resource seasonal comparison of groundwater flow
Accounting Project throughout the year
A newsletter was provided to the Santoft Water user group water user group providing an update on monitoring and research progress. Upper Manawatu Groundwater Groundwater Availability Study Report was completed in Oct 2015.
Availability AnnexA Policy, Consents and A technical note to provide guidance as to the Resource Guidance document for Policy interpretation of Policy 5.6 – Maintenance of Management Act 5.6 Groundwater Quality was completed by PDP. (RMA) Advice Staff presented at the Hydrological Society conference in Nov 2015 and attended the Dec 2015 and May 2016 Groundwater Forum meetings. Staff facilitated a national freshwater and policy workshop with Regional Council’s and MfE in May 2016. Staff contributed to the development of the Communication and National engagement and National Environmental Monitoring Standard Reporting reporting (NEMS) for Discrete Water Quality. Staff provided feedback on the national Draft Operational Plan for Carcass Disposal. A community workshop and meeting with the Santoft Water User Group was held at Lake Dudding Hall to share the monitoring and research work completed to date in the Santoft area.
Stephen Collins RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
Abby Matthews SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MANAGER
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2 Water Allocation
2.1 Activity Report (water allocation) Item 8 Item Water allocation monitoring programmes:
Horizons undertakes a wide range of core environmental monitoring programmes that include the measurement of river level, flow, rainfall, soil moisture and gauging rivers during low flows.
2.1.1 Fieldwork for this core area of environmental monitoring continues.
2.1.2 The development and refinement of modelled (or synthetic) flows is a project that continues (being year two of the three year programme). The modelling provides an extra dimension to being able to manage resources at any particular point in a catchment without the expense of in-field gauging at that point.
Water metering programme and water quantity accounting:
Water metering is a fundamental component of managing water allocation. The data is crucial for assessing the actual volumes of water taken compared to consented volumes. The WaterMatters website is used to
deliver information back to consent holders and the public, and for compliance purposes
Water use restrictions
2.1.3 Over the summer of 2015-16, the majority of flow restrictions were in place by late January, and continued throughout February and March. There have been no further low flow restrictions since
20 May 2016. The figures and tables below draw from Horizons’ WaterMatters Website. AnnexA
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Item 8 Item
AnnexA
Figure 3: Low flow restriction summary published on Horizons WaterMatters website as at 12 February, 2016, (near peak for the 2015-2016 summer) and 30 June (end of the reporting period). Areas shaded in white on the map indicate where water take restrictions were in place within these water management sub-zones.
2.1.4 For more detailed information on which sites are in restriction, WaterMatters reports the latest flows and number of consent holder’s potential in restriction here: http://www.horizons.govt.nz/managing-environment/resource-management/water/low-flow- restrictions-summary/. The map of affected catchments is here: http://www.horizons.govt.nz/managing-environment/resource-management/water/watermatters/by- region/.
National Water Metering Regulations
This project is to ensure that holders of water take consents continue to work toward meeting the National Regulations on Water Use Measurement and Reporting.
2.1.5 A summary of the progress made by Horizons against the National Regulations on Water Use Measurement and Reporting as at May 2016 can be seen in Table 4: Summary of progress against National Regulations on Water Use Measurement and Reporting as at January 2016. The regulations are presently in effect for water takes of 20 litres per second or more, and for takes of 10 litres per second up to 20 litres per second. Regulations for takes of more than five litres per second but less than 10 litres per second will be in place from 10 November 2016.
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Table 4 Summary of progress against National Regulations on Water Use Measurement and Reporting as at January 2016 Takes >20L/s Takes 10-20 L/s Takes 5-10 L/s 267 sites confirmed as metered 97 sites confirmed as metered This category not yet
Item 8 Item 17 sites not yet set up to abstract / not 4 sites not yet set up to abstract or not in force – interim using at all using at all numbers suggest: 102 consents in this 10 have been followed up with category; 3 sites not required to comply with correspondence; working on flow meter regulations due to mode of abstraction installs, verifications or awaiting verification 52 have meters certification from company. installed already; 31 have telemetry 5 new sites not yet metered / awaiting 2 where the location of the water meter installed to date; installation needs to be reviewed Verification status of 1 consent holder to surrender 1 new consent to be followed up meters: unknown. Numbers will change Total = 293 consents in this category Total = 114 consents in this category and be updated as 212 of these confirmed as verified and 49 of these confirmed as verified and 10 Nov 2016 passed test passed test approaches.
2.1.6 In summary, 407 consents are identified as requiring provision of water metering information to the Council as they provide for more than 10 L/s of water to be abstracted. Currently 287 of these 407 consented water take consents provide data automatically. In the interim it is required that the remaining 120 consents will provide the water use data by manual methods. Of the 407 consents, 364 have been identified as having water meters.
2.1.7 Verification of the accuracy of the meters for takes > 10L/s is also required as part of the National Water Regulations. Verification is required initially and then every five years. Presently a total of
261 metered takes in this category have been confirmed as being accurate (verified) by certified AnnexA verifiers.
2.1.8 Of the metered consents in the region (all sizes of water takes) a total of 404 are currently providing automated information to Horizons, typically by telemetry. Of these, 294 were inspected over 2015-16 as part of the annual summer inspection programme. Of the 404, 78 are FTP sites where inspection occurs as part of the consent compliance checking programme. Overall, 92% of telemetered sites received at least one check. The remaining sites are non-irrigators and are programmed to be checked in the “off” season of early 2016-17.
Metering of Discharges to Land and Water
2.1.9 As previously reported, a programme has been established to improve the measurement of the volumes of effluent discharged to rivers and land. Over the reporting period, one further flow meter has been installed, bringing the number of unmetered discharges down to two. Table 5 below summarises the number and status (in terms of level of metering and data availability) of the 46 discharges assessed so far. Of these 44 have flow meters. Of the two that do not have flow meters both are discharges to land; one of which requires metering of the inflow as condition of consent. The two that are not metered are relatively small volumes (16.2m3/day. and 18m3/day respectively). Of those that are metered, 15 are automated and the data are available.
2.1.10 The next step will be to establish a prioritised schedule of improving automation and data supply, including ensuring that meters are installed (if required), improving the rate of automated data provision, verification of data that is being provided against meter readings, and verification of the meters that are providing the data. Further work also continues on refining the data connections in- house (for example, ensuring that the data naming conventions are correct).
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Table 5: Summary of discharge metering status across the Region
No. of No. of Reporting mechanism No. of Consent discharges discharges Automated Automated discharges Manual (via holder with flow with no flow and not assessed spreadsheets) 1
meters meter available available Item 8 Item Horowhenua District 7 7 0 5 2 Council Manawatu District 7 7 0 3 4 Council Rangitikei District 7 6 1 4 2 Council Palmerston North City 1 1 0 1 Council Ruapehu District 6 6 0 2 4 Council Tararua District 7 7 0 3 4
Council Wanganui District 3 2 1 2 Council New Zealand Defence 2 2 0 1 1 Force AnnexA AFFCO 1 1 0 1 Feilding DB Breweries 1 1 0 1
Riverlands 1 1 0 1
Fonterra 2 2 0 1 1 Winstone Pulp 1 1 0 1 International
1 These discharges are unavailable via our database at this stage but may be available via other means.
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2.2 Water Allocation Monitoring and Research Summary
Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date Water Allocation Status and Surface and groundwater quantity Ongoing.
Item 8 Item Monitoring Programmes monitoring including flow monitoring. Receiving data from 404 Telemetry installed to automatically sites across the region measure water use in the Region. (including smaller takes).
Annual inspections of water take flow 294 sites inspected to date meters as part of the telemetry for the season and all meters programme. reading correctly. 256 verifications completed Verifications complete as per the (and passed) by third party National Water Metering Regulations. suppliers (Irrigation NZ certified verifiers).
Quality assurance and archiving of 28 sites processed for 2014- historical water metering information. 15 data Water metering programme / National Water Metering
Regulations There are presently 407 consents in these categories. To date 364 Meeting requirements of the National confirmed as metered, 287 Water Metering Regulations – takes of which provide data >20 L/s, and10-20 L/s must comply by AnnexA automatically. Non- 10 Nov 2012, 2014 respectively. compliances are being followed up by Regulatory Team. Ongoing communication with Upper Manawatu consent holders to assist in process Communication of consent renewal. Ongoing communication with water users as required throughout year. Project initiated in 2013. Work ongoing with farmers Support of PhD study in collaboration Dairy Farm Water Use Project contacted and sites set up. with Massey University and DairyNZ. Expected completion date is late 2016. Staff met with stakeholders Scope the scale and contents of a to relay information on over- Water Allocation Policy programme for water allocation policy allocated catchments and to Implementation Effectiveness effectiveness monitoring and reporting. assist with identifying possible solutions.
James Lambie SCIENCE COORDINATOR
Abby Matthews SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MANAGER
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3 Surface Water Quality & Biomonitoring
3.1 Activity Report (Surface Water Quality & Biomonitoring) Item 8 Item Surface water quality and biomonitoring:
Horizons undertakes a wide range of water quality monitoring programmes that include monitoring of physico-chemical and biological parameters, in addition to aquatic macroinvertebrate, periphyton, cyanobacteria, didymo and freshwater fish monitoring for State of the Environment Reporting, discharges, and contact recreation. The programmes include ongoing monitoring of rivers and lakes.
3.1.1 Water quality monitoring programmes have been ongoing throughout the 2015-16 year. During 2016-17 staff will begin scoping a review of the monitoring network design to assess the suitability of the network for a range of different monitoring and reporting requirements.
3.1.2 An automatic nitrate (Nitratax) sensor was installed at the Manawatu at Teachers College flow recording site in February to trial the use of continuous nitrate monitoring. The trial is being carried out in partnership with Massey and Ulster Universities.
3.1.3 Biomonitoring programmes continued during the reporting period with the main focus being enabling the analysis of samples through management of lab contracts, and preparation for the
2016-17 monitoring season.
Phormidium (cyanobacteria in rivers) monitoring:
Phormidium continues to be a key issue for Horizons and we are partnering with external research agencies to better understand the causes of Phormidium proliferation in order to inform management practices. The monthly periphyton monitoring runs are used to check if Phormidium (a type of cyanobacteria) is present. AnnexA Where Phormidium is found a sample is taken and this is sent for analysis for toxicity levels.
3.1.4 Phormidium was observed at a range of monitoring sites within the Region during summer. During the reporting period, 38 samples that were collected over the course of the 2015-2016 monitoring year were sent to Cawthron for toxin analysis. The results were received by the end of June. Thirty-four of the 38 samples returned positive results for cyanotoxins. With the highest concentrations being located in the Makakahi, Makotuku, Mangatainoka, Oroua and Whanganui Rivers.
3.1.5 The project investigating ecological effects of Phormidium on macroinvertebrates has been completed for the financial year with five sites completed.
Macroinvertebrate monitoring:
Macroinvertebrate communities (MCIs) provide an integrated indication of the health and life supporting capacity of waterways over annual time periods.
3.1.6 A final report has been received looking at the state and trends of macroinvertebrate communities across the Region, including the data from the 2014-15 season. The results were presented to the May Environment Committee meeting.
3.1.7 Monitoring has ceased for the 2015-16 season with 97 sites completed. Samples are currently with Stark Environmental for analysis with results being expected in October 2016.
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Periphyton monitoring:
Periphyton is the community of slime and algae that grow on the river bed. This project suite informs the
relationship between periphyton growth, nutrient loads and stream flows Item 8 Item 3.1.8 The medium advice ($20,000) Envirolink grant to investigate whether the preferential uptake of ammonia is a factor in nuisance periphyton growth downstream of point source discharges has been completed. The report identifies that very little work has been completed on this process in freshwater environments. In addition the report identifies that when nitrate is absorbed by periphyton from the water column it is converted to ammonia for growth. Finally, the report recommends a research proposal for testing whether ammonia does lead to faster growth of periphyton or increased biomass (the amount of periphyton). Funding from external stakeholders is currently being sought to enable this work to occur.
3.1.9 The Ohau-Waikawa Catchment water quality/periphyton fortnightly monitoring programme continues. The Ohau-Waikawa project is supported by the new funding provided by Council to link the state of periphyton and other surface water quality indicators to land use and groundwater flows in key catchments. This programme is sampling 16 sites for water quality and 10 of those for periphyton fortnightly.
3.1.10 Monitoring has been undertaken in the Ohau-Waikawa Catchment using nutrient diffusing substrates at five sites. This monitoring is being undertaken to look at the changes that may occur in the catchment in terms of nutrient limitations on periphyton growth. This information helps inform us on how different parts of the catchment respond to different nutrients. Results of this work for the 2015-16 season have been received. A further round in the 2016-17 season is currently being planned to better inform results.
3.1.11 As reported in the Surface Water Quality section of the Environment Committee Report, the
AnnexA project to analyse the last six years of periphyton data has been completed. This analysis was co- funded by DairyNZ and will be the most comprehensive of its type in New Zealand. The state and trends component of the report was presented to Council in the Nutrient Management workshop in early August.
Freshwater Fish Monitoring:
The Freshwater Fish Monitoring programme involves an ongoing survey of fish species abundance at selected fishable SoE sites, re-checking the Sites of Significance - Aquatic as part of the One Plan policy effectiveness assessments, and undertaking exploratory surveys to further our knowledge.
3.1.12 The Medium Advice ($20,000) Envirolink grant to investigate ways to successfully monitor piharau (lamprey) populations in the Whanganui Catchment continues in collaboration with the Department of Conservation (DoC) and local iwi. Piharau samplers were deployed at 30 sites in the Whanganui catchment as recommended by Dr Cindy Baker from NIWA.
3.1.13 Monitoring, analysis and reporting of results for piharau (lamprey) surveys have been completed. A map outlining results is shown below. This displays the Whanganui River catchment and the monitoring points where pheromone traps were installed. The colour of the dot relates to the concentration of pheromone in the water column and can be used to loosely infer likely juvenile Piharau populations upstream of the monitoring point.
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Item 8 Item
AnnexA
Figure 4: Estimated larval abundance based on POC15 deployment in the Whanganui River catchment. The Whanganui River is indicated by the thick blue line, with other main rivers indicated by thinner blue lines. Sites names in red indicate samplers affected by heavy fouling or being out of the water when retrieved so they will be underestimating larval abundance. The predicted probability of piharau occurrence is also displayed for all stream segments. For graphical clarity the probability of occurrence is displayed as a % ranging between 0 and 12, and greater than 12.
3.1.14 Brown mudfish monitoring has started for the 2016-17 season with three sites having been surveyed. Another three sites are planned to be surveyed by November 2016.
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Coastal & Estuary Monitoring & Research:
The coastal and estuary monitoring and research programme involves monitoring the state and trends of estuarine and coastal water quality as a performance indicator of policy effectiveness and to provide
information on the general health of the estuarine and coastal water management zones. Item 8 Item
3.1.15 Monthly monitoring of water quality at coastal and estuary sites continues.
3.1.16 Work also continues on the Envirolink funded project engaging NIWA and Wriggle consultants to assess the susceptibility of the Region’s estuaries to nutrients and sediment. The analyses are complete and the team at Wriggle are on track to report on the findings by 30 October 2016. The project will utilise the recently developed Estuary Trophic Index (ETI) to define each estuary’s trophic and sedimentation state and subsequently provide monitoring recommendations and priorities. A draft report has been received.
3.1.17 The broad scale estuary habitat mapping programme has been initiated with a survey of the Manawatu Estuary by Wriggle consultants over the reporting period. The estuarine and terrestrial habitats of the Manawatu Estuary have been mapped following the National Estuary Monitoring Protocol. A draft report was received in June 2016. This work is currently being reviewed with a final report to be completed by 30 October 2016. This work will enable the tracking of estuary health over time.
Lake monitoring
The purpose of this project is to establish the current water quality and ecological state of a select number of lakes within the region.
3.1.18 The Lake monitoring programmes have been ongoing throughout the 2015-16 year. Highlights
AnnexA from the programme this year are:
The Lake monitoring programme was expanded this year to include five new lakes in the quarterly programme and complete LakeSPI monitoring for 12 coastal lakes.
Bathymetric surveys of Lakes Wiritoa, Pauri and Dudding were completed during the reporting year.
A successful bid by the University of Waikato and NIWA to the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment for their research programme “Enhancing Health and Resilience of New Zealand Lakes” has led to part of the research programme being carried out in the Region.
Envirolink funding was approved for advice from NIWA for creating Lake nutrient budgets. A draft copy of the report has been received and a meeting with NIWA staff to go through the analysis has been held during the reporting period.
During the reporting period, staff spent time determining the priorities for Lake Submerged Plant Indicators (LakeSPI) investigations for 2016-17 monitoring year. This methodology has been developed by NIWA and allows a comparison of lakes at both a regionally and national scale.
3.1.19 The selection process for determining which lakes are to be surveyed during the 2016-17 process has begun. A range of lakes have been selected and the organisation of land access has begun.
Lake Horowhenua macrophyte survey
3.1.20 As previously reported, NIWA repeated a macrophyte distribution survey at 13 sites across Lake Horowhenua. A copy of the results have been received. This information helps inform the Lake Horowhenua Weed Harvesting Strategy and was utilised as a part of the recent resource consent appeal process.
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Resource accounting and joint research programme with DairyNZ
A joint research programme with DairyNZ investigating nutrient management opportunities and outcomes has been initiated. The project work is to focus on three separate water quality related projects during the
2015-16 year. The projects are outlined in the following paragraphs. Item 8 Item
Project 1: Sources of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sediment in the Mangatainoka Catchment
This project investigates the likely water quality benefits of increased uptake of good management practices on dairy farms in the Mangatainoka Catchment. The project builds on knowledge from the Mangatainoka Environmental Farm Plans (EFP) project and includes practices such as effluent management, stock crossings and runoff from tracks. This project has been contracted to AgResearch to complete with input from Horizons and DairyNZ staff.
3.1.21 The final report was received and presented to Environment Committee during the June meeting.
Project 2: State, Trends and Drivers of Periphyton in the Horizons Region
This project assesses the state, trends and drivers of periphyton in the Region. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) has been commissioned to undertake the project and a report is expected to be delivered in June 2016. Monitoring data from Horizons’ periphyton monitoring, flow monitoring and State of the Environment and discharge monitoring programmes has been provided to NIWA
for inclusion in the project.
3.1.22 During the reporting period the final state and trends of periphyton report has been received. A summary of results can be found in the biomonitoring section of this agenda.
Project 3: Resource Accounting AnnexA This project is to focus on contaminant accounting in Horizons’ region. The National Policy Statement – Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) requires allocation and contaminant accounts to be undertaken every five years for Freshwater Management Units within each regional council boundary. This project builds on progress Horizons has already made toward creating a set of contaminant accounts for the region, with the aim of delivering resource accounts for monitoring sites that have sufficient information. The focus of the project with DairyNZ will be the Rangitikei Catchment but many of the learnings from the work in this catchment will be utilised across the rest of the region.
3.1.23 Analysis of the state and trends of effluent quality and contaminant load contributions for the major point source discharges in the Rangitikei Catchment has been completed and the report is currently being reviewed.
3.1.24 Analysis of the state and trends of river water quality in the catchment has progressed and a report is being drafted.
3.1.25 Landcare Research has completed work to pull together the different sources of land use information to inform a comprehensive picture of land use for the catchment, in order to determine the contribution of the different land uses to the measured load in river. Massey University now have this information and are using it to inform the final report which is currently being drafted.
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3.2 Surface Water Quality & Biomonitoring Monitoring and Research Summary
Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date Continuous water quality monitoring of sediment, pH and
Item 8 Item Continuous river water dissolved oxygen continues within the established quality monitoring measurement networks for these parameters. River water quality Data from this project has been provided for reporting on monitoring Monthly river water quality the LAWA website, as reported in the Environmental programme sampling via the SoE Monitoring and Reporting section of this report. programme and discharge Data from this programme has been provided to NIWA monitoring network and Cawthron to inform the development of a sediment attribute for the National Objectives framework (NOF) As proposed, five additional lakes have been included in the monitoring programme for the 2015-16 year. Lake monitoring The NIWA and Waikato University funding bid successfully gained $5 million over 5 years. Staff attended the first governance meeting for the project in late May. Bathymetric surveys of Lakes Wiritoa, Pauri, and Dudding Lake bathymetry completed.
Lakes NIWA has undertaken and reported on Lake SPI mapping monitoring, for 12 coastal lakes. reporting and informing lake Macrophyte communities The lakes to be surveyed during 2016-17 have been restoration within the Region’s lakes selected. The LakeSPI report for 12 of the regions coastal programmes lakes was completed by NIWA.
AnnexA The macrophyte distribution surveys completed in 2002 in Lake Horowhenua have been repeated twice this monitoring year. A final report was provided by NIWA. Monthly sampling of Lake Horowhenua resumed and is Lake Horowhenua ongoing. monitoring programme Lake buoy deployed and operational from July 2013. undertaken. Data from this monitoring programme has been provided for reporting on the LAWA website. Water quality monitoring is ongoing. Broad scale estuary The broad scale estuary monitoring of Manawatu Estuary monitoring programme was completed in late January. A draft copy of the report Coastal and established and a report has been received and comments are to be provided. Estuary completed on the monitoring susceptibility of the Region’s The assessment of the susceptibility of the Region’s estuaries to nutrient and estuaries to nutrients and sediment is underway. A draft sediment inputs. copy of the report has been received for comments and the final report expected by 30 October 2016. Monthly monitoring is ongoing. The fortnightly monitoring in the Mangatainoka Catchment has ceased as 24 months of data has been collected. Monthly monitoring at these sites will continue. SoE information and knowledge of the An Envirolink bid was successful to commission NIWA to Periphyton relationship between flow, research whether ammonia is preferentially taken up by nutrients and periphyton periphyton, resulting in faster growth and higher biomass growth around the Region being reached. A final copy of report has been received. Funding for stage two is currently being sought from external stakeholders. The Ohau-Waikawa intensive monitoring programme has commenced with monitoring being completed twice a
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Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date
month. When seen on periphyton monitoring runs, samples of cyanobacteria from around the Region are collected to investigate regional toxin production. 38 samples that 8 Item have been collected over the 2015-16 have been sent to Cawthron for toxin analysis. Cyanobacteria Benthic cyanobacteria Results have returned showing some level of toxin in 34 of the 38 samples. The research on the ecological effects of cyanobacteria has continued with five sites being sampled in this monitoring year following the recommendation made by Cawthron. Monitoring occurs in May, November and February each Monitoring to check for year; the next round of sampling will be undertaken in Didymo didymo incursions. November 2016. All Results from May 2016 were negative. A final copy of the state and trends report for SoE information on the macroinvertebrate communities has been received. This health of the Region’s Invertebrates report includes the data collected from the 2015 summer. waterways (both state and trend) Monitoring for 2015-16 has been completed with 97 sites sampled. Samples are currently with the lab for analysis. Monitoring of the remaining SOS-A sites that have not been resurveyed has commenced. Monitoring programme Freshwater Fish An Envirolink bid was successful in providing a monitoring completed and reported on. methodology for lamprey, building on the summer’s
previous work. Monitoring, analysis and reporting were AnnexA completed by June 2016. Collection of reference data is continuing. Stream SEV model specific to the An Envirolink application for a fish Index of Biotic Ecological Horizons Region Integrity (IBI) for the Region was successful. This will Valuation (SEV) inform the development of the SEV model for Horizons’ Region 2015-16 monitoring completed for the season. Three new monitoring sites were added to the programme Contact Contact recreation for the 2015-16 summer. recreation monitoring completed and monitoring reported via websites and The data was uploaded to LAWA and Horizons’ Safe programme annual report Swim Spots site during the season. A summary of results for the 2015-16 season was presented to Environment Committee in June. Support for the Staff have attended meetings for the Accord Action Plan Manawatu Updated Accord Action Plan update and provided support and meeting spaces for Leaders Accord sector groups. The Lake Horowhenua Resource Consents were granted in January but were subject to appeal to the Environment Support for the Court. Lake Lake Horowhenua Consents Evidence was presented at the Lake Horowhenua Horowhenua Environment Court hearing. Accord A monitoring programme has been undertaken to provide further information for the weed harvesting operation.
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Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date
Physico-chemical water quality data has been provided to NIWA for the periphyton project. An assessment into the potential nutrient reductions from the
Item 8 Item first 35 nutrient management consents in the Mangatainoka Horizons internal work Catchment has been completed and presented to council. programme Envirolink funding has been secured for NIWA to provide advice to staff on calculating nutrient budgets for lakes. Staff have met with NIWA around the Lakes Nutrient Budget Envirolink project. This work has been contracted to AgResearch to complete with input from Horizons and DairyNZ staff. DairyNZ/HRC Project 1: A workshop was held in August with experts from DairyNZ, Sources of Nitrogen, Horizons, Massey University and AgResearch to review and Phosphorus and Sediment prioritise the risk matrix. in the Mangatainoka Catchment Report Data has been provided to AgResearch to assist with reporting. This work has been completed. A contract has been established between DairyNZ and NIWA for this work to be undertaken. Resource Flow, periphyton and physico-chemical water quality data Accounting and Dairy NZ Joint Dairy NZ/HRC Project 2: from Horizons’ monitoring programmes has been provided to Research State, Trends and Drivers of NIWA to enable reporting to be undertaken. Programme Periphyton in the Horizons The State and Trends of Periphyton work has been Region completed. Results of this work were presented to the Council workshop on Nutrient Management.
AnnexA A workshop to scope the additional drivers work will be held in October. A workshop was held in July 2015 with Horizons scientists, Massey University, Landcare Research and DairyNZ to scope this project further. Contracts have been finalised with Massey University and Landcare Research to undertake work for this project. A contaminant loading workshop was held in November. DairyNZ/HRC Project 3: Data was provided to Massey University in January for load analysis for the project. Resource Accounting River loads have been calculated for five monitoring sites in the catchments. A state and trends assessments of effluent quality has been completed and a report is currently undergoing review. A state and trend assessment of the river water quality was undertaken during the reporting period. A report is currently being drafted.
Maree Patterson SENIOR SCIENTIST – WATER QUALITY
Logan Brown FRESHWATER AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Abby Matthews SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MANAGER
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4 Environmental Research and Monitoring
4.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress Item 8 Item Reporting Period Measure Actual Target 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Complete State of the Environment report including reviewing and updating environmental 20% 20% 20% 15% 17% 8% 100% 100% indicators *1 Undertake policy and programme implementation effectiveness monitoring and provide input into 20% 20% 20% 15% 17% 8% 100% 100% programmes and policies that are in development *1 Environmental information is made available to the public via Horizons’ website, Environment 20% 20% 20% 15% 17% 8% 100% 100% Committee reporting and on request, including contributions to national level reporting *1 Monitor and report on air quality *1 20% 20% 20% 15% 17% 8% 100% 100%
*1 AP/LTP targets
4.2 Activity Report
This report covers the reporting period from 1 June 2016 to 31 July 2016. A summary of the progress made against the targets for the year is in the table at the end of this section.
One Plan Monitoring and Evaluation, and SoE Reporting: AnnexA
The objective of this programme for 2015-16 is to continue to develop a framework for assessing the effectiveness of the One Plan in delivering intended outcomes, and to report on the State of the Environment. Staff time spent on this activity is generally encompassed within the reported outputs of environmental monitoring programmes.
4.2.1 The project to provide clarification and guidance around the interpretation of One Plan Policy 5-6 is now complete. This guidance on the management of groundwater quality concludes that the application of the policy requires three main considerations when assessing a consent application for discharges or land use activities that may affect groundwater quality:
1. An understanding and assessment of existing groundwater quality, together with hydrogeological setting in which that groundwater occurs;
2. An assessment of how a discharge or land use activity may change that groundwater quality, including an assessment of any changes and attenuation effects along a pathway; and
3. An understanding of which standards should be applied to determine whether existing groundwater quality should be maintained, or where it is degraded and should be enhanced.
4.2.2 The report describes a framework staff can follow to undertake a reasonable application of Policy 5.6 and help to maintain and enhance ground water quality in the region without restricting land use discharges unnecessarily. The implications for Horizons’ Science and Innovation team is that continued monitoring of groundwater quality and further hydrogeological modelling work (including groundwater / surface water interactions) will be essential for groundwater resource management.
4.2.3 Staff time dedicated to state of the environment monitoring and reporting activity is generally encompassed within the reported outputs of environmental monitoring programmes, captured
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elsewhere in Environment Committee reports during the year. A bibliography of science reports for 2015-16, which includes reports on the state of the environment, is available.
Item 8 Item Air Monitoring:
Horizons continues to monitor concentrations of fine particles under 10 microns in diameter (PM10) in Taihape and Taumarunui, the Region’s two gazetted airsheds or air quality monitoring areas. It uses Beta Attenuation Monitoring (BAM) instruments located in the two towns.
4.2.4 Three exceedances of the National Environmental Standards (NES) for air quality were recorded in Taumarunui over the Easter period 25 - 30 April 2016. These were investigated with no conclusive evidence found of any known or likely anthropogenic pollution event that may have contributed to the high mean daily PM10 concentrations recorded.
4.2.5 The report by Dr Emily Wilton of Environet Ltd identified that the lack of knowledge of the sources of this event was not as a consequence of poor monitoring processes, or lack of investment in air quality science, or lack of investigation, and concludes that this event can be considered “exceptional”. The 2011 Users Guide to the revised NES for Air Quality (updated 2104) allows for exceedances that are due to faulty equipment or an isolated one-off event to apply for an exemption from the Ministry for the Environment. An application to the Minister for the Environment to mark this as an exceptional event was made at the end of June. Staff anticipate
receiving a response from MfE in September.
4.2.6 There was an elevated daily PM10 recording at Taihape on Sunday 26 June, 2016. This has also been investigated and attributed to recorder fault. To validate this assessment, further analysis of the monitoring record is currently underway.
AnnexA 4.2.7 A camera has been installed at the Taumarunui monitoring site. The camera is directed over the town to give an overview of the visual air quality during the day. A camera will also be installed at the Taihape monitoring site over the 2016-17 financial year to ensure the cause of any elevation in future can be quickly identified and addressed.
Provide Environmental Information:
The provision of environmental information through servicing data requests directly or via working with other teams continued during the reporting period. This information provision includes data provision and reporting to the Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website.
4.2.8 Analysis of water quality data for the LAWA website completed in September 2015 and presented to the environment committee along with the Environment Aotearoa trends in December 2015. Over the reporting period the focus has been on preparation and provision of data for the LAWA freshwater update due to be completed in September 2016.
4.2.9 The Air Module of the LAWA website went live in June 2016. LAWA allows users to explore existing air quality data up to 2015 as supplied by regional councils (Figure 2 and Figure 3: Air quality monitoring data available on the LAWA website.). Horizons’ regional customers can continue to access up-to-date records for Taumarunui and Taihape from Horizons’ AirMatters website.
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Item 8 Item
AnnexA
Figure 5 and Figure 6: Air quality monitoring data available on the LAWA website.
Envirolink Update:
The Envirolink Fund Provides funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) – Science and Innovation for regional councils to engage research from the Crown Research Institutes (CRI’s) and universities. Horizons is a proactive subscriber of the fund, which has been instrumental for adaptive management tools that translate environmental science into practical advice.
4.2.10 Since Envirolink’s inception on 1 December, 2005, Horizons has received a total of around $1.6M worth of science advice through the funding scheme. Over the course of 2015-2016, Horizons secured ten Envirolink projects, totalling $139,810. The outcomes of the findings of the projects
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are reported against the activities of the other Science monitoring and research sections of the Environment Committee report as and when the projects are completed. At the time of reporting (August 2016), three of the projects are still to be finished. To recap, the projects for 2015-2016
are: Item 8 Item A groundwater / surface water interaction study for Ohau and Waikawa Stream – a workshop with GNS to identify the parameters and sample methods Horizons can use for this study ($5,000) - complete;
Creating nutrient budgets for coastal dune lakes - advice from NIWA on the information required to complete nutrient budgets and then how to create nutrient budgets using Lake Horowhenua as a case study ($19,810) – awaiting draft report;
A report on methods to assess the preferential uptake of ammonia by periphyton – a literature review and proposed monitoring methodology from NIWA ($20,000) - complete;
The use of pheromone samplers for monitoring lamprey populations – advice from NIWA on a novel technique to monitor this culturally important taonga species ($20,000) - complete;
Climate change projections for Horizons – regionally tailored analysis by NIWA of the IPCC Fifth Assessment ($20,000) – in final draft;
An assessment on the susceptibility of Horizons’ estuaries to nutrient enrichment and sedimentation – advice from NIWA and Wriggle on how to apply the estuarine trophic index to the Region’s estuaries ($20,000) – awaiting final report;
Revision of Horizons’ wetlands biodiversity monitoring systems – advice from Landcare Research as to the value of and any changes to the Top 100 wetlands monitoring and AnnexA assessment programme ($5,000) – complete;
Coastal lakes prioritisation – advice from NIWA on the information needed to prioritise coastal lakes management and monitoring ($5,000) – complete;
Feral goats as exacerbators of soil erosion – a literature review by Landcare Research on the effects of feral goats on soil conservation ($5,000) – complete;
Options and implications for implementing nutrient management rules using farm-specific soil data according to Overseer best practice standards - advice from Landcare Research ($20,000) – awaiting final report.
Climate Change and Variability Horizons Region (NIWA, 2016)
Observed increases in temperature (globally averaged) since the mid-20th century are now having measurable effects in many parts of the world. A recent (2013-2014) assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations caused by human activities have led to changing temperatures, and that continued emissions of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and changes in all parts of the climate system. Resulting projections for global and regional changes in temperature, sea level, and precipitation for the coming century, point to an expected increase in the frequency of heavy rainfall events.
New Zealand has warmed by 0.09 ± 0.03°C per decade since 1909, with more heat waves, fewer frosts, more rain in the south and west of New Zealand, less rain in the north and east of the North and South Islands, and a rise in sea level since 1900 of 1.7 ± 0.1 mm/yr. During the 21st century, New Zealand’s climate will certainly warm further.
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The Ministry for the Environment climate change guidance manuals recommend that councils should build consideration of climate change into their planning activities rather than considering them in isolation, and should take a risk management approach. Consultation and discussion with stakeholders (e.g. groups of farmers, iwi) to help them identify climate-related risks and ways of building resilience will also be important
to preparing our Region for an increase in the frequency of heavy rainfall events. Item 8 Item
A recent review of climate change projections and potential impacts for the Horizons Region, since the publication of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report in 2013 and 2014, has been provided by NIWA. This report describes climate changes which may occur over the coming century for the region administered by the Horizons Regional Council, and outlines some possible impacts of these changes (NIWA, 2016), such as
predicted changes in seasonal precipitation (Figure 7).
AnnexA
Figure 7: Projected seasonal precipitation changes (in %) at 2040 (2031-2050 average). Relative to 1986-2005 average, for the IPCC RCP 8.5 scenario, averaged over 41 climate models. Image courtesy of NIWA.
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4.3 Environmental Research Summary
Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date
Ongoing through a range of programmes. Item 8 Item Delivery of the SoE Portfolio 2015-16 and development of the 2016-17 Science and Innovation Operational Plan. An assessment of the water quality outcomes from implementation of the One Plan rules around nutrient management in the Mangatainoka Catchment has been completed and reported to One Plan Monitoring Ongoing information Council. and Evaluation, and collection and analysis to State of Environment Technical guidance to the interpretation and inform future SoE reporting Reporting implementation of Policy 5-6 for maintaining groundwater quality. Audit and archiving of groundwater daily and annual allocation data is underway to inform reporting of groundwater use for the One Plan implementation dashboard. A bibliography of the 2015-16 science reports including results of state of the environment monitoring is available.
Information provision to the Information provision to external organisations has public and external continued. agencies The Air Matters and Water Matters websites continue to provide up to date information on a daily basis.
AnnexA Provide environmental The annual update of water quality information for the information LAWA website was completed in September. Information provision via Analysis of the state and trend of water quality was websites completed for the nation’s data in October. Provision of Air Quality data through LAWA in June. Project team established to deliver the update to the water modules within LAWA for September 2016. Air quality monitoring continues in the Taihape and Taumarunui airsheds. Air quality monitoring and reporting Investigation into recent air quality measurements in Monitoring and Taumarunui is complete and application made to reporting on MfE for Exceptional Event. environmental health (air quality) Education material on encouraging healthier heating Air quality public education is being promoted and our website is being updated. campaign – cleaner heating Region wide radio campaigns for firewood collection (February 2016) and good heating (June 2016).
Harold Barnett ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
Maree Patterson SENIOR SCIENTIST – WATER QUALITY
James Lambie SCIENCE COORDINATOR
Abby Matthews SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MANAGER
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5 Land Research and Monitoring
5.1 Plan Targets Item 8 Item The Land Research and Monitoring section reports on the Land Management Research and Monitoring service in the Annual Plan, which includes the fluvial monitoring and research, and land monitoring and research activity. This work is closely linked to other research and monitoring activities, and provides information for management of gravel takes, flood protection schemes, land application of wastewater, and the SLUI programme.
Brief updates for the reporting period (1 June 2016 - 31 July 2016) are provided in the sections below. Reporting against the full year (100%) target is provided in the table at the end of this section.
Reporting Period YTD Target Measure Actual 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Track changes in the health of the 20% 20% 20% 15% 17% 8% 100% 100% Region’s land and fluvial resource *1 Inform policy and non-regulatory 20% 20% 20% 15% 17% 8% 100% 100% programme development *1
Assess policy and implementation 20% 20% 20% 15% 17% 8% 100% 100% effectiveness *1 *1 AP/LTP targets
5.2 Activity Report AnnexA Fluvial monitoring and reporting:
The fluvial survey programme provides information on the changes in levels of aggradation or degradation of river channels and berms. This information is important for the management of gravel takes from the Region’s rivers and flood protection schemes, and as an indicator of the efficacy of programmes such as SLUI. The work is coordinated by a cross-organisational team involving Science, River Management, and Survey staff.
5.2.1 As previously reported, the 2015-16 field programme is complete, with the Survey team having undertaken bed level surveys of Oroua River, the Makino Stream, selected sections in the Kiwitea Stream and the Waikawa Stream.
5.2.2 At the time of reporting (August 2016), staff have had an initial meeting to discuss the scope and logistics of undertaking the survey of the lower Rangitikei River as part of the 2016-17 programme. Reporting of the results of the 2015-16 surveys is also programmed to occur over 2016-17. Horizons engineers undertake the data analysis and reporting of fluvial surveys and these are normally reported through the Catchment Operations Committee.
Gravel extraction:
The collection and storage of information on the amount of gravel being extracted from schemes and consents is an ongoing project, with gravel returns reported quarterly.
5.2.3 The figure below depicts the volumes of gravel extraction over the 2015-16 financial year compared to previous years. At the end of quarter four this financial year, the reported gravel extraction amounts were similar to those reported in 2014-15.
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600,000
) 3 500,000
Item 8 Item 400,000 Q4 300,000 Q3 200,000 Q2 Q1
100,000 Gravelvolume extracted (m
0 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 Financial Year
Figure 8: Extracted gravel volumes from 2011-12 financial year to the 2015-16 financial year showing the extraction in each quarter. Quarter 1 (Q1) is July, August and September, Quarter 2 (Q2) is October, November, and December, Quarter 3 (Q3) is January, February and March, Quarter 4 (Q4) is April, May and June.
Sedimentation and river schemes:
A new long-term research programme is being developed to investigate options that extend the life of the flood protection infrastructure by improving knowledge about sediment movement and deposition in rivers.
5.2.4 At the time of reporting (August 2016), the LiDAR survey of the Oroua River and Lower Manawatu
AnnexA River has been flown with the exception of areas of the west coast. The remainder of the data is expected to be acquired by November 2017. The 2016-17 programme will involve the processing and analysis of the LiDAR information, and ongoing discussion on methods to determine the sources of aggrading sediment and approaches to manage the issue.
The suitability of tephra to treat wastewater
Massey University, with support from Horizons, has been testing tephra for its suitability to strip phosphorus from partially-treated municipal wastewater. Research to date has demonstrated that some andesitic tephra soils show promise as low-cost media for the removal of dissolved reactive phosphorus. Horizons continues to engage with Massey in further research work associated with the full-scale use of tephra for polishing treated effluent at Dannevirke. The project also evaluates the agronomic use of tephra media once its absorption capacity has been exhausted. This is year two of a three year PhD project initiated in November 2014.
5.2.5 The pilot study at Dannevirke Sewage Treatment Plant was extended to look at optimising the phosphorus removal efficiency of tephra after sieving and pH dosing was completed in late 2015. The purpose of the study was to improve the performance of the pilot-scale tephra soil filters compared to a previous study (Hanly et al., 2013a) using the Site 17 soil (from a quarry near Ohakune). This previous pilot study only achieved a total of 2.14 mg P/g soil compared to the laboratory study, which removed 7.2 mg P/g soil (Hanly et al., 2012).
5.2.6 This current study started on the 20th November 2013 and operated for 440 days. Changes in Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus (DRP) concentrations for the untreated wastewater and soil filter treated wastewater were measured in two soil filters. Results to date are encouraging: by the end of the study the filters had removed around 2/3 (67%) of the phosphorus from the wastewater (Figure 10).
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Item 8 Item
Figure 10: Relationships between cumulative DRP added to the filters in wastewater and estimated cumulative
DRP load removed by the filters.
AnnexA
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5.3 Land Research and Monitoring Summary
Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date Survey work in the Kawhatau River, Makuri-iti Stream, Upper
Item 8 Item Whanganui River, Upper Mangahao River and Mangatainoka River was completed last year. The 2015-16 survey programme originally included the Lower Cross-sectional survey Rangitikei River – this has been re-scheduled to 2016-17. Fluvial information to inform Survey of the Oroua River (122 cross sections) has been monitoring and gravel management and completed. research to flood control works inform gravel Survey of the Makino Stream (57 sections) and selected management sections of the Kiwitea Stream (6) have been completed. Survey of the Waikawa River (50 sections) has been completed. Gravel extraction data continues to be collected and collated Gravel use monitoring on a quarterly basis. DHI has scoped development of a catchment/sediment transport model to inform long-term management decisions around flood protection schemes. Staff have reviewed the report, River Management staff have revised the project scope, and the Survey team is completing a stocktake of the information available for the project.
Scoping of a model to Sedimentation Project team determined the immediate priorities for collection inform long-term and river of new information, and LiDAR survey of the Manawatu and management of schemes schemes Oroua Rivers was commissioned. in relation to sediment By August 2016, much of the new LiDAR imagery was captured.
Staff are discussing the next steps for this project once the AnnexA new LiDAR data is received. Existing LiDAR survey information continues to be prepped for the comparative analysis. Staff advice and input Lake into fluvial/land Staff provided technical input into the integrated storm water Horowhenua implementation projects management project and the sediment trap wetland project of implementation as part of the Lake the Lake Horowhenua Clean-Up Fund project. projects support Horowhenua Clean-Up Fund project The Dairy Shed Effluent Storage Calculator and the Town Effluent Calculator, tools developed by this research portfolio, continue to be used on a regular basis. Horizons continues to support the on-site wastewater system trials at Rotorua, along with many other funding partners. Staff continue to support and assist Territorial Authorities Information around (mainly the Horowhenua and Rangitikei District Councils) and wastewater treatment on the general public with approvals of design and queries about Informing land land, including dairy farm on-site wastewater systems design and management. treatment of effluent, on-site wastewater wastewater treatment The pilot trial of municipal effluent treatment using tephra at and land treatment of Dannevirke is complete. municipal wastewater Filter material from the Dannevirke pilot study will be utilised in a glasshouse experiment to evaluate the fertiliser use of the tephra. Research findings from the tephra investigations are now being scaled up into full-scale systems. The Manawatu Clean- Up Fund has supported systems being constructed at Dannevirke and Woodville.
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Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date
Envirolink funding was received to investigate the efficacy of the SLUI programme under different predicted climate change Predicting water Information on expected scenarios.
quality outcomes 8 Item water quality results from Landcare Research has provided a final report. A summary of from the SLUI work under different results was reported in the Environment Committee report of Sustainable SLUI management October 2015. Land Use scenarios Initiative (SLUI) An updated estimate of water quality outcomes from SLUI implementation to the end of 2015 has been provided by Landcare Research.
Envirolink funding has been received to investigate leaching Report and gather on representative sheep and beef farms in the Mangatainoka Nutrient leaching information on nutrient Catchment. from sheep and leaching from sheep and beef farms beef farms in the Landcare Research has provided a final report. A summary of Mangatainoka Catchment results were reported in the Environment Committee Report of October 2015.
Support of events that DairyNZ and Horizons held a workshop in August 2015 to Supporting complete extension and share knowledge around nutrient management, including extension and research communication looking at some of the nutrient management approaches from research with farmers and the other regions and at the new science underway around communication
industry nutrient management.
Report implications of Envirolink funding has been received to investigate options Overseer and using farm-scale soils and implications for implementing nutrient management rules soils data data in Overseer using farm-scale soil data in Overseer.
AnnexA Harold Barnett ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
Maree Patterson SENIOR SCIENTIST – WATER QUALITY
James Lambie SCIENCE COORDINATOR
Abby Matthews SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MANAGER
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6 Biodiversity Research & Monitoring
6.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress Item 8 Item Reporting Period YTD Measure Target 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Actual Track changes in the health of the Region’s 20% 20% 20% 15% 17% 8% 100% 100% living heritage *1 Inform policy, habitat protection, and 20% 20% 20% 15% 17% 8% 100% 100% biosecurity programme development *1 Assess policy and implementation 20% 20% 20% 15% 17% 8% 100% 100% effectiveness *1 *1 AP/LTP targets
6.2 Activity Report
A summary of progress made against the targets during the year is provided in the table at the end of this section. Further brief updates for the reporting period (1 June, 2016 - 31 July, 2016) are included in the
sections below.
Regional Biodiversity Monitoring Programme:
The objective of this project is to review Horizons’ current terrestrial and wetlands biodiversity inventory and monitoring systems, to check that these match the information needed to assess the effectiveness of policy
implementation. The project also aims to determine what additional monitoring is needed to assess policy AnnexA effectiveness and Horizons’ capacity to adopt the nationally consistent regional council biodiversity indicators.
6.2.1 Staff completed testing of the “Top 200” monitoring protocol. The objective this year was to produce a system for assessing the implementation of the “Top 200” programme and bush remnant condition. Over the course of the year 12 sites were assessed for the quality of the “inputs” measures (such as, fencing, control of weed infestation and pest animal) and “outputs” measures (such as, forest canopy cover and quantitative measure of regenerating understorey vegetation). The 2016-17 programme has now been drafted and includes a plan to assess a further 12 actively managed sites. The 2016-17 project plan also includes provision for reporting the monitoring results.
6.2.2 Staff completed the field work for, and are in the process of finalising the report on the assessment of the managed wetland sites in the Manawatu River catchment. Staff have also completed the report for the Coastal Lakes Wetlands assessment. Both reports conclude that the wetlands condition and integrity scoring system developed over the last two years is sufficiently robust enough to detect coarse scale ecological improvements in managed sites versus unmanaged sites. The Manawatu River Catchment wetlands report however also confirms that it will be difficult to measure the long-term effects of hydrological changes in swampy wetlands using the scoring system, and recommends adoption of Landcare Research’s earlier advice regarding a fixed plot system to close that knowledge gap. The 2016-17 programme includes an analysis of the financial implications of adopting this advice.
Forest Fragment and Wetlands Monitoring Programmes:
The objective of this activity is to continue to collect and maintain records on the condition and extent of high priority bush remnants and wetlands, and to track changes over time.
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6.2.3 As reported above, 12 bush remnants were visited to trial a monitoring protocol for assessing bush remnant condition and change over time.
6.2.4 The re-survey of palustrine (swampy) wetland systems in the Manawatu Catchment concluded with a total of 35 for wetland extent and condition. Table 1 below presents a summary of the results. The pressure index results tend to remain unchanged over time (regardless of 8 Item management regime), which is expected as none of the catchments have undergone land use changes that are significant enough to change the score. The condition index shows a general trend of maintenance/improvement across the fully managed sites. The condition of one DOC managed site (Makerua Swamp) declined. For the edge condition index the managed sites either remained the same or improved. This trend highlights the effectiveness of the Wetland Top 100 programme. The trends for the ecological condition index show fully managed sites tend to be improving whereas partially managed sites have largely remained the same. For the wetland integrity measure there is a general trend of maintaining or improving regardless of the management regime. There has been no decline in this measure for the fully managed sites.
Table 1: Summary of the changes in Manawatu River Catchment wetlands pressures and condition scores over time. State Fully Managed Partially Unmanaged managed Pressure index Improved 1 0 0 (threats that are in the Stable 10 8 7 catchment) Declined 1 Condition index Improved 6 3 4 (the extent of change from Stable 4 2 1
the likely original state of AnnexA the wetland) Declined 1 4 2 Edge condition index Improved 5 2 3 (the threats to the wetlands Stable 6 4 2 margin) Declined 0 3 2 Ecological condition index Improved 5 1 3 (native dominance and pest Stable 6 7 4 presence) Declined 0 1 Wetland integrity index Improved 5 1 2 (hydrological intactness) Stable 6 6 4 Declined 0 2 1
6.2.5 The report on the condition of the wetland margin of the Region’s coastal lakes is complete. Table 2 below presents a summary of the results. The report has found that for the pressures index scores remain the same regardless of the management regime. Fully and partially managed sites either remained the same or improved for the condition index. One unmanaged lake declined in condition. There is a general trend of increase or maintenance for partially and fully managed sites across the edge condition index. Horizons’ management practises are effective at maintaining or improving ecological condition scores. One unmanaged site declined in ecological condition. The results of the wetland integrity index mirror those of the ecological condition index, although one fully managed site (Lake Papaitonga) declined due to the presence of a drain that was put in sometime between 2003 and 2006. One unmanaged site also declined over the monitoring period.
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Table 2: Summary of the changes in Coastal lakes pressures and condition scores over time.
Fully Partially State Unmanaged Managed managed
Pressure index Improved 1 0 0 Item 8 Item (threats that are in the Stable 11 2 7 catchment) Declined 0 0 0 Condition index Improved 7 2 2 (the extent of change from the likely original state of the Stable 5 0 4 wetland) Declined 0 0 1 Edge condition index Improved 6 2 1 (the threats to the wetlands Stable 6 0 5 margin) Declined 0 0 1 Ecological condition index Improved 8 2 3 (native dominance and pest Stable 4 0 3 presence)
Declined 0 0 1 Wetland integrity index Improved 8 2 3 (hydrological intactness) Stable 3 0 3
Declined 1 0 1 AnnexA
Totara Reserve Regional Park Outcomes Monitoring:
As part of the package of preserving and enhancing the natural heritage of the Totara Reserve, Horizons undertakes the control of invasive weeds and animals that threaten indigenous biological diversity. This project covers a range of activities that, together, inform decision-making regarding the control of pest plant and animals, and the biodiversity outcomes that accrue.
6.2.6 The report for the bird and pest monitoring for 2015-16 is complete and concludes six years of rat and mustelid monitoring of the Regional Park and four years of comparative bird monitoring between the Regional Park and the untreated “Kahikatea Zone”.
6.2.7 The report finds that the 2015-16 intensive rat control programme was successful in driving rat numbers down to half that of the numbers in the non-treatment block. The target of sub-5% Rat Tunnel Tracking Index remains unreached, but the report concludes that this target is largely irrelevant except to provide a standard by which effort might be gauged. As long as rat control input remains as high as that achieved in 2015-16, rat tracking outcome monitoring can be ceased and the time diverted toward controlling more pests.
6.2.8 Tui and kereru numbers increased proportionally better in the Regional Park this year when compared to tui and kereru numbers in the non-treatment block. While it is erroneous to conclude that the protection of tui and kereru from rats during nesting caused this effect (the bird monitoring took place at the same time as the intensive rat control, and therefore is not monitoring fledging success), it is likely that habitat enhancement and reduction of competition with rats (and possums) have contributed to increased tui and kereru numbers at Totara Reserve.
6.2.9 A number of bird species declined across all sites over the monitoring period. This is particularly evident for fantail and bellbird. The effect appears related to something other than the efficacy of pest management and may be outside the influence of Horizons to manage. This study has
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identified that the habitat differences between the Regional Park and the non-treatment block is a key driver of the differences seen in bird numbers between sites. The non-pest drivers of bird numbers will remain a significant influence over bird numbers in the Regional Park. The report recommends the continuation of the bird monitoring programme to track bird change over time as
the main means of assessing the biodiversity value of the Regional Park. Item 8 Item
6.2.10 Whitehead are the pin-up bird for the Regional Park, being a species that is relatively uncommon, but persistently seen at both the Fern Walk and along the Pettifar Loop Walk. Reiterating a point made previously to the Environment Committee, whiteheads are only found in the North Island. Their numbers over the North Island have generally been in decline although several relocations have been successful (New Zealand Birds Online). The maintenance of the natural Regional Park population is something to celebrate and improvement of the population something work on.
Pest Management Support:
Horizons prepares pest management plans for managing pest
plant and animal threats to the Region’s productive capacity and living heritage. Largely drafted during 2014-16, Horizons’ Photo 2: Adult whitehead, Ruatiti Domain, new Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) and Regional February 2013. Image copyright for Tony Biosecurity Strategy and Programmes (BSP) documents Whitehead, via NZ Birds Online. are proposed to replace existing pest management strategic
documents. AnnexA 6.2.11 Over the course of 2015-16 staff provided input to the refinement of the proposed RPMP and BSP, culminating in the Council deliberation on 14 June 2016. Over the June period, staff continued to work on changes to the Plan inspired by Council and submitter comments. At the time of reporting (August 2016), an amendment to the proposed plan is being undertaken, following the consultation earlier in 2016.
6.2.12 The significant task at present is getting the amended proposal ready for the Council to consider in September. Once Council have approved the amended proposal, the drafting of the plan into the national template and drafting of the final decision will be undertaken.
6.2.13 Another key pest management support task for the science team is assisting with the review of the Possum Control operation programme.
Biodiversity information requests:
The objective of this project is to provide support, information and advice – over and above formal contribution to the resource consenting and compliance technical assessments – to other staff, the public, and individuals seeking to undertake activities that may trigger the One Plan biodiversity rules or related to biodiversity restoration works.
6.2.14 Staff provided information and advice to the public and potential consent applicants 7 times during the reporting period.
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6.3 Monitoring Summary
Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date Rat and mustelid All 2015-16 monitoring is complete and data loaded. Item 8 Item monitoring Results reported. Totara Reserve outcome Monitoring for 2015-16 has completed and data are Bird monitoring being assessed. Results reported. Field survey complete and data analysed against Dr Lake wetland margin Singer’s recommendations. assessment Report in preparation. Trials of the assessment method have been Swamp wetland completed and 35 wetlands have been surveyed. assessment Forest fragments and Report in preparation. wetlands 12 bush remnants have been visited to test the “Top 200” bush remnants recently developed “Top 200” bush remnants monitoring development monitoring protocol. “Top 100” wetlands Workshop with Dr Clarkson complete. monitoring development Workshop results reported. The biodiversity working group has met to discuss the
progression of the implementation of the three “easy” Biodiversity indicators indicators. Regionally consistent The final indicators report in preparation. biodiversity monitoring The Biodata Services Stack Steering Team has met to and information sharing discuss the advancement of integrated biodiversity
Biodata Services Stack data management nationally, including a business AnnexA case for funding the New Zealand Organisms Register. Formal information requests, which result in a letter Provide information with disclaimer, are being served at a rate of approximately one per month. Information requests Undertake RMA advice Advice being delivered as required. site visits Provision of pre-consent advice to potential applicants One Plan implementation continues. Public submissions and hearing has been undertaken. RPMP Changes to Plan are being drafted. Staff presented the Bio-data Services Stack (BSS) Pest management weeds work at the National Education and Training support Seminar (NETS) held by the New Zealand Biosecurity Pest management advice Institute. Envirolink project for feral goat impacts on soil erosion is complete. Staff have met with Waikato University and NIWA staff and workshopped the prioritisation of lakes Coastal lakes Alignment of work on implementation and research work. prioritisation lakes. A review (Envirolink funded) of work to date has been concluded.
James Lambie Abby Matthews SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MANAGER SCIENCE COORDINATOR
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Report No. 16-189 Decision Required
SCIENCE OPERATIONAL PLAN 2016-17 9 Item
1. PURPOSE 1.1. This item is to present to Members’ the draft Science and Innovation Operational Plan for 2016-17 and seek Councils endorsement of this plan.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-189 and Annex. b. recommends that Council formally adopt and release the 2016-17 Operational Plan as described in this item.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There are no financial impacts associated with this item. The Operational Plan reflects previously endorsed budgets approved as part of Council’s annual planning and long term planning processes.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. The community have had the opportunity to comment on budgetary aspects of the Operational Plan referred to in this item as part of the engagement and submissions run during the long term planning processes. The plan will be made available to the community via Council’s website once it has been formally released.
5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 5.1. There is no significant business risk associated with this item.
6. DISCUSSION The direction and intent of Horizons’ Science and Innovation Operational Plan is to inform and support decision making around the sustainable development of our Region’s natural resources including land, water, air and biodiversity. In addition to Horizons’ core monitoring programmes, the Operational Plan sets out the functional tasks, projects and overarching work programmes for the Science and Innovation team during the 2016-17 reporting year. Recent investment by Council via Horizons’ 2015-25 Long-term Plan provides for a more holistic and cohesive monitoring and research programme that incorporates a number of key work streams: Catchment-scale conceptual and numerical modelling to improve our understanding of the availability of freshwater resources and the effects of their use; Investigations into the effects of land use on both the health of our freshwater ecosystems and the suitability of our rivers, streams and lakes for recreational use;
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Item 9 Item Growth of our collaborative research partnerships with Massey University, investigating the fate and transport of nutrients; Advancing the production of natural resource accounts to meet national reporting requirements; Development of a new work programme, in partnership with research agencies, investigating the effects of high country erosion and sediment transport on flood scheme infrastructure, water quality and ecosystem health; and Scoping and development of a catchment-scale reporting framework to provide stakeholders and the community with a more holistic understanding of the health of our Region’s waterways and ecosystems. By providing a solid scientific foundation for resource management decision making, we create an opportunity to unlock the Region’s potential for growth, while protecting and enhancing our environment, where needed. This knowledge also enables Horizons to address existing environmental issues, and respond effectively to emerging pressures on our natural resources. Our Operational Plan aims to provide a forward-thinking, effective and efficient science programme that continues to advance our understanding of our Region’s natural resources. This will be delivered through targeted monitoring and research to underpin sustainable resource management decision-making, and guide policy implementation and future development. The 2016-17 work programme also seeks to improve the communication of our science to Council, and to the people of our Region.
7. SIGNIFICANCE 7.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES A Science Operational Plan 2016-17
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9 Item
Science and Innovation Operational Plan 2016-17
AnnexA
August 2016
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Item 9 Item
Authors
Abby Matthews: Science and Innovation Manager James Lambie: Coordinator Science Maree Patterson: Senior Scientist - Water Quality Logan Brown: Freshwater and Partnerships Manager Raelene Mercer: Environmental Scientist - Water Quantity Harold Barnett: Environmental Scientist Michael Patterson: Senior Research Associate Manas Chakraborty: Senior Research Associate Stephen Collins: Research Associate Jon Roygard: Group Manager Natural Resources and Partnerships
AnnexA Front Cover Photos Horizons Regional Council
August 2016 ISBN: 978-1-927259-57-3 Report No: 2016/EXT/1488
CONTACT 24 hr Freephone 0508 800 800 [email protected] www.horizons.govt.nz
Kairanga Cnr Rongotea and Levin Kairanga-Bunnythorpe 11 Bruce Road Roads Palmerston North Palmerston North 11-15 Victoria Avenue Taihape SERVICE REGIONAL DEPOTS Torere Road CENTRES HOUSES Marton Wanganui Ohotu Hammond Street 181 Guyton Street Woodville Taumarunui 116Votel Street 34 Maata Street
POSTAL Horizons Regional Council, Private Bag 11025, Manawatu Mail Centre, Palmerston North 4442 F 06 9522 929 ADDRESS
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FOREWORD
The direction and intent of Horizons’ Science and Innovation Operational Plan is to inform and support decision making around the sustainable development of our Region’s natural resources 9 Item including land, water, air and biodiversity. To enable the Region to embrace opportunities for growth, while protecting and enhancing our environment, we require innovative solutions and new thinking beyond the traditional approaches we are familiar with. This is necessary if we are to address existing environmental issues and respond effectively to emerging pressures on our natural resources. Our Science and Innovation Operational Plan for 2016-17 strives to meet these objectives.
In addition to delivery of Horizons’ core monitoring programmes, the Science and Innovation team has, through the recent investment by Council via the 2015-25 Long-term Plan, provided a more cohesive and integrated work programme that aims to improve our understanding of our Region’s natural resources. This Operational Plan sets out the functional tasks, projects and overarching work programmes for the Science and Innovation team during the 2016-17 reporting year. Key projects include:
Catchment-scale conceptual and numerical modelling to improve our understanding of the
availability of freshwater resources and the effects of their use;
Investigations into the effects of land use on both the health of our freshwater ecosystems and the suitability of our rivers, streams and lakes for recreational use; Growth of our collaborative research partnerships with Massey University, investigating the fate and transport of nutrients and the suitability of different catchments for primary
productivity; AnnexA Advancing the production of natural resource accounts to meet national reporting requirements; Development of a new work programme, in partnership with research agencies, investigating the effects of high country erosion and sediment transport on flood scheme infrastructure, water quality and ecosystem health; and Scoping and development of a catchment-scale reporting framework to provide stakeholders and the community with a more holistic understanding of the health of our Region’s waterways and ecosystems.
Rapid global advances in science and technology continue to provide new tools and techniques that can improve our understanding of the Region’s natural resources and help us manage them in a sustainable way that provides for both the needs of our community and the environment. With increasing public awareness, and interest in the management of natural resources, there is an increasing need for Horizons to work together with stakeholders and the community to make informed decisions around optimising the use of natural resources, while making our Region a great place to live, work and play.
With these objectives in mind, our aim is to deliver a forward-thinking, effective and efficient research and monitoring programme that continues to advance our understanding of our Region’s natural resources. Our Science and Innovation programme for 2016-17 aims to provide targeted science and research to underpin sustainable resource management decision-making, to guide policy implementation and future development, and seeks to improve the communication of our science to the people of our Region.
Abby Matthews SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MANAGER
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Item 9 Item
AnnexA
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Table of Contents
1 Introduction 9 Item 2 2016-17 Programme Objectives 3 Delivery 4 Monitoring Programmes 4.1 Air Quality Monitoring 4.2 Biodiversity Monitoring 4.3 Water Allocation and Groundwater Monitoring 4.4 Water Quality Monitoring 4.5 Water Quality Biological Monitoring 4.6 Lakes Monitoring 4.7 Estuarine and Coastal Monitoring 4.8 Contact Recreation
4.9 Monitoring Network Review 4.10 Data Management 5 Science Research Programmes 5.1 Hydrogeology and Catchment Characterisation 5.2 Surface Water / Groundwater Investigations AnnexA 5.3 Innovative Science and Research 5.4 Land Management and Fluvial Research 5.5 Resource Accounting 5.6 Envirolink 6 Science for Policy 6.1 Policy Effectiveness Monitoring 6.2 On-site Waste Water Management 6.3 Nutrient Management and SMP Steering Group 6.4 State of the Environment Reporting 6.5 Pest Management Support 7 Science Communication 7.1 Catchment Summaries and Report Cards 7.2 LAWA 7.3 Public Information and RMA Advice 7.4 Community Engagement 7.5 National Engagement
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AnnexA
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14 September 2016 Item 9 Item
1 Introduction
The key role of Horizons’ Science and Innovation team is to inform evidence-based decision making through the provision of quality advice derived from considered analyses of information at hand. As such, the team is an “enabling” team in Horizons, with a part to play in coordinating the collection and dissemination of quality information at each stage of the process – including how best to collect the data in the field, data storage, analysis and reporting information to consumers. The team gathers a significant amount of information through working with other regional councils, central government and science providers. The focus of the Science and Innovation team is continually refined by the organisation’s needs. Council’s increased investment in monitoring and research for groundwater, water allocation and water quality, via the recent (2015-25) Long-term Plan (LTP), reflects the Region’s increasing need to understand and quantify water resources to support and inform regional growth and development, and to give effect to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (NPS-FM). Presently, the overall science programme is strongly focussed on freshwater management. The Science and Innovation team sits in the organisational structure under the Natural Resources and Partnerships Group, which includes implementation teams for biodiversity, biosecurity, land management and freshwater management. The Science and Innovation
team has essential monitoring and research functions to support those activities. AnnexA Over the team’s recent history, there has been development and review of core monitoring programmes to ensure that these programmes provide information relevant to the Regional Council’s need for State of Environment Reporting. The benefits of these monitoring programme upgrades are now showing through in products like the State of Environment report catchment summaries, a regular data feed into Land, Air and Water Aotearoa (LAWA), and the informed development of non-regulatory programmes to address water quality issues such as the Manawatu Freshwater Clean-up Fund and work around Lake Horowhenua. During the development of the One Plan, the Science and Innovation team had a considerable focus on informing policy development. Careful consideration has been given to align work programmes with the objectives, methods and anticipated environmental results set out in the One Plan, to support the Council’s need to monitor and report on policy effectiveness. Developing tools to inform management of natural resources has also been a focus of the Science and Innovation team over many years. Subsequently, the tools that have been developed (WaterMatters, dairy shed effluent storage calculator, AirMatters and others) continue to be at the core of the work that Horizons undertakes. To meet ever-increasing demands for fast and accurate environmental reporting, the team continues to seek opportunities, such as research partnerships and securing external funding, to deliver the programme. Careful priority setting is also an essential component of determining the work programme for each year. This year’s work programming has been undertaken with the organisational priorities in mind (relationship management, working as one, capability and capacity building, making regulation easy, creating an agile organisation) as well as the overarching targets set out in Horizons’ Long-term Plan.
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2 2016-17 Programme Objectives
Horizons’ science monitoring and research activity is divided across four key areas, as set
Item 9 Item out in Horizons’ Long-term Plan (LTP): Water Quality and Quantity; Land Management; Biosecurity and Biodiversity; and Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring.
Water Quality and Quantity Water Quality and Quantity activity will increase in 2016-17, with projects and programmes designed to improve knowledge and understanding of the Region’s water resource. The intention of this additional investment is to comply with the revised National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (NPS-FM), which requires a monitoring plan and freshwater quantity and quality accounting systems. It also requires regional councils to establish understanding around the thresholds for managing nutrients to ensure the health of our freshwater systems. Additionally, these programmes will inform the implementation of Regional Growth initiatives through the Accelerate25 programme. Finally, this information will also be useful to inform decision-making, State of Environment reporting and, in some cases, measurement of policy effectiveness. As set out in Horizons’ Annual Plan, planned work for 2016-17 includes: . Studying the interactions between groundwater and surface water, and their influence
on nutrient management;
. Ensuring the reporting needs of the national regulations for measurement of water takes and the reporting requirements of the revised NPS-FM are met; . Increased monitoring and science on periphyton in the Region’s rivers via targeted catchment-specific investigations;
AnnexA . Increased monitoring and reporting of lakes and estuaries in the Region; and . Improved reporting of water quality and water quantity information. The Water Quality and Quantity monitoring and research programmes are measured against three performance measures: (1) Track changes in the health of the Region’s water resource; (2) Inform policy and non-regulatory programme development; and (3) Assess policy and implementation effectiveness.
Land The Land Management Activity covers Horizons’ main land-based initiatives: the Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI); the Whanganui Catchment Strategy (WCS); and our Regional Land and Coastal Programme. While these programmes are undertaken as part of the Natural Resources and Partnerships Group function, Horizons’ Land and Fluvial Research and Monitoring programmes assist these programmes by informing prioritisation of the work programme and the effectiveness of the work programmes. In the Land Management Activity the two research programmes are: . Land research and monitoring, which includes support of the Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) programme, project work around effluent management and treatment, and further research generally in partnership with others around nutrient management on farms; and . Fluvial monitoring and research, which completes monitoring and project work around gravel management and sediment movement/storage in the Region’s rivers. A major component of this work is regular cross-section surveys of the Region’s rivers to measure changes in river channel capacity. The Land Management Activity is measured against three performance measures: (1) Track changes in the health of the Region’s water resource; (2) Inform policy and non-regulatory programme development; and (3) Assess policy and implementation effectiveness.
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Biosecurity and Biodiversity Biosecurity and biodiversity management are core functions of the Regional Council that
add significantly to the environmental, economic, social and cultural prosperity of the Region 9 Item 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 (Living Heritage 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. Biodiversity and biosecurity activity for scientific monitoring and research is measured against three performance measures: (1) Track changes in the health of the Region’s living heritage; (2) Inform policy, habitat protection and biosecurity programme development; and (3) Assess policy and implementation effectiveness.
Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring
Effective management of the Region’s natural resources is dependent on accurate and timely information about the environment and its health, ready access to this information and having this information packaged in a way that is understandable to 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, including the state of our natural environment, how it is changing and where AnnexA there might be opportunities for further growth and development. The State of the Environment reporting programme will continue to focus on sound communication of environmental information as a lynchpin to proactive policy development and implementation. Policy effectiveness monitoring will continue to focus on assisting the Strategy and Policy team with measuring the success of the implementation of the One Plan, in addition to supporting implementation programmes across the Natural Resources and Partnerships Group and wider organisation. The air quality monitoring programme will continue to monitor and report on air quality in Taihape and Taumarunui, the two air-sheds designated under the National Environmental Standard for Air Quality (Horizons Annual Plan contains a small budget to undertake such work). The Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring programmes are measured against four performance measures: (1) Complete State of the Environment reporting, including reviewing and updating environmental indicators; (2) Undertake policy and programme implementation effectiveness monitoring and provide input into programmes and policies that are in development; (3) Environmental information is made available to the public via Horizons’ website, Environment Committee reporting and ny request, including contributions to national level reporting; and (4) Monitor and report on air quality.
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3 Delivery
To ensure effective management and delivery of levels of service, each of the research
themes is divided into seven main portfolio areas: Item 9 Item . Air Quality Monitoring and Research; . Biodiversity Monitoring and Research; . Fluvial Monitoring and Research; . Land Monitoring and Research; . Surface Water Allocation and Groundwater Monitoring and Research; . Water Quality Monitoring and Research; and . State of the Environment Reporting and Policy Effectiveness Monitoring. These portfolios document the science projects for the year and include details of project milestones and tangibles. The Science and Innovation programme is funded by a mix of rates, resource user (“Section 36”) charges and by leveraging funding from partner agencies. The rates and resource user charges are specified in the Annual Plan and funding is spread over four activities: Water Quality and Quantity; Land, Biosecurity and Biodiversity; Environmental Reporting; and Air
Quality Monitoring. For some work, the Horizons’ Science and Innovation team is contracted by others to complete monitoring or science work, with the revenue contributing to the overall budget. Other sources of funding include: . Envirolink – small advice grants of up to $5,000 and medium advice grants of up to
$20,000 (and up to $40,000 with a partner council). AnnexA . Envirolink Tools – with other partners, research assistance grants that can be greater than $200,000. . Partnerships with councils – co-funded opportunities for environmental investigations and environmental reporting. . Partnerships with industry – co-funded workshops and science investigations. . Partnerships with research agencies – co-funded research opportunities. The delivery of the Science and Innovation portfolio, including reporting on project progress and summary information, is primarily made to Council though Environment Committee reports. The normal final project outputs include detailed reports for circulation among staff, Council, research partners, key stakeholders and the public. These are released at the time of their delivery. Horizons’ Science Monitoring and Research portfolios are becoming increasingly integrated, reflecting the inter-relationships between the different facets of our natural environment and the need to address these cohesively. To embrace that integration, the Science and Innovation Operational Plan for 2016-17 sets out this year’s work programme in four key areas of the Science and Innovation team’s business: (1) Monitoring changes in our Region’s natural resources (Core Monitoring Programmes); (2) Informing current and future natural resource management through scientific research, investigations and partnerships with external research providers (Science Research Programmes); (3) Ensuring the effectiveness of Horizons’ Regional Policy and Plan (One Plan), informing the refinement and development of policy and reporting against the national policy objectives set out in the NPS-FM (Science for Policy); and (4) Communicating our science in an engaging and informative way (Science Communication). Each piece of work is described by its objectives and context, along with a brief statement about the relevance of each project to Horizons’ Long-term Plan.
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The projects outlined in this Operational Plan form the complete targets for Science and Innovation Team to deliver this year, including a number of aspirational projects to be advanced if resources permit. It is recognised that projects and priorities may shift through
the year as issues arise and resourcing limits are struck. This may impact on the delivery of 9 Item some projects and any changes will be reported to Council, along with progress, via Environment Committee reports.
AnnexA
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4 Monitoring Programmes
Management of our Region’s natural resources requires knowledge and understanding of
the current state of the environment and changes that occur due to both natural conditions Item 9 Item and human impacts. This knowledge and understanding is developed through the collection of data and information around the Region, including air quality, freshwater quantity and quality, coastal and estuarine quality, contact recreation, ecosystem health and biodiversity. This section of the Operational Plan describes Horizons’ monitoring programmes and their goals and objectives for the 2016-17 reporting year. Additional work includes the scoping of a review of our existing monitoring network (refer 4.9) and the continuous improvement of the collection and use of data (refer 4.10).
4.1 Air Quality Monitoring
Portfolio: Air Quality Monitoring and Reporting Objective: To monitor air quality in the Taumarunui and Taihape airsheds and report monitoring results via Horizons’ Air Quality Matters website. Context: Air quality monitoring is carried out in the Taumarunui and Taihape airsheds to meet requirements of the National Environmental Standards (NES) for air quality, which
specify a 24-hour average threshold (standard) for fine particulate contaminants (PM10). The NES allows for one exceedance of the average standard per year (termed a ‘permissible exceedence’) before formal implementation of air quality management strategies. Any breaches of the NES will be investigated following a defined response protocol, and reported to Council through an Environment Committee report.
AnnexA The main component of the Air Quality Monitoring Programme is to continuously monitor the Taumarunui and Taihape airsheds to detect breaches and report the daily results to the community, in order to raise awareness of the problem. Information is provided to the public via AirQualityMatters, which is a dedicated air quality reporting page on Horizons’ website. In addition to monitoring, following up on potential breaches of the NES at both Taumarunui and Taihape is a high priority, including the installation of a new camera at Taihape to improve our ability to identify sources of any reported exceedances. Scoping of the cost and timing of replacement of the aging air quality monitoring units is also a focus for the 2016-17 programme. Maintaining collaborative relationships with the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and air quality science agencies is the most efficient means by which Horizons remains up to date with crucial industry knowledge developments. MfE is signalling potential inclusion of a very fine particulate matter (PM2.5) standard, and a discussion document is expected during the 2016-17 year. LTP Performance Measures: Environmental Monitoring and Reporting to “monitor and report on air quality”, to “complete state of the environment reporting”, to “undertake programme and policy effectiveness monitoring”, and to ensure that “environmental information is made available to the public via Horizons’ website, Environment Committee reporting and on request, including contributions to national reporting”.
4.2 Biodiversity Monitoring
Portfolio: Biodiversity Monitoring and Reporting LTP Performance Measures: Biodiversity Monitoring and Research “track changes in the health of the Region’s living heritage”.
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4.2.1 Forest Fragment and Wetlands Monitoring
Objective: To collect information and maintain records on the condition and extent of high priority bush remnants and wetlands to determine if management programmes are effective.
Context: Among the non-regulatory tools to protect and preserve indigenous biological 9 Item diversity in the Region, Horizons has a programme to actively manage 200 high priority bush remnants and 100 high priority wetlands. The anticipated environmental result is that the managed bush remnants and wetlands are in better condition than that measured prior to the One Plan becoming operative. As at 1 July 2016, Horizons had more than 58 wetlands and 116 bush remnants under active management programmes. The Science and Innovation team has supported this programme over many years by undertaking wetlands inventories throughout the Region and identifying priority sites. Now that Horizons is more than half way through the target number of actively managed sites under both programmes, the programme will shift toward assessing the state and trend of actively managed sites. The priorities for 2016-17 are to: . Continue to improve the methodology for tracking biodiversity state and trend in actively managed sites; . Investigate the degree to which SLUI Farm Plan retired sites overlap with high priority
bush and wetland sites;
. Maintain the integrity of the rapid ecological assessment and remnant prioritisation processes; and . Undertake site re-surveys as part of a structured policy effectiveness assessment, to determine if the One Plan’s anticipated environmental results for the wetlands and
forests are being met. AnnexA
4.2.2 Totara Reserve Regional Park Outcomes Monitoring
Objective: To report the survey and monitoring outcomes of pest management within Totara Reserve Regional Park. Context: Horizons has been vested the responsibility to manage Totara Reserve as a Regional Park. As part of the package of preserving and enhancing the natural heritage of the reserve, Horizons undertakes control of invasive weeds and animals that threaten indigenous biological diversity. To determine whether pest animal control is making a difference, a native bird monitoring programme was instigated in November 2012. Monitoring of the bird population will continue over the summer of 2016-17 so that a picture of trends can be built up.
4.3 Water Allocation and Groundwater Monitoring
Portfolio: Water Allocation and Groundwater LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “track changes in the health of the Region’s water resource”. Partnerships: Catchment Data, Survey, Catchment Information, Strategy and Policy teams, Crown Research Institutes, Ministry for the Environment, Territorial Authorities, Public Health Officers, irrigation suppliers, water users and community groups.
4.3.1 Surface Water Allocation
Objective: To manage and report on the surface water allocation-based monitoring programmes, including work completed as a part of the core hydrology programme.
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Context: Horizons undertakes a wide range of environmental monitoring programmes, including measurement of river level, flow, rainfall, soil moisture and gauging rivers during low flow. The detail of these programmes is documented in the Overview of Horizons’ Surface Water Monitoring Programmes (2011).
Item 9 Item This project is to set aside time to help coordinate the core monitoring programme, identify any changes to the programme, and account for the resources allocated to the Catchment Data team (Hydrology) so that they can undertake the core work. The core hydrology programme is guided by the Hydrology / Science Memo that describes (for all Science and Innovation portfolios) what the contents of the core hydrology programme are for the year, as well as any direct requests by the Science and Innovation team for time from the Catchment Data team. Provision of data to resource users and the public via Horizons’ WaterMatters website and LAWA is a core function of this programme. Checking on and prioritising data processing is a key role for staff in this project.
4.3.2 Groundwater Quantity
Objective: To track changes in regional groundwater quantity and identify areas of emerging pressure. Context: The groundwater quantity monitoring programme is one of the key components of groundwater management in Horizons’ Region. The groundwater monitoring network covers the Manawatu-Whanganui basin down to Horowhenua and the Tararua area of the
Manawatu catchments, where much of the Region’s groundwater abstraction occurs. Monitoring includes a continuous network of wells to monitor groundwater levels and track changes in water level response to changes in climate and water use, along with an extensive network of manually monitored wells that are surveyed monthly. The network has been maintained since the early 1990s, providing a 25-year record of groundwater levels in
AnnexA many wells. We continue to develop the network in response to emerging pressure, such as the recent expansion of monitoring in the Rangitikei area near Santoft, in response to changing land use and the associated water requirements in the area.
4.3.3 Groundwater Quality
Objective: To track changes in regional groundwater quality and identify areas of emerging pressure. Context: Changes in groundwater quality provide baseline information on the health of our Region’s aquifers and enable us to identify changes in quality due to natural processes and human impact, such as land use effects. Groundwater quality is sampled every three months across the Region for a wide range of parameters, including physical and chemical indicators, nutrients, metals and bacteria, to track changes in the suitability of the Region’s aquifers for a wide range of uses. Groundwater age is tested every five years to provide information about groundwater flow processes, such as where groundwater comes from (recharge), how and where it moves through the sub-surface (flux and flow) and where it ends up (discharge). This is important for understanding how groundwater resources can be used sustainably.
4.3.4 Seawater Intrusion
Objective: To identify early signs of seawater intrusion in coastal freshwater aquifers. Context: Groundwater moves slowly through the subsurface, eventually discharging to surface water bodies or the coast. Where groundwater does reach the coast, the freshwater mixes with more saline seawater before discharging to the sea. The position of this seawater interface or mixing zone varies depending on the elevation and location of the seawater boundary and rate of groundwater flow. If the rate of groundwater flow decreases,
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as a result of changing climate or abstraction, the interface can move inland and contaminate freshwater aquifers. Although the risk of seawater intrusion in the Manawatu-Whanganui area is likely to be relatively low, the potential impact to water users if contamination were to occur is
significant. To this end, Horizons maintains a network of eight seawater intrusion wells to 9 Item provide early warning of seawater ingress into freshwater aquifers along the western coastal margin. Each monitoring site provides continuous measurements of groundwater level and conductivity which are both indicators of changing groundwater flow and chemistry that would occur in the early stages of seawater intrusion.
4.3.5 National Monitoring Programmes
Objective: To provide a national perspective on groundwater quality and to identify changes in groundwater chemistry, age, and contamination. Context: In addition to State of the Environment (SoE) monitoring, Horizons also participates in a number of national monitoring programmes, including the National Pesticide Survey, National Age Tracer Survey and National Groundwater Monitoring Programme (NGMP). Groundwater quality is measured quarterly in tandem with Horizons’ SoE monitoring programme. Samples are analysed and reported by GNS Science. During 2016-17 a
review of the NGMP network is being carried out by GNS Science in collaboration with
regional councils to identify gaps and opportunities to improve the monitoring programme. Groundwater sites are also monitored every four years for pesticide contamination. Sampling is carried out by Horizons and samples are analysed and reported by The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR).
Groundwater age is tested every five years in wells throughout the Horizons Region. AnnexA Groundwater age provides information about the recharge sources and flow processes of groundwater in aquifers throughout New Zealand and helps us understand how to best manage land use and groundwater abstraction.
4.3.6 Water Metering and National Regulations
Objective: To quantify water use and to ensure that Horizons meets the requirements of the National Regulations on Water Measurement and Reporting and the requirements under the One Plan, as well as provide meaningful data for future freshwater accounting as required by the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (NPS-FM). Context: Water metering is a fundamental component of managing water allocation. The data is crucial for assessing the actual volumes of water taken compared to consented volumes. The actual water use information is used for assessing compliance, to make resource management decisions and to estimate river flows that would have occurred had there been no abstraction (the naturalised flow). The water metering programme is also vital for meeting Horizons’ requirements under the National Regulations on Water Measurement and Reporting (“the Regulations”) and requirements under the One Plan and NPS-FM. The water metering programme includes all aspects of water metering including manually provided records, telemetered records and records provided electronically by File Transfer Protocol (FTP). It also includes the processing and archiving of the records into a logical single archive. The project is delivered by a cross-organisational water metering team involving members from Catchment Data, Consents Monitoring and Science and Innovation.
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4.4 Water Quality Monitoring
Portfolio: Water Quality Annual Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “track changes in the Item 9 Item health of the Region’s water resource”. Partnerships: Catchment Data, Survey, Catchment Information, Strategy and Policy teams, Crown Research Institutes, Ministry for the Environment, Territorial Authorities, Public Health Officers, irrigation suppliers, water users.
4.4.1 SoE and Discharge Monitoring
Objective: To collect accurate water quality information from sites throughout the Region to: . Understand and report on environmental state and trend at sites depicting the cumulative catchment (zone) outputs; . Identify the drivers of deteriorating water quality (issues including and in addition to point-source discharges); . Measure the environmental response to policy in a temporal and spatial context; . Understand the effects of major point source discharges on water quality; and
. Assess compliance of point-source discharges with consent conditions. Context: This project encompasses the site identification, sampling regime, sample collection and laboratory analysis of water samples collected for State of the Environment reporting and monitoring discharges. A cross-organisation team is involved in the steering of this programme, with the Science and Innovation team identifying site selection and
AnnexA sampling regime, and the Catchment Data team coordinating field collection and programme delivery. The 2016-17 programme includes a review to determine the alignment of sites to support the NPS-FM requirements, any discharge sites that may have changed as a result of changes to discharge points, and alignment with the National Environmental Monitoring Standard for discrete water quality sampling once formally adopted. Additionally, the lab tender process will be commenced during the 2016-17 financial year.
4.4.2 Sediment Monitoring
Objective: To quantify sediment loads at selected sites, in order to determine baseline information and to detect trends and changes over time. Context: The amount of sediment in rivers reduces visual clarity, which in turn reduces the ability of sight-feeding fish to find food, and affects recreational values. Sediment on the bed of a river can be a source of nutrients and can impact physically on the invertebrates that live in the spaces in the bed of the river and their habitat, therefore affecting life-supporting capacity. Sediment reduces the flood channel capacity of rivers. Measurement of sediment is an indicator of the ongoing effectiveness of the Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) programme. The information collected from this monitoring programme is fed directly into SLUI as part of investigating the relationship between land use and sediment output. In 2012-13 a comprehensive analysis of sediment loads in the Region was undertaken and presented in the State of the Environment Report. In the 2016-17 year the information from this programme will be utilised to inform the wider sediment transport research programme (refer 5.4.1).
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4.4.3 Continuous Physico-Chemical Monitoring
Objective: To gather continuous temperature data to support SoE and Discharge programmes, and Policy effectiveness monitoring; and measure diurnal fluctuations in
dissolved oxygen (DO) at specific sites. Item 9 Item Context: As part of the core Water Quality SoE and Discharge programme, the Catchment Data team collects information on rainfall, atmospheric pressure, dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, stage and flow. This project is to set aside Catchment Data time to continue managing the temperature and DO data as it comes in and time for Science and Innovation to consider the implications of undertaking the recommendations of the Dissolved Oxygen Review.
4.4.4 Continuous Nitrate Sensor Trial
Objective: To validate the sensor to determine its suitability for use as a monitoring tool to measure nitrate-nitrogen continuously in the future. Context: Horizons, in partnership with Massey University and Ulster University (Ireland), installed a Nitratax sensor at the Manawatu River and Teachers College flow recording and water quality site in February 2016 as part of a 12-month trial of the sensor. If successful, a more accurate picture of nitrate fluxes can be developed than what is gained from monthly
grab samples.
4.4.5 External (Contract) Monitoring
Objective: To undertake monitoring contracted by external parties and to ensure costs of
monitoring are recovered from external agencies. AnnexA Context: Monitoring the effects of a point-source discharge on freshwater is a requirement of the consent for the discharge, and is the responsibility of the consent holder. The discharge monitoring component of the SoE and discharge monitoring programmes measures a number of the major point-source discharges monthly, so there is a potential double up of effort and cost. In order to maximise efficiencies, consent holders whose discharges are being monitored by Horizons were approached about sharing the cost and to contract to Horizons the undertaking of any additional consent monitoring. This project exists to ensure that costs are appropriately accounted for and recovered. Staff field time is charged out at external (LTP contract) rates. The contract rate is higher than the internal (staff recovery) rate. It is therefore expected that revenue surpluses will cover any un-charged time administering this project and ensure that clients are not being subsidised by ratepayers.
4.5 Water Quality Biological Monitoring
4.5.1 Periphyton Monitoring
Objective: To monitor and report on the state of periphyton (algal) growth as an index of river health in relation to nutrients, and the aesthetic and amenity perceptions associated with contact recreation. To develop a regional model or series of catchment-based models of the relationship between nutrients, flow regimes, and periphyton growth. Context: Periphyton is the community of slime and algae that grow on river beds. Periphyton is believed to proliferate to nuisance levels when there are low flows, suitable velocities, stable substrates, nutrient enrichment, and high sunlight and water temperatures. The aim of the project is to enable modelling of the relationship between nutrient levels, flow regimes and periphyton growth so as to better direct policies to control nuisance algae levels and to reduce effects of algae on river health and amenity values such as those associated with contact recreation. The project also allows policy effectiveness monitoring
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to be undertaken with regard to One Plan targets and the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (NPS-FM) requirements for chlorophyll-a and algae coverage. Following on from the state and trends report in 2015-16, this year’s focus is on
Item 9 Item understanding the drivers of periphyton growth within the Region’s waterways. The programme will also undertake a review of the monitoring network to consider representativeness, in response to recommendations made by the recent analysis of the periphyton data set. This may result in recommendations to review the periphyton monitoring programme.
4.5.2 Macroinvertebrate Monitoring
Objective: To measure and report on the state and trends of aquatic indicators of ecosystem health at the regional level, as well as the State Of Environment monitoring results. This project facilitates understanding of cause and effect with regard to impacts on water quality and aquatic ecosystem health, from activities such as land use practices and discharges of waste to water and land. Context: Macroinvertebrates are present within waterways throughout the year and generally have annual life cycles. This means that they are exposed to all in-stream conditions (floods, nutrients, sediment and algae) over a period of time within a waterway. The monitoring of macroinvertebrate communities therefore provides an integrated
indication of the health and life supporting capacity of waterways over annual time periods. While invertebrates respond to all environmental perturbations, they are particularly good at detecting the effects of land use practices on aquatic health. As with most ecosystems, aquatic ecosystems are complex interconnected systems. In order to better understand the relationship between macroinvertebrates and periphyton, and
AnnexA to link this project with the periphyton and water quality monitoring projects, periphyton samples will be taken in conjunction with the macroinvertebrate samples. Further investigation of areas identified as having poor macroinvertebrate communities will be undertaken as part of our catchment-scale investigations and groundwater and surface water interaction studies.
4.5.3 Didymo Monitoring
Objective: To undertake biosecurity surveillance for the presence of Didymosphenia geminata (didymo) within the Region’s high risk waterways, as agreed through the Lower North Island (didymo) Regional Response Group. Early detection is to allow for a range of management options to be implemented, depending on the impacted waterways. Context: Didymo is a type of algae that was first reported in New Zealand in the Lower Waiau River in 2004 and has since spread to a number of South Island rivers. Didymo sometimes forms massive blooms on the bottom of streams, river and lakes. It attaches itself to the streambed by stalks, and can form a thick brown layer that smothers the stream substrate. Nuisance growths have the potential to: . Adversely affect aquatic communities, changing physical stressors such as pH and dissolved oxygen; . Impact on recreational values (such as swimming and fishing); and . Reduce aesthetic values. While primarily a biosecurity exercise undertaken for the Biosecurity team, didymo monitoring is undertaken in part by the Science and Innovation team and is reported to the Council via Environment Committee.
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4.5.4 Fish Monitoring
Objective: To monitor and report on the state of freshwater fish communities as an index of river health at the regional level.
Context: Fish are ideal indicators of aquatic ecosystem health in rivers and streams. 9 Item Because they are near the top of the food-web, they integrate the contributing impacts (both natural and anthropogenic) on aquatic life-supporting capacity, and because they live in the aquatic environment continuously, the fish indicators reflect annual or longer-term timescales. Fish taxa include species that are sensitive to environmental impacts and species that are tolerant. The resulting fish community will contain relative proportions of species that reflect the in-stream and catchment condition, which can then be compared to a reference (natural) condition. This programme helps inform relationships between possible impacts on water quality and ecosystem health, such as discharges to water or intensification of land use, and resulting effects on aquatic biodiversity and life-supporting capacity. The monitoring results from this programme can therefore be used to assess the effectiveness of the catchment rehabilitation work being undertaken by the Freshwater team, including initiatives such as the Manawatu River Accord. The programme can also be used to assess the policy effectiveness of the One Plan, e.g., by detecting changes in the fish species composition in the Sites of Significance – Aquatic (SOS-A). A focus for 2016-17 is to complete a survey of all remaining SOS-A sites to bring our
knowledge of these populations up to date. Additionally, lamprey monitoring will be carried out to further our knowledge of the abundance and distribution of this species in the Whanganui catchment.
4.5.5 Stream Walking, Fish Pass Installation and Monitoring Effectiveness AnnexA Objective: To identify barriers to fish migrations then install and monitor the effectiveness of, fish passes in Horizons’ Region. Context: Many native fish species require access to the sea to complete part of their life cycle. In-stream structures, such as culverts and weirs, can interfere with the ability of fish to migrate and complete their life cycle. As part of the Manawatu River Accord and other restoration programmes within the Region, catchments that should have high native fish biodiversity values will be inspected in order to identify any barriers. Once barriers are identified and prioritised, fish passes will be installed on some of these barriers. In order to assess the effectiveness of these fish passes, a programme has been established to monitor a select number of fish barriers which have had remediation works undertaken, to ensure that the fish passes are effective. This work is carried out in conjunction with the Freshwater and Partnerships teams. LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “inform policy and non- regulatory programme development”.
4.5.6 Inanga Spawning Habitat Restoration
Objective: To identify inanga spawning habitat within the lower reaches of rivers/streams and to prioritise them for restoration works. To scope a project that will allow Horizons to monitor the success of inanga restoration works undertaken. Context: Whitebait are an important value of the Region’s waterways. The majority of the whitebait catch is comprised of inanga and the protection of their spawning habitat is crucial for this fishery. To help protect inanga spawning habitat, inanga spawning is a surface water management value in schedule B of the One Plan and there is a non-regulatory method in the One Plan to identify and protect inanga spawning sites. Inanga spawning is limited to the coastal environment of the Region’s rivers and streams. This project continues work to accurately identify inanga spawning sites, to ensure that habitat restoration projects are undertaken in the most appropriate places. Once these sites
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are identified, the Freshwater team works with landowners and the community to protect and enhance the sites. This programme is undertaken in conjunction with the Freshwater and Partnerships teams. A focus for the 2016-17 year will be to undertake a saltwater wedge survey to help define
Item 9 Item potential areas of inanga spawning and to guide future investigations. This is likely to occur in the Rangitikei catchment. LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “inform policy and non- regulatory programme development”.
4.6 Lakes Monitoring
Portfolio: Water Quality, Groundwater and Biodiversity Objective: To continue developing a monitoring and reporting programme that defines the current state of water quality and ecological condition of a selection of the Region’s lakes (particularly coastal lakes) and measures changes in water quality of those lakes. Context: To address a method around monitoring and reporting lake water quality as set out in the One Plan, the Lakes Monitoring Programme was initiated in 2014. This is a collaborative monitoring programme with financial and in-kind contributions from multiple science portfolios to acknowledge the important links between groundwater quality,
terrestrial biodiversity and surface water quality outcomes.
Baseline data for some lakes is now in hand so there is a need to develop an overarching strategy for future lakes monitoring, and research and clearly define resourcing commitments and future monitoring. This includes consideration of spatial representativeness of monitoring and integration of the requirements of the new National
Environmental Monitoring Standards (NEMS) for Discrete Water Quality. AnnexA Lake Submerged Plant Indicators (SPI) monitoring will be undertaken at a range of coastal and inland lakes in the Region to establish their current ecological health/state. LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “inform policy and non- regulatory programme development”. Partnerships: Catchment Data and Freshwater teams, NIWA, Waikato University.
4.7 Estuarine and Coastal Monitoring
Portfolio: Water Quality LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “inform policy and non- regulatory programme development”. Partnerships: Catchment Data and Freshwater teams, NIWA, Waikato University .
4.7.1 Coastal and Estuary Monitoring
Portfolio: Water Quality Objective: To monitor and report on the state and trends of estuarine and coastal water quality as a performance indicator of policy effectiveness and to provide information on the general health of the estuarine and coastal water management zones. Context: The marine environment features in many human activities through contact recreation, fishing and the gathering of shellfish. It also plays a vital role in providing habitat for many native fish, birds and invertebrate species. Estuarine and coastal marine areas are receiving environments for upstream pollutants; thus, activities that occur on land upstream have the potential to significantly affect these areas. The Estuarine and Coastal Water Quality Monitoring Programme was established in January 2011 to monitor the state
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and trends in the health of our estuaries and coastal area and inform current and future management.
4.7.2 Broad & Fine Scale Estuary Habitat Monitoring Programme Item 9 Item Objective: To develop a monitoring programme that informs the state and trends of estuarine habitats as a performance indicator of policy effectiveness. Context: Estuaries play a vital role in providing habitat for a number of marine and freshwater fish species and a variety of threatened birds, such as the critically endangered grey duck and white heron. This monitoring programme provides information on the general health of the estuarine water management zones and informs policy and non-regulatory programme development. During 2016-17, broad-scale habitat mapping of the Whanganui estuary will be undertaken and fine-scale mapping of the Manawatu Estuary will commence. In addition, the results and recommendations of the Nutrient and Sediment Susceptibility Report will be reviewed. This review may require changes to the programme.
4.7.3 Coastal Streams Water Quality Monitoring
Objective: To monitor and report on the state (including general health) of streams draining
coastal dune lakes as a performance indicator of policy effectiveness. Context: Coastal streams are often the outlets from our dune lakes. Many of the dune lakes within the Region have poor water quality. However, to date no water quality data is available for the outlet streams of these lakes. During the 2016-17 year this programme intends to monitor the following four streams to establish their water quality: Whitebait Creek
(Koputara Lakes); Koitiata Stream (Lakes Bernard and Heaton); Kaitoke Stream (Lake AnnexA Kaitoke); and Kaikokopu Stream (Lake Kaikokopu). The potential for measuring flow at these monitoring sites will be investigated during the reporting year.
4.8 Contact Recreation
Portfolio: Water Quality LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “track changes in the health of the Region’s water resource”. Partnerships: Strategy and Policy team; Ministry of Health; Crown Research Institutes.
4.8.1 Recreational Suitability Monitoring
Objective: This programme delivers on three objectives: . Determine the suitability of freshwater and marine sites with regard to the health risks of swimming; . Determine the safety of gathering shellfish in the coastal environment; and . Monitor water quality policy effectiveness. Context: The relationship between in-river flows and the suitability for contact recreation in terms of microbiological water quality has been established at many of our monthly water quality monitoring sites (i.e., a relationship between stream flow and E. coli). However, for coastal streams this relationship has not been established due to a lack of flow sites on these streams and because high E. coli levels are not always related to rainfall events. The contact recreation monitoring programme is therefore vital for checking indicator E. coli counts to determine if well-used coastal and estuarine sites are suitable for contact recreation. The programme also includes the monitoring of blue-green algae in lakes (with
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warnings posted when undesirable levels are reached), and faecal coliforms in the coastal area to inform us on the suitability for shellfish gathering. Faecal source tracking is a technique that uses genetic identification of gut bacteria to track potential sources of contamination, differentiating between human and multiple animal
Item 9 Item sources. This tool allows identification of sources of bacterial contamination and therefore allows a targeted response to improve water quality for contact recreation. A potential site for investigation with faecal source tracking in the 2016-17 year is the Mangahao catchment in the Tararua area, where monitoring shows elevated levels of E. coli. Work in the 2016-17 year will also focus on updating Horizons’ website to allow real-time “swimmability” and water temperature (where available) to be shown and accessed by the public, based on the pre-determined relationships between river flows and E. coli counts (where these are considered robust).
4.8.2 Cyanobacteria Monitoring
Objective: To monitor cyanobacteria prevalence and toxicity, to inform management of the cyanobacteria toxin health-risk to river users. To investigate the relationship between cyanobacteria growth and potential causal factors (part of a national programme). Context: Cyanobacteria prevalence in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region has been notable over the past decade. In some cases, the presence of cyanobacteria has led to closure of
swimming spots because prevalence is above the New Zealand Guidelines for
Cyanobacteria in Recreational Freshwaters (Interim guidelines). Cyanobacteria have also been noted to be prevalent in the vicinity of some public water supply intakes within the Region. In our Region, the species of Cyanobacteria most commonly observed is Phormidium. An initial project in 2011 showed that toxic strains are produced within the Manawatu AnnexA catchment, although the reason for its growth and toxin production has still not been established. The aim of this project is to improve knowledge on: What nutrients, temperature and flow regime control the growth of cyanobacteria and its toxin production in the Manawatu; The sediment/DO/pH drivers of cyanobacteria growth; and The prevalence of cyanobacteria mats and their production of toxins. In 2016-17 one key part of the programme is collecting samples of cyanobacteria and testing them for toxins to determine the prevalence of toxic strains across the Region. This information is captured as part of the periphyton monitoring programme.
4.9 Monitoring Network Review
Portfolio: All portfolios LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “track changes in the health of the Region’s water resource”, and to “assess policy implementation effectiveness. Partnerships: Policy and Catchment Data teams; CRIs (national monitoring programmes).
4.9.1 Water Quality Monitoring Network Review
Objective: To seek continuous improvement and ensure Horizons environmental monitoring programmes are well aligned with national reporting requirements and Horizons’ science monitoring and research objectives. Context: Horizons’ monitoring programmes are predominantly designed to serve multiple purposes, from State of the Environment monitoring, to informing policy and non-regulatory programme development, through to tracking the changes in the health of the Region’s natural resources to inform decision making on natural resource use. With changing
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requirements and emerging pressures on natural resources, it is important that Horizons periodically review the monitoring network to ensure it remains fit for purpose. The aim of reviewing the network is to ensure that: . Each programme is fit for purpose, i.e. that monitoring samples are being taken from
the right places, at the right time, following the correct protocols including the NEMS. 9 Item . Monitoring leads to key strategic outcomes such as water quality accounting, natural resources inventory and/or accounting for effects on environmental values; . Monitoring enables the measurement of key strategy and Regional and National policy outcomes such as alignment with requirements of the NPS-FM and the One Plan, objectives of the regional pest management strategies and other strategic resource management documents. The focus during 2016-17 is to work with national experts to scope an appropriate approach to reviewing of our existing freshwater monitoring network to identify gaps and ensure the monitoring programmes are both efficient and effective in their delivery. This includes both surface water and groundwater physico-chemical monitoring and aquatic biological monitoring.
4.9.2 Regional Biodiversity Monitoring System
Objective: To continue the review of Horizons’ current terrestrial biodiversity inventory and
monitoring systems to check that these match the information needed to assess policy effectiveness. Context: Horizons has functional policies, plans, rules, and non-regulatory methods aimed at the protection of the Region’s living heritage and biodiversity. This project sets out to develop the monitoring programme to assess the effectiveness of these instruments as well
as providing state and trend information for biodiversity for the Region. AnnexA Started in 2014-15 financial year, this project looks at Horizons’ One Plan and LTP objectives for terrestrial biodiversity and investigates whether the current terrestrial biodiversity inventory and monitoring regimes will be enough to generate the information needed to assess the effectiveness of the One Plan and inform SoE reporting. The project will consider the proposed nationally-consistent biodiversity indicators to determine if these will help, and identify Horizons’ state or preparedness for adopting the indicators. The project will also consider the relevance and value of the current information generated through other projects in the Biodiversity Portfolio. Over 2016-17, the findings of the review will be presented to senior management in the form of a review of what biodiversity monitoring been done to date, and what is needed into the future.
4.10 Data Management
Portfolio: All portfolios. Objectives: To seek continuous improvement to Horizons’ management systems for environmental data; to ensure there is one source of the truth for environmental data collected and maintained by Horizons; to ensure Horizons’ data management processes are aligned with national data standards; and to maximise efficiency in the collection and use of data. Context: Environmental data is acquired from numerous sources, including Horizons teams, drillers, consent applicants, consent holders and consultants. At present, data are stored in various places and utilised to various extents. This gives rise to a number of data processing and handling issues, including inaccessibility of data, inefficient and slow extraction of some datasets, inconsistency in data reliability and file location, and unknown quality of many of the datasets. Project objectives include:
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. Centralising data and ensuring compatibility of datasets and software for future use by all end users; . Improving accessibility and efficiency – enabling end users to have access to all appropriate datasets and ability to extract data in a timely manner; Item 9 Item . Improving both the quality and reliability of the data by developing and implementing a quality management system; and . Enabling Horizons science staff to improve data interpretation by incorporating data into industry standard software packages for data interpretation. The data management work programme for 2016-17 includes: . Further development of the Auto QC process to incorporate the National environmental monitoring standards (NEMS) data processing steps; . Historical data archiving including groundwater level data and flow data in Qualarc, water quality data from Qualarc that matches gauging sites and parameters such as metals not carried over for the current network; . Improvements to hilltop and sampler (software used to store and manage water quality information); . Upgrading CADDIS, a freshwater bio-data archival system developed by Cawthron Institute, to enable direct importing of in-field electronic data, automatic QC process,
and incorporation of fish length and habitat data;
. Collating and archiving the Freshwater team’s implementation work in a single database for reporting purposes; . Developing a system to capture science information requests, particularly for permitted activities e.g., domestic wastewater, water use, vegetation clearance, forestry
AnnexA harvesting, in a manner that can be reported and tracked over time; and . Continued development of field data capture to improve efficiency and quality of data collection. LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “track changes in the health of the Region’s water resource”, and to “assess policy implementation effectiveness”. Partnerships: Catchment information, Catchment Data teams, Regional Councils.
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5 Science Research Programmes
Horizons’ science research programmes represent a significant investment by Council to
support investigations of the interaction between land use, groundwater and surface water Item 9 Item quality, to inform both regulatory and non-regulatory programmes. The overarching objective of the Water Monitoring and Research output is to manage water quality and quantity in a sustainable manner. An overarching goal is to refine our knowledge and understanding of the capacity for land use change, associated discharge of contaminants (particularly nutrients) and allocation of water resources throughout the Region, while upholding values for the Region as set out in our Regional Policy Statement and meeting our Regional Plan (One Plan) and National Objectives (NPS-FM). This work aims to build on progress Horizons has already made towards creating a set of freshwater accounts for the Region, and investigations have been prioritised to inform implementation of the One Plan nutrient management rules in target catchments in the first instance. This will be followed by further investigations of catchments around the Region to underpin surface water and groundwater investigations of freshwater resources. The focus for 2016-17 will remain on the Manawatu, Horowhenua, Rangitikei and coastal sand country areas of the Region where there are indications of existing pressure on freshwater and ecological systems and other natural resources. Our approach is to provide an initial conceptual understanding of each of our catchments
utilising available information and knowledge through the development of catchment and sub-catchment scale conceptual hydrogeological models. These conceptual models are then used to inform targeted monitoring and investigations of surface and groundwater interaction and the effects of resource use, including both water abstraction and land use effects, on groundwater and surface water quality and ecosystem health.
Targeted projects continue to be undertaken in response to identified issues, or to increase AnnexA our understanding, and these frequently involve research partnerships with other organisations such as Crown Research Institutes (CRIs). One unique programme is a partnership with Massey University that seeks to improve our understanding of the fate and transport of nutrients in groundwater systems. Several new groundwater projects are being undertaken to improve our understanding of interactions between land use and nutrients in surface water and groundwater. The 2016-17 plans also include water quality science and research programmes that continue to support the implementation of non-regulatory programmes such as the Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI), the Manawatu River Accord, and the Lake Horowhenua Accord. Such accords establish a partnership between the community, resource management and regulatory agencies (including the territorial authorities, Horizons, and Central Government), and other stakeholders, to work together to improve the state of our rivers and lakes.
5.1 Hydrogeology and Catchment Characterisation
Portfolio: Groundwater. Objective: To further develop and refine the hydrogeological conceptual models for the Region, to inform freshwater research and monitoring programmes, and support the sustainable use of freshwater resources. Context: The overall management of the freshwater resources relies on a good fundamental understanding of groundwater recharge, discharge and movement through the subsurface environment. While there is a general understanding of the geology and hydrogeology on a regional scale, further development and refinement of conceptual models for groundwater management zones is required to maintain a cohesive approach to groundwater management in the Region. These investigations are carried out at management zone scale and catchment and sub-catchment scale, to address specific questions. At present, the focus of this programme has been on addressing high priority
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areas of the Region such as the Santoft area of the Rangitikei and Turakina Groundwater Management Zones (GMZs) where there has been a marked decline in groundwater levels in recent years, and the Upper Manawatu and Mangatainoka, Lake Horowhenua, Ohau and Waikawa catchments, to address information gaps around water availability and land use
impacts on water quality. Item 9 Item A recent review of the conceptual geology and development of a water balance for the Rangitikei and Turakina management zones suggests that groundwater abstraction in the Santoft area is currently exceeding sustainable levels of recharge. A groundwater flow model for the Santoft area has been developed recently to better inform abstraction consent decision-making. The focus of this work programme during 2016-17 will move to improving our understanding of shallow groundwater interaction with the coastal lakes, where we will investigate inflows to these systems. During 2016-17, an additional investigation to advance our knowledge and understanding of groundwater and its contribution to surface water flow will be carried out in the Whakarongo area of the Manawatu GMZ, where there has been an increase in demand for water supply in recent years. LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “Inform policy and non- regulatory programme development”. Partnerships: Catchment Data, Freshwater, Regulatory teams, Massey University, Pattle
Delamore Partners Ltd.
5.2 Surface Water / Groundwater Investigations
This work programme represents a significant investment by Council through Horizons’ LTP to characterise groundwater and surface water resources, flow pathways, transport
mechanisms and in-stream water quality and biology to improve understanding of land use AnnexA effects on water quality throughout the Region. This project is a key focus area for the Science and Innovation team, and wider organisation. These catchment-scale investigations have strong links to the Hydrogeology and Catchment Characterisation work programme, with an aim to improve our knowledge around water availability and flow and transport mechanisms. Outputs will inform decision-making around resource allocation in the Region with a particular emphasis on water allocation and decision-making for nutrient management, informing both our regulatory and non-regulatory programmes. Our most advanced work programme to date has been carried out in the Mangatainoka catchment, initially thorough a collaborative research programme with Massey University. These studies have provided Horizons with extensive data sets and analyses to inform natural resource management for sustainable future growth and development. During the past 12 months, a new work programme has been initiated in the Ohau and Waikawa catchments, with monitoring and research underway to provide a more thorough understanding of freshwater resources in the Horowhenua area. During 2016-17, initial work will be carried out in the Rangitikei catchment, with proposed study areas focusing on the Porewa, Hautapu catchments, and coastal lakes.
5.2.1 Massey University Collaborative Research Programme
Portfolio: Groundwater and Water Quality Objective: To refine our knowledge of the capacity for land use change, associated discharge of contaminants (particularly nutrients) and allocation of water resources in the Tararua and Rangitikei groundwater management zones. Context: Further investigation into the fate and transport of nutrients in groundwater and surface water systems is being undertaken directly through Massey University PhD and
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MSc projects. Supported by funding from Horizons, these researchers will work with input from the Water Quality and Groundwater teams to study the issue in a more holistic manner. A key focus for research is looking at the denitrification potential of different soil types and the flow paths between farms and surface waters to better understand nutrient transport
across/through farms and into water ways. This work underpins our conceptual 9 Item understanding of the importance of various processes, such as attenuation of nutrients and how management options may influence these. To date, this research has been carried out primarily in the Upper Manawatu and Mangatainoka catchments of the Tararua area. Additional work is now being scoped in the Rangitikei catchment to test the findings of our previous work in a different hydrogeological setting. Two PhD projects are due to conclude during the 2016-17 reporting year and Horizons will begin seeking interest in three new PhD studies, focussing on groundwater and surface water interaction, fate and transport of nutrients, and the use of age tracer techniques in the Rangitikei area. Additional post-graduate projects are also being carried out in the Mangatainoka and coastal sand country to provide targeted studies to inform the larger catchment-scale PhD research programmes. A study of farm-scale nutrient loss underway in the Santoft area is due to be completed during the reporting year. Horizons’ collaborative research programmes are fundamental to advancing scientific research in our Region. As such, Council have committed to new investment of $40,000 per annum to support Massey University studies. This investment will ensure the ongoing support and development of this research programme, which is providing crucial insight into the capacity for nutrient attenuation in the subsurface, and will inform regulatory and non- regulatory decision making around land use effects on water quality. LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “inform policy and non-
regulatory programme development” and to “assess policy implementation effectiveness”. AnnexA
5.2.2 Ohau/Waikawa (Horowhenua)
Portfolio: Groundwater and Water Quality Objective: To investigate freshwater resources in the Ohau and Waikawa catchments of the Horowhenua groundwater management zone. This project encompasses an integrated monitoring and research programme to establish linkages between surface and groundwater water quality and quantity, periphyton growth, macroinvertebrates, and fish communities in the Ohau River and Waikawa Stream. These are catchments that have high ecological values and a range of land uses and pressures on water quality. The Horowhenua area is known to have elevated concentrations of nitrogen in both surface water and groundwater, thought to be the result of intensive land use and the nature of the sub-surface geology. Given the known spatial and temporal trends in nitrate-nitrogen in groundwater throughout the catchment, it is imperative that we fully understand the effect these elevated concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen in groundwater have on surface water quality in the Ohau and Waikawa catchments. A targeted study is now underway in the Ohau and Waikawa catchments to develop an understanding of the fate and transport of nutrients in these areas, where historical and current land use appears to be contributing to water quality issues in both groundwater and surface water. The monitoring and research focus on these areas aligns with a similar focus by other regulatory and non-regulatory programmes to reduce in-stream and groundwater nutrient levels. Following an initial catchment characterisation investigation (2015-16), the programme for 2016-17 is a continuation of the intensive monitoring programme to establish the current state of periphyton, macroinvertebrates and fish communities, and any drivers such as dissolved oxygen, water quality, and deposited sediment that influence changes in these communities. In addition, baseline coastal and estuary water quality and habitats are being established.
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Monitoring of Ohau and Waikawa catchments for in-stream water quality and periphyton will continue during 2016-17. This is an intensive monitoring programme to establish the current state of periphyton, macroinvertebrates, and fish communities, and any drivers such as dissolved oxygen, water quality, and deposited sediment that influence changes in these communities. Baseline coastal and estuary water quality and habitats also will continue to Item 9 Item be monitored. Initial scoping and site selection for intensive monitoring in the Rangitikei catchments will also be carried out, to ensure a seamless transition between investigations. Where possible, initial sampling of groundwater and surface water will be carried out throughout the Rangitikei to help inform site selection for a more intensive monitoring programme. Partnerships: Massey University, GNS Science. LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “track changes in the health of the Region’s water resource” and “inform policy and non-regulatory programme development”.
5.2.3 Coastal Lakes
Objective: To develop a lake research programme that prioritises and informs monitoring and intervention to improve the water quality and ecological condition of the Region’s lakes. Context: Investment through Horizons’ LTP was introduced in 2015 to investigate the
quality of coastal lakes in the Region and identify options for improving biodiversity enhancement, where necessary. This monitoring programme includes two main areas: (1) development of a strategy for lake monitoring and research in Horizons’ Region; and (2) a programme to monitor the health of other coastal lakes to establish the current state of health and investigate options for their management, if needed.
AnnexA Priorities for the 2016-17 financial year include: 1. Lakes Strategy – Development of a strategy, including prioritisation for continued lake management and monitoring. This will help us establish which other lakes in the Region may need to be monitored and to identify any issues that might require management interventions. Consideration of regional spatial representation, sampling accessibility and recreational priority would be considered as part of this work programme. Consolidation of the full lakes monitoring and research programme will also be required to ensure effective management of the Region’s lakes, in concert with identifying opportunities for land use development. Specific tasks for 2016-17 include: Development of a lake strategy to prioritise efforts in lake management; Collection of samples to inform the national development of a zooplankton community index (similar to the Macroinvertebrate Community Index). Assessment of all of the managed lakes in the Natural Resources Plan (NRP) top 100 programme, including hydrological typing to support an assessment of representativeness. 2. Coastal Lakes – Initial monitoring of our coastal lakes during the past year has highlighted water quality issues that warrant further investigation. This year’s work programme will seek to identify an approach to establishing the areas of groundwater inflow to the lakes identified in the nutrient management framework of the One Plan and build toward developing nutrient accounts for these lakes. This may include additional monitoring, such as lake level and shallow groundwater monitoring.
5.2.4 Accord Support
Portfolio: Groundwater, Water Quality and SoE and Policy. Objective: To provide scientific support to the Manawatu River Leaders’ Accord and Lake Horowhenua Accord.
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Context: The Manawatu River Leaders Accord and Lake Horowhenua Accord are part of Horizons’ non-regulatory programme for achieving water quality and habitat improvements. To advance the achievement of the goals for both accords, scientific support and advice is required.
Support can include the provision of synthesised and timely information and data analysis to 9 Item the accord parties; identification of priority areas within each catchment for works implementation; ensuring Horizons’ Science team actions identified in the second generation action plan are being implemented; and working with the Freshwater team to develop intervention packages for the Freshwater Improvement Fund. Scientific research to support the implementation of the Horowhenua Accord during the 2016-17 year includes: . Support for the Lake Horowhenua Clean-up Fund, including monitoring and technical advice and support for the use of the sediment management, weed harvesting, fish pass installation and maintenance, and riparian planting; . Lake bed legacy sediment analysis; . Development of a lake report card; . Support to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) funded lakes programme (Enhancing Health and Resilience of New Zealand Lakes), should this
funding bid be successful.
5.3 Innovative Science and Research
5.3.1 Water Quality Monitoring Compared to Nutrient Diffusers
Objective: To determine whether surface water quality provides an accurate indication of AnnexA nutrient limitation for periphyton growth when compared to nutrient diffusing substrates. Context: Horizons frequently uses water quality monitoring results as an indication of the likely nutrient limitation for periphyton growth within waterways. The present assumption is that nutrients that are available in the water column are directly related to the nutrients needed for periphyton growth, which fails to account for other potential sources of nutrients, such as those stored in sediments. This investigation is being undertaken in conjunction with the Waikawa-Ohau investigation, and aims to test this assumption by placing nutrient diffusing substrates into waterways that are thought to have nitrogen or phosphorus limitations in the water column. This project is one of a number across the science programme to inform management of nutrients and periphyton in the Region’s rivers. LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “track changes in the health of the Region’s water resource”.
5.3.2 Preferential uptake of ammonia for periphyton growth
Objectives: To determine if the preferential uptake of ammonia by periphyton results in a faster growth rate and/or an increase in the biomass compared to nitrate. Context: Many point-source discharges to rivers have significant proportions of their nitrogen content as ammonia. Traditionally, ammonia has only been managed for its acute and chronic toxic effects on aquatic life, and not for its contribution to periphyton growth. Recent work around some point-source discharges has raised a further question as to whether ammonia is a primary driver of growth of nuisance periphyton downstream of some of these discharges. Ammonia is known to be preferentially taken up by periphyton but the remaining question is: does this preferential uptake of nitrogen in the form of ammonia result in faster/more excessive growth compared to similar levels of nitrogen in the form of nitrate? The results of this work potentially have large ramifications for point-source discharge treatment and management. This project is larger than what HRC can singularly fund and
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there are also multiple parties that will benefit from this knowledge. In light of this, co- funding with other regional and district councils will be sought to complete this work and levels of co-funding will determine the extent to which this work will progress. LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “inform policy and non-
Item 9 Item regulatory programme development”.
5.3.3 Ecological Effects of Cyanobacteria on Macroinvertebrate Communities
Objective: To determine the threshold levels of benthic cyanobacteria that result in changes in macroinvertebrate communities. Context: The prevalence of benthic cyanobacteria in our rivers has increased over the last decade. Of concern is the potential for cyanobacteria to produce toxins which can harm humans and have resulted in dog deaths, though to date none have been reported in Horizons’ Region. Although knowledge of cyanobacteria has greatly increased over the last six years, there are still many areas in need of research: for example, the role that cyanobacteria play in shaping macroinvertebrate communities within our rivers is largely unknown. Through this project, in conjunction with other regional councils, we intend to attempt to establish thresholds in the presence of cyanobacteria that result in changes in macroinvertebrate communities. LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “track changes in the
health of the Region’s water resource” and to “inform policy and non-regulatory programme
development”.
5.3.4 Stream Ecological Valuation (SEV) Calculator
Objective: To collect the reference data required for the Stream Ecological Valuation tool to AnnexA make it appropriate for use within the Horizons Region. Context: The Stream Ecological Valuation calculator is a tool used to assess the health and integrity of streams. The tool has a potential application for the consenting process, for assessing the appropriateness of mitigation options and, if need be, to calculate an ecological compensation ratio. The tool was developed specifically for Auckland Council using reference data from streams within the Auckland Region. In order to be able to apply the tool specifically to the Horizons Region there is a need to continue to collect and collate reference data, and have the tool re-calibrated to Horizons’ conditions. Following advice from NIWA (funded by Envirolink – advice number 1451- HZLC105), a set of reference information will be collected this year from representative sites. LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “inform policy and non- regulatory programme development”.
5.3.1 The Suitability of Tephra to Treat Municipal Wastewater
Objective: To research the suitability of tephra as a material for treating municipal effluent. Context: Massey University, with support from Horizons, has been testing tephra for its suitability to strip phosphorus from partially-treated municipal wastewater. Research to date has demonstrated that some andesitic tephra soils show promise as low-cost media for the removal of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP). Horizons and Massey University have engaged in further research work associated with the full-scale use of tephra for polishing treated municipal and/or industrial effluent at Dannevirke. Additionally, the project will evaluate the agronomic use of tephra media once its absorption capacity has been exhausted. This project was initiated in November 2014 and will run for three years as part of PhD student Susikunya ‘May’ Cheuyglintase’s research project.
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As part of the Manawatu Fresh Start for Freshwater Clean-up fund (Ministry for the Environment) funded works programme, Tararua District Council plans to establish and operate three full-scale sewage treatment plants, at Pahiatua, Woodville, and Dannevirke, that integrate a tephra soil filter in combination with other treatment methods. Horizons will continue to monitor the discharges of these plants, effectively further evaluating the suitability of tephra media used in a real-world context. 9 Item LTP Performance Measure: Land Management Research and Monitoring to “inform policy and non-regulatory programme development”.
5.3.2 Emerging Research Partnership Opportunities
Portfolio: All portfolios. Objective: To enable Horizons to respond to emerging opportunities for co-funded science research partnerships as they emerge. Context: Horizons’ Science and Innovation team is regularly approached by research institutes and universities to engage as a partner in emerging research opportunities that run within the financial reporting year. This project identifies the importance of these opportunities in building partnerships and securing additional funding that may not be scoped during the annual planning process. Examples include: Government-funded core research programmes, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
contestable funding and industry partnerships.
Potential partnership opportunities are currently being scoped with Landcare Research, to investigate refining the national SEDNET (sediment transport) model, and Horizons’ participation in a Landcare Research 'Smart Land-Use Decision-Making' project. Further partnership opportunities that may emerge during the 2016-17 reporting year include a selection of MBIE-funded research programmes. Applications are currently being reviewed by MBIE and successful bids are due to be announced in September 2016. AnnexA LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “track changes in the health of the Region’s water resource”, “Inform policy and non-regulatory programme development”, and to “assess policy implementation effectiveness”. Partnerships: Crown Research Institutes, universities, industry and external agencies,
5.4 Land Management and Fluvial Research
The Land Research and Monitoring output covers both soil and fluvial resources and focuses on increasing knowledge and understanding of these resources. The Land Monitoring and Research Portfolio covers the land and soil component of that output. It includes support for other Science portfolios, particularly in relation to land use and nutrient accounting, and cross-organisational projects such as the Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI). The Fluvial Monitoring and Research portfolio has close connections to other outputs, particularly aquatic biodiversity, environmental monitoring and reporting, and the management of flood protection schemes. A new focus for this portfolio is a long-term work programme to investigate options that extend the life of the flood protection infrastructure, by improving knowledge about sediment movement and deposition in rivers. This work will be scoped collaboratively with the cross-organisational team.
5.4.1 Sediment Transport Research Programme
Portfolio: Fluvial, Land and Water Quality. Objective: To scope and deliver integrated monitoring and research projects relating to the implementation of One Plan policy, State of the Environment monitoring, and river scheme
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management; and to improve understanding of sediment transport effects on water quality in key catchments. Context: One of the purposes and functions of the Fluvial Monitoring and Research programme is to give effect to Method 5-11 of the One Plan. This project is to identify
Item 9 Item methods and reporting tools that allow the Fluvial portfolio to transition from the current emphasis on fluvial surveys (refer 5.4.4) and the monitoring of gravel use (refer 5.4.5), to a more integrated programme that accounts for effective flood scheme management and scheme asset protection, as well as the effects of sediment transport and deposition on in- stream life-supporting capacity. Information arising from this project also contributes to, and is informed by, SLUI outcomes research under the Land Monitoring and Research portfolio. Protecting the Longevity of Scheme Infrastructure In 2015-16, Council increased the budget for additional research under the Fluvial portfolio to focus specifically on a long-term work programme to investigate options that extend the life of the flood protection infrastructure, by improving knowledge about sediment movement and deposition in rivers. The proposed objective for 2016-17 is to develop a long-term research programme to advance the modelling of sediment transport in the Manawatu River from the Manawatu Gorge to the coast. This model will include sediment deposition rates and will be extensible, so that future knowledge about the contribution from Manawatu River tributaries can be added. The knowledge gained from this work will potentially contribute to the future direction
of SLUI work and will contribute to SoE reporting.
Linking Sediment Transport and Deposition with Water Quality Outcomes
AnnexA The transport and deposition of sediment in our Region’s waterways not only reduces the lifespan of flood protection but can also impact the health of our freshwater systems. During 2016-17, initial project scoping will be carried out in consultation with relevant research providers. Horizons initially will seek an Envirolink advice grant to provide a review of issues and a stocktake of available information to underpin further investigation and research, as well as monitoring programme recommendations. Key focus areas include the Oroua and Lower Manawatu catchments and reporting on the intensive investigation undertaken in the Tiraumea during 2009-10. Partnerships: River Managers Group, Land, Freshwater and Catchment Data and Information teams; other Regional Councils. LTP Performance Measure: Fluvial Monitoring Methods Research to “assess policy implementation effectiveness”.
5.4.2 SLUI Support
Objective: To support the implementation of SLUI through research into relevant facets of the management and measurement of sediment erosion and transport. Context: The Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) is a non-regulatory programme to address hill country erosion in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region. One of the primary reasons for SLUI is to improve water quality through reduced sediment, and associated nutrient input into the Region’s waterways. The programme designs Whole Farm Plans and establishes a work programme for implementation of erosion control works over many years. During 2016-17 the Science and Innovation team will contribute to SLUI through contribution to the further refinement of the SEDNET NZ model, through the provision of an Envirolink advice grant, and improved understanding of the effects of sediment transport on water quality outcomes (refer 5.4.1) LTP Performance Measure: Land Management research and Monitoring to “inform policy and non-regulatory programme development”.
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5.4.3 Innovative Land Use Mapping
Portfolio: Land with links to Water Quality and Groundwater Objective: To develop a robust and repeatable method that ties land use information
collected at a regional level with that reported at the national level, across the environmental 9 Item domains for which land use information is used. Context: Land use information is a critical State of the Environment indicator used to account for the effects of land use on water quality, terrestrial and wetland biodiversity, and efficient and sustainable use of soil types. Regional Councils have rich sets of often disparate land use information that is not frequently brought together or maintained, despite having both needs and obligations relating to the use and re-use of this type of information across the many different purposes for which it can be used. This project is aimed at identifying methods to bring regional-scale land use information together in a robust and repeatable manner that dovetails with a national level research project on integrating land use information being completed by Landcare Research. It is intended that the process provides land use information that is robust enough to be utilised for: . Assessments of nutrient contribution from the different land use classes, applicable for nutrient accounting at catchment level or freshwater management unit level; . Land use as an indicator of ecological integrity for terrestrial biodiversity Tier 1
reporting; and . Land use as an indicator for sustainable land management. The completion of some of the milestones for this project is subject to a successful Envirolink fund application.
LTP Performance Measure: Land Management Research and Monitoring to “track AnnexA changes in the health of the Region’s land and fluvial resource” and to “assess policy implementation effectiveness”.
5.4.4 Fluvial Surveys
Objective: To complete cross-section surveys of river systems to inform gravel allocation and management, and to provide information for flood management schemes. Context: Sustained gravel supply and the efficient allocation of gravel are important for roading and other infrastructure projects. Where, when and how gravel is taken is important for flood scheme management and the ecology of the rivers. This project funds cross- section surveys and reports to provide information on the changes in levels, due to aggradation or degradation, of river channels and berms. The survey programme is completed as a part of a long-term survey plan that has been developed cross- organisationally. River cross-sections are typically completed by the survey team as funded by the research and monitoring (science) budget. Where negotiated, the Operations team also provides resource for survey costs, project write ups and documentation. Final project documents are typically presented to the Catchment Operations committee by the Operations team. The focus for 2016-17 will be the Rangitikei catchment. The Science and Innovation team provides updates to the Environment Committee about the progress of the survey and reporting components. The LTP-relevant performance measure for Land Management Research and Monitoring for this project is to “Track changes in the health of the Region’s land and fluvial resource”.
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5.4.5 Gravel Use Reporting
Objective: To complete an analysis of annual gravel use and allocation in the Region, in the context of gravel allocation limits set in policy, consents and flood scheme management
documents. Item 9 Item Context: Sustained gravel supply and the efficient allocation of gravel are important for roading and other infrastructure projects. Where, when and how gravel is taken is important for flood scheme management and the ecology of the rivers. This project sets out to provide a regular update of the volume of gravel being removed through consented gravel takes. Quarterly records are reported via the Environment Committee reports. The fluvial monitoring and research programme is partly funded by way of charges on the amount of gravel used (RMA Section 36 gravel levies). To obtain this revenue, the actual use volume records need to be obtained and the appropriate invoicing needs to be completed. This project also encompasses the administration of the RMA Section 36 gravel levies. The LTP-relevant performance measure for Environmental Reporting for this project is to “track changes in the health of the Region’s land and fluvial resource”.
5.4.6 Documenting the Long-Term Survey Programme
Objective: To document the long term fluvial cross section survey programme. Context: Several years ago, a cross-organisational approach to a long-term fluvial cross- section survey programme was established. At present, the details of historic surveys and survey cycles lie in a spreadsheet that is proving useful for programme planning, but gives little context to the reasoning behind each survey. This high priority project seeks to take
this spreadsheet a step further to more transparently display the cross-section survey runs AnnexA in map form, update costings for these, and document the reason for each of the surveys being competed (e.g., to inform consent renewals, scheme reviews, etc.). The report sought from this is a factual document that transparently identifies the historical survey runs. LTP Performance Measure: Land Management Research and Monitoring to “inform policy and non-regulatory programme development”.
5.5 Resource Accounting
The focus of this work programme is to meet the requirements of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (NPS-FM), which requires Horizons to establish freshwater accounting systems for both water quantity and quality. Freshwater accounting derives information directly arising from State of the Environment monitoring programmes such as the groundwater monitoring, water allocation, and surface water quality monitoring (both nutrient and bio-monitoring) programmes, bolstered by specific research investigations into modelling groundwater and surface water stocks and flows, and nutrient transport. The objective, and associated research programmes, effectively wrap the other three team objectives into a cohesive catchment management-based approach to identify opportunities for sustainable economic development.
5.5.1 Flow Relationships, MALFs and Minimum Flows
Portfolio: Water Allocation Objective: This work programme has a number of key objectives: (1) Develop methods for estimating flow at water quality and aquatic biodiversity monitoring sites in the Region that are presently not gauged; (2) Prioritise areas where further flow information is required; (3) Document the method used to estimate (synthetic) flow; and (4) Establish Mean Annual Low
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Flow (MALF) statistics and subsequent minimum flow and core allocation limits for Water Management Zones and sub-zones in Schedule B of the One Plan, where they have previously been unknown. Context: One Plan Schedule C sets out core allocation limits and minimum flows for all
Water Management Zones and sub-zones in the Region. However, at the time of One Plan 9 Item development, there was insufficient information available to set numerical limits for all zones, so these were assigned “default” limits. As time goes on and demand for water increases in some of these areas, it is necessary to have numerical limits in order to determine the likely effects of abstraction and appropriately manage the resource in these areas. This project continues the programme of work towards determining numerical limits for these sub-zones. Flow data is a necessary component required to support the science programme and projects that are undertaken in both the water allocation and water quality portfolios. This project also provides for the derivation of flow information (measured or modelled data) at key water quality and allocation sites where flow is not automatically recorded. Outputs from this project may include a work plan setting out priorities, necessary workstreams and estimated costs for the next several years; synthetic flow records where they are able to be derived; a document outlining the methodology used to determine the synthetic flow series/relationships between un-gauged sites and gauged sites; and lists of sites where ongoing gauging/data collection is necessary. For 2016-17, the focus for this project is to continue resolving gaps in our flow relationship data and address the increasing demand for surety of supply information for water users. LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “track changes in the health of the Region’s water resource” and to “Inform policy and non-regulatory programme development”.
Partnerships: Catchment Data team, NIWA (Genesis data). AnnexA
5.5.2 Setting Minimum Flows in Tidal/Estuarine Environments
Objective: To provide the Science and Innovation and Strategy and Policy teams with relevant, robust and sufficient information to inform future decisions about minimum flow setting and allocation in the “freshwater transition zone”. Context: Due to the difficulty of accurately monitoring river flow in tidal areas, minimum flow restrictions in tidal or coastal water management zones are based on the nearest non- affected flow recorder. While it is acknowledged that this is not ideal, it is the best solution available to us at this time. Recently, consent holders have begun to question this approach and also question whether minimum flows should actually apply in these zones as “there is always plenty of water”. Currently Horizons does not have enough information to determine if allowing abstraction to continue in these areas at low flow times would have any adverse impact on the estuaries. It is expected that there will be increasing pressure from consent holders to make some decisions around this issue. This project is to determine what type of information is required to ascertain the potential effects of abstraction in tidal zones of rivers. LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “inform policy and non- regulatory programme development”.
5.5.3 Water Use Accounting and Reporting
Portfolio: Water Allocation and Groundwater Objective: To continue to manage the water available and improve confidence, efficiency and accessibility of the information. To identify how much water is being used, by comparing the consented water use and the actual water use records.
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Context: Horizons has a comprehensive water allocation framework that sets out core allocation limits and minimum flows for all Water Management Zones in the Region. These limits were set using the best available hydrological and scientific information with a view to preserving identified values and minimising the effects of abstraction, while allowing
resource users to take and use water with a reasonable surety of supply. Item 9 Item The purpose of this project is to improve the confidence, efficiency and accessibility of water abstraction management, and to gain a view of actual water use compared to the consented water use within the Region. Part of this process is to identify opportunities for redistribution of unutilised allocation, particularly in pressured areas. One of the key deliverables for this project is the WaterMatters rebuild, which has been completed in-house by Science and Innovation and Catchment Information teams, in collaboration with the Catchment Data team. WaterMatters is a multi-faceted system-build project intended to provide a ‘one-stop shop’ for all aspects of the water allocation and water metering programmes across surface and groundwater, with links to in-house systems and software such as IRIS and Hilltop. Key deliverables for this year include auditing the automatically populated (from IRIS) surface water allocation tracking, importing the groundwater annual allocation volumes to Iris, increased reporting functionality, and continued development of the public interface via Horizons’ new website. Success of the project is contingent on progress on IRIS. LTP Performance Measure: Links to the Water Monitoring and Research Activity to “track changes in the health of the Region’s water resource” and “to assess policy implementation effectiveness”. Partnerships: Catchment Data, Catchment Information, Consents Monitoring, IT teams.
5.5.4 Contaminant accounting and reporting AnnexA Portfolio: Water Quality and Groundwater Objective: To refine our knowledge of the capacity for land use change, associated discharge of contaminants (particularly nutrients), and allocation of water resources throughout the Region, while upholding values for the Region as set out in our Regional Policy Statement and meeting our Regional Plan (One Plan) and National Objectives (as required by the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 NPS-FM). Context: The 2014 updates to the NPS-FM require Regional Councils to produce freshwater accounts every five years for Freshwater Management Units. This project builds on progress Horizons (in partnership with DairyNZ, Landcare Research and Massey University) has already made toward creating a set of contaminant accounts for the Region, with the aim of delivering resource accounts for monitoring sites that have sufficient information. LTP Performance Measure: Links to the Water Monitoring and Research Activity to “track changes in the health of the Region’s water resource” and “to assess policy implementation effectiveness”. Partnerships: Catchment Data, Catchment Information, Consents Monitoring, Rural Advice, IT teams, Landcare Research, Massey University, Dairy NZ.
5.6 Envirolink
Portfolio: All portfolios. Objective: To secure external funding, through Envirolink, to obtain advice and support for research on identified environmental and natural resource topics and projects. Context: Analysis and reporting of scientific data is often highly specialised and requires expertise of external agencies such as Crown Research Institutes, universities and other technical specialists. Envirolink is a Regional Council driven funding scheme, with funds
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administered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE). Investment funding is available to Regional Councils to contract government-funded research organisations to transfer environmental research knowledge. Envirolink aims to support Regional Councils in two areas of environmental management:
adapting management tools to local needs, and translating environmental science 9 Item knowledge into practical advice. Envirolink's objectives are to: improve science input to the environmental management activities of Regional Councils; increase the engagement of Regional Councils with research providers; and contribute to greater collective engagement across the national science community. Horizons is one of a number of Regional Councils that qualify for Envirolink funding to gain quality external advice. While the advice is used to support existing projects, to qualify it must be “beyond business as usual”. This reduces Horizons’ reliance on sustained external funding sources but capitalises on externally funded opportunity to improve knowledge. Where possible, Horizons will seek to secure external funding for relevant research. In the 2016-17 year, Horizons are intending to submit Envirolink proposals for the provision of: 1. A strategic plan for lake monitoring and research; 2. Advice on phosphorus outcomes from the implementation of SLUI to date; 3. Advice on how to establish minimum flows for tidal and estuarine areas and measure
the effects on water use in these areas (refer Section 5.5.2);
4. The appropriateness of the use of E. coli as an indicator of the suitability of water for contact recreation downstream of point-source discharges from wastewater treatment plants, and the impact of disinfection methods used in the treatment process; 5. To upskill our new science staff members, we are also seeking a small advice grant to
contribute towards a NIWA water quality statistics course for Horizons staff; AnnexA 6. Advice on how to implement a high resolution radon survey in the Mangatainoka, Ohau and Waikawa catchments, to refine better identify areas of groundwater inflow. Additional high priority Envirolink projects have also been scoped for submission, should funding permit. These include a stocktake of our coastal information and datasets to inform State of the Environment reporting and natural resource management of our coastal areas; and advice around the application of the Landcare Research report (Future options for the management of Rooks) as a briefing tool to Council. LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “track changes in the health of the Region’s water resource”, “Inform policy and non-regulatory programme development”, and to “assess policy implementation effectiveness”. Partnerships: Crown Research Institutes, universities and other research providers; Regional Councils.
6 Science for Policy
The State of Environment (SoE) and Policy work programme encompasses the various monitoring and reporting requirements that are needed to monitor the effectiveness of Horizons’ current regional Policy and Plan (One Plan), and inform the development of future policy for the Region. This work programme is carried out in collaboration with the Strategy and Policy team to ensure the overarching science monitoring and research programme is aligned with policy objectives and emerging issues. This includes ensuring Horizons is meeting regional and national policy monitoring and reporting requirements such as those outlined in the One Plan, Regional Pest Management Plan and National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014 (NPS-FM). Additionally, a review of the Possum Control Operation (PCO) will explore the effectiveness of the PCO, the lessons learned, and improvements that can be made.
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6.1 Policy Effectiveness Monitoring
Portfolio: SoE and Policy. Objective: To ensure strategic alignment of science research to policy objectives, including Item 9 Item the development of a framework for assessing the effectiveness of the One Plan, and to report on the State of the Environment. Context: Horizons’ One Plan is the Region’s leading document for resource management policy, regulation and non-regulatory management tools. One Plan is now in an implementation phase, and Horizons is required to ensure that the Plan is effective in its delivery of key objectives and policies. The Policy Effectiveness Monitoring component draws on the information collected through the monitoring and research programmes in the other science portfolios to provide a cross- organisational outlook of progress against environmental policies and activities, and ensure stated targets and desired outcomes are being achieved. The aim of this collaborative project between the Strategy and Policy and the Science and Innovation teams is to establish an integrated framework of monitoring and reporting that starts with SoE baseline evaluation and concludes with analyses of the effectiveness of Horizons’ policies as part of the policy evaluation and decision-making cycle for the One Plan. The focus for 2016-17 is to continue to consolidate the links between Horizons’ current SoE monitoring and the Policies and Anticipated Environmental Results in the One Plan.
LTP Performance Measure: Water Monitoring and Research to “track changes in the health of the Region’s water resource”, and to “assess policy implementation effectiveness”. Partnerships: Policy and Communications teams, Ministry for the Environment, Crown
Research Institutes (national monitoring programmes). AnnexA 6.1.1 Measuring Policy Effectiveness – Monitoring of Minimum Flows
Portfolio: Water Allocation and Groundwater Objective: To prepare a policy effectiveness monitoring programme that will indicate the relative success of the One Plan allocation framework in maintaining the in-stream management objectives and protecting the identified values of our Region’s rivers and streams. Context: The in-stream management objective (IMO) of the One Plan water allocation framework is “to maintain and enhance aquatic ecosystem biodiversity and productivity over time, compared to current levels, using trout, native fish, aquatic invertebrates, periphyton and ecosystem functioning as indicators of overall ecosystem health”. This project is intended to establish what information Horizons requires to measure and report on the effectiveness of the One Plan allocation framework in achieving the IMO. The first steps for this will be to determine the size of the project, information requirements and gaps, and estimate potential costs (if any) associated with collecting the necessary data. LTP Performance Measure: Environmental Monitoring and Reporting to “undertake policy and programme implementation effectiveness monitoring and provide input into programme and policies that are in development”. Partnerships: Strategy and Policy Team, Cawthron, Ruahine River Care Group, Fish and Game.
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6.2 On-site Waste Water Management
Objective: To assist with the implementation of the One Plan regarding on-site wastewater performance, by providing advice on best-practice standards and wastewater systems.
Context: The One Plan sets out a new approach to managing on-site wastewater systems 9 Item across the Region. A key component of successful implementation of this approach is working with Territorial Authorities to ensure implementation is cost-effective to customers, and with practitioners who sell, install and provide advice on compliant systems. Horizons provides advice on the suitability of on-site wastewater systems in a range of ways, including the direct consenting for larger systems, as a result of enquiries, and as a consequence of any Regional Council ‘sign off’ (that the system design meets One Plan standards) to conform to provisions in any District Council building consent requirements. Over 2016-17, negotiations will be recommenced with each Territorial Authority in the Region to establish a memorandum of understanding (MOU) relating to agreed responsibilities and roles of Horizons and the Territorial Authorities (led by the Strategy and Policy team). In the meantime, another workshop on implementing the Manual for On-Site Wastewater Systems Design and Management (2010) will be offered to those Territorial Authorities that are already implementing the rules on behalf of Horizons prior to developing a MOU, or wish to build their capacity to assist in the future, prior to the development of any MOU.
LTP Performance Measure: Land Management Research and Monitoring to “Inform policy
and non-regulatory programme development”. Partnerships: Strategy and Policy team, Territorial Authorities, on-site wastewater providers.
6.3 Nutrient Management and SMP Steering Group AnnexA
Portfolio: Land, Groundwater and Water Quality Objective: To continue to provide support to other parts of Horizons (and externally) on nutrient management issues. Context: The effective management of dairy farm effluent and nutrient budgeting are important aspects to addressing water quality issues for the Region. The Regional Council and farming community have made much progress in this arena. The Science and Innovation team has had an active area of research to understand and document best practice management and develop tools to enable better management. This project is to continue to provide support in that area. The research work is undertaken in close collaboration with other teams, particularly the Policy, Rural Advice, Consents and Compliance teams. Specific activities for 2016-17 include participation on the Sustainable Milk Plan (SMP) steering team and input into nutrient management consent decision-making. Horizons will continue to contribute support to the joint Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) and Horticulture NZ’s Sustainable Farming Fund fluxmeter project. This project looks at nutrient leaching rates under cropping and horticulture, to feed data into the Overseer programme. The project has been running for three years and includes monitoring of a network of tension fluxmeters on contrasting commercial cropping farms in Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu and Canterbury, to measure drainage and nutrient concentrations in leachate. This project also has links to the Massey University collaborative programmes of the Water Allocation and Groundwater and Water Quality portfolio to provide on-farm support systems for nutrient management decision making. Opportunities for further collaboration will be investigated during the 2016-17 year. LTP Performance Measure: Land Management Research and Monitoring to “inform policy and non-regulatory programme development”.
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Partnerships: Rural Advice, Consents Monitoring, Policy, Massey University, Ravensdown, HortNZ.
6.4 State of the Environment Reporting Item 9 Item Portfolio: SoE and Policy (with contribution from other portfolios) Objective: To report on the current state of the environment. Context: State of Environment (SoE) reporting is a component of the environmental monitoring and reporting outputs across all of the other science portfolios (Land, Air, Water and Biodiversity) in accordance with our legislative requirements to monitor the state of the environment. SoE reporting is a means of gathering all of this information together and reporting environmental state and trends to key stakeholders and Horizons’ community. The last SoE report was published in 2013 and is due to be reported again near the calendar year end of 2018. During 2016-17 the Science and Innovation team will work with the Strategy and Policy team and the Communications team to further develop the framework and continue to support the reporting via “monitoring dashboards” that present basic SoE and other statistics, and begin compiling data and continue scoping of the 2018 SoE report.
LTP Performance Measure: Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring to support the ability to “complete State of the Environment reporting including reviewing and updating environmental indicators”, to “undertake policy and programme implementation effectiveness monitoring and provide input into programme and policies that are in development”, and to ensure that “environmental information is made available to the public via Horizons website, Environment Committee reporting and on request, including
AnnexA contributions to national level reporting”. Partnerships: Policy, Catchment Data, Consents Monitoring teams, Natural Resources and partnerships and River Management groups.
6.5 Pest Management Support
Portfolio: Biodiversity Monitoring and Research Objective: To provide information and advice in support of Horizons’ Pest Management Strategy and Plan review and implementation. Context: The strategic management of pest plant and animal threats to the Region’s productive capacity and living heritage is detailed in Horizons’ Regional Pest Management Strategy (Strategy), supported by regulation through the Regional Pest Management Plan (Plan). The biosecurity Strategy and Plan documents are now in the final stages of preparation for affixing the Council Seal. The role of the Science team over this period is to continue to gather supporting evidence that the Pest Plan is not inconsistent with the standards set out in the National Policy Direction for Pest Management (NPD). Once the Strategy and Plan are in place, this project will return its focus to assisting pest management operational staff with the continuous improvement of pest management and monitoring throughout the implementation and review cycle. For 2016-17 one of the more significant projects in this space is the review of the Possum Control Operation (PCO). The review will look at the effectiveness of the PCO, the lessons learned and improvements that can be made.
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7 Science Communication
Developing and improving our communication of technical information is a key focus for
Horizons’ Science and Innovation team. Active participation in national resource Item 9 Item management forums and discussions ensures our regional programmes are informed and supported at a national level. In the spirit of Horizons’ Big 5, a focus on providing opportunities for collaboration with key internal staff aims to increase our capability and capacity across the organisation. During 2016-17, environmental monitoring and reporting will focus on synthesising our data and information to establish the framework for the development of a series of catchment- scale report cards. There will also be a focus on State of the Environment reporting, and monitoring the effectiveness of the various policies, strategies and non-regulatory programmes that are underway. We will also provide input into programmes and policies that are in development, with a full State of the Environment report programmed for 2018. Work programmes will also include contributions to national level reporting, such as through the Land and Water Aotearoa website (LAWA), and reporting in relation to national requirements such as those of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management
(NPS-FM).
7.1 Catchment Summaries and Report Cards
Portfolio: Water Quality, Water Allocation and Groundwater (contribution from others, as requested).
Objective: Provide a collective analysis of catchment information on the state and trends for AnnexA each Freshwater Management Unit (FMU) to: 1. Inform Horizons’ science monitoring and research programmes, including selection of representative monitoring sites for FMUs, and to guide research to targeted issues; 2. Establish a framework for catchment-scale reporting; 3. Incorporate community values (social, cultural and economic); and 4. Measure the success of active management and remediation and/or intervention in maintaining and/or enhancing water quality and meeting regional and national policy objectives; and (5) Act as a communication tool for stakeholders. Context: Catchment-scale reporting is finding increasing favour nationally and internationally as a means of communicating the state of natural resources and value of their effective management. These ‘report cards’ have generally been developed in consultation and/or collaboration with the community and stakeholders to provide clear communication of the health of coastal, freshwater and eco-systems, and to highlight issues that require intervention and management. Approaching this analysis and reporting from a catchment perspective acknowledges the unique differences in the environmental, economic, social and cultural needs of the diverse areas of our Region. Rather than a more traditional science-driven reporting framework, catchment reporting sets a basis from which to provide our communities with simple and clear communication of the current state of freshwater resources, identify opportunities to maintain or enhance water quality and inform decision-making around future economic growth. The overall aim of this project is to synthesise our current knowledge about the condition of our Region’s rivers, lakes and streams, including the social and economic benefits that communities receive from our freshwater systems; highlight opportunities for growth and development, and inform and prioritise effective action in each catchment. It is envisaged that catchment summaries will be developed initially with available information held by
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Horizons and external agencies, while catchment report cards will be developed and delivered in partnership with stakeholders and the community. LTP Performance Measure: Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring to support the ability to “complete State of the Environment reporting including reviewing and updating environmental indicators”, to “undertake policy and programme implementation effectiveness monitoring and provide input into programme and policies that are in development”, and to ensure that “environmental information is made available to the public via Horizons website, Environment Committee reporting and on request, including contributions to national level reporting”. Partnerships: Natural Resources and Partnerships, Group Policy and Communications teams; NIWA; links to research programmes with GNS Science, DairyNZ and Massey University.
7.2 LAWA
Portfolio: Air, Water Allocation and Groundwater, Water Quality Objective: To provide science support for the continued evolution of the Land, Air and Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website and to ensure Horizons’ data conforms to common data exchange standards.
AnnexA Context: The LAWA website is a Regional Council-driven initiative to present information about the state and trends of New Zealand’s natural resources. The LAWA web portal now hosts water quality, quantity, lakes and air monitoring information. The Groundwater quality module is due for release later this year and the Land module is also in development. Horizons retains a strong role in the coordination of other Regional Councils, establishing standards, facilitating data exchange and undertaking the analysis of the combined set of Regional Council data for presentation on the website. Horizons is co-funded by the other Regional Councils for this activity and reporting of activity sits with the Regional Services group. This project has been set up to account for Horizons’ contribution to the LAWA project in terms of Science-funded time needed to ensure our own datasets conform to LAWA standards and to facilitate exchange between scientists (within and between Regional Councils and CRIs) that is otherwise not catered for by the co-funded coordination work. The project supports a level of staff time for additional modules that are anticipated, such as the module for biodiversity. LTP Performance Measure: Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring to ensure that “environmental information is made available to the public via Horizons website, Environment Committee reporting and on request, including contributions to national level reporting”. Partnerships: Catchment Information and Catchment Data teams; Regional Councils.
7.3 Public Information and RMA Advice
Portfolio: SoE and Policy with contribution from other portfolios Objective: To ensure up-to-date and relevant science information is effectively communicated to Horizons staff, councillors, iwi, the public, external agencies, and any other parties interested in aspects of natural resource management. This project also includes our contribution to national engagement through Special Interest Group (SIG) participation, conference and workshop presentations, development of national monitoring, and reporting of Horizons’ science and research. Context: External information sharing is an important part of the Horizons’ business. The purpose of this project is to communicate programme outputs, to inform and educate resource consent holders and the general public about the value of these programmes and
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how they contribute to the wider management of the Region’s water resources. This can include: On-site (pre-consent/non-project/short-lived) investigations;
Technical assessments of consent applications; and Item 9 Item Over-the-phone advice on resource availability, resource use and One Plan implementation. Public workshops, conferences and presentations, and local government workshops and forums. The project also seeks to build on work to update the Horizons website to better communicate scientific monitoring and research outputs. The Science and Innovation team continues efforts to work closely with Horizons’ Communications team to regularly produce consumable “sound bites”, and setting aside time to provide a public information service. LTP Performance Measure: Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring to ensure that “environmental information is made available to the public via Horizons website, Environment Committee reporting and on request, including contributions to national level reporting”. Partnerships: Horizons staff, Territorial Authorities, external agencies, public health,
industry, iwi and the public.
7.4 Community Engagement
Portfolio: SoE and Policy (with contribution from other portfolios) Objective: To ensure up-to-date and relevant scientific information is effectively
communicated to Horizons staff, councillors, consent holders, iwi, the public, and any other AnnexA parties interested in aspects of natural resource management. Context: External information sharing is an important part of Horizons’ science programme. The purpose of this project is to communicate programme outputs to inform and educate resource consent holders and the general public of the value of these programmes and how they contribute to the wider management of the Region’s natural resources. Opportunities to communicate information can range from data provision, over-the-phone (non-RMA) advice, site visits, and provision of guidance material, through to community workshops. The project also seeks to build on work to update the Horizons website to better communicate information about the environment and natural resource use. Public education of the available tools and philosophy around the availability and use of natural resources, such as water use efficiency and best practice is also of value to help implement Horizons’ Regional Policy and Plan (One Plan). In additional to our day-to-day provision of advice and communication of information, during 2016-17 we will aim to: Produce guidance material for prospective water users, including: bore drilling; information to support applications to take water – including aquifer testing and assessments of effects; and the consenting process. Continue to support community initiatives such as the Santoft Water User and Ruahine River Care Groups. LTP Performance Measure: Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring to ensure that “environmental information is made available to the public via Horizons website, Environment Committee reporting and on request, including contributions to national level reporting”. Partnerships: Horizons staff, Territorial Authorities, Regional Councils, external agencies, public health, industry, water user groups, iwi and the public.
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7.4.1 Air Quality Public Awareness Campaign
Portfolio: Air Objective: To continue to raise public awareness of air quality issues and what the community can do to minimise instances of poor winter air quality. Context: Air quality is a localised issue in Horizons’ Region with the current known problem areas confined to the Taumarunui and Taihape airsheds, although concern has been expressed that towns and cities throughout the Region experience occasional problems with poor winter air quality. Examination of the Taihape and Taumarunui data has traced the predominant source of winter air PM10 contamination to household heating practices. Raising public awareness of the triggers and causes of poor air quality is likely to be one of the most effective means of managing the problem. In April 2016, a breach of the NES in Taumarunui accorded an explanation to MfE that the source of the issue was difficult to determine and possibly outside Horizons’ ability to foresee and manage. A request was made for exceptional circumstances to ignore the breach. Should exceptional circumstances not apply, Horizons and the Ruapehu District Council may need to develop a plan for regulating the use of woodburners in the Taumarunui airshed. A response from MfE is expected during September 2016.
In June 2016 the Taihape monitoring site also recorded an exceedence of the PM10 trigger levels. While this exceedance appears to be the result of an equipment fault, Horizons staff AnnexA are presently reviewing monitoring data to establish the cause of this breach. The programme for 2016-17 is to continue public awareness campaigns, with contingency to devote these resources to forming an Air Quality Strategy should the need arise. The public awareness campaign is timed for delivery over summer to raise awareness around the collection of dry firewood. This is a Region-wide campaign.
7.5 National Engagement
Portfolio: SoE and Policy (with contribution from other portfolios) Objective: To account for time spent on national work programmes such as: National Objectives Framework (NOF) Environmental Monitoring and Reporting (EMaR) National Environmental Monitoring Standards (NEMS) Contact recreation guidelines Other national guidance material, e.g., NPS-FM guidance Regional Sector Special Interest Group (SIG) leadership and participation Context: This project provides the time for staff engagement, including leadership roles, across national working groups to support, guide and develop reporting frameworks, national environmental monitoring standards and guidance material. Staff time is also set aside to ensure that Horizons can quickly respond to new and emerging needs of Central Government environmental science and management initiatives. In 2016-17, Horizons’ Science and Innovation team members will be involved in the initiatives listed above. LTP Performance Measure: Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring to ensure that “environmental information is made available to the public via Horizons website, Environment Committee reporting and on request, including contributions to national level reporting”; and Water Quality and Quantity, Land, Biosecurity and Biodiversity to “inform policy and non-regulatory programme development”. Partnerships: Regional Councils, Ministry for the Environment, Statistics New Zealand, Crown Research Institutes, universities.
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Report No. 16-190 Information Only - No Decision Required
BIOSECURITY AND HABITAT PROTECTION PROGRESS REPORT 10 Item
1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is to introduce to members of Council’s Environment Committee, the Habitat Protection and Biosecurity progress reports for June 2016. 1.2. This item also summarises the key points and operational highlights contained within this report.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-190 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. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND HIGHLIGHTS 5.1. The period up to the end of June saw a lot of collaboration with external agencies taking place. 5.2. Work was undertaken on Velvet leaf response, Te Apiti, Kia Wharite, Pest Plan, Tb Free, National and neighboring Council, and Totara Reserve issues plus core corporate activities. 5.3. This period also saw the completion of the financial year. Generally all targets were met whilst remaining within budget. Due to contractor availability the completion of the Totara Reserve playground and Fern Walk upgrade had to be carried over to the current financial year. 5.4. A lot of planning has gone into setting up for the new Financial year including programme review and financial reporting.
6. SIGNIFICANCE 6.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Bill Martyn MANAGER – BIOSECURITY & HABITAT PROTECTION Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
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ANNEXES A Biosecurity & Habitat Protection Progress Report
Item 10 Item
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Item 10 Item
Biodiversity
1 Biodiversity Protection Programme
1.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress
. Reporting Period . Target . % . Measure . YTD . 1st . 2nd . 3rd . 4th . 5th . 6th Actual . *1 New high priority wetlands under 0 0 0 1 2 0 3 3 100% active management *2 New high priority wetlands under 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NA NA partial management
New high priority AnnexA bush remnants 0 0 0 6 2 0 8 6 133% under active management *2 New high priority bush remnants 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NA NA under partial management Environmental Grants supported 3 7 10 1 4 0 25 25 100% *2 Environmental Grants completed 0 2 1 1 5 20 25 25 100% (paid out)
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1.2 Targets - Life to Date Progress
. Reporting Period . LTD . LTD . Measure . % . 1st . 2nd . 3rd . 4th . 5th . 6th Actual Target
Total high priority Item 10 Item wetlands under 0 0 0 1 2 0 59 3 100% active management 59* *2 Total high priority wetlands under 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 NA NA partial management Total high priority bush remnants under 0 0 0 6 2 0 118 3 100% active management 118* *2 Total high priority bush remnants under 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 NA NA partial management *1 Annual target *2 AP/LTP targets
*3 Life to date target
1.3 Activity Report
General:
AnnexA 1.3.1 The Biodiversity Team have been involved in various planting projects during this period. The annual target for wetlands was met and for bush remnants it was exceeded. Both totals now match the life-to-date targets.
Community/private biodiversity:
1.3.2 Biodiversity-related Environmental Grant and Biodiversity Support applications have been claimed on for the year.
High priority wetlands:
1.3.3 No high priority wetlands were added to the managed list during the reporting period. The total number of high priority wetlands under active management is 59 and the number of sites under partial management is 24.
High priority bush remnants:
1.3.4 No high priority bush remnants were added to the list of actively managed sites during this period. The total number of high priority bush remnants under active management is 118 and the number of sites under partial management is 28.
Aaron Madden ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – BIODIVERSITY
Bill Martyn MANAGER – BIOSECURITY & BIODIVERSITY
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2 Community Biodiversity
2.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress (% complete)
. . Reporting Period 10 Item th . YTD . Ta . Measure . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 5 th st nd rd th 6 Actual rget
Totara Reserve Regional Park Totara Reserve Regional Park (Manawatu) 10% 20% 25% 20% 20% 5% 100% 100%
Collaboration Projects Manawatu Gorge (Palmerston North and 5% 20% 30% 20% 20% 5% 100% 100% Tararua) Pukaha/Mt Bruce (Tararua) 15% 15% 20% 25% 20% 5% 100% 100% Kia Wharite (Ruapehu) 15% 15% 25% 25% 15% 5% 100% 100% Save Our River Trust (Horowhenua) 5% 20% 25% 30% 15% 5% 100% 100% Manawatu Estuary (Horowhenua) 5% 20% 20% 30% 20% 5% 100% 100%
Community Projects (10 supported)
Massey Hill (Palmerston North) 0% 20% 40% 25% 10% 5% 100% 100% PN Weedbusters (Palmerston North and 5% 10% 50% 40% 10% - 100% 100% Manawatu) Rangitikei Environment Group (Rangitikei) 5% 15% 35% 30% 15% - 100% 100%
Waitarere Beach (Horowhenua) 5% 10% 55% 15% 15% - 100% 100% AnnexA Bushy Park (Whanganui) 0% 20% 30% 30% 15% 5% 100% 100% Tawata Mainland Island (Ruapehu) 10% 20% 25% 25% 15% 5% 100% 100% Awahuri Forest Kitchener Park (Manawatu) 10% 20% 20% 30% 15% 5% 100% 100% Moawhango Community Project (Rangitikei) 0% 30% 20% 30% 20% - 100% 100% Turitea Reserve (Palmerston North ) 10% 20% 20% 30% 15% 5% 100% 100% Te Potae o Awarua (Rangitikei) 0% 25% 40% 20% 15% - 100% 100% Lower Kahuterawa Stream (Palmerston 10% 15% 20% 30% 15% 10% 100% 100% North )
New community projects supported as resources permit
Gate Pa Bush Restoration (Manawatu) 0% 20% 20% 35% 25% - 100% 100% Ohau Beach Walkway (Horowhenua) 0% 15% 20% 40% 25% - 100% 100% Friends of Waitoetoe Park (Palmerston 20% - 0% 30% 20% 30% 100% 100% North)
2.2 Activity Report (Community Projects)
Totara Reserve Regional Park (Manawatu):
2.2.1 The first of the new pedestrian bridges was installed on the Fern Walk. This bridge allows complete separation of walkers from the road, thus eliminating one of the most significant health and safety issues in the Regional Park.
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Item 10 Item
AnnexA Photo 1: The new pedestrian bridge at Totara Reserve Regional Park being lowered into place next to the existing road bridge. Boardwalks will be constructed at either end of the bridge, as will barriers between the boardwalks and the road.
Awahuri Forest Kitchener Park (Manawatu):
2.2.2 Flooding issues in Awahuri Forest Kitchener Park area prompted the AFKP Trust to commission a scoping report focused on potential solutions. Following the release of the report, the Trust has arranged a meeting with Horizons and Manawatu District Council to discuss storm water options for the wider area.
Lower Kahuterawa Stream (Palmerston North):
2.2.3 The entranceway at Kahuterawa Bush has been redeveloped, including installation of picnic tables. The majority of this season’s planting has been completed with the additional funding from Project Crimson.
Aaron Madden ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – BIODIVERSITY
Bill Martyn MANAGER – BIOSECURITY & BIODIVERSITY
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3 Collaboration Projects – Horizons / DOC
3.1 Activity Report (Collaboration projects)
Kia Whārite (Ruapehu/ Whanganui): 10 Item
3.1.1 Full maintenance of all stoat and cat traps has been undertaken on the Manganui o te Ao section of the Whio Security Site over the last two months. Trap checks are being undertaken monthly during the winter months due to lower catch rates.
3.1.2 A second goat cull was carried out by DOC staff on the Whanganui River trench culling 60 goats, which is comparable to previous culls at this time of year. Hunts are scheduled for winter times to avoid peak tourist periods and to target goats when they have not been under pressure from recreational hunters.
3.1.3 Procurement for a three-year panel of suppliers to undertake the core goat control work in the Kia Whārite project area is in progress.
3.1.4 Targeted Tutsan control was undertaken on the Whanganui River Trench; poor weather impeded further programmed weed work. Annual weed control will recommence in spring.
3.1.5 The procurement process for the selection of a contractor to maintain/service the 912 stoat traps in the Retaruke, Aramahoe and Ohorea sites has been completed. The tender was awarded to ‘Mostly Outdoors Ltd’.
3.1.6 All of the older traps at the Retaruke security site are currently being upgraded, with all of the zinc plated traps being replaced with new stainless steel traps. New wire netting is also being fitted as required. AnnexA
3.1.7 Preparations were made to review the Kia Wharite project after 10 years in operation and look at a revised long term plan.
DOC Community Fund Updates
3.1.8 The third round of the DOC Community Fund closed in June with more than 15 expressions of interests from across the Horizons region. The projects spanned pest control, planting, weed management, interpretation and freshwater restoration. No decision has been received regarding the outcome of these applications at the time of writing this report.
3.1.9 Bushy Park and Castlecliff Coastcare have received their second grant payment and are making good progress toward achieving their milestones for the current reporting period. Bushy Park is focusing efforts on completing the biosecurity plan and trapping infrastructure upgrade for the sanctuary, as well as maintaining rodent audits and managing steady volunteer numbers. Castlecliff Coastcare held a successful community planting day in July.
Conservation week
3.1.10 Planning for Conservation Week is under way with both public and school focused events planned across the region. Discussions are taking place with Horizons and other community groups to partner for opportunities to increase awareness and engagement on conservation and natural resource management.
Manawatu Estuary
3.1.11 Updating the Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS) for the Manawatu Estuary. The RIS is an online form for all Ramsar sites which provides data on all designated Wetlands of International Importance to allow analysis of Ramsar-listed wetlands and provide baseline data for measuring
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changes in the listed wetlands. Manawatu Operations Team has just commenced updating this for the Manawatu site.
3.1.12 DOC has identified Manawatu Estuary as a potential Kiwi Guardian site and further work is
underway to develop this. Item 10 Item Horowhenua Reserves
3.1.13 DOC has management responsibilities for several reserves in Horowhenua. Koputaroa, Papaitonga, Omarupapako (Round Bush) and Himatangi Reserves were all monitored using tracking tunnels in July. All showed 0% rat tracking indices (i.e. no rats were recorded). These areas had been baited earlier in the year to keep rat numbers low to protect endemic Powelliphanta snails and other fauna.
Mangaweka Scenic Reserve
3.1.14 Bait stations throughout Mangaweka Scenic Reserve were filled in July and are being refilled as required. This is to protect the parasitic plant Dactylanthus and local mistletoes from rat and possum damage. This reserve has a walking track in it and DOC is working with local business to promote awareness and use of it.
Te Apiti Manawatu Gorge
3.1.15 This July the volunteer stoat trappers in the Gorge completed their seventh year of trapping. During their seven years they have trapped 1,110 rats, 149 stoats (or weasels), 231 hedgehogs, and three feral cats. This is a significant achievement. Each month they check 100 traps. During June and July DOC continued with bait fills and poisoning, targeting rats and possums.
AnnexA 3.1.16 The Business Case for Mountain Bike development options was received in July. Organisations and agencies are considering the report and it will be discussed by the Manawatu Gorge Governance group at their September meeting.
3.1.17 DOC is submitting an internal business case for capital upgrade to parts of the Tawa Loop walking track in 2016/17 due to high use and wear.
3.1.18 A meeting of the Interim Te Apiti Governance Group was held on May 9th. At this meeting discussion was held on the formation of the long-term Governance.
3.1.19 A meeting of the Interim Te Apiti Governance Group was held on May 9th. At this meeting discussion was held on the formation of the long-term Governance.
3.1.20 Planning is underway for an initial meeting of the long-term Te Apiti Governance Group. An invitation to the proposed members has been sent to meet on September 14.
3.1.21 The Te Apiti Working Group met on June 17. Work on budgets and operational plans were undertaken. This group will meet again following the initial Long-term Governance Group meeting.
Ruahine Ranges
3.1.22 In June 14,000 ha in the North Eastern Ruahine Ranges were surveyed for Pinus contorta, and any wilding pines found controlled. Also working were a volunteer group “Palmy Pine Pullers” who have started work on the eastern side of the Ruahine Range.
Pukaha
3.1.23 A staged process to increase community ownership of the successful Pukaha operations, commencing in 2013, has seen DOC handing over the management of the restoration, captive breeding and visitor experience functions within the Pukaha Scenic Reserve to the Pukaha Mount
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Bruce Board. The visitor centre was transferred from DOC management to the Pukaha Mount Bruce Board in July 2013.
3.1.24 The management of captive species on the site transferred to Board management in 2015 and they receive a grant annually from DOC for this work. The Board established their own Technical
Advisory Group (TAG) for the forest restoration project. The TAG includes subject experts from 10 Item DOC and other agencies and have guided the Board’s direction with the project.
3.1.25 On 1 July 2016 the staged handover concluded when the Board engaged an independent contractor to deliver pest control services. DOC will continue to provide technical advice and support to Pukaha Mount Bruce Board and the important buffer work undertaken by Horizons Regional Council and Wellington Regional Council.
Bill Martyn ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER – BIOSECURITY & BIODIVERSITY
Allanah Irvine DOC Operations Manager, Manawatu
AnnexA
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Item 10 Item
Biosecurity Activity (Animals)
4 Possums (Possum Control Operations - PCOs)
4.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress
Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Actual Maintenance PCOs (by 3 6 15 11 11 23 69 69 100% count) Initial operational areas (by - - 2 1 5 7 15 15 100%
count) Overall programme control 3 6 17 12 16 30 84 84 100% (by count) Control maintenance 157,938 75,620 147,567 106,467 145,799 92,296 725,687 725,687 100% operational areas (by area) 138,192
AnnexA Control initial operational 0 8,407 39,386 44,636 33,835 11,928 138,192 100% areas (by area) *1 116,000*1 Overall programme control 157,938 84,027 186,953 151,103 179,634 104,224 863,879 863,879 100% (by area) *1 AP/LTP targets
4.2 Activity Report
4.2.1 All operational work in the 2015-2016 PCO was completed by the end of the financial year. The programme has progressed well again this year with all of the operational input data, reports and associated administration completed to the required standards. Apart from a small number of areas, operational targets continue to be met, with the overall averages across all programmes well inside the predetermined targets.
4.2.2 The 2016-17 PCO will involve control work in 80 x ‘Maintenance Operations’ totalling 856,860 hectares and 5 x ‘Initial Operations’ totalling 55,985 hectares. Thirty five operations will be deferred. The Regional Response Team has the capacity to undertake work in four of the initial operations and 39 x maintenance programmes. The balance of the control work (42 x operations) will be outsourced to ‘approved’ external contractors.
4.2.3 A considerable amount of ‘prep’ work is currently underway in relation to the PCO i.e. the preparation of landowner contact lists and operational maps, VTA permit applications and tender document preparation etc.
4.2.4 The regional map shows all areas under maintenance in the PCO (pink shading), the light blue is the current initial work. Also shown in orange and darker blue is the land where owners have opted out of the programme. This amounts to less than 10% of the total area worked. The common reason for opting out is mainly due to owners preferring to carry out their own control. As
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demonstrated in the map these areas become isolated by the PCO allowing the management of possum migration.
4.2.5 A meeting with OSPRI was set up for early July to discuss the retirement of nearly 400,000 hectares of Tb Free controlled land in the Northern part of the region. The meeting will involve
HRC CE and staff and OSPRI’s CE and the Tb Free National Operations Manager. 10 Item
Eric Dodd
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR (ANIMALS)
AnnexA
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Item 10 Item
AnnexA
Map 1: Draft PCO 2016-2017 (Year 11)
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5 Rooks
5.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress
. YT 10 Item . Reporting Period D . Target . % . Measure Actual . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . . . st nd rd th th th a. Existing rook colonies (rookeries) 84 69 - - - - 69 Record 0% b. New sites ------Record 0% Total rook colonies (rookeries) (a + b) 84 69 - - - - 69 Record 0% Aerially treated rookeries *1 0 67 - - - - 69 100% 97% Ground based rook control operations 0 0 2 2 - - 2 -
Report ground control efficacy (% NA - 90% - - - 90% 90% estimated kill) Contract Ensure all contractual obligations are signed completed before annual rook control Yes - - - - - Yes 100% with aerial programme begins
provider
*1 AP/LTP targets
5.2 Activity Report
5.2.1 No rook control work was undertaken during the reporting period. AnnexA
5.2.2 Planning work is underway for the 2017 aerial nest baiting programme.
Eric Dodd ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR (ANIMALS)
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Item 10 Item
AnnexA
Map 2: Rook distribution post control November 2015
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6 Amenity Pests
6.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress
. Reporting Period . Y 10 Item . Tar . Measure TD . % . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 get st nd rd th th th Actual Manage and record all amenity pest enquiries using Frontline corporate 88 164 203 140 92 36 723 Record 100% database *1 Respond to all enquiries within 48 hours of 88 164 203 140 92 36 723 100% 100% receipt *1 Close out or action all enquiries within 88 164 203 140 92 36 723 100% 100% 5 working days of receipt Report on all amenity pest enquiries Reported below *1 AP/LTP targets
6.2 Activity Report
6.2.1 A total of 65 enquiries were received over the reporting period (June-July 2016). The numbers entered into the tables in this section reflect the enquiries received to the 30th June 2016.
6.2.2 The highest percentage of enquiries were from land owners in the Manawatu District followed by the Tararua, Wanganui and Horowhenua Districts.
6.2.3 All landowners making enquiries were contacted/visited within the prescribed timeframes and AnnexA provided with advice, equipment (traps etc) or small amounts of toxins to help them deal with their particular pest issue.
Pest Animal Enquiry Summary by Pest Type for Period June 2016 40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0 Possums Mustelid Magpie Rabbit Rook Cat All Other This Year 11 4 5 2 1 4 9 Last Year 34 6 7 10 2 18 11
Graph 1: Pest Animal Enquiry Summary – by Pest Type
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Pest Animal Enquiry Summary by District for Period June 2016 14
Item 10 Item 12
10
8
6
4
2
0 Palmerston Horowhenu Manawatu Tararua Rangitikei Wanganui Ruapehu North a District 12 3 7 4 5 0 5
Graph 2: Pest Animal Enquiry Summary – by District
AnnexA
Photo 2: A ‘possum master’ trap set in an urban garden. (R Wilman)
Eric Dodd ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR (ANIMALS)
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7 Monitoring
7.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress
. . Reporting Period 10 Item . YTD . Tar . Measure . % . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 Actual get st nd rd th th th Monitor agreed sample of ex-TB free 0 0 2 0 0 2 4 4 100% PCOs Monitor agreed sample of new (initial) 0 0 5 3 0 7 15 15 100% PCOs RTC of sampled ex-TB free PCOs *1 - - 2.5% - - 2.2% 2.3% <5% RTC of sampled maintenance PCOs - - 5.9% 1.5% - 9.2% 6.53% <10% *1 Rabbit night counts - - - - 1.49 1.13 11 11 100% *1 AP/LTP targets
7.2 Activity Report
7.2.1 The last of the eleven rabbit night counts were completed in mid June. Although the overall average of rabbits counted per kilometre was slightly up on the last count (2012), rabbit numbers remain low across the region.
Rabbits per Kilometre AnnexA Count Route 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2015-2016 Whenuatapu Station 0.37 0.21 0.21 0.33 Koiro Station 0.9 0.37 0.29 0.24 Papanui Station 0.05 0.23 0.18 0.25 J Carver 1.43 1.27 0.4 1.47 Thompson & others 1.53 1.05 0.89 0.46 Hocking/Hammond 2.89 2.08 2.83 3.37 N Rowe/Lakeview 0.98 0.03 0 0.38 Balfour Station 0.13 0.16 0.56 0.58 Ora Station 1.17 2.01 1.52 0.75 Pipi Bank Station 3 3.15 2.43 1.84 Aohanga Station 2.17 2.73 1.55 2.8 1.33 1.21 0.99 1.13
7.2.2 The last of the PCO trend monitors were completed over the reporting period. The overall results from this year’s monitoring were good with the four ex-TB Free operations returning an average result of 2.33% RTCi (against a target of 5% RTCi) and the fifteen ‘initial’ operations returning an average result of 6.53% RTCi (against a target of 10% RTCi).
7.2.3 An approach has been made to Landcare for assistance in designing a monitor program to test the validity of the current monitoring regime. This should test whether or not the PCO programme has been effective in achieving its targets.
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Monitor results for the life of the Possum Control Operation
Ex-TB free operations 5% target Initial operations 10% target 2.16% average (34 monitors) 4.71% average (51 monitors) Overall average 3.79% (95 monitors)
Item 10 Item
Eric Dodd
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR (ANIMALS)
AnnexA
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Item 10 Item
AnnexA
Map 3: 2015-16 PCO monitoring map.
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7.3 Biosecurity Activity (Animals) Summary
Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date .2015-16 operational work commenced Operational implementation .VTA Permits for the 2016-17 PCO have been Item 10 Item completed. Possum Control Success indicators Operation .All 2015-16 PCO monitors were completed
.All 2015-16 post-operational reports were completed Data management .GPS data uploaded into GIS database .Planning work for the 2017 aerial nest baiting work is Aerial nest baiting underway. Rook Management .Two ground operations successfully completed and Ground control two others attempted. Rook database .Reviewed and updated .Frontline database reviewed daily Respond to .Individual enquiries actioned enquiries/complaints within agreed timeframes. .Database updated regularly .Environment Committee Report
Assist landowners with .Ongoing – advice provided as appropriate
advice on appropriate pest .Loan trap and other equipment supplied Amenity Pest control techniques. Programme Initiate appropriate enforcement action against . No action required to date land occupiers who do not comply with strategy rules. AnnexA Ensure that information on control methods for amenity . Ongoing (updated as required) pests is available on Horizons’ website. .2015-16 monitoring plan completed Possum Control Operation .The 2016-17 monitoring plan is being developed Animal Pest Monitoring Programme RPAMS (Regional Pest Animal Management .Rabbit night counts were completed. Strategy) Monitoring Report
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Item 10 Item
Biosecurity Activity (Plants)
8 Zero Density/Containment Species
8.1 Activity Report
8.1.1 Species worked on during this reporting period include cathedral bells, Chilean rhubarb, banana passionfruit, climbing spindleberry, evergreen buckthorn and Pinus contorta.
8.1.2 This period sees a large amount of planning for the season ahead getting underway. One of the
major priorities is contact of land owners affected by our control programmes. We also have a number of cross agency work programmes were we aim for a coordinated approach across the landscape to best protect the shared asset of pest plant free areas.
Climbing spindleberry
8.1.3 One of the lesser known pest plants in our region which had the potential to expand and affect AnnexA forestry production as well as biodiversity values is being well contained through ongoing Horizons control. Well known elsewhere to invade forestry and grow to heights and with a vine size able to create hang ups, we have found the below site in good time. Originally favoured by landscapers for its stunning autumn foliage and planted in larger gardens and especially well suited to rural homesteads, this plant is now banned from sale. Spread is via bird dispersal and as such is randomly scattered from known sites, though distance is usually limited. We search for this plant during its highly visible stage from May – June and either treat then or return in spring to treat the new growth. We currently have 96 sites in the region with 65% of sites at zero-density.
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Item 10 Item
AnnexA
Photo 3: Jack Keast spraying newly discovered climbing spindleberry established within forestry from an old homestead site, (J.Keast).
Craig Davey Natural Resources and Partnerships Coordinator - Plants
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9 Production Species
9.1 Activity Report
9.1.1 Complaints or enquiries were received about blackberry, broom and gorse. 10 Item
9.1.2 We had four boundary complaints over this period, and we issued two ‘request to clear’ notices for woolly nightshade.
Woolly nightshade
9.1.3 Winter is a great time to focus on woolly nightshade as it remains leafy and becomes more visible against other winter foliage. Control is relatively straight forward for occupiers though without chemicals to kill the root system regrowth is rampant. This requirement to use chemicals is a challenge for some occupiers and we generally assist these people and encourage them to get in early and pull seedlings if others turn up. Urban and peri-urban areas can be challenging for staff as the number of properties is large, that type of landscape is good for hiding plants, and there seems to be less engagement with the impact of pest plants. The rural community have an ability to respond to woolly nightshade’s spread, especially when motivated by what the plant can do to otherwise good farmland. In the image below you’ll note the effect of woolly nightshade’s allopathic qualities on the pasture under the plant. Woolly nightshade’s ability to transform large areas via
bird dispersal introductions and then incremental increases by removing competition is well known. AnnexA
Photo 4: Woolly nightshade in rural Whanganui poisoning pasture due to allopathic transformation, (R.Sicely).
Craig Davey Natural Resources and Partnerships Coordinator - Plants
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10 Biological Control
10.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress
Item 10 Item Reporting Period YTD Measure 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Actual Monitor and report on bio agent release sites 0 3 12 4 20 0 39 - sites inspected Monitor and report on bio agent release sites 0 - 13 6 0 0 19 - new releases/transfers
10.2 Activity Report
10.2.1 No biological monitoring or assessment work was undertaken in this period.
Green thistle beetle
10.2.2 We are planning for a large release programme of green thistle beetles this summer to satisfy the outstanding demand for thistle agents. As such we have met with one of the AgResearch scientists who along with Beef and Lamb NZ drove demand due to their successful Californian
thistle field days. AgResearch are keen to be involved in our region and conduct impact monitoring of some of our successfully established populations.
Field horsetail
10.2.3 The horsetail weevil rearing is progressing well and on track for the first release later this year – AnnexA tentatively pencilled for December. The Rangitikei Horsetail Group will be meeting shortly and will decide exactly when and where this might occur.
10.2.4 Currently Landcare Research hold two small populations of the horsetail weevil as larvae / pre pupae in Landcare Research’s containment, Lincoln, under winter conditions (<5C). These are first and second generation from UK field collected adults. EPA approval to release Grypus equiseti came after these groups had been transferred in to winter conditions so we have let them remain there, in containment, until we are ready to make the first field release when they will be warmed and new adults emerge. MPI approval to release these populations from containment (EPA grants approval to release the species, MPI grants approval to release EACH shipment) will take place shortly. The Landcare scientist is unsure how many weevils we will have emerge – I am hopeful of enough to make a good first release but we’re also mindful we will need some to adequately seed the rearing programme outside of containment as well.
10.2.5 To bolster both weevil numbers and genetic diversity of the rearing population Landcare also received a further shipment from the UK in July. These have been placed onto fresh horsetail growth and are feeding and ovipositing well with first larvae already observed. This population too will need to be acclimatised and re-phased to southern hemisphere conditions so progeny of these newly imported individuals will not be available for removal from containment to field release or contribute to the rearing colony until 2017-18.
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OMB bark beetle
10.2.6 Landcare Research have provided Horizons with a project milestone timeframe for assessing the bark beetles host specificity within containment. Landcare aim to import bark beetles into containment at Lincoln early next year to begin host specificity testing of New Zealand native
Clematis species. They have already accumulated good numbers of Clematis test plants but will 10 Item continue to source further, suitable plants over coming months. This shipment should also provide enough beetles to attempt establishing a population within containment. There is much about the biology of this beetle that is not known so rearing may prove difficult.
Craig Davey
Natural Resources and Partnerships Coordinator - Plants
AnnexA
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11 Non-rateable Land & Crown Agencies
11.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress
Item 10 Item Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Actual MOU/Liaison progress 1 4 2 3 0 1 11 12 92%
11.2 Activity Report
We liaise with the following agencies: LINZ, DOC, KiwiRail, NZ Defence Force, NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), Palmerston North City Council and Whanganui, Ruapehu, Rangitikei, Manawatu, Tararua and Horowhenua district councils. We also meet annually with neighbouring regional councils to discuss boundary pest control issues.
11.2.1 Staff met with Tararua District Council to discuss the up coming season of pest plant control. We also enquired about worksite requirements and health and safety stipulations when working within their road corridor.
Craig Davey Natural Resources and Partnerships Coordinator - Plants
AnnexA
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12 Surveillance
12.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress
Reporting Period YTD 10 Item Measure % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Actual Survey and inspect all nurseries for National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) listed 0 - - - - - 0 NA weeds Report all discoveries and action taken Reported below Survey and record status of all known and 26 - - - - - 26 NA new Surveillance species sites New sites 0 - - 11 2 - 0 NA Total sites 26 - - 37 39 39 39 NA Zero Density progress (cumulative sites at 18 - - - - 18 18 46% Zero Density)
12.2 Activity Report
Velvetleaf
12.2.1 Staff presented with MPI at Bulls, 6th July, to a public meeting with around 30 attendees about velvetleaf in our region. Staff talked about what we found, what to look for in the coming months, and also the farm management decisions required in the short term to achieve the goal of
eliminating the infestations. We had a low turn out from affected farmers in the morning session AnnexA with the majority arriving later for one on one meetings to go through a farm plan process. There was a good cross-section of industry representation from seed reps, contractors and support organisations such as DairyNZ, Federated Farmers and HortNZ.
12.2.2 Management of the infestations has been structured into farm plans which identify the farmer as central to the success of containing and eliminating this pest. Paddock utilisation, crop choice, cultivation, machinery hygiene and surveillance are all components of the farm plan. Of the 12 affected farm managers, four made the trip to Bulls and completed farm plans. We are undertaking to complete farm plans with the remaining eight farmers over the coming weeks. The majority of farmers are keen to work with the process to manage what they have.
12.2.3 An OIA request of MPI to release a further list of the four other implicated fodder beet lines has seen an increase in the implicated farmers within our region. Staff have yet to communicate this information with identified farmers as we wait for a mandate. The ramifications of releasing the list at this time of the crop cycle are that we have no idea whether plants are present or not, so we must assume the entire cropped area is infected and intervene/plan accordingly. This is not a good news story, though at least we have some idea of where surveillance needs to take place this coming spring.
Craig Davey Natural Resources and Partnerships Coordinator - Plants
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13 Awareness & Promotion
13.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress
Item 10 Item Reporting Period YTD Measure 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Actual Report on all awareness and promotional 45 88 186 120 63 23 525 activity *1 *1 AP/LTP targets
13.2 Activity Table
. Activity . What
Talks to groups Velvetleaf public meeting and one on one workshop of farm plans
Field days Media articles Velvetleaf workshop, Stuff.co.nz article
13.3 Activity report
Frontlines: June - July 2016
AnnexA 8
8 7 7 7
6
5
4
3
2 1
1 0 0 Production Zero-Density Freshwater Surveillance Non-Strategy
Graph 31: Pest plant enquiries - summary
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13.3.1 The main topics of enquiry during this period were:
PRODUCTION Enquiry about gorse on boundaries
ZERO-DENSITY Old man’s beard and banana passionfruit Item 10 Item FRESHWATER No enquiries this period
SURVEILLANCE Field horsetail
NON-STRATEGY Privet and unknown plants creating problems
Craig Davey NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS COORDINATOR - PLANTS
AnnexA
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13.4 Biosecurity Activity (Plants) Summary
Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date Work with NC partners and other stakeholders to:
Item 10 Item Nature Central (NC) 1. Form plan Annual meeting held, maps produced, alignment Wilding Conifer 2. Activity planning and tracking with programmes achieved. Implementation Plan sheet 3. Annual meeting scheduled. Waimarino TNP Organise joint work programme Programme underway. We have good Darwin’s barberry alongside DOC. cooperation and alignment with DOC. control programme Decide on the best actions Beginning to disseminate best practice Yellow bristle grass Horizons can take to arrest the information to road managers. Topic of meeting (YBG) intervention spread and impact of YBG on the with NZTA. Staff assessed infected roadside investigation Region. management options in the Waikato. Rangitikei Horsetail Assist group financially and with EPA approves field horsetail weevil for release Group actions as required. into New Zealand. Assist group financially and with Tutsan Action Group EPA approves Tutsan agents for release. actions as required. 1. Workable structure established
for Horizons staff to implement Horizons’ protocol for regional and national Agent assessment 2. Tutsan assessment sites assessment protocol commitments has been project established. established. Broom gall mite report compiled 3. Other plants planned and and sent to Landcare Research. criteria established. .Relationship between parties AnnexA maintained. Annual meeting held in late September, collaborative approach to weed infestation Desert Road Invasive .MOU completed management occurring between parties. Work of Legume Control Group .Coordinated action in priority the various parties is progressing through the areas is undertaken against the spray season. target species. 1. Establish season plan Check, Clean, Dry 2. Establish register of (CCD) advocacy relationships to be managed to Programme wrapped for the year. programme enable wide community uptake of message.
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Report No. 16-191 Information Only - No Decision Required
FRESHWATER PROGRESS REPORT 11 Item
1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is to introduce Members of Council’s Environment Committee, the Freshwater Progress report for the period for June 2016.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-191 and Annex.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. The Freshwater and Science 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 June/July period has been very busy for the Freshwater team with a considerable amount of fencing and planting work being completed. The attached report overviews the regional programme, the Manawatu River Leaders’ Accord and Lake Horowhenua Accord work programmes. Key highlights for June/July include the announcement of Te Mana O Te Wai funding for a project led for Nga Rauru. Overall the regional programme completed 21 km of fencing and planted 25,884 plants. In the Manawatu Accord programme the final transactions for the Manawatu Clean-up Fund were completed and the project closed. The stream fencing and other targets for the project were met with over 45 km of fencing and 28,621 plants planted. The Lake Horowhenua work programme had a large focus on finalising the Environment Court process for the lake restoration consents and also continued to work with the Tararua Growers Association to reduce sediment and nuritent losses from horticulture farms in the lake Horowhenua catchment. The attached reports provide more detail on these projects and the other activity within the Freshewater programme.
7. SIGNIFICANCE 7.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
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Item 11 Item Logan Brown FRESHWATER & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES A Freshwater Progress Report
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11 Item
2 Freshwater Management
1 Waterway1 Enhancement & Protection
1.1 Targets – Regional Freshwater Programme
The Waterway Enhancement and Protection section reports on water quality implementation work across the region, excluding the work undertaken as part of the Manawatu and Lake Horowhenua Clean-Up Funds,
which is reported on separately in the next sections of the Environment Committee report.
Brief updates for the current reporting period are provided in the sections below. A summary of the progress made against the targets for the year is provided in Table 1 and in the summary table at the end of this section.
AnnexA Table 1: Annual Plan performance measures for the 2015-16 year for the Regional Freshwater Programme (excluding the Freshwater Clean-Up Fund work for the Manawatu and Horowhenua Catchments).
. Reporting Period . 20 . Ta . Measure 15-16 . % st nd rd th th rget 1 2 3 4 5 6th Actual Work with individuals, community groups 34 47 20 39 12 5 157 25 628% and iwi to improve waterways *1 Environmental Grant applications supported +12 290% 11 20 8 11 11 58 20 *1 -15 *1 AP/LTP targets
1.2 Activity Report
Work with individuals, community groups and iwi to improve waterways:
Context
The work with individuals or groups includes providing specific advice regarding freshwater projects and generally addresses the best methods to improve water quality or aquatic habitat. These include stock exclusion, planting, weed control, sediment control and fish passage improvement advice. Each individual or group is only counted once per year, although many projects involve numerous contacts and/or visits as they progress. This excludes work undertaken in the Manawatu and Lake Horowhenua catchments, which is reported separately.
Work to inform where to target to be most effective continues in close collaboration with the Science team. This includes working with the Science team to assist with water quality investigation studies, including monitoring work in the Ohau and Waikawa catchments.
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Update
1.2.1 The team had contact with and provided specialised freshwater advice to 157 individuals, iwi, community groups and clubs during the 2015-16 year. Within each project generally one contact person is counted even if there are several people working on the project. Despite there generally
Item 11 Item being numerous contacts with each person over the course of the project, they are only counted once per year. This is another year of significant increase in our coverage of contacts, up from 132 in 2014-15, 125 in 2013-14 and 82 in 2012-13. This does not include contacts in the Manawatu and Horowhenua projects.
1.2.2 In July 2016 the team had contact with a total of 51 individuals - 34 were eligible for a grant, while advice was provided (but no grant) to 17.
1.2.3 Nga Rauru had their Te Mana o Te Wai project “Te Kaahui o Rauru Waterways Restoration” officially launched by the Hon. Marama Fox on June 30th 2016 with Horizons staff in attendance. Horizons has supported their three projects within our region with advice during the project planning phase, from both the Freshwater and River Management teams for willow removal, fencing and replanting in appropriate native plants in three coastal streams to the west of Whanganui. Works are likely to start in October 2016.
1.2.4 Staff are working with iwi/hapu groups within the Rangitikei Catchment to assist with new projects within the Moawhango, Pourewa, Hautapu and Makowhai (Coastal Rangitīkei) catchments. Over this period 1200 native trees and flaxes were planted in the riparian margins of the Makowhai Stream, near Tangimoana, in conjunction with the land owners and Ngāti Apa. A project with Ngāti Hauiti on the Pourewa Stream at Rata has seen 4,880 plants put in by contractors during August, with a planting day planned for early September with another 1,200 trees/flaxes. Staff have also helped with the preparation for planting 2,000 trees alongside the Moawhango River in
September in a project with Ngāti Whitikaupeka. AnnexA
Photo 1: The Pourewa Stream at Rata following willow removal and spot sprayed ready for planting, June 2016.
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1.2.5 Support with land owner liaison, advice and grants for Ngati Rangi’s fencing and planting projects in the Tokiahuru Catchment (Whangaehu) continue. Building on the work completed in 2015-16 the programme has been decided on, and preparation for works is underway.
1.2.6 Kai Iwi school participated in a very successful planting day on the Mowhanau Stream in June.
One of their senior classes planted over 500 trees in under an hour! There are two other planting 11 Item days with schools in the planning phase for early September.
1.2.7 Staff attended part of the Ballance Farm Environmental Award field day on June 30th celebrating David and Adrienne Hopkins as regional winners. Their farm features a nutrient treatment wetland which FW staff helped with advice throughout the planning and creation phases; and with a
planting day in December last year.
AnnexA
Photo 2: Kai Iwi School children planting beside the Mowhanau Stream, June 2016.
Environmental Grant applications supported:
Context
Environmental Grants support a wide range of works that primarily include fencing and planting of waterways, fish pass remediation and willow and weed control, such as releasing of native trees and shrubs planted last winter.
Update
1.2.8 During this period it was recognised that 15 grant projects were not going to be completed by the end of June and these were taken out of the year’s count. There were also 12 new grant applications approved which meant the year ended with 58 completed projects - three less than predicted.
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1.2.9 The delays to fencing due to the long spell of dry weather late into autumn and then the wet weather over May and June delayed some projects significantly. There was also a bottleneck as nurseries and planting contractors had a large number of orders/jobs over this period and some were delayed until July.
Item 11 Item 1.2.10 The total number of the projects completed within the 2015-16 year was 58 (Table 2); with 21.2 kilometres of fencing completed and 25,884 native trees/flaxes planted. The summary of these across catchments for the last financial year is provided in the table below.
1.2.11 Over July 2016, 34 grant applications were approved. Fifteen of these were from making contact with people who didn’t get their grants completed last year to confirm that they were going ahead this financial year, and many of these were helped during the July planting season. The remainder are new grant applications. At the end of July, applications for 8.5km of fencing and 8820 plants have been received. In July, 770m of fencing was completed and 665 plants put in the ground over seven projects.
Table 2: Summary of completed work in focus catchments for the regional freshwater programme for 2015-16 (excluding the Manawatu and Horowhenua Accord/Freshwater Clean-Up Fund work). *TMOTW – Te Mana o Te Wai fund.
Year to date Year to date Total no. of Focus catchment length of fencing no. of natives Other work completed/ comments
projects completed planted
1) Awarua 2) 1 0 25 3) Coastal 5) Met with the Bulls community group 5 0 3090 and completed planting on the Makowhai. AnnexA 4) Rangitikei
7) Also assisted with a community grant 6) Hautapu 1 0 0 on the Hautapu.
8) Kaitoke 9) 3 60 1551 10) Manganui o 11) te Ao 2 1050 1000
12) Mowhanau A planting day held in mid June with Kai Iwi 5 1070 1150 school. 13) Ohau 14) 3 320 155 15) Porewa 16) 5 1950 5370 17) Waikawa 2 - 526
19) One project scoped for next financial 18) Waiwiri 0 - - year.
20) Regional 21) Launch of the Nga Rauru TMOTW Freshwater project supported and attended. Support Grants (outside 31 16,770m 13,017 plants with project planning for these three focus projects, due to start next financial year. catchments)
TOTAL 2015-16 58 21,220 m 25,884 plants
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Item 11 Item
AnnexA
Map 1: Locations of the completed Regional Freshwater Grants for the 2015-16 year; and proposed and completed grants for 2016-17 as of July 30, 2016.
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Nga Whenua Rahui Work:
Context
As discussed in the Freshwater Operational Plan, a Freshwater staff member (Joe Martin) undertakes work
Item 11 Item on contract to Nga Whenua Rahui (NWR), assessing proposals for protection of bush remnants, wetlands and stream sites on Maori owned land.
Update
1.2.12 Fencing of two Atihau bush blocks; Omerei (Te Pah), McCarthy (Tawanui), and the Awarua (Pukeokahu) block near Taihape were approved for kawenata and fencing is expected to start in spring.
1.2.13 Repair fencing after the June 2015 flooding was completed at three sites.
1.2.14 A kiwi aversion training was held at Ohorea Station on 17th June, with 35 dogs taken through the course.
1.3 Waterway Enhancement and Protection Summary
Key programme Project Progress to date deliverables 157 individuals, community groups or iwi visited or Work with individuals, contacted and provided with advice in 2015-16. In community groups or Work with 25 individuals, AnnexA July 2016 there were 51 contacts. iwi to improve community groups or iwi waterways Partnership projects with iwi, district councils and other groups within Horizons’ region are continuing. 58 Freshwater Grant applications were completed last financial year totalling 21.2 km of fencing and Environmental Grant 20 Environmental Grants 25884 native trees/shrubs planted. applications supported supported 34 Grant applications were approved in July 2016 for 8.5km fencing and 8820 native plants. Works completed in accordance with the Three new kawenata were approved ready to fence contract to NWR, including in spring. Nga Whenua Rahui assessing proposals for One new potential kawenata application is being (NWR) protection of bush scoped. remnants, wetlands and stream sites on Maori owned land. .
Clare Ridler FRESHWATER COORDINATOR
Logan Brown FRESHWATER AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
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2 Manawatu River Accord and Manawatu Freshwater Clean-Up Fund
2.1 Targets – Manawatu Accord Item 11 Item
Brief updates for the June reporting period are provided in the sections below. The targets for the 2015-16 financial year are summarised in Table 1 below. Note the fencing and planting totals for each period are cumulative. The planting and community project targets were exceeded and fencing and fish pass targets met.
Table 3: Annual Plan performance measures for the 2015-16 year for Manawatu River Accord.
. Reporting Period . Allocat . Tar . % . Measure ed work get 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
Stream fencing, 6.68 13.929 including riparian 0 10.2 km 22.3 km 45.4 65.8 45 km 100% km planting. km 22 sites 32 sites 50 sites
Improve native fish 16 sites (10,192 65 sites 13 (11,127 (28,621 habitat and fish 0 (8,947 plants, (31,335) 10 sites 500% plants, 4 fish plants, 4 fish passage. sites plants) 4 fish plants) passes) passes) passes) Community 4 0 0 0 3 3 9 10 225%
involvement projects. projects AnnexA 2.2 Activity Report
Manawatu River Leader’s Accord and Action Plan:
Context
The Manawatu River Leader’s Forum draws together iwi/ hapū, local and central government, industry, farming, environmental and recreational groups with a common goal of improving the state of the Manawatu River and Catchment.
In August 2010, the Manawatu River Leader’s Forum signed the Manawatu River Leader’s Accord with the goal of improving the Manawatu River, the Mauri (lifeforce) of the Manawatu Catchment, as such that it sustains fish species, and is suitable for contact recreation, in balance with the social, cultural and economic activities of the catchment community.
In June 2011, the Manawatu River Leaders established a collaboratively owned action plan for implementation. The action plan outlined more than 130 actions to be undertaken.
The action plan is overseen by the Manawatu River Leaders Forum with meetings generally held twice yearly. Progress on the Forum Action Plan was reported on in April 2014 via a public report that was accompanied by an independent science report on the state and trends of water quality in the Manawatu. A further report on progress was presented in November 2014, where the Leaders Forum initiated a refresh of the Action Plan. A Science and Mauturangi Maori Advisory panel met and produced a report to inform the process in early 2015. This report was presented to the Manawatu River Leaders Forum in June 2015.
The revision of the Action Plan was undertaken by the Forum over the latter part of 2015 and the Forum considered and adopted the revised action plan at its December 2015 meeting.
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Update
2.2.1 On March 11, 2016, the Minister for the Environment, Dr Nick Smith, attended the launch of the Manawatu River Leader’s Forum new Action Plan. The new action plan outlines 104 actions the signatories to the Accord will undertake over the next five years (2016 to 2021). The Action Plan
provides information on the Manawatu Catchment, its water quality and an overview of the Item 11 Item progress to date. The actions included in the plan specify a lead agency, the partners to the task, timeframes and how they will be measured.
Image 1: Left, cover of the 2014 independent science report; Centre, cover of the 2015 Science and Mataurangi Maori Report; Right, cover of 2016-2021 Manawatu River Leaders Accord Action Plan.
2.2.2 Accord members are already working towards the goals and actions committed to in the new Action Plan.
2.2.3 On 13 April Federated Farmers hosted a Riparian Management workshop which was attended by AnnexA Accord partners and others working in the riparian management space. Attendees included members representing DairyNZ, Open Country, Fonterra, NZ Deer Association, iwi, Horizons, Landcare Trust and Federated Farmers representatives. Dr Lucy Mckergow from NIWA also spoke to present the science behind riparian management, which gave confidence in the actions being undertaken.
2.2.4 The next Manawatu River Leaders Forum meeting is likely to be held in November 2016.
Photo 3. Stream fencing at Cheltenham Downs in Oroua Catchment.
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Item 11 Item
Photo 4: Planting at Mangamutu Domain near Pahiatua with Fonterra factory workers and local land owners.
2.2.5 Work achieved as a part of the original action plan, including the Clean-Up Fund project discussed below, included: AnnexA
. More than 120,000 plants planted alongside waterways; . More than 380 km of stream fencing; . 98 Environmental Farm Plans completed to help farmers reduce the environmental footprint of farming; . 202 farms mapped under the Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) with environmental works carried out to protect 3,282 ha of land in the catchment since 2006; . 15 fixes to barriers restricting fish migration; . Upgrades to six wastewater treatment plants; . 23 community-led projects completed with six more underway; . Series of 14 signs being erected throughout the catchment to communicate cultural history; . One of New Zealand’s largest inanga (whitebait) spawning sites discovered and enhanced at Whirokino near Foxton; . Water quality sampling at more than 70 river and stream sites across the Manawatu Catchment as part of Horizons Regional Council’s primary water quality monitoring network. An independent science report of the state and trends of water quality in 2014, and production of a Science and Mataurangi Maori Science Panel report in 2015, to report on state and trends of the catchment and to inform the revision of the Action plan.
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Manawatu River Accord Targeted Rate
Context:
Horizons Regional Council has a targeted rate for the Manawatu Accord work. During the 2012-14 years this
Item 11 Item funding was incorporated into the Manawatu Freshwater Clean-Up Fund work (see below).
In the 2015-16 financial year, the targeted rate funding is being used to run a programme in addition to the Manawatu Clean-Up Fund work (as was also done in the 2014-15 year). This work is overviewed below.
The implementation work includes more stream fencing, riparian planting, fish habitat enhancement including fish barrier remediation work, and the community projects. The community projects approved in 2014-15 included: . Ossie Latham – Mangaone West Landcare Group; . NZ Landcare Trust – Stoney Creek Catchment Project; . Mike Hoggard & Alison Short – Hayne’s Creek Project; . Te Roopu Taiao o Ngati Whakatere – Manawatu riparian planting near Poutu Pa; . Roslyn Reach (Marise Clark) – Little Kawau Stream rehabilitation project; . Tanenuiarangi Manawatu Inc – Tuna revitalisation;
. Te Kāuru – Phase 3 Parahaki Island Project; . Te Kāuru – Phase 2 Kaitoke Walkway Establishment; . Dennis Emery (Oroua Catchment Care Group) – Colyton Stream, Guy property riparian project; and . Dennis Emery (Oroua Catchment Care Group) – Colyton Stream, continuation of riparian work at
AnnexA AFFCO.
Update
2.2.6 Nine out of ten of the community led projects listed above have been completed and one project (Haynes Creek riparian planting project) was well underspent. These projects have accomplished 10,080 riparian plants planted in addition to those 28,621 planted through other accord projects. There has also been a river festival, willow removal and weed control work and long fin tuna release.
2.2.7 A new round of community grant funding has resulted in five new projects being awarded funding for the 2016-17 financial year and one further project that maybe awarded funding but awaiting further information. The projects to receive funding are;
. Taonui School – Taonui Stream restoration project
. Mangaone West Landcare Group – riparian planting project
. Partnerships through Collaboration – water quality monitoring equipment for students to use throughout the Manawatu
. Kuikui Charitable Trust – wetland enhancement project
. Tararua Breeding Centre – riparian planting project
2.2.8 A total of 94 environmental initiative projects have been completed within the Manawatu Catchment during the 2015-16 financial year achieving 45.4km of fencing and 28,621 riparian plants, four fish passes and nine community led projects completed.
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2.2.9 Work has continued over the winter period into the new financial year with 19 projects already completed to achieve 1.6km of stream fencing and 5,803 riparian plants planted. A further 38 projects have been approved for the 2016-17 financial year in addition to the five community led projects listed above.
2.2.10 Work has continued with Manawatu iwi/hapu to progress an application to the Ministry for the 11 Item Environment for funding of further work in the catchment to improve water quality and to communicate cultural information about the river.
2.2.11 The freshwater team have assisted with several planting days in June and July involving schools and other organisations, including the planting with Fonterra near Pahiatua, land based training students near Linton and the Tararua Breeding Centre staff near Woodville. There are two other planting days planned within the Turitea and Kahuterawa Catchments for August.
AnnexA
Photo 5: Paul Horton of Tanenuiarangi o Manawatu Inc releasing juvenile long fin tuna into the Manawatu River.
Manawatu Freshwater Clean-Up Fund:
Context
The Manawatū River Fresh start for Freshwater Clean-up Fund project has been completed. The final project reports have been submitted to the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) with a clear audit and the final Governance Group meeting was held on 16 May 2016.
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Of the $5.2 million of original funding from MfE savings of $27,981.91 were made across the Horizons- led projects, mostly in the community engagement and environmental farm plan projects. A further $79,342.95 of savings was unspent in the Tararua District Council wastewater treatment plant upgrade project. Interest totalling $167,936.90 on the funding was earned over the life of the project. The interest and savings were allocated to additional projects and a total of $5,267,438.37 of Ministry for Environment funding was spent
Item 11 Item over the life of the project (including interest). This leveraged funding to a total project value of over $4.6 million.
The Governance Group resolved in May that the Clean-up Fund project was to be finalised with no reallocation of savings. The remaining funds have been paid back to MfE and Dairy NZ on receipt of an invoice.
Project summary
2.2.12 The Manawatu Freshwater Clean-Up Fund has been a core part of the efforts of the Manawatu River Leader’s Forum to deliver on the goals of the Manawatu River Leaders Accord. The projects within the work programme were carefully selected to target tipping points and key issues in the catchment, while also providing for increased community participation in the work to improve water quality in the catchment. The Clean-Up Fund project was ambitious and while it originally aimed for completion of the MfE co-funded milestones in two years, this was expanded to four years as some of the projects evolved and additional investment was made into the projects. The programme has enabled more work to be completed than would otherwise have occurred and has provided an umbrella to coordinate and report on the efforts across multiple agencies and community groups. The outputs of the project (Map 2) reflect part of the success of the project and include:
AnnexA . Upgrades to six sewage treatment plants, including three in the Tararua District (Dannevirke, Pahiatua, Woodville), two in the Manawatu District (Kimbolton and Feilding) and one in the Horowhenua District (Shannon) . More than 208 km of stream fencing, 66,402 native riparian plants and 12 fish pass solutions have been established in the catchment. . 98 environmental farm plans were completed, covering more than 16,000 hectares. The farm plans included nearly all dairy farms (83 out of 88) in the Mangatainoka sub-catchment (in Pahiatua/Eketahuna area) and included all 10 dairy farms in the neighbouring Tiraumea sub- catchment and all five dairy farms in the Pohangina sub-catchment on the western side of the ranges. . 19 community projects were completed, including a film festival project that reported more than 6,000 contacts. Other projects established signage in the catchment, completed stream fencing and planting initiatives, enhanced swimming spot areas and completed hikoi or video viewings to raise awareness.
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Item 11 Item
AnnexA
Map 2: Work completed and proposed within the Manawatu Catchment over the 2015-16 and 2016-17 financial years.
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Item 11 Item
AnnexA
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Manawatu River Accord implementation work: . Key programme . Project . Progress to date deliverables
Following a report back to the community in April Item 11 Item 2014 on the water quality of the catchment and the efforts to improve it, the focus of the Forum has been the ongoing implementation of the Action Plan, the Clean-Up Fund project, and the refresh of the Action Plan. A Science and Mauturangi Maori Advisory Panel met in 2015 and produced a joint statement report to Manawatu River Meetings completed, inform the Action Plan revision process. The findings Leaders Forum Action Plan implemented have been presented to the Manawatu River Leaders’ Forum. 11 March 2016 the Manawatu River Leaders Accord Action Plan was launched. Numerous public events occurred prior to and following the launch encouraging the community to be more engaged with the river and raising the profile of the commitment of the Accord and the new actions. In 2014-15 and 2015-16 the Manawatu Accord targeted rate work was in addition to the Clean-Up Fund work. In the 2015-16 year implementation work has achieved 45.4 km of fencing, 28,621 native plants, Work to complement the Manawatu Accord four fish passes and nine community led projects goals of the Manawatu implementation work completed. Accord 1.6km of fencing and 5,803 riparian plants have been planted so far in the 2016-17 financial year with a AnnexA further 38 projects approved. Five community led projects awarded funding with an additional project to provide further information. . The Clean-up Fund has been completed and the final Governance Group meeting held on 16 May Manawatu Clean-Up Work programme 2016. Fund project completed Final payments have been made to MfE and Dairy NZ from savings made through the project.
Lucy Ferguson FRESHWATER COORDINATOR
Logan Brown FRESHWATER AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
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3 Lake Horowhenua Accord and Lake Horowhenua Freshwater Clean-Up Fund
3.1 Activity Report Item 11 Item
The Lake Horowhenua Accord and Freshwater Clean-Up Fund:
Context
The Lake Horowhenua Accord was signed on 4 August, 2013. The Accord development was led by Horowhenua District Council (HDC) and draws together five partners: the Lake Horowhenua Trustees, who represent the beneficial owners of the lake; the Lake Domain Board; HDC; the Department of Conservation (DOC) and HRC.
The Freshwater Clean-Up Fund project for Lake Horowhenua was announced by Minister Amy Adams on 25 February, 2014. The total project cost is $1,270,500 with the Government’s Freshwater Clean-Up Fund contributing $540,000. The balance of the funding is from local government (HRC, HDC) and in-kind support from industry (Tararua Growers Association and DairyNZ). Horizons has subsequently allocated further funding to the project to enable the resource consent process and implementation of the project.
The eight projects selected for funding from the Clean-Up Fund project aim to improve the suitability of the lake for recreational use, reduce the inputs of sediment and nutrients into the lake and improve native fish populations within the lake. These eight projects represent an opportunity to make considerable gains in water quality and lake health in a short time: 1 Purchase and operation of lake weed harvesting equipment;
2 Provision of a boat wash facility in Levin township; AnnexA 3 Riparian fencing and planting; 4 Installing storm water treatment systems; 5 Installing a sediment trap/treatment wetland on the Arawhata Stream inflow to the lake; 6 Creating integrated drainage and sediment control plans for up to 500 ha of cropping farms; 7 Preparing sustainable milk production plans for dairy farms in the catchment; and 8 Fish pass and habitat improvement for native fish.
Update – Progress over the reporting period
Consents
3.1.1 The Lake Horowhenua Restoration consents were granted on December 15, 2015. These consents are for activities to restore the health of Lake Horowhenua through weed harvesting (reducing the effects of ammonia toxicity and toxic algal blooms), installing a sediment trap (reducing sediment and nutrient input into the lake), and establishing a fish pass at the weir (improving access to the lake for native fish).
3.1.2 One appeal was lodged by the ‘Hokio Trusts’ prior to the appeal period closing on the 20 January. The appeal process has progressed over the following months including:
. The process for Section 274 parties (other parties) to join the appeal being completed. The parties join the appeal in support of the appeal – Hokio Environmental and Kaitiaki Alliance (Heka) Inc, the Muaupoko Cooperative Society Ltd and Anne-Marie Hunt. Three parties joined the appeal to support the decisions – the Horowhenua 11 (Lake) Part Reservation Trust, the Muaupoko Tribal Authority (MTA) and Jonathan Procter.
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3.1.3 The Environmental Court hearing was held over four days starting the 23rd May where all parties were heard. The final documents including proposed conditions have been sent to the court in June 2016 and we are awaiting a decision.
Fencing and Planting Item 11 Item 3.1.4 Levin Intermediate helped with a riparian planting project in the Patiki Catchment in June with the students planting 493 plants. Another planting is programmed for late August along the Hokio
Stream.
AnnexA
Photo 6. Students from Levin Intermediate planting a section of the Patiki Stream which flows into Lake Horowhenua.
Weed Harvesting
3.1.5 Work has been progressing on the logistics of carrying out the weed harvesting operation this spring (September) if the Environment Court decisions are favourable to the weed harvesting project progressing. Further investigations into the disposal of the weed and potential end uses have been progressing as well.
3.1.6 The second annual report for the Clean-up Fund has been completed and is available for viewing upon request. Achievements of fencing and planting over the life of the Clean-Up fund include 1,108 metres of stream fencing, 6,348 riparian plants planted, two information signs installed and
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one fish ladder installed. All ten dairy farms have a sustainable milk production plan and this project (sub-project 7) has now been completed.
Te Mana o Te Wai Fund project
Item 11 Item Context
A key focus for the Lake Horowhenua Accord group in 2015 was the development of a Te Mana o Te Wai fund application for Lake Horowhenua. This application aimed to complete work to complement the restoration work already underway and to focus on matters of key interest to the Lake Trust and the beneficial owners. Projects included in the application included seeking funding for a detailed study of the sediment in the lake and options and costs to remove it. Other components of the application included a detailed catchment-wide fish population assessment, storm water upgrades, riparian fencing, and planting and education programmes.
Funding for the project was announced on 12 November, 2015, by the Minister for the Environment, Dr Nick Smith, and Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox. The Government will be providing $980,000 from the Te Mana o te Wai fund to help improve the water quality of Lake Horowhenua. This funding is part of a $1.2 million project that includes efforts to increase community and iwi involvement in lake restoration (including providing a website), further water quality interventions, such as storm water treatment upgrades, and provision of additional biosecurity protections for the lake. A further component of the work is investigation of the sediment in the lake and options to remove it in a cost-effective and ecologically sound manner. A further research oriented piece of work will investigate the fish populations in the catchment and provide recommendations on how best to restore these populations. Horizons Regional Council and Horowhenua District Council will make up the balance of the project with support from the Lake Domain Board and the Department of Conservation. The project also includes establishment of a plant nursery at the lake. The Lake Trust is the recipient of the funding and Horizons and Horowhenua District Council have been
requested to have a representative on the Governance Group for this project. AnnexA Update
3.1.7 The project plan has been finalised and the focus currently is on completing the contractual co- funding agreement between Horizons and the Lake Trust. One Governance Group meeting has been held in June. Horizons staff have been assisting with the development of the riparian fencing and planting project and the planning of the community planting days which will be held on the 28th August and 11th September.
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Lake Accord
Summary of work
3.1.8 A summary of work carried out during the 2015-16 financial year as part of the Lake Horowhenua
Accord and Lake Horowhenua Freshwater Clean-Up Fund projects is provided in the table below. Item 11 Item
Key programme Project Progress to date deliverables A range of meetings held. An application for further lake restoration funding has Regular meetings and been successful with the funding from the Te Mana o Te Lake Horowhenua progress on the Lake Wai Fund announced in November 2015. The project Accord Accord projects plan has been completed and work is currently focusing on details for Horizons co-funding agreement in accordance with the approvals provided by Councillors in June 2015. Lake weed harvester purchased. Trailer to transport the harvester built. Harvester now in the Region. Application submitted to Maritime Safety for certification of the harvester. Boat ramp design work completed. A weed harvesting strategy report completed in June Lake Horowhenua Lake weed harvesting Clean-Up Fund 2015. Resource consent for the weed harvesting was granted in December 2015. An appeal was received in January 2015. Environment Court hearing was held during the week of rd
the 23 May. Decisions from the court are likely to be AnnexA announced over the next one to two months. A boat wash facility was installed and officially opened on Boat wash facility 18 July 2014. Two community planting days held Riparian fencing and Fencing of 1.108 km of waterways and planting of
planting 6,348 plants completed, two signs installed and one fish ladder installed.
Drainage and sediment control plans developed for 368 ha of the 406 ha of cropped land identified in the Arawhata Catchment. Implementation work underway. Focus of the project has widened from the Arawhata sub- catchment to all sub-catchments of Lake Horowhenua. A second progress report has been compiled by Dan Bloomer (LandWISE) outlining the main findings, Integrated storm water measures the growers have already done to reduce soil
management plan loss, prioritisation of work to be undertaken and the next steps to the project. A further progress report on the implementation of recommended works has shown the work growers have been undertaking to help reduce the loss of soil from cropped land due to drainage issues. Culvert replacement is underway and flood protection work along the Arawhata has been completed with further drainage upgrades planned for the new financial year. This work will complement the work done on farm.
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Key programme Project Progress to date deliverables Geophysical survey and an archaeological report for the sediment trap project completed. Horizons’ application for an Archaeological Authority for
Item 11 Item this activity granted by HeritageNZ. Land for the sediment trap purchased Resource consent for the construction granted in December 2015. A single appeal on the consents has been received. Sediment trap Technical work on the construction and efficacy of the sediment trap completed as part of the consent application indicates the trap alone will remove 30 percent of the annual phosphorus load from the streams into the lake and 25% of the annual sediment input from all of the streams. Environment Court hearing was held during the week of 23rd May 2016 and decisions are likely to be announced in one to two months time. All 10 dairy farmers have had plans developed for their Sustainable Milk Plans properties and have been visited to discuss implementation of the plans.
Resource consent was granted by the hearing panel in
December 2015 and there has been one appeal. Fish pass at Hokio
Weir Environment Court hearing for the appeals was held the week of 23rd May, 2016, and decisions likely to be announced in the next one to two months.
AnnexA Anna Regtien FRESHWATER MANAGEMENT OFFICER
Logan Brown FRESHWATER AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
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Report No. 16-192 Information Only - No Decision Required
PRESENTATION: CLIMATE CHANGE 12 Item
1. PRESENTATION 1.1 This item is to introduce Petra Pearce from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) who will present an update on the Climate Change report completed by NIWA to summarise climate change protections for the Manawatu-Whanganui Region based on the latest climate change summary information. 1.2 In February 2016, Petra Pearce and Dr Clive Howard Williams presented interim results for climate change protections for the Region to the Catchment Operations Committee. The report has now been finalised and includes further information including some projections around river flow statistics for the Manawatu River. The presentation will overview the findings of the report.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the presentation from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.
3. SIGNIFICANCE 3.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES There are no attachments for this report.
Presentation: Climate Change Page 173