I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Environment Committee will be held on:
Date: Wednesday, 13 March 2019 Time: 9.00am Venue: Tararua Room Horizons Regional Council 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
AGENDA
MEMBERSHIP
Chair Cr GM McKellar Deputy Chair Cr WK Te Awe Awe Councillors Cr JJ Barrow Cr LR Burnell Cr DB Cotton Cr EB Gordon JP (ex officio) Cr RJ Keedwell Cr NJ Patrick Cr JM Naylor Cr PW Rieger, QSO JP Cr BE Rollinson Cr CI Sheldon
Michael McCartney Chief Executive
Contact Telephone: 0508 800 800 Email: [email protected] Postal Address: Private Bag 11025, Palmerston North 4442
Full Agendas are available on Horizons Regional Council website www.horizons.govt.nz
Note: The reports contained within this agenda are for consideration and should not be construed as Council policy unless and until adopted. Items in the agenda may be subject to amendment or withdrawal at the meeting.
for further information regarding this agenda, please contact: Julie Kennedy, 06 9522 800
CONTACTS 24 hr Freephone : [email protected] www.horizons.govt.nz 0508 800 800
SERVICE Kairanga Marton Taumarunui Woodville CENTRES Cnr Rongotea & 19-21 Hammond 34 Maata Street Cnr Vogel (SH2) & Tay Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Rds, Street Sts Palmerston North
REGIONAL Palmerston North Whanganui HOUSES 11-15 Victoria Avenue 181 Guyton Street
DEPOTS Levin Taihape 120-122 Hokio Beach Rd 243 Wairanu Rd
POSTAL Horizons Regional Council, Private Bag 11025, Manawatu Mail Centre, Palmerston North 4442 ADDRESS FAX 06 9522 929
Environment Committee 13 March 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Welcome / Karakia 5
2 Apologies and Leave of Absence 5
3 Public Forums / Deputations / Petitions 5
4 Supplementary Items 5
5 Members’ Conflict of Interest 5
6 Confirmation of Minutes Environment Committee meeting, 11 December 2018 7
7 Environmental Education Report No: 19-23 13
8 Biodiversity, Biosecurity & Partnerships Progress Report Report No: 19-24 17 Annex A - Biosecurity Animals Progress Report 19 Annex B - Biosecurity Plants Progress Report 35 Annex C - Biodiversity Progress Report 47
9 Freshwater & Partnerships Progress Report Report No: 19-25 65 Annex A - Freshwater & Partnerships Progress Report 68
10 Science & Innovation Progress Report Report No: 19-26 85 Annex A - Science & Innovation Progress Report 87
11 Regulatory Management Report - December 2018 to January 2019 Report No: 19-27 101 Annex A - HRC Enforcement Guideline 109
12 Manawatu District Council - Wastewater Treatment Plant Report No: 19-28 125
13 Members’ Questions
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AGENDA
1 Welcome/Karakia
2 Apologies and Leave of Absence At the close of the Agenda no apologies had been received.
3 Public Forums: Are designed to enable members of the public to bring matters, not on that meeting’s agenda, to the attention of the local authority. Deputations: Are designed to enable a person, group or organisation to speak to an item on the agenda of a particular meeting. Requests for Public Forums / Deputations must be made to the meeting secretary by 12 noon on the working day before the meeting. The person applying for a Public Forum or a Deputation must provide a clear explanation for the request which is subsequently approved by the Chairperson. Petitions: Can be presented to the local authority or any of its committees, so long as the subject matter falls within the terms of reference of the council or committee meeting being presented to. Written notice to the Chief Executive is required at least 5 working days before the date of the meeting. Petitions must contain at least 20 signatures and consist of fewer than 150 words (not including signatories). Further information is available by phoning 0508 800 800.
4 Supplementary Items To consider, and if thought fit, to pass a resolution to permit the Committee/Council to consider any further items relating to items following below which do not appear on the Order Paper of this meeting and/or the meeting to be held with the public excluded. Such resolution is required to be made pursuant to Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended), and the Chairperson must advise: (i) The reason why the item was not on the Order Paper, and (ii) The reason why the discussion of this item cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.
5 Members’ Conflict of Interest Members are reminded of their obligation to declare any conflicts of interest they might have in respect of the items on this Agenda.
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Minutes of the twelfth meeting of the tenth triennium of the Environment Committee held at 10.01am on Tuesday 11 December 2018, in the Tararua Room, Horizons Regional Council, 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North.
PRESENT Crs GM McKellar (Chair), JJ Barrow, LR Burnell, DB Cotton, EB Gordon JP (ex officio), RJ Keedwell, JM Naylor, NJ Patrick, PW Rieger QSO JP, BE Rollinson, CI Sheldon, and WK Te Awe Awe. IN ATTENDANCE Chief Executive Mr MJ McCartney Committee Secretary Mrs JA Kennedy / Mrs KA Tongs ALSO PRESENT At various times during the meeting: Dr N Peet (Group Manager Strategy & Regulation), Mr R Strong (Group Manager River Management), Dr J Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships), Mr G Shirley (Group Manager Regional Services & Information), Ms A Matthews (Science & Innovation Manager), Mr G Bevin (Regulatory Manager), Ms C Morrison (Media & Communications Manager), Ms E Daly (Environmental Scientist Ecology), Mr L Brown (Freshwater & Partnerships Manager), Ms S Carswell (Coordinator District Advice), Mrs M Patterson (Senior Scientist), Mr C Davey (Environmental Programme Coordinator), Mr R Templer (Chief Executive, Manawatu District Council), Mr S Harris (Manawatu District Council), Mayor A Watson (Rangitikei District Council), Mr S Smith (Ministry of Primary Industries), members of the public, and a member of the press.
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
APOLOGIES There were no apologies.
PUBLIC FORUMS / DEPUTATIONS / PETITIONS There were no requests for public speaking rights.
SUPPLEMENTARY ITEMS There were no supplementary items to be considered.
MEMBERS’ CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Cr Patrick declared a conflict of interest through her employment with Te Kaahui o Rauru in regard to Item 13, Whanganui Coastal Streams. At the 18 December 2018 Regional Council meeting, during receipt and adoption of the resolutions and recommendations of the 11 December Environment Committee minutes, the following comments were noted: The Chairman of Horizons Regional Council, Cr Gordon, explained his reasons for not initially declaring a ‘Conflict of Interest’ during discussion around Dudding Lake under Report No. 18-230, Freshwater & Partnerships Progress Report contained in the 11 December 2018 Environment Committee agenda. He explained he was speaking on behalf of Rangitikei District Council about the condition of the Lake and the recommendation in the report did not contain any action or financial decisions. As a result
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of the discussion generated, Cr Gordon said he was comfortable for the 11 December 2018 Environment Committee minutes to reflect his position and note a ‘Conflict of Interest’. He apologised for any harm caused over his actions relating to Dudding Lake.
CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ENV 18-99 Moved Rieger/Sheldon That the Committee: confirms the minutes of the Environment Committee meeting held on 9 October 2018 as a correct record, and notes that the recommendations were adopted by the Council on 30 October 2018. CARRIED
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Report No 18-227 This item provided Members with a progress report for the period from 1 October 2018 - 31 December 2018. Ms Morrison (Media & Communications Manager) highlighted Mrs Williams (Environmental Educator) involvement in the Manawatū River Festival, and participation in judging at science fairs throughout the Region. Mrs Williams commented on the Wairoa sessions conducted, the Enviroscapes activity, and the Internship Day held for the science fair prize winners. She then elaborated on several parts of the report. She added that Freyberg High School, Palmerston North Girls High School, Ross and Monrad Intermediate Schools were recipients of the Enviroschools Action Fund. Mrs Williams clarified Members’ questions about Enviroschools activities. ENV 18-100 Moved Patrick/Naylor That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-227 and Annex. CARRIED
BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS PROGRESS REPORT Report No 18-229 This item updated Members on the progress made in the Biosecurity and Biodiversity activity over the period 1 September to 31 October 2018. Mr Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships) updated Members on the possum control activity, the aerial rook control programme, the work at Totara Reserve Regional Park focused on remediation from the June 2018 flood damage, and the Te Apiti-Manawatū Gorge Project. A video clip about the introduction of a gall mite for the control of Old Man’s Beard was shown. Mr Davey (Environmental Coordinator) responded to Members’ questions about the work and testing undertaken for the gall mite to be approved by the Environmental Protection Authority, and the process to introduce it into the Rangitikei area in Spring 2019. Members’ questions were responded to about the practice of gravel raking and the awareness of bird nesting sites, and the challenges associated with managing the ‘good neighbour’ rule around possum control, and pest plant management.
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ENV 18-101 Moved Te Awe Awe/Naylor That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-229 and Annexes. CARRIED
DISTRICT ADVICE UPDATE Report No 18-228 This report informed Members of the District Advice activities carried out over the last financial year and the five month period from 1 July to 30 November 2018. Mr Shirley (Group Manager Regional Services & Information) introduced the paper noting the increased demand for the service. Ms Carswell (Coordinator District Advice (CDA)) took Members through the item, commented on the number of responses received, outlined the type and nature of requests received, and gave a brief update on the CDA’s involvement in recent draft and proposed Plan Changes prepared by territorial authorities in the Region. Discussion and questions ensued around the cumulative effect from increased stormwater on waterways, and the role of territorial authorities to attenuate stormwater issues, particularly in new subdivisions. ENV 18-102 Moved Patrick/Naylor That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-228 and Annex. CARRIED
FRESHWATER & PARTNERSHIPS PROGRESS REPORT Report No 18-230 This item introduced Members to the Freshwater & Partnerships Progress report for the period 1 September to 31 October 2018. Dr Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships) noted the successful applicants and projects to the Manawatū Accord Community Fund, and the Whangaehu Freshwater Improvement Fund. He then commented on the range of swim spot signs installed around the Region, noting that the sign installed at Ototoka Stream had been severely vandalised. Dr Roygard commented on the new website established for the Manawatū River Leaders Accord and referred to the 2016-21 Action Plan Progress Report at Annex B. He spoke about the advertising campaign to occur in the Manawatū and Whangaehu Catchments to publicise the stream fencing and riparian planting components of the Freshwater Improvement Fund projects, the results of a High Court hearing to recover costs associated with the unsuccessful appeal by Hōkio A Trust in regard to Lake Horowhenua, updated Members on the Heritage NZ and Māori appellate court process, and said monitoring at Lake Horowhenua remained on hold. Discussion was had regarding the current condition of Dudding Lake, the preventative measures that could be taken to reduce the bacteria in the lake, and the roles and responsibilities for the lake by both Horizons Regional Council and Rangitikei District Council. ENV 18-103 Moved Keedwell/Sheldon That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-230 and Annexes. CARRIED
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The meeting adjourned at 12.09pm.
The meeting reconvened at 12.45pm.
PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) Report No 18-234 Dr Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships) introduced this report which provided Council with an update on progress around investigations into contamination of land and water by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), primarily arising from the use of fire-fighting foam. Ms Matthews (Science & Innovation Manager) updated Members on the PFAS sampling programme at Ohakea Air Base and Palmerston North Airport, and outlined the next steps for the Bulls public water supply investigation. Mr Templer and Mr Harris (Manawatu District Council), and Mayor Watson (Rangitikei District Council), thanked Horizons staff for their work and commented on the action plan currently being created by the All of Government (AoG) governance group. Members’ questions included the risk of PFAS to humans, plant and animal life. ENV 18-104 Moved Sheldon/Burnell That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-234. b. endorses the proposed approach. CARRIED
NATIONAL WILDING CONIFER CONTROL PROGRAMME Report No 18-235 Mr Smith (Ministry for Primary Industries) (MPI), and Mr Davey, (Environmental Programme Coordinator) presented on the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme and Horizons involvement within that. The presentation was part of a wider communications drive by MPI to ensure that regional councils were aware of the programme and potential changes into the future. Questions on the presentations were responded to by Mr Smith and Mr Davey. ENV 18-105 Moved Patrick/Keedwell That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the presentation from Ministry for Primary Industries. CARRIED
WHANGANUI COASTAL STREAMS Report No 18-233 Dr Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships) introduced this item which updated Council on the swimmability of the Mōwhanāu, Kai Iwi and Ototoka Streams following permanent health warning signs being established at swim spot sites on those streams. The report also overviewed the actions to improve swimmability in those streams to date and some options for further work to improve swimmability in those catchments. The item also provided some background information on the NPS-FM Swimmability targets adopted by Council, including
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some catchment based summaries of State and Trends for E.coli. Dr Roygard and Ms Matthews (Science & Innovation Manager) answered Members’ questions regarding faecal source tracking, stream fencing and the further mechanisms that could be used to improve the health of those waterways. ENV 18-106 Moved Naylor/Patrick That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-233. CARRIED
SCIENCE & INNOVATION PROGRESS REPORT Report No 18-231 This item introduced Members to the Science and Innovation Progress report for the period 1 September to 31 October 2018. Ms Matthews (Science & Innovation Manager) highlighted the estuary habitat monitoring underway, swimmability targets, and the biodiversity review. Resourcing issues with the increased workload was discussed. Members’ questions were answered by Ms Matthews and Dr Roygard (Group Manager Natural Resources & Partnerships). ENV 18-107 Moved Rollinson/Patrick That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-231 CARRIED
REGULATORY MANAGEMENT REPORT - AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER 2018 Report No 18-232 Dr Peet (Group Manager Strategy & Information) introduced this report which updated Members on regulatory activity for the period October to November 2018. It updated Members on significant issues and focused on the municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) programme. The report also included a final report on compliance with the cultivation rules in the One Plan by commercial vegetable growers in Horowhenua. Dr Peet gave an update on the Three Waters Project, mentioned the report on Overseer due to be released and the potential cost of improvements in Wastewater Treatment Plants in the region. Mr Bevin (Regulatory Manager) mentioned the increase of incidents this year, the liaison with Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) in regard to the regulatory demands of major civil construction projects, and gave a prosecution update. Dr Peet and Mr Bevin responded to Members’ questions which included the information in Table 2 ‘Regulatory action taken during reporting period’. ENV 18-108 Moved Cotton/Rollinson That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 18-232. CARRIED
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MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS There were no Members’ questions.
The meeting closed at 3.44pm.
Confirmed
______CHAIR GROUP MANAGER STRATEGY & REGULATION
______GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
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Item 7 Item Report No. 19-23 Information Only - No Decision Required
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is to provide members of Council’s Environment Committee with an Environmental Education progress report for the period from 1 January 2019 – 1 March 2019. 1.2. For the purpose of this report, both the ‘Educator’ and the ‘Regional Coordinator’ refer to the Horizons Regional Council (Horizons) Environmental Educator. .5FTE of the role is regional coordination of the Enviroschools Programme, with the remaining .5FTE of the role delivering Horizons Environmental Education programmes.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 19-23.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. This is a public item and therefore Council may deem this sufficient to inform the public.
5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 5.1. There is no significant business risk associated with recommendations in this paper.
6. ANNUAL PLAN TARGETS
Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Actual Number of Enviroschools 47 48 57 57 47 121 Waiora sessions conducted 4 7 7 18 32 56 Community engagements 13 14 7 34 31 109
6.1. The measure for Waiora sessions conducted includes only sessions run by Mrs Williams. Sessions conducted using Horizons’ kits without Mrs Williams are not included. 6.2. The measure for community engagements does not include Waiora sessions. This measure tracks all other events and activities that fall within Environmental Education. If a school has multiple classes completing set activities then these are counted as individual; sessions.
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Item 7 Item 7. ENVIROSCHOOLS DATA 8. In addition to the official 57 Enviroschools, there are 21 school/centres on the Friends of Enviroschools list in the region. The Friends list allows schools/centres to try out the programme to see how it fits within their own context before taking the next step to become an official Enviroschool. We also use this list to determine who will be our next Enviroschools when funding becomes available. Periodically this list is revised depending on the commitment shown from the schools/centres. 9. ACTIVITY REPORT – WAIORA 9.1. Mrs Williams conducted the following Waiora sessions: four sessions with Turaki School on different streams in the Whanganui River catchment (Pungapunga Stream, Whakapapa Stream at Owhango, Ongarue River at Cherry Grove, and the Whanganui River at Cherry Grove); two sessions with Westmount School on the Kahuterawa Stream at Kahuterawa Reserve. 9.2. Mrs Williams also conducted three mini Waiora studies (counted as one study) with Kai Iwi School on the Mowhanau Stream as part of their day of activities at Kai Iwi Beach. 10. ACTIVITY REPORT – ENVIROSCHOOLS 10.1. Eight new Enviroschools joined the programme at the start of 2019. The Whanganui district welcomes Westmere School, Gonville School and First Years Learning Centre. In Rangitīkei, Hunterville School became the sixth school in the district to join the programme. The Ruahine Kindergarten Association (RKA) added four more of their services as Enviroschools bringing their number to 9; West End Kindergarten and Campbell Street Kindergarten in Palmerston North, Makino Kindergarten in Manawatū and Follett Street Kindergarten in Rangitīkei. The new RKA services were welcomed to the Enviroschools network with a teacher professional development workshop co-facilitated by Mrs Williams and Katie Higgins, National ECE Coordinator, Toimata Foundation. The total number of Enviroschools in each district (including RKA services) are as follow; Manawatū – 12, Rangitīkei – 8, Ruapehu – 6, Palmerston North – 17, Whanganui – 11 and Tararua 3. 10.2. Mrs Williams hosted the new Southland Enviroschools Regional Coordinator who spent a couple of days in the region to learn about how the programme is run in Manawatū- Whanganui, and to visit a couple of Enviroschools to see the good mahi they are doing with their students. 10.3. Mrs Williams met with the following schools/centres to discuss the Enviroschools programme; Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre, Whanganui, Tui Early Learners (Twos and Tots/Threes and up), Palmerston North, and Taumarunui Primary School. 10.4. Mrs Williams invited Sandy Bell-Jameson, National Programme Development Coordinator, Toimata Foundation, to run a professional development hui for the Enviroschools Facilitators. This focussed on linking the Enviroschools kaupapa to the New Zealand Curriculum and creating sustainability vision map with Enviroschools.
11. ACTIVITY REPORT – OTHER 11.1. Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Manawatū have a focus on wai (water) this year. Mrs Williams met with the teachers to talk about what support we are able to offer in this space and connecting their students to the awa, such as professional development for staff, resources available for them to use with their students and links to the Manawatū River. 11.2. Mrs Williams conducted one Enviroscapes with Kai Iwi School. 11.3. Together with Scotty Moore, from the freshwater team, Mrs Williams has visited Ruapehu College twice in this reporting period. The school is in the process of setting up a water
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monitoring project in the Whangaehu catchment which they would also like to incorporate 7 Item into their science curriculum. Mrs Williams and Mr Moore are assisting the school with technical advice, including helping students conduct water quality studies. 11.4. Mrs Williams held two sessions with a Whanganui home school group on animal pest tracking and trapping. The first session saw the group learn about animal pests and the methods they can use to identify what pest they have using tracking tunnels and chew cards. The follow up session looked at the results of the tracking tunnels which they had put out in their homes, and then looked at types of traps we use to humanely dispatch pests. They also learnt a bit about how to set up their own tracking and trapping programme at home should they so wish to do so. 11.5. Mrs Williams collected some macroinvertebrates from the Manawatū River to show tamariki at Hokowhitu Kindergarten. This Enviroschool have been looking at water as a theme for the year so showing the tamariki what lives in our rivers helps them to connect with their river environment. 12. The following activities were also undertaken in this reporting period however are not counted as community engagements in the table under Section 6.
12.1. To raise awareness of the Enviroschools programme and the excellent sustainability mahi which the schools and centres have been doing, Mrs Williams has been compiling a regional snapshot with a focus on what Enviroschools is about and district specific case studies from Enviroschools. This will be available to anyone wanting to know more about the programme and how they can get involved. 12.2. Mrs Williams has been working with Manakura to assist them in re-energising their water quality projects which they already do with their NCEA level 1, 2 and 3 students. One aspect of this was to show the students what careers they could follow in relation to their water quality projects. Subsequently, Michael Patterson, Senior Scientist, met with these students to talk about his role, and other types of jobs they could do in this space. Feedback from the teacher and students was really positive, saying they enjoyed the visit and it was good to see and hear from someone who actually does that work. They were also surprised to see that his work was very similar to what they do/have done in the past. The school is really keen for this to happen again in subsequent years especially to the level 1 students (15 year olds) as they think about their career paths. 13. SIGNIFICANCE 13.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Turaki School – Waiora, Pungapunga Stream Turaki School – Waiora, Whakapapa Stream
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Item 7 Item
Ruahine Kindergarten Association (RKA) new Enviroschool Ruapehu College, stream monitoring on the Mangawhero workshop River
Sarah Williams ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR
Chrissie Morrison MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
ANNEXES There are no attachments to this report.
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Item 8 Item Report No. 19-24 Decision Required
BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS PROGRESS REPORT
1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is update members of Council’s Environment Committee on the progress made in the Biosecurity and Biodiversity activity over the period 1 November 2018 to 31 January 2019.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 19-24 and Annexes. b. approves the use of up to $95,000 of reserves for pre-monitoring of possum population numbers in the ex-OSPRI areas that are available for the Possum Control Programme in 2019-20. Noting the Reserves are to be drawn based on the funding policy for the possum control programme in the Long Term Plan for this year and may be utilised in this and next financial year. c. reconfirms Chair Gordon as the Chair of the Te Apiti Manawatū Gorge Governance Group. Elects Councillor Keedwell as the other Councillor representative on the Te Apiti Manawatū Gorge Governance Group and approves Councillor Te Awe Awe as the proxy for these two positions.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. This is a public item and therefore Council may deem this sufficient to inform the public.
5. SUMMARY AND HIGHLIGHTS Biosecurity Animals 5.1. The Possum Control Programme has completed over 80,000 ha of work for a target of 135,668 ha. The programme has allocated 175,559 ha for the year and work is progressing well. 5.2. Pre-monitoring of some of the new ex-OSPRI areas has revealed some low population numbers (below 1% Residual Trap Catch, RTC) for two PCOs. These areas were scheduled for treatment this year and have subsequently received treatment. This has highlighted that decisions to treat these areas are currently having to be made in the absence of information about the current populations in these areas and that treatment could be delayed for some of these areas if more information was avialable. It is recommended that the areas that are potentially available for the programme next year be monitored soon in order to inform decisions around those areas being treated in the future.This will ensure that treatment is directed to the possum control areas with the
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Item 8 Item highest population numbers and help avoid the possibility of treatment being directed to areas that are already at very low numbers. 5.3. The pre-monitoring for the ex-OSPRI areas newly available to the programme next year is estimated to cost in the order of $95,000. This item is seeking Council’s permission to utilise reserves to undertake this pre-monitoring. The aim would be to deliver this pre- monitoring as soon as possible, ideally over the remainder of this financial year, however some of the monitoring may have to be completed early in the next financial year for logistical reasons. Further information on pre-monitoring is contained in the attached annex. Biosecurity Plants 5.4. Significant progress has been made in the biosecurity plants area over the reporting period with the team making the most of the good weather. A number of biological control releases have been undertaken including some engagement opportunities with the public. Work has continued on the implementation of the Pest Management Plan working with the District Councils around their pest plant responsibilities. Further reporting on the pest plant programme is included in the attached report. Biodiversity 5.5. The Biodiversity Programme has made good progress over the reporting period with considerable effort being put into the completion of Rapid Ecological Assessments (REAs). Progress has been made on many of the biodiversity partnership projects, however some of these are now looking unlikely to be completed. Further detail on these are provided in the report. Work at Totara Reserve has focused on recovering from the flood event in June and getting the camping season up and running. The Totara Reserve Advisory Group met during the reporting period and are programmed to meet in February for a Strategy Workshop. 5.6. The Te Apiti Manawatū Gorge Governance Group are scheduled to meet in February. Agenda items include a work programme overview, an update on the gorge road, a presentation on the potential for species reintroduction into the Te Apiti Manawatū Gorge area and the Terms of Reference for the Governance Group. This item seeks a council resolution regarding Councillor membership of the group.
6. SIGNIFICANCE 6.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Rod Smillie BIODIVERSITY & BIOSECURITY PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES A Biosecurity Animals Progress Report B Biosecurity Plants Progress Report C Biodiversity Progress Report
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Item 8 Item
BIOSECURITY ANIMALS ACTIVITY 1 Overview 1.1.1 This report is to update Council on progress of the programmes giving effect to the Biosecurity Animals Operational Plan for the period 1 November 2018 to 31 January 2019. The report is
Annex A presented in four sections and results are shown in Table 1: . Possum Control . Possum Monitoring . Rook Control; and . Amenity Pest Management. Table 1 The Long-term Plan targets, and progress against them. Long-term Plan Target Progress Target Progress to date update Pest Animal Management Possum densities are maintained at/below 10% residual trap catch (RTC) in all existing/new possum control Pre-Control PCOs 3.38% RTC <10% On-track operations. This is to enhance production, biodiversity, Maintenance PCOs 1.5% RTC disease protection and amenity values. Additional hectares included in the PCO programme 60% of 135,668 175,559 ha 80,839 ha target ha allocated completed
All known rookeries are treated annually to reduce crop Aerial control operation completed losses and damage. One ground-based operation On-track complete Provide an urban/peri-urban animal pest management service to assist urban ratepayers with specialist advice 499 enquires, 100% met within 100% On-track and equipment; animal pest control assistance/ timeframe. enquiries responded to within two working days.
1.1.2 Activity during the reporting period involved the ongoing possum control in the Regional Response Team’s (RRT) Possum Control Operations (PCOs) and the commencement of the
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Item 8 Item
external contractors’ PCO contracts. The possum monitoring work has also commenced in the ex- Ospri and maintenance PCOs. The amenity pest programme received 218 enquiries and all were replied to within the Long-term Plan target timeframe of two working days. 2 Possums 1.2 Activity Overview 1.2.1 This year 94 PCO areas will receive control, including the 15 new ex-OSPRI PCO areas added to the programme this year (Map 1). Seventy-nine of the 120 maintenance PCO areas that were part of the programme last year will receive ongoing maintenance work. Forty-one of the 120 maintenance operations will be ‘deferred’ from control i.e., no control work will be undertaken
this year. Total possum control activities in 2018-19 will cover 1,283,523 hectares, an increase of 175,559 hectares on last year. Progress against the Long-term Plan targets is presented in the section above.
1.2.2 Horizons (RRT) and external service providers will undertake the operational work (Map 2). In Annex A summary, the split of work is: . Internal team delivery of 61 PCO areas, 58 maintenance PCO areas and three new ex-OSPRI PCO areas. . External contractors will deliver 33 PCO areas, 21 maintenance PCO areas and 12 new ex- OSPRI PCO areas. 1.3 Year to date progress Table 2 Progress reporting for the Possum Control Programme against Operational Plan targets. Operational Plan Measure Progress to Date This Period % Completed Target Regional Response Team PCOs completed 1 26 13 61 43% New hectares completed2 24,939 11,387 46,612 53% External Contractors PCOs completed 1 7 7 33 21% New hectares completed2 55,900 55,900 128,947 46% Combined PCO PCOs completed1 33 20 94 35% New hectares completed2 80,839 67,287 175,559 46%
1 New and Maintenance PCOs 2 New (Ex-OSPRI) PCOs
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1.4 Activity Highlights The Regional Response Team 1.4.1 The current status of PCOs (Map 3) highlights the operational work: . 26 PCOs have been completed; . 10 PCOs have been started; and . 35,727 bait stations have been filled of the 70,671 programmed (51%). 1.4.2 The RRT is tracking slightly behind the scheduled work programme in part due to staff injuries and vacancies. Current projectionis for the work programme to be fully delivered by year end.
1.4.3 A new coordinator for the Regional Response Team has been appointed; Daniel Hurley will join the team in February.
1.4.4 Regional Response Recuitment is underway to fill:
. A Regional Response Officer position at the Taihape Depot . A casual position as Regional Response Officer until the end of the financial year at the
Annex A Taumaranui Depot 1.4.5 Training for RRT members:
. All members of the RRT continue Microsoft Office training . Four members of the RRT have attended a training day on wax tag monitoring. This will provide internal capacity to monitor external contractor operations. 1.4.6 The PCO data management project is still in progress.
External
1.4.7 The contract documentation for this year’s external work was signed in November 2018.
1.4.8 KB Environmental Services Ltd decided to not proceed with the Papaiti Stage 2 contract. We attempted to find an alternate supplier for this contract but were unable to do so. As a consequence of this the Papaiti Stage 2 operation has been deferred until next financial year. This deferral will release $85K that was planned to be spent on setting up this PCO.
1.4.9 Another change to the programme is that the Parapara PCO will now be worked by an external contractor instead of the RRT. Xpest Ltd has been selected to undertake the contract.
1.4.10 Good progress has been made over the past three months with three of the new (ex-OSPRI) operations (Taumarunui Rollback South, Te Hape and Raetihi Buffer Stage 1) and four of the maintenance operations (Umutoi, Morikau, Matahiwi and Pohonui) are complete. Work is underway in a further four contract areas. Map 3 shows the current status of the operational work.
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Annex A
Map 1 Possum Control Operation 2018-19.
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Annex A
Map 2 Possum Control Operation 2018-19 RRT vs External Contractors.
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Map 3 Status of current Possum Control Operations (RRT and External Contractors) as at 31 January 2019.
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2 Possum Monitoring 2.1 Activity Overview 2.1.1 In 2018-19 all monitoring work will be targeted to the possum control operations, with no monitoring of rabbits planned. Consistent with the upgraded possum monitoring programme, this year 33 of the existing 120 maintenance PCOs will be monitored, including nine which are being ‘deferred’ from control this year i.e., no operational work will be undertaken in these areas (Map 5). The balance of the maintenance operations (24) will be monitored after this year’s control work has been completed (Map 5). We will also be undertaking pre-control and post- control monitors in three of the new ex-OSPRI operations to assess the effectiveness of control work.
2.1.2 In total 38 PCOs will be monitored, 33 by external contractors. The Regional Response Team are scheduled to complete monitors in five of the maintenance operations. Note: the RRT will only monitor work completed by external contractors.
2.1.3 In all of the monitored PCOs, 25 wax tag lines will be set up, providing there is enough possum Annex A habitat to do so, with the line position being randomly selected in areas of possum habitat. Each line will have 10 wax tags out in the field for seven nights.
2.1.4 This monitoring contributes to reporting against the Long-term Plan Target for possum densities in the possum control programme to be less than 10% Residual Trap Catch (as shown in previous sections). Reporting against the Operational Plan targets is shown in Table 3 below. 1.3 Year-to-date progress Table 3 Progress reporting for the PCO monitoring programme in the 2018-19 year. Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Average Number of Maintenance PCO monitors 33 33% completed 0 0 11 Possum densities Maintenance PCOs Residual <10% 0 0 1.5% 1.5% Trap Catch (RTC) result RTC Number of Pre-/Post-PCO monitors completed 0 3 2 8 62% Possum densities: <10% Pre-/Post-control PCOs Residual Trap Catch 0 3.4% 3.3% 3.38% (RTC) result RTC
2.2 Activity Highlights 2.2.1 The procurement process for the monitoring work (2018-21) is complete, with the contract documentation signed in November between Horizons Regional Council and Darrin Spillane Ltd.
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2.2.2 Eleven maintenance operations were monitored during the reporting period with results ranging from 0.1% to 4.8% RTC. The average result was 1.5% RTC (see Table 4).
Table 4 PCO maintenance monitoring completed during the reporting period. PCO RTC Result Akitio Western 0.1% Coastal Sanson 3.7% Halcombe 0.9% Mangaweka 2.3% Nga Rata 0.6% Oporae West 0.9% Papaiti 0.1%
Paparangi 4.8% Pukeokahu 1.5% Sandon A 0.9% Waituna West 0.9% Annex A
2.2.3 The last two pre-control monitors (North Whangaehu and Waimiha) that were scheduled to be undertaken this year were completed in the reporting period (Table 5). The full summary of results for pre-control monitoring this year are presented in Table 5. The results show a wide range in possum densities within the five ex-OSPRI areas that have been pre-monitored this year.
Table 5 Combined ex-OSPRI monitors – pre-Control. PCO pre-control monitors RTC Result Mangakahu (will not post-Control monitor) 0.1% North Whangaehu (will not post-Control monitor) 0.9% Kirikau 2.3% Waimiha 5.7% Niho Niho 7.9%
2.2.4 Two of the pre-Control operations (Mangakahu and North Whangaehu) returned sub 1% RTC results. These low results for the ex-OSPRI areas that are new to the programme this year have provided some learnings for the programme. The low results of sub 1% indicate very low possum numbers in the area and analysis of the data from the 25 possum lines shows there is some variability within the areas. These areas have received some treatment this year. Treatment was completed to a lower level than originally planned. The treatment proceeding ensures the infrastructure is established for future control and the lower level of bait is reflective of population to be controlled. In terms of managing the programme and organizing logistics for the year, it would be preferable to have information on population numbers earlier.Post-Control monitoring will not be completed for these area as there would be limited value in doing so. The
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funding that was set aside for this has been redirected to monitoring two other PCOs (Bunnythorpe and Fordell) which had been scheduled to be monitored next year.
2.2.5 The low results for pre-Control monitoring indicate we need to gather further information about the current state of the new areas prior to making decisions on treating them. There could potentially be significant savings to the programme if areas are at low RTC levels and the treatment of these areas is able to be deferred. Given this new knowledge, staff are now seeking Council approval to undertake pre-Control monitoring in ex-OSPRI controlled areas that could potentially be treated as part of the programme next year. There are 15 areas (Map 4) that could be part of the programme and monitoring these could assist with ascertaining where efforts should be put towards treatment in 2019-20 and how treatment of these new areas sits in the prioritisation of the programme when all possum control areas are considered. Staff will contact
OSPRI to obtain any information they have on the areas and then decide if monitoring is warranted. The pre-monitoring information collected will be input into the purpose-built possum model ‘PosSim’. The ‘PosSim’ tool was developed by Landcare Research for Horizons to prioritise which areas to treat and which areas areas to defer. The model includes an estimate of possum densities for each of the PCOs and a significant gap in knowledge is the starting population Annex A numbers for the areas Horizons have not been controlling (the new ex-OSPRI areas).
2.2.6 This item seeks Council approval to use reserve funding to undertake pre-Control monitoring in each of the ex-OSPRI areas that could potentially be brought into the programme next year. The aim would be to undertake this monitoring as soon as practicable to inform the Operational Plan development for next year.
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Annex A
Map 4 Ex-OSPRI areas available for inclusion.
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Annex A
Map 5 Status of current Possum Control Operation Monitoring as at 31 January 2019
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3 Rooks 3.1 Activity Overview 3.1.1 This report summarises the operational and management work involved in the 2018-19 regional rook programme. A more detailed overview of the programme is provided in the Biosecurity Animals Operational Plan 2018-19.
3.1.2 The Long-term Plan target for rook control is to treat all known rookeries annually to reduce crop losses and damage. Reporting against this target and operational plan targets is shown in Table 6. 3.2 Year-to-date progress
Table 6 Progress reporting for the rook programme in the 2018 -19 year. Measure To Date Reporting Period Total Operational Completed % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Plan Target Existing rook colonies 72 0 72 0 Record 100 (rookeries) (a)
Annex A New rookeries (b) 0 0 6 0 Record 100 Total rook colonies 0 0 78 0 Record 100 (rookeries) (a + b) All known rookeries are treated annually to 0 0 78 0 100% 100 reduce crop losses and damage Ground poisoning Control 0 0 1 0 100 operations attempted Report ground control efficacy (% estimated 0 0 0 0 Record 0 kill) Breeding rookery database updated by 0 0 yes 0 Record 0 January 2019
3.3 Activity Highlights 3.3.1 No rook control was completed during the last reporting period.
3.3.2 The aerial and ground control portion of the rook programme was delivered in October (Map 6 and Table 7).
. 678 nests were treated, with 152 found to be active in that they contained eggs or chicks. . A single large rookery at Otupae has impacted significantly on the programme’s statistics with 31 active nests treated at the site. . One rookery within the Whanganui City boundary was inspected using an arborist, and one nest was found to be active and was treated. No dead birds have been retrieved by staff.
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Table 7 Aerial rook programme trends. AERIAL ROOK CONTROL ACTIVE NESTS TREATED REGION 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 Taumaranui 0 0 0 0 Tararua 127 117 100 98 Manawatū 33 4 3 8 Taihape 28 20 32 46 TOTAL 188 141 135 152
Annex A
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Annex A
Map 6 Aerial and ground-based rook control for 2018-19.
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4 Amenity Pests 4.1 Activity Overview 4.1.1 Horizons receive a large number of enquiries relating to pest animal issues from landowners across the Region. Most relate to ‘nuisance’ animals including possums, mustelids and rabbits etc in ‘amenity’-type situations, e.g., around lifestyle blocks, gardens etc. In these situations, Horizons’ animal pest management staff provide advice on control techniques and supply loan traps and in some cases toxins, to affected landowners.
4.1.2 We also receive complaints about pests, mainly rabbits, spreading from neighbours’ properties and causing problems. In these situations, ground inspections and discussions with affected
landowners are required and if the problem is unable to be resolved enforcement options can be used.
4.1.3 The Long-term Plan target is for Horizons to provide a urban/peri-urban animal pest management service to assist urban ratepayers with specialist advice and equipment, and that 100% of animal pest control assistance/ enquiries are responded to within two working days. Annex A 4.2 Year-to-date progress Table 8 Progress reporting for the amenity pest managment programme in the 2018 -19 year. Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Actual Number of enquiries 117 164 218 499 received Percentage responded to within two working 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% days
4.3 Activity Highlights 4.3.1 A total of 218 enquiries were received during the reporting period. Figures 1 and 2 provide further information on the type of pest the enquiry related to as well as the spread of enquiries across the districts of the Region. Possums and rabbits were the predominate pest type prompting enquiries during the reporting period and the largest number of enquiries was in the Manawatū and Whanganui areas.
4.3.2 All landowners making enquiries were contacted and/or visited within the prescribed timeframes and provided with advice and equipment such as traps or small amounts of toxins to help them deal with their pest issues.
4.3.3 The ‘All other’ section comprised enquiries relating to rodents (4), pigeons (1), peafowl (1), birds (1), wasps (1), feral goats (1) and general enquiries (3).
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90 80 70 60 50 This Year 40 Last Year 30 20 10 0 Possums Mustelid Magpie Rabbit Rook Cat All Other
Figure 1 Pest Animal Enquiry Summary – by Pest Type.
Annex A 60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Figure 2 Pest Animal Enquiry Summary by District - 1 November 2018 to 31 January 2019.
Jason Hart REGIONAL RESPONSE TEAM COORDINATOR (ANIMALS)
Eric Dodd ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR (ANIMALS)
Rod Smillie BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY, AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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BIOSECURITY ACTIVITY - PLANTS 1 Biosecurity Plants 1.1 Overview
Annex B This report is to update Council on the progress of programmes giving effect to the Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) and other works, according to the 2018-19 Pest Plant Operational Plan approved by Council during the reporting period 1 November 2018 to 31 January 2019.
During this period staff have made the most of the good weather to ensure contractors are fully allocated and sites are inspected and controlled. Staff undertook a number of biological control releases and engagement with the public to spread bioagents. Staff reengaged with districts around their Pest Plan responsibilities and fielded a number of enquiries regarding the Good Neighbour Rules.
Table 1 Long-term Plan performance measures (2018) PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR LEVELS OF SERVICE 2018-19 Number of managed sites at zero-levels increases for Overall % of managed sites at zero-levels increases by pest plants identified for eradication in the Regional Pest 10% Management Plan. Number of managed sites at zero-levels increases for Overall % of managed sites at zero-levels increases by pest plants identified as progressive containment - 10% mapped in the Regional Pest Management Plan. Financially support the national bio-control agent development programme and report annually to Council Financial support provided and annual report to Council on this programme. Monitoring of some released biological agents will be completed to assess establishment and host damage, 20 assessment plots will be monitored using the national protocol. Pest plant enquiries received are responded to within 95% of enquiries will be responded to within three three working days. working days
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2 Progress Report Pest plant management is mandated under the Biosecurity Act (1993) and Horizons has chosen to undertake management via a Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) as well as activities detailed in an annual Operational Plan. These activities focus on transformative pest plants which, if left uncontrolled or unmanaged, would reduce the value of the Region’s biodiversity and productive capacity by either increasing the costs of traditional production or preventing it entirely. This report overviews the work undertaken according to the Operational Plan structure, which features the RPMP programmes first followed by the other programmes.
2.2 Exclusion Pest Plants
Activity Overview For those pests that are in New Zealand but not in our Region, our goal is to prevent establishment via the Exclusion programme. We aim to detect these pests before they become
Annex B widely established in the Region and facilitate a quick response through appropriate funding that will enable the control or management of these species on rateable land.
Staff inspected potential locations which may harbour our target species: Californian bulrush, Chilean needle grass, heath rush, humped bladderwort, Manchurian wild rice, Noogoora burr, Phragmites australis, saffron thistle, Sagittaria platyphylla, sweet pittosporum and tussock hawkweed. None were found.
Members of the public contacted staff regarding what they believed to be Phragmites australis and Chilean needle grass. Both instances turned out to be similar looking but different species.
2.3 Eradication Pest Plants Activity Overview High-risk species that we believe should be totally removed from the Region are managed via the Eradication programme.
Species worked against this period: African feather grass, alligator weed, cathedral bells, Chilean rhubarb, Himalayan balsam, knotweed, nassella tussock, Senegal tea, spartina and woolly nightshade.
The Ruapehu District Council confirmed it will fund our surveillance and control effort of alligator weed in the Hikamutu ponds, given the specialist nature of the surveillance and control. Prior to Christmas staff surveyed the paddock area to ascertain whether the best next intervention would be herbicide spray or cultivation. A number of plants were dug out with some of them very deep- rooted, so it was decided to let the plants gain more vegetation to allow for maximum herbicide uptake. Subsequent inspections in January showed regrowth from the deep holes dug when
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following the root system down (Figure 1). Herbicide was to be be applied during February with triclopyr and glyphosate.
The Whanganui and Manawatū Rivers were surveyed for African feather grass, with all sites found being controlled. Both river stretches are about 70-80 km, the Whanganui from Pipiriki down (DoC work above), and the Manawatū from the headwaters to near Woodville (Figure 2).
Staff found four new sites on the Manawatū and a moderate number of new locations on the Whanganui, where a number of high water events have spread the grass to above the first terrace.
Annex B
Figure 1 Hikamutu infection zone alligator weed regrowing from a hole after staff digging to remove the root system. Spraying to take place in February. (D.Alker)
Figure 2 76km of upper Manawatū River African feather grass survey and discoveries. (J. Keast)
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2.4 Progressive Containment – mapped Pest Plants Activity Overview Where population levels or difficulty and expense of control prevent achievement of a Region- wide zero-density objective, high-threat pest plant species will be managed under a Progressive Containment objective. For each species managed this way, an active management zone is defined within which the pest plant species will be controlled wherever it is found, as per the Eradication designation.
Species worked against: Banana passionfruit, Darwin’s barberry, old man’s beard, Pinus contorta and Pinus sylvestris.
Our pest conifer programme has been expended following an increase in funding this year. We have added more target species, with the main focus being Pinus sylvestris. Given the wider brief, staff are finding P.sylvestris (Scots pine) in low numbers, but on the cusp of being a similar problem to Pinus contorta. Two large Scots pine were found in Ohakune and were removed by a
Annex B landowner while two other trees in the same vicinity need to be controlled, but this may prove more difficult given they afford the owner an element of privacy. Staff have also found mature Scots pine within the Whangaehu River corridor which are targeted for control this year.
Our jointly funded contribution to the National Wilding Conifer Programme is nearly finished for the year with only one operational area left to complete. Rangitikei trench wilding conifer control was successfully completed on 14-15 November 2018. Ohinewairua Station wilding conifer control was successfully completed on 8-9 December. The number of trees controlled had reduced significantly to 398 trees including 183 seedlings and only six coning trees. In the 2017- 18 season the controlled total was 4,253 with 35 coning, compared to 581 with only two coning in the 2018-19 season.
This success is the culmination of adequate funding for the previous three seasons, using the most efficient methods of control and coordination of wilding control on neighbouring properties.
The old man’s beard control programme is in full swing and this year is showing good results of long-term control operations. We still find new sites in many areas, given the spread potential of the plant and its ability to hide away in bush or urban areas (Figure 3) until sufficiently mature for flowering.
Staff receive reports from farmers and other staff outside the Pest Plant Team, which are always followed up. Most are mis-identifications, which enable staff to inform the reporter of the outcome and provide training on native and other climbers which can be confused with old man’s beard.
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A large part of the old man’s beard programme consists of organising access and consent for aerial surveillance or control operations. Areas are typically broken into manageable chunks which take from 1-3 days to control with a combination of ground and aerial work. An example of this is the west Rangitikei area comprising six control areas: West Ruahine, Kawhatau, Moawhango, Mokai, Pukeokahu and Makopua. These six control areas include 85 individual land owners who must be contacted by phone and then sent a follow up email with spreadsheets updated with sensitive areas, hazards, conditions and change of owners/contact details. Then prior to each job starting all affected parties need to be rung with the contractor organising suitable sites to work from.
Annex B
Figure 3 Old Man’s Beard outcome of January surveillance. Middle and right are urban Ohakune sites recently discovered. (R.Bashford)
2.5 Progressive Containment – un-mapped Production Pest Plants Activity Overview Production pests are managed using a mix of a clear land rule and a good neighbour rule. These species are widespread but parts of the Region are clear of them and it is desirable to keep them clear.
Species we dealt with during this reporting period were blackberry, field horsetail, gorse and tutsan.
We have had a small number of complaints across the Region, predominantly regarding neighbours’ weeds.
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Table 2 Good neighbour rule activity Description Report period numbers Boundary complaints received and actioned outside of 4 compliance RTCs (Required to Clear) issued 0 NODs (Notice of Direction) issued 0 Notices resolved in this period 1 of 1
Staff met with Manawatū District Council to firm up the content of what is required within an Approved Management Plan and also discussed these with Ruapehu and Rangitikei councils.
The table below shows the progress of engagement with the local councils and the Crown, with 4 out of 11 TLAs and Crown agencies. Progress has been slower than anticipated to get Approved
Management Plans developed and agreed to, however there is regular contact between HRC staff and the appropriate staff in TLAs/Crown agencies to encourage and guide them to achieve the development and adoption of the plans.
Table 3 Progress towards an asset management plan (AMP) or other liaison
Annex B Measure Reporting Period YTD Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Actual MOU/Liaison progress 2 1 1 0 0 0 4 11 36%
2.6 Response Activity Activity Overview The Response programme aims to provide immediate and effective assistance for all national or regional biosecurity incursions and any transitions to long-term management.
John Taylor and Rusty the detector dog were contracted to survey paddocks in late November. The aim was to sniff out any early germinating velvetleaf plants within the cultivated higher risk paddocks. Nothing was found in the paddocks in Whanganui, and seven were found in the Koputaroa paddock. This paddock had been removed from crop cultivation and was in unsprayed new grass. The seedlings were at the same location as previous adults and none were found outside the previously known footprint of adult plants.
Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH) Operations and Compliance Manager, John Mather, visited from Tauranga to see a wild kiwifruit site at Mangamahu, Whanganui. We met with our pest plant contractor on site to discuss a safe way of controlling these plants as a kiwifruit orchard is very close by. We will work together, assisting KVH to facilitate pro-rata cost share of our contractor’s time as we have a climbing spindleberry control site in the same area and the site is remote.
Myrtle rust was found in the roadside gardens at the Taumarunui town toilets on SH4 by a Department of Conservation staff member passing through. They immediately contacted Horizons and local staff inspected with him and confirmed it was myrtle rust. The staff member
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then advised the local Downers garden contract manager, visited the site and the infected plant has been destroyed. We also checked other gardens in the vicinity with no more plants found.
2.7 Investigation and Surveillance Activity Activity Overview Our Investigation and Surveillance programme aims to prevent the propagation, sale and distribution of legislated plants, determine the current extent in our Region of potential plants, investigate management options and prevent further establishment of notifiable plants by working with other pest management agencies.
Pinus nigra is another of the conifers causing significant issues in many parts of the South Island and is known as a wilding in the North Island. This is one of the species staff are investigating for potential inclusion into the Regional Pest Management Plan so we are investigating the extent of planting and its risk to our vulnerable areas.
Samples collected by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) from NZDF land/Rangipo desert Annex B area by Karioi Forest were sent to Landcare Research for identification. All came back as Pinus contorta and there was no P.nigra as previously assumed. One may have been Pinus muricata, another moderately spread-prone species. Subsequently a large shelter belt on NZDF land was sampled and identified by Landcare Research as P.muricata. We have notified NZDF.
The edge of the Karioi Forest P.nigra stand was inspected in January (Figure 4). Samples collected from land above a P.nigra stand in Karioi were sent to Landcare Research for identification and some wildings were found but the majority appeared to be P.contorta. It was estimated that less than 1% of wilding found were P. nigra and most of those were seedlings.
No coning wilding P.nigra was found and the only coning wildings found were P.contorta but this will be confirmed by Landcare Research.
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Figure 4 Pinus nigra cones shed from nearby trees at top of Karioi Forest. Spread assessment exercise for Investigation plant project. (M.Matthewson)
Annex B 2.8 Biological Control Activity Activity Overview Many entrenched pest plants in the Region are now the target of our biological control programme, which aims to assist the development of insects and diseases to control a wide range of pest plants and to release, distribute and monitor those within the Region.
The tutsan moth was released again near Taumarunui and for the first time in the Turakina valley (Figure 5). Rearing in the laboratory has been problematic again this year with many colonies succumbing to a mystery disease. Landcare Research has been attempting to solve the diseased lineage and seems to have got on top of the problem.
Our super-agent against thistles, the green thistle beetle (GTB), is proving both positive and problematic. Given press attention and staff being out and about, many farmers are registering their interest to receive populations of GTB; however large-scale dispersal has meant we are struggling to maintain viable nursery or harvestable populations. Conversely, it seems a threshold has been reached and staff are discovering many self-established populations across the Region, sometimes up to 10 or more kilometres from known populations. One surprising discovery was not only that Californian thistles had made their way above Karioi Forest on Mt Ruapehu (Figure 6), but that beetles had found their way there as well and were severely reducing leaf area.
Privet lacebugs were released in urban Whanganui and Ongarue.
Broom gall mites have also been spreading very well on their own. Staff undertook a large promotion of the agent prior to Christmas when, with help from the Communications Team we used print, media and advertisements with a ‘Hang a gall on your tree this Christmas’ promotion.
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Staff collected fages of infected material and farmers were encouraged to call in to offices on December 18 to uplift bundles for their land. Fifteen farmers were supplied and many more releases were made later in the day with leftover material. A good outcome was two farmers who received galls learning they already had broom with galls when they visited their infestation. Once they knew what to look for they were able to confirm self-establishment many kilometres from our previous release sites. Staff have also made similar discoveries over summer and it is heartening to see the geographic dispersal beginning to cover the Region.
Annex B
Figure 5 Turakina valley farmer making first release in the area of the tutsan moth (right) to suppress tutsan in bush fringe and prevent spread. (M.Matthewson)
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Figure 6 Self-established green thistle beetle discovered at 1,200m on Mt Ruapehu. (R.Bashford)
Annex B
2.9 Awareness and Promotion Activity Activity Overview The aim of the Awareness programme is to alert the community to the issues, threats and weed management solutions.
Media picked up stories about our Christmas themed broom gall mite giveaway, ‘Hang a gall on your tree this Christmas’, and the Environmental Protection Authority decision to allow the old man’s beard gall mite into New Zealand: . Mites might sweep away broom - Ruapehu Bulletin; . Tiny mite being introduced to eat broom - Whanganui Chronicle; . Mite to be used to fight invasive pest (OMB) - Manawatū Guardian; . Mite to combat old man’s beard - Canterbury Farming; . Serbian gall mite cleared for fight with old man's beard - NZ Herald Local Focus; . Noxious weeds days could be numbered - Whanganui Chronicle; . World first bio control for pest - Whanganui Midweek; . Mite introduced to control one of region’s worst weeds - NZ Herald; . Gall mite approved to curb old man’s beard - Live news. The pest plant team received 66 enquires with the main topics being: . Production Blackberry, ragwort and field horsetail . Zero-Density old man’s beard
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. Non-Strategy Privet
Frontlines November, December
35 32 2018 and January 2019 29 30 25 20
15 11 10
5 2 0 0 Production Zero-Density Freshwater Surveillance Non-Strategy
Graph 1 Pest plant enquiries summary - reporting period.
Annex B Staff were able to respond to 95% (cf., 95% target) of all enquires logged in the Frontlines database within the expected timeframe. We endeavour to address all enquires as soon as practicable, though staff annual leave and the work programme dictated staff availability.
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3 Activity Summary Project Key Deliverables YTD Progress Wilding Conifer – Work with partners and other Central North stakeholders re: Island Regional 1. Planning for management Ministry of Primary Industries - Horizons contract signed, Steering Group unit activity and reporting partners’ variations signed. Work well underway. (RSG) – Fund holder 2. Bi-annual meetings and Chair scheduled Waimarino- Coordinated control across Tongariro National public and private land to Park Darwin’s Programme completed. increase the protection of barberry control previously cleared areas. programme Weevil numbers from the rearing facility at Lincoln are Support group activity with Rangitikei Horsetail disappointing low and those that are emerging are coming population releases and Group in dribs and drabs, making sizeable population batches monitoring. hard to achieve. Support group activity with Tutsan Action A small number of releases have been made by Horizons Annex B population releases and Group staff. Group to have last meeting on 3 April. monitoring. . Relationship between parties maintained. . Memorandum of Desert Road Successful meeting delivered three agencies using one Understanding maintained Invasive Legume contractor to undertake landscape-wide removal of target and out-worked. Control Group species with pro-rata payments. No update since. . Coordinated action in priority areas is undertaken against the target species. Representing Horizons at Freshwater Pest national forum to champion Partnership behaviour change and Advocacy work started on 1 October at Lake Otamangakau Programme and freshwater pest protection. and continues. Good partnership formed with Ngāti Rangi Check, Clean, Dry Attendance at high-risk events volunteers for Ohakune-based events. (CCD) advocacy and strong advocacy with the programme. main users of waterways in our headwater areas.
Craig Davey ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – PLANTS
Rod Smillie BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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BIODIVERSITY ACTIVITY 1. Overview 1.1.1 The purpose of this report is to update Council on the progress of programmes giving effect to the 2018-19 Biodiversity Operational Plan during the period 1 September-31 October 2018. The
Annex C report is presented in four sections: . Priority site protection . Biodiversity partnerships . Tōtara Reserve Regional Park management; and . Collaboration projects with the Department of Conservation (DOC) 1.1.2 Activity during the reporting period was dominated by the stocktake of priority sites and additional reporting to inform future involvement/management of these sites. Activity also included work on many of the 34 biodiversity partnership projects. Other work included the continued clean-up at Tōtara Reserve Regional Park following the June 2018 flood. A summary of the Long-term Plan targets and progress to date is provided in the table below.
% of target Long Term Plan Target Target Allocated Completed completed Protect/enhance priority habitat remnants Additional top 100 wetlands actively managed 4 4 0 0% Additional top 200 bush remnants actively managed 7 3 2 28% Support community involvement in biodiversity protection Support existing community-based biodiversity 12 34 1 3% improvement projects*4 Tōtara Reserve Regional park Annual report on the management of Tōtara Reserve Regional Park for biodiversity and recreational values, 1 1 0 0% including managing the camping facility.
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2 Priority Sites Programme 2.1 Activity Overview This programme was initiated to deliver on a One Plan method to have 100 of the Region’s priority wetlands and 200 of its best bush remnants under active management by 2028-29. At the end of the 2017- 18 year, the programme reported 65 priority wetlands and 131 priority bush remnants to be under active management. The priority sites programme underwent a review in 2017-18 and the Operational Plan has introduced some changes to the way sites are assessed and managed; much of this reporting period has been dedicated to work to implement that system. The Long-term Plan targets and year-to-date progress on these are provided in the table below.
Table 1 Progress reporting for the priority sites programme Long -term Plan targets for 2018-19. % of target Long-term Plan Target Target Allocated Completed completed Protect/enhance priority habitat remnants Additional top 100 wetlands actively managed 4 4 0 0%
Annex C Additional top 200 bush remnants actively managed 7 3 2 28%
2.2 Activity Highlights General
2.2.1 The review of the biodiversity programme has introduced changes to the way sites are assessed and managed. These changes include the introduction of a new classification of the level of management sites are receiving. This adds more detail to the previous reporting on sites being actively managed (or not). The management level rating (Box 1) incorporates assessments of the level of knowledge of the biodiversity at a site through a Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) and if Horizons has completed some restoration work at the site, which was previously the mechanism the programme used to indicate if a site was actively managed or not. The programme review also introduced the requirement for site management plans, these plans and frequency of visits are key factors for achieving management level 3. The level of priority works in the site management plan being implemented are also part of the management level index with level four being where all priority works are being completed. Level 5 and 6 reflect sites receiving a greater level of management. This report is the first to include both the original prioritisation category (eg. A, B, C, D) and the new management level index for the sites that have been worked on during the reporting period. For the next Environment Committee report a summary of the management level index for all sites Horizons have contributed to restoration of will be presented. Please note the management level index framework is continuing to be refined as we gain more experience implementing it.
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Management Level Descriptions To achieve consistency in reporting over the coming 18 – 24 months the site list has been reconciled and the number of sites at each management level will be reported. Draft management levels have been outlined below.
Management Level Zero: Sites that we know exist but we have not visited yet. Will not be reported.
Management Level 0.5: A holding level for sites that have received a contribution toward management from HRC but have not yet received an REA or the REA has expired (ie is greater than 10 years old). Many of these sites exist in the Whanganui and Ruapehu districts. The biodiversity team is planning to visit these sites and complete REA’s moving these sites to a level two.
Management Level One: Sites at management level one will have been assessed using the Rapid Ecological Assessment process. Sites will be included in the HRC inventory including GIS layer. This management level is valid for 10 years at which point a new REA must be completed or the site returns to the 0.5 level. Sites that were a level 1 and are returned to a level 0.5 will still exist in the HRC inventory and GIS layer but the
level reflects the dated (and possibly now incorrect) data that we have on that site. Annex C
Management Level Two: Sites at management level two will fulfil the requirements on level one and have had a previous contribution to their management from HRC. This contribution may have been a one-off such as fencing or other management contribution that no longer occurs. This would include sites that were previously managed but support has been withdrawn for any reason. These sites will have brief site summaries which detail why management is not continuing (for historical sites this will only be possible where this information is available).
Management Level Three: Sites at management level three will fulfil the requirements of level one and have site visits to assess works required at least biannually. These sites will have a site summary and management plan. Identified works required will be prioritised. Some work may be deferred if appropriate. Landowners will be supported and encouraged to contribute to the management of these sites.
Management Level Four: Sites at management level four will fulfil the requirements of level three and have all high priority works carried out as required. Landowners will be supported and encouraged to contribute to the management of these sites. Totara Reserve is an example of site at this management level.
Management Level Five: Sites at management level five will fulfil the requirements of level four management and have true management partnerships established. Alternatively they may be managed by landowner, iwi or community group with only surveillance and advice from HRC. Manawatū Gorge and Te Poroporo / Cape Turnagain are examples sites at this management level.
Management Level Six: Sites at management level six will meet at least management level four and be receiving control for all animal pests.
Box 1 Management level descriptions
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2.2.2 The aim during 2018-19 was to complete 70 REAs on sites that have previously undergone management by Horizons, and the sites that are new to the programme and had not had an REA undertaken. REAs and site summaries were to be prepared for each site for which Horizons has provided some management input through the bush remnants and wetlands programme. The REA visits are planned to gather data that will inform the prioritisation of sites for future management.
2.2.3 During November, December and January the Biodiversity Team completed a further 50 REAs as part of the Biodiversity stocktake. This takes the total to 86 REAs (83 bush remnants and 3 wetlands) so far this year.
High priority wetlands
2.2.4 Four new high priority wetland sites are scheduled to be added to the managed list. One of these, McDowall’s Wetland, has been fenced and planted this year, and requires an updated REA to confirm that it is eligible for inclusion on the list. The other three wetlands are being fenced.
Annex C 2.2.5 One wetland site was visited for an REA and one for a site audit during this period. During site audits, staff check for evidence and impact of stock or pest animals, new pest plant infestations, fence integrity and any other damage.
Table 2 Wetland sites. Management Assessment/ Wetland Site Priority Pest Plants Treated Audit Level* Monitoring Broadlands Wetland A 3 - Yes - Gordon Park Scenic A 3 - - REA Reserve * Please see Appendix 1 – Management Level Descriptions
High priority bush remnants
2.2.6 One new high priority bush remnant – Stafford Bush in the Rangitikei District – was added to the managed list during this period. Five additional high priority bush remnant sites are scheduled to be added to the two sites already added to the managed list this year, keeping on track to achieve the target of seven.
2.2.7 Sixty-two high priority bush sites were visited for pest plant control, audits or REAs. During a site audit, staff check for evidence and impact of stock or pest animals, new pest plant infestations, fence integrity and any other damage.
Management Assessment/ Bush Remnant Site Priority Pest Plants Treated Audit Level Monitoring Norwood Bush (Rang163) A 3 Karaka, banana passionfruit - - Greystoke Bush (Rang153) B Banana passionfruit, karaka, - - 3 Old Man’s Beard (OMB)
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Management Assessment/ Bush Remnant Site Priority Pest Plants Treated Audit Level Monitoring Priest’s Bush (Man125) B 2 Cathedral Bells, elderberry - - Tradescantia, ivy, Prunus Clausen’s Bush (Man213) A 3 - - tree Blackberry, karaka, banana Midland Road Bush (Man189) B 3 - - passionfruit Bob Wakelin Bush (Man76) B OMB, ivy - Bat monitoring 3 (long-tailed bats present) Fullerton-Smith’s Bush (Rang147) B Cathedral Bells, ivy, OMB, - - 3 jasmine Moxham’s Bush (Horo61) B 3 Tradescantia, OMB Yes - Kingsdale Bush (Palm06) A 3 OMB - - Tōtara Reserve (ManX1) A 4 OMB - - Pakipaki Dune Forest (Horo85) B 3 Broom - - Mt Bruce (Pukaha) and extension B 0.5 OMB - - Mangaone Stream Bush (Tara17) A 3 OMB (in buffer zone) - -
Annex C Tiriraukawa Bush B (Rang69) B 2 - Yes REA Paki-iti Bush (Man55) A 3 - Yes REA Kawhatau Junction Forest (Man51) B 3 - Yes REA Williams’ Bush (Rang12) B 2 - Yes REA McNeill’s Bush (Rang72A) B 3 - Yes REA GH Dear Trust (Man204) A 3 - - REA Joe’s Bush (Whan39) B 2 - - REA Malcolm Bush (Rua68) B 2 - - REA Matthews’ Woolshed Bush B - - REA 2 (Whan47) Matthews’ No-One’s Bush B - - REA 2 (Whan42) Matthews’ Verity’s Bush (Whan41) B 2 - - REA Tohunga Bush (Rua74) B 2 - - REA Mangoihe Stream Catchment A 2 - - REA (Rua39) Pendin True Kelly’s Bush (Rua66) 2 - - REA g Cook’s Bush (Rua31) A 2 - - REA Cole’s Orautoha (Rua47) A 2 - - REA Ohorea Bush (Rua48) A 2 - - REA Ohorea Max (Rua30) A 2 - - REA Ohorea Picnic Bush (Rua71) A 2 - - REA Ohorea Pukeko Bush (Rua55A) B 2 - - REA Kavanagh Bush (Rua80) A 2 - - REA Aotea Bush (Whan36) A 2 - - REA Flowers’ Bush (Whan46) B 2 - - REA Bristol’s Bush (Rua37) A 2 - - REA Baddeley’s Bush (Rua35) B 2 - - REA Bishop Lake Bush (Rua79E) B 2 - - REA
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Management Assessment/ Bush Remnant Site Priority Pest Plants Treated Audit Level Monitoring Kakatahi Stream Bush (Whan31) A 2 - - REA Mount View Bush No.1 (Whan34) B 2 - - REA Ngapuke Bush (Rua50) A 2 - - REA Ngarakauwhakarara Bush (Rua75) A 2 - - REA Nihoniho Forest (Rua77) A 2 - - REA Ohutu Pylons (Rua64) A 2 - - REA Okahu Stream (Rua26) A 2 - - REA Omerei Bush (Rua28) A 2 - - REA Otaranaho Bush (Whan45) A 2 - - REA Pah Hill Back Bush (Rua70) A 2 - - REA Pah Hill Jungle (Rua51) A 2 - - REA
Paoraameka Trig Bush (Rua25) A 2 - - REA Raukawa (Rua46) A 2 - - REA Tawanui Bush (Rua49) A 2 - - REA Tawanui Cattleyards Bush (Rua57) A 2 - - REA Tawanui Rough Bush (Rua56) A 2 - - REA
Annex C Te Uranga Bush 1 (Rua83) A 2 - - REA Te Uranga Bush 2 (Rua84) A 2 - - REA Te Uranga Bush 3 (Rua85) A 2 - - REA Waipuna Jerusalem Bush (Rua73) A 2 - - REA Waipuna Journeaux (Rua33) A 2 - - REA Waipuna Mataurihi (Rua38) A 2 - - REA Stinker’s Bush (Whan38) B 2 - - REA
3 Biodiversity Partnerships 3.1 Activity Overview 3.1.1 The Biodiversity Partnerships activity encompasses work completed in collaboration with others to deliver biodiversity and recreational benefits to the Region via projects such as the Manawatū Gorge and Pukaha Mount Bruce, and projects to support community-led initiatives such as the Rangitīkei Environment Group’s (REG) efforts to control old man’s beard. The Long Term Plan target and year-to-date progress against this are reported in the table below.
Table 2 Progress reporting for the Biosecurity Partnerships programmes Long Term Plan targets. % of target Target Allocated Completed completed
Support community involvement in biodiversity protection Support existing community-based biodiversity 12 34 1 3% improvement projects*4
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3.1.2 The 34 projects approved in 2018-19 are made up of seven Biodiversity Collaborations, 13 Community Biodiversity projects and 14 Community Grant projects. Progress updates on these projects are provided in the sections below.
Biodiversity Collaborations 3.1.3 Progress against the seven Biodiversity Collaborations is overviewed in Table 3 below.
Table 3 Progress against Biodiversity Collaborations. Estimated % Project Update Status Complete 1 Rangitikei Environment Group Weed control ongoing. On track 75% (REG)
2 Kia Wharite See Section 5 Collaboration projects. On track 65% 3 Weedbusters Palmerston North Weed control ongoing. On track 40% 4 Tawata Mainland Island No pest control has started on this Not started 0% project and it appears unlikely to go ahead this year. If that is the case, the budget will be re-allocated to
Annex C other projects. Staff are meeting with the project leaders in February. 5 Waitarere Beach Community Weed control ongoing. Started 70% Project 6 Pukaha Mt Bruce See Section 5 Collaboration projects. Started 65% 7 Te Āpiti Manawatū Gorge See Section 5 Collaboration projects. Started 65% Enhancement
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Community Biodiversity projects 3.1.4 Progress against the 13 Community Biodiversity projects is shown in Table 4 below.
Table 4 Progress against Community Biodiversity projects. Estimated % Community biodiversity projects Update Status Complete 8 Te Potae o Awarua Predator See Section 5 Collaboration projects On track 65% Project (see Northern Ruahine Battle for our Birds). 9 Massey Hill Weed control is almost complete for the Nearing 80% year. completion 10 Turitea Reserve Pest animal control ongoing. On track 65% 11 Bushy Park Pest animal control ongoing. On track 65% 12 Kahuterawa Stream Regular hare control is underway and On track 60% Biodiversity project achieving good results. Planning for the planting of the Palmerston North to Linton walkway/cycleway, which passes through the Kahuterawa project, is
Annex C complete. 13 Foxton River Loop Save our River Trust (SoRT) will Not started 0% organise a planting job that will use all the budget for this project. 14 Manawatū Estuary & Predator See Section 5 Collaboration projects. On track 60% project 15 Awahuri Forest - Kitchener Park New signage, paid for by Horizons, has Nearing 75% been installed next to the recently completion sealed car park (see photo at the end of for the year this section). Bench seats from the old Feilding racecourse have been recycled and put to good use along the boardwalk. 16 Ahimate Reserve (previously Horizons’ share of the weed control On track 60% Waitoetoe Park) maintenance and planting of the greater park area has been spent and any additional costs for the site will be paid by Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) as previously agreed. 17 Gate Pa Bush Restoration Weed control work has been delayed Started 5% due to contractor availability but indications are that the budget will be spent this year. 18 Ōhau Beach Walkway It is highly unlikely that Horowhenua Project not 0% District Council (HDC) will able to proceeding progress this project in the current financial year. All savings will be re- directed to the Cape Turnagain project. 19 Cape Turnagain Horizons’ stakeholder contribution has On track 75% been paid for this year. 20 Genesis Moawhango River Willow removal due to begin. Started 5% Restoration
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3.1.5 The majority of the projects are on track or have been completed (9/13), two have just started, one will start with planting in late autumn, and one isn’t proceeding with its resources being re- allocated to the cape Turnagain project. Staff are liaising with all project groups to ensure completion if possible.
Annex C
Photo 5 New signage at Awahuri Forest Kitchener Park.
Community Grant projects 3.1.6 Community Grant projects were funded through a grants process run in April/May 2018, with 12 projects successful. A further two projects from the previous year were extended into the current year to enable their completion.
3.1.7 Progress against the 14 Community Grant projects is shown in Table 5 below, and staff have contacted the groups early in 2019.
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Table 6 Progress against Community Grant projects. Estimated % Community Grant projects Update Status Complete 21 Bulls River Users Group No updates received from applicant. Unknown 0% 22 Kaitieke School No updates received from applicant. Unknown 0% 23 Te One Bush Restoration Sycamore control work mostly Nearing 90% Project completed. completion 24 Kimbolton School Pest control monitoring progressing Nearing 80% well and most of Grant spent. completion 25 Mount Biggs School No updates received from applicant. Unknown 0% 26 Progress Castlecliff Whanganui No updates received from applicant. Unknown 0% 27 Kai Iwi School Planting completed. Nearing 90% completion 28 Puddleducks Montessori Working with Horizons on suitable Not started 0%
species for planting. 29 Milson Scout Troup Traps have been constructed and On track 50% will be put out on site in next couple of months. 30 Timona Park Orchard Trust Most of the Grant now spent. Nearing 90% Annex C completion 31 Matipo Community No updates received from applicant. Unknown 0% Development Charitable Trust 32 South Makirikiri School No updates received from applicant. Unknown 0% 33 Kairanga School (carried Wetland project completed and Completed 100% forward from last year) Grant claimed. 34 Bushy Park community project No updates received from applicant. Unknown 0% (carried forward from last year)
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4 Regional Park Management 4.1 Activity Overview 4.1.1 The work at Tōtara Reserve Regional Park is focused on remediation of the June 2018 flood damage and enhancing flood protection, some works around safety in the park including management of trees and upgrades to the area around the effluent treatment system, additional signage and reviewing pest management.
4.1.2 The Long-term Plan target and year-to-date progress against this are reported in the table below.
Table 7 progress update for the Regional Park Long -term Plan target. % of target LTP Performance Measure Target Completed completed Annual report on the management of Tōtara Reserve Regional Park for biodiversity and recreational values, including managing 1 0 0% the camping facility.
Annex C 4.2 Activity Highlights Camping numbers were 144 people in November, 554 in December and 992 in January. The caretaker suggests this is down a little on previous seasons potentially due to the increased fees, particularly for powered sites. Income from the campground is on par with previous years.
Photo 2 Kereru campground at Tōtara Reserve Regional Park.
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4.2.1 Development of a Strategic Plan for the park to be discussed at a Tōtara Reserve Advisory Group workshop scheduled for late February.
Aaron Madden ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – BIODIVERSITY Rod Smillie BIODIVERSITY, BIOSECURITY & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
Annex C
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5 Collaboration Projects – Horizons / Department of Conservation (DOC) 5.1 Activity Overview This report captures some Horizons and DOC collaborative projects that are not covered elsewhere in Environment Committee reports. 5.2 Activity Highlights Mangapurua – Whitianga Aerial Pest Operation
5.2.1 The operation in the Mangapurua-Whitianga blocks in the Kia Wharite project on the Whanganui River has been completed. Post-operation rat monitoring showed tracking rates had fallen from 67% tracking before the operation to 0% tracking afterwards. This is a good outcome, most likely due to high uptake of bait with a full week of fine weather after the toxin application.
5.2.2 Water testing of the Whanganui Awa and tributaries took place before the toxin application as Annex C well as on the day of the operation and the following day. Eleven sites were sampled by an independent operator. All pre-toxin application samples found no detectable levels of 1080. Of the 11 sites sampled post toxin application, only one had a detection residue of 1080. A minute amount (0.2ng/mL, nanogram/millilitre) was detected in the Komuriwaka Stream. This stream is within the 2kg/ha block treated at a higher rate due to no previous pest control in this block. This is 10 times below the 2ng/mL safe limit set by the Ministry of Health and is at the absolute minimum for detection.
Waimarino Forest – Aramahoe Reserve
5.2.3 Predator trapping in the Aramahoe Reserve in Waimarino Forest recommenced following completion of the recent 1080 ground control operation. Rat and mustelid trap catch rates have been considerably lower than those recorded prior to the 1080 work indicating a good kill rate from the poison operation.
5.2.4 Two newly hatched kiwi chicks have been harvested from a bush block neighbouring the Aramahoe Reserve. The chicks will be taken to the Mangatautari Reserve (east of Cambridge) and released to grow in a fully protected environment. This is the third year in which young kiwi have been taken from the block. The success of the kiwi recovery can be attributed to the ongoing predator control work undertaken in and adjacent to the property.
5.2.5 Members of the Waimarino Ngāporo Trust and the management of the Mangatautari Reserve are currently developing a plan to release a number of adult kiwi back into the Waimarino Forest. The introduction of these birds will strengthen the genetic base of the kiwi population currently residing in the forest.
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Pipiriki pest control
5.2.6 DOC and Ngā Whenua Rāhui are working jointly on an application to apply Cholecalciferol in bait stations in part of the Whanganui National Park, in and around Pipiriki township and up through the Pipiriki – Raetihi Road. Ngā Whenua Rāhui contractors will be carrying out this operation.
5.2.7 River trench weed control: DOC staff are carrying out weed control in the Whanganui River trench during summer. This is programmed work occurring out of Pipiriki.
5.2.8 Air New Zealand Biodiversity Fund project: Self-resetting traps are being maintained at all hut and campsites on the Whanganui Journey. Weed control in the Whanganui River trench is being carried out during summer by contractors targeting specific weeds. Goat control in the river
trench will occur after the Whanganui Journey season. Long-term monitoring of the kiwi population in Whanganui National Park will be repeated in May-June 2019. The acoustic recorders may need to be replaced.
5.2.9 Whio: Surveys of whio in the Manganui o te Ao-Retaruke security site will be carried out in
Annex C January and February to determine fledgling numbers. Maintenance and checks on the predator network continue. This survey is being supported by whio dogs and their handlers alongside the local team.
5.2.10 Nine captive-bred whio were available to be released at short notice into the Manganui o te Ao – Retaruke security site. To ensure the best chance of survival for these birds, the Kaiwhakauka Stream was chosen for the mid-January release to boost whio in this area. There will be a further release of birds in March and an invitation has been forwarded to Horizons staff and Councillors for 6 March.
Manawatū Estuary
5.2.11 A spartina survey was undertaken at this site in December-January and none was detected.
5.2.12 A boat hull on PCL (Public Conservation Land) next to the Foxton Wharf is being worked on by boat building company Profab. Horowhenua District Council made DOC aware of this a few days before the hull was to be transported to the site. DOC gave unofficial approval on the understanding that if this occurs in future, prior approval will be sought.
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Te Āpiti Manawatū Gorge Project
5.2.13 DOC and Horizons’ staff coordinated two events hosted by the Te Apiti – Manawatū Gorge Governance Group on 17 December 2018. A dawn blessing by Manahi Paewae of the waharoa carvings carved by Craig Kawana at the Ballance entrance to the walking track, was followed by a mid-morning event that included Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage officially opening the carvings with media presence. The Minister continued to make her way to Te Whaa o te Kurī Whare at Ferry Reserve where Gorge Governance Group members were joined by Manawatū River Leaders’ Forum representatives to learn more about the area and the collaborative work being done by all partners.
5.2.14 Approximately 100 metres of boardwalks have been constructed through the wettest areas of the Ferry Reserve walkway and the drier sections either side of the boardwalks have been limed. As a part of the Ministers visit there was an opening of the new upgraded walkway.
5.2.15 Plant identification signs were erected at the eastern entrance of the Gorge in time for Minister
Sage’s visit. The rest of the signage will be installed throughout the 12 km walk over the Annex C remainder of the calendar year.
5.2.16 In recent years the Te Apiti Manawatū Gorge site has only received animal control in the bush on one side of the river with partial control in that area. The Gorge Governance Group have endorsed wider pest control for the full area of the gorge project to enhance the existing biodiversity and also to prepare for potential species reintroduction work in the gorge. The first step for this wider control was a 1080 operation run by the Department of Conservation scheduled for late 2018. This was unfortunately unable to proceed within the consented timeframe (before Christmas school holidays) due to unsuitable weather conditions. The existing bait station network on the southern side of the Gorge was filled by contractors in December 2018. Diphacinone was used to target rats, to provide some protection for forest birds over the breeding season. DOC is reviewing animal pest control plans for the Manawatū Gorge Scenic Reserve. A consent is in place until October 2019 for an aerial 1080 operation. The main discussion point with this method is being able to deliver the operation to standard with challenging wind conditions at this site.
5.2.17 A Te Apiti Manawatū Gorge Governance Group meeting is scheduled for February 2019. The agenda items include the a review of the work programme, a gorge road update, a presentation around the potential for species reintroduction and the Terms of Reference for the Governance Group. The Terms of Reference discussion includes confirming Horizons membership on the group. The draft Terms of Reference has two positions for Horizons on the Governance Group and one proxy. The Chair of Horizons is the Chair of the Group, Councillor Keedwell has been named as the other Horizons’ Councillor on the group and Councillor Te Awe Awe is the proxy for the two Horizons’ Councillors should one of them not be able to attend. The Deputy Chair is Reg Kemper of the Department of Conservation. A council resolution regarding the membership of the group is part of this item
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Annex C
Photo 1 The waharoa carvings at the Ballance entrance to the walking track.
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Photo 2 A section of the raised boardwalk through a wet part of the Ferry Reserve walkway.
Annex C
Photo 3 One of the new signs erected at the eastern end of the Gorge.
Northern Ruahine Battle for our Birds aerial 1080 operation
5.2.18 Beech monitoring will be carried out in March, to help get a better understanding of the scale of mast events around New Zealand. However, all indications are that there will be a huge beech mast throughout New Zealand this year. The beech mast will provide a huge boost in food for native and introduced species and is expected to lead to a rapid increase in rat and subsequently mustelid populations.
5.2.19 The Northern Ruahine Ecological Management Unit has been identified as a possible site for an aerial 1080 operation in winter-spring 2019 to protect native species from the expected surge in pests. However, higher priority sites elsewhere in the country, such as those at risk of losing nationally endangered species like rock wren, may be prioritised over the Northern Ruahine block depending on rat abundances at all sites. A decision on whether the operation will go ahead will be made by June.
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Item 9 Item Report No. 19-25 Information Only - No Decision Required
FRESHWATER & PARTNERSHIPS PROGRESS REPORT
1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is to introduce Members of Council’s Environment Committee, the Freshwater & Partnerships Progress report for the period 1 November 2018 to 31 January 2019.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 19-25 and Annex.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper. It is noted that the report does update Councillors on a number of items related to financial management of the programme.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. The Freshwater programme at Horizons is reported on publicly to the Environment Committee regularly throughout the year and also communicated via various forums and methods.
5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 5.1. There is no significant business risk associated with this report.
6. SUMMARY 6.1. Overall the Freshwater Programme is on track to deliver a significantly expanded programme due to the increased funding via the Freshwater Improvement Fund and the use of reserves. As at February 2019 the programme is allocated to complete over 100 km of fencing for a target of 69 km and over 100,000 riparian plants for a target of 63,333 (Table 1). The actual amounts that will be completed this year are likely to be lower than the allocated levels as experience shows not all allocated works are completed in any one year.
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Table 1 Riparian fencing and planting summary of targets for the work programme and amount of works completed and allocated as at February 2019.
Riparian Fencing Riparian Planting
Percentage Percentage Target Allocated Completed complete to Target Allocated Completed complete to target target Km Km % Plants Plants % Regional 12 22.656 10.918 91 20,000 40,842 14,761 74 Manawatū 50 59.3 21.8 42 40,000 51,328 21,108 52 Whangaehu 17 20.796 0.895 5.3 3,333 7,925 225 7 Total 69 102.75 33.613 48% 63,333 100,095 36,094 57%
6.2. The start of the new calendar year has seen continued interest in the Freshwater Programme with both requests for grants and assistance in riparian fencing and planting. The programme has reached full allocation for works through until June and as a result there will be a slight change in focus for the remainder of the financial year with these changes being: A focus on completion of works that are currently signed up rather than finding new work. This is mostly a result of allocating the budget plus targeted reserves for many of the programmes and not needing to actively pursue work to reach our annual plan targets; Any new enquiries will result in a Freshwater Advisor/Coordinator visiting the site and applications filled in, but works will be allocated to the new financial year. These visits may be slightly delayed compared to normal given the focus of the available staff capacity will be on completing works that are already signed up; and With the current level of interest and a reducing overall budget next year due to nearly all of the reserves likely to be used this year, the team will be using variable grant rates with higher rates (although no higher than 50% which is the current maximum rate) being applied to applications that have greater water quality outcomes. 6.3. The delivery of the Freshwater Programme is heavily reliant on the work of others including the other agencies that are leading aspects of the Freshwater Improvement Fund including sewerage treatment plant upgrades, fencing, community projects etc.
7. SIGNIFICANCE 7.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Logan Brown FRESHWATER & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
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ANNEXES 9 Item A Freshwater & Partnerships Progress Report
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FRESHWATER ACTIVITY 1 Waterway Enhancement & Protection
Annex A 1.1 Activity Overview Horizons’ Freshwater Team is a small group that works closely with other Horizons teams and people external to the organisation, to implement water quality improvement works. The team draw on the scientific monitoring work carried out by Horizons and other agencies to prioritise and focus implementation efforts. The team works with landowners and a number of external agencies, including iwi/hapū, district and city councils, central government, industry and community groups to undertake collaborative projects. The team also actively seeks funding from other sources, allowing the acceleration of works.
The team’s main activities include riparian fencing and planting for water quality improvement and fish habitat enhancement, including the identification and enhancement of whitebait spawning habitat and fish passage improvement (Table 1 and Figure 1). Other activities include a wide range of works on projects such as the Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord, Lake Horowhenua Accord, and Freshwater Improvement Fund (FIF) projects; these works include sewage treatment plant upgrades and lake weed harvesting.
Table 1 Summary of riparian fencing and planting in 2018 -19 financial year.
Riparian Fencing Riparian Planting Percentage Percentage Target Allocated Completed complete to Target Allocated Completed complete to target target Km Km % Plants Plants % Regional 12 22.656 10.918 91 20,000 40,842 14,761 74 Manawatū 50 59.3 21.8 42 40,000 51,328 21,108 52 Whangaehu 17 20.796 0.895 5.3 3,333 7,925 225 7 Total 69 102.75 33.613 48% 63,333 100,095 36,094 57%
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Annex A
Figure 1 Location of the completed Freshwater Grants works for 2018 -19, including the Regional, Manawatū and Whangaehu programmes. Each point on the map represents one fencing, planting, fish pass or community project.
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2 Manawatū River Accord/Freshwater Improvement Fund 2.1 Activity Overview 2.1.1 The Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord Action Plan includes an array of activities related to improving water quality, to achieve the goals of the Accord. This activity funds works to improve water quality in the Manawatū Catchment as part of the Accord, including excluding stock from streams, riparian planting, improving fish passages and supporting community projects. During this financial year and the following four years the targeted rate is to be used as Horizons’ contribution to the Freshwater Improvement Fund project. 2.2 Targets
Table 2 Annual Plan performance measures and assessment against the year -end for 2018-19 for the Manawatū FIF project.
Measure Year to date Target % Complete % Allocated
Annex A Stream fencing (km) 21.8 50 43.6% 118% (59.3 km) Riparian plants 21,108 40,000 53% 128% (51,328) Fish barrier remediation 5 4 125% 125% Community project funded 0 9 0 100%
2.3 Activity Highlights Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord and Action Plan
2.3.1 The Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord Forum was held on 16 November 2018, just prior to the launch of the new Manawatū River website and release of the progress report. The next forum will be held in May 2019. 2.3.2 The inaugural Manawatū River Festival was held at Hardies Street reserve on the banks of the Manawatū River on the 24 November 2018 and was well attended. Photos from the day are on the website www.manawaturiver.co.nz. The progress report was officially released at the River festival.
2.3.3 The second quarterly report for the Manawatū River Freshwater Improvement Fund has been completed and was submitted to the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) at the end of January 2019.
2.3.4 Fridge magnets advertising the riparian fencing and planting programme were delivered to 8,096 rural mail boxes in December. This resulted in a small number of enquiries just prior to the Christmas break and we hoped to receive more enquiries after the holiday period.
2.3.5 Five barriers to fish passage have been fixed during this reporting period (Photo 1 to Photo 7). This includes three culvert replacements in the upper Kahuterawa Catchment where culvert size
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was increased and all were lowered below the stream bed level. The other two fixes were in the Mangaore Catchment where a fish pass was installed on a weir which was increased in height to back flood a culvert thus eliminating the perch.
2.3.6 All nine of the community projects approved during October 2018 were sent contracts that have been returned and each project has been assigned a Freshwater Team member to be the Horizons contact. Regular contact will be made to see how projects are progressing. Draft reporting templates for community projects have been prepared and are undergoing reviews prior to being circulated to parties to enable them to fill in as projects are completed. The preparation of a reporting template is to make reporting consistent across projects and also to simplify the requirements for community groups.
2.3.7 The successful applicants and projects are:
. B & P Drysdale and Te Kauru – continuation of riparian fencing and planting of the source of the Manawatū River (near Norsewood); . New Zealand Landcare Trust – riparian fencing and planting in the Stoney Creek catchment;
Annex A . Mangaone West Landcare Group – riparian fencing and planting in the Mangaone West catchment; . Dannevirke Host Lions Club – growing rata to be planted in riparian zones; . Save Our River Trust – feasibility study for the construction of a wetland to treat water discharged from Kings Canal prior to entering the Foxton Loop; . Oroua River Catchment Care Group – riparian enhancement and weed control in Timona Park; . Te Rangimarie Marae – feasibility study into creating an access way to the Oroua Awa from the Marae; . Manawatū Source to Sea – education and removal of plastic from water; and . Ngā Kaitiaki ō te Rerenga Rauropi – restoration of Pioneer Highway Stream.
Photo 1 A perched culvert before and after replacement.
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Photo 2 Weir on the Otauru Stream and perched culvert on a side s tream 5m upstream of the weir.
Annex A
Photo 3: Installation of a slightly higher weir to flood the perch on the culvert and installation of rock work prior to concreting the rocks in place.
Photo 4 Final placement of rock for the correct gradient and start of concreting after water diversions are in place.
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Annex A
Photo 5 After concreting.
Photo 6 Left, weir after the concrete has dried and the water allowed to flow down the pass; right, raised water level flooding the culvert drop which will allow fish free access to upstream.
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Photo 7 Looking through the culvert showing the pooling water, slowing the water velocity to allow fish to migrate through the culvert. 3 Regional Freshwater Programme Annex A 3.1 Activity Overview This programme focuses on the protection and enhancement of waterways across the Region, excluding the Manawatū and Whangaehu FIF projects. The main component of the Regional Freshwater Programme is supporting stock exclusion from waterways via Freshwater Grants, advice and education, riparian enhancement and planting where desirable, aquatic habitat enhancement, and supporting industry and community-led initiatives. A summary of progress against the Annual Plan targets for the 2018-19 year is in Table 3. 3.2 Targets Table 3 Annual Plan performance measures and assessment against year -end 2018-19 for the Regional Freshwater Programme, excluding the Manawatū and Whangaehu FIF projects.
Measure Year to date Target % Complete % Allocated
Stream fencing (km) 10.918 12 91% 189% (22.656) Riparian plants 14,761 20,000 74% 204% (40,842) Fish barrier remediation 0 1 0 100% Community project supported 1 1 100% 100%
3.3 Activity Highlights Work with individuals, community groups and iwi to improve waterways
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3.3.1 During the reporting period the focus for the programme has involved working through all
enquiries to confirm fencing and planting projects going ahead this financial year, and establish 9 Item working areas for the new team.
Swim Spots
3.3.2 Following high readings for E. coli at the Ototoka swim spot, further monitoring along the main stem of the catchment to just north of SH3 is being planned to identify the source of the high readings. The Compliance Team visited all consented dairy farms within the catchment in December and excluded these as a source of the high readings. The Freshwater and Science teams are working with Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi to provide an opportunity for cultural observers to attend the monitoring.
Te Mana o te Wai, Nga Puna Rau o Rangitīkei
3.3.3 In 2018 a Restoration Options Report was completed for Lake Oporoa. One recommendation was to reduce the input of organic matter to the lake from poplars in the catchment.
3.3.4 In January 2019 poplar poisoning occurred at Lake Oporoa to be followed up with manuka and lakeside native plantings in winter. Replanting is to ensure that the hillside remains stable and
Annex A works towards aspirations that the iwi and landowners have for the Lake.
3.3.5 Further fencing work is occurring in the Pourewa Catchment with the final aim of undertaking riparian planting along the Pourewa Stream at Rata Marae near Hunterville. Planning is also underway for riparian fencing and planting for two projects on private land along the Stream near Taihape.
3.3.6 A number of projects within the Ngā Puna Rau o Rangitīkei project are to have signage established to highlight the project and also the joint approach to completing the works. An example of one of the signs to be installed in the next two months is below.
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Annex A Figure 2 Image of the project sign for the Hautapu River Restoration project.
3.3.7 The Ngā Puna Rau project will be presented to the Strategy & Policy Committee meeting in March.
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4 Whangaehu Freshwater Improvement Fund 4.1 Activity Overview This programme focuses on the delivery of the Ngā Wai Ora o Te Whangaehu Freshwater Improvement Fund project, which focuses on the protection and enhancement of waterways within the Whangaehu Catchment. The main components of the programme are supporting stock exclusion from waterways, riparian enhancement and planting where desirable, aquatic habitat enhancement and supporting industry and community-led initiatives. 4.2 Targets Table 4. Annual Plan performance measures and assessment against year -end 2018-19 for the Whangaehu FIF project.
Measure Year to date Target % Complete % Allocated
Stream fencing (km) 17 5.3% 122% (20.796) 0.895 Annex A Riparian plants 225 3,333 7% 237% (7,925) Fish barrier remediation 0 2 0% 100 (2)% Community project funded 0 4 0% 150%(6)
4.2.1 A Governance Group meeting was held for the Whangaehu Freshwater Improvement Fund (FIF) project on 17 January 2019 to approve the quarter two report to be submitted to MfE. The report was submitted at the end of January 2019. The next Governance Group meeting is to be held on 17 April 2019.
4.2.2 All community projects that were approved during November 2018 have returned contracts and each project has been assigned a Freshwater Team member to be the Horizons contact. Regular contact will be made to see how projects are progressing. Draft reporting templates for community projects have been prepared and are undergoing reviews prior to being circulated to parties to enable them to fill in as projects are completed. The preparation of a reporting template is to make reporting consistent across projects and to also simplify the requirements for community groups.
4.2.3 While the project is over-allocated at 20.796 km for a 17 km target, work continues to find further stream fencing to ensure the target is met.
4.2.4 Fridge magnets advertising the riparian fencing and planting programme were delivered to 1,141 rural mail boxes in December. This resulted in a small number of enquiries just prior to the Christmas break and we hoped to receive more enquiries after the holiday period.
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Annex A
Figure 3 Fridge magnets delivered to rural delivery addresses in the Manawatū and Whangaehu catchments as part of the Freshwater Improvement Fund projects.
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5 Lake Waipu Freshwater Improvement Fund 5.1 Activity Overview The Lake Waipu Freshwater Improvement Fund project specifically seeks to remove the discharge into the lake from the Rātana Wastewater Treatment Plant. This is to be led by Rangitikei District Council (RDC) as the consent holder and Horizons’ project relates to monitoring the effect of the removal of discharge from the lake and to understand the lake‘s internal processes. The aim is to develop a restoration plan that deals with the legacy issue resulting from the current discharge.
Table 5. Annual Plan performance measures and assessment against year -end 2018-19 for the Lake Horowhenua Accord, including the Freshwater Improvement Fund project.
Measure Year to date Target % Complete
Annual report to Council on the Waipu Catchment Freshwater Improvement Fund 0 1 0 project.
Annex A
5.1.1 A working party meeting scheduled for 22 February 2019 involved a visit to the Feilding WWTP land discharge area. This is to allow working party members to gain an understanding of land application of the discharge and how this might work in the Rātana situation.
5.1.2 Work continues with the Ministry for the Environment in terms of signing off the Deed of Funding for this project. An important note here is that Horizons will be contracted to the MfE for delivery of the project. However, contracting of Horizons should not been seen by parties as removing the need for a normal resource consent process to allow any proposal to be assessed as required by the One Plan and the Resource Management Act 1991. 6 Lake Horowhenua Accord and Lake Horowhenua Freshwater Clean-Up Fund 6.1 Activity Overview The Accord is a partnership between the Lake Horowhenua Trust, Horowhenua Lake Domain Board, Horowhenua District Council, Horizons Regional Council and the Department of Conservation to address water quality issues in Lake Horowhenua. Several Clean-Up Fund projects have an ongoing work component. Horizons also had a role in delivering some of the Te Mana o Te Wai projects which were to be completed by October 2018, and a component of the Freshwater Improvement Fund project which started on 1 July 2018.
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6.2 Targets Table 6 Annual Plan performance measures and assessment against year -end 2018-19 for the Lake Horowhenua Accord, including the Freshwater Improvement Fund project.
Measure Year to date Target % Complete Annual report to Council on lake restoration activity including the Freshwater Improvement Fund project for 1 1 100% Lake Horowhenua.
6.3 Activity Highlights The Lake Horowhenua Accord, Te Mana o Te Wai and FIF project
6.3.1 A comprehensive update on lake restoration activity was provided to Council in September 2018 (Regional Council meeting). This provides the annual report identified in the LTP target. Weed control for purple loosestrife and willows has been undertaken within the sediment trap land. Annex A 6.3.2 A hearing was held in December 2018 in the Levin District Court for the recovery of costs of approximately $130,000 associated with the Environment Court hearing and the costs awarded to Horizons. A second hearing is to be held in April to work towards a payment plan, with the following information to be provided prior to the hearing: The trustees are to obtain a market appraisal of the rental charged for land and of the existing trees on Hōkio A land;
The Trustees are to provide evidence of the expenditure of income earned from the felling of trees on their land; and
The Trustees undertake on a best endeavours basis to review the rental agreements with the occupiers of the Hōkio houses. 6.3.3 Work on the Heritage NZ and Māori Appellate Court process has been on hold while processes related to the election of the Lake Trust have been subject to court processes. The planned Māori Appellate Court hearing for November has been deferred with a tentative date set for May 2019 which may be further delayed. The Lake Trust election was scheduled for February 2019 and would require a decision by the Court. The requirement for elections has delayed the Lake Trust’s input into Heritage NZ and Māori Appellate Court processes. These delays will further delay lake weed harvesting activity for another year with the aim now being for a spring 2020 start to activity. The weed harvesting activity aims to address the generation of cyanobacteria which can close the lake for recreational purposes and also has ecological impacts.
6.3.4 Monitoring of the lake by helicopter recommenced in February 2019 after permissions from the interim Lake Trust were granted. The lake was observed to be in a state of cyanobacterial bloom (Photo 8 and Photo 9), the cyanobacteria bloom was potentially avoidable had the weed harvesting activity been able to proceed last year.
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6.3.5 The lake restoration activity by Horizons is focusing on work with the horticultural sector and drainage and sediment management in the Arawhata Subcatchment. A procurement process is underway to assist with the development of a plan to identify works or actions that will maintain or improve the drainage network effectiveness and water quality outcomes in the catchment.
Annex A
Photo 8 Lake Horowhenua on 18 February 2019 taken from the helicopter; the large white area is clumping of cyanobacteria cells which are breaking down (decomposing) and losing their pigments. This is likely to generate considerable odour.
Photo 9 Algae cells clumping in April 2018, showing what the large floating mat in the above photos comprises.
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7 Freshwater Improvement Work with the Horticultural Sector 7.1 Activity Overview Building on previous work with the Tararua Growers Association as a part of the Freshwater Clean-Up Fund project, Horizons established new funding of $70,000 per year for work with the horticulture sector to reduce nutrient and sediment loss from horticulture farms. This funding will be used in part to contribute to a Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) project future-proofing vegetable production.
The balance of the funding will be prioritised to implementation of work to reduce nutrient and sediment losses from horticultural farms, including establishment of sediment traps etc, similar to the way freshwater grants are paid for fencing and planting of waterways. This funding may be utilised to design the proposed interventions. 7.2 Targets Annex A Table 7 Annual Plan performance measures and assessment against year -end 2018-19 for Freshwater Improvement Work with the horticultural sector.
Measure Year to date Target % Complete Annual report on work with the horticulture sector through the freshwater and partnerships programme to improve 0 1 0% water quality.
7.3 Activity Highlights Future-proofing vegetable production
7.3.1 The Future Proofing Vegetable Production Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) project has continued. A recent update from the project includes:
Milestone two report was submitted to the Ministry for Primary Industry at the end of January 2019. Work completed in this report included:
o Completion of fertiliser calibration assessments to assess the accuracy of equipment used for fertilising plants. Work is to continue with the development of tools for growers to calibrate their own equipment and planning a workshop to demonstrate how this is undertaken;
o Irrigator assessments have commenced in some areas to ensure that excessive irrigation isn’t occurring as this can cause nitrate leaching, or too little irrigation causing yield loss due to moisture stress;
o Work continues on Overseer and its applicability to intensive vegetation production.
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7.3.2 The implementation component of the budget is seeking to complete on-farm works to reduce sediment and nutrient input to waterways. Several jobs have been investigated during the year and some proposed works have not eventuated. Works on one farm are still programmed to occur and some of this funding has been directed to monitoring inside the Arawhata Catchment to assist with targeting of freshwater improvement works. In this initial year of the budget this approach is considered sensible in order to prioritise the expenditure.
Lucy Ferguson FRESHWATER COORDINATOR Scotty Moore FRESHWATER COORDINATOR
Logan Brown FRESHWATER AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Jon Roygard
GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS Annex A
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Report No. 19-26 10Item Information Only - No Decision Required
SCIENCE & INNOVATION PROGRESS REPORT
1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is to introduce Members of Council’s Environment Committee, the Science and Innovation Progress report for the period 1 November 2018 to 31 January 2019.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 19-26 and Annex.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. The Science and Innovation work programme at Horizons is reported on publicly to the Environment Committee regularly throughout the year and also communicated via various forums and methods.
5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 5.1. There is no immediate financial impact associated with this report.
6. SUMMARY General 6.1. With an initial dry start to the summer season, the effects of low rainfall are beginning to be observed throughout many areas of the Region. As at 8 February, nine flow sites were experiencing low flow restrictions of some kind, with six further sites reporting flows approaching restriction levels. The number of sites in restriction is expected to increase over the summer. 6.2. The “Can I swim here” module on LAWA was upgraded in late December. Prior to this upgrade, we were unable to display monitoring data for those sites with permanent warning notifications. Following the upgrade, LAWA now publishes individual data points for all sites, independent of their status. This means that the public now have access to weekly monitoring results for sites such as the Mowhanau Stream, where a permanent warning has been posted. Other improvements allow the user to see the date a Special Status was assigned and the most recent sampling date, in addition to the results. 6.3. The Science & Innovation Team and River Management Team have jointly commissioned an investigation into options to reduce, manage or mitigate the effects of sediment processes in both the Oroua and Lower Manawatū schemes. This is a continuation of work completed last financial year by Horizons, Massey University and Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, including the Ōroua LiDAR analysis and sediment fingerprinting
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Item 10Item projects. The project will utilise those findings, alongside the data from the recently flown LiDAR in the Lower Manawatū and cross-section surveys completed in 2017. An initial field visit was completed in January with data analysis about to get underway. Final delivery of the report is scheduled for later in the financial year. The analysis will further quantify the size of the sedimentation issue for the management of the Oroua and Lower Manawatū Schemes and advise on catchment management and river management interventions to address this. 6.4. Report cards are being prepared for all biodiversity sites that have received Horizons’ management input since the inception of this programme (management level two and above). These report cards will include a short description and map of the site, and where appropriate an outline of management work completed. Site report cards have been compiled for 160 sites, with just over 60 still to be drafted. The proofing and editing of all report cards is planned to be completed within this financial year. 6.5. A report has recently been commissioned to NIWA that will improve our understanding of how climate change could impact on our Region and on the Council’s business. The report aims to provide an overview of the climate change issue, highlight relevant legislation and national direction around the issue, and highlight where the Regional Council’s business is likely to be affected by climate change. A global and national picture will provide further context around drivers of, and response to, climate change and how New Zealand is responding to these. 6.6. The annex attached provides further updates on these and other activity of the Science and Innovation Team over the reporting period.
7. SIGNIFICANCE 7.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Abby Matthews SCIENCE & INNOVATION MANAGER
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES A Science & Innovation Progress Report
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SCIENCE & INNOVATION ACTIVITY 1 Activity Overview Horizons’ Science and Innovation Team oversees delivery of monitoring and research across a broad range of Council activities including Water Quantity and Quality, Land, Biosecurity and Biodiversity, and Annex A Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring. Programmed work for 2018-19, as set out in the Science Operational Plan includes: .Delivery of core monitoring programmes; .Ongoing investigations into regional drinking water security; .Delivery of the national groundwater pesticides survey; .Fluvial surveying of the Pohangina and Whangaehu Rivers; .A review of the biodiversity programme and implementation of recommended changes; .Provision of new data on the Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website; .Research into the impacts of climate change in the Region; .State of Environment (SoE) reporting; and .Development of a science communication strategy.
This activity report covers the reporting period from 1 November 2018 to 31 January 2019.
Performance measures, as set out in the Long-term Plan 2018-28, include the presentation of an annual report on monitoring and research activity, provision of public information via Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) and State of Environment (SoE) reporting, research into climate change and public drinking water security, and the development and implementation of a science communication strategy. An overview of progress against these targets is provided in Table 1 below.
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Table 1 Year-to-date progress against performance measures set out in Horizons’ Long -term Plan 2018-28. Performance Measures for Levels of Target 2018-19 Progress Update Service Water Quantity and Quality Water quantity and water quality Data provided to LAWA as Data has been provided to LAWA and information is made available to the public required is now available on the website. via LAWA (www.lawa.org.nz) and Horizons’ website. Annual report on water quantity and quality Develop an annual reporting An annual report on water quantity monitoring and research activity. framework and produce an and quality activity was developed and annual report presented to Council in August 2018. Land Management
Annual report on the land and fluvial Develop an annual reporting An annual report on land and fluvial monitoring and research activity. framework and produce an activity was developed and presented annual report to Council in August 2018. Biodiversity and Biosecurity
Annex A Annual report on biodiversity monitoring Develop an annual reporting An annual report on biodiversity and research activity. framework and complete an research activity was developed and annual report presented to Council in August 2018. Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring Provide an annual summary report on the Annual reporting framework The State of Environment report is on state of the environment. is developed and a report track for delivery in early 2019. produced Develop and implement a science Strategy and Work is underway to develop this communication strategy. implementation plan strategy. developed Complete drinking water supply research 1 This work is contracted and with a focus on Council-operated drinking progressing to schedule. water supplies and complete an annual report on this to Council. Investigate one aspect of climate change 1 NIWA have been contracted to report impact in the Region and report on this to on the potential impacts of climate Council. change on the Region. Air quality is monitored in Taihape and Completed Monitoring is ongoing and data made Taumarunui and reporting is made available to the public via the Horizons available to the public via LAWA and the and LAWA websites. annual State of Environment report. State of Environment report is due out in 2019. Undertake an annual public education air 1 The 2018 winter radio advertising quality campaign. campaign was completed. Further public information will be made available throughout the reporting year.
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2 Water Quantity and Quality Water is an important resource that provides for the cultural, environmental and economic needs of our Region. The Science and Innovation Team serves the Water Quality and Quantity activity of Horizons’ Annual Plan through a range of science monitoring and research programmes that track changes in the water resource and inform decision-making around water management. 2.1 Water Quantity 2.1.1 With an initial dry start to the summer season, the effects of low rainfall are beginning to be observed throughout many areas of the Region. As at 8 February, nine flow sites were experiencing low flow restrictions of some kind, with six further sites reporting flows approaching
restriction levels. The number of sites in restriction is expected to increase over the summer. Updates are available here: https://bit.ly/2STdd1L
2.1.2 Work continues on the water metering project, with new telemetry installs, inspections of existing sites and repairs on faulty hardware fully occupying the field team. The Consents Monitoring team, in partnership with Science and Innovation, Catchment Data and Information Annex A Management staff, is continuing the process of addressing outstanding water meter installations to ensure all consent holders are meeting their consent monitoring requirements. Scoping and planning around the next steps for telemetry installation for these sites, where required, is underway. 2.2 Water Quality Swim Spots
2.2.1 Weekly monitoring continues until the end of April this year at 83 swim spots across the region. Results can be found on LAWA (https://bit.ly/2RT3hRm) and the Horizons website (https://bit.ly/2ygSciB).
2.2.2 The first half of the swim spot monitoring season (November to January) was successfully completed. Conditions for swimming and other recreational activities have been much improved this summer, with 84% of all sites swimmable at least 75% of the time, based on faecal indicator bacteria concentrations. The few high concentrations measured were related to rain events, with the exception of three small coastal streams in the Whanganui District -- the Mowhanau, Kai Iwi and Ototoka streams. Permanent warning signage was installed at the beginning of the season at these sites and further investigation for contamination sources at the Ototoka Stream are being investigated.
2.2.3 Recent dry weather throughout February 2019 exacerbated the growth of potentially toxic algae (Phormidium) in the Mangatainoka, Mangaore, Ohau and parts of the Oroua River, where alerts are in place. Phytoplankton blooms have been observed in all monitored lakes, with high levels of biotoxin production in some lakes. As conditions in lakes can change quickly the amber alert level
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is active as a precautionary measure, with warning signage erected as directed by MidCentral Public Health Service. 2.3 Biomonitoring 2.3.1 Summer field work is progressing rapidly due to an extended period of settled weather. Macroinvertebrate monitoring is approximately 75% complete (more than 70 of 90 sites sampled at the time of writing), and it was anticipated that this will likely be finished by the end of February, assuming continued settled weather.
2.3.2 Fish monitoring will begin as invertebrate monitoring tails off, with other targeted studies, including examining interactions between invertebrates and cyanobacteria, and helping calibrate
a stream monitoring tool for our Region, also coming on line. 2.4 Catchment Characterisation New Zealand Water Model
Annex A 2.4.1 The New Zealand Water Model (NZWaM), formerly known as the National Hydrological Project, is a computer modelling programme under development by NIWA that will enable predictions of how much freshwater is available, where it has come from, and how quickly it moves through New Zealand catchments. The key aim is to enable prediction of hydrological flow and transport processes from national to sub-catchment scale, i.e. scales which are relevant for the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.
2.4.2 Horizons is assisting in the development of this model by collecting field data that will be used to calibrate the model. Stable isotopes and age tracers are being collected on a monthly basis from water quality monitoring sites within the Porewa catchment, in addition to stable isotopes from rainfall in the north and south of the catchment. These will be used to estimate the ‘young water fraction’ of water moving through the catchment, thereby providing an estimate of water transit times to be used in the model. The collection of these tracers continues. 2.5 Lakes Research Lakes Stocktake and Prioritisation
2.5.1 Data has been compiled to rank over 200 natural lakes within Horizons’ Region. The lakes are ranked on an ecological value score and a pressure score. The ecological value is calculated using information on biodiversity within each lake and water quality assessment. The pressure score is calculated on information about the surrounding land use and potential threats to each lake. Initial results show that the majority of lakes in the Region have moderate (or worse) pressure scores.
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2.5.2 A prioritisation report has been drafted and is being finalised. This work has highlighted significant gaps in the knowledge around lakes in the Region, and will provide guidance for the future focus and direction of our lakes monitoring and research programme.
2.5.3 A paper on the Region’s lakes will be presented to the Strategy and Policy Committee in March 2019. 2.6 Drinking Water 2.6.1 With additional funding for research into the management of drinking water supplies committed through Horizons’ Long-term Plan 2018-28, we initiated a work programme for 2018-19 that will provide:
.An assessment of water ‘contribution zones’ for large public water sources in the Region, to identify possible sources of contamination; .Inspections of groundwater bores to assess wellhead security; and .An updated summary report of current compliance, including any work undertaken by
Territorial Authorities (TAs) since the inception of the project in 2017. Annex A 2.6.2 Territtorial Authorities across the Region are also funding and involved in this work.
2.6.3 An initial workshop with City and District Council asset managers was held in June 2018. Data required for the development of source protection zones has now been delivered and we are working with asset management teams to provide further data relating to the drinking water supplies. Field inspections of bores was to begin by December 2018 with Horizons and its contractors working with TAs to deliver this programme. Richard Templer (Manawatū District Council) is acting as Project Sponsor on behalf of the Region’s district and city councils.
3 Land Land Activity covers both the Land Management and Fluvial programmes and provides technical support to Horizons’ main land-based initiatives: our Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) and River Management programme. Land Activity also informs One Plan implementation and policy development for both wastewater and nutrient management. 3.1 Fluvial Survey 3.1.1 Cross-section surveys of the Pohangina and Whangaehu Rivers have been underway since September 2018 and the Survey Team is making good progress. We are awaiting suitable flow conditions for boat access to the Whangaehu River. Further work in the Ōhau River (Horowhenua) and establishing survey control for the Kawhatau River (Rangitīkei) has been completed. If time and budget allow, a start will also be made on surveying southeast Ruahine catchments.
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3.2 Sediment Transport Research 3.2.1 A contract to investigate options to reduce, manage or mitigate the effects of sediment processes in both the Oroua and Lower Manawatū schemes has recently been awarded to Tonkin and Taylor (T&T). This is a continuation of work completed last financial year by Massey University and Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, including the Ōroua LiDAR analysis and sediment fingerprinting projects. T&T will utilise those findings, alongside the data from the recently flown LiDAR in the Lower Manawatū and cross-section surveys completed in 2017. An initial field visit was completed in January with data analysis about to get underway. Final delivery of the report is scheduled for later in the financial year.
3.2.2 A proposal for a five-year Smarter Targeting of Erosion Control research programme, led by
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, received funding from MBIE. Staff attended a two-day strategy and planning workshop in November 2018 to assist with development of this important work programme. Both the Manawatū and Whanganui catchments are key focus areas, in part due to the high quality of Horizons’ sediment and water quality monitoring network. In addition
Annex A to Horizons, programme partners include local iwi, industry groups, NIWA, Massey University and other regional councils.
4 Biosecurity and Biodiversity Biosecurity and biodiversity management are core functions of Horizons that add significantly to the environmental, economic, social and cultural prosperity of the Region, by enhancing the quality of indigenous ecosystems and reducing the impacts of pest plants and animals.
The work programme for 2018-19 includes the completion of the review of the Priority Sites (Bush Remnants and Wetlands) monitoring programme, including a stocktake of all managed sites along with implementation of the Singers and Rogers ecosystem classification. 4.1 Priority Sites 4.1.1 Site report cards are being prepared for all sites that have received Horizons management input since the inception of this programme (management level two and above). These report cards will include a short description and map of the site, and where appropriate an outline of management work completed.
4.1.2 Site report cards have been compiled for 160 sites, with just over 60 still to be drafted. The proofing and editing of all report cards is planned to be completed within this financial year. 4.2 Totara Reserve Bird Monitoring 4.2.1 The second year of bird monitoring was completed at Totara Reserve prior to Christmas. About 19 indigenous and 17 introduced species were recorded in 2018 and counts will be repeated in 2019 with a full analysis of results completed. This will conclude the current bird monitoring
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programme for Totara Reserve. Bird monitoring will be re-evaluated as part of our broader biodiversity monitoring and research programme next financial year.
5 Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring Effective management of the Region’s natural resources depends on accurate and timely information about the environment and its health, along with ready access to this information and having it packaged in a way that is understandable for the intended audience.
During 2018-19 our focus is on the continued delivery of data to the LAWA website; responding to public enquiries and general requests for monitoring data and information; and supporting national work
programmes including development and implementation of the National Environmental Monitoring Standards (NEMS). We will also be producing a science communication strategy, and developing a framework for annual SoE reporting, following the release of our next SoE report early in 2019.
The air quality monitoring programme will continue to monitor and report on the Taihape and Taumarunui airsheds, which are designated under the National Environmental Standard for Air Quality (NES-AQ). Annex A 5.1 Air Quality 5.1.1 The NES-AQ require that council’s to monitor and report exceedances of the short–term World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline values for outdoor air quality. Monitoring of air quality is undertaken by Horizons in two designated airsheds: Taihape and Taumarunui. Data collected during the last 12-month period at Taihape and Taumarunui are presented below. The graphs are from Horizons’ AirQuality Matters website and comprise telemetered ‘raw’ data.
Taihape
5.1.2 The daily mean PM10 concentrations recorded at Taihape are shown in Figure 1 below. While the plot shows compliance with the NES-AQ for the 2018 calendar year some elevated concentrations in December 2018 and a couple of exceedances in January 2019 are being investigated. The early indication is that the exceedances are due to a combination of instrument error and isolated burning in close proximity to the Beta Attenuation Recorder (BAM).
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Figure 1 Air quality monitoring for particulate matter at Taihape from February 2018 to 1 February 2019, reported as a 24-hour average (µg/m 3)
Taumarunui
Annex A 5.1.3 The Taumarunui recording site was moved in late January 2018 from the Baptist Friendship Centre at 250 Taupo Road to the Horizons Service Centre, to eliminate issues encountered with
regular power supply to the BAM unit. Figure 2 shows the daily mean PM10 concentrations recorded at Taumarunui and compliance with the NES-AQ for the 2018 year.
Figure 2 Air quality monitoring for particulate matter at Taumarunui from February 2018 to 1 February 2019, reported as a 24-hour average (µg/m 3).
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5.2 Climate Change 5.2.1 A report has recently been commissioned to NIWA that will improve our understanding of how climate change could impact on our Region and on the Council’s business. This report will dovetail with the climate resilience strategy currently in development and help prioritise future work programmes and research areas undertaken by the Science and Innovation team alongside other teams such as Land and River Management. It is due to be completed by 30 June 2019.
5.2.2 The report aims to provide an overview of the climate change issue, highlight relevant legislation and national direction around the issue, and highlight where the Regional Council’s business is likely to be affected by climate change. A global and national picture will provide further context around drivers of, and response to, climate change and how New Zealand is responding to these.
5.3 State of Environment Report 5.3.1 Content for the State of Environment 2018 report has been produced for Climate, Air, Land (including biodiversity, biosecurity, productive land and fluvial research) and Water. Our
Communications staff and local design team are working with our scientists to finalise the full Annex A report prior to its launch in May 2019. 5.4 LAWA 5.4.1 Horizons provides science support for the continued evolution of the LAWA website (www.lawa.org.nz) a regional council-driven initiative to present data and information about New Zealand’s environment and natural resources.
5.4.2 The “Can I swim here” module on LAWA was upgraded in late December. Prior to this upgrade, we were unable to display monitoring data for those sites with permanent warning notifications. Following the upgrade, LAWA now publishes individual data points for all sites, independent of their status. This means that the public now have access to weekly monitoring results for sites such as the Mowhanau Stream, where a permanent warning has been posted. Other improvements allow the user to see the date a Special Status was assigned and the most recent sampling date, in addition to the results.
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Annex A
Figure 3 A Special Status issued for the Mowhanau Stream at Footbridge on the LAWA website highlights that the site has known risk factors due to discharges or consistently poor water quality.
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Annex A
Figure 4 E. coli (left) and Potentially Toxic Algae (right) sampling results for the Mowhanau Stream November 2018 – February 2019 are now able to be viewed on the LAWA website when a Special Status is in place.
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5.5 Activity Progress Report Key Deliverable Progress to Date . Water Quality and Quantity .Deliver core monitoring programmes for .Monitoring programmes are progressing as scheduled; groundwater water quantity and quality, and pesticides sampling is complete and results will be reported in 2019. biomonitoring .Another round-lake SPI monitoring has been completed by NIWA. The report is due to be completed in May. .Freshwater macroinvertebrate monitoring is underway and progressing well due to settled weather. Fish and research monitoring to come on line as macroinvertebrate monitoring tails off. .Review groundwater allocation limits .A contract has been let to PDP Ltd to review Horizons’ groundwater allocation limits. Data has been provided to PDP to begin this review. .Provide support to One Plan review and ‘Our .Staff are providing technical support to Horizons’ Regulatory Group and Freshwater Future’, including catchment supporting the scoping and development of ‘Our Freshwater Future’. accounting .Information has been provided to the Policy Team on the water quality outcomes of Proposed Plan Change 2 (PPC2) for the Upper Manawatū Catchment. .Report on Horizons’ regional swimmability .A paper outlining the targets was presented to Council’s Strategy and
Annex A targets Policy Committee on 13 November 2018. .Prioritise our lake monitoring programme .A draft prioritisation of the Region’s lakes has been completed. This will be compared to the Zonation analysis completed for the Regions biodiversity sites to further refine results. .Complete estuary habitat mapping of .Estuary habitat mapping was completed in January 2018 with reporting Manawatū, Whanganui, Waikawa, Hōkio and due later in the financial year. Kai Iwi Estuaries, and sedimentation monitoring of Whangaehu Estuary Land Management .Complete fluvial surveys of the Pohangina .Surveying has been underway since October 2018 and the Pohangina and Whangaehu Catchments survey is now complete. The Whangaehu survey is in progress .Investigate contamination of Bulls public .Investigations into Bulls water supply are close to completion. Staff water supply by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl continue to provide technical input and support to the All of Government (PFAS) primarily arising from the use of fire- working group and other local investigations such as Ohakea and fighting foam. Palmerston North Airport. .Advance and report on sediment transport .The Lower Manawatū sedimentation study contract has been awarded to investigations in the Oroua Catchment Tonkin & Taylor Limited and is underway. This study incorporates the Oroua work completed in 2017-18 and will look at mitigation and/or remediation options for sedimentation in the Manawatu catchment. .Support research into the management of .A range of investigations are underway including the ‘Future Proofing nutrients in the Region Vegetable Production’ project led by LandWISE and the PhD programme with Massey University. Biosecurity and Biodiversity .Deliver core monitoring programmes for .A review of monitoring for wetlands and forest fragments was initiated in priority sites (wetlands and forest fragments) September 2018. .Science is working alongside the Biodiversity Team to complete this .Complete a stocktake of all managed sites stocktake. .Complete Potential Ecosystem Mapping .Mapping is now complete. .Zonation modelling for representativeness .A draft prioritisation has been completed, with a workshop scheduled for and site prioritisation internal staff and Department of Conservation staff in mid-February.
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Key Deliverable Progress to Date Environmental Reporting and Air Quality Monitoring .Deliver core monitoring programme for air .Monitoring is ongoing. quality .NIWA has been commissioned to complete a report that will increase our .Investigate climate change impacts on the understanding of the impact of climate change on our Region and on the Region. Council’s business. .Delineate drinking water protection zones and inspect groundwater bore supply .This work is underway. infrastructure .State of Environment reporting is underway and is due to be published in .Report on the State of Environment and early 2019. This will inform the development of a framework for future develop a framework for annual reporting reporting.
.Ensure environmental data is made available .Data will be made available to the public as per the LAWA reporting to the public via the LAWA website schedule. .Undertake an annual public education .The winter 2018 radio advertising public campaign was completed; campaign on air quality planning for 2019 will be undertaken in due course. .Produce an annual activity report for Science .An annual activity report was provided to Council in August 2018. and Innovation Annex A
Lizzie Daly SCIENTIST - ECOLOGY Staci Boyte SCIENTIST - LAND Harold Barnett ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST Janine Kamke SCIENTIST – WATER QUALITY Mike Patterson SCIENTIST - FRESHWATER Stephen Collins SCIENTIST - GROUNDWATER Maree Patterson SENIOR SCIENTIST – WATER QUALITY Raelene Mercer SENIOR SCIENTIST – WATER QUANTITY Abby Matthews SCIENCE AND INNOVATION MANAGER Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS
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Report No. 19-27 11Item Information Only - No Decision Required
REGULATORY MANAGEMENT REPORT - DECEMBER 2018 TO JANUARY 2019
1. PURPOSE 1.1. This report updates Members on regulatory activity, for the period December 2018 to January 2019. This report updates members on significant issues and focuses on Council’s investigations programme.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 19-27.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. We are still anticipating that there will be significant costs associated with processing large and complex applications, which may in turn be subject to appeal. Also, on-going investigations and prosecutions within the compliance monitoring programme, coupled with an increase in environmental incidents being received, are likely to have an impact on both expenditure and revenue within this programme. Regular updates will be provided to the Audit and Risk Committee throughout the year.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. This is a public item and therefore Council may deem this sufficient to inform the public.
5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 5.1. There is no significant business risk associated with this item.
6. OVERVIEW 6.1. In relation to the major applications, the following provides a summary of their current status: i. The Department of Conservation (DOC) Whakapapa Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) applications have been notified. DOC have been providing regular updates and are near to a position to confirm their final design and application. Once this is confirmed, the consent will continue to proceed through the consenting process. The application is significant for iwi given the cultural importance of the location in Tongariro National Park. ii. The final decision and consent conditions for the Foxton WWTP were released by the Environment Court in February. The decision is to grant the respective resource consents for 31 years (with the exception of the discharge to the Foxton Loop, which is for three years). iii. Re-consenting of Pahiatua wastewater treatment plant remains the subject of a mediation process. This process is confidential to the parties involved. iv. The hearing for the Eketāhuna WWTP occurred on 27 November and was closed on 11 February 2019. We are currently awaiting a decision from the commissioners.
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v. An application for re-consenting the Woodville WWTP was received in August 2018. The application has been notified with submissions closing on 19 March 2019. vi. The Tokomaru WWTP is now onto its second iteration of draft conditions, which are Item 11Item now with the Horowhenua District Council (HDC) for review. vii. The appeal relating to the AFFCO Feilding operation has now been resolved. viii. Further information requested of HDC application, relating to the discharge of stormwater into the Koputaroa Stream catchment, has been received. However, information relating to water quality effects, erosion and flooding effects has not been fully addressed and HDC is undertaking further investigation in this area and also further consultation with affected parties. It is expected that HDC will be provide the outstanding information and outcomes of consultation by May this year. After this the next step in the process is to determine whether the applications need to be notified in accordance with section 95 of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). ix. HDC has lodged a consent application for the operation of the Levin WWTP discharges (commonly known as ‘The Pot’). The application has been notified at the request of HDC, with the submission period been extended until 5 April 2019. x. HDC lodged a resource consent application prior to Christmas seeking to authorise the discharge of stormwater from the Levin township into Lake Horowhenua for a period of five years. Further information has been requested and HDC has requested time to consult with the relevant parties. xi. HDC is preparing a consent application, seeking to discharge stormwater from the Foxton Township to the Manawatū River.
6.2. The Manawatu Gorge replacement project “Te Ahu a Turanga” is progressing. 6.2.1. At present, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) have lodged a Notice of Requirement (NOR) with PNCC, MDC and Tararua District Councils, which has been publically notified, with a hearing scheduled to commence in late March. 6.2.2. Horizons staff have been meeting with NZTA experts in relation to various technical matters that will impact on the regional consenting process, including discussions around baseline aquatic monitoring protocols. At this stage, NZTA are anticipating lodging the main resource consents with Horizons in July next year. 6.2.3. To date, Horizons has received one ‘enabling’ consent application in relation to geo- technical investigations in the Manawatu River. NZTA have indicated that further enabling consent applications are likely to be lodged in the near future. 6.2.4. As previously reported, officers have also been considering the regulatory demands that such a major civil construction project will have on its business. These lie in three main areas: the large numbers of consent variations that need to be managed and processed following the main consenting process; large volumes of management reports and compliance inspections required to enable works to occur or follow up on consent conditions; and a significant administration process to manage large volumes of data and information. Officers expect to bring Council a view on resource demands for the “Te Ahu a Turanga” project during the first quarter of 2019.
7. COMPLIANCE PROGRAMME The intention of this section is to focus on one key part of the regulatory business and provide an overview of the compliance programme for the reporting period. The focus for this report is to provide a summary of the Investigations programme.
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Investigations Programme 11Item 7.1.1. The Investigations Programme essentially covers the high level enforcement action that Horizons undertake, particularly in relation to prosecution and enforcement order proceedings. These investigations have, in the past, covered a wide range of matters including farm dairy effluent, large scale commercial dumping and discharges from commercial operators. Figures 1-4 show examples of some of the activities that have been subject to investigation.
Figure 2. Illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste
Figure 1. RAL pump failure at Whakapapa.
Figure 3. Search Warrant on residential dwelling in relation to illegal asbestos dumping. Figure 4. Deliberate discharge into the Manawatu River.
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7.1.2. In determining what action to take in relation to a non-compliance with a consent, rule, national environmental standard, or regulation, Horizons follows the general principles outlined in its decision making guideline (attached as Annex A). Item 11Item 7.1.3. In general, these principles include proportionality, fairness and impartiality, transparency, consistency and timeliness. The factors that are considered in determining what action to take include the magnitude (or seriousness) of adverse effects, the nature of the receiving environment, the conduct of the offender and the level of deterrence required. When determining whether to proceed to prosecution, Horizons also considers the evidential and public interest tests detailed in the Solicitor General Guidelines. 7.1.4. Investigations can be complex, time consuming and in the case of prosecutions, must result in charges being laid in the Court within 6 months of the offending occurring, or Horizons being aware of the offending occurring. In the event of complex investigations, the latter can place pressure on resources to ensure this statutory timeframe is met. 7.1.5. Another complexity in relation to investigations is that as the investigation progresses, multiple persons of interest can be identified. This in turn requires staff to ascertain whether these persons of interest have any culpability in relation to the offending. 7.1.6. Undertaking investigations requires specific sets of expertise in relation to evidence gathering, which can include obtaining and managing exhibits, undertaking both witness and offender interviews, drafting and executing search warrants and production orders. Additionally, staff need to be aware of the relevant statutory requirements, including the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 and Evidence Act 2006. This is necessary to ensure that any evidence obtained is admissible and can be used in court. 7.1.7. As a consequence of investigations, Horizons at times does have to execute search warrants and production orders. The former provides officers lawful entry onto property and into buildings (including dwellings), to search for and seize evidence of offending. The execution of a search warrant is done by a Horizons enforcement officer, accompanied by a police constable. The latter is a court order served on a person requiring them to provide certain documentation to Horizons as part of an investigation. 7.1.8. In the event that Horizons determines that prosecution is warranted, this involves laying charges in the District Court. Given the maximum penalties under the RMA, these charges are criminal in nature, meaning that if found guilty of an offence, a person may have a criminal conviction in addition to any penalty the court imposes. 7.1.9. Once charges are laid, defendants can elect to plead guilty or not guilty. If the latter is elected, then defendants can choose to either have the case heard by a judge sitting alone, or before a jury. Recent experience of two defended hearings has demonstrated that these proceedings also absorb a significant amount of staff time in both preparation for and attending these defended hearings. 7.1.10. In the event a matter proceeds to sentencing, the court typically imposes a fine on defendant(s). The RMA specifies that 90% of any fine imposed by the Court is paid the Council. This, to a certain extent, is in the line with the Polluter Pays Principle, which results in the costs of investigation and any remedial works undertaken by Horizons being borne by the offender as opposed to the rate payer. In some instances, the fine can be used to assist with environmental projects within the catchment impacted by the offending. This has occurred in relation to the Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL) prosecution, and what is planned as a result of the recent Whanganui District Council (WDC) prosecution.
8. COMPLIANCE AND NON-COMPLIANCE 8.1. During the reporting period there were 53 compliance monitoring assessments. Of these, four non-compliances and six significant non-compliances were detected. This equates to a 68% compliance rate across the entire programme for the reporting period.
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8.2. Below is a breakdown of the non-compliances by consent area, for the reporting period: 11Item Industry: Two non-compliance and three significant non-compliances; and Rural: Two non-compliance and three significant non-compliances. 8.3. The number of scheduled compliance assessments completed is behind what is anticipated. The reasons for this include an increase in the number of incidents received since 1 July, the time taken to investigate three significant compliance matters. 8.4. Horizons currently has four prosecutions before the District Court, including two sentencings. There are also three significant investigations underway. Table 1 provides a summary of where three prosecutions are at in the Court. It’s important to note that one prosecution has yet to have its first court appearance. Therefore, the details of this matter cannot at this stage be made public and have been excluded from Table 1.
Table 1. Prosecution Summary.
Defendant Summary Fyfe Williamson Guilty plea entered PGG Wrightson and Carfields Guilty plea entered Pacific Farms Development Limited Guilty plea entered, remediation package being discussed
9. INCIDENTS Over the reporting period, a total of 280 complaints were received. For this reporting period, the majority of these complaints (198) related to discharges to air. The remainder of the complaints related to discharges to land (31) and water (51). 9.1. All complaints are categorised and responded to accordingly. A response can include an immediate or planned inspection, a phone call, or being referred to another agency such as a Territorial Authority or Civil Aviation.
10. REGULATORY ACTION 10.1. During the reporting period 11 abatement and 10 infringement notices were issued. Table 2 below provides a summary of the formal regulatory action taken during the reporting period. Table 2. Regulatory action taken during reporting period.
Person Regulatory District Date Section of Actions Action Taken Issued RMA Contravened Rangitikei Infringement Rangitikei 4-Dec-18 9(2) Unauthorised use of land District Council Notice Rangitikei Infringement Rangitikei 4-Dec-18 15(1)(b) Discharge of District Council Notice contaminants (sediment) to land where it may enter water. Phillip Pearson Infringement Manawatu 3-Dec-18 15(2A) Burning Prohibited Notice Materials Philip Harvey Infringement Manawatu 21-Dec-18 15(1)(b) Illegal land disturbance PIRIE Notice resulting in a discharge of sediment to land where it may enter water.
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Philip Harvey Infringement Manawatu 21-Dec-18 9(2) Permitting illegal land PIRIE Notice disturbance. Dan Rush Infringement Manawatu 30-Jan-19 15 (2) (a) Objectionable smoke Item 11Item Notice beyond the property boundary Kakariki Infringement Horowhenua 28-Jan-19 s15(1)(c ) discharge within 20 Proteins Ltd Notice metres of a property boundary Kakariki Infringement Horowhenua 28-Jan-19 s338(1)(c ) Failure to comply with Proteins Ltd Notice Abatement Notice Kakariki Infringement Horowhenua 28-Jan-19 s15(1)(c ) discharge of objectionable Proteins Ltd Notice odour beyond the property boundary from an industrial or trade premise Precious Infringement Wanganui 31-Jan-19 s15(1)(a) Discharge industrial Petfood Limited Notice waste water into water Phillip Pearson Abatement Manawatu 3-Dec-18 15(2A) Burning Prohibited Notice materials - Cease Phillip Pearson Abatement Manawatu 3-Dec-18 15(2A) Burning Prohibited Notice materials - Remove LA Landscapes Abatement Manawatu 21-Dec-18 15(1)(c ) Cease the burning Notice prohibited material and resultant discharge to land LA Landscapes Abatement Manawatu 8-Jan-19 15(1)(d) Cease the discharge to Notice land of unauthorised materials Waugh Abatement Manawatu 16-Jan-19 9(2) Cease unlawful discharge Commercial Notice Enterprises Ltd Waugh Abatement Manawatu 16-Jan-19 9(2) Undertaking in relation to Commercial Notice unconsented earthworks. Enterprises Ltd George and Abatement Manawatu 25-Jan-19 15 2(a) Objectionable smoke Ellen Bartlett Notice beyond the property boundary Kakariki Abatement Horowhenua 24-Jan-19 15(1)(c ) Objectionable odour Proteins Limited Notice beyond property boundary, discharge within 20 metres of public road and property boundary NZTA Abatement Whanganui 24-Jan-19 9(2) Cease use of land without Notice consent. NZTA Abatement Whanganui 24-Jan-19 15(1)(b) Stabilise earthworks to Notice NZTA guidelines.
11. RURAL ADVICE 11.1. During the reporting period the team has continued to provide pre-consenting advice to farmers, with advice being sought on discharge consents, catchment boundaries and advice in relation to nutrient management and farm sales and subdivisions. 11.2. A new member of the Rural Advice team has commenced their role and is coming up to speed. They will be developing a particular focus on advice and engagement with the horticultural sector.
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11.3. The team is also making a contribution to the planned nutrient management framework 11Item changes to the One Plan, and will have a particularly strong role in communicating with our stakeholders as these proposals progress.
12. SIGNIFICANCE 12.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Greg Bevin Nic Peet REGULATORY MANAGER GROUP MANAGER STRATEGY & REGULATION
ANNEXES A HRC Enforcement Guideline
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Environment Committee 13 March 2019
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Annex A
Regulatory Management Report - December 2018 to January 2019 Page 124
Environment Committee 13 March 2019
Report No. 19-28 12Item Information Only - No Decision Required
MANAWATU DISTRICT COUNCIL - WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
1. PRESENTATION 1.1 Hamish Waugh will make a presentation to the Environment Committee on the Manawatu District Council Feilding Wastewater Treatment Plant.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the presentation from Hamish Waugh, Manawatu District Council.
3. SIGNIFICANCE 3.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Nic Peet GROUP MANAGER STRATEGY & REGULATION
ANNEXES There are no attachments for this report.
Manawatu District Council - Wastewater Treatment Plant Page 125