I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Catchment Operations Committee will be held on:
Date: Wednesday, 15 June 2016 Time: 9.00am Venue: Tararua Room Horizons Regional Council 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North
CATCHMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
AGENDA
MEMBERSHIP
Chair Cr MC Guy Deputy Chair Cr JJ Barrow Councillors Cr LR Burnell, QSM Cr DB Cotton Cr EB Gordon (ex officio) Cr RJ Keedwell Cr PJ Kelly JP Cr GM McKellar Cr DR Pearce 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 & Hammond Street 34 Maata Street Cnr Vogel (SH2) & Tay Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Rds, Sts Palmerston North
REGIONAL Palmerston North Wanganui HOUSES 11-15 Victoria Avenue 181 Guyton Street
DEPOTS Levin Taihape 11 Bruce Road Torere Road Ohotu
POSTAL Horizons Regional Council, Private Bag 11025, Manawatu Mail Centre, Palmerston North 4442 ADDRESS FAX 06 9522 929
Catchment Operations Committee 15 June 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Apologies and Leave of Absence 5
2 Public Speaking Rights 5
3 Supplementary Items 5
4 Members’ Conflict of Interest 5
5 Confirmation of Minutes Catchment Operations Committee meeting, 13 April 2016 7
6 Introduction of a Charging Regime for Whole Farm Plans Report No: 16-120 17 Annex A - Paper presented to 16 February Catchment Operations Committee Meeting 19
7 River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02) Report No: 16-121 29 Annex A - Schedule of Completed Works 1 April - 31 May 2016 60
8 Issues Arising from Annual Ratepayer Meetings April/May 2016 (PRD 05 00) Report No: 16-122 73 Annex A - Issues Arising Table 2016 75
9 Makino Gate Operation (PRD 05 13) Report No: 16-123 85
10 Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) Report No: 16-124 89 Annex A - SLUI Target Parcels 98 Annex B - SLUI Overview and Plan Progress 99 Annex C - SLUI Mapped Priority Land 100 Annex D - SLUI Works Tracking 101
11 Whanganui Catchment Strategy Report No: 16-125 103
12 Regional Coast and Land Report No: 16-126 107
13 Members’ Questions
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AGENDA
1 Apologies and Leave of Absence At the close of the Agenda no apologies had been received.
2 Public Speaking Rights Notification to speak is required by 4pm on the working day prior to the meeting. Further information is available on www.horizons.govt.nz\Council\ or by phoning 0508 800 800.
Petitions/Deputations Deputations: Written notice (fewer than 150 words) concerning the nature of the deputation must be lodged with the Chief Executive at least 2 working days before the date of the meeting and subsequently approved by the Chairperson. Petitions: Written notice to the Chief Executive is required at least 2 working days before the date of the meeting.
Further information is available on www.horizons.govt.nz\Council\ or by phoning 0508 800 800.
3 Supplementary Items To consider, and if thought fit, to pass a resolution to permit the Committee/Council to consider any further items relating to items following below which do not appear on the Order Paper of this meeting and/or the meeting to be held with the public excluded. Such resolution is required to be made pursuant to Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended), and the Chairperson must advise: (i) The reason why the item was not on the Order Paper, and (ii) The reason why the discussion of this item cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.
4 Members’ Conflict of Interest Members are reminded of their obligation to declare any conflicts of interest they might have in respect of the items on this Agenda.
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Minutes of the fourteenth meeting of the ninth triennium of the Catchment Operations Committee held at 9.00am on Wednesday 13 April 2016, in the Tararua Room, Horizons Regional Council, 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North.
PRESENT Crs MC Guy (Chair), JJ Barrow, LR Burnell QSM, DB Cotton, EB Gordon (ex officio) (to 9.36am and from 9.48am), RJ Keedwell, PJ Kelly JP, GM McKellar, DR Pearce, PW Rieger QSO JP, and CI Sheldon IN ATTENDANCE Chief Executive Mr M McCartney Group Manager River Management Mr R Strong Committee Secretary Ms M Boekman ALSO PRESENT At various times during the meeting: Mrs S Craig (Acting Group Manager Corporate & Governance, Mr C Grant (Acting Group Manager Natural Resources and Partnerships Group), Mr G Cooper (Environmental Manager-Land), Mr M Todd (Environmental Monitoring Coordinator), Mr J Foxall (Area Engineer-Southern), Mr J Bell (Design Engineer), Mr J Jamieson (Environmental Programme Coordinator), Mrs C Hesselin (Communications Advisor), and a member of the press.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
APOLOGIES
COP 16-140 Moved Rieger/Rollinson That the Committee receives an apology from Cr Rollinson. CARRIED
PUBLIC SPEAKING RIGHTS There were no requests for public speaking rights.
SUPPLEMENTARY ITEMS The Chairman advised that further information in support of the Sustainable Land Use Initiative would be distributed later in the meeting.
MEMBERS’ CONFLICTS OF INTEREST There were no conflicts of interest declared.
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CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES COP 16-141 Moved Kelly/Sheldon That the Committee: confirms the minutes of the Catchment Operations Committee meeting held on 16 February 2016 as a correct record, and notes that the recommendations were adopted by the Council on 23 February 2016. CARRIED
Matters Arising The Chairman referred to recommendation COP 16-132 (c) in which staff had been requested to further consider options for addressing the apparent special case of the Rangitikei scheme. Mr Strong (Group Manager River Management) reported that although the subject had been discussed at the Rangitikei Catchment Community Meeting, no further progress had been made.
RIVER AND DRAINAGE ENGINEERING REPORT (PRD 01 02) Report No 16-60 The purpose of this item was to report on progress with river and drainage activities for the period 1 February 2016 to 31 March 2016. The Chairman guided Members through the report page by page and Mr Strong (Group Manager River Management) provided further clarification on the various activities and projects contained in the report. In response to a query around contractor health and safety requirements, the Chief Executive noted the workshops being held with contractors to outline Horizon's expectations and legislation regarding health and safety. Mr Strong updated Members on progress with claims submitted to the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM). Mr Strong hoped to have a response from MCDEM in the next few weeks. In response to a query Mr Strong explained the meaning and purpose of Flood Loss Curves. He noted that the points could often be quite scattered and the more scattered they were the more limiting the curve was. Mr Strong then spoke to a powerpoint presentation about the Flood Protection Systems Performance Tool which was trialled on 33 km of the Lower Manawatu Scheme (LMS) stopbanking. Mr Strong then responded to Members’ questions of clarification. In response to a query around funding for the erosion repair works in the Ashhurst Domain area, an area just upstream of the LMS boundary, Mr Strong commented on the alignment risk to that reach of the River, and the potential for consequential damage within the Scheme further downstream of the Ashhurst Road Bridge. The Chief Executive also commented on the liaison between staff and Palmerston North City Council in regard to support with intervention actions. He noted that the Ashhurst Domain was a highly valuable recreation site. Mr Strong continued with his report, responding to Members’ questions and providing clarification on various issues which included the supply of rock and the benefits of having rock reserves. The Chairman noted his appreciation of the information provided at paragraph 8.65 “Lower Manawatu Scheme Rural Upgrade Project” which showed project works and commentary on present project status.
Cr Gordon left the meeting at 9.36am
There was discussion and comment around the Giant Willow Aphid effecting young willows along
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the Rangitikei River. A trial spraying of field nursery sites was underway to gauge the effectiveness of controlling the pest.
Cr Gordon returned to the meeting at 9.48am
There was full discussion and comment around the Catchment Community Meetings held throughout March. In referring to paragraph 9.37, Cr Burnell noted that the new format was not supported by those in attendance at the Whangaehu Mangawhero River Management Scheme Catchment Community Meeting. Mr Strong agreed and that this was an editing error. Discussion and comment also included the role of newsletters, different forms of social media, and its overall effect on the number of attendees. COP 16-142 Moved Barrow/McKellar That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-60 and annexure. CARRIED
PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENTS REPORTS (PRD 04 00) Report No 16-61 This item reported on a Health and Safety Audit of Horizons pump stations and sought approval to undertake the recommended actions to address the issues identified. Mr Strong (Group Manager River Management) spoke to a powerpoint presentation highlighting some of the hazards and potential health and safety issues identified at pump station sites. Mr Strong and Mr Foxall (Area Engineer-Southern) responded to Members questions. The Chief Executive explained the approach taken to deal with identified hazards ranked as high risk sites and the corresponding costs to address the works required. There was further discussion and clarity sought about the actions required to either eliminate, or minimise, the risk associated with medium, and low risk sites. COP 16-143 Moved Burnell/Rieger That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-61 and Annex. b. endorses that all hazard mitigation works in the high risk areas be completed by31 December 2016; and c. notes that the issues identified in the medium risk category are either addressed as part of a future renewal / replacement plan or programmed for completion over the next five years. CARRIED
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SOUTH EASTERN RUAHINE SCHEME - GRAVEL REPORT (PRD 05 29) Report No 16-62 This item informed the Committee about the findings of a study of the gravel resource of the South Eastern Ruahine Streams and Rivers. Members considered the report. There was discussion regarding the use of natives as opposed to exotics as part of the revegetation of riparian margins. COP 16-144 Moved Burnell/Sheldon That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-62. CARRIED
WHANGANUI FLOOD MANAGEMENT REVIEW GROUP UPDATE (PRD 05 34) Report No 16-63 This item updated the Committee on progress being made with the investigation of the many flooding issues in Whanganui, as identified during the extreme rainfall event of 19-20 June 2015. The Chief Executive noted that Mr Cook would be working with Horizons Regional Council on a casual basis, and noted the value of his institutional knowledge and experience. There was discussion around the work that Massey University undertook to identify historic floods, the Matarawa Scheme, and the Awarua Stream. COP 16-145 Moved Cotton/Pearce That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-63 and Annex. b. notes the intention to propose an extension to the Matarawa Flood Control Scheme, to include clearance and maintenance of the Matarawa Stream through Wanganui East, through Horizons Regional Council’s 2017-18 Draft Annual Plan. CARRIED
MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS Cr Barrow expressed concern over the growth of Crack Willow in the South East Ruahine tributary of the Manawatu River.
The Chairman reminded Members about the supplementary information relating to the Sustainable Land Use Initiative(SLUI) report which was to be considered with the (SLUI) item. The Chairman also reminded Members of a field trip to ANZAC Cliff at 1pm at conclusion of the meeting.
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SUSTAINABLE LAND USE INITIATIVE (SLUI) Report No 16-64 This report updated Members about progress on Council’s Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) for the period 1 January to 31 March 2016. Mr Cooper (Environmental Manager-Land) introduced the item. Mr Cooper commented on the potential Joint Venture planting of around 100 ha on top priority land which was subject to Council support. Mr Cooper then introduced a presentation around an Honour level project as part of the SLUI scholarship programme, which looked at the contribution of sediment to waterways from a large slump at Utiku along the Rangitikei River. Mr Todd (Environmental Monitoring Coordinator) spoke to a short video presentation and responded to Members' questions of clarification. In response to a query regarding paragraph 7.18, there was discussion and comment around Horizons Regional Council’s staff involvement in the potential project "Whole Farm Plans: A vehicle for implementing policy", partly funded by the Ministry of the Environment. AgResearch and Horizons also supported the project with funding. Mr Cooper presented the supplementary paper outlining potential improvements to SLUI reporting. Mr Cooper and Mr Todd went through the report, highlighted the main points and explained the suggested changes to the graphs. Mr Cooper and Mr Todd answered questions of clarification in the report, discussed how the data could best be presented, and asked about the reporting timeframe for the data. Mr Cooper said the changes would be implemented for inclusion in the June 2016 Catchment Operations Committee agenda. In response to a query about whether the introduction of a charging regime for Whole Farm Plans would come back to Council, discussion ensued about the processes involved in debating issues arising from workshops. The issues raised during discussion would be presented at the next Catchment Operation Committee meeting. A new recommendation (b) was added. COP 16-146 Moved Burnell/Sheldon That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-64 and Annexes. b. receives the supplementary information contained in the Catchment Operations Committee report – Sustainable Land Use Initiative reporting. CARRIED
WHANGANUI CATCHMENT STRATEGY Report No 16-65 This report updated Members on progress on the Whanganui Catchment Strategy for the period 1 January to 31 March 2016. Mr Cooper (Environmental Manager-Land) corrected a typographical error on page 90, paragraph 8.4, replace “Honoga” with “Hononga”. COP 16-147 Moved Rieger/Pearce That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-65. CARRIED
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REGIONAL COAST AND LAND Report No 16-66 This report updated Members of the progress on Council’s Regional Land and Coast activities from 1 January to 31 March 2016. In referring to paragraph 7.4, Mr Cooper (Environmental Manager-Land) distributed a pamphlet detailing the award winners of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. In answer to a query regarding whether Giant Willow Aphids effected poplars, Mr Jamieson (Environmental Programme Coordinator – Forestry) responded there was no evidence as yet to show that aphids effected poplar. The observation at the nurseries was that the population of aphids was so great that they were landing on the poplars due to the lack of room on the willows. COP 16-148 Moved Sheldon/Rieger That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-66. CARRIED
PROCEDURAL MOTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC COP 16-149 Moved Guy/Keedwell THAT the public be excluded from the following part(s) of the proceedings of this meeting. The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter, and the specific grounds under section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution follows. This resolution is made in reliance on section 48(1)(a) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 and the particular interest or interests protected by section 6 and section 7 of that Act which would be prejudiced by the holding of the whole or relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting in public, as follows: CARRIED
General subject of each matter Reason for passing this Ground(s) under section 48(1) to be considered resolution for the passing of this resolution PX1 Confirmation of Public s7(2)(h) - the withholding of the s48(1)(a) Excluded Meeting held on information is necessary to The public conduct of the part of 16 February 2016 enable the local authority to carry out, without prejudice or the meeting would be likely to disadvantage, commercial result in the disclosure of activities. information for which good reason for withholding exists
under section 7. PX2 Council / Committee to consider whether any item in the Public Excluded minutes can be moved into the public domain and define the extent of the release PX3 Members’ Questions
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CONFIRMATION OF PUBLIC EXCLUDED MEETING HELD ON 16 FEBRUARY 2016 PX COP 16-23 Moved Rieger/Burnell That the minutes of the confidential part of the Catchment Operations Committee meeting held on 16 February 2016, as circulated, be confirmed as a correct record. CARRIED
Members agreed that the public excluded minutes of 16 February 2016 could be made available in the public domain.
PX COP 16-24 Moved Rieger/Guy That the Committee: agrees that the Public Excluded Catchment Operations Committee minutes held on 16 February 2016, be released into the public domain. CARRIED
PX COP 16-25 Moved Guy/Rieger That the Committee moves out of Public Excluded. CARRIED
The meeting adjourned to the Public Excluded part of the meeting at 12.20pm and resumed at 12.24.
In the public excluded part of the meeting, Resolution PX16-24 agreed that the 16 February 2016, Catchment Operations Committee pubic excluded minutes could be moved into the public domain.
Minutes of that part of the Horizons meeting of the ninth triennium of the Catchment Operations Committee meeting held on Tuesday 16 February 2016 from 3.18pm to 3.30pm, in the Tararua Room, Horizons Regional Council, 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North, to which the public were excluded, pursuant to the provisions of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, the specific grounds under Section 48(1) LGOIMA are as follows: General subject of each matter Reason for passing this Ground(s) under section 48(1) to be considered resolution for the passing of this resolution
PX1 Confirmation of Public s7(2)(h) - the withholding of the s48(1)(a) Excluded Meeting held on information is necessary to The public conduct of the part of 11 November 2015 enable the local authority to carry out, without prejudice or the meeting would be likely to disadvantage, commercial result in the disclosure of activities. information for which good reason for withholding exists
under section 7. PX2 Council / Committee to consider whether any item in the Public Excluded minutes can be moved into
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the public domain and define the extent of the release PX3 Members’ Questions
PRESENT Crs MC Guy (Chair), JJ Barrow, LR Burnell QSM, DB Cotton, EB Gordon, RJ Keedwell, PJ Kelly JP, DR Pearce, PW Rieger QSO JP, BE Rollinson, and CI Sheldon IN ATTENDANCE Chief Executive Mr M McCartney Group Manager River Management Mr AD Cook Committee Secretary Mrs JA Kennedy ALSO PRESENT At various times during the meeting: Mrs S Craig (Acting Group Manager Corporate & Governance), Mr C Grant (Acting Group Manager Environmental Management).
APOLOGIES During the public part of the meeting, Cr McKellar left the meeting at 3.09pm.
SUPPLEMENTARY ITEMS There were no supplementary Public Excluded items to be considered.
MEMBERS’ CONFLICTS OF INTEREST There were no conflicts of interest declared.
CONFIRMATION OF PUBLIC EXCLUDED MEETING HELD ON 11 NOVEMBER 2015 PX COP 16-21 Moved Rieger/Sheldon That the minutes of the confidential part of the Catchments Operations Committee meeting held on 11 November 2015, as circulated, be confirmed as a correct record. CARRIED
The Chief Executive updated Members on two issues relating to damage to flood protection. Earthworks undertaken by the Palmerston North City Council along a significant length of the Mangaone stopbank which had lowered its design capacity. An issue involving 2kms of vegetation spray undertaken by Higgins Contractors, on a dairy farm on Napier Road.
PX COP 16-22 Moved Sheldon/Barrow That the Committee moves out of Public Excluded. CARRIED The Public Excluded section of the meeting concluded at 3.30pm.
Confirmed
______CHIEF EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
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The meeting closed at 12.25pm.
Confirmed
______CHIEF EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
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Report No. 16-120 Decision Required
INTRODUCTION OF A CHARGING REGIME FOR WHOLE FARM PLANS 6 Item
1. PURPOSE 1.1. This item is a follow up to previous discussions by Council around the charging for Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) Whole Farm Plans (WFP).
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2.1. The proposal to introduce charging for WFP has been discussed at two Council workshops (17 November 2015 and 31 March 2016) and at a formal item to this Committee on 16 February 2016 (Annex A). 2.2. In the Council workshop of 31 March the material presented by staff and subsequent discussion also focused on progress being made under the SLUI programme. The material that was presented and discussed included a discussion of progress to date with SLUI and future direction of the programme including discussion of charging for WFP. 2.3. The SLUI programme is currently shifting its focus from building up the number of WFP in the programme to an increased focus on implementation works and a reduction in the number of WFP to be completed each year. An important component of the implementation will be ensuring the implementation works are prioritised to the highest priority land. Further, the areas where new farm plans are completed are also focused on the highest priority areas. 2.4. The general outcome of the workshop was that Councillors felt they did not want to introduce a charging regime at this time. 2.5. A primary reason for this was the likelihood that introducing a charging regime at this time may make it more difficult to get the remaining Top Priority farms into the programme and may also make it more difficult to meet the contract and Annual Plan targets.
3. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-120 and Annex A. b. resolves to maintain the status quo and not introduce a charging regime for WFP for the 2016-17 financial year, and c. resolves to review the decision in time for inclusion in the 2017-18 Annual Plan
4. FINANCIAL IMPACT 4.1. There would be no financial impact as a result of this recommendation as status quo would remain and existing Annual Plan and LTP budgets would be unaltered.
5. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 5.1. The SLUI Advisory Committee has been consulted on this proposal and there was general agreement that the status quo should remain in the interim.
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5.2. The community will be able to view this item online.
6. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT
Item 6 Item 6.1. There is no business impact risk, if the Council resolves to not charge for WFP at this time. Current contracts with MPI to carry out agreed hectares of WFP per year and subsequent contracts with WFP providers would be unaffected.
7. BACKGROUND 7.1. The proposal to introduce charging for WFP has been discussed at two Council workshops (17 November 2015 and 31 March 2016) and at a formal item to this Committee on 16 February 2016 (Annex 1). 7.2. At the 31 March 2016 workshop staff presented information outlining SLUI progress to date. This was broken into two parts, overall progress and farm by farm progress. 7.3. Staff also presented a breakdown of what types of land have been treated, noting the focus on treating the Top and High Priority land on farms as treating these land types will provide the biggest wins in terms of reduced erosion and reductions in sediment into our waterways. 7.4. In recognition of the need to focus further on implementation of WFP the programme is reducing its focus on producing new WFP and increasing the efforts and resource available for implementation. This will be further detailed in the Operational Plan for 2016-17.
8. SIGNIFICANCE 8.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Dr Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER
Grant Cooper MANAGER LAND
ANNEXES A Paper presented to 16 February Catchment Operations Committee Meeting
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ANNEX A – paper presented to 16 February 2016 Catchment Operations Committee
Introduction of a Charging Regime for Whole Farm Plans, February 2016 Item 6 Item
1. PURPOSE 1.1. This item seeks support for a proposed package to introduce part charging for Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) Whole Farm Plans (WFP) 1.2. The proposed charging regime outlined in this item will be structured to recognise the landowner benefit received from the information contained within a SLUI WFP.
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2.1. The provision of WFPs as part of SLUI has traditionally been provided free of charge. This approach is consistent with the original philosophy of SLUI as signalled in the One Plan and is consistent with the no blame, voluntary rationale adopted at the time of SLUIs inception. 2.2. WFPs have traditionally been targeted on a priority basis at land losing the most sediment
on a tonnes per hectare basis. Independent research has consistently demonstrated that this approach is working. 2.3. To date 62% of the ‘top’ priority farms identified in this research has been mapped with a further 43% of the ‘medium’ farming parcels also mapped. SLUI targets are to map 70% and 50% of these priority areas respectively. These targets are consistent with One Plan aspirations as well. Horizons are on track to meet these targets in the next 2-3 years. AnnexA 2.4. While there is a regional benefit derived from WFPs especially the subsequent works programmes emanating from these documents the landowner also derives some on site or personal benefit from the farm plan. It is difficult to quantify this benefit and what, if any would be a fair contribution should Council wish to apply a charging regime, but to date the landowner has not been charged for a share of the costs to prepare a WFP. 2.5. External (contractor) costs to prepare a WFP are around $5,000 per plan ($8-$10 per hectare) with the total cost including all internal labour costing a further $5,500 per plan (i.e. $10,500 per plan in total). 2.6. A charging regime has been mooted for WFPs in the past, but to date has been dismissed for a variety of reasons. However, the topic was recently debated again in detail at a Council workshop held in November 2015. At the outset of these discussions it was noted that with or without charging that the prospect of getting all or nearly all of the remaining (~150) farms on to a WFP is low and that the main benefit of maintaining the status quo and not charging for WFPs was for one of consistency, equity and maximising the ability to deliver on contract targets (i.e. it offers the least resistance to the uptake of WFPs) especially in light of the most difficult to convince landowners that remain in this group. 2.7. Conversely, charging for WFPs has the primary benefit of potentially providing around $70,000 per annum of additional income that could be converted into around 100 hectares (depending on the work type) of additional work, thus accelerating SLUI. This represents an approximate 2-3% lift in outputs. The down side to charging is that it may put a ‘hand break’ on uptake and subsequently compromise Horizons ability to meet its contractual targets and / or may cost more to administer than the additional income received.
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2.8. In light of these pros and cons a number of charging scenarios were discussed at the 17th
November 2015 workshop and recommendations in this item are an amalgam of the range of views articulated at this time. The charging regime opted for in this item takes a somewhat cautious or a middle ground approach by introducing a charging regime that (i)
Item 6 Item suggests a stepped charging structure where ‘top’ priority WFPs are not charged (in the interim) with ‘medium’ and lower priority WFPs being charged at a 50%, 70% or 100% rate as appropriate and (ii) proposes to introduce (and review) these charges in July 2017 thus giving fair warning of the introduction of these charges and therefore allowing time to market and train for these changes. 2.9. This item seek members endorsement to either (i) introduce this variable and phased charging regime outlined in Table 2 of this item or (ii) endorsement to maintain the status quo until at least until the end of the current HCEF contract which concludes in 2018/19.
3. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-19 and Annexes. b. approves the criteria for charging and part charging for Whole Farm Plans outlined in section 10.1 (Table 2) of this report, noting this charging regime proposes a variable
charging structure that would be introduced in July 2017 while also noting this proposal would not result in any change to the current SLUI rating structure. c. approves the reallocation of any net income received from charging for WFPs to other areas of SLUI specifically works programmes, noting that this approach is consistent
with previous Council resolutions to maximise works on the ground, AnnexA d. instructs management to seek a “Variation of Contract” with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to recognise the contract variation required in its Hill Country Erosion Fund (HCEF) contract as a result of adopting resolution (b) and (c) of this item OR e. resolves to maintain the status quo and not introduce a charging regime for Whole Farm Plans but f. resolves to review this decision before the completion of the current HCEF contract in 2018/19
4. FINANCIAL IMPACT 4.1. The exact financial impacts associated with this item are difficult to quantify, however any net income derived from introducing a part charge for WFPs will be redistributed within the SLUI budget and used to fund additional in field works programmes. Therefore, within the overall SLUI budget it is anticipated that there will be no net bottom line change provided no additional costs are incurred to manage the proposed regime. 4.2. A worst case scenario would be that any additional income received from charging for WFPs is offset by the additional time and labour expended to get the farmer across the line. This is particularly pertinent as we approach the last, most resistant land owners who to date have not taken up WFPs even in their current form (i.e. no charge). 4.3. In what ever scenario plays out there is no intention to change the SLUI Uniform Annual Charge (UAC) as a result of introducing part charges for WFPs.
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5. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
5.1. The community will be able to view this item online.
5.2. The SLUI Advisory Committee has been consulted on this proposal. Item 6 Item 6. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 6.1. There is some risk that a charging regime may frustrate the uptake of WFPs. Annual WFP targets are part of Horizons contractual arrangement with the HCEF and any shortfall in hectares mapped can have a negative financial consequence with a reduced contract payment at year end.
7. BACKGROUND Whole Farm Plans 7.1. When SLUI was first set up the rationale was to provide a voluntary, no blame programme that would incentivise landowners into making informed land use decisions. Minimising the barriers to participation in SLUI and a philosophy of providing a non regulatory response to the regions erosion issues as articulated in the One Plan were at the heart of this philosophy. In this context charging up front for WFPs was seen as a barrier to
implementation and seen as apportioning some blame on the landowner, particularly as
Horizons aimed to target priority farms with potentially difficult or expansive erosion issues. Fundamentally it was Central Governments incentives of the 60’s and 70’s that precipitated (in hindsight) unwise land use change and hence the focus in these formative days was on recovering a share of WFP costs from Government (through the HCEF) rather than from
the landowner. AnnexA 7.2. Despite adopting this philosophy there has been a number of discussions on this approach and debate as to the relative costs and benefits of the WFP that underpins SLUI. WFPs have always been couched as a vital tool to demonstrate (in a consistent way) the benefits of SLUI to the landowner. They have always been considered the ‘sound science’ that gets the landowner “over the line”, while also being essential in determining the grant rate provided for any works undertaken. However there has also been acknowledgement that there is ‘private’ benefit to the landowner as well and the value of this information to the farmer is at the nub of the debate regarding whether they should contribute to the cost of collecting this information or not. 7.3. Outside of the on-farm benefits Council and the wider community also derive a benefit from having a regional farm scale resource database, in that this provides an accurate picture of regions soils and the relative strengths and weaknesses of this resource. This can and is used to make more informed economic decisions and / or improved risk analysis.
Prioritisation revisited 7.4. When debating a charging regime the workshop discussed priorities within SLUI and how a potential charging structure might apportion any cost recovery according to erosion priorities. These priorities were revisited and targets were discussed relative to there severity in a regional context. 7.5. All the regions farmed hill country has the potential to erode and independent analysis has given a very clear steer as to where the greatest source of sediment losses is coming from. At its most fundamental 13% of the farmed hill country in this region is contributing 50% of the sediment losses and therefore careful targeting has always been important when seeking the best outcomes from SLUI. Further analysis also highlighted the relative size of
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these eroding landscapes, its proximity to water and its relationship to other erosion
sources and thus informed a priority list at the core of the SLUI planning process and where works programmes should be carried out to obtain the ‘best bang’. This becomes important in a charging regime where a flat rate charge (i.e. a charge over all plans
Item 6 Item irrespective of priority) or a stepped / variable charge (as proposed) has the potential to skew the uptake of WFPs in one or all of the priority zones, so needs to be carefully considered. 7.6. The prioritisation for SLUI farms across the Region as signaled in the One Plan aimed to get “50% of the highly erodible land *1 under an operative whole farm business plan by 2017”. 7.7. To put this task in prospective there is approximately 1.0 million ha of farmed hill country in our Region covered under the SLUI programme. This land has been categorised as; 263,000 ha of ‘top’ priority farms (currently 62% of this mapped for WFP) 370,000 ha of ‘medium’ priority farms, (currently 43% of this mapped) and 381,000 ha of ‘low’ and ‘not’ priority farms, (currently 36% and 8% mapped respectively). The progress to date in getting farmers on to a SLUI WFP is consistent with original (2006/07) SLUI targets and on track to achieve the outcomes signaled in the One Plan. A graphical representation of these priorities and progress to date are attached as annex A and B. 7.8. At current rates but acknowledging the reduced contract targets to map less land over the next four years, SLUI is on track to complete mapping on 70% of the ‘top’ priority properties by 2017, and to complete 50% on the ‘medium’ priority land by 2019. At this
pace and continuing to follow this current ‘mix’ the One Plan targets will be met by 2017 as AnnexA planned. 7.9. However, in target catchments (i.e. catchments where early efforts were focused) better progress has been made with Tiraumea, Porewa, Turakina, Whangaehu and Kai Iwi already exceeding 50% of farms mapped. These catchments are also highly represented in terms of the modelled sediment reductions. This progress is also consistent with meeting the original SLUI targets.
Prospects of getting the remaining landowners on a WFP 7.10. When SLUI began in 2006 a marketing plan to get landowners to “sign up” for a WFP included: advertising, news articles, attending community meetings, plans for Beef and Lamb Monitor farms, and picking known customers (i.e. early adopters) and asking them to get involved. As interest grew, the focus shifted from mass marketing to one on one approaches to landowners that enabled staff to better explain SLUI, WFPs and the benefits of the programme. SLUI quickly shifted from seeking out clients to having a waiting list after adopting this personal approach. 7.11. Land staff have subsequently (on more than one occasion) visited and / or phoned every farm identified as ‘top’ priority that is not already on a WFP (see dark blue layer on WFP Progress Map in annex B). This equates to about 150 farms left in the region. The prospect of getting all or even the majority of these farms onto a farm plan is low with or without charging in place. Current experience indicates it takes a change of ownership (sale or succession) for these last most stubborn farms to come on board.
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Note 1: Highly Erodible Land (HEL) as defined in the One Plan includes both ‘top’ priority and ‘medium’ priority land parcel identified in the SLUI prioritisation.
6 Item Note 2: Top priority catchments are water management zones (catchments) designated higher priority when compared to others due to there relatively high proportion of severe erosion (i.e. have a high number of ‘top’ priority farms) and / or they have large downstream communities or have a high overall gross sediment loss. Priority catchments include Tiraumea (Tararua), Pohangina / Oroua (Manawatu), Lower Rangitikei, Turakina, Whangaehu, Lower Whanganui and Kai Iwi.
7.12. Of these remaining 150 farms the focus remains on the ‘top’ priority parcels of land. If there is ever an oversubscription in requests for plans then these farms always take preference. Lesser priority farms are still implemented but with a secondary target of 70% of these being produced in one of seven top priority catchments*2. Overall we have less interest in low priority and ‘not’ priority farms and these are general only included where they are part of a wider farming unit. Cost to produce a plan 7.13. At the outset of SLUI the total cost per plan was budgeted at $12,000 (for the regional average 550 hectare farm). It is important to reiterate this is the total costs of ALL stages in
the development of the WFP including internal labour, production costs and external contractor services (i.e. in-field mapping, financial analysis and GIS). This was broken down to about $7,000 per plan for external contractors and $5,000 for internal (Horizons) expenses. 7.14. The actual average annual cost per plan has ranged from $12,517 to $18,339. This range
highlights an anomaly in that generally the average size of the farm has far exceeded the AnnexA 550 ha ‘average’ with year on year annual area targets being exceeded with farm plan targets significantly under achieving. Typically targets were 55,000 ha and 100 farm plans but often 65,000 ha were mapped over only 80 farms (i.e. average area 810 ha). 7.15. For this reason representing WFP costs on a ‘per plan’ basis has proven to be fraught due to the wide variation in size, geographic location and complexity of the plans undertaken in our Region, especially in a highly erodible hill country context. Recently a new WFP Contract has been agreed reflecting a $/ha approach. The contractor costs of plan preparation from this new contract will be within the $8 to $10 per ha range or $4,400 to $5,500 per ‘average farm’. The bulk of this work time is split between 30% field work, 27% GIS mapping, and 20% writing up the basic resource description and works programme. All contracts were amended to reflect an area target only in 2013. 7.16. The expected make up of the WFP costs going forward are approximately; i. $5,000 of external contractor costs (landowner liaison, mapping, write up) ii. $5,500 of internal HRC costs (marketing, pre plan mapping, plan production).
and depending on uptake or importance
iii. $0 to $1,300 of external contractor costs to undertake a business assessment (i.e. benchmarking, farmer objectives and SWOT analysis). National Context 7.17. There is a long history of farm planning within the soil conservation profession. The first farm plan in New Zealand was completed in the Pohangina Valley in the 1950s. Following the regional government reforms in 1989, centralised funding ceased and individual
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regions were left to decide how to carry on with their resource management. The national
programme of farm planning largely ceased at that time. 7.18. A small number of Regional Councils still however undertake a farm planning approach but none are as comprehensive as the SLUI. Hawkes Bay Regional Council used to apply a Item 6 Item part charge for their comprehensive farm plan, but currently no other Regional Council charge for their version of a farm plan. 7.19. Beef and Lamb New Zealand (BLNZ) promote Land and Environment Plans (LEP). This plan is a three level or three stage approach with stages 1 and 2 presented as a “do it yourself” process for farmers, with stage three requiring a professionally mapped land resource akin to a WFP. BLNZ currently run free workshops for farmers for levels 1 and 2 but to date no LEP Level III have been undertaken in our region. These plans are however comparable in both format and price compared to a SLUI farm plan running at between $5- $7,000 to produce. 7.20. A number of irrigation companies require farmers to have farm plans as an audit tool to confirm various ‘Best Management Practices’ on farms receiving irrigation water. These plans are paid for by the farmer, who also pays for any audit cost. The audit results form part of the irrigation companies consenting process.
8. DISCUSSION
Prioritisation and progress 8.1. A Council workshop was held on the 17th November 2015 and at this workshop Councillors received background information on the history of the SLUI WFP process, the cost of the plans over time and the progress made to date in meeting the Long Term Plan (LTP) and
AnnexA MPI contract targets. 8.2. The workshop investigated options regarding a no charge, part charge or full charge regime for WFPs and discussed how these may be applied to the various priority (target) forms within the SLUI programme Charging 8.3. At the outset of SLUI charging would have been a major barrier to uptake. This was confirmed in early feedback responses where, despite being very happy with the plan, only around 25% of landowners who undertook a WFP indicated they would have been willing to pay for it. 8.4. In general the SLUI Advisory Group does not favour charging but this is not unanimous. At a meeting held on the 28th of October 2015 there were three themes that came through; Plans have been free to date so to charge now would be a barrier to bringing in the “hard to get landowners”
Beyond the agreed annual target a cost may be appropriate
Horizons need to concentrate on the remaining high priority (i.e. top and medium risk) farms charge or no charge.
8.5. Our funding partner MPI are generally neutral on any charging for WFP. They do point out that to do so will require a variation to contract (as they share the cost of plan production) and they would want to be reassured that our agreed targets could still be met.
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8.6. The discussion on the Pros and Cons of charging can be summarised as follows;
Pros Any dollars saved or recouped through charging could be converted to works
resulting in more works and potentially meeting sediment targets sooner Item 6 Item
Farmers may value the plan more if charged a portion and may be more likely to undertake the works programmes
It would likely drop off “tyre kickers” or those after a plan for reasons other than implementing SLUI and therefore may result in increased works uptake
By having a well publicized charging regime it may free up staff time in marketing SLUI allowing them to work more closely on works programmes
Cons Charging potentially slows down the uptake of farmers coming on board and may result in a failure to meet MPI WFP targets
With less plans being completed overall there would be less regional information
collected through the process
Charging creates issues of ownership of the information. Currently it is clear Horizons owns the resource information to be used at regional scale
Dollars spent up front on WFPs may result in less dollars spent on works in the AnnexA immediate short term
Charging would be a further barrier to get the last remaining top priority properties on board
Our “sales and marketing” budget may have to increase due to the harder sell required offsetting any potential income
Charging is inconsistent with our original and current SLUI marketing approach
We have no clear indication as to what a market price might be
Charging would create difficulty justifying and linking into our other works programmes (especially how we would like to develop our approach with Beef and Lamb NZ)
9. SUMMARY OF WORKSHOP DISCUSSIONS 9.1. A number of options cognisant of the pros and cons summarised above were presented to Council at a 17th November workshop. A small number of broad options were signalled for further discussion. These were; 9.1.1. Do nothing; continue with our current approach at least until year three of the current four year contract. Review early in year three. This view recognizes that we have signaled to MPI and our public that WFP will not be charged and they are a declining part of the
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programme (25,000 ha per year down to 15,000 ha). We estimate that 70% of top priority
and 50% of medium priority (SLUI target) will be achieved within this timeframe. 9.1.2. Charge or part charge immediately. This will bring in some funds which can be diverted to
the works programme. The main issue here would be what or how much to charge. Item 6 Item 9.1.3. Clearly signal charging or part charging will be introduced (at some specified future date); this could stimulate the laggards, especially those in the Top Priority area. It may also stimulate those in the ‘not’, ‘low’ and ‘medium’ priority areas and a process would be needed to manage this (the MPI contract states that 70% of plans must be in priority catchment areas). 9.2. Within these options questions arose; 9.2.1. If charging or part charging is introduced, is this the full cost of plan preparation or the contractors cost? It was noted the contractors cost has the strongest relationship to areas of farmer benefit. 9.2.2. Should there be a sliding scale based on priority, where it is recognised that the Top Priority farms are most likely to have the best regional outcome (for sediment reduction), with the outcomes declining through ‘medium’ , ‘low’ and ‘not’ priority farms? 9.2.3. What is the appropriate time signal to introduce a charging process?
9.2.4. Should there be recognition that once Top Priority targets (70% of farms) are met, charging will be introduced for these farms as well. 9.2.5. There will be contract issues with our HCEF funding partner, charging or part charging may result in less plans being completed while the HCEF also currently makes a contribution to
the WFP cost (this year budget at around $279,000 or 35% of the WFP cost) AnnexA 9.2.6. There will need to be a marketing strategy introduced to “sell” this new concept to landowners who currently have expectations that plans are free 9.2.7. Along with the marketing strategy there will need to be a staff training package put in place to ensure staff are on board and able to “sell” the new process 9.2.8. There will need to be a review period, after say six months, to ensure that a part charging regime doesn’t affect the overall programme outputs and outcomes.
10. PROPOSAL TO CHARGE 10.1. Bringing together the issues discussed at the Council workshop the following part charging structure for SLUI WFPs is proposed and presented as the favoured option should a charging regime be agreed by Council; Table 2: Proposed charging regime Charging Priority Charge Rate Reasoning Proposed Top Priority no charge This is to be reviewed once the 70% This makes it clear to Top Priority WFP coverage target for this priority is met or landowners that Horizons believes there is by 1 July 2018 with a view to part a regional benefit (SLUI benefit) from charging after this time. having them in the programme. Setting a date for review sends a clear message that “free” plans will not last forever. Medium part charge This charge to be 50% of the mapping The 50% charge is consistent with SLUI Priority WFP (50%) contractors cost as invoiced to Horizons. grant rates for the works programme Horizons to invoice landowner directly where grants are generally in the 30-70% for this share of costs. In addition signal range. On an average size farm with immediately the introduction of part average mapping cost this is likely to be a charging to start on 1 July 2017 (i.e. to charge of $2,700. The delay until 2017 begin in the 2017/18 financial year). gives time to market and train for this change.
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Low Priority part charge This charge to be 70% of the mapping The 70% charge is consistent with SLUI WFP (70%) contractors cost as invoiced to Horizons. grant rates for the works programme Horizons to invoice the landowner where grants are generally in the 30-70% directly for his share of costs. Signal range. On an average size farm with introduction of part charging to start on average mapping cost this is likely to be a 1 July 2017. charge of $3,800. Not Priority full charge This charge to be 100% of the mapping Often where more than one farm is 6 Item WFP (100%) contractors cost as invoiced to Horizons involved the SLUI issues and ability of the except where this farm is part of the farm landowner to address them are linked. On business where another farm is within an average size farm with average SLUI ‘top’ areas. In these cases the mapping cost this is likely to be a charge charge will be 70%. Signal introduction of $3,800. of part of full charging to start on Note in reality, it is unlikely a SLUI WFP 1 July 2017. would be entered into in a ‘not’ priority area unless staff were sure there was target land worth treating. 10.2. Any income received will be allocated to the works programme in order to speed up implementation (noting point 9.2.5 subject to HCEF contract)
11. ESTIMATED GROSS INCOME FROM CHARGING 11.1. Based on SLUI to date the breakdown of plans prepared under the various priorities has been as follows; Top Priority – 164,000 ha Medium Priority – 159,000 ha Low priority – 104,000 ha Not priority – 7,000 ha
Table 1 below assesses potential income from charging for WFP according to this charging AnnexA proposal. These calculations are based upon the split of priority plans life to date and assume charging and part charging will not influence that split. It also accounts for a planned decline in plans over the next four years. Table 1: Calculation of estimated gross income derived from proposed WFP charging regime Year 2016/17 (WFP Target 20,000 ha) Budgeted Proposed Proposed Gross Priority Contract Cost 1 Hectares charging regime Income Recovery* Classification ($/Ha) Mapped (Ha) (% Recovery) ($) Year 2017/18 (WFP Target 20,000 ha) Top 7,600 $9.86 0 0 Medium 7,400 $9.86 50% $36,482 Low 4,800 $9.86 70% $33,129 Not 200 $9.86 100% $1,380 Total income from charging regime 2017/18 $70,991 Year 2018/19 (WFP Target 15,000 ha) Top 5,700 $9.86 0 0 Medium 5,550 $9.86 50% $27,361 Low 3,600 $9.86 70% $24,847 Not 150 $9.86 100% $1,035 Total income from charging regime 2018/19 $53,243 Note *1: Proposed gross income derived from landowner contribution to WFP costs. Costs do not include any estimation of increased labour or other costs for additional ‘marketing’.
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12. TIMELINE / NEXT STEPS
12.1. If Council adopt a charging regime a variation will be sought to the HCEF contract to coincide with the introduction of those charges.
Item 6 Item 12.2. If Council adopt a charging regime an advertising campaign will be prepared to give fair warning of the changes. 12.3. If Council adopt a charging regime a retraining programme for staff will be undertaken to coincide with the introduction of the charges
13. SIGNIFICANCE 13.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Craig Mitchell GROUP MANAGER ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Grant Cooper
MANAGER LAND
AnnexA
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Report No. 16-121 Information Only - No Decision Required
RIVER AND DRAINAGE ENGINEERING REPORT (PRD 01 02) 7 Item
1. PURPOSE
1.1. The purpose of this item is to report on progress with river and drainage activities for the period 1 April 2016 to 31 May 2016.
2. RECOMMENDATION
That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-121 and annexure.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT
3.1. Funding provision for all activities reported on in this item is either included in the River and Drainage General or River and Drainage Schemes Activity sections of the 2015-25 Long-Term Plan (LTP); is covered by an approved carry-forward of unexpended budget in 2014-15; or additional approval will be specifically sought by way of recommendation in the item.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
4.1. Various matters contained in this item either have been, or will be, communicated with scheme ratepayers through their respective Scheme Liaison Committee and / or Annual Catchment Community Meetings. As necessary, other issues will be the subject of media releases.
5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT
5.1. There are no significant risks inherent in the adoption of recommendations contained in this report. There is however a significant risk of the drawdown of an excessive proportion of individual scheme emergency reserve funds for the purpose of flood damage reinstatement, in the event that a positive response to Council’s application for assistance under the National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan (the Plan) is not received.
6. DISCUSSION
6.1. Further progress has been made with the initial claim for Central Government assistance with the reinstatement of flood damage arising from the June 2015 Region-wide floods. The detailed audit of approximately 80% of individual claim items by Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM) staff has now been completed. Arising from that audit, a small number of items were deemed to lie outside the criteria for assistance under the Plan. In a few cases the work undertaken was considered to be maintenance rather than asset reinstatement. In others the completed repair work was considered to have a higher level of service that the asset that existed prior to the June 2015 event and both necessitated some adjustment to the claim. A ‘final’ claim in the sum of $1,680,185 has been agreed, which is $102,000 or 5.7% lower than the initial claim.
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After allowing for the one-off deductible of $870,872, the 60% Government contribution amounts to approximately $486,000. 6.2. A briefing paper recommending payment in accordance with the Plan is currently being
prepared by Ministry staff and is expected to go to the Minister and Cabinet for their Item 7 Item approval by mid June. In the meantime, work has commenced on a second claim which will include all costs incurred up to 30 June. The quantum of that claim is expected to be in the order of $1.65 million, and since the deductible will have already been applied, the Government share (60%) should be in the order of $1 million. It is intended that a third and final claim will be submitted in December this year. 6.3. The final seven Annual Catchment Community meetings took place over the first two weeks of the reporting period. Similar to what was reported to Committee in April attendance levels varied, with the Lower Whanganui, Matarawa, Rangitikei and Taringamotu Schemes having good levels of attendance and the Ohau-Manakau meeting having just one attendee. Clearly events associated with the June 2015 flood event formed a substantial part of the discussion at most of the meetings. A separate report captures the issues raised at these meetings, staff comments around the engagement initiatives trialled and what other initiatives might enhance understanding in the community of the various schemes. 6.4. As previously advised, the cumulative effect of the Lower Manawatu Scheme (LMS) upgrade work and the widespread flood damage from the June 2015 event has generated a high workload for the Group. Issues such as the Awarua Stream report (a deliverable that forms part of the Whanganui Flood Management Review Group task list) have consumed more resource than originally anticipated, and that together with staff changes have further compounded matters. 6.5. As a consequence, the Ohau-Manakau Scheme audit is not able to be delivered in the current financial year. The Tutaenui Scheme audit has been given priority for completion and is likely to be completed by the end of the financial year. The third audit identified for the current financial year is the Lower Kiwitea Scheme audit; staff are working toward delivery of this audit but there is some risk that this will also not be delivered by the end of the financial year. 6.6. Those audits not completed can be added back into a revised scheme audit / review programme when it is next updated as part of the update of the LTP later next calendar year. Consideration does need to be given to whether the audit process is the best mechanism for ensuring better linkage between Scheme Reviews and the scope / direction of operational activity. Specifically whether a clearer framework for each scheme is needed. 6.7. As instructed (motion from the February meeting of the Catchment Operations Committee), consideration has been given to the Rangitikei Scheme. The specific issue highlighted at the February Committee meeting was the reserves position of the Rangitikei Scheme; using reserve position as a measure it is (by some margin), in the poorest financial state of all of Council’s River Management Schemes. 6.8. The size of the scheme and its risk exposure make this scheme potentially a significant liability for Council. That risk exposure is derived from the substantial portion of river control activity that the scheme undertakes and (particularly upstream of Kakariki) the limited benefit area. 6.9. While the outcome of the MCDEM claim seems likely to provide some short-term relief (the Rangitikei Scheme makes up just over a quarter of the estimated total value of the MCDEM claim for the June 2015 event) the challenges that the scheme faces around affordability have been well documented through a number of reviews. The changes Central Government are signalling with the establishment of the Local Government Risk Agency
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could place added pressure on the future viability of this scheme i.e. the ability to make claims from MCDEM for flood damage could become limited at best in the future. 6.10. Because levels of service are so difficult to define river control schemes are notoriously
prone to ‘scope creep’, where objectives become progressively more localised and short- Item 7 Item term. That is, the wider overall objective becomes somewhat secondary to pressure from individual landowners around loss of land. 6.11. Past gravel management practices also appear to have exacerbated matters, with royalties from extraction being counted as scheme income, essentially providing an undesirable incentive for extraction to occur. 6.12. As noted there is already a volume of review documentation that covers much of the challenges faced by the scheme. As such, there is probably limited value in adding to the amount of documentation already produced in this space. Relaxation of the alignment corridor has been introduced to provide some relief but the June 2015 event suggests this intervention by itself will not be sufficient to address the underlying issues. 6.13. There are a number of possible remedies, some more extreme than others. At the mild end of the spectrum (and something of a given) would be the development of a more structured strategic operational framework; essentially a criticality based approach designed to focus activity on the areas that provide the greatest benefit and pull the scheme away from ‘bottom paddock’ issues. 6.14. It could also be worthwhile, at some future stage, undertaking some economic analysis to determine an optimum scheme size / extent – determining what the optimum cost vs benefit point is for the scheme in regard to upstream extent. 6.15. Clearly the investment in flood protection infrastructure downstream of the State Highway Bridge means that this part of the scheme needs to remain. An option might be to ‘decouple’ the scheme at that point, with the upstream section potentially following the Pohangina-Oroua Scheme model or (at the extreme end of the spectrum) abandoning this part of the scheme altogether. 6.16. In any event substantive change to the scheme would best be made through the LTP process. It is intended to take the discussion items above to the next Scheme Liaison Committee meeting and gauge what appetite exists for change. 6.17. The long dry summer has seen substantial damage to protection plantings by the Giant Willow Aphid. Staff are collating the various observations for discussion with Plant and Food Research on what practical steps can be taken to minimise potential losses next season. 6.18. The Whanganui Flood Management Review Group produced its first, and most substantive deliverable, a report on the June 2015 flood event. That report addressed the particular aspects of the June 2015 flood, changes in river profile and the updated estimate of flood protections standards for Whanganui. 6.19. The Group Manager along with the Chief Executive of Tararua District Council (TDC) met with KiwiRail staff in Wellington on 3 June to jointly convey concerns regarding the integrity of the Ngawapurua Rail Bridge, it’s economic importance to the District and Region and ways in which Horizons might be able to assist with the management of that risk. KiwiRail staff advised that the Bridge has been elevated up the priority list and funding has been set aside in the 16-17 financial year to underpin approximately six of the Bridge’s supporting piers. 6.20. The Foxton Loop Working Group met on 2 June. Consultants GHD engaged by Horowhenua District Council (HDC) verbally reported on their findings to date and indicated that they would be in a position to more formally report their findings later in June.
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6.21. Lastly acknowledging the contributions of both Graham Doull and Derek McKee to river management at Horizons. Graham, as Senior Design Engineer, has made a significant contribution in providing Council with a precise understanding of flood risk for the Lower Manawatu Flood Plain, applying that understanding to provide a higher standard and much
Item 7 Item greater level of uniformity of flood protection. Linked to that, Derek, has during his career with both the Catchment Board and Horizons lead operations and maintenance activity with the LMS and in upgrading the standard of flood protection afforded to Palmerston North. I wish both a happy retirement.
7. INVESTIGATIONS AND DESIGN
INVESTIGATIONS
7.1. Following the 19-21 June 2015 floods, demand on Investigations and Design resources on both scheme and public matters continues at high levels and over this bi-monthly period a large number of assessments and requests for design advice were received. There is still a continuing volume of advice required for roading waterway crossing reinstatements and undermined sections of road and other related activities. However, with the completion of some major reports and the expectation that most post-flood issues have now surfaced, this demand should start to decrease.
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME
7.2. The current 2015-16 summer construction season is Year 10 in the 12-Year Rural Upgrade Project (RUP) programme and all construction activity has now ceased. Design work is currently primarily focussed on planned upgrades in Year 11 (16-17 financial year) of the upgrade to achieve the 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) (100 year) standard with 450 mm freeboard. During the reporting period designs on these works have included: Further Whirikino isolated day works jobs. Completion of Linton Main Drain stopbank Upgrade. All 37 upgrades to the Tokomaru stopbanks. Design notes pertinent to upgrade of the Mangaore Stream stopbanks. Upgrades to the Mangapuketea and Kara stopbanks (please refer to detailed report following). Design levels for the Whakarongo stopbanks. This involved careful assessment of the optimum bed levels expected in the next few decades –this reach is in a recovery phase from degradation. The assessment considered the data and findings of the report entitled “Lower Manawatu Scheme Gravel Resource Study”, Horizons Regional Council Report, 12-27, Jon Bell, February 2012. This report was largely funded by Council’s Fluvial Monitoring and Research Programme and was presented to the Catchment Operations Committee on 14 March 2012. This report noted that over the reach from immediately downstream of Fitzherbert Bridge (48 mile benchmark) to Ashhurst Bridge (63 mile benchmark) “the (Manawatu) river has degraded significantly” over the period from 1993 to 2011. Furthermore, the majority of this has occurred post 2003. Degradation has caused erosion problems since 2004 and consequently the design of the stopbanks has based recovery of bed levels to this period. 7.3. Further design at Benmore Avenue proceeded on options for mitigating flooding that occurred in the 20-21 June 2015 floods on isolated properties located in the Mangaone floodway in the vicinity of Karere Road and Gillespies Line. This included comparison of
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flooding in the 16-17 February 2004 floods and examination of remedial options. Of considerable importance was the contribution from catchments contributing downstream of the Flygers Line spillway. These flows were well above the normal expected in a flood of
the 2015 magnitude. Item 7 Item 7.4. Further design information has been supplied to the Working Party on the Foxton Loop. In particular, this included information on “cleaning out” the upstream end of the Loop as part of the development of the resource consent application. 7.5. Further assessments and discussions were required to ensure the Higgins Awapuni gravel consent remediated problems with obstruction to Manawatu River berm flows and did not adversely impact the level of service provided by the Manawatu River stopbanks. 7.6. The impacts of plantings at Waitoetoe Park were assessed to also ensure the plantings did not adversely impact the level of service provided by the Manawatu River stopbanks. 7.7. Duty Officer Training was provided for the Moutoa Sluice Gates and Makino Gates operation.
LMS RURAL UPGRADE PROJECT - MANGAPUKETEA AND KARA STOPBANKS
7.8. The LMS, RUP (revised 2008) included provision of $526,163 to reinstate the 100 year (1% AEP) flood protection for the stopbanks above State Highway 57 on Kara Creek, including the tributary Mangapuketea Stream. At that time, an additional $409,479 had already been spent on the Kara upgrade downstream of the highway to the confluence with the Tokomaru River. The remaining work was estimated to cost a further $252,120 on the Kara Creek and $274,043 for the Mangapuketea. This work is programmed for completion in Year 12 (2017-18). Detailed investigation and preliminary design work to confirm the scope of the works required has now been completed. 7.9. The current LMS stopbanks (as surveyed in 1999 and 2005) along the Kara Creek extend for some 750 m from the Highway up to high ground and would need to be topped up 100-600 mm on the left bank and 200-400 mm on the right bank. Channel degradation of over 1.0 m has occurred in the upper half since the channel was straightened many years ago. The resulting steep batters are prone to slumping and ideally the upgrade work would involve channel reshaping and stopbank set back, with excavated material used for the required topping up. 7.10. Additional private banking (possibly constructed as board works) extends upstream along the right bank of Kara Creek for another 1100 m. Large flood flows can outflank this banking at the top end but generally it performs well to contain flows in the channel. Overflows in the June 2015 flood contributed to the ponding that built up to record levels, nearly reaching the top of the Mangapuketea banking. 7.11. This area is prone to ponding of local runoff, flood overflow from the Mangapuketea across Kingston Road and overflow from Kara Creek. The land is relatively high so ponded water drains well when river levels drop and inundated pasture is not significantly affected. Some additional floodgate capacity would provide an improvement and consistency with the size of existing culverts on the main side drain that feeds water from under Kingston Road. It is therefore proposed to replace an existing old 600 mm concrete floodgated culvert with a 900 mm floodgate. 7.12. Further work will continue on detailed estimates for the selected proposals once options are confirmed.
LOWER WHANGANUI RIVER
7.13. A major report was prepared on the June 2015 flood. Particular topics covered were: 1. Review of the June 2015 flood size;
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2. Review of design flood levels; and 3. Based on changes in the cross sections surveyed in 1995 and December 2015, an assessment of whether silt removal should be programmed.
Item 7 Item 7.14. The review of the discharges in the June 2015 required a detailed assessment of the actual flood discharges for the nine principal tributaries downstream of the Te Rewa flow recorder site. In past floods, excluding the 1990 flood, the tributary flows have been essentially cancelled by attenuation in the Whanganui River; however the rainfall in the lower catchment was abnormally high in this flood. The tributary discharges are all above the 1% AEP flood flow, some substantially. Appropriate phasing of these tributaries and modelling of them by the Whanganui River MIKE11 model resulted in an increase in flow from 4755 cumecs at the Te Rewa gauge to 5150 cumecs at the Town Bridge location. This is equivalent to a 0.77% AEP (1 in 130 year) flood. 7.15. The exceptional flows in the tributaries are part of the reason for the very high flood levels that occurred in the Aramoho area in the June 2015 flood. Conversely, lower than normal levels occurred adjacent to the Balgownie stopbank, due to a favourable set of conditions for extensive scouring of the riverbed near the river mouth. 7.16. The design flood levels firstly required a review of the design flows for the 2% AEP (1 in 50 year), 1% AEP (1 in 100 year) and 0.5% AEP (1 in 200 year) flood events. The design flows were reviewed based on the updated annual maxima flow series at Te Rewa and appropriate combination of concurrent tributary flows. The model was recalibrated to allow for the current bed levels, actual flows including tributary flows and mouth scour. Very little adjustment was required to the parameters assessed in the original 2007 model, except of course for the increased flows and updated cross-section profiles. The outcome was that design flood levels increased by 0.10 m to 0.15 m for the various flood sizes in the reach adjacent to the Balgownie stopbank and 0.32 m to 0.42 m in the reach from Cobham Bridge to Dublin Street Bridge. Around 0.2 m of the increase in this latter reach was due to increases in flows and the remainder due to modelling refinements – this second factor is within the 0.3 m imprecision component provided in the design level freeboard. 7.17. The findings are that whilst there is significant silt deposition at the river margins, the impacts on flood levels are almost entirely mitigated by compensating scour in the main river channel. Furthermore, that there does not appear to be a significant sedimentation problem in the Lower Whanganui River. 7.18. The report has been adopted by the Whanganui Flood Management Review Group and referred to both Councils.
AWARUA STREAM
7.19. A detailed report was completed reviewing the flood risks and flood mitigation options at the Awarua Stream. Several houses flooded in this vicinity in the June 2015 flood. This flood was near the highest magnitude rainfall and the estimated flow at Wikitoria Road of 24.5 cumecs is 12% above the 0.5% AEP flood. The report concluded that had the flood flow been the 2% AEP flow assessed of 11.1 cumecs, at the time of house floor level setting, then all the houses would have had at least 600 mm freeboard. 7.20. Options assessed were: Stopbanking of the flooded housing area; Ring banking of individual houses; Upstream flood detention dams; A new bridge at Wikitoria Road; A new box culvert at Wikitoria Road;
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House raising; and Lowering Wikitoria Road.
MAKIRIKIRI 7 Item
7.21. The final structural design was completed of the new floodgate structure to reduce construction costs, yet retain the level of service. This structure will very significantly reduce the time that floodwaters are ponding on farmland following major floods in the Turakina River. Further hydraulic assessments were required to address the impacts of the structure.
LAKE HOROWHENUA EVIDENCE
7.22. Evidence has been completed for the Lake Horowhenua water quality upgrade works Environment Court Hearing. This also involved presenting evidence at the Hearing. This has been a very substantial project, with significant design input.
TUTAENUI STREAM HYDRAULIC MODELLING AND AUDIT
7.23. With the provision of the LiDAR information, very good progress has been made on the model build for the Tutaenui Stream. The majority of tributaries are also configured into the model. The next stage will be to produce design runs and sensitivity analyses to confirm the current standard of flood protection; and importantly, to assess options for lowering the flood risk to Marton, Bulls and Brandon Hall Road.
MAKOTUKU STREAM HYDRAULIC MODELLING
7.24. A detailed report was completed reviewing the flood risks and flood mitigation options at Awarua.
ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE
7.25. Issues identified during final testing of updates to the Asset Management System (AMS) software have been addressed by Datacom. Validation checks are due to be completed by the end of May and the upgrade will then go live. The largely incremental improvements affect defect length data, design and structural data, financial reporting, condition rate reporting and various other issues, some of which have been longstanding problems in the system. While further improvements would be desirable they are not essential at this stage, especially as the existing AMS is based on the outdated Powerbuilder software platform and is due to be replaced within the next three years or so.
DESIGN ADVICE
7.26. During this period ongoing design advice has continued to be given to the River Management team project and scheme management staff and other department’s and Territorial Local Authority (TLA) staff in relation to several matters. They continue to be mainly focussed on the flood-related matters as outlined above. Designs completed included: Design of a floodwall on the Manawatu River left bank stopbank at river distance 57 km near Rangiotu. This design had to be adjusted to permit economic access and maintenance and a new design solution was adopted, based on advice in the publication “International Levee Handbook, 2013, Jointly Published by CIRIA and US Army Corps of Engineers.
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Design of a rock riprap lining upstream of the Longfields site on the Lower Mangahao Stream. This site cannot be held any more by vegetative means and a small stopbank requires relocation.
Item 7 Item Confirmation of a design of rock riprap over a 15 m length of the Makino Stream at Hobson Street, Feilding.
REGULATORY ADVICE
7.27. A very substantial amount of regulatory work completed with recorded advice provided on 68 substantive matters during this reporting period. This unfortunately set a new record for enquiries addressed in the bi-monthly period. Additionally there were numerous other matters quickly assessed and not recorded due to other pressing priorities. 7.28. There were numerous enquires about vulnerabilities from current landowners or prospective purchasers plus several relating to District Plan Changes by MDC. 7.29. This regulatory work involves specialist advice on flood risks and technical reports for consent applications, rezonings and subdivisions including: Advice on 44 flood risk and related enquiries. A detailed site assessment was completed on a proposed house at Mangatainoka and numerous other flood risks were evaluated. Multiple advice provided to landowners in the Mahi Grove and Roots Street vicinity near Pharazyn Street, Feilding. This area is floodable from local stormwater paths. MDC are currently constructing a lowered length of Pharazyn Street to reduce flood risks to existing and future houses. An assessment was completed of flood risks to a development adjoining the Oroua River. Whilst the proposed house site was above the 0.5% AEP flood level, the safe egress required further work by the landholder. Flood risks were advised on the proposed New World Supermarket at the corner of Aorangi Street & Gladstone Street, Feilding. Two enquiries were received about coastal hazard risks to Manga-Pirau Street, Waikawa Beach. One of these properties is significantly vulnerable and has an encumbrance on the title. The landowner has several times over the past decade requested reassessments. Flood risks were advised for two proposed developments in Durie Vale Road, Whanganui. Flood risk advice was provided for a very large proposed subdivision bounded by Hansens Line, Rangitikei Line and Te Arakura Road. This area extensively flooded in the June 2015 flood event, but proposed stopbank upgrade works will reduce the flooded area. There will still be vulnerabilities from the Curtis and Montgomery’s Drains and from floods greater than the 1% AEP standard of the Oroua River upgrade. There certainly is higher land outside of relic or overland flowpaths and decisions on safe locations can be considered by MDC at the building consent stage. Further advice was sought on flood levels for the large subdivision at 17, 19 and 25 Makino Road. This was to take account of the modified topography and roading layout and how it affected stormwater flows as modelled from the western hills. Good agreement was reached. The Commissioner’s Decision on the Waitarere Surf Club Notice of Requirement (NOR) was released. The decision was for a 35 m setback based on the “current” western vegetation line at the toe of the foredune. This enabled the progradational
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trend to be accommodated and a relatively safe position of the building determined (after allowing for short term storm cut variations, dune stability and a modest safety factor).
Information was provided on flood risks in the Rangitikei District. This was to assess 7 Item their review of the District Plan. A meeting was held between Rangitikei District Council (RDC) staff, submitters on their District Plan Review and Horizons staff. Key issues discussed were flood risks to Hunterville, Marton and Bulls. Information was provided for the Horizons Regional Council (HRC) submissions on MDC Plan Changes 52, 53 and 60 and Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) Plan Change 21. Advice was provided on 6 bridges and 5 proposed culverts. This included a proposed culvert of the Waitewhena Stream upstream of Ohura. This stream has high flood flows (the 2% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP)) flow is estimated at 60 cumecs) and a culvert is unsuitable, unless it is intensively engineered, including major bed armouring. Advice continues to be provided on the PNCC Kahuterawa Bridge at Bells Road. This is part of the proposed walkway to Linton. Advice was also provided on the walkway bridges on the HRC Totara Reserve and an urban walkway in Feilding. Design flows were provided for a crossing of the Porewa Stream. Advice was provided on several flood damage sites adjacent to the Whangaehu River and on a difficult repair at Okirae. Advice was provided on applications for renewed gravel extraction consents at two locations on the Retaruke Stream. Advice was also provided on an application to renew a gravel extraction and rock lining (that was not built under the previous consent) on the Oroua River at Marton Block Road. The three cross section surveys required under the previous consent had not been completed and the renewed consent requires these to be completed before and after exercising the consent. Some further advice was provided on the several sites of damaged riverbanks on the Whanganui River that are being repaired. These included the walkway near Cobham Bridge, beside the Waimarie and erosion near the City Bridge. Advice was provided on a proposal to armour the Rangitawa Stream at Kakariki with demolition concrete. Previous works here failed in the 20-21 June 2015 floods and an access road to an industrial plant was severely undermined. These works will only receive technical recommendation for consent if they are shown to be sound. The previous demolition concrete is all now sitting in the streambed. Several other compliance matters and diverse unrecorded enquiries.
8. CENTRAL AREA
GENERAL
8.1. This reporting period had unseasonal low rainfall throughout April followed by heavy sporadic rain in May. As a result, river levels remained consistently low during April before peaking discontinuously several times throughout May to be near their highest flow levels at the end of the period. 8.2. The total rainfall for this period (1 April 2016 to 25 May 2016) has been recorded as: 180.0 mm at Milson Line (Mangaone); 159.0 mm at Cheltenham (Makino); 266.0 mm at
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Scott’s Road (Kahuterawa); 226.0 mm at Delaware Ridge (Pohangina); 391.0 mm at Makawakawa Divide (Pohangina); and 198.0 mm at Rangiwahia (Oroua). 8.3. The Manawatu River experienced two flow peaks recorded at Manawatu Teachers’ College
during this reporting period. The first being 180 m3s-1 (1.619 m) on 6 May while the second Item 7 Item followed at 312 m3s-1 on 24 May (2.187 m stage). Both peaks occurred in May following April’s low seasonally rainfall. 8.4. The Oroua River similarly had low rainfall recordings in April before having more intense rainfall events in May. The Oroua had four significant rainfall peaks in May beginning on 14 May with a flow of 8.827 m3s-1 (1.182 m stage) before peaking three more times on 17 May at 18.843 m3s-1 (1.388 m stage), 19 May at 18.052 m3s-1 (1.376 m stage) and 21 May at 37.831 m3s-1 (1.688 m stage). 8.5. The Mangaone Stream had two significant peaks, both in May, the first on 5 May experiencing a flow of 0.764 m3s-1 (stage height of 0.56 m) while the second peak of 1.004 m3s-1 (stage height of 0.618 m) occurred on 23 May. 8.6. The Makino Stream had low flow throughout April before beginning to consistently rise from 18 May to peak at a high flow of 0.768 m3s-1 (stage height of 0.645 m) on 24 May. 8.7. The Tokomaru Stream had two peak flows, the first being on 5 May which recorded a peak flow of 39.082 m3s-1 (stage height of 2.434 m), and the second being on 25 May with a peak flow of 21.073 m3s-1 (stage height of 2.022 m). Before 3 May the flow in the stream was consistently beneath Low Flow Gauging under the One Plan Water Allocation of 0.24 m3s-1. 8.8. The Kiwitea Stream’s flow fluctuated around Low Flow Gauging for much of April. It fell beneath the One Plan Water Allocation on three separate days during this time, before consistently rising throughout May to have three flow peaks near the end of the month. On 18 May it recorded a flow of 5.763 m3s-1 (1.172 m stage height), 20 May recorded a flow of 5.687 m3s-1 (stage height 1.169 m), and 25 March had a peak flow of 5.563 m3s-1 (stage height 1.164 m). 8.9. Scheme engineers have continued to assist in the delivery of the RUP and City Reach Upgrade programmes with much of this years’ program being completed. Closed Television Circuit (CCTV) inspections will be continuing for all culverts located within the RUP work programme area, to identify any repairs or renewals that can be done by the scheme during the upgrade works. 8.10. As a continuation to the initial workshops focusing on the revised Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 undertaken last period, Kairanga staff have also participated in an additional workshop concentrating on contractor management within the updated system. Future workshops will also be undertaken to build knowledge and competence over the remainder of 2016. 8.11. Scheme engineers have been assisting PNCC with He Ara Kotahi, the shared path that will run along the Manawatu River, and the Kahuterawa and Turitea Streams. The working party, chaired by PNCC, to undertake this project involves NZ Army, Massey Farms, Rangitaane, New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) and Horizons. 8.12. Annual Inspections are well underway by scheme staff and will continue throughout June. The results of these inspections will be incorporated into the Asset Management System (AMS) and the Geographic Information System (GIS) asset maps will also be updated. The results of these annual inspections help in forming the maintenance programs for the coming year.
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LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME
8.13. Works undertaken on the various rivers within the scheme during this period include the
following: Item 7 Item MANAWATU RIVER
8.14. Maintenance throughout the City reach is continuing including mowing, spraying and freeing of natives along the Ashhurst walkway and at Massey, spraying rock assets, graffiti removal, general inspections and drain debris clearing. Due to previous success, compost has once again been spread around the native plantings at the Esplanade steps and platform to help prevent losses in the area due to poor ground conditions. 8.15. In addition to the usual natives maintenance work undertaken along the Ashhurst walkway, our contractor undertook a small amount of spraying where there was possibly Old Man’s Beard (OMB). This weed seems to be increasing in the area and scheme engineers have reinitiated the proposal to have this area incorporated into the weed busters program, much like the inner City reaches. 8.16. Annual asset inspections have commenced throughout the scheme and will continue throughout June. 8.17. Scheme staff have continued maintenance tasks along the river, floodway and around the Moutoa Sluice Gates and Tower. These included inspecting and clearing floodgates and apron area, spraying the lime caps of the gate piers, mowing floodway stopbanks, spraying and mowing the Foxton Loop, spraying weeds on and near stopbanks, small stopbank repairs and maintenance, cleaning drains and grass seeding. 8.18. The six monthly electrical inspection of the Moutoa Gates was completed this reporting period with no issues arising. 8.19. Significant erosion damage remains in the Ashhurst Domain area between the Road and Rail Bridges. The Ashhurst Road Bridge to the Manawatu Gorge marks the upstream boundary of the LMS, and therefore this area is not maintained by the scheme. Bank protection adjacent to the Rail Bridge has been reinstated by the tenant at their own cost. The erosion upstream of the Road Bridge, if left unchecked, will cause the river to adopt an undesirable meander pattern that will course erosion downstream of the bridge and in the scheme. Therefore, a section of tied tree works is planned to be completed as soon as possible as a temporary fix to prevent this, and will be undertaken as an environmental grant with the landowner, PNCC. 8.20. The June 2015 event caused significant damage along the banks at Hoult’s yard in Aokautere, where recently constructed bank protection works were destroyed as a result of weakening of the upstream berm caused by a slip. The repair works have been designed and the tender process completed. Due to the amount of rock required and problems with rock supply at the time, the supply of rock was tendered as a separate contract. Mills Albert was eventually successful in their bid and all rock has been expediently delivered to site. The anthracite rock supplied by Mills Albert originates from the central plateau and processed by different methods compared to locally sourced greywacke. The supplied rock has been ‘paddock picked’ and broken or chipped to roughen the surface, and even though it does meet specification, it is ‘rounder’ than the quarried greywacke and requires a shallower gradient for its rock face than greywacke. This has increased the quantity of rock over preliminary estimates. The placement contract for Hoult’s is awaiting suitable weather conditions to commence, and given the present weather conditions, is highly unlikely to proceed before spring. 8.21. Concrete riprap is currently being stockpiled at a site opposite the Hoult’s gravel yard where old protection works has opened up. This is planned to be placed in the coming weeks.
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8.22. Bank protection works have been completed at Sproull’s property in Aokautere. The existing groynes and downstream bank were damaged during the June flood with repair works including the reinstatement of the rope and rail groynes and tree layering, adding 55 m of riprap together with extending the asset downstream to protect the extended
Item 7 Item erosion site. 8.23. Practical Completion has now been awarded for the rock lining contract at the Esplanade in the City. Additional berm shaping was included in the works to enhance the area and improve drainage. 8.24. Practical Completion has also been awarded for the stopbank upgrade works on either side of Burkes Gates in Rangiotu on Robert Ervine and Roy Funnell’s properties. One of the two required floodwalls in this area has been completed with only a small amount of fencing still required. The second wall is scheduled for early in the coming construction season. The rock apron at Blackmore’s Drain culvert has been installed as part of the contract works. A short section of race leading up to the main stopbank ramp on Roy Funnell’s property in the same area, has been hard faced by the scheme to ensure it remains in useable condition throughout the winter season.
OROUA RIVER
8.25. Four erosion sites from the June 2015 floods were repaired; one using concrete riprap material and the other three using graded rockwork. 8.26. The supply and placement of 1,100 t of 300 kg rock has been undertaken along the outskirts of Feilding. The engineered design placement of this rock enabled the repair of two sites damaged following the June flood event. The repairs reinstated bank protection for the AFFCO New Zealand Manawatu Plant and the Feilding Golf Club. While plant was on site, two smaller erosion sites were also repaired as routine maintenance, one of which allowed for the relocation of concrete rubble which was excess to river repairs at the AFFCO New Zealand Manawatu Plant site. The other required 300 kg grade rock to reinstate the toe of existing rock work adjacent to Johnston Park. 8.27. Vegetation clearance has continued on the Oroua. The spraying programme for 2015-2016 is now complete with required bends from Awahuri Bridge through to Hoihere Road Bridge sprayed using a truck and trailer and long reach hose. Further to this, Rangitikei Helicopters were used to provide aerial spraying to points inaccessible on foot. Aerial spraying was undertaken from the Manawatu confluence to Kopane Bridge. The spraying of vegetation ensures that river flows have minimum resistance on the inside of bends which in turn alleviates pressure from the outside of bends. 8.28. Willow mulching has occurred on the Oroua on the true right bank from Kaimatarau Road to Puawai Road and is currently underway on the true left bank over a similar distance. It was noted after the June floods last year, that the height and alignment of the willows promoted the damming of wooden debris flowing down the river, which split the flow and placed added pressure on the stopbanks. By selectively mulching larger willows with poor alignment the likelihood of similar dams is minimised. While a long reach excavator has been on site mulching, the wooden debris piles which were removed from the river channel following last June’s flood have been burnt, with the digger requirement to ensure fire risks were minimised. 8.29. The raising of the stopbank at Glen Oroua on Saunders’ and Morrison’s properties is underway. Fine weather conditions through April and the start of May allowed 1,000 m of the proposed 1,200 m to be raised effectively. Since mid May however, the seasonal autumn weather has begun and as a result works have halted due to wet soil conditions. Wet conditions were anticipated in construction with works occurring on the land side of the stopbank to ensure the river side remained adequately covered with vegetation. The Land Entry Agreement in place between landowners and Horizons allows works to continue until
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30 June, if an opportunity presents itself where the remaining 200 m of stopbank can be lowered and re-raised the contractors will proceed, however it is expected the remaining 200 m will be finished after the winter season.
8.30. The earthworks, blockwall and fencing components have been completed on the Hoihere Item 7 Item Bridge stopbank upgrade. The permanent stop log components are being fitted and a full practice run will be undertaken by the end of May. The stop log will be housed on site and installed when required at one end of the bridge. 8.31. Annual asset inspections are currently underway along the Oroua River. This will enable a draft work programme to be formulated for the next financial year, with clear prioritisations of required asset works.
MANGAONE STREAM
8.32. General maintenance has continued along the stream reserve including edge trimming, weed spraying and the trimming of over-hanging trees and hedges. Mowing of the Mangaone Stream City reaches has been completed this reporting period with the next being scheduled when required. Favourable growing conditions have continued into the autumn season, however with one more mow allowed for within this financial year, no additional mowing requirements will be required to keep the area looking tidy. 8.33. Minor repairs were completed early this reporting period by Horizons staff to fill holes dug into the stream bank by members of the community below Benmore Avenue. This type of activity has occurred previously, and not only puts the diggers at risk that the bank may collapse on them, but puts the wider community at risk as it creates a weakness in the stopbank that is quickly exploited by the stream in times of flood. Further downstream a buried tree stump had also formed a hole in the toe of the stopbank. This was removed with a small digger and the stopbank repaired. 8.34. Further mechanical clearing of large pampas grasses and treetop weed growth has been undertaken at the old dog pound site on Botanical Road. The area of untidy vegetation and steel structure remnants had been cleared as it did not enhance the stream environment in a positive way. The area has been nicely opened up and the smaller weeds have been sprayed again. Once grass cover has been reinstated, the site would be ideal for a picnic table or other focal point piece. 8.35. Scheme staff are continuing to liaise with PNCC regarding repair requirements around City assets on the Mangaone Stream. Where the walkway is planned for construction under bridges and repairs are less urgent, protection works will be combined with the walkway construction, such as the proposed underpass for Botanical Road. 8.36. Most vegetated beaches within the channel were removed during the June flood events, and those that have reformed are continuing to regenerate with vegetation. A small amount of spraying of these beaches was completed early in this reporting period. Excessive vegetation growth within the channel needs to be controlled to maintain channel capacity, and is usually controlled with spraying or mechanical beach removal. 8.37. The Mangaone Stream City reach is being frequently inspected by scheme engineers and overall, is in a good condition with regards to flood protection. Any areas where risk to stopbanks becomes imminent, emergency works will be completed. Non-urgent works to be completed next year include the replacement of the timber floodwall with rock riprap below Rangitikei Line and assisting PNCC with the replacement of the gabion baskets at the Tremaine Bridge. 8.38. The stopbank upgrade works along the Mangaone spillway for this year have now been completed. The borrow area for these works was located within the City reach, downstream of Flygers Line. Using berm areas for borrow material will help reduce berm
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height, reinstate channel capacity and the location will reduce the cost of the stopbank work in the future. 8.39. A short section of the Flygers Line floodway stopbank was raised as part of the City Reach
Project. Several areas of erosion along this same stopbank were also repaired. Item 7 Item 8.40. The borrow area downstream of Flygers Line for the two upgrade project works i.e. Richardson Line stopbank and Flygers Line stopbank (recently completed), was reinstated and re-grassed. Fence lines removed to undertake the upgrade works were erected. 8.41. The contractor was advised from the outset of these works to undertake watering across the borrow site as necessary to keep the dust to a minimum. The extremely dry and often windy conditions at the time did make this very difficult as there were still complaints from local residents regarding dust from the site. The borrow area has been reinstated very successfully with a good grass strike for the time of year. The heavy rain soon after completion did cause rilling across the area. Once adequate grass coverage is achieved any defects will be filled.
MAKINO STREAM
8.42. Several areas of the Makino Stream had maintenance works undertaken, consisting of channel clearing of flood debris and fallen trees; the relocation of gravel build ups, which were causing further erosion problems; and also the mulching of large outcrops of bamboo growing along the stream edge. 8.43. The gravel beach build up at the Duke Street Bridge, within the Feilding Township, was removed to maintain the flood carrying capacity of the stream channel. 8.44. Repairs to eight flood-damaged sites that occurred during the June 2015 floods were completed over this reporting period. One site required the reconstruction of an existing stopbank; while another site was repaired using rock riprap. A further site had the existing timber flood wall repaired; and an erosion site in Kowhai Park had channel realignment works completed, ready for rock placement. Another four erosion sites were repaired using concrete block walls.
8.45. Following electrical inspections on the electronics at the Makino diversion structure, investigations are being undertaken into an upgrade of the building that houses the electronic control panel. The current building does not provide sufficient atmospheric insulation which, if unaddressed, could lead to rust and unexpected failure of the equipment. A building is currently being priced to provide electrician approved storage. It has been proposed that during this upgrade the electrical equipment at the site also be upgraded.
DERBY CREEK
8.46. No works have been undertaken on Derby Creek this reporting period.
STONEY CREEK
8.47. The second stage of significant channel maintenance works were completed this reporting period. Works involved the removal of gravel and silts from the stream bed to regain the design channel flood-carrying capacity.
MANGAORE STREAM
8.48. All floodgates have been inspected.
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MOUTOA FLOODWAY
8.49. The stopbank has been mown (6 km) to remove fescue and all floodgates have been checked. Several smaller repairs have been undertaken in berm areas and fence lines
across two properties due to flood damage. 7 Item
TOKOMARU RIVER
8.50. Maintenance along the Tokomaru River has included 5 km of mowing; spraying 9 km of gorse, willows and blackberry within the channel; 6 km of mechanical channel cleaning with a long reach excavator, and inspections of all floodgates.
LOWER KIWITEA STREAM SCHEME
8.51. The entire reach of the Kiwitea Stream, within the scheme boundary, was sprayed to remove any unwanted vegetation growth on the gravel beaches. 8.52. Three erosion sites, resulting from last June’s flood, were repaired. Two were repaired using concrete riprap material, and one using tied tree bank protection.
KAHUTERAWA STREAM SCHEME
8.5.3 The last week of May saw two large pine trees fall across the stream, forming a dam. With the prediction of heavy rainfall over the following two days, the decision was made to put an excavator into the stream to clear the trees. The resource consent for the Kahuterawa, while restricting scheduled maintenance to be only undertaken in March and April, does allow for unplanned and unforeseen works to be undertaken outside of this time.
ASHHURST STREAM SCHEME
8.5.4 As agreed at the last Annual Catchment Community Meeting for the scheme, works were programmed to replace the stock gates on the stream where recent flood protection works were completed. Six have been built and installed, with a further three being built at present, to be installed in June 2016.
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME – CITY REACH PROJECT
ANZAC CLIFF REALIGNMENT
8.55. The Practical Completion Certificate that forms ‘Separable Portion A’ of this major contract was issued on 29 February 2016. This commenced the Defects Liability Period of 12 weeks. This period expired on 23 May and the Final Completion Certificate has been issued for the completion of ‘Separable Portion A’. All retentions held by Horizons have been paid to the contractor. 8.56. The earthworks component of the contract, ‘Separable Portion B’ are well advanced but with the onset of a very wet period of weather (late May), it is possible the earthworks will be suspended for the winter.
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LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME RURAL UPGRADE PROJECT
8.57. The following table schedules all current RUP works and provides commentary on present
project status. Item 7 Item Project Title Description Status
Oroua River Left Bank Stopbank Upgrade 5,200 m of stopbank on the Construction works on this stopbank Upgrade, left bank of the Oroua River upgrade achieved Practical Hoihere Road to Rangiotu downstream from the Hoihere Road Completion on 11 April 2016. Bridge to Highway 56 at Rangiotu. Oroua River Right Bank Upgrading 5,300 m of stopbank on the Construction works on this stopbank Stopbank Upgrade, Hoihere Oroua River right bank downstream upgrade achieved Practical Road To Rangiotu from the Hoihere Road Bridge to Completion on 8 May 2016. Highway 56 at Rangiotu. Oroua River Right Bank, Firth Construct a Firth block retaining wall Construction works on this block wall Block Wall and Concrete and concrete floodwall to upgrade the achieved Practical Completion on 1 Floodwall at Reilly Property, 379 stopbank adjoining this house as a May 2016. Hoihere Road result of a very narrow berm width. Works include installing a removable stoplog across Hoihere Road. Oroua River Right Bank Upgrade a section of right bank Construction works on this stopbank Stopbank Transition at Hoihere stopbank immediately upstream of the upgrade achieved Practical Road Bridge Hoihere Road Bridge. Completion on 22 December 2015. Oroua River Left Bank Road Raise Hoihere Road to the adjoining Road raising at this location achieved Raising at Hoihere Road Bridge upgraded left bank stopbank height. Practical Completion on 10 January 2016. Protect Individual Property: Construct bunds around two houses Construction works on these two Hopkins Farming Group, 1591 & owned by the Hopkins Farming Group bunds achieved Practical Completion 1601 State Highway 56 on State Highway 56, Tiakitahuna. on 6 May 2016. Protect Individual Property: Protect the Bond house at Waterproofing works on this property S. Bond house, 767 Lockwood Road by waterproofing achieved Practical Completion on 22 767 Lockwood Road (tanking) the ground floor area of this December 2015. house. Protect Individual Property: Raise the Astwood house at House raising work on this property R. Astwood House, 802 Lockwood Road. achieved Practical Completion on 9 802 Lockwood Road March 2016. Protect Individual Property: Provide flood protection to the Muncey Due to the landowner being unwilling V. Muncey House, house at 821 Lockwood Road to sign a Land Entry Agreement 821 Lockwood Road authorising works to proceed, this work has now been postponed. Protect Individual Property: Raise the Lynch’s Farm Manager’s House raising work on this property G. Lynch House, house at 892 Lockwood Road. achieved Practical Completion on 4 892 Lockwood Road March 2016. Protect Individual Property: Protect the Vertogen house at Waterproofing works on this property Vertogen House, 691 Lockwood Road by waterproofing achieved Practical Completion on 11 691 Lockwood Road (tanking) the ground floor area of this May 2016. house. Protect Individual Property: Construct 65 m of concrete floodwall Tenders for this project closed on 8 Strahan Dairy Farm, on the Strahan farm to complete Apr 2016. The landowner has Rangiotu Road protection of dairy buildings and other requested that works be undertaken infrastructure. over the period 23 May to 25 June 2016 to align with his farming operation. Manawatu River Right Bank Upgrade 4,250 m of the Manawatu Construction works on this stopbank Stopbank Upgrade, River right bank stopbank in the upgrade have had an approved Karere Road, Longburn vicinity of Karere Road, Longburn. Extension of Time and are scheduled This project has increased in scope to to be complete by 17 May 2016. include an extended length upstream of the railway line behind Longburn. Manawatu River Right Bank Upgrade 3,600 m of the Manawatu Construction works on this stopbank Stopbank Upgrade, Ervine River right bank stopbank immediately upgrade achieved Practical Property & Funnell Lease, downstream of the Opiki Bridge and Completion on 9 May 2016. Rangiotu through the Ervine property into Taonui Basin ‘D’.
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Manawatu River Left Bank Upgrade 1,600 m of the Manawatu Construction works on this stopbank Stopbank Upgrade, BM 486, River left bank stopbank on Council- upgrade achieved Practical Funnell Lease, Poplar Road owned land currently leased by Mr Completion on Funnell adjoining Poplar Road, Opiki. 19 February 2016. Manawatu River Right Bank Upgrade 360 m of the Manawatu River Construction works on this stopbank
Stopbank Upgrade, Bielski & right bank stopbank on the Bielski & upgrade achieved Practical 7 Item Parlato properties. Parlato properties downstream from Completion on the Moutoa floodgates. 21 February 2016. Manawatu River Right Bank Upgrade 2,500 m of the Manawatu A contract has been awarded to Stopbank Upgrade, Whirokino River right bank stopbank on Paranui Contractors Ltd on Road and Department of Conservation reserve 12 February 2016 in the sum of Springs Road land at two locations in the vicinity of $374,495. The balance of the work is Whirokino Road and Springs Road. on hold over winter. Manawatu River Right Bank Upgrade 17 individual sections of Eight sections of stopbank upgrade Stopbank Upgrade, Various stopbank on the Manawatu River right have been completed with another Small Locations, Whirokino bank in proximity to Whirokino Road three to be undertaken as part of the upstream of State Highway 1. above-listed contract works at Whirokino Road and Springs Road. The balance of the work is on hold over winter. Manawatu River Left Bank Upgrade 800 m of the Manawatu River Construction works on this stopbank Stopbank Upgrade, left bank stopbank at the Akers upgrade achieved Practical Akers Property, Linton property immediately upstream of Completion on Akers Road, Linton. 5 May 2016. Manawatu River Right Bank Upgrade 4,880 m of the Landowners have been contacted to Stopbank Upgrade, Higgins & Manawatu River right bank stopbank discuss the proposed works however Tait-Jamison, Whakarongo at Whakarongo. this project has now been postponed until the 2016-17 financial year.
9. NORTHERN AREA
GENERAL
9.1. The long dry stable weather conditions experienced throughout April and May have continued to provide a great working environment for staff to advance planned maintenance works and also the much needed repairs to river protection assets. An impressive volume of work has been achieved using multiple contractors. Showing no signs of abating are the demands on staff responding to engineering advice requests from non-scheme areas and also from landowners wishing to take advantage of Councils environmental grant opportunities. As the days become shorter there is less likelihood of additional work commencing as a result of a favourable outcome to the MCDEM claim. It is more likely that this claim will be finalised during the winter months and impact on next year’s work programme.
TRAINING AND FORUMS
9.2. Staff have been involved in several training opportunities this period including: • Duty Officer Training – updating roles and responsibilities, Flood Plans and operation of the Moutoa and Makino floodgates. • Health & Safety Training – being updated on the implications of the new Safety Act. • A Refresher Training Course on the Lower Whanganui Scheme three different types of flood barrier erections.
ENGINEERING ADVICE
9.3. During the last two months there have been continued requests for advice on a variety of issues including rural flooding in non-scheme areas, involving clearing blocked culverts, clearing stream channels of vegetation and fallen trees, and flood damage work.
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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
9.4. The area engineer attended a meeting of the Whanganui Navigational and Water Safety
Group in Whanganui on 19 April. Item 7 Item RANGITIKEI RIVER CONTROL SCHEME
9.5. The scheme Annual Catchment Community Meeting was held on Thursday 7 April 2016.
RANGITIKEI MAINTENANCE WORKS 9.6. Work priority over the last two months has concentrated mainly on rope and rail groyne installations. These new works are replacements for flood damaged structures or additions to increase the level of protection. One area of completed work is the installation of new groynes at Mary Wilson’s property around the base of a large erosion bay to provide protection until MCDEM funding is approved for larger works. 9.7. Rock delivery is now starting to improve as supplies from Mills Albert filter down from quarries around Taihape and Higgins begin ramping up production from their Linton quarry. With winter fast approaching we will now stockpile material at work sites for placement next summer. 9.8. Opus has commenced a large project for the NZTA upgrading a rock lining on the right bank upstream of the Bulls Bridge. Work is programmed over three periods with a completion date in July. River Management staff are assisting the contractor with river issues and by providing a communication link to the Bulls River Group. 9.9. The presence of the Giant Willow Aphid has increased once again as the summer draws to a close. It is now apparent the aphid is attracted to all ages of willow with no particular preference of species. The damage in some areas inspected is so advance there are serious concerns that the willows will not survive the winter. 9.10. The round of annual asset inspections is just commencing and early indications are that our stopbanks and floodgates are in good condition as we move into winter.
RANGITIKEI CAPEX WORKS
9.11. Parewanui Stopbank Flood Damage Repairs at Walmac Farm – The contract let to Paranui Contractors Ltd was completed in mid January and on 11 April 2016 the Defects Liability Certificate was issued. All fencing was re-erected in conjunction with the Farm Manager by the end of January. With very warm autumn temperatures and occasional showers of rain there has been very good growth of the grass sowed. 9.12. Parewanui Stopbank Upgrade for 2016-17 - Survey work is already underway in preparation for upgrading a further 1 km of the Parewanui stopbank from river distance 5 km to 6 km. Design and drawings are programmed to be completed by 30 June 2016 with contract documentation being completed early in the new financial year.
RANGITIKEI RIVER ENHANCEMENT
9.13. No enhancement work undertaken this period.
GRAVEL EXTRACTION
9.14. Stringfellows have commenced taking gravel from the McKelvie consent lower down in the Rangitikei catchment. Gravel volumes are not yet known.
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POHANGINA-OROUA RIVER CONTROL SCHEME
POHANGINA RIVER
9.15. For several years now concern has been expressed about the deterioration of the channel 7 Item alignment in the Pohangina River immediately upstream of the Raumai Bridge. Prior to the June 2015 flood event, it was the engineers’ view that the dramatic and undesirable channel alignment at the site, resulting in a serious bank erosion on the right bank of the Pohangina River, could encroach and potentially sever the road access to the Raumai Bridge in one major flood event. 9.16. Designs were prepared and discussions were held with the MDC as to the impact of a flood event that could detrimentally affect their assets. Consequently, financial approval has now been given by MDC for Council staff to prepare contract documentation, to tender, and to manage the contract for constructing a major rock groyne and associated rope and rail groynes to mitigate future flood erosion to the right bank of the Pohangina River. It is programmed that this work will be completed by mid December 2016. The contract is being put out to tender early as currently there are difficulties with the supply of rock. 9.17. An ongoing erosion problem at the Ward property was addressed over the last two months with extensive channel maintenance and vegetation clearance work undertaken to help reduce pressure on the highly erodible left bank. Work is focused on easing the sharp 90 degree bend in the river by encouraging flows further towards the right bank using groyne installations and vegetation clearance techniques. 9.18. This work would be further enhanced with the removal of a large gravel bank that has built up along the right bank; staff continue to work to identify a contractor interested in extracting this material at no cost to the scheme. 9.19. Aerial spraying of the scheme from Totara Reserve to the end of the scheme was completed in late March with approximately 26 ha covered. The effectiveness of this activity is now being seen with good kill rates along the beaches and riparian strips.
PROPOSED WILLOW NURSERY
9.20. As part of the drive to plant more willows on the Pohangina, staff are currently investigating the development of a small area under the Saddle Road Bridge as a willow propagation nursery. This is on the Bolton property and both the landowner and Horizons are keen to see the area used to the scheme’s advantage. At present the site is uncared for and a popular fly tipping zone.
GRAVEL EXTRACTION
9.21. Approximately 1765 m3 has been extracted from the Leamy property on Pohangina Valley Road.
TOTARA RESERVE
9.22. No work undertaken in this period.
OROUA RIVER
9.23. Channel maintenance has been carried out on the Oroua River at Ebbit’s property as well as a tree bank protection job at Griffith’s property on Almadale Road. This property has recently changed hands and the new owners are being very pro-active in wanting erosion damage repaired quickly. A mechanical clean of the Almadale Drain at this location has
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also been completed with approximately 400 m being cleared. The remainder is to be completed next financial year. 9.24. As with the Pohangina River, the 12 ha of aerial spraying that took place in late March from
Coulter Line to the top end of the scheme and is showing signs of being very effective. Item 7 Item
GRAVEL EXTRACTION
9.25. On the Spur Road site, 1850 m3 has been extracted and at the Barrows Road site 2584 m3.
UPPER WHANGANUI RIVER MANAGEMENT SCHEME 9.26. The Annual Catchment Community Meeting was held in Taumarunui on 14 April at which there were no particular issues to note. 9.27. The District Council has fielded numerous calls commending the removal of poplar trees through the urban reach of the Ongarue River. The overwhelmingly positive response though was more as a result of the better vision created by the canopy removal rather than the river management objective achieved.
TARINGAMOTU RIVER MANAGEMENT SCHEME
9.28. The Annual Catchment Community Meeting was held on 14 April where there was considerable discussion on the direction of the scheme following the end of the current agreed work programme in June 2017. Options were put to the community that would see the current channel debris clearing programme followed in 2017-18 by a more substantial channel management programme that would also address the considerable problems associated with the bank vegetation in the scheme. The scheme would become, in part, a river control scheme. This proposal was reasonably well received at the meeting and it was agreed that a final decision on the future of the scheme will be made at next years’ Annual Catchment Community Meeting, pre-circulating a newsletter to raise interest and assist with the decision-making. 9.29. Good progress has been made this year with 10.14 km of channel clearing operations completed leaving only 5.82 km remaining before reaching the confluence with the Ongarue. 9.30. Planned work this year is now completed.
MATARAWA FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME
9.31. The Annual Catchment Community Meeting was held Monday 4 April 2016. 9.32. Repairs to the spillway at Dam 3.1 are now completed. Through close consultation with the landowner the new rock lining was incorporated into a farm track that provides access to the back of the farm. This has resulted in a very agreeable outcome for both parties. 9.33. Following consultation with the landowner at the diversion structure it was agreed to install a small section rock lining upstream of the city reach to prevent undermining of a section of stopbank that prevents overland flow from entering that part of Whanganui. The estimated $10,000 cost required for this installation is not available within the current year’s budget and will appear on the balance as an overspend. Also, as the scheme emergency reserves are fully committed to other flood repair work this additional expense will require loan funding.
TUTAENUI FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME
9.34. Two significant studies are currently in progress for the Tutaenui Scheme. The first being a scheme audit that will review performance objectives against those delivered and also
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investigate the potential to increase the flood protection standard to the community. The second is an exercise looking at flood plain modelling. Marton staff are busy assisting our Design team through both these activities.
9.35. Maintenance work for the year is now largely complete with only a few tidy up jobs Item 7 Item remaining.
MAKIRIKIRI FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME 9.36. Tender prices received for the Makirikiri drop gate are significantly greater than can be accommodated within this year’s budget. Talks between the project partners are currently underway to secure the new level of funding required to allow the project to proceed. If successful, this work will commence in January 2017 taking advantage of the drier summer ground conditions. 9.37. With the egress gate project now on hold, there remains the need to fully reinstate the stopbank at Tunnel Hill to a fully functional status before winter. This structure was breached following the June 2015 flood to allow ponded Turakina River water to drain into the Makirikiri Stream. Thus draining land and allowing the Koitiata Road to reopen. Access to the site is now possible following the harvesting of local maize crops and full repairs are programmed for early June. 9.38. Also to be completed in June, is the annual drain spraying programme and maintenance inspection of the scheme’s floodgates.
POREWA FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME
9.39. The operational integrity risk at Dam 29 is now alleviated with conditions back to normal following the completion of work removing the slip material from the dam outlet. Also completed is the channel clearing work through the Crawford and Marshall properties which saw fallen trees removed prior to winter. 9.40. Staff have been working with the Natural Resources and Partnerships team around planned native plantings within the scheme area. Through close liaison at the start of this project we can ensure plantings are planned so not to impede on our ability to access the channel for maintenance reasons. 9.41. Work to replace the temporary Bailey Bridge at Te Hou Hou Road by the RDC has commenced. River management staff are maintaining a close dialogue with the contractor to ensure work does not conflict with scheme activities and that community correspondence is directed through the correct channels. 9.42. There has been a reduction in dam maintenance work this year as budgets have been reprioritised to manage flood repairs. To date, this has caused no problems but it does highlight the need to focus on this area in the next financial year.
WHANGAEHU MANGAWHERO RIVER MANAGEMENT SCHEME
9.43. Work approved at the Annual Catchment Community Meeting on 16 March to proactively remove slumped trees from the river bank at Kauangaroa is complete using the $11,000 drawdown from emergency reserves.
TURAKINA RIVER MANAGEMENT SCHEME
9.44. No work undertaken this period. 9.45. There is still some flood debris to be removed from the Green and Glasgow properties following the June 2015 flood. This work has been delayed until the maize crop is harvested and access to the river is possible.
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9.46. Scheme work over the last three years has been reacting to flood events and associated debris removal. There will be a change in focus next year with work returning to the much needed willow clearance in the upper catchment.
Item 7 Item LOWER WHANGANUI VEGETATION MANAGEMENT AND FLOOD PROTECTION PROGRAMME
9.47. The Annual Catchment Community Meeting was held on Monday 4 April 2016. 9.48. Full repairs have now been completed to the damaged Kowhai Park stopbank and flood protection assets following the June 2015 flood. The reprioritisation of budget to flood repairs this year has seen a major reduction in vegetation management work which will require an intensive effort next year to catch up. 9.49. WDC have acknowledged their intentions to take on the maintenance responsibility for the Upokongaro Jetty site. This is a welcome decision for us as the site has been placing an increasing financial burden on the scheme with high desilting costs following each major fresh in the river. 9.50. Negotiations are progressing well with the new property owner of the flood damaged house on Anzac Parade upstream of the Matarawa Stream Bridge. A property professional has been engaged to determine any loss in value the property may incur should our planned flood protection upgrades proceed through his land.
PAKIHI SCHEME
9.51. No work undertaken this period.
FOREST ROAD DRAINAGE SCHEME
9.52. The scheme’s annual drain spraying programme is complete for the year.
HAUNUI DRAINAGE SCHEME
9.53. No work undertaken this period.
OTHER WORKS
NORTHERN ANNUAL SCHEME REPORTS 9.54. Each year an Annual Report is prepared outlining the activities, and financial standing of the 14 schemes in the Northern Area for the previous financial year. Currently the report is 70% completed.
THE BIG FIVE
9.55. Currently one staff member is representing the Marton Service Centre on the Big 5 Strategy Group. Strategies such as Celebrating Success, Understanding our Business, Process for Innovation etc. have been included into an Action Plan 2.0 with subgroups looking at guidelines and processes to see the realisation of the particular strategies in the Action Plan. This will become part of Horizons’ culture in this coming year.
ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT WORK
9.56. As a result of the June and the September 2015 flood events there has been an increased level of requests for flood damage repair works. This year to date, there have been 21 environmental grant applications made. Repairs at 12 sites have now been completed,
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with a further five sites approved. One approval will be postponed to next year, and three others delayed by the property owners.
OTHER PROJECTS Item 7 Item MOAWHANGO RIVER
9.57. Willow on 3.5 km of channel has been sprayed and some of the heaps of slash formed in January as part of channel clearing operations have been burnt. 9.58. Planned vegetation management and clearance work for Genesis Energy is complete for the year.
GLASGOW BED CONTROL
9.59. Flood damage repairs to five bed control structures on Alex Glasgow’s property following the June 2015 storm event are now completed. This should see the end of our responsibilities to this work that was undertaken at the request of our Strategy and Regulation Team.
10. EASTERN AREA
GENERAL
10.1. After an exceptionally long and dry autumn, where earthworks were able to proceed generally uninterrupted, the weather finally changed with considerable periods of high rainfall occurring from mid May. 10.2. The highest total rainfall recorded in the Eastern catchment over the last two month period was close to 550 mm, this was recorded at the Upper Mangahao hydro recording site in the Tararua Ranges, and is slightly less than the typical 700-800 mm that has fallen during the same period over the last two years. 10.3. During the last two months staff have been busy completing the flood damage works that were programmed for this season. This involved undertaking drain maintenance, finishing off earthworks contracts and generally ensuring the schemes are in a good condition going into winter. 10.4. Most insurance works for the Eastern area have been completed and the paperwork for the second claim is now being compiled. 10.5. Gravel extraction rates over the last two months have dropped off with the construction season coming to an end. Only 1,800 m³ of gravel was extracted this period, all of which was extracted from the South Eastern Ruahine Stream for concrete production. 10.6. It is now clear that the Giant Willow Aphid has had a large effect on a number of willow plantings during summer and autumn. Some breeds have been affected more than others, such as new plantings and those used in Tied Tree Bank Protection Works (TTBPW). Those plantings that had not had a chance to establish before January have also been affected. Typically trees loose their leaves earlier than others, with some willows so badly affected that they appear to be dead. Although the aphid numbers drop off dramatically with the onset of the cold weather, staff will continue to monitor aphid populations and any apparent effect on tree health during winter and into spring when the effect is likely to be more obvious.
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AKITIO SCHEME
10.7. During April and May the Akitio River has remained settled and continued to flow at a
consistently low level. Item 7 Item 10.8. Being a year of reduced work and with an agreement to simply monitor the debris at the river-mouth at this stage, little in the way of physical work has been undertaken this reporting period. There was a concern that willow debris at the river mouth may have been interfering with sand movement along the foreshore and while there was a feeling that the debris might need removing, subsequent works and further consultation has since led to a ‘wait and see’ approach being adopted. One reason for leaving the debris is that this material may actually be helping to prevent foreshore erosion. 10.9. Going forward, staff will continue to monitor the river mouth and inspect the whole river channel for any issues that might arise as river levels fluctuate over winter.
EASTERN MANAWATU SCHEME
10.10. Like the Akitio, this reach of the Manawatu River has largely remained settled over the last two months with the only exception being a small fresh that occurred at the end of May. 10.11. This good weather has meant that staff have been able to get on with scheme works, such as removing a number of poisoned and over sized trees and have utilised the portion of the budget that is usually kept earmarked for debris dam removal, should it be needed. 10.12. As mentioned in the last bi-monthly, staff have been mindful of the potential for debris dams to form as sprayed willows go through the cycle of breaking down and rotting. Although there is sufficient funds available in the emergency reserve fund to deal with a significant blockage, staff have tried to manage the annual works budget in a way that there are sufficient funds to address most blockages in a normal year. This is done to allow the reserve funds to grow and be available for extreme events. 10.13. The scheme is currently in a good position going into winter, but staff will continue to undertake inspections for debris dams or any issues that might arise as river levels fluctuate over winter.
MANGATAINOKA SCHEME
10.14. This period the focus was on progressing through as much of the remaining programmed work as possible. The majority of the works programme is now complete, with only several small jobs still remaining. Works that were completed this period include; TTBPW, Permeable Mesh Unit (PMU), rock, and channel shaping jobs, including a large channel realignment at Fonterra’s O’Brien Farm. The annual drain maintenance programme has also been completed, involving the mechanical cleaning of approximately 4 km of drain and the chemical spraying of the remaining 45 km of scheme drainage channel. 70% of the flood damaged works which are to be claimed are now complete. 10.15. As mentioned in the past, this season’s programmed scheme works included $389,000 worth of extra flood damage repairs. Funding this required the reprioritisation of $159,000 worth of budgeted funds and had originally required the addition of $230,000 worth of emergency reserve funds. However, initial indications are that the scheme will receive funding through a Region-wide MCDEM claim for 60% of the cost of flood damage repairs, totaling $206,500 for the Mangatainoka Scheme. This, combined with planned under- expenditure on flood damage repairs as a result of the postponement of a rock lining planned for Fonterra’s property, has meant that there will be no requirement for the approved emergency reserve drawdown. This will mean that the scheme is left in a good financial position.
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3
10.16. 100 m of gravel was extracted from the Mangatainoka River at Prenter’s this period. 10.17. Staff have begun investigating and planning works to help alleviate the ongoing flooding problems caused by the Mangaramarama Stream, north of Pahiatua. Proposed works
include the realignment of one meander, the excavation of two overflow channels in the Item 7 Item stream, as well as a short stopbank to redirect the worst of the flood waters around several properties. Survey at select locations of the stream channel has been completed and the Design team have produced figures indicating the effect on channel capacity of some of these proposals. A staged approach to the works has been adopted, and it is anticipated work on the upstream overflow and channel realignment will be undertaken next financial year.
SOUTH EASTERN RUAHINE SCHEME
10.18. Programmed work continued on the South Eastern Ruahine Scheme during this period. As a result, the majority of the works programme is now complete with only a few minor jobs still to go in locations where wet weather conditions will not be an issue. 10.19. The scheme’s works this year included $421,911 worth of flood damage repairs. It was planned that funding this would require the reprioritisation of budgeted repairs and maintenance and capital works funds as well as the addition of $347,500 worth of emergency reserve funds. However, it appears likely that a claim to the MCDEM will result in $101,213 of funding for flood damage repairs. This means that the emergency reserve drawdown is now planned to be $190,000. 10.20. In this scheme the June 2015 flood caused damage to 39 sites, 36 have now been completed and the remaining three are programmed to be repaired next month. This will mean that all sites that can be claimed for will be done this season, nicely tidying up this extra workload. 10.21. A particularly interesting piece of work to be completed this period has been the 10 ha of OMB control. The South Eastern Ruahine Stream has a relatively high infestation of OMB and while the area the scheme occupies was, up until recently, in a containment zone (OMB not addressed by the Plant Pest team) this has changed so that staff have been working together to address the problem in the area between the bush edge and State Highway 2. This will mean that there should be less cross pollination, or supply of seed between the river corridors and other private stands of bush. 10.22. At the end of April it was clear that two pieces of river work that were being undertaken in streams valued for trout spawning were needing to run briefly into the trout spawning period which starts 1 May. However, good communication with the Consents department and Fish and Game saw concession given for these two pieces of work to be completed. 10.23. Going forward, staff will continue to be busy completing the remaining works on the works programme, while also updating asset inspection records.
IHURAUA SCHEME
10.24. Ongoing inspections show that the Ihuraua Stream channel is still clear and free flowing. Previous years efforts to clear the constrictions that were identified in the 2011 scheme audit have clearly been of benefit and staff are currently busy organising a channel spraying programme for the coming month to clear this season’s weed growth.
TAWATAIA - MANGAONE SCHEME
10.25. As with the Ihuraua, the schemes channels are still working very well. Chemical spraying of weed growth in the scheme drainage channels has been completed. A section of the Mangaone Stream has also been spot sprayed where one landowner had been in touch
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concerned about self seeded willow growth, which is what congested the channel back in the 1980s. 10.26. Physical works on this scheme are now complete for the season, though staff will continue
to monitor channel performance over winter in preparation for next year’s works. Item 7 Item
UPPER MANAWATU – LOWER MANGAHAO SCHEME
10.27. The works programme for the Upper Manawatu/Lower Mangahao Scheme was completed this period. This included some rock work, TTBPW and willow layering, along with chemical spraying of all drains that were not mechanically cleaned. 70% of the flood damage works which are to be claimed are now complete. 10.28. The Upper Manawatu/Lower Mangahao Scheme has been affected by the significant issues Horizons has had with the supply of rock which meets our specification for bank protection work. As a result, two rock riprap works on this scheme have been undertaken using lime rock with an amended design to account for the different properties of the replacement rock. While the situation is not ideal, the significantly cheaper rate and close proximity of the lime rock has meant that a high standard of protection has still been able to be achieved at a similar cost. 10.29. The scheme’s works this year include $186,230 worth of flood damage repair. It was planned that funding this would require the reprioritisation of budgeted repairs and maintenance and capital works funds as well as the addition of $128,245 worth of emergency reserve funds. However, it appears likely that a claim to the MCDEM will result in $111,738 of funding for flood damage repairs. This, along with savings in other areas means that the emergency reserve drawdown is planned to be only $5,000. This will mean that the scheme is left in a better financial position that expected, given the flood damage that needed to be addressed coming into the season and the generally poor reserves position that this scheme has.
ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT WORKS AND ENGINEERING ADVICE
10.30. Again, this period there have been few new enquiries for environmental grant assistance. However, it was satisfying to see the works planned for the 4 Mile Bush Reserve at Pongaroa finally brought to completion. This was a community group project that required volunteering time from the Pongaroa The Way-To-Go Group, a consent and much negotiation to undertake a series of works to protect the reserve from being cut off by an avulsion of the Pongaroa River. 10.31. The status of all environmental grant works will be further reported on in a separate item in the agenda document.
SOUTHERN AREA
GENERAL
10.32. The weather over this period has been fairly settled which has enabled staff and contractors to make good progress with their maintenance work. 10.33. Heavy rainfall towards the end of May has kept staff and contractors busy cleaning the weed build up of the pumpstation screens. The first decent rainfall normally results in weed from both scheme and private drains being dragged down to the pumpstations and having to be either mechanically or manually removed from the screens. The next few freshes will continue to keep everyone busy pulling weeds after which things will hopefully settle down.
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10.34. Horizons’ staff accompanied staff from HDC and personnel from Barnett & MacMurray Limited on a site visit around the Koputaroa Stream to discuss the potential issues that may be caused if HDC decide to increase the discharge of stormwater from the North East residential area of Levin into the Koputaroa Stream. Barnett & MacMurray Limited have
been engaged by HDC to undertake flood modelling of the Koputaroa Stream to determine 7 Item what adverse effects might result from the proposed activity. 10.35. Staff are working with members of the Freshwater team to address issues regarding increasing need for landowners to have riparian management plans for their properties. Issues being discussed are around the ability to maintain scheme assets, the need to minimise operational impact and their impact on overland flow paths around the drains. Other issues discussed were around the responsibility of any ongoing maintenance of the plantings and fencings and the need to make the landowners aware of their responsibilities. This period has seen staff attend at least three site visits in May and the number of these meetings are expected to increase. 10.36. Staff have been working with several local engineering firms to design and install new safety barriers and catwalks at Cooks Pumpstation. A decision has been made to address all of the hazards at this site and then to invite members of the Scheme Liaison Committees, who currently have pumpstations within their schemes, to attend a site visit to discuss the safety measures taken. The opportunity will be taken to discuss various issues around health and safety at the pumpstation and to obtain feedback on the measures taken before rolling them out to other scheme pumpstations.
OHAU-MANAKAU SCHEME
10.37. This period continues to be relatively dry with only a few high flow events occurring, enabling work to be undertaken un-impeded by high channel flows. The highest flows this period were: on the Ohau 1.3 m (81m³/s), the Waikawa 1.15 m (25m³/s) and the Manakau 1.6 m (5.8m³/s). Apart from the higher flows at the beginning and end of May, the channels were quite low due to a lack of rain.
10.38. Continued maintenance of the willow protection within the scheme is an important task in maintaining adequate edge protection whilst minimising the impact on flood flows. This period saw several trees which were impeding flow removed from the Manakau and Waikawa Streams. Sections of willows on the Ohau River from 5.5 km to 6.2 km and the Waikawa Stream from 4.5 km to 5 km were mulched in order to maintain the low level growth.
10.39. Several large willows on the Waikawa Stream were layered to improve low level growth.
10.40. 3.5 km of drain was machine cleaned this period.
MANAWATU DRAINAGE SCHEME
10.41. Over a two year period, floodgated culverts have been inspected to determine their condition. Last year we completed the CCTV inspections of all the floodgated culverts along Burkes Drain. In February, all 21 floodgated culverts along the Manawatu Main Drain were inspected by CCTV. This period we will inspect by CCTV the remaining five culverts along the bottom end of Whiskey Creek that feeds into the Manawatu Main Drain. This information will then be used to determine the potential risk failure of the structure and the consequence of such failure. The result of the risk failure and the consequence failure will then be combined to provide a culvert priority repair program. 10.42. A new 900 mm culvert pipe was installed throughout the Manawatu Main Drain stopbank in Fell’s property adjacent to Calleson’s Cut. The purpose of this culvert is help drain the water from Fell’s property quicker during a heavy rainfall event and in particular the water
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that can be trapped behind this stopbank as the results of the Mangaone floodway operation. 10.43. Repair work was carried out on a culvert along Mitchell’s Creek that had been washed out
in Anderson’s property. Item 7 Item 10.44. In Kevin Argyle’s property a large wash out had occurred in a section of the Whiskey Creek Drain. Concrete was carted to site and placed to repair the wash out. Also, a new pipe had to be laid through this repaired section of the drain. 10.45. A section of willows were removed from the Taonui Stream, and a total of 95 km of scheme drains have been sprayed with herbicides during the period.
MAKERUA DRAINAGE SCHEME
10.46. This period has seen drain maintenance continue with Waterfall Creek having 1.5 km machine cleaned to remove weed blocks. Linton Main Drain has been machined cleaned with a long reach machine, and a total of 32 km of scheme drains have been sprayed with herbicides during the period.
KOPUTAROA DRAINAGE SCHEME
10.47. Autumn drain maintenance is under way with both machine cleaning and spraying being undertaken. 10.48. The winch for the K5 Drain floodgate fell off the top of the pipe due to corrosion on the sides of the gate. A new headwall was constructed with railway irons and timber so that when the winch was re-installed the same problem would not occur.
MOUTOA - WHIROKINO DRAINAGE SCHEME
10.49. This period has been quiet up until the end of May which brought heavy rainfall causing the drains to fill and draw significant amounts of weed to the pumpstations. 10.50. Spotlights were installed at Bowler Pumpstation to assist staff working at this site at night. 10.51. A number of large willows on the stopbank at the entrance to Cooks Pumpstation were removed. The trees were affecting access to the pumpstation and were not aesthetically pleasing. After discussion with the area engineer central, it has been agreed that the area will be planted with some small natives to increase the aesthetic value of the site. 10.52. Repairs were carried out to the stopbank adjacent to the Duck Creek spillway. Stock tracking and erosion around the concrete structure has been repaired and the area re-grassed.
TE KAWAU DRAINAGE SCHEME
10.53. S19 culvert was replaced, due to the end pipes becoming disjointed from the rest of the culvert pipes. A new 450 mm culvert line was installed with a new floodgate. 10.54. A kilometre section of Railway Drain was machine cleaned, and a total of 51 km of scheme drains have been sprayed with herbicides during the period.
HIMATANGI DRAINAGE SCHEME
10.55. A section of the Radio Station Drain was machine cleaned. 10.56. Ongoing issues with an access culvert on Palmers Drain has resulted in the culvert being upgraded to a 450 mm diameter culvert.
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FOXTON EAST DRAINAGE SCHEME
10.57. A section on Kings Canal besides the Kindergarten in the Robinson property was sprayed
for blackberry. Item 7 Item HOKIO DRAINAGE SCHEME
10.58. Two Culverts were upgraded under Bruce Road and one under CD Farm Road in conjunction with HDC. This is part of the Wider Drainage Scheme Upgrade which will be carried out over the coming years. HDC carried out the work with the drainage scheme reimbursing the Council a portion of the costs.
11. ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT WORK
11.1. The status of grants approved during the 2015-16 year to date, together with those approved last year but deferred, is as shown in the table below:
Name River Type of Work Date Work Status Estimated/ Value of Approved Actual Grant Works Cost ($) N Tripe and Mangatipona Grade control 30/4/2015 Completed $25,000 $7,888 T Mathews Stream repairs
Blackfern Ongarue River Remove debris 12/8/2015 Completed $1,800 $540 Lodge blockages
M&N Porewa Erosion 21/9/2015 Completed $7,807l $2,234 Stewart Stream protection
C Waituna Erosion 21/9/2015 Completed $11,713 $4,433 Williamson Stream protection
S Dittmer Kiwitea Erosion 21/9/2015 Completed $5,472l $1,835 Stream protection
E Brook Kiwitea Erosion 21/9/2015 Completed $16,433 $4,790 Stream protection
C Nagel Tutaenui Erosion 21/9/2015 Completed $5,852 $1,756 Stream protection
D Porewa Erosion 30/10/2015 Completed $11,754 $4,283 Voelkerling Stream protection
Kym Black Oroua River at Erosion 30/10/2015 Carry over to $13,000 $3,900 Rangiwahia protection 2016-17 estimated estimated
W Blakely Porewa Erosion 16/12/15 Completed $28,624 $9,094 Stream protection
Fullerton- Tutaenui Erosion 2/12/15 Completed $13,530 $4,973 Smith Stream protection
Curwen Kiwitea Erosion 16/12/15 Completed $6,771 $1,858 Hare Stream protection
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Partly deferred
Redmayne Mangatikotoko Channel grade 5/2/2016 $41,000 $15,885 Stream control to next year estimated estimated Turakina C Hayes Tutaenui Erosion control 30/3/2016 Yet to $14,200 $4,206
Stream commence estimated estimated Item 7 Item
RDC Koitiata Flood protection 21/4/2016 Completed Grant contribution not required.
Alex & Sue Kiwitea Bank Flood 4/5/2016 Completed $3,500 $1,050 McKay Stream Damage estimated estimated Repairs N Randell Tutaenui Erosion Control 24/5/2016 Yet to $7,000 $2,110 Stream commence
Tunnel Hill Makirikiri Flood water 29/7/2015 & Yet to $124,550 $37,365 Stream egress structure 2/6/2016 commence. estimated estimated
Bird and Kiwitea Erosion 31/7/2015 Completed $2,962 $890 Brown Stream protection
J Heald Manawatu Erosion 4/9/2015 Completed $23,628 $7,102 River at Oringi protection
N Short Tapuata Erosion 21/9/2015 Completed $6,959 $2,088 Stream protection
K Norman Upper Erosion 17/7/2015 Completed $5,166 $1,550 Mangahao protection River G Bennett Upper Erosion 12/6/2015 Completed $25,611 $5,910 Mangahao protection River Pongaroa Pongaroa Erosion 4/2/2016 Completed $8,737 $2,463 Way –To-Go River protection/ Community channel control Group Jarrod Mangaroa Erosion control 1/3/2016 Unlikely this $5,860 $1,750 Drysdale Valley FY estimated estimated
Hooper- Mangatoro Erosion 4/2/2016 Works $8,000 $2,400 Smith and Stream protection partially estimated estimated Taylor completed. Works now on hold and to be completed next FY. Total Estimated Grant Commitment To Date $132,353
11.2. The Annual Plan budget for environmental grants (Rivers Fund) during the current year is $60,000. Having considered a paper to the Strategy and Policy Committee on 8 December 2015, Council approved an additional $50,000, giving a total budget of $110,000. 11.3. While that budget appears to be over committed (refer table above), a handful of projects, most notably the Makirikiri gate structure, will not commence until next financial year. The year end result will therefore be around $95,000.
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12. SIGNIFICANCE
12.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and 7 Item Engagement.
Ramon Strong GROUP MANAGER RIVER MANAGEMENT
ANNEXES A Schedule of Completed Works 1 April - 31 May 2016
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SCHEDULE OF COMPLETED WORKS 1 APRIL TO 31 MAY 2016
Item 7 Item NORTHERN SCHEMES River Left Bank Distance (LB) Right Property Owner/Location Type of Work Quantity km Bank(RB) SCHEME NAME RANGITIKEI RIVER CONTROL SCHEME RIVER NAME RANGITIKEI 7.90 RB Flock House Clear trees from drain 300 m 8.30 RB Flock House Mechanical drain clean 2.2 km 23.70 RB Bulls lease Rope and rail groynes 30 m 27.20 LB Sanson Metal Stockpile rock 300 tonne 27.30 LB Sanson Metal Rope and rail groynes 96 m 30.10 LB Hogg Live tree bank protection work 160 m 32.30 RB Rangitikei Aggregate Stockpile rock 70 tonne 43.90 RB Murphy Live tree bank protection work 130 m
47.50 RB Marshall Beach clearing 4 ha 47.60 RB McManaway Live tree layering 230 m 55.60 LB McVitty Live tree layering 120 m Rangitikei River Aerial spraying 62 km
Stopbanks Noxious weed spraying AnnexA Stopbanks Check all flood gates 56.5 km LB McVitty Rope and rail groynes 200 m 57.0 km LB McVitty Repairs to existing groynes 50 m 59.0 LB Coleman/Shearer Rope and rail groynes 200 m
SCHEME NAME POHANGINA-OROUA SCHEME RIVER NAME POHANGINA RIVER 14.5 to RB Leamy Gravel extraction 1765 m3 15.5 km 16.0 km LB & RB Fairless-Ward Channel maintenance 2 ha 16.0 km LB Fairless-Ward Rope and rail groyne 40 m 29.35 km LB & RB Totara Reserve to end of Aerial Spraying 26.2 ha Scheme
SCHEME NAME POHANGINA-OROUA SCHEME RIVER NAME OROUA 9.5 km McColl - Spur Road Gravel extraction 1850 m3 13.8 km LB & RB Griffith Channel maintenance 13.8 km Griffith Scheme drain cleaning 0.50 ha 13.8 km RB Griffith Live tree bank protection work 200 m 18.2 km McIntyre Gravel extraction 2584 m3 41.50 km LB & RB Ebbitt Channel maintenance 0.70 ha
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River Left Bank Distance (LB) Right Property Owner/Location Type of Work Quantity km Bank(RB) 26-44 km Coulters Line to end of Aerial spraying 12.0 ha
Scheme 7 Item SCHEME NAME POREWA VALLEY FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME Dam 29 Remove silt from dam 2300 m3 Crawford Remove trees from channel X 20 Marshall Remove trees from channel X 8
SCHEME NAME MATARAWA FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME Dam 3.1 Rebuild spillway, new rock, new 30 m fence Dam 3.1 Desilt dam 240 m3 Dam 1.1 Desilt dam 2400 m3 Dam 1.1 Repair boundary fence in ponding 320 m area
SCHEME NAME TUTAENUI FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME Tutaenui Stream – Bulls Shift beaches 300 m3 area Tutaenui Stream Remove trees from channel X 7
Tutaenui Stream Drain spraying 5.1 km AnnexA
SCHEME NAME FOREST ROAD DRAINAGE SCHEME Forest Road Drain spraying 7.8 km McNeil Place new gate on boundary X 1
SCHEME NAME UPPER WHANGANUI RIVER MANAGEMENT SCHEME Upper Wanganui River 243.9 RB Cherry Grove/Victory Br Release shrubs 0.40 ha 243.9 RB Cherry Grove/Victory Br Cut and paste willow 0.40 ha 244.7 RB Turaki Street Stopbank Remove vegetation 90 m 244.8 RB Turaki Street Rockwall Spray weeds 70 m 244.8 RB Turaki Street Development Cut and paste willow 0.05 ha 244.8 RB Turaki Street Development Release natives 0.50 ha 248.0 LB Poole’s Lining Spray weeds 200 m 248.2 LB Matapuna Release and mulch natives 0.33 ha 248.4 LB Matapuna Campground Spray weeds 190 m Ongarue River LB & RB Below SH 4 Bridge Paint poplar stumps, spray 200 m bamboo
SCHEME NAME LOWER WHANGANUI RIVER MANAGEMENT SCHEME LB Upokongaro Jetty Monthly maintenance and remove X 2
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River Left Bank Distance (LB) Right Property Owner/Location Type of Work Quantity km Bank(RB) silt
Item 7 Item LB Anzac Parade/Mawae St Spray bamboo 50 m RB Somme Parade/Spier St Release natives 100 m LB Kowhai Park Complete § B + C stopbank repairs 1080 m LB Kowhai Park Culvert inspections X 2 RB Balgownie Mow stopbank RB Gilberd Street Replace bollard RB Q West Improve access to container
SCHEME NAME WHANGAEHU-MANGAWHERO RIVER SCHEME RIVER NAME WHANGAEHU 41.0 RB Swan Clear poplar and burn 221 m 56.9 RB Polson Clear poplar and burn 50 m
SCHEME NAME TARINGAMOTU RIVER SCHEME
LB & RB Multiple Owners Remove debris from channel 3.05 km
ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT WORKS
Completed AnnexA N Tripe Repair grade control structures on X 2 Mangatipona Stream Black Fern Lodge Remove willows from Ongarue 200 m River N Stewart Repair bank erosion and channel 50 m clearing on Porewa Stream C Williamson Install bank protection work on 100 m Waituna Stream S Dittmer Repair tree bank protection work 100 m and shape channel on Kiwitea Stream E Brook Install tree groynes 4 each Install TBPW on Kiwitea Stream 20 m C Nagel Repair concrete rip rap at two sites 40 m on Tutaenui Stream D Voelkering Repair rock lining on Porewa 100 tonne Stream R Fullerton-Smith Install rock lining on Tutaenui 230 tonne Stream C Hare Repair TBPW at three sites on 50 m Kiwitea Stream W Blakely Install TBPW at five sites on 160 m Porewa Stream Tunnel Hill Repair weir structures 3 each Repair culvert inlet 1 each Repair wall of tunnel hill flume 3 m Koitiata Install flood protection bund and 20 m
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River Left Bank Distance (LB) Right Property Owner/Location Type of Work Quantity km Bank(RB) repair existing bund
A McKay Install rope and rail groyne on 8 m 7 Item Kiwitea Stream
Approved Work Yet To Commence Hayes Repair bank erosion with four rope 50 m and rail groynes on Tutaenui Stream N Randell Repair concrete mass block bank 20 m protection Clear channel on Tutaenui Stream 100 m
AnnexA
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SOUTHERN SCHEMES River Left Bank Distance (LB) / Right Property Owner/Location Type of Work Quantity
(km) Bank (RB) Item 7 Item SCHEME NAME: OHAU-MANAKAU RIVER NAME: OHAU RIVER 5.5-6.2 Both Tahamata Tree maintenance Tahamata Spreading of drain cleanings
RIVER NAME: MANAKAU STREAM 0.1-0.8 BOTH Miritana/Campbells Spreading out of cleanings 2.9-3.0 BOTH Goreman property Tree maintenance 6.2 BOTH Mario’s property Removal of tree blockage
RIVER NAME: WAIKAWA STREAM 4.5-5.0 BOTH Miritana Tree maintenance
RIVER NAME: DRAINAGE Machine clean 3.5km
SCHEME NAME: MAKERUA DRAINAGE
AnnexA Linton Main Drain Machine clean drain starting Barnes 2km Property Waterfall Creek Machine clean Drain 2.2km Lochmoigh Road Drain Place concrete blocks at base of drain to repair slumping Kingston Drain Machine clean drain between Okuku 1km Road and Wood road. Drains Sprayed 32km
SCHEME NAME: MANAWATU DRAINAGE Taonui Stream Remove willows and clean a section of drain in Paul Morris property Main Drain Place new 900mm culvert through 900mm the stopbank in Fells property Mitchells creek Repair washed out culvert- Anderson property Whiskey Creek Lay pipe and cart concrete to repair washout Drains Sprayed 95km
SCHEME NAME: KOPUTAROA DRAINAGE K5 drain outlet Construction of headwall and repair of winch Machine clean drain 4.2km
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River Left Bank Distance (LB) / Right Property Owner/Location Type of Work Quantity (km) Bank (RB) SCHEME NAME: MOUTOA - WHIROKINO DRAINAGE Bowler pumpstation Installation of work lights 7 Item Cooks pumpstation Removal of large willows Duck creek stopbank Repair of bank around spillway
SCHEME NAME: TE KAWAU DRAINAGE Raupo pumpstation Installation of run light Dixons pumpstation Installation of run light Railway Drain Machine clean 0.9km Drains Sprayed 51km
SCHEME NAME: HOKIO DRAINAGE Upgrade of culverts under Bruce Rd
SCHEME NAME: HIMATANGI Radio station drain Machine clean a section through 0.25km Hunts property Palmers Road drain Replace culvert crossing with 450mm 450mm pipe AnnexA
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EASTERN SCHEMES
TARARUA SCHEMES
Item 7 Item River Distance River Bank Property Owner / Location Type of Work Quantity (km) (LB/RB) MANGATAINOKA SCHEME RIVER / REACH: MANGATAINOKA RIVER: REACH 1
RIVER / REACH: MANGATAINOKA RIVER: REACH 2 12km Left Obrien Farm Channel Shaping 300m 12km Left Obrien Farm R&R Groynes 150m
RIVER / REACH: MANGATAINOKA RIVER: REACH 3 24.5km Left McNichol TTW 10m 24.6km Left McNichol PMU 30m 25.4km Left McNichol Channel Shaping 100m
RIVER / REACH: MANGATAINOKA RIVER: REACH 4
29.5km Left Taratahi Spray Stopbank 50m
RIVER / REACH: MANGATAINOKA RIVER: REACH 5
AnnexA RIVER / REACH: MANGATAINOKA RIVER: REACH 6 49.5km Right Shannon Channel Shaping 100m
RIVER / REACH: MAKAKAHI RIVER 2.2km Right Totaranui farm Rock Lining 300t 4.9km Left Delehanty TTW 40m
RIVER / REACH: DRAINAGE Berkett Drain Lochhead Mechanical Clean 1452 Pahiatua North Drain Various Spray drain 3311 Huxley St Drain Various Spray drain 2798 Nireaha Channel Drain Reach Spray drain 17483 Hamua Channel Drain Reach Mechanical Clean 2000 Hamua Channel Drain Reach Spray drain 4164 Hobbs, Avery, Manderson Channel Drain Reach Spray drain 1073 Town Creek Channel Drain Reach Spray drain 1422 DB Brewery Channel Drain Reach Spray drain 271 Donald Grubner Channel Drain Reach Spray drain 1220 Bisset, Sowry Channel Drain Reach Spray drain 1283 Brewery Ext Channel Drain Reach Spray drain 153 Pukemiku Channel Drain Reach Spray drain 3755 Bailey,Avery Channel Drain Reach Spray drain 2240 Kakariki Channel Drain Reach Spray drain 2850
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Westella, Hansen Channel Drain Reach Spray drain 906 Greaves Eames Channel Drain Reach Spray drain 876 Harvey Channel Drain Reach Spray drain 1206
Kamo Edwards Channel Drain Reach Spray drain 1098 Item 7 Item TOTAL 49561 SOUTH EASTERN RUAHINES SCHEME RIVER / REACH: MANGAMANIA STREAM (M1)
RIVER / REACH: MANGAPAPA STREAM (M1) 2 km RB Bruere Stop bank extention 70m RIVER / REACH: RAPARAPAWAI STREAM (M1)
RIVER / REACH: ORUAKERETAKI STREAM (M1) 12.2km L & RB Alderson Weir repairs 200 T 1 km LB Little Keretaki riprap 10T
RIVER / REACH: ROKAIWHANA STREAM (M3)
3.1 km LB Trainor Channel clear 10 m
RIVER / REACH: TAMAKI RIVER (M4) Joho,Hardie,Trotter,Lamaso 7-10 km L & RB n. Cut & paste OMB 10 ha 7 km RB Boyden TBPW 20m
7-8 km L&RB Boyden Channel clear debris 45m AnnexA 6 km RB Lowe Gravel extraction 1500m3 6.8km RB Boyden Gravel Extraction 300m3
RIVER / REACH: NORTHERN STREAMS (M5) Mangatera LB Williams Rock 50T Mangatera LB Williams TBPW 20m Mangatewai-nui L & RB Hewald Channel clear/shape. 1.5km
DRAINAGE RIVER / REACH: (DR) Channel various owners Spray drains. 80 kms
UPPER MANAWATU / LOWER MANGAHAO SCHEME RIVER / REACH: MANAWATU AND MANGAHAO RIVER: REACH 1 (U1) MANAWATU RIVER 111km Right Auroam Rock/Concrete Riprap 500t 121km Right Blatchford Layering 600m 123.2km Right Bluff Rd Reserve Spray Blackberry 2ha
MANGAHAO RIVER 2.6km Left Longfields Rock Lining 400t
RIVER / REACH: MANAWATU RIVER: REACH 2 (U2)
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RIVER / REACH: MANAWATU RIVER: REACH 3 (U3) 136.2km Right Beatson PMU 20m 50m/150 Item 7 Item 136.9km Left Tarbotton TTW/Layering m
RIVER / REACH: MANAWATU RIVER: REACH 4 (U4) RIVER / REACH: MANGAHAO RIVER: REACH 1 (M1) 4.5km Left Mabey Rock 200t
RIVER / REACH: MANGAHAO RIVER: REACH 2 (M2) 14.3km Channel Walker Channel Shaping 40m
DRAINAGE RIVER / REACH: (DR) Soldiers Rd Channel Various Spray Drain 4211 Jackson Murphy Channel Various Spray Drain 3585 Murphy Channel Various Spray Drain 1665 Armistead &
Jackson Channel Various Spray Drain 789 Armistead Channel Various Spray Drain 1298 Woodlands Rd Channel Various Spray Drain 1462 Owens Channel Various Spray Drain 2054
AnnexA EASTERN MANAWATU SCHEME RIVER / REACH: MANAWATU RIVER: LOWER REACH (EL) 178. km5 RB McKenna/Walshe Clear willow debris 900 m RIVER / REACH: MANAWATU RIVER: UPPER REACH (EU) Channel Clearing 200.8 km Both Findlay/Knight willow 50m
AKITIO SCHEME RIVER / REACH: AKITIO RIVER (RC)
TAWATAIA / MANGAONE SCHEME RIVER / REACH: Drains Channel Various Spray Drain 10 km
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CENTRAL SCHEMES River Distance River Bank Property Owner / Type of Work Quantity (km) (LB/RB) Location
Item 7 Item LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME MANAWATU RIVER ALL FLOODGATES Regular inspection 149 1km RB Mathers/Speirs Mow stopbank 4km Channel spraying sites 2to 7km RB Various Gorse 20 sites Channel spraying sites 19.5km RB Landcorp Gorse 10 sites 30km LB 1
Spray Gorse on 30km RB Coles stopbanks 10 sites Race repair on lease 52 km LB Funnell’s 1 land Repair boundary fence 200 55km RB Funnell’s between neighbours metres 75-84 km RB City Reach Mow stopbanks 6000m
76.5 to 77.5 km RB Dittmer Drive Spraying of rock 1000 m
RB Fitzherbert Bridge Spraying of rock 300 m Massey natives 77-80 km LB Massey maintenance 600m 81km RB B Whitelock Mow stopbanks 5km Gasworks Drain
83.2 km RB Gates Graffiti removal AnnexA 84 km LB Barnett’s Mow stopbank 300m Concrete riprap and 96.9 km LB Sproull’s rope and rail Groynes 151m Freeing natives, spraying Old Man’s 98-99 km Ashhurst Walkway Beard 1000m Gasworks Drain 83.9 km RB Outlet Spraying of Rock 220 m In 89.4 km R/B Van Echten Concrete riprap progress
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME OROUA RIVER 1km LB O’Brien’s/ Hopkins Mow top of new bank 2km Frecklington’s / Gun Club / Sextons / Mow stopbank with new 24km LB Sansen’s tractor 10km Bailey-Dalton’s Road Concrete riprap 31.4 km LB 85 m protection 0km – 24km LB/RB Various Aerial spraying 24km 24km – 30km LB/RB Various Vegetation spraying 12km 16km RB Saunders Stopbank upgrade/silt 1km removal 15km-21km LB/RB Various Vegetation mulching 12km 38km LB Feilding Golf Club Flood damage, 40m engineered rock design
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repairs
39km LB AFFCO Flood damage, 50m engineered rock design repairs
Item 7 Item 39.5km RB Johnson Park Flood damage, 20m engineered rock design repairs
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME MAKINO 1.5 km LB/RB Patching-Awahuri Channel clearing of 500 m Road trees, debris and gravel 6.0 km LB/RB Kawakawa Road Channel clearing of 1.8 km trees and gravel 6.2 km RB Henderson-Awahuri Concrete block 8 m Road protection 6.3 km LB MDC-Kawakawa Rockwork 18 m Road 6.4 km LB MDC-Kawakawa Concrete block 65 m Road protection
6.5 km LB MDC-Kawakawa Concrete block 20m Road protection 7.0 km LB Manawatu Transport- Concrete block 65 m Awahuri Road protection 7.0 km RB Manawatu Transport- Concrete block 40 m AnnexA Awahuri Road stopbank rebuild 7.7 km LB/RB MDC-Kowhai Park Channel realignment 80 m and preparation for rockwork 8.0 km LB/RB Rata Street-South Channel clearing and 550 m Street mulching of vegetation 10.0 km LB/RB Duke Street Bridge Gravel extraction 40 m 10.0 km RB Derby Street Timber wall repair 40 m
MAKINO FLOODGATES Structure Load test and electrical WOF
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME MANGAONE 9.2 km RB Flyger’s Line Reinstate berm land 14,000 m2 borrow areas and re- fence 10.0 km RB Flyger’s Line Upgrade floodway 800 m stopbank and complete repairs 7.5 km LB DS Benmore Avenue Repair holes in berm 2 7.4 km RB DS Benmore Avenue Removed buried tree 1 stump and repair stopbank toe
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2.5-10 km LB/RB City Reach Mowing and general 7.5km maintenance 6 km LB DS Botanical Road Vegetation clearance 50m and spraying on
landside toe 7 Item
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME STONEY CREEK 2.0 km LB/RB Currie-Te Matai Channel maintenance 350 m Road
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME MOUTOA GATES Main Gates Tidy and clean up apron 9 Dig drain to release Inlet water in front of apron 2 Structure Electrical W O F Main Gates Spray lime cap 9
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME MOUTOA FLOODWAY
Repair berm and fence 0.5km RB McErlean’s line 1 site 4km LB Landcorp Fescue mowing 5km Repair berm and fence 4km LB Landcorp lines flood damage x 3 areas
0-10km Various Floodgate inspections x11 AnnexA LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME MANGAORE STREAM Various Check floodgates x 3
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME KARA CREEK - MANGAPUKATEA Repair flood damage to 1.5km RB J Corlett channel 20m Repair fence line over 1.5km RB J Corlett channel damage 15m Various Checked floodgates 8
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME TOKOMARU RIVER 3.8km LB Various Check floodgates 9 4km to 9km LB Various Mow stopbank 5KM Mechanical long reach 2km to 8km LB/RB Various channel 6km Gorse and willow 1to10km RB Various channel spraying 9km
ASHHURST STREAM SCHEME ASHHURST 2.9 km LB/RB Lloyd-Winchester Install new stock gate 1 only Street 3.0 km LB/RB Bragg-Winchester Install new stock gate 1 only Street
LOWER KIWITEA STREAM SCHEME KIWITEA
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0-14.5 km LB/RB Scheme Area Spray stream channel for unwanted vegetation 14.5 km growth 7.4 km RB Signal-Bell Road Concrete riprap 80 m Item 7 Item West protection 8.1 km RB Signal-Bell Road Concrete riprap 60 m West protection 12.8 km RB Brown-Kimbolton Tied tree bank 15 m Road protection
KAHUTERAWA STREAM SCHEME 5.5km LB/RB Hart’s Property Clear fallen trees x2
AnnexA
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Report No. 16-122 Information Only - No Decision Required
ISSUES ARISING FROM ANNUAL RATEPAYER MEETINGS APRIL / MAY 2016 (PRD 8 Item 05 00)
1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is to provide commentary on the Annual Catchment Community meeting format adopted for the first time in April / May of this year. It also captures issues raised at these meetings and Liaison Committee meetings held earlier in the financial year.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-122 and Annex A.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. The item itself has no financial impact, however there may be an impact when certain issues are addressed. Generally, any costs will then be accommodated within approved scheme budgets.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. In December of last year the Strategy and Policy Committee considered a report outlining changes to Liaison Committee meetings, principally ways in which the value of these meetings could be improved. 4.2. That report recommended retaining the two meetings per year for the larger / significant schemes but look at ways to invigorate membership, including the use of site visits. It sought to involve Committee Chairs and Councillors more while introducing efficiencies like combining meetings. It proposed a name change to Catchment Community meetings with the intent to simplify the presentation of information and adopt a wider organisational perspective. 4.3. The meetings themselves generally followed that format, with Plant Pest and Environmental Programme coordination staff attending some of the meetings to provide information and initiate discussion on topical matters. The meetings were chaired by a constituency Councillor. Each meeting (barring one technology failure) included the presentation video on what Horizons does. 4.4. As previously reported, attendance levels varied depending on the currency of specific issues, level of June 2015 flood impact and a range of other factors. The Koputaroa meeting was the most attended (in excess of 30 ratepayers) with the Hokio and Ohau-Manakau meetings the least (only one attendee). Those attending the meetings were encouraged to make submissions to Council’s Draft Annual Plan on substantive matters they held a view on. The number of submissions received on modifications proposed to the Koputaroa Scheme reflect in part the effectiveness of conveying that message through the Catchment Community meeting forum.
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5. ISSUES ARISING 5.1. A schedule of issues that were raised at the meetings, or raised at previous meetings but not yet resolved, is attached at Annex A.
Item 8 Item 5.2. The various issues captured will be progressively addressed over the course of the year as staff resources allow with progress reports as appropriate with the intention of reporting a satisfactory outcome at the 2017 meetings.
6. DISCUSSION 6.1. In the main the modified format appeared to work well, with a generally favourable reaction to the video summary of the range of activities Horizons is involved with. The adopted approach of providing a more summary level of financial information at the meetings was also favourably received. 6.2. Two of the meeting presentations (Matarawa and Tutaenui) contained information on the targeted rate classification for the scheme, of particular relevance to the Matarawa Scheme in emphasising the current mandate of the scheme (maintenance issues in the lower reach of the Matarawa Stream that currently lie outside the scheme boundary). 6.3. In regard to presentation content, further scope would seem to exist to enhance community understanding of what the schemes are and what they do, in particular the use of maps / graphs to describe activities, levels of service and how they are funded as a front end to the meetings. 6.4. In regard to timing, clearly coinciding the meetings with Annual Plan consultation is essential. Some meetings, particularly those schemes with a significant urban ratepayer base, would benefit from evening meetings. The extent of the Lower Manawatu Scheme may also warrant more than one meeting.
7. SIGNIFICANCE 7.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Ramon Strong GROUP MANAGER RIVER MANAGEMENT
ANNEXES A Issues Arising Table 2016
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ISSUES ARISING FROM RIVER AND DRAINAGE SCHEME MEETINGS – APRIL / MAY 2016
Note: Items underlined are issues relating to requests from previous years meeting.
Items in Italics are new issues raised at Liaison Committee Meetings held subsequent to the Annual Scheme Ratepayer Meeting. 8 Item
Issue Action Required Who Comment ALL SCHEMES Endeavour to email meeting handouts to all RS 1. Communication registered ratepayers at least a day before meetings.
Consider website news sheets for all schemes – Comms Dept 2. Communication update annually?
Continue to develop email address data base for key AE’s 3. Communication scheme ratepayers.
Send notices of Annual Scheme meetings to all AEs . 4. Communication stakeholders who have advised email addresses.
Review targets to reflect present insurance cover and ADC Item to February Catchment 5. Emergency Reserves introduction of renewal reserves. Committee meeting proposing modest changes.
MANAWATU DRAINAGE SCHEME 6. Cost sharing Separate all costs for scheduled investigations into JF June 2015 ponding and consider appropriate AnnexA apportionment between scheme and LMS. 7. Cost sharing Consider appropriate apportionment of Callenson’s JF Cut culvert costs as above.
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8. Callenson’s syphon Write to Gerald Fell clarifying nil effect on his property ADC of culvert downstream of syphon.
9. Pat Ward bund Clarify who is paying for bunding this property. JF Item 8 Item
10. Burkes power costs Apply any savings in budgeted power costs in future JF years to addition loan principal reduction.
11. Burkes power costs Apply potential savings of $40k in power costs in JF 2015-16 to principal reduction.
12. Burkes Pump noise issue Note commitment to spend $2k in 2015-16 for JF exhaust improvements. Burkes Working Party and SLC to consider option for further improvement. 13. Design height for stopbank upgrade Confirm relationship between design stopbank crest JF at Burkes Drain level and top of gates structure. Inform SLC.
14. Liaison Committee Substitute Leticia Pratt for Malcolm Pratt. JF/RP
15. Rongotea Road raising Investigate potential effect of work currently PJ Completed. MDC to discuss their road underway. maintenance plan with HRC to ensure there are no adverse effects on flood
AnnexA flows. 16. Karere Road Property Request information on the cost of ringbank/house PJ upgrade with regards to flooding of house on Karere Road. 17. Rates Request zero rates increase. RS/JF
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18. Burkes Pump – Working Party Hold a WP meeting after any event that results in a JF Working Party established. peak drain level of 9.0 m or greater. The next meeting will be held in July 2016. Report on WP meetings at AGMs. KOPUTAROA SCHEME 8 Item
19. Water level information Is there a need for an additional recorder site within JF the Koputaroa catchment? 20. Koputaroa Stream stopbank Need for affected parties to better understand the JF improvements and No.1 Pump proposals. Meeting to be arranged urgently. upgrade proposals TE KAWAU DRAINAGE SCHEME 21. Public Communication Need for improvements to river/flooding warnings. PJ
22. Stopbanks Concern with regards to condition of some of the JF stopbanks which are leaking. Do we need to upgrade/rebuild suspect banks? Is this due to the culvert upgrading programme?
23. Scheme Liaison Committee Add Bob McVitty, Zara Smith and Gregory Dorn to JF/RP SLC.
24. Main Drain Investigation requested for Main Drain Gates. JF AnnexA MOUTOA/WHIRIKINO DRAINAGE SCHEME
MAKERUA DRAINAGE SCHEME 25. Ashlea Road culvert Feeder drain requires finishing work. JF 26. Peter Noaro culvert issue Need to discuss issues with Peter. JF
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27. 2016-17 budget change Redirect budget for LMD upgrade to hazard JF elimination works. 28. Interference with Mangaore Consider issue of trespass notice. JF Pumpstation Item 8 Item 29. Culverts Condition Report Investigate and report on all Linton Main Drain JF The last remaining culverts will be culverts. Present a recommended renewal programme inspected in February and a report will be at 2016 AGM.. prepared in February for presentation to the AGM. 30. HDC Effluent Disposal Maintain contact with landowners as regards any JF Staff continue to monitor the situation. issues that may impact on drainage within their properties. OHAU-MANAKAU SCHEME
HOKIO DRAINAGE SCHEME 31. Buller Road drainage issue Investigate and report to Diane. JF POREWA FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME
MATARAWA FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME 32. Scheme Design parameter Investigate scheme flood protection design and report WS back at next AGM.
AnnexA 33. Mateongaonga Diversion Divert more water down diversion to prevent flood WS Advised Trevor that WDC are modelling flows through Whanganui East. Trevor Gilligan SW flows through urban Whanganui. Ph 343 6177. Culvert at Gerse St too small for flood Advised also that the Matarawa city reach flow. carried approximately 10% of the fllood flow with 90% being diverted to Mateongaonga.
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POHANGINA – OROUA SCHEME 34. Jacquita Ward Correct name spelling in database. RP Completed. 35. Communication Provide better forward notice to riparian ratepayers of WS
programmed works adjoining their properties. 8 Item 36. Planting programme Ensure planting material is secured well in advance of WS planting season. 37. Liaison Committee Note Robert Silk’s retirement from committee. Send WS letter of appreciation. RANGITIKEI RIVER SCHEME
38. Repairs at Mary Wilson rock Meeting agreed to spending $35k at Mary Wilson rock WS Work completed. to provide some winter erosion protection while awaiting outcome of MCDEM claim. TUTAENUI FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME 39. Raising SH 3 Ramon to meet with concerned/effected landowners in RS the lower part of the scheme near Bulls to discuss issues such as calmative effect of raising SH 3 and flooding issues.
40. Hydrological Stations Report back to SLC on scheme hydrological stations WS and cost. 41. June Flood Statistics List of houses flooded by stream in June event to be WS provided to SLC. Agreed that RDC should be able to assist with information. 42. Flood Modelling Update on flood modelling to be reported back to SLC. WS AnnexA 43. Rating Classification Report back to SLC on scheme rating classification WS and what a scheme review would involve. 44. Rates Would like to increase scheme rates by 5% for this WS year’s budget and extra spent on scheme protection/repair works.
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45. Increase scheme rates 5% AGM agreed to increase rates 5% with increased WS DAP submission by scheme Chair not income directed to river maintenance. approved by Council. UPPER WHANGANUI RIVER SCHEME
Item 8 Item 46. MOU Forward a copy of the MOU with RuDC to Scheme JC Liaison Committee members. 47. Rate rise 0% Restrict rate raise to 0% as requested and not 2.3% RS Actioned through a staff submission. as proposed.
48. Scheme financial accounts Present full scheme financial accounts to the next WS SLC meeting WHANGAEHU-MANGAWHERO SCHEME 49. Desire to demonstrate effectiveness Discuss possible identification of flood level trends WS of channel clearance works with hydrological staff. 50. Meeting venue Hold meeting in Whanganui next year in conjunction WS/RP Noted. with Turakina Scheme. 51. Desire to receive information in Email presentation along with reminder two days in WS advance of meeting advance of meeting. 52. Meeting format Re-consider presentation of wider organisational COC information at next year’s meeting. Chair/RS
53. End of year accounts Cancel withdrawal of emergency reserves for funding RS Action through EOY accounting in 2015-16. measures. 54. Engineering management costs Reduce future budget provision (2017-18) to reflect RS reduced works programme.
55. 2006 flood Add 2006 flood to event hydrograph. WS AnnexA LOWER WHANGANUI SCHEME 56. South Spit expenditure Clearly set aside as at 30 June 2016 in a reserve fund WS/RS the $40k budgeted for South Spit works and not expended. 57. River survey Present outcomes of the latest river survey report to PB the next management meeting.
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58. Tayforth Road culvert Concerns that the culvert restricts flow resulting in WS WDC to follow up on query upstream flooding. 59. Matarawa Stream WDC to submit to DAP recommending the urban RS Matarawa Stream vegetation management proceeds. 60. Flood protection WDC to submit to DAP requesting consultation takes RS 8 Item place next year with the community on the required level of flood protection in Whanganui. 61. Gilberd St stormwater outlet Non-return valve to prevent excess river water WS WDC to work collaboratively with HRC. travelling up the stormwater system. There is currently flow control at the site. TURAKINA SCHEME 62. Emergency reserves 1. Transfer all but $3,000 of scheme credit balance RS Action through AP staff submission. to reserve account at end of 2015-16. 2. Amend 2016-17 budget for 2016-17 to transfer $2,000 to reserve account. 63. Meeting venue Hold meeting at Wanganui next year in conjunction RP Noted. with Whangaehu Scheme. 64. Flood debris clearance around Concern that scheme is funding the removal of debris JC Meeting advised this only occurs at bridges from around bridges after floods. scheme member bridges and is partially subsidised.
65. Engineering costs Present a breakdown of engineering costs to next JC SLC meeting. 66. EOY credit balance Transfer any EOY credit balance greater than $3k to WS emergency reserves. 67. Re-Spray programme Make appropriate budget provision for a follow-up JC Lower scheme re-spray delayed following
spray programme in the lower river. June 2015 flood as this year’s funding AnnexA priority dedicated to channel clearing activities. 68. Scheme reserve Establish a reserve fund and transfer $2k from ADC Addressed through year-end financial scheme balance at year end. adjustments.
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69. Meeting time Preference for future meetings to be held at 3pm or RP Noted. later. Agreement for joint AGM with Whangaehu Scheme. TARINGAMOTU SCHEME Item 8 Item 70. Scheme continuation Describe proposed accelerated works option (works WS over 2 years commencing 2017-18, loan funded for 15 year term) in a newsletter to be distributed to all ratepayers prior to November 2016 Liaison Committee meeting. 71. Scheme continuation Include proposal in 2017-18 DAP. RS 72. Scheme continuation Provide formal notice of 2017 AGM to all ratepayers. WS 73. AGM Dates Request that AGM’s be held earlier to allow WS submissions to DAP. 74. Newsletter Newsletter updating scheme members on future JC options in October. MAKIRIKIRI SCHEME
MANGATAINOKA SCHEME
75. Mangaramarama flooding To follow up on investigations and progress Option RA One, the overland flow path. 76. Mulching signage Request for informative signage when mulching. RA Programmed. UPPER MANAWATU-LOWER MANGAHAO SCHEME
AnnexA 77. 2017 Scheme Rates Request that scheme rates be held at 0% rather than RA John Wheeler has made a submission as the 1.3% advertised. Chairman on behalf of the committee. SOUTH EASTERN RUAHINE SCHEME 78. 2017 Scheme Rates Request that scheme rates be held at 0% rather than RA Malcolm Cammock has made a the -0.9% advertised in favour that funds be used to submission on behalf of the Committee. contribute to the ERF.
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AKITIO SCHEME 79. Willow debris Peter Greatbatch (as the Akitio Ratepayers Actioned. Committee Chairman) passed on the request that the proposed debris clearance from the spit be left in favour of making savings. 8 Item EASTERN MANAWATU SCHEME
LOWER KIWITEA SCHEME 80. HF rate Review application of rate to Trevor Donaldson’s JF Manawatu Drainage Scheme house. 81. Channel spraying – Oroua River Provide plan showing extent of spraying proposed on PJ Robert Griffin’s property. 82. Communication re RUP progress Consider a newsletter at end of current season. PJ/RS 83. Makino operating protocols Further consider permanent part lowering of gates. RS 84. Channel management below Scheme manager to meet Peter Henderson. PJ Completed. Feilding 85. Liaison Committee meetings Consider scheduling a meeting soon after any PJ Noted significant flood.
86. Erosion at Puketotara Pa Inspection required. PJ 87. Annual meeting time Consider scheduling meeting in early evening. RS/RP Noted 88. MCDEM Claim Report back on insurance claim (MCDEM) via email PJ to SLC members. 89. Gravel Extraction All agreed that present 5000m2/year is too low and PJ needs increasing. Review of existing consent to AnnexA reflect this. To be implemented by HRC staff. Report back to SLC if task involves more detailed review to achieve gravel extraction increase. 90. Budget Adjustment Amend budget to reflect $10k contribution from LMS. ADC Actioned.
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91. Scheme Liaison Committee Add Ross Hocken, remove Ian Gorton. Write to Ian PJ/RP Added Ross to committee. Removed Ian acknowledging his contribution since scheme’s from committee (29.5.15) and letter sent. inception. Add Tim Gorton. Tim Gorton added. LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME Item 8 Item 92. Rural Upgrade Priorities Report on project priorities for ensuing year at each ADC Noted. Annual Scheme meeting. 93. Rating System Review rationale for HF rate where houses are ADC Actioned through report to May 2015 elevated or bunded to 0.5% AEP level. COC. Completed. 94. Administration Request for email of AGM presentation before PJ Noted. meeting takes place. 95. Puketotara Park RB Concerns around Manawatu River erosion on RB at PJ Puketotara Pak on historical burial site. 96. Stakeholder engagement Area engineer to visit Peter Henderson re. Makino PJ flooding. 97. Makino Gates Request for better protocols and operating PJ procedures for Makino Gates/Structures (Reids Line). 98. Right Bank Oroua Concerns raised over the last 200 m of RB Oroua PJ Noted. below Rangiotu Road, exposed to risk for another season.
99. Riverbank Spraying Request for advance contact with landowners regards PJ Advert placed in paper and letter sent to river bank spraying programme. all landowners before April spray on Oroua. 100. City Reach Celebration of City Reach after works completion, RS/PJ/ Noted. perhaps at time of planting trees? MG
AnnexA KAHUTERAWA SCHEME 101. Future Meetings Arrange attendance of Environmental Team rep at PJ Aaron Madden has been nominated. next meeting (in 2018). ASHHURST STREAM SCHEME 102. Stock Floodgates Replace gates in accordance with upgrade project PJ Completed. commitment. Prepare programme and make provision for capex in 2014-15.
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Report No. 16-123 Information Only - No Decision Required
MAKINO GATE OPERATION (PRD 05 13) 9 Item
1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is to inform Council on a range of modifications to the Makino control gate structure in order to further improve the operational reliability of this structure. It also touches on the future challenges this part of the Lower Manawatu Scheme (LMS) is likely to face.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-123.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. The improvements proposed are relatively small compared with the LMS budget with the cost distributed between the 2015-16 and 2016-17 budgets. Accordingly, these costs can be accommodated within existing budgetary provisions.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. A public meeting was held on 17 October 2015 to discuss the June 2015 flood related impacts on Feilding, including some of the gate operating difficulties experienced that day. Further communication with the Feilding community may be warranted once the improvements are completed.
5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 5.1. The improvements proposed will have a beneficial effect on business risk.
6. BACKGROUND 6.1. The Makino Stream control gate structure was commissioned in March 2009, one of a range of measures in response to the 2004 floods. It limits flow in the Makino Stream and consequent inundation of Feilding, diverting excess flow along the 2.3 km long Reids Line floodway and into the Kiwitea Stream. The floodway is delineated along its southwestern margin by a stopbank, with floodway flow on the true left side extending into adjoining farmland. 6.2. The structure has faced a variety of challenges since it was commissioned and presents Council with a rather unique operational context. The land ownership and the limited capacity of the floodway require the gates to be open as a default operating position and to remain partly open during a flood. The catchment responds relatively quickly to heavy rain, particularly where saturated antecedent conditions exist. 6.3. The June 2015 flood also demonstrated the relatively high debris loads that can be generated when the Makino is in flood and some of the complications that has for gate lowering. This has subsequently been addressed by the installation of a debris deflector upstream of the gates, in the form of steel encased concrete piles.
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6.4. The nature of the gate structure and the spillway, combined with the consequences of late and / or incomplete operation, make this structure a particularly high risk for Council. Accordingly, staff have been considering ways in which operational reliability can be improved. Related to this is a need to consider how the risk profile might change over
Item 9 Item time, the impacts that might have on level of service expectations and the possible funding mechanisms available to meet those changing expectations.
7. SHORT TERM OPERATIONAL REALIABILITY IMPROVEMENTS 7.1. As noted earlier, the construction of a debris deflector will significantly reduce the risk of not being able to sufficiently regulate flow through Feilding when the Makino is in flood. However further scope exists to improve operational reliability, particularly in circumstances where limited advanced warning of intense rainfall is received from MetService (the June 2015 circumstance). 7.2. As noted previously to Council, automated / remote operation of the Makino gates was allowed for (but not enabled) with the original construction. Remote / automated operation has some inherent complications but nonetheless warrants trialling, accompanied by the installation of webcams for both the gate structure and the key breakout point in Feilding (the corner of Duke and Derby Streets). Staff are also looking at whether there are cost- effective options for automating / remotely closing the culverts running beneath the floodway stopbank. 7.3. Catchment Information staff are currently implementing an upgrade of the Halcombe rainfall recorder site to provide instantaneous intensity alarms. This may include factoring soil moisture levels into the alarm thresholds. 7.4. Over time staff also intend to work with Manawatu District Council (MDC) staff on incorporating the operation of the Pharazyn Road gates into MDC’s term maintenance contract for their roading network. 7.5. Even with remote / automated operation site monitoring will still be required for such a critical structure. At present a roster of staff exists to operate the structure but this lead to some complications during the June 2015 event. It is proposed to formally arrange for an external resource to undertake this function. 7.6. Having confidence in the ability to promptly lower the gates is also important and to that end the original construction included the installation of a standby generator on site. However recent assessments suggest that the housing for the electrical / electronic control systems is not fit for purpose with that equipment deteriorating at a greater rate than expected. Accordingly it is proposed (at a less critical time of year), to construct a new housing for those systems and to provide those monitoring the site with more appropriate facilities. 7.7. There is also an ongoing commitment on the part of staff to consider ways in which the impact on the private landowners in the spillway can be minimised, both in relation to communications but also any optimisations that will reduce the impact on those landowners.
8. FUTURE CHALLENGES / OPPORTUNITIES 8.1. Since the gate structure was commissioned in 2009 considerable residential development has occurred in the general vicinity of the structure, reflecting some of the underlying trends identified in the Feilding Urban Growth Framework Plan. This has a range of short term effects (the site is more accessible to the public, greater awareness of generator noise etc.), but potentially poses greater challenges in the future. 8.2. Further development will inevitably lead to conversations around levels of service. Although a number of planning tools exist to lessen flood hazard risk over time, it is
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inevitable that Council will face pressure to reduce the residual flow in the Makino and divert more floodwater along the floodway. That, combined with development in closer proximity to the Reids Line floodway stopbank, will necessitate discussion around both
operational reliability and gross levels of service. Item 9 Item 8.3. This in turn prompts a number of different conversations, such as the ability for development contributions to be used to fund, in part, a future level of service increase. An initial discussion with MDC planning staff suggests some challenges in this space but also a desire to work together on possible solutions, a conversation that coincides with a review of MDC’s Development Contributions Policy. 8.4. Future development and expectations around levels of service will inevitably have implications for the floodway. In order to preserve the integrity of the floodway, in June 2014 staff lodged a Notice of Requirement with MDC for the Reids Line spillway. Although those intentions are not contained in Plan Change 60, MDC staff have advised that those intentions will be notified through a separate Plan Change process later this year. 8.5. In the longer term it may, however, be necessary to obtain a greater level of control over the land that comprises the Reids Line spillway as its criticality continues to increase.
9. SIGNIFICANCE 9.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Ramon Strong GROUP MANAGER RIVER MANAGEMENT
ANNEXES There are no attachments for this report.
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Report No. 16-124 Information Only - No Decision Required
SUSTAINABLE LAND USE INITIATIVE (SLUI) 10 Item
1. PURPOSE 1.1. This report is to update Members about progress on Council’s Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) for the period 1 April to 18 May 2016.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No.16-124 and Annexes.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There are no direct financial impacts associated with this report, however it does update Members on a number of financial matters associated with SLUI.
4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. Consultation was carried out through the 2012-22 Long-Term Plan submission process. 4.2. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has a key role in funding and overseeing this activity. 4.3. The SLUI Advisory Group is updated every six months on progress with this programme and receives copies of these agenda items.
5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 5.1. There are no significant risks inherent in the adoption of recommendations contained in this report.
6. BACKGROUND 6.1. SLUI has been in operation in our region since 2006. The initiative, targeting hill country erosion, is funded from Central Government’s Hill Country Erosion Fund (HCEF), Horizons’ rates and farmer contributions. 6.2. SLUI is delivered in partnership with the HCEF and MPI through a contracted works programme which sets targets for plans and works completed. 6.3. This is the first year of a four year contract until June 2019. 6.4. The 2015-19 contract targets have been agreed with MPI. The contract document was finalised in late December 2015 and signed off in early February 2016.
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The agreed contract targets are shown in Table 1.
Contract Target 2015-16 WFP Completed (no.) n/a
Item 10 Item WFP area mapped (ha) 25,000 Area mapped in target catchments (ha) 17,500 Afforestation (ha) Retirement (ha) 1,700 Riparian Retirement (ha) Managed Retirement (ha) Poles planted (no.) 24,000 Area protected by space pole planting (ha) 800 Other non retirement (ha) Table 1: Contract Targets
7. REPORT ON PROGRESS
Whole Farm Plan Development The contract target for 2015-16 is 25,000 ha which will equate to 40-55 individual WFPs. Table 2 summarises progress toward WFP development by plan as it is not possible to accurately calculate the area of the farms until the final maps have been completed. Graph 1 shows the area of WFPs mapped by year, while Maps 1 and 2 (appended) refer to the progress on WFP development.
Whole Farm Plan Development Contract 1 Contract 2 Contract 3
2006-10 2010-14 2014-15 2015-16 Farms Mapped *1 289 247 63 21 Plans Completed *2 289 247 63 18 Plans Delivered *3 289 247 63 14 Cumulative *4 289 536 599 617 Table 2: Whole Farm Plan Development to 18 May 2016
Notes: *1 Number of farms physically mapped (the majority of these are contracted to LandVision Ltd). *2 Number of plans completed, including mapping, financial, physical document, and entered into HRC tracking system. *3 Plans delivered and presented to landowner (this signals start of implementation process and Stage 1 of SLUI having been completed). *4 Cumulative total of completed WFPs.
7.1. A spreadsheet to manage priority assessment is continually updated for proposed WFPs. The priority list for 2015-16 WFPs currently has 46 plans covering approximately 31,690 ha (127% of the hectare target). Staff have documentation out with a further 29 landowners who are considering getting a WFP. 7.2. The contract with MPI states that 70% of our mapping effort, by area, will be undertaken within the priority catchment areas. To date 38 of the 46 (83%) plans are within these catchments. This does not mean the plans outside the priority catchment do not have priority land within them.
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Implementation 7.3. Implementation generally begins the year following completion of the WFP. The SLUI programme budgets on implementation taking at least five years to complete the major works and longer to complete a pole planting programme. In Table 2 the emphasis is on
plan production, originally against the plan target. The target is now based on area 10 Item completion, not number of plans. The tables below are presented to give an indication of plan uptake or implementation. We are continually reviewing all plans delivered to landowners and those who have never been active or haven’t been active for some time are reviewed and the landowner is re- contacted every year or so. Table 3 looks at the uptake from recently completed plans. This table aims to give an indication of how successful the programme is in getting completed plans delivered to clients, discussed and agreed. Works will start either when finances are available or at the next planting season.
Implementation of Plans by Year of Completion 2013-14 Plans 2014-15 Plans 2015-16 Plans Measure At 30 June at 28 Aug 2015 To date Plans Completed 55 63 18 Plans Doing Works 53 58 12 % Plans Doing Works 96% 92% 67% Table 3: Implementation Progress to 18 May 2016
Notes: Internal targets have been set for these measures but there are no contractual requirements. Targets are as follows: - In the year following the plan being completed the % plans “doing works” will be; o 1 July following – 50% doing works o 1 October following – 75% doing works o 1 January following – 90% doing works.
7.4. Once implementation programmes begin, staff will visit landowners to give advice on location and technical needs for work, help assess costs, agree on grant rates and on how and by who the works will be completed. Once the work has been completed staff will inspect the work and help landowners make a claim for the grant available. This is then recorded against the Incentives and Works programme as shown in Table 4.
Incentives and Works (Grant Projects and Council Funded Projects) 7.5. For the financial year to 18 May 2016 the 287 individual implementation projects completed have had a grant cost of $784,704. The work types, cost and hectares treated are summarised in Table 4.
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Hectares Number of Grant Rate – Work Type Total Cost ($) Grant Paid ($) Treated Claims Average (%) (Ha)
Afforestation 8 328,450 80,234 24 318 Item 10 Item Retirement 26 288,386 145,640 51 388 Riparian retirement 47 655,584 324,152 49 252 Wetland retirement 10 69,064 33,706 49 12 Managed retirement 4 36,763 18,381 50 34 Space planting 157 331,437 154,162 47 614 Gully Planting 27 52,545 24,982 48 61 Structures & earthworks 6 6,095 3,214 53 6 Other 2 466 233 50 0 Grand Total 287 1,768,490 784,704 44 1686 Table 4: Work Types and Grants 1 July 2015 – 18 May 2016
7.6. Claims for works completed in 2015-16 are 104% by number and 102% by grant cost compared to this time in 2014-15. The bulk of claims by dollar value are for riparian retirement and by number are for space and gully planting. 7.7. Works completed and claimed to date represent around 67% of the contract target for 2015-16.
The breakdown of work completed by type and grant are shown in Graphs 2 and 3.
Graph 1: Area of SLUI works completed in 2015-16 Context: this graph takes information provided in table 4, showing the types of work completed this year, with a further breakdown within each bar to show the amount of each type of work completed on the various land erodibility classes.
Map C annexed to this report shows the location of proposed works against works to date.
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Graph 2: Cost of SLUI works completed in 2015-16 Context: this graph takes information provided in table 4, showing the grant cost of each type of work completed this year.
Graph 3: Area of SLUI works completed in relation to mapped farm plan area Context: This graph shows the life to date areas of SLUI work completed on the various land erodibility classes. The breakdown in each bar shows the land already in trees (light green), the land that was already in trees but has had SLUI works completed (dark green), the land that was in pasture but has had SLUI works completed
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(red), and the land in pasture still to be treated (shades of blue). As at May 2016 we have completed work on
14% of the top priority land, 7% of the highly erodible land, 4% of the erodible land and 1% of the not erodible. 7.8. Staff have a grant allocation in which to manage individual work programmes with their clients. In addition there is a centralised approval and allocation system for any works over
$20,000 grant, where applications must be made by the landowner. To date this year the Item 10 Item total amount of grant allocated has been $1.724 M out of a revised pool of $1.760 M.
Activity and Contract Management 7.9. The autumn has been dry and warm throughout the region. Recent rainfall will be a boost to farmers looking for grass growth and a build up of feed reserves before winter. Facial eczema was a major concern through April and May. 7.10. There is still a large amount of work to be completed before the 30th June cut off. The vast majority of the outstanding work is fencing for bush or riparian retirement. Fencers are still in high demand and many projects are awaiting the arrival of the fencer. There is potentially still around $800,000 of grant claims to come to charge. 7.11. Staff have one pole claim left to complete this years mitigation package. There have been 41 projects completed with a grant cost of $51,933. This is less than allocated for year one as a small number of landowners were unable to plant poles this year. These clients have asked if they can carry that work over to the 2016 winter planting (i.e. next financial year). 7.12. A formal request to carry over funding will need to be made to cover the extra planting, but the overall approved allocation will not be exceeded. 7.13. The April report and invoice was completed and sent to MPI. Three payments have been received so far this year amounting to $1,025,800 of the $1,331,108 allocated. 7.14. The funding agreement for the “Whole Farm Plans: A vehicle for implementing policy” survey with Ministry for the Environment (MfE) has been signed. Following concerns about the perception of bias through Horizons staff carrying out interviews, MfE have agreed to a variation in the work programme. Council staff will now gain skills and experience in accompanying the senior surveyor on some interviews and in assisting with collation and write up of results. 7.15. The interview process has begun with surveyors contacting prospects in the Tiraumea and mid Rangitikei areas without a WFP 7.16. Following on from the Council workshop in March staff have agreed on a format and process to undertake plan reviews and five year programmes. The reviews are starting immediately, however it will be some time before we can build a full picture of past and future works. 7.17. The SLUI Advisory Group met on the 10th May. The main points of discussion were seeking the groups input on items for the SLUI Operational Plan and the future of SLUI. 7.18. Neil Williams, our MPI HCEF contract manager, attended the SLUI Advisory Group meeting. Staff took the opportunity to show Neil some works and progress in the hill country with a trip into the Pohangina Valley and along Ridge Road 7.19. The SLUI scholarships have been awarded for the 2016 academic year. Five scholarships were awarded to; Charlotte Holdsworth (Utiku earthflow/transitional landslide research), Thea James, Jennifer Ritchie, Bryce Hirschberg and Hannah Gibb. The scholarships were awarded to students at an awards evening at Massey University on 17th May. 7.20. Staff have been given a list of plans where no progress has been recorded. They have been asked to check with landowners why they are not making progress and if possible get works implemented. The results will be reported at future meetings.
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7.21. Staff have met in a number of project teams to discuss: The payment levels for afforestation with manuka, no changes recommended; staff and landowner information sheets for manuka;
Grant guidelines, no changes recommended; 10 Item Managed retirement, one off payments and agreements with landowners; Use of technology in the field, especially with regard to collection of more date around plan reviews. 7.22. Work on Joint Venture forests: McIntosh – this years pruning and thinning of pine blocks completed. Completed alternative species redwoods, cyprus, oaks. Eucalyptus block thinning still to be completed by contractor. Met with Dougal McIntosh to discuss next years work programme and review of his staff Health and Safety for contract work; DeRoles – completed this years programme; McGregor – potentially still to make offer to buy back JV; Chisholm – signed off permission form for entry into Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS); Silk – signed off permission form for entry into ETS, still fencing to be completed; Seddon – cleared tracks and repaired fencelines in Compartment 1; Steele – met with Richard Steele discussed work programme next financial year including fence and track repairs. Forest flown and re mapped; Thompson – met with Brian Thompson regarding boundary changes, mainly relating to leased land; Other work – awaiting final response from insurers regarding slip insurance from June 2015 event, checking through all forestry rights assessing agreements, have asked lawyer for position regarding partial sale of land with Forestry Right and Term Loan.
ANNUAL PROGRESS
The following graphs and table are presented bi monthly but are generally best looked upon as an annual report of progress. Graph 5 will be updated through a Landcare Research report every two years. Table 5 will at best be updated six monthly.
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Graph 4: SLUI works completed by work type over the life of the programme Context: Works completed over the life of the programme with the MPI contract target
Graph 5: Possible cumulative sediment reduction once the works are mature Context: Using Landcare Research SEDNET NZ, the works as they are completed will begin to have an effect on reducing sediment from erosion. This reduction (of works vs pasture or unretired land) will gradually increase as the trees reach maturity. These sediment reductions assume maturity of works. They are cumulative as more works are completed.
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Changes in implementation of SLUI farm plans completed to June 2013
Change over 12 Updated status Number of farms Status at May 15 months at May 16
10 Item >80% Substantial progress 80 87 + 7 51-80% significant progress 41 46 + 5 21-50% Good progress 97 108 + 11
1-20% Some progress 157 147 -10 0% No Funded progress 97 85 -12 0% No prospect of progress 9 9 0 Total 0% -20% 263 241 -22 Table 5: Changes in implementation of WFP completed to June 2013 Context: This table looks at the rate of WFP implementation over time. In this case the plans assessed are those completed up until June 2013. This allows 2 years for landowners to begin implementing their work programme. The change in implementation over each 12 month period is then recorded. The aim will be to see more plans making good, significant or substantial progress and less plans making some, no funded or no prospect of progress. Of significant interest is the desire to reduce the number of plans making no progress.
8. SIGNIFICANCE 8.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Grant Cooper MANAGER - LAND
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES A SLUI Target Parcels B SLUI Overview and Plan Progress C SLUI Mapped Priority Land D SLUI Works Tracking
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AnnexA
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AnnexB
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AnnexC
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AnnexD
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Report No. 16-125 Information Only - No Decision Required
WHANGANUI CATCHMENT STRATEGY 11 Item
1. PURPOSE 1.1. This report is to update Members on progress on the Whanganui Catchment Strategy for the period 1 April to 16 May 2016.
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2.1. The Whanganui Catchment Strategy (WCS) project relates to its ‘strategy’ activities introduced in 1997 which focus on the upper Whanganui River catchments and aim to prioritise an incentive programme in the area. Ultimately the strategy aims to address erosion ‘hot spots’ that affect downstream water quality. Funding from the Whanganui River Enhancement Trust (WRET) is managed to assist this programme.
3. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-125.
4. FINANCIAL IMPACT 4.1. There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper.
5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 5.1. There are no significant risks inherent in the adoption of recommendations contained in this report.
6. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 6.1. This is a public item and therefore Council may deem this sufficient to inform the public.
7. OUTPUTS
REPORTING PERIOD YTD MEASURE TARGET % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th ACTUAL WCS farm plans completed / delivered 0 0 0 1 1 2 50 Grant projects agreed 31 3 13 10 57 25 228 Complete Annual Report to WRET (2014-15) 1 0 0 0 1 1 100 Complete progress reports to WRET (2015-16) 0 0 1 1 2 2 100 Run Demonstration Farm Field Day 0 start 1 1 1 100 Establish new on farm pole nurseries with 1 start 1 2 2 100 WRET Land improvement (hectares protected) 0 16 15 24 72 150 48
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8. DISCUSSION
Activity: 8.1. The lower catchment is still warm and dry, facial eczema is a major concern for farmers. In
Item 11 Item the upper catchment the autumn has been warm, more rain is needed and there are some farmers with facial eczema concerns. 8.2. Over all pole growth and other tree establishment has been above average this year. This has translated into good growth in Horizons and farmer nurseries. 8.3. Staff have signed up around 20 projects to receive funding from the Central Government resilience package. This will include some tree planting programmes this winter. This funding has impacted on our ability to fully spend our Egrant and SLUI programme in the area. 8.4. Two WCS/WRET farm plans have been mapped, one has been completed. 8.5. As well as inspections and claims for this years works programme staff are giving advice and preparing Egrant applications for next year. There are 13 approved works programmes for 2016-17.
WCS area QEII/landowner/HRC Retirement Fence photo: Weston Brown
8.6. Staff attended a Waikato Regional Council winter grazing field day over our northern boundary where Malcolm Todd was asked to present. Staff attended a local farmer Health and Safety Workshop. 8.7. One inspection carried out and advice given re an Afforestation Grant Scheme (AGS) application. 8.8. Staff visited Orautoha School near Raetihi to give them advice on their pole nursery. The school established this nursery with our advice in order to sell poles to local farmers. Some poles will be harvested this year.
Implementation:
8.9. Ten new EGrant approvals were made this period bringing the total approvals to 57 for 2015-16. These projects have a total cost of $266,693 and grant funding of $116,070. The grant costs are shared between Horizons (allocated $50,000) and WRET ($53,000) plus demonstration farm costs.
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8.10. Twenty three claims have been completed with a grant cost of $37,750. There have been 15 claims for space planting, five for riparian fencing, and one each for bush retirement, wetland retirement and managed retirement.
Implementation (WRET): Item 11 Item 8.11. Two staff attended the WRET meeting at Ohakune and presented a written update. WRET were pleased with progress and offered the possibility of further funding if required. 8.12. Staff are still looking for a site for the final WRET nursery, originally three were planned. A third site is proving difficult to find. One more site inspection is planned later this month. 8.13. The works on the WRET Demonstration farm have been held up due to the farmer having time off for a major operation. It is hoped the sediment dams planned over summer will still be installed this month.
One Plan Implementation:
8.14. One Plan implementation continues with vegetation clearance and earth disturbance consents issued. Staff have given advice on culverts, dam repair and forest harvesting. More detail is provided in the Regional and Coast Report.
Other: 9. SIGNIFICANCE 9.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Grant Cooper MANAGER - LAND
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES There are no attachments for this report.
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Report No. 16-126 Information Only - No Decision Required
REGIONAL COAST AND LAND 12 Item
1. PURPOSE 1.1. This report is to update Members of the progress on Council’s Regional Land and Coast activities from 1 April to 16 May 2016.
2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-126.
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 are no significant risks inherent in the adoption of recommendations contained in this report.
6. OUTPUTS
YTD REPORTING PERIOD TARGET % MEASURE ACTUAL 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Soil health workshops 0 0 0 2 2 2 100 Produce soil health plans 0 0 start 1 1 2 50 Produce Environmental Farm Plans 0 0 start 2 2 5 40 Environmental grant projects 34 7 1 5 47 50 94 Implement SOE Soil programme 0 start 0 1 0 Fund Poplar and Willow Trust 0 1 0 0 1 1 100 Fund and support Ballance Farm Environment 0 start 0 1 0 Awards to complete annual programme Other industry partnerships supported 0 start 0 2 0 Manage HRC nurseries to produce poplar poles 0 14,333 14,333 14,000 (poles produced winter 2015) 116 Source additional poplar poles (poles sourced) 0 17,050 17,050 13,000 Provide technical support to P&W Research Trust 0 0 1 1 1 100 to provide sites for trial and bulking new clones One Plan Implementation (in field consents) 7 5 9 13 34 NA One Plan Implementation (forest sediment control 0 7 10 24 41 NA plans) Land improvement (hectares protected) 0 16 28 71 99 150 66
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7. DISCUSSION
Activity: 7.1. The autumn has been dry and warm. All farmers will be hoping the recent rain is followed
Item 12 Item by continued mild conditions to build up much needed feed reserves. Farmers are dealing with facial eczema, many in areas not usually noted for the disease. 7.2. All tree growth has been good as there has been enough rainfall to get through until autumn. There is some concern from farmers that it will be too dry to plant poles this winter. We are considering delaying pole harvest by a couple of weeks while we wait on winter rain.
Implementation:
7.3. This activity group (Regional Land) has seen a total of 47 Environmental Grant projects approved with a total cost of $329,850 and a grant cost of $88,134. Five projects have been transferred to other funding streams (1 to SLUI, 3 to Freshwater, 1 to Whanganui Catchment Strategy). A total of 32 claims have been completed; 27 for space planting, and two for riparian, and one each for bush retirement, earthworks and afforestation, these claims have had a grant cost of $44,456. 7.4. Two farms have had an Environmental Property Plans (EPPs) completed and field work has been undertaken on four others. One plan has been delivered.
Industry Partnerships:
7.5. The Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) programme is continuing. All that remains to complete this years programme is the Supreme Award Winners Field Day. This will be held on 29th June at Nukumaru on our western boundary. 7.6. Figures supplied by The New Zealand Farm Environment Awards trust show that Horizons are among the top regions for attracting awards entrants over the last 10 years. Horizons have averaged 13 entrants per year, the overall average is 12. 7.7. The Horizons Region BFEA sponsorship funding agreement expires this year. A new “partnership agreement” has been supplied by the Trust for our comment. 7.8. Staff have partnered with Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+L NZ) in producing and running a workshop around getting more value from a SLUI WFP. This workshop was held on the Morrison property in the Turakina Valley on the 18th of May. This workshop will include soil health presentations, so will double as a soil health workshop as part of the Operational Plan target. 7.9. One Middle Districts Farm Forestry field day was attended near Fordell. The main theme being Health and Safety on logging sites. 7.10. Confirmed supply of willow material to Ian McIvor of the Poplar and Willow Trust for Giant Willow Aphid trials. 7.11. Malcolm Todd attended a Greater Wellington (GWRC) workshop on a discussion document from Landcare Research (Les Basher, Andrew Manderson) in collaboration with Ian McIvor, Lucy McKergow and Janet Reid entitled the Effectiveness of Conservation Planting and Farm Plans.
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Nursery:
7.12. Woodville; Final spray and mow before harvest completed. Will be advertising for a contractor to assist with pole harvest with around 16,000 poles to be cut. Lease and contract agreements need to be renewed before the end of June. Prices have been obtained to install a Mirco Rain irrigation system. 12 Item 7.13. Bulls; Mowing and spraying completed, ready for harvest. 7.14. In the Northern Nurseries the spray programme has been completed. A contract has been engaged to undertake harvesting with around 1,800 poles expected from Horizons and one farm nursery. 7.15. Weber; completed pre harvest pole count. 7.16. Staff have confirmed supply and pricing for poles from Greater Wellington and Hawkes Bay Regional Councils and a private supplier at Waipawa. Both councils are concerned the dry season will lead to cancellations from their farmers. 7.17. Staff have visited four farmer suppliers and given advice on pruning, irrigation, Giant Willow Aphid and pole harvesting. 7.18. Supplies of dynex and netlon pole sleeves have been received into stock for the winter planting season.
Soil Health: 7.19. One soil health plan is currently under preparation and one other is planned, the aim will be to complete both by the end of June. 7.20. The second half of the SOE Soil Health monitoring field work is largely completed and samples have been sent to the lab for analysis. 7.21. Spring sample results have been received and checked, reports are due to be sent to the landowners involved. 7.22. Malcolm Todd is participating in the review of erosion indicators for state of environment reporting as part of the Land Monitoring Forum.
Advice and Information: 7.23. Staff presented an outline of regional and SLUI issues to 80 Lincoln University students on their annual North Island field trip. 7.24. Staff attended the Wairarapa Farmer of the Year Field Day on the Varty property at Eketahuna (SLUI WFP). 7.25. Land and RAT staff presented to real estate agents on One Plan issues and SLUI land resource information. 7.26. Staff have met with a number of contractors regarding pole planting this winter. Many landowners are showing interest in getting their poles contract planted. 7.27. Met with River Management for site inspection at Goulters Gully. 7.28. Staff have visited 17 landowners primarily to give advice on next years works programmes including: . Freshwater fencing claims (3); . Biodiversity fencing and wetland retirement, including raupo removal (2); . Poplar and willow pole planting; . E grant advice and preparation of proposals for 2016/17 (5);
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. Manuka planting and possible AGS funding (2). Item 12 Item
Photo: Proposed tributary fencing of Otamataraha wetland with biodiversity values north of Taihape (Libby Owen)
Training: 7.29. Two staff attended the Hill Country Symposium in Rotorua organized by Beef and Lamb and Grasslands Association. 7.30. Other training opportunities included: . LUC course, on farm mapping for two new staff members; . Health and Safety contractor management; . Oil spill; and . Flood barrier training in Wanganui.
One Plan Implementation: 7.31. Thirteen staff have totalled 552 hours work on One Plan implementation this year. The statistics on number of consents issued doesn’t tell the full story of the work being carried out in this area. Work this period includes: . One inspection for biodiversity and wetland modification with Biodiversity staff; . Two inspections for possible culverting consents; . Three inspections for land disturbance; . Two inspections for land disturbance on dune lands; . Three for forestry logging; and . A total of 23 Erosion and Sediment Control Plans have been submitted this year. These relate to logging programmes ranging in duration from one to nine months.
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7.32. Total consents issued to date are recorded by type and location:
Location Consent Type Regional and Coast Total WCS Area Area 12 Item Vegetation clearance 6 5 11 Cultivation > 20 degrees 0 4 4 Land disturbance < 20 degrees 1 6 7 Land disturbance >20 degrees 5 7 12 Total 12 22 34
8. SIGNIFICANCE 8.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.
Grant Cooper MANAGER - LAND
Jon Roygard GROUP MANAGER NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES There are no attachments for this report.
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