Policy and Planning Committee Thursday 3 September 2015 10.30am Taranaki Regional Council, Stratford Agenda for the Policy and Planning Committee of the Taranaki Regional Council to be held in the Taranaki Regional Council chambers, 47 Cloten Road, Stratford, on Thursday 3 September 2015 commencing at 10.30am. Councillors N W Walker (Committee Chairperson) P D Horton B R Jeffares M P Joyce D L Lean (ex officio) Representatives Councillor R Vickers (Stratford District Council) Councillor R Jordan (New Plymouth District Council) Councillor P Nixon (South Taranaki District Council) Mr D H McIntyre (Federated Farmers Taranaki) Attending Messrs M J Nield (Director-Corporate Services) G K Bedford (Director-Environment Quality) A D McLay (Director-Resource Management) S R Hall (Director-Operations) G C Severinsen (Policy and Strategy Manager) C L Spurdle (Planning Manager) P Ledingham (Communications Officer) S Tamarapa (Iwi Communications Officer) Mrs K van Gameren (Committee Administrator) Apologies Councillor D N MacLeod (ex officio) Councillor C S Williamson Notification of Late Items Item 1 Confirmation of Minutes – 23 July 2015 Page 1 Item 2 Submission on NES for Plantation Forestry Page 8 Item 3 Bathing beach recreational water quality Page 22 SEM report 2014-2015 Item 4 Regional freshwater recreational bathing water Page 30 quality report for 2014-2015 Doc# 1561043-v1 Item 5 Nutrient mitigation options for the next generation Page 42 Freshwater Plan – background technical reports Four Separate Reports Item 6 Freshwater bodies of outstanding or significant Page 70 value in the Taranaki region One Separate Report Item 7 Report on Advocacy and Response activities Page 76 for the 2014/2015 year Item 8 General Business 1 Agenda Memorandum Date 3 September 2015 Memorandum to Chairperson and Members Policy and Planning Committee Subject: Confirmation of Minutes – 23 July 2015 Item: 1 Approved by: A D McLay, Director-Resource Management B G Chamberlain, Chief Executive Document: 1561020 Resolve That the Policy and Planning Committee of the Taranaki Regional Council: 1. takes as read and confirms the minutes of the Policy and Planning Committee meeting of the Taranaki Regional Council held in the Taranaki Regional Council chambers, 47 Cloten Road, Stratford, on Thursday 23 July 2015 at 10.30am 2. notes the recommendations therein were adopted by the Taranaki Regional Council on 11 August 2015. Matters arising Appendices Document #1544211 – Minutes Policy and Planning Committee Thursday 23 July 2015 2 Minutes of the Policy and Planning Committee Meeting of the Taranaki Regional Council, held in the Taranaki Regional Council Chambers, 47 Cloten Road, Stratford, on Thursday 23 July 2015 at 10.30 am. Members Councillors P D Horton (Committee Chairperson) B R Jeffares M P Joyce D L Lean (ex officio) D N MacLeod (ex officio) Representatives Councillor P Nixon (South Taranaki District Council) Mr D McIntyre (Federated Farmers Taranaki) Attending Messrs B G Chamberlain (Chief Executive) A D McLay (Director-Resource Management) G K Bedford (Director-Environment Quality) M J Nield (Director-Corporate Services) S R Hall (Director-Operations) G C Severinsen (Planning and Strategy Manager) C L Spurdle (Planning Manager) P Ledingham (Communications Officer) S Tamarapa (Iwi Communications Officer) Mrs K van Gameren (Committee Administrator) Mrs N West (Policy Analyst) Ms D Young (Policy Analyst) Mr J Clough (Wrightson Consulting) Apologies The apologies from Councillor N W Walker and Councillor C S Williamson, and Councillor R Vickers (Stratford District Council) were received and sustained. Notification of Late Items There were no late items of general business. 1. Confirmation of Minutes – 11 June 2015 Resolved THAT the Policy and Planning Committee of the Taranaki Regional Council 1. takes as read and confirms the minutes of the Policy and Planning Committee Doc# 1544211-v1 3 meeting of the Taranaki Regional Council held in the Taranaki Regional Council Chambers, Cloten Road, Stratford, on Thursday 11 June 2015 at 10.30 am 2. notes that the recommendations therein were adopted by the Taranaki Regional Council on 30 June 2015. Horton/MacLeod Matters Arising There were no matters arising. 2. Regional freshwater ecological quality: 2013-2014 results from state of the environment monitoring 2.1 Mr G K Bedford, Director-Environment Quality, spoke to the memorandum and provided a presentation to the Committee on the latest results of the Council’s state of the environment monitoring programme for fresh water ecological health (macroinvertebrate monitoring). 2.2 The Committee noted that the Council’s state of the environment monitoring of Macroinvertebrate Community Index (MCI) for the 2013-2014 period show an on- going firming of the trend of improvements regionally in respect of the Council’s Long-Term Plan target of maintaining or enhancing regional in—stream ecological health. In time, policies/initiatives such as complete stock exclusion from waterways, the maturing and extension of riparian planting and the continuing reductions in number and improvements in the quality of discharges to waterways will see further consequential gains. Recommended THAT the Taranaki Regional Council 1. receives this memorandum noting the preparation of a report into the state of and trends in regional in-stream macroinvertebrate community health data for Taranaki, for 2013-2014 and over the period 1995-2014 2. notes the findings of the SEM programme 3. adopts the specific recommendations therein. Lean/Joyce 3. Reports by Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment on water quality 3.1 Mr G K Bedford, Director-Environment Quality, spoke to the memorandum introducing two reports to the Committee from the Parliamentary Commissioner (PCE) for the Environment released in June 2015 dealing with water quality (Update Policy and Planning Committee Meeting Thursday 23 July 2015 4 report. Water Quality in New Zealand: Land use and nutrient pollution and Managing water quality: Examining the 2014 National Policy Statement). 3.2 The PCE’s reports and recommendations are for Government consideration as it develops its freshwater policy further. The Council has in the meantime, committed to a review of its Fresh Water and Soil plans in accordance with timetables prescribed in the Resource Management Act and the current operative NPS. As part of its plans for freshwater policy, the Government intends to commission an independent review of the implementation and effectiveness of the National Policy Statement by 1 July 2016. The Council will have the opportunity to formally incorporate its responses to Government initiated policy at that time, including further reflections upon the PCE’s analysis. Recommended THAT the Taranaki Regional Council 1. receives the memorandum Reports by Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment on water quality. MacLeod/Jeffares 4. Update on the review of the Freshwater and Land Management Plan for Taranaki 4.1 Mr C L Spurdle, Planning Manager, spoke to the memorandum updating the Committee on the Council’s review of the Draft Freshwater and Land Management Plan for Taranaki (Draft Plan) and the feedback received on the Draft Plan to date. 4.2 The Council has received 42 responses (feedback) on the Draft Plan from interested parties and individuals. While feedback on the Draft Plan has been largely positive, significant changes sought to the Draft Plan from feedback received are broadly grouped around water quantity, National Objectives Framework limits, nutrient management, cultural significance, wetlands and biodiversity, and implementation. 4.3 Council staff will review the feedback and it is proposed to prepare a report summarizing the issues raised and the Council’s preliminary response. In due course that report will be presented to the Committee and will be made available to all respondents. The comments received will be used to inform final changes to the draft Plan prior to it being potentially publicly notified by the Council under Schedule 1 of the RMA. Meetings will be held with respondents as part of this process to discuss any issues or concerns raised in submissions prior to drafting a revised Freshwater and Land Management Plan for Taranaki. A review of the Council’s position on progressing the plan review will be made later in the year. Recommended THAT the Taranaki Regional Council Policy and Planning Committee Meeting Thursday 23 July 2015 5 1. receives the memorandum on the feedback received on the Draft Freshwater and Land Management Plan for Taranaki 2. notes that officers will be completing an officer’s report and meeting with respondents to discuss any issues or concerns raised in their feedback prior to drafting a revised Freshwater and Land Management Plan for Taranaki. Joyce/McIntyre 5. A National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry: Consultation document 5.1 Ms D Young, Policy Analyst, spoke to the memorandum on the release of a consultation document released by the Ministry of Primary Industries on a proposal to introduce a National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry under the Resource Management Act 1991 and to seek feedback from the Committee for the preparation of a submission by 11 August 2015. 5.2 The Committee noted and discussed the memorandum and supported the officer comments outlined. It was agreed that a ‘one-size fits all approach’ is not desirable for Taranaki and the potential imposition of costs from increased mapping and to monitor permitted activities are of major concern.