Summary of submissions Long Term Plan 2021-2031 Date: 30 April 2021 Contents Natural environment ............................................................................................. 5 What is your preferred option for addressing water health? ............................................................. 5 What is your preferred option for managing our water catchments? .............................................. 14 What is your preferred option for protecting our biodiversity? ....................................................... 22 What is your preferred option for land-based biosecurity? .............................................................. 29 What is your preferred option for marine-based biosecurity? ......................................................... 36 Community resilience .......................................................................................... 41 Do you agree with our proposed option to undertake the following flood protection works? ....... 41 Awanui River flood scheme upgrade ................................................................................................. 41 Otiria-Moerewa flood mitigation spillway ......................................................................................... 43 Kawakawa flood mitigation stopbank................................................................................................ 45 Whangārei flood mitigation project .................................................................................................. 48 What is your preferred option for upgrading our tsunami warning system? ................................... 50 What is your preferred option for building a new emergency coordination centre? ....................... 54 What is your preferred option for climate change resilience? .......................................................... 59 What is your preferred option for improving water resilience? ....................................................... 68 What is your preferred option for harbour safety and navigation? .................................................. 72 What is your preferred option for increasing CityLink services? ....................................................... 75 Regional leadership ............................................................................................. 79 What is your preferred option for Māori partnerships? ................................................................... 79 What is your preferred option for supporting work across council? ................................................ 84 Other decisions .................................................................................................... 88 Do you agree with our proposed option for Oruku Landing? ........................................................... 88 Do you agree with our proposed option for funding economic development? ............................... 97 Do you agree with our proposed option on changes to rates? ....................................................... 101 Do you agree with our proposed option on reviewing financial reserves?..................................... 103 Do you agree with our proposed option on updates to policies? ................................................... 106 Other comments ................................................................................................. 108 Regional Sporting Facilities .............................................................................................................. 108 Funding for Emergency Services ...................................................................................................... 110 Comments relevant to other Councils ............................................................................................. 112 GE / GMO provisions ........................................................................................................................ 114 Transport (including rail) .................................................................................................................. 117 LTP Process ....................................................................................................................................... 119 Area-specific: algae at Waipū .......................................................................................................... 121 Area-specific: Ngunguru sandspit .................................................................................................... 122 Area-specific: Other ......................................................................................................................... 123 Northland Inc / economic development .......................................................................................... 125 Financing and investment ................................................................................................................ 128 Agrichemicals and toxins ................................................................................................................. 130 Other: ungrouped ............................................................................................................................ 131 Rates and general ............................................................................................... 135 Rates and costs: concern ................................................................................................................. 135 Rates support and general ............................................................................................................... 138 Introduction This document is a summary of the submissions received on the Long Term Plan 2021-2031. Consultation opened on Saturday 13 March 2021 and closed on Friday 16 April 2021, allowing 23 working days for submissions, or one calendar month as per the requirements of consulting under the Local Government Act. We received a total of 171 submissions during this time. This summary has been undertaken by staff with the purpose of providing an overview of the main points raised in submissions. It is not intended to be a comprehensive capture of all points made by submitters. In addition to the summary of submissions, the following information is also available to help inform deliberations and decisions: the full submissions; full transcribes of the notes taken at the ‘Have your say’ events; and staff recommendations. This document roughly follows the structure of the Consultation Document. Please note: Submissions that were not made online have been summarised by staff against the relevant consultation points. While staff were able to summarise comments, they did not presume selection of an option unless it was very clear in the submission text. This is reflected in the number of “No response” comments, where people did not select a preferred option but still provided comment against a consultation point. Natural environment What is your preferred option for addressing water health? % Total % Answer Count Number of Responses 57.31% - 98 Our proposed option 26.32% 45.92% 45 Another option 22.22% 38.78% 38 None of the above 8.77% 15.31% 15 [No Response] 42.69% - 73 Total 100.00% 100.00% 171 Ninety-eight of 171 submitters responded to this question, with 45 choosing our proposed option, 38 choosing another option, 15 choosing none of the above and 73 not selecting an option but still making comment (please see note in Introduction). Of submitters who chose our proposed option, three comments directly related to sewerage spills, two to council only undertaking the essential work regarding addressing water health, and two to keeping the rates increase low/manageable. Of submitters who chose another option, many noted how important water quality is and its benefits, showing support for increased monitoring, testing and data collection. Some submitters showed support for Te Mana o Te Wai and more iwi/hapū involvement, and for improving water ways having positive impacts on climate change. Submitters also noted issues with allocation, stock, rubbish, wastewater discharges, chemicals and algae blooms. Of submitters who chose none of the above, comments related to keeping costs down with no additional spend, and support for Te Mana o Te Wai, more lake monitoring and groundwater mapping. Of submitters who didn’t chose an option, comments noted the importance of clean water and access to this (including allocation issues), improving water quality and health, increased monitoring, support for community led groups, coordination with other agencies (eg. WDC, LAWA), fencing of water ways, planting more trees and protecting existing trees, and increased regulatory action. Concerns were also raised over the use of chemicals/pesticides. WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED OPTION FOR ADDRESSING WATER HEALTH? Name / Organisation Reference Comment OUR PROPOSED OPTION (do the essentials) Ian Heape LTP21_17 This has been considered for it to be a preferred option there for I accept your wisdom Mrs Jan Pirihi LTP21_24 Ensure no sewage spills into harbours after heavy rain Remediate for flooding - Takahiwai Road drains, and sea-level inundations with high tides at foot of hill Laurie Copland LTP21_28 Do what you have to do regulatory only as landowners are making changes to how their activities impact water quality. This is required by central government. It is a case of need to do to not want to do. C Cotton LTP21_81 Data collection is great but after sewerage and treatment plants