I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Great Barrier Environment Committee will be held on:
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Date:
Time:
Meeting Room:
Venue:
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Wednesday, 11
December 2013
10:00am
Claris
Conference Centre
19 Whangaparapara Road
Claris
Great Barrier Island
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Great Barrier Environment Committee
OPEN AGENDA
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MEMBERSHIP
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Chairperson
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Deputy Chairperson
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Members
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Member Jeff Cleave
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Member Susan Daly
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Member Izzy Fordham
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Member Judy Gilbert
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Member Christina Spence
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(Quorum 3 members)
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Letitia Edwards
Democracy and Engagement Advisor
3 December 2013
Contact Telephone: (09) 373 6221
Email: Letitia.Edwards@AucklandCouncil.govt.nz
Website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
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ITEM TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
1 Welcome 5
2 Apologies 5
3 Declaration of Interest 5
4 Leave of Absence 5
5 Acknowledgements 5
6 Petitions 5
7 Deputations 5
8 Public Forum 5
9 Extraordinary Business 5
10 Notices of Motion 6
11 Election of Chairperson for the Great Barrier Environment
Committee 7
12 Election of Deputy Chairperson for the Great Barrier
Environment Committee 9
13 Infrastructure and Environmental Services Report 11
14 Proposed Chevron Skink Monitoring and Biosecurity Ambassador
Projects 25
15 Update on the Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan (Sea Change) 29
16 Consideration of Great Barrier Environment Strategy Planning
Committee Environment Statement 51
17 Adoption of Great Barrier Environment Committee meeting
schedule 2013-2016 63
18 Local board agreement 2014/2015 65
19 Consideration of Extraordinary
Items
The meeting will be chaired by John Nash, Senior Local
Board Advisor/Relationship Manager, for items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and
11. From item 12 onwards, the newly elected Chairperson will chair the
meeting.
1 Welcome
2 Apologies
At the close of the agenda no apologies had been received.
3 Declaration of Interest
Members are reminded of the need to be vigilant to stand aside from
decision making when a conflict arises between their role as a member and any
private or other external interest they might have.
4 Leave of Absence
At the close of
the agenda no requests for leave of absence had been received.
5 Acknowledgements
At the close of the agenda no requests for acknowledgements had been
received.
6 Petitions
At the close of the agenda no requests to present petitions had been
received.
7 Deputations
At the close of the agenda no requests for deputations had been
received.
8 Public Forum
A period of
time (approximately 30 minutes) is set aside for members of the public to
address the meeting on matters within its delegated authority. A maximum of 3
minutes per item is allowed, following which there may be questions from
members.
At the close of the agenda no requests for public forum had been
received.
9 Extraordinary Business
Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:
“An item that is not on the agenda for a meeting may be dealt with
at that meeting if-
(a) The local authority by resolution so
decides; and
(b) The presiding member explains at the
meeting, at a time when it is open to the public,-
(i) The reason why the item is not on the agenda; and
(ii) The reason why the discussion of the item
cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.”
Section 46A(7A) of the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:
“Where an item is not on the agenda for a meeting,-
(a) That item may be discussed at that meeting
if-
(i) That item is a minor matter relating to
the general business of the local authority; and
(ii) the presiding member explains at the
beginning of the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public, that the
item will be discussed at the meeting; but
(b) no resolution, decision or recommendation
may be made in respect of that item except to refer that item to a subsequent
meeting of the local authority for further discussion.”
10 Notices of Motion
At the close of the agenda no requests for notices of motion had
been received.
Election
of Chairperson for the Great Barrier Environment Committee
File No.:
CP2013/27768
Purpose
1. In accordance with Schedule 7, clause 21(5)(b) of the Local
Government Act 2002, the Relationship Manager on behalf of the Chief Executive,
will call for nominations for the Chairperson of the Great Barrier Environment
Committee.
Executive Summary
2. The Committee must elect a member to this position in
accordance with Schedule 7, clause 25 of the Act, noting that no member has a
casting vote.
3. The
Committee will also need to determine what method they will apply to elect the
chairperson.
Schedule 7, Part 1,
Clause 25 of the Local Government Act 2002 stipulates that:
25 Voting systems for certain appointments
(1) This clause applies to -
(a) the election or appointment
of the chairperson and deputy chairperson of a regional council; and
(b) the election or appointment of the deputy mayor; and
(c) the election or appointment
of the chairperson and deputy chairperson of a committee; and
(d) the election or appointment of a representative of a local
authority.
(2) If this clause applies, a
local authority or a committee (if the local authority has so directed) must
determine by resolution that a person be elected or appointed by using one of
the following systems of voting:
(a) the voting system in subclause (3) (system A):
(b) the voting system in subclause (4) (system B).
(3) System A -
(a) requires that a person is
elected or appointed if he or she receives the votes of a majority of the
members of the local authority or committee present and voting; and
(b) has the following
characteristics:
(i) there is a first round of
voting for all candidates; and
(ii) if no candidate is
successful in that round there is a second round of voting from which the
candidate with the fewest votes in the first round is excluded; and
(iii) if no candidate is
successful in the second round there is a third, and if necessary subsequent,
round of voting from which, each time, the candidate with the fewest votes in
the previous round is excluded; and
(iv) in any round of voting, if
2 or more candidates tie for the lowest number of votes, the person excluded
from the next round is resolved by lot.
(4) System B -
(a) requires that a person is
elected or appointed if he or she receives more votes than any other candidate;
and
(b) has the following
characteristics:
(i) there is only 1 round of
voting; and
(ii) if 2 or more candidates
tie for the most votes, the tie is resolved by lot.
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Recommendation/s
That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:
a) elects a chairperson for the 2013-2016 political term, utilising
either System A or System B of Schedule 7, Part 1,
Clause 25 of the Local Government Act 2002.
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Attachments
There are no
attachments for this report.
Signatories
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Authors
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John Nash - Senior Local Board
Advisor/Relationship Manager
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Authorisers
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Karen Lyons - Manager Local Board
Services
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Election
of Deputy Chairperson for the Great Barrier Environment Committee
File No.:
CP2013/27769
Purpose
1. In accordance with Schedule 7, clause 21(5)(e) of
the Local Government Act 2002, the Chairperson will call for nominations for
the Deputy Chairperson of the Great Barrier Environment Committee.
Executive Summary
2. The Committee must elect a member to the Deputy
Chairperson position in accordance with Schedule 7, clause 25 of the Act,
noting that no member has a casting vote.
3. The Committee will also need to determine what
method they will apply to elect the Deputy Chairperson.
Schedule
7, Part 1, Clause 25 of the Local Government Act 2002 stipulates that:
25 Voting systems for certain appointments
(1) This clause applies to -
(a) the
election or appointment of the chairperson and deputy chairperson of a regional
council; and
(b) the election or appointment of the deputy mayor;
and
(c) the
election or appointment of the chairperson and deputy chairperson of a
committee; and
(d) the election or appointment of a representative
of a local authority.
(2) If this
clause applies, a local authority or a committee (if the local authority has so
directed) must determine by resolution that a person be elected or appointed by
using one of the following systems of voting:
(a) the voting system in subclause (3) (system A):
(b) the voting system in subclause (4) (system B).
(3) System A -
(a) requires
that a person is elected or appointed if he or she receives the votes of a
majority of the members of the local authority or committee present and voting;
and
(b) has the
following characteristics:
(i) there
is a first round of voting for all candidates; and
(ii) if no
candidate is successful in that round there is a second round of voting from
which the candidate with the fewest votes in the first round is excluded; and
(iii) if no
candidate is successful in the second round there is a third, and if necessary
subsequent, round of voting from which, each time, the candidate with the
fewest votes in the previous round is excluded; and
(iv) in any
round of voting, if 2 or more candidates tie for the lowest number of votes,
the person excluded from the next round is resolved by lot.
(4) System B -
(a) requires
that a person is elected or appointed if he or she receives more votes than any
other candidate; and
(b) has the
following characteristics:
(i) there
is only 1 round of voting; and
(ii) if 2
or more candidates tie for the most votes, the tie is resolved by lot.
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Recommendation/s
That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:
a) elects
a Deputy Chairperson for the 2013-2016 political term, utilising either
System A or System B of Schedule
7, Part 1, Clause 25 of the Local Government Act 2002.
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Attachments
There are no
attachments for this report.
Signatories
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Authors
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John Nash - Senior Local Board
Advisor/Relationship Manager
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Authorisers
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Karen Lyons - Manager Local Board
Services
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Infrastructure
and Environmental Services Report
File No.:
CP2013/27914
Purpose
1. To update the Great Barrier
Environment Committee (the Committee) on environmental activities delivered by
the Infrastructure and Environmental Services (I&ES) department.
2. This report also tracks the
delivery and expenditure of environmental budget lines from the 2013/2014 Local
Board Agreement (LBA), as assigned to the Environmental Services Unit (ESU).
Executive
Summary
3. The purpose of the Committee is
to be the dedicated decision making authority to ‘discuss and as appropriate
advance matters relating to the protection and enhancement of the environment
on Great Barrier Island’ (resolution number GB/2013/219). In particular, the
Committee has delegation over biodiversity, biosecurity, waste minimisation and
water quality. As these activities are delivered by the I and ES department,
the Committee is the most appropriate forum for reporting on those activities.
4. As this is the first meeting of
the Committee, this report also includes an overview of the departmental work
programme for the benefit of new members of the Great Barrier Local Board (the
Board).
5. Detailed information on specific
projects, particularly those funded by the Board, is included in the appended
reports (Attachments A and B) from the Environmental Services and Solid Waste
units.
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Recommendation
That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:
a) receives the Infrastructure and Environmental Services update
report.
b) notes that
refuse bins at Shoal Bay Wharf have been relocated to mitigate the
biosecurity risk from rainbow skinks.
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Discussion
6. This report and attachments
specifically details the activities delivered by the three units of I&ES
within the Board area which support and contribute to the following Local Board
Plan priorities and initiatives:
Priorities
· Protect and enhance our environment and
showcase our unique qualities
Initiatives
· Develop
biosecurity and pest management programmes
· Work
with the Department of Conservation on integrated pest management programmes
for the island
· Improve
local waste and recycling facilities at the Claris landfill
7. The following provides some
background information for board members, to familiarise them with the work
programmes and priorities delivered by two units within the I and ES department
– Environmental Services and Solid Waste.
Environmental
Services Unit
Overview
8. The Auckland Plan describes a
transformational shift to ‘strongly commit to environmental action and green
growth’. It is the responsibility of the Environmental Services Unit (ESU)
within I and ES to support that shift through the development, promotion and
implementation of projects that support environment and sustainability
outcomes.
9. Improving freshwater quality is
a key focus for ESU and is supported through the implementation of
catchment-based restoration projects (such as the Sustainable Catchments
Programme and Project Twin Streams), land management programmes, and community
education initiatives such as Wai Care.
10. The vision of the Indigenous
Biodiversity Strategy is to ensure that Auckland’s biodiversity is flourishing
and treasured. In supporting this vision, as well as that of the Auckland Plan,
the biodiversity team provide technical advice to ecological restoration
projects being delivered by either Council or private landowners. Biodiversity
staff also provides technical input into the evaluation of resource consent
applications and other statutory processes, such as the development of the
draft unitary plan.
11. Biosecurity works alongside
biodiversity to contribute to environmental outcomes. Biosecurity is
responsible for the implementation of the Regional Pest Management Strategy
through a number of programmes, and is also responsible for the regional
coordination of national biosecurity management programmes, such as the local
response to kauri dieback and kiwifruit vine disease (PSA).
Regional Biosecurity
and Biodiversity Work Programmes
12. The Biosecurity group has a full
time officer based on Great Barrier Island. The regionally funded work of this
officer includes the following:
· Pest animal surveillance at all wharves,
jetties and Claris airfield ($20,560)
· Argentine Ant Monitoring and control
($63,440)
· Pest plant survey and control ($69,687)
· Treasure island signage at wharves and
airports, design and installation ($7,000)
· Broken Islands rodent surveillance
($11,000)
· Rainbow skink incursion response in the
Tryphena wharf area ($24,100)
· Community pest control programmes (c$7000)
· Kauri dieback hygiene stations ($5000)
13. Other specialist biosecurity
staff also provide on-island support and technical advice to landowners over a
wide range of biosecurity related matters.
14. Biodiversity staff are available
to provide support and technical advice to all landowners over a wide range of
biodiversity related matters, including species conservation and ecosystem
restoration. This includes supporting applications for the Natural Heritage and
Environmental Initiatives Funds.
15. The Biodiversity
team has commenced the rollout of the species prioritisation framework. There
are 36 priority species in total including species present on Great Barrier.
Targeted funding for specific species will be determined as soon as the final
prioritization is completed. This information will be provided to the
Committee.
16. Biodiversity staff also work
alongside other Council units (such as Stormwater and Biosecurity) to help
deliver good environmental outcomes. For example, staff have provided
significant advice on the culvert restoration work to improve fish passage.
Opportunities
17. ESU also
delivers a number of projects that support community development through
engaging communities in environment and sustainability initiatives. These
projects include Wai Care, Enviroschools, Trees for Survival and Community
Shellfish Monitoring. In addition, ESU is currently developing and trialling a
number of household sustainability initiatives in various local board areas.
18. Solid waste is
currently funding a contract to deliver waste minimisation education on the
island. This approach of employing an on-island educator could be broadened to
extend beyond just waste minimisation and towards biosecurity, sustainability
and other educational initiatives (such as delivering the Wai Care programme).
19. A significant
‘barrier’ to achieving ecological restoration outcomes on the island is the
lack of locally available eco-sourced plants. Investigation of how to support
island-based nurseries is an opportunity the Committee could advance this
term. A guaranteed availability of eco-sourced plants would enable further
wetland restoration and the creation of inanga spawning habitats to be
programmed and support restoration initiatives on private land funded through
Council grants.
20. The Local Board Plan notes the
opportunity for Great Barrier to be a showcase of clean and renewable energy
sources and technology. The Committee may wish to consider developing a programme to identify and overcome barriers to encourage the
adoption of sustainable practices by residents, such as the installation of
solar systems and composting toilets.
Solid
Waste Unit
21. The solid waste unit, within the
Infrastructure and Environmental Services Department, is responsible for the
management of the region’s kerbside domestic refuse, recycling, hazardous
waste, inorganics, illegal dumping and litter collection. It also manages some
transfer stations, and develops and delivers waste minimisation programmes. A
key priority for the solid waste unit over the next three years will be to
implement the Auckland Councilk Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP).
22. Solid waste is made up of four
main operational delivery groups; waste planning, waste minimisation, waste
operations and waste infrastructure and assets. The responsibilities of each
group are described briefly below.
23. The waste planning team is
responsible for carrying out implementation planning for the delivery of the
WMMP and ensuring our waste operations and plans are consistent with regional
waste bylaws and national level waste legislation. They advocate council views
to central government on waste issues.
24. The waste minimisation team is
responsible for the development, management and delivery of waste minimisation
behaviour change and education programmes to households, businesses, and
schools. This includes programmes such as the Create Your Own Eden composting
coursesand cloth nappy workshops.
25. The waste operations team is
responsible for the management of the region’s kerbside domestic refuse,
recycling and inorganic waste collection services, servicing and maintaining
public litter bins and loose litter cleaning.
26. The waste assets and
infrastructure team is responsible for providing infrastructure to ensure
Auckland meets its obligations under the Waste Minimisation Act for the safe
and efficient recovery, recycling and disposal of waste across the region. On
Great Barrier, the largest waste asset managed by the team is the Claris
Landfill, which consolidates all rubbish and recycling generated on the island,
as well as septic sludge.
Consideration
Local
Board Views
27. The Board delegated decision
making for environmental activities to the Committee.
Maori
Impact Statement
28. While this report is for
information only and does not require any decision making, it is recognised
that environmental management, water quality and land management has integral
links with the mauri of the environments and concepts of kaitiakitanga.
Implementation
Issues
29. There are no implementation
issues arising from this report. Regular reporting on the delivery of locally-funded
initiatives will be through reports to each meeting of the Committee.
Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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aView
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Environmental Services Unit update
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15
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bView
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Solid Waste Update Report
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19
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Signatories
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Authors
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Emma Joyce - Relationship Advisor
Lucy Hawcroft - Relationship Advisor
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Authorisers
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John Dragicevich - Manager Infrastructure and
Environmental Services
John Nash - Senior Local Board Advisor/Relationship
Manager
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Proposed Chevron Skink Monitoring and
Biosecurity Ambassador Projects
File No.:
CP2013/27917
Purpose
1. To provide an
update on the proposed chevron skink monitoring and Biosecurity Ambassador
projects.
Executive
Summary
2. At its
September 2013 meeting, the former Great Barrier Environment Strategy Planning
(GBESP) Committee agreed a number of projects to support as part of its
2013/2014 environment work programme. However, while the GBESP Committee
endorsed the proposed chevron skink monitoring at Windy Hill Rosalie Bay Pest
Management Area (WHRPMA) and a biosecurity ambassador projects, it deferred
consideration of these two projects to the first meeting of the full Great
Barrier Local Board (the Board) in the new electoral term (resolution number
GBESP/2013/61). The GBESP Committee also requested that staff investigate the
possibility of funding the two projects from regional budgets.
3. This report
provides an update on both projects to the Great Barrier Environment Committee
with recommendations that both projects not be included in the Board’s
2013/2014 Environment work programme.
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Recommendations
That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:
a) Receives the
Proposed Chevron Skink Monitoring and Biosecurity Ambassador Projects report.
b) Notes that the
chevron skink monitoring programme will be considered as part of the
2014/2015 Environment work programme.
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Discussion
4. At its
September 2013 meeting, the GBESP Committee agreed a number of projects to be
funded from its 2013/2014 budget lines. This work programme is outlined in
Table 1 below.
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Project
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Objectives
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Budget
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Fencing and Riparian
Planting Fund
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To support farmers in
fencing off streams to prevent stock access to waterways
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$20,000[1]
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Conservation of
Threatened Plants
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To support the
conservation of the threatened leptinella and centipede minima
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$21,000
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Rainbow Skink
Surveillance
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To determine the
presence / absence of rainbow skinks at sites not surveyed in 2012/2013
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$15,000
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Rabbit Control
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To undertake an integrated
programme of rabbit control at several sites across Great Barrier.
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$43,660
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Total
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$99,660
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Table 1: 2013/2014 Environment Work Programme
5. The GBESP
Committee deferred consideration of two proposed projects (chevron skink
monitoring and a biosecurity ambassador) to the new Board (resolution
GBESP/2013/61).
Chevron
Skink Monitoring
6. Chevron skinks
are extremely cryptic and therefore there are still large gaps in understanding
the management requirements of this species. The low level of detection means
that the existing data from the Department of Conservation (DOC) is a small
sample set that provides inconclusive evidence at this stage. Although subtle
differences between the chevron population inside a rat, cat and pig managed
area are emerging it will be a long time before any more conclusive patterns
start to show. Doubling the sample effort should help this, which is why we had
proposed to include monitoring the Windy Hill area. This additional monitoring
programme (in line with current DOC methodology) would provide more data on the
level of predator control (other than total eradication) that is adequate to
provide a benefit for chevrons.
7. However,
changes to DOC’s workplan mean they will not be monitoring chevron skinks until
the 2014/2015 financial year. It is therefore recommended that any local board
funding of this project be deferred until the next financial year so that all
monitoring is undertaken concurrently for comparative results.
8. The proposed
chevron skink monitoring programme at WHRPMA project was originally presented
to the local board as a recommendation following the recently funded project
plan for additional protection of chevron skinks. At that time, regional
funding was not available to work on this species. Given the lack of local
parks present on the island, a number of species focused projects were
presented and subsequently funded, including the project plan for chevrons.
These recommendations also align with recommendations being put forward to
local boards to assist in protecting these species and their associated
habitats.
9. With the
completion of the draft Significant Ecological Area layer for the draft unitary
plan, the Biodiversity team now has additional capacity to commence the rollout
of the species prioritisation framework. This framework includes funding for
specific actions in order to maintain key species in the region for the next 30
years. Although chevron skinks are included on this list, the limited
availability of funds means that only a certain amount can be achieved for the
36 priority species. However, achieving greater outcomes for this species is
possible through the provision of additional local funding.
10. It is
recommended that the Board collaboratively fund the additional chevron skink
monitoring at Windy Hill in the 2014/2015 financial year, together with funding
from the Biodiversity team’s species prioritisation funding. The amount of
funding available from this latter fund will be determined once the actions for
all 36 species have been confirmed for the 2014/2015 financial year. Once this
is allocated, it is recommended that a final proposal for funding is presented
to the local board for consideration.
11. A total of
$8,068 remains of the Board’s 2013/2014 environmental enhancement budget
remains unallocated. Environmental Services will continue to support the
prioritisation of this budget. The Infrastructure and Environmental Services
update report included on this agenda of the Committee notes some possible
options for the Board to consider.
Biosecurity
Ambassador
12. At its September
2013, the GBESP Committee considered funding a ‘biosecurity ambassador’ to be
present at all barge and ferry departures. This role would provide an
opportunity to educate passengers around the risk of stowaway pests and weed
seeds, as well as inspecting gear, vehicles, equipment and freight.
13. However, it is
recommended that this project not be funded this year as it would not be
possible to recruit, train and obtain appropriate authorisations for the ambassador
before the commencement of the summer holiday period.
Consideration
Local
Board Views
14. The Great
Barrier Local Board Plan notes that a priority for the Board and its community
is to ‘protect and enhance our environment’. Therefore, the Board allocated
budget in its 2013/2014 LBA for ‘biosecurity / pest management programmes’ and
‘environmental enhancement / planning initiatives’. A further budget line
supports ‘dune restoration and rabbit control’.
Maori
Impact Statement
15. No consultation
with iwi was undertaken for the purposes of this report. Once agreed by the
GBESP Committee, the detailed design and implementation of projects may require
engagement with iwi.
General
16. No external
consultation was required for the purposes of this report. The draft work
programme was developed by the various teams within the Environmental Services
Unit (Biosecurity, Biodiversity and Land and Water Management).
17. Council staff
work closely with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to ensure alignment with,
and to avoid duplication of, work programmes on Great Barrier.
18. The delivery of
this local board work programme supports objectives of the Indigenous
Biodiversity Strategy 2012, in particular species conservation and knowledge.
Implementation
Issues
19. At present, the
Board’s environment work programme is funded from two separate budget lines
(pest management programmes and environmental enhancement initiatives). As the
achievement of biodiversity outcomes is often predicated on effective
biosecurity programmes, it is recommended that the Board consider combining the
two budget lines in future years.
20. The Board will
receive regular updates on the implementation of the environment work
programme. Subject to any decision of the board to delegate environment
decision-making to a committee of the whole, this will be through a quarterly
report from the Infrastructure and Environmental Services Department.
Attachments
There are no
attachments for this report.
Signatories
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Authors
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Vanessa Wood – Senior Ecologist
Brett Butland – Team Leader: Biosecurity (Regional)
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Authorisers
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Gael Ogilvie – Manager: Environmental Services
John Dragicevich – Infrastructure and Environmental
Services Manager
John Nash – Relationship Manager
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Update on the Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial
Plan (Sea Change)
File No.:
CP2013/27522
Purpose
1. The purpose of
this report is to provide the Great Barrier Environment Committee with an
update on the Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan (Sea Change) and to provide a
range of background material relevant to that plan.
Executive
Summary
2. Attachment A is
memo from officers providing an outline of the Sea Change process. The memo
includes an outline of how the board might be involved in the process of
developing Sea Change. In particular opportunities exist via Auckland Council
representation on the project steering group, and active observer status at
stakeholder working group meetings.
3. The committee
may wish to consider whether it feels the proposed representation opportunities
are adequate, and if not what alternatives it might seek. It is noted that the
previous Great Barrier Local Board sought “a seat at the top table” on the Sea
Change project due to Great Barrier Island’s central location within the
Hauraki Gulf and its community’s direct links with what happens in the gulf.
This request was rejected. The Waiheke Local Board is receiving a similar memo
at its 5 December 2013 meeting and any views of that board can be reported to
the committee at this meeting.
4. Attachment B is
a copy of reports to the 9 December 2013 and the 23 September 2031 meetings of
the Hauraki Gulf Forum on Sea Change. These are provided to assist the
committee understand the Sea Change project, as some members are new to this
subject.
5. Attachment C is
a copy of reports to the 25 September 2013 and 24 July 2013 Great Barrier
Environment Strategy Planning Committee on the work that committee did on the
Aotea/Great Barrier local marine protection and planning initiative. This
initiative aligns well with the purpose of Sea Change, and could provide
material of use in its development or outcomes.
6. Recommendation
b) in the 25 September 2013 report, which was confirmed by that committee was
“That the Great Barrier Environment Strategy Planning Committee reaffirms the
importance of the [Aotea/Great Barrier] marine protection proposal being
pursued as part of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan and based on a “bottom
up – locally led” approach”.
7. The committee
will at some stage need to consider how it wishes to proceed with the
Aotea/Great Barrier local marine protection and planning initiative. Options
include:
- Pursuing the initiative as part of,
and aligning work with the timing of Sea Change;
- Advancing the last board’s resolutions
on the initiative towards tangible outcomes eg establishing protection areas,
and fishing restrictions; or
- Taking a fresh look at the initiative.
8. It is
recommended that the committee use its coming local board plan engagement to
firm up on its thinking on this matter, and in discussion with the Sea Change
project team.
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Recommendation/s
That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:
a) Considers
whether it wishes to pursue more specific representation on the Sea Change
project and potentially in conjunction with the Waiheke Local Board
b) Notes that the
Aotea/Great Barrier marine protection and planning initiative could be
pursued as part of Sea Change and agrees that the local board plan engagement
process should be used to inform decisions on its next steps
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Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
|
|
aView
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Update on the Hauraki Gulf Marine
Spatial Plan (Sea Change)
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31
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bView
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Reports to the Hauraki Gulf Forum on
the Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan
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33
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cView
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Reports on the Aotea/Great Barrier
Local Marine Protection and Planning Initiative
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36
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Signatories
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Authors
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John Nash - Senior Local Board Advisor/Relationship
Manager
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Authorisers
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Karen Lyons - Manager Local Board Services
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Consideration of Great Barrier Environment
Strategy Planning Committee Environment Statement
File No.:
CP2013/27726
Purpose
1. The purpose of
this report is to place the previous Great Barrier Environment Strategy
Planning Committee’s approved environment statement before the Great Barrier
Environment Committee. This will assist members who were not on the last
committee to gain some understanding of what that committee did. It will also
help the committee decide how it wishes to proceed on environmental matters.
Executive
Summary
2. At its 25
September 2013 meeting, the Great Barrier Environment Strategy Planning
Committee passed the following resolutions:
That the Great Barrier Environment
Strategy Planning Committee:
a) endorse the
Great Barrier Local Board Environment Statement, September 2013
b) forwards the
environment statement to the incoming Great Barrier Local Board for its
consideration and as appropriate use in developing its new local board plan for
consultation in 2014.
3. The statement
is included at Attachment A. The paragraph under the statement’s heading
describes its purpose - to summarize what the committee heard, discussed and
decided on during its term re the environment. As can be seen from the
statement, there were a large number of matters covering a number of themes
considered.
4. Section 11 of
the statement (score card) lists the matters included in the Great Barrier
Local Board Plan which relate to the environment and are within the terms of
reference of this committee. It is noted that the committee’s terms of
reference now also include waste.
5. It is noted
that community engagement to inform content of the draft Great Barrier Local
Board Plan will occur throughout February 2013. This engagement is intended to
assist the board in identifying what its community wishes to see in the draft
plan which will be developed through March and April. In regard to
environmental matters, there will be areas where the views of the community are
quite clear and align with those of the committee. In these cases the committee
should be able to draft clear priorities, outcomes and actions for inclusion in
the draft plan. In other areas, more extensive engagement with the community
might be needed which may run beyond the above timeframes. In such cases the
local board plan wording may need instead to signal the issue, the proposed
approach to engagement and any outcomes sought.
6. One such area might be in relation to the island’s environmental
future, direction, vision. AS noticed in its environment statement, the
previous Environment Strategy Planning Committee grappled with this subject
quite a lot and although it did agree to develop a vision for the island, this
never eventuated. The new board, through the chairs message in its 2014/2015
draft local board agreement (also included on this agenda) has already signaled
it intends to pursue this matter. The message includes the following sentences.
“The new board wishes to strengthen its environmental focus and is committed
to starting a collaborative conversation with residents and ratepayers about
the island’s ecological future. We will give this the time and energy it needs
to reach broad agreement. I expect this approach will be signaled in our coming
local board plan, and those discussions to be advanced as part of that plan.”
7. It is suggested
that the committee hold a specific workshop to discuss the programme for the
committee, its priorities, how it wishes to engage with its community on
environment matters, and what environment content it wishes to see in its local
board plan. This workshop may be attended by Auckland Council officers, other
agencies and/or community representatives as the committee considers appropriate.
These matters should subsequently be confirmed in a report to the next
available committee meeting.
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Recommendation/s
That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:
a) confirms its
intention to hold a workshop prior to commencing engagement on the draft
Great Barrier Local Board Plan to consider its work programme, priorities,
approach to community engagement and what environment content it wishes to
see in its local board plan, to be confirmed at a subsequent committee
meeting.
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Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
|
|
aView
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Copy of Great Barrier Local Board
Environment Statement September 2013
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53
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Signatories
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Authors
|
John Nash - Senior Local Board Advisor/Relationship
Manager
|
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Authorisers
|
Karen Lyons - Manager Local Board Services
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Adoption of Great Barrier Environment
Committee meeting schedule 2013-2016
File No.:
CP2013/27776
Purpose
1. To
seek agreement to a meeting schedule for the 2013-2016 term for the Great
Barrier Environment Committee.
Executive Summary
2. The
Great Barrier Local Board agreed at its 21 November 2013 meeting to establish
an environment committee. The committee is a committee of the whole; all
members of the board will sit on the committee and the committee can make
decisions within its terms of reference without further reference to the board.
As such the committee needs to hold regular business meetings.
3. In
the previous term the Great Barrier Environment Strategy Planning Committee
mostly met monthly, but not always. The day and week of the meeting was
constant, but from time to time monthly meetings were not held. Unlike the
Great Barrier Local Board’s monthly business meetings, the Environment Strategy
Planning Committee did not always have sufficient material to discuss to
justify monthly meetings. The work of the committee was relatively narrow in
focus compared to that of the board and agenda items were not generated council
wide as happens with local board business meetings. The decision whether to
meet or not was based on what matters the committee needed to consider, what
work it wished to undertake formally via a business meeting and what decisions
it needed to make which could not wait for the next month’s meeting.
4. The
only issue raised with this approach was uncertainty for those wishing to
attend committee meetings, and to some degree for officers as to whether the
meeting was on or not. It is considered this can be addressed by direct contact
with groups which have regular interaction with the committee. There is no
requirement for committee meetings to be publicly advertised and the practise
during the last term was not to do so. The committee’s views on this are
sought.
5. As such it is proposed that the committee generally meet monthly on
the fourth Wednesday of each month unless there is insufficient business to
be held in public to justify calling a meeting. The fourth Wednesday of each
month balances out well with the board’s business meetings which are held on
the second Wednesday of each month, and retains the theme of meetings being on
a Wednesday. Officers therefore propose a resolution which reflects this but
does not list a schedule of meeting dates.
6. Meetings of the
committee will be managed by Auckland Council’s Local Board Services Department
and supported by officers from departments within Auckland Council with
responsibility for environmental matters, as appropriate and as agreed.
|
Recommendation/s
That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:
a) Agrees to generally meet monthly and no less than
bi-monthly during its 2013-2016 electoral term, with meetings to normally be
held on the fourth Wednesday of each month, at the
Claris Conference Centre, 19 Whangaparapara Road, Claris, Great Barrier
Island.
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Attachments
There are no
attachments for this report.
Signatories
|
Authors
|
John Nash - Senior Local Board
Advisor/Relationship Manager
|
|
Authorisers
|
Karen Lyons - Manager Local Board
Services
|
Local
board agreement 2014/2015
File No.:
CP2013/27912
Purpose
1. This report
seeks agreement from the Local Board on content for the draft Annual Plan
2014/2015 (including the draft Local Board Agreement 2014/2015).
2. The report also
provides information on the next steps in the process to finalise local board
budgets and agreements for 2014/2015.
Executive
Summary
3. For each
financial year, the Auckland Council must have a local board agreement (as
agreed between the governing body and the Local Board) for
each local board area.
4. The draft local board agreement is largely based on year three of
the Long-term Plan 2012-2022[2]
(LTP) and reflects the
priorities in the local board plan, shows intended
provision of local activities, and the capital and operating expenditure
required to fund these activities. A separate
consultation section has been developed to identify any proposed budget changes
and to highlight any new areas of advocacy for 2014/2015.
5. The draft local
board agreement must be included in Auckland Council’s draft Annual Plan
2014/2015, which the governing body will meet to adopt on 19 December to be
released for public consultation on 23 January 2014.
6. A summary of
the draft Annual Plan 2014/2015 must also be prepared as part of the
consultation. The summary will contain both regional and local board specific
information. The local information focuses on the local priorities for
2014/2015 and what might change from year three of the LTP.
7. Following the
consultation phase, each local board will reconsider its agreement and budget
for 2014/2015 and, if required, reprioritise proposed local activities within
its fiscal envelope before adopting a final local board agreement in June
2014. The governing body will adopt Auckland Council’s Annual Plan 2014/2015,
including 21 local board agreements, on 26 June 2014.
8. A review of the
capital expenditure programme is currently underway by the operations division,
to improve long term delivery and prioritisation of capital projects.
Engagement with local boards on a re-forecasted capital project delivery
programme will commence in early 2014. Financial statements included in this
draft local board agreement remain based on year three of the LTP, adjusted to
reflect approved budget changes since the adoption of the LTP.
|
Recommendation/s
That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:
a) agrees its Local content for the draft
Annual Plan 2014/2015 to be confirmed at the 18 December 2013 Great Barrier
Local Board business meeting, including:
i. draft Local
Board Agreement 2014/2015 (including intended level of service provision and
financial statements);
ii. introduction
to the draft Local Board Agreement (including chairs message and proposed
changes for consultation);
b) that the Chair be delegated the authority to make any final minor
changes to the local board content for the draft Annual Plan before it is
released for public consultation, and to the summary of the draft Annual Plan
2014/2015.
|
Discussion
9. The governing
body will meet to adopt the draft Annual Plan 2014/2015 on 19 December 2013,
which must include the draft local board agreement for each local board.
10. This report
seeks approval of local board content for the draft Annual Plan 2014/2015. It
also provides information on the process that will be followed to finalise the
local board budgets and agreements for 2014/2015 following public consultation.
11. The resolutions
of this meeting will be reported to the governing body on 19 December 2013,
when it meets to adopt the draft Annual Plan 2014/2015 for consultation.
12. Local board financial
statements are based on year three of the LTP and adjusted to reflect revised
budgets endorsed by the Budget Committee on 21 November 2013 to achieve a
reduced rates increase of 2.5% for 2014/2015, as well as other approved budget
changes since the adoption of the LTP.
13. Whilst
operational savings are reflected in revised budgets, these changes will not
impact service levels.
Draft Annual
Plan 2014/2015 content (Attachment One)
14. The draft Annual
Plan 2014/2015 content includes:
a) the
draft Local Board Agreement 2014/2015 which outlines:
i. a description
of each group of local activities;
ii. key
initiatives planned for 2014/2015;
iii. intended
levels of service provision;
iv. financial
statements;
v. capital projects
list;
b) an introduction to the draft
Local Board Agreement which outlines:
i. a message from the
chair;
ii. areas for
consultation with local communities;
iii. proposed
budget changes;
iv. new
advocacy areas for 2014/2015;
v. about
the local board area;
vi. local
board plan priorities.
15. Community,
development, arts and culture performance measures were reviewed this year to
improve clarity. This resulted in the removal of two performance measures and
amendment to wording of six other performance measures.
Draft Annual
Plan 2014/2015 summary
16. A summary of the
draft Annual Plan 2014/2015 must be prepared as part of the consultation.
Local information focuses on local priorities for 2014/2015 and what might
change from year three of the LTP. It includes both content and images and
this year will be presented in OurAuckland.
17. Officers will
work with local boards using the usual OurAuckland approval process for signoff
of the summary content.
Process
18. Officers will
undertake a budget refresh in February and updated prioritisation models will
be developed for each local board that reflect adjustments made as part of the
budget refresh.
19. The opportunity
for a more in depth examination of budgets across the organisation begins early
next year as we start to develop the next 2015-2025 LTP and the next Local
Board Plans.
20. The timeline for
finalising the local board agreement for 2014/2015 is set out in the
implementation section of this report.
Consideration
Local
Board Views
21. This report seeks agreement from the Local
Board for its draft Annual Plan 2014/2015 content.
Maori
Impact Statement
22. Many local board decisions are of importance to Maori and there is a
need to continue to build relationships between local boards and relevant Iwi.
The draft local board agreement is based on the local board plan and the LTP
which have both been developed through engagement with the community, including
Maori.
Implementation
Issues
23. The timeline and
high-level process for finalising the local board agreement for 2014/2015 is
set out below:
|
Timing
|
Process for finalising local board
agreements
|
|
9 – 18 Dec
|
Local boards
meet to agree draft local board agreements and content for consultation
|
|
19 Dec
|
Adoption
of draft Annual Plan 2014/2015, including 21
local board agreements
|
|
23 Jan – 24
Feb
|
Draft
Annual Plan 2014/2015 consultation
Released for
public consultation on 23 January using the special consultative procedure
|
|
Feb
|
Budget
Refresh
Officers
review budgets to inform adjustments that will feed into the local board
prioritisation models
|
|
Feb - early
April
|
Engagement
on local board advocacy with departments and CCO’s
Assess
progress and inform development of an updated set of advocacy for 2014/2015
|
|
17 Mar –
17 Apr
|
Local
board hearings, workshops and decision meetings
Reconsider
agreements (including budgets) and advocacy areas and hold a formal meeting
to agree a final balanced budget and set of advocacy areas for 2014/2015
|
|
Late April
|
Governing body discussions with local boards
|
|
1 May
|
Governing body discussions with CCOs
|
|
5 - 23 May
|
Local board
agreements and financial statements updated
|
|
9 - 26 Jun
|
Adoption of Local Board Agreements and Annual Plan 2014/2015
Local boards meet to adopt their agreements between 9 - 19 June.
Governing body meets to adopt draft annual plan, including 21 draft LBAs, on
26 June
|
Attachments
|
No.
|
Title
|
Page
|
|
aView
|
Great Barrier Local Board's draft
2014-2015 Local Board Agreement
|
69
|
Signatories
|
Authors
|
Kate Marsh – Financial Planning Manager Local Boards
|
|
Authorisers
|
Karen Lyons – Manager Local Board Services
John Nash - Senior Local Board Advisor/Relationship
Manager
|
|
Great Barrier
Environment Committee
11 December
2013
|
|
