Agenda of Great Barrier Environment Committee

I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Great Barrier Environment Committee will be held on:

Date:

Time:

Meeting Room:

Venue:

Wednesday, 26 November 2014

10.00am

Claris Conference Centre
19 Whangaparapara Road
Claris
Great Barrier Island

Great Barrier Environment Committee

OPEN AGENDA

MEMBERSHIP

Chairperson	Susan Daly
Deputy Chairperson	Jeff Cleave
Members	Izzy Fordham
	Judy Gilbert
	Christina Spence

(Quorum 3 members)

Guia Nonoy

Local Board Democracy/Engagement Advisor

18 November 2014

Contact Telephone: (09) 373 6218

Email: Guia.Nonoy@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Great Barrier Environment Committee

26 November 2014

ITEM TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE

1 Welcome 5

2 Apologies 5

3 Declaration of Interest 5

4 Confirmation of Minutes 5

5 Leave of Absence 5

6 Acknowledgements 5

7 Petitions 5

8 Deputations 5

9 Public Forum 5

10 Extraordinary Business 5

11 Notices of Motion 6

12 Aotea Great Barrier Wastewater Issues 7

13 Infrastructure and Environmental Services Update Report 11

14 Auckland City Natural Heritage Fund Allocation 2014/2015 – Funding Round 1 21

15 Next steps in Aotea Great Barrier Local Marine Protection Initiative 35

16 Next steps on Aotea Great Barrier Ecology Conversations 77

17 Community group and agency reports 79

18 Consideration of Extraordinary Items

1 Welcome

Chairperson SP Daly will welcome everyone in attendance. Deputy Chair JC Cleave will lead a karakia.

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 Confirmation of Minutes

That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:

a) confirms the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Wednesday, 24 September 2014, as a true and correct record, subject to the following amendment to item 13, resolution number GBESP/2014/29 c) Agrees to fund the following projects from the 2014/2015 budget line for environmental enhancement – Kaitoke restoration – weed management and wildlife monitoring - $7,750.50 as follows:

c) Agrees to fund the following projects from the 2014/2015 budget line for environmental enhancement.

Project	Cost
Conservation of leptinella population at Awana	$10,000
Water Quality Monitoring Programme (remainder of 2014/15 only	$12,063
Kaitoke restoration – weed management and wildlife monitoring	$7,775.50
Total	$29,838.50

5 Leave of Absence

At the close of the agenda no requests for leave of absence had been received.

6 Acknowledgements

At the close of the agenda no requests for acknowledgements had been received.

7 Petitions

At the close of the agenda no requests to present petitions had been received.

8 Deputations

Standing Order 3.20 provides for deputations. Those applying for deputations are required to give seven working days notice of subject matter and applications are approved by the Chairperson of the Great Barrier Environment Committee. This means that details relating to deputations can be included in the published agenda. Total speaking time per deputation is ten minutes or as resolved by the meeting.

At the close of the agenda no requests for deputations had been received.

9 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 www members.

At the close of the agenda no requests for public forum had been received.

10 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.”

11 Notices of Motion

At the close of the agenda no requests for notices of motion had been received.

Great Barrier Environment Committee

26 November 2014

Aotea Great Barrier Wastewater Issues

File No.: CP2014/25980

Purpose

1. To seek the Great Barrier Environment Committee’s (the Committee) approval for the development of a wastewater education and incentives project on Great Barrier.

Executive summary

2. The Great Barrier Local Board (the board) have asked that Council staff develop a project to identify and implement activities to improve water quality with a focus on impacts from wastewater systems and the Claris landfill.

3. This report presents the proposed scope of the requested project for the Committee’s approval. The proposal includes steps to investigate whether on-site wastewater systems are contributing to these problems and an education and incentives programme to reduce any identified impacts.

Recommendation

That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:

a) Approve the scope of the proposed Great Barrier wastewater system investigation project.

Comments

4. The board has expressed concerns based on anecdotal information that on-site wastewater systems on the island may be having an impact on water quality in some areas. There have also been concerns expressed that the Claris Landfill system for managing septic tank sludge is rudimentary and requires careful management to ensure it is operating effectively.

5. Environmental Services Unit staff facilitated a workshop with the board in August 2014 to clearly define the wastewater-related problem to be solved through this project.

Summary of the board’s direction provided at the wastewater workshop

6. In preparation for the workshop, the board requested staff to design a project based on:

· A ‘carrot’ and not ‘stick’ approach, with a focus on education and incentives for improving wastewater management;

· An education programme that promotes simple, practical, innovative wastewater systems that require little electricity;

· Encouraging the community to manage as much of their waste on their own properties as possible;

· Providing better information about the effect that wastewater systems are having on waterways on the island. It was suggested Tryphena should be the starting point for investigations as this is the highest risk area due to the number of properties in a comparatively small area.

· An understanding of the effects on the Kaitoke Stream of the sludge disposal at the landfill and the effects of visiting caravans and campervans. .

7. While the board was interested in finding ways to use the sludge at the landfill as a resource, it was agreed that this was out of scope for this project. Although the board was also concerned about toilet waste from boats in Port Fitzroy, the education of ‘boaties’ is also considered out of scope for this project.

Proposed wastewater education and incentives project

8. Table 1 below contains the proposed scope for a wastewater and incentives project, based on the workshop outcomes listed in paragraph 10 above. Project coordination and delivery will be led by the Infrastructure and Environmental Services department.

9. A mix of regional and local board opex funding will be needed to implement the programme. Regional resource will largely be in the form of staff time to develop programmes and the local board would fund the delivery. Options for the level of expenditure will be developed as part of the project.

Objective	Actions	Resources required	Regional or Local funding	Timeline
Better understand the state and likely impact of on-site wastewater management on Great Barrier so that effort can be appropriately directed	Surveying homeowners on how they manage their wastewater as part of a wider Sustainability Stocktake survey already proposed by Environmental Services. Responses would be anonymous.	$10,000 of the board’s environment budget has been committed to this project	Local Board	By end of June 2015
Be clear on the effects of wastewater systems and the landfill on waterways	Summarising available water quality information for Great Barrier	Staff time	Regional	Summer 2014/2015
	Monitoring water quality upstream and downstream of the landfill for a fixed period. Use Microbial Source Tracking to identify the source of any significant contamination detected.	Opex	Regional	12 months from Summer 2014/2015
	Monitoring water quality in the Tryphena catchment for a fixed period. Use Microbial Source Tracking to identify the source of any significant contamination detected.	Opex	Local Board (part of local board-funded water quality monitoring project)	Report by winter 2015
Develop a programme to educate on-site wastewater system users on how to best manage their wastewater.	Develop a proposal for a targeted education programme that could comprise one-on-one advice, workshops and other direct contact with system users	Staff time for development. Opex for delivery.	Regional Local Board	By Summer 2014/2015
	Develop and deliver a communications programme to raise awareness of wastewater issues	Staff time	Regional	By Summer 2014/2015
	Ensure factsheets are available and are tailored to the Great Barrier audience if required	Staff time Opex for printing	Regional Local Board	Autumn 2015
Develop a programme to incentivise the improvement of on-site wastewater systems	Develop a business case for a rates attachment scheme similar to the ‘Retrofit Your Home’ programme. To be approved by Finance.	Staff time	Regional	By March 2015
	Develop a grants scheme proposal to subsidise upgrades of on-site wastewater systems	Opex	Local Board	By Summer 2014/2015
Assess the likely impact of wastewater from caravans and campervans on the island	Investigate and write short report.	Staff time	Regional	Autumn 2015

Table 1: Proposed scope of Great Barrier Wastewater Project

10. As part of its 2014/2015 environment work programme, the board has funded a water quality monitoring programme at Tryphena. This programme may provide information as to the effects of septic tank on local waterways.

11. The proposed homeowner’s survey is essential if accurate data is to be obtained. The Board has agreed that due to potential sensitivities around gathering information, the survey will be anonymous as it is important that as many people as possible participate. Further discussions are intended with the board as to how best this survey can be undertaken to address privacy issues.

12. The proposed education programme will focus on informing landowners about ways they can best manage their on-site wastewater systems and encourage them to adopt systems that manage the waste entirely on their property.

13. The proposed incentives programme will include development of a business case for a rates-attachment mechanism for landowners to upgrade on-site wastewater systems and a local board funded grants scheme to further incentivise upgrades.

14. While the development of a Great Barrier septic tank management programme can be undertaken by staff in the Infrastructure and Environmental Services department, the implementation of some actions may need to be funded by the board.

Consideration

Local board views and implications

15. The Aotea Great Barrier Local Board Plan notes that the board will undertake actions to address concerns that septic tanks are impacting on local waterways.

16. This proposed project was discussed with the board at a workshop in August 2014. At that workshop, the board noted its aspirations for Great Barrier to be self-sufficient, innovative and able to showcase best practice for on-site wastewater management.

Māori impact statement

17. Poorly performing on-site wastewater systems can lead to the mixing of human waste with freshwater and seawater. This is inappropriate by Maori custom. Ensuring that wastewater systems are better managed will help resolve this issue.

18. Ngati Rehua are also taking an interest in the wastewater issues on the island. This includes their ongoing investigation into options for using septic tank sludge deposited at the landfill as a resource.

Implementation

19. Some of the actions proposed in Table 1 above will need additional costing to be completed, which may affect the affordability of the actions. If this arises, we will approach the board again for guidance.

20. Note that some of the actions in Table 1 are to develop proposals. Ways to deliver these proposals will need to be worked through with the board.

21. Regular reporting on this project will be as part of the Infrastructure and Environmental Services monthly update. Any decision items will be provided in a full report.

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Signatories

Authors

Phil Brown – Land and Water Advisory Team Manager

Viv Sherwood – Catchment Management and Incentives Manager

Authorisers

Gael Ogilvie – Environmental Services Manager

John Dragicevich – Infrastructure and Environmental Services Manager

John Nash – Relationship Manager/ Senior Local Board Advisor

Great Barrier Environment Committee

26 November 2014

Infrastructure and Environmental Services Update Report

File No.: CP2014/24687

Purpose

1. To inform the Great Barrier Environment Committee (the Committee) about the activities of the Infrastructure and Environmental Services (I&ES) department over September and October 2014.

Executive Summary

2. I&ES delivers on the Auckland Plan and local board plans through the provision of environment and sustainability programmes, regional waste and stormwater services, as well as the maintenance and enhancement of Auckland's natural environment.

3. This report has been written to inform the local board about the delivery of activities and work programmes by I&ES. A number of these regional activities have a distinct local involvement and impact and are detailed in the attachments to this report.

Recommendations

That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:

a) Notes the information in the Infrastructure and Environmental Services update report.

b) Notes that as per resolution GBESP/2014/29, funding of $10,000 has been allocated to a sustainability stocktake and funding of $10,729 has been allocated to a Community Pest Coordinator role.

Discussion

4. This report and attachments specifically detail the activities delivered by the three units of I&ES (Stormwater, Solid Waste and Environmental Services) within the local board area which support and contribute to the Great Barrier Local Board priority of “protect and enhance our environment and showcase our unique qualities”.

5. The committee partially agreed its environment work programme at its September 2014 meeting (resolution number GBESP/2014/29). Funding was allocated to the following projects;

· Management of leptinella population at Awana;

· Water quality monitoring at Tryphena;

· Weed survey;

· Weed management and rodent monitoring at Kaitoke;

· Rabbit control; and

· Rainbow Skink monitoring.

6. At its September 2014 meeting, the committee also agreed to delegate decision making for the remaining environment programme to the Committee Chair and Deputy Chair. Subsequently, it was agreed that funding would be allocated to support a community pest coordinator role ($10,729), and a sustainability stocktake ($10,000).

7. An update on the local environment work programme is appended as Attachment A.

8. Local environmental initiatives are supported through regional funding. Information on regional programmes on Great Barrier is appended as Attachment B, with highlights noted in Table 1 below.

The Environment Is At Its Best Here

Healthy Waterways and Thriving Ecosystems

· Partnered with the Department of Conservation to develop an Inner Hauraki Gulf Weed Strategy. The purpose of this strategy is to standardize weed management within the inner Hauraki Gulf area (particularly on Rangitoto, Motuihe, Motukorea and Motutapu) to conserve important biodiversity values, and prevent the spread of weeds to other Hauraki Gulf islands.

· Environmental Services staff are currently working with Maori landowners on Mahuki Island (Broken Islands group) with respect to conservation of the threatened native plant Lepidium oleraceum (Nau, Cook’s scurvy grass). Mahuki is the strong hold for this species in the region, and in recent years the population has declined considerably. In August 2014, staff visited the island to survey for the species, and to set up additional monitoring plots to monitor the population over time.

· Environmental Services and Stormwater staff visited Great Barrier during October to check whether or not the newly installed fish ladders in a number of stream culverts survived the June storm. This assessment revealed (surprisingly) that of the 24 new fish ladders and baffles installed earlier in 2014, only one was damaged in the storm.

Zero Waste

· Through Council’s contract with Envirokiwi, the New Year’s Day Picnic, and the Port Fitzroy Mussel Fest Family Day on 8 January, will be zero waste events. A zero waste at events workshop for event organisers will be held in mid-November.

· Preparations are underway to handle increased waste (particularly cardboard) over the summer season. Cardboard stored open to the weather will be shredded and mixed with green waste for composting. Other cardboard will be shipped to Auckland for recycling.

Table 1: Regional Activity

Consideration

Local Board Views

9. The committee has full delegation to consider matters relating to biodiversity and biosecurity, water quality, and waste management. Therefore, it is the appropriate forum for reporting of activities delivered by the I&ES department.

Maori Impact Statement

10. 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.

General

Implementation Issues

11. There are no implementation issues arising from this report. Although the water quality monitoring programme funded by the board is not being delivered by the I&ES department, it has been included in this report to provide a comprehensive update on the board’s entire environment work programme.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Local Environment Work Programme	15
b View	Leptinella management sites	17
c View	Regional Environment Work Programme	19

Signatories

Author

Emma Joyce - Relationship Advisor

Authorisers

John Dragicevich - Manager Infrastructure and Environmental Services

John Nash – Relationship Manager/Senior Local Board Advisor

Great Barrier Environment Committee

26 November 2014

Auckland City Natural Heritage Fund Allocation 2014/2015 – Funding Round 1

File No.: CP2014/25418

Purpose

1. This report presents the Great Barrier Environment Committee (the committee) with application assessment summaries and funding recommendations for the four eligible applications received during the first round of the Auckland City Natural Heritage Fund (ACNHF) for the 2014/2015 financial year.

Executive summary

2. The ACNHF is one of the initiatives outlined in the former Auckland City Council’s Biodiversity Management Strategy (adopted in 2001). The Biodiversity Management Strategy aims to encourage and support private landowners to manage their land in a manner that protects and enhances native biodiversity.

3. This report presents information and funding recommendations on applications to the ACNHF received from within the Great Barrier Local Board area.

4. Four applications from the local board area were received during the first funding round. These applications have been assessed against the fund criteria and funding recommendations are presented to the committee for their consideration.

Recommendation/s

That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:

a) Approve the following grant allocations from the Auckland City Natural Heritage Fund:

i) Allocation of $18,976 to application ACNH14150001 from Windy Hill Rosalie Bay Catchment Trust as a contribution towards translocating Red Crowned kakariki.

ii) Allocation of $3,900.80 to application ACNH14150003 from Stan McGeady as a contribution towards contractor labour and herbicides.

iii) Allocation of $2,500 to application ACNH14150004 from Wairahi Bay Station as a contribution towards contractor labour.

iv) Allocation of $1,850 to application ACNH14150005 from Will Creegan as a contribution towards fencing materials.

Comments

5. The ACNHF is a legacy Auckland City Council fund that provides funding for conservation projects on private land. To be eligible for funding projects must satisfy the following criteria:

a. Be on land under private ownership in the Hauraki Gulf islands – land that is under ownership of a public authority is not eligible;

b. Result in direct environmental gain;

c. Start after the applicant has received notification that the application has been approved. Funding is not retrospective.

6. Applications to the ACNHF are assessed by Council subject matter experts against fund criteria stated in the ACNHF guidelines (appended as Attachment A). These include:

Significance: The significance of the natural area with consideration given to factors including connectivity, biological gradients and importance of the areas as a species stronghold.

Biodiversity: Factors including rarity; presence of any threatened species; size, shape and connectivity of the area; age of the vegetation present and quality of the area relative to natural condition.

Enduring environmental outcomes: The anticipated improvement in natural values including water quality and soil conservation of an area given the proposed management actions.

Compliance with Good Practice: The extent to which the project reflects best practice as outlined in the Auckland Council Regional Pest Management Strategy, Auckland Regional Plan: Coastal and guidelines on the regions native plants and animals.

Community Education & Partnership: The educational or scientific value of the site will be assessed, including visual amenity or physical public access.

Legal Protection: Formal protection including QEII covenants and covenants with the Department of Conservation or with the Auckland Council. Formal protection entered on the certificate of title for a property means that an area is more secure from future development.

7. This assessment forms the basis of funding recommendations presented to the committee for their consideration.

8. The current interim approach to community funding endorsed by Regional Development and Operations Committee (RDOC) in May 2011 allocated decision-making responsibility over the Auckland City Natural Heritage Fund to the Central Local Boards. In March 2014 the Regional Strategy and Policy Committee endorsed the extension of the current approach to community funding for the 2014/2015 financial year.

9. In total $50,000 was available for allocation in the Annual Plan for the 2014/2015 financial year. The Auckland City Natural Heritage Fund is split between the Great Barrier Local Board (budget allocation $40,000) and the Waiheke Local Board (budget allocation $10,000).

10. ACNHF grant allocation recommendations will be presented to the Great Barrier and Waiheke Local Boards twice a year. The first funding round for the ACNHF opened for applications on 17 July 2014 and closed on 22 August 2014.

11. Table One. Summary of ACNHF application assessment periods.

Application cut-off date

Funding decisions expected

Funding meeting 1

Friday 22 August 2014

October- November 2014

Funding meeting 2

Friday 13 March 2015

May-June 2015

12. The availability of environmental funding and information on the 2014/2015 funding rounds has been promoted through the Auckland Council website, through Auckland Council publications, press advertisements in local print media, on a local radio station, email notification to community stakeholders, and communication through the Environmental Services unit.

Consideration

13. Four applications from the Local board area were received during funding round one that closed on 22 August 2014.

14. Assessments of the four eligible applications have been completed by an Auckland Council Biodiversity Officer with input from Biosecurity and Land and Water staff. Grant allocation recommendations are made in line with ACNHF assessment criteria and funding policy, and in accordance with the priorities identified when allocating additional budget to this fund. An application assessment summary for each application is attached to this report and funding recommendations are presented for the board’s consideration.

15. Following application assessments, it is recommended that all four applications are supported with grants totalling $27,226.80.

16. Finance and resourcing requirements for the delivery of the ACNHF are within current heritage incentive budgets provided in the 2014/2015 annual plan.

17. Annually $40,000 is available through the ACNHF for allocation by the Great Barrier Local Board. Current funding recommendations would allocate $27,226.80 to four applications leaving $12,773.20 available for allocation in the second funding round

Local board views and implications

18. This report seeks the view of the affected local board

Māori impact statement

19. The provision of community funding to support environmental initiatives provides opportunities for all Aucklanders to undertake projects, programmes and activities that benefit Maori.

Implementation

20. No legal and implementation issues have been identified. The fund will be allocated in accordance with the decision of the Great Barrier Environment Committee.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Auckland City Natural Heritage Fund guidelines	25
b View	Auckland City Natural Heritage Fund application assessment reports	29

Signatories

Author

Fran Hayton - Environmental Funding Advisor

Authorisers

John Dragicevich - Manager Infrastructure and Environmental Services

John Nash – Relationship Manager/Senior Local Board Advisor

Great Barrier Environment Committee

26 November 2014

Next steps in Aotea Great Barrier Local Marine Protection Initiative

File No.: CP2014/26544

Purpose

1. This report will appear on all Environment Committee meetings in future to enable the Committee to discuss marine protection and as appropriate decide next steps and any associated resolutions.

Recommendation/s

That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:

a) Receives the report.

b) Appoints board member(s) XXX and YYY to lead on progressing the Aotea Great Barrier Marine Protection Initiative.

c) Initiates discussions with the Waiheke Local Board to identify opportunities to work more closely together to advance marine protection opportunities for both islands.

Discussion

2. At its December 2013 meeting, the Committee received an update report on Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari and resolved as follows:

That the Great Barrier Environment Committee 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.

3. Since that time consultation and engagement on Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari has continued. The Great Barrier Local Board and individual board members have been more closely and directly involved in this project than previously and the general view is that the needs and aspirations of the island community have been better understood and articulated than they had previously.

4. Copies of the Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari October newsletter and the Independent Review Panel First Review Report are attached for the Committee’s information and consideration. The review report, as the first review of the project provides useful conclusions and recommendations that the Committee may wish to comment on.

5. The Aotea Great Barrier Local Board Plan has also now been drafted, consulted on and completed, with marine protection being a central theme both of the draft, in feedback and the final plan. Marine protection is referenced in the plan in the following ways:

- It is one of the three big things the local board has agreed it will focus on “promoting creating a network of marine protected areas around our coastline”

- Including it in the outcome statement as the first of the plan’s three outcomes “The environment is at its best here”….. “Our native wildlife and forests flourish, our streams run clean, and our coastal waters are full of fish”

Dedicating a section of the plan to Marine Protection including the following text:

In relation to ‘coastlines which are clean and full of life’, the big topic of discussion has been commercial fishing. We have heard strongly from you that you think our coastal waters are being plundered and you want something done about this. In 2013, the previous local board surveyed residents and held a hearing to get your views. As a result that board proposed that fishing for the table by locals and visitors at reduced limits be introduced, that commercial fishing be banned from inshore waters, and that a network of marine protected areas be established.

Since then the Auckland Marine Spatial Plan project known as Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari has been started and its aims, if realized, should enable some of what we are seeking to be achieved or at least advanced. We therefore support our local marine protection initiative being progressed as part of Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari provided our community is meaningfully included in the process.

Ultimately, we think that legislative change may be needed to achieve our outcomes and we will discuss options around this with the Ministry for Primary Industries, the Department of Conservation and iwi. The last local board formally partnered with Ngati Rehua Ngatiwai ki Aotea on marine protection and we plan to continue with this approach.

We will also continue to input into the work of the Hauraki Gulf Forum which has just completed its second State of the Hauraki Gulf report. This report unfortunately shows that the health of the waters of the Hauraki Gulf in general is continuing to degrade.

- Listing the following initiative in the plan:

Establish a network of marine protected areas around our coastline:

· Use the Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari process approach to identify agreed local marine protected areas

· Seek legislative change to ban commercial fishing within our harbours, bays and key inshore recreational fishing areas

6. The decision to pursue the Aotea/Great Barrier marine protection and planning initiative as part of Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari has meant that limited independent Committee led progress on this subject has been made this year. Instead, the Committee has adopted a “watching and being involved where it can” approach to this subject.

7. Now that the local board plan has been completed and the Committee has greater visibility of Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari, it may wish to consider what if anything else it wishes to pursue. The main options would likely be further engagement and consultation with key parties including:

- More specific and defined engagement with Ngati Rehua Ngatiwai ki Aotea

- Meeting with the new Minister of Conservation the Hon. Maggie Barry and Ministry for Primary Industries representatives

- Running on island forums to discuss ideas

- Following up on ideas raised during the previous board term’s marine protection investigation

- Undertaking further research and investigations

8. It is suggested that the Committee formally appoint one or two members to lead on this subject and to update the Committee at each meeting on this subject. It is also expected that Jeff Cleave, as the Great Barrier Local Board’s representative on the Hauraki Gulf Forum will regularly report back on that forum’s work where it is relevant to this subject.

9. It is also proposed that the Committee start a dialogue with the Waiheke Local Board on this matter as that board is also pro-active in this regard and initiatives for that island are being discussed. Both boards have in the past advocated for a bigger role in Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari and working together on areas of mutual interest is seen as beneficial.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Copy of October 2014 Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari newsletter	39
b View	Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari Independent Review Panel first review report	45

Signatories

Author	John Nash – Relationship Manager/Senior Local Board Advisor
Authoriser	Karen Lyons - Manager Local Board Services

Great Barrier Environment Committee

26 November 2014

Next steps on Aotea Great Barrier Ecology Conversations

File No.: CP2014/27084

Purpose

1. The purpose of this report is to assist the Great Barrier Environment Committee to agree next steps to advance discussions with its community on the island’s future ecology.

Recommendation/s

That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:

a) confirms its intention to commence the proposed Aotea Great Barrier Island ecology conversations in the new year.

b) Allocates up to $20,000 from its unallocated 2014/15 SLIPs discretionary opex budget to engage an independent party to lead on this project and cover other associated costs.

Discussion

2. The Great Barrier Local Board approved the Aotea Great Barrier Local Board Plan at its 8 October 2014 meeting. Enhancing the island’s ecology is a key theme at the very heart of the plan, referenced in many places including as follows:

- Identifying it as one of the three big things the local board will focus on. “we will protect and enhance our island’s ecology in ways we can all agree on”

- Including it in the outcome statement as the first of the plan’s three outcomes “The environment is at its best here”….. “Pests are so few that our native wildlife and forests flourish”

- Dedicating a lengthy section of the plan to Enhanced Biosecurity and Biodiversity with the following text (abridged) relating to this subject:

Aotea Great Barrier Island is the only place with a permanent population in the Auckland region without possums, goats and mustelids. Rats however are a different story…..

….We know that rat eradication if it could be achieved on Great Barrier would make a massive difference to our natural environment but we also know that the current tools available for this are not supported by everyone. Maybe there are other options, maybe it’s one step at a time? We propose to begin discussions with our community, both full and part-time residents, to see if we can establish wide agreement on what kind of ecological future everyone wants for our island and how we might get there. These discussions must start without any predetermined outcomes, be held openly and honestly and be independently led.

- Listing it as the very first initiative for action under the above outcome, as follows:

Agree a plan with our community for the island’s ecological future:

· Fund independently led community engagement

3. At its September 2014 meeting, the Committee resolved to “allocate funds from its discretionary SLIPs opex budget to enable the island ecology conversations to commence this financial year”. The Great Barrier Local Board has around $34,000 unallocated in this budget based on approved projects, resolutions passed at its November business meeting and expected SLIPs projects coming to the December business meeting for approval. The Committee will therefore need to decide how much of this budget it allocates to this project. $20,000 is suggested as a starting point to enable details to be progressed.

4. The Committee also needs to decide on the practical steps needed to advance this project this financial year. These include:

– developing a strategy on how to take this forward

– appointing someone(s) to lead the discussions

– Agreeing the purpose, roles, approach, promotion, who to talk to – individuals, key stakeholders, agencies etc.

– mapping out a timeframe and programme, including earmarking budget for the 2015/16 financial year

5. The Committee has previously spoken with a number of parties to identify who might be the right person(s) to lead on this piece of work and this aspect now needs to be brought to a conclusion.

6. It is proposed that a report on this subject will appear on all Environment Committee meetings in future to enable the Committee to discuss this matter and as appropriate decide next steps and any associated resolutions.

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Signatories

Author	John Nash – Relationship Manager/Senior Local Board Advisor
Authoriser	Karen Lyons - Manager Local Board Services

Great Barrier Environment Committee

26 November 2014

Community group and agency reports

File No.: CP2014/26342

Purpose

1. The purpose of this report is to provide a place where Great Barrier community groups and agencies with an interest or role in the environment or the work of the Great Barrier Environment Committee, can have items considered as part of the committee’s agenda.

Executive Summary

2. At its 27 February 2014 meeting, the Great Barrier Environment Committee “agreed to create a community reports item on its meeting agenda to enable community groups and agencies with an interest in the environment on Great Barrier to have material formally considered by the committee noting that this approach may be discontinued at any time if the committee finds it necessary”.

3. Although the preference is that reports be submitted in time for inclusion on the agenda, the option of material being pre-circulated to the committee and other interest groups is available at the chair’s discretion.

4. The recommendation against reports included on the agenda will be that the report be received. It is up to the committee whether it wishes to pass any additional resolutions to action these requests if appropriate once it has considered the material provided.

5. The items received and approved for inclusion on this agenda are attached to this report as outlined below.

Recommendation/s

That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:

a) Receives the ‘Windy Hill Sanctuary – Banking Biodiversity’ final report submitted to the Auckland Council Natural Heritage Fund 2013/2014.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Windy Hill Sanctuary – Banking Biodiversity final report	81

Signatories

Author	Guia Nonoy - Local Board Democracy/Engagement Advisor
Authoriser	John Nash – Relationship Manager/Senior Local Board Advisor