Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee

 

OPEN MINUTES

 

 

 

Minutes of a meeting of the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee held in Rooms 1 and 2, Level 26, 135 Albert Street, Auckland on Wednesday, 11 March 2015 at 9.58am.

 

present

 

Chairperson

Cr Wayne Walker

 

Members

Cr Dr Cathy Casey

From 10.30am, Item 5.2

 

Cr Hon Christine Fletcher, QSO

 

 

Cr Mike Lee

 

 

Cr John Watson

 

 

Member Karen Wilson

 

 

APOLOGIES

 

 

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse

For absence on council business

 

Cr Linda Cooper, JP

For absence

 

Cr Ross Clow

For absence

 

Cr Chris Darby

For absence on council business

 

Member Liane Ngamane

For absence

 

ALSO PRESENT

 

 

Paul Walden

Chairperson, Waiheke Local Board

 

Saffron Toms

Member, Waitakere Ranges Local Board

 

 


Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee

11 March 2015

 

 

1          Apologies

 

Resolution number ENV/2015/1

MOVED by Chairperson WD Walker, seconded by Cr CE Fletcher:  

That the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee:

a)         accept the apologies from Deputy Mayor PA Hulse, Councillors Linda Cooper, Ross Clow, Chris Darby and Member Liane Ngamane for absence, and Councillor Casey for lateness.

CARRIED

 

2          Declaration of Interest

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

3          Confirmation of Minutes

 

Resolution number ENV/2015/2

MOVED by Chairperson WD Walker, seconded by Cr J Watson:  

That the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee:

a)         confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Wednesday, 3 December 2014, including the confidential section, as a true and correct record.

CARRIED

 

4          Petitions

 

There were no petitions.

 

5          Public Input

 

5.1

Input from Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari project

 

Mr Nick Main, on behalf of Sea Change, was in attendance to speak to the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee regarding the environmental changes occurring in the sea and on the seabed in the Hauraki Gulf.

A PowerPoint presentation was provided. A copy has been placed on the official minutes and is available on the Auckland Council website as a minutes attachment.

 

Resolution number ENV/2015/3

MOVED by Chairperson WD Walker, seconded by Cr CE Fletcher:  

That the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee:

a)      receive the PowerPoint presentation from Mr Nick Main, Independent Chair of the Stakeholder Working Group, Sea Change.

b)      thank Nick Main for his attendance and PowerPoint presentation to the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee.

CARRIED

 

Attachments

a     11 March 2015, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee - Sea Change presentation

 


 

5.2

Input from King Tides Initiative - rise in King Tides and its effect on New Zealand coastlines

 

Councillor Casey entered the meeting at 10.30am

 

 

Mr Ben Sheeran, on behalf of the King Tides Initiative, was in attendance to speak to the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee regarding the rise in King Tides and its effect on New Zealand coastlines.

 

A PowerPoint presentation was provided. A copy has been placed on the official minutes and is available on the Auckland Council website as a minutes attachment.

 

 

Resolution number ENV/2015/4

MOVED by Chairperson WD Walker, seconded by Cr CM Casey:  

That the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee:

a)      receive the presentation from Mr Ben Sheeran, King Tides Initiative

b)      thank Mr Ben Sheeran for his PowerPoint presentation to the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee.

 

CARRIED

 

Attachments

a     11 March 2015, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee - King Tides Initiative presentation

 

 

5.3

Input from Ms Stephanie Borrelle - reduced use of single-use plastic bags

 

Resolution number ENV/2015/5

MOVED by Chairperson WD Walker, seconded by Cr CM Casey:  

That the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee:

a)      receive the presentation from Ms Stephanie Borrelle regarding reduced use of single-use plastic bags

b)      thank Ms Stephanie Borrelle for her verbal presentation regarding reduced use of single-use plastic bags to the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee.

 

CARRIED

 


 

6          Local Board Input

 

6.1

Input from Waiheke and Waitakere Ranges Local Boards and Ian Watson, Engineer - weed control methodology

 

Paul Walden, Chairperson, Waiheke Local Board, Saffron Tom, Member, Waitakere Ranges Local Board and Ian Watson, Engineer, were in attendance to speak to the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee regarding weed control methodology issues in road swales, storm water quality and biodiversity.

 

A PowerPoint presentation and photos were provided. Copies have been placed on the official minutes and are available on the Auckland Council website as minutes attachments.

 

 

Resolution number ENV/2015/6

MOVED by Chairperson WD Walker, seconded by Cr J Watson:  

That the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee:

a)        receive the presentations from Paul Walden, Chairperson, Waiheke Local Board, Saffron Toms, Member, Waitakere Ranges Local Board and Ian Watson, Engineer, regarding weed control methodology in swales, water quality (especially storm water) and biodiversity in the Auckland area

b)        thank Paul Walden, Saffron Toms and Ian Watson for their presentations

c)        as part of its mandate to manage biodiversity and water quality outcomes:

i)       require officers to further investigate actions to adopt low impact storm-water management practices for the roading network

ii)      endorse the current officer-led project to implement the weed management policy including working collaboratively with the local boards and the community to inform best practice control methods that optimise environmental, cost and health / safety considerations

iii)    request Auckland Transport to expedite the promised berm planting guidelines

iv)    require officers to report back to the appropriate committee on the above three actions.

 

CARRIED

 

Attachments

a     11 March 2015, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee - Environment-friendly weed removal in swales in Rodney photos

b     11 March 2015, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee - Storm water management on Waiheke Island presentation

c    11 March 2015, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee - Environment-friendly weed control on swales in Waitakere Ranges photos

 


 

7          Extraordinary Business

 

7.1

Extraordinary Business - kauri tree on Paturoa Road, Titirangi

 

Resolution number ENV/2015/7

MOVED by Cr CE Fletcher, seconded by Cr CM Casey:  

That the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee:

a)      consider an extraordinary item regarding the heritage kauri tree on Paturoa Road, Titirangi at item 13 of these minutes

i)     the reason the matter was not on the agenda is that the agenda had gone to print before the community were aware of the matter

ii)    the reason for urgency being the community’s concern about the tree’s proposed removal date.

 

CARRIED

 

 

Precedence of Business

Resolution number ENV/2015/8

MOVED by Cr CE Fletcher, seconded by Cr CM Casey:  

That the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee:

a)         agree that Item 13:  Kauri Tree on Paturoa Road, Titirangi be accorded precedence at this time.

CARRIED

 

 

13

Kauri Tree on Paturoa Road, Titirangi

 

Resolution number ENV/2015/9

MOVED by Chairperson WD Walker, seconded by Cr CM Casey:  

That the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee:

 

a)            endorse the resolutions of the Parks Committee of 10 March 2015 to refer the matter of the kauri tree on Paturoa Road, Titirangi to the Auckland Development Committee on 12 March.

b)            support the verbal presentation from Saffron Toms on behalf of the Waitakere Ranges Local Board seeking the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee’s support of the Board’s action to retain the kauri tree and Paturoa Road

c)            record its deep concern that the resource consent granted to destroy a healthy kauri tree and ancient rimu tree in the Waitakere Ranges and further registers its concern at the failure to notify the consent given the special circumstances of the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act, and note the support of the Waitakere Local Board and the concerns expressed by the Minister of conservation

d)            recommend to the Auckland Development Committee that the matter be subject to a procedural review.

CARRIED

 


 

8          Notices of Motion

 

There were no notices of motion.

 

9

Single use plastic bags - review of bylaw making powers and consideration of options for minimisation in the Auckland region

 

Resolution number ENV/2015/10

MOVED by Chairperson WD Walker, seconded by Cr CM Casey:  

That the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee:

a)        support the establishment of a packaging workgroup to develop an accord on how to minimise packaging waste, including plastic bags

b)        support making Auckland plastic bag free

c)      request officers to undertake further work:

          i)     to make Auckland plastic bag free

         ii)    on the actions to minimise the use of single use plastic bags, such as integrating messaging into planned campaigns and council walking the talk.

         iii)   on options to reduce other forms of plastic entering the natural environment

d)      request officers to undertake further work on how to make Auckland plastic bag free and report back recommended actions to this committee.

 

CARRIED

 

 

10

Species Prioritisation - Report Back

 

Resolution number ENV/2015/11

MOVED by Chairperson WD Walker, seconded by Cr CE Fletcher:  

That the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee:

a)         receive the Species Prioritisation – Report Back report

b)        request that risk around Long-term Plan (LTP) cost savings are retained for future species and biodiversity work

c)         request that investment be prioritised to ensure the most cost–effective and efficient management of threatened species in the Auckland Region

d)        request that further discussion regarding biodiversity budgets are managed through the draft LTP 2015-2025 in a transparent and open manner.

 

CARRIED

 


 

11

Update on Environment Strategic Action Plan (ESAP)

 

Resolution number ENV/2015/12

MOVED by Chairperson WD Walker, seconded by Cr J Watson:  

That the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee:

a)      receive the update on the Environment Strategic Action Plan (ESAP) report.

 

CARRIED

 

 

12

Progress Report on action items arising from minutes of previous meetings

 

Resolution number ENV/2015/13

MOVED by Chairperson WD Walker, seconded by Cr J Watson:  

That the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee:

a)      receive the progress report on action items arising from minutes of previous meetings.

 

CARRIED

  

 

 

 

12.47pm                                             The Chairperson thanked Members for their attendance and attention to business and declared the meeting closed.

 

CONFIRMED AS A TRUE AND CORRECT RECORD AT A MEETING OF THE Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee HELD ON

 

 

 

DATE:.........................................................................

 

 

 

CHAIRPERSON:........................................................