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, 28
October 2015
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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Susan Daly
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Deputy Chairperson
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Jeff Cleave
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Members
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Izzy Fordham
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Judy Gilbert
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Christina Spence
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(Quorum 3 members)
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Jacqueline Fyers
Democracy/Engagement Advisor
19 October 2015
Contact Telephone: (09) 301 0101
Email: jacqueline.fyers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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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 Summary Report Back on 2014/2015 Local Environment Work
Programme 7
13 Infrastructure and Environmental Services Update Report 97
14 Medlands Stream Riparian Fencing and Planting Project 121
15 Final report on the Kaitoke Beach Dune Stabilisation and
Monitoring Project 133
16 Aotea Great Barrier Ecology Conversations Phase 2 proposed
plan and work programme 145
17 Consideration of Extraordinary
Items
Chairperson SP Daly will welcome everyone in attendance. Deputy JC
Cleave will lea 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
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That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:
a)
confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting,
held on Wednesday, 26 August 2015, as a true and
correct record.
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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 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.
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Summary Report
Back on 2014/2015 Local Environment Work Programme
File No.: CP2015/19764
Purpose
1. To provide a
report back on the 2014/2015 Great Barrier local environment work programme.
Executive
Summary
2. In 2014/2015,
the Great Barrier Environment Committee (the Committee) developed a local
environment work programme from the Great Barrier Local Board’s budgets for
biosecurity pest management and environmental enhancement. This work programme
included threatened plant protection, water quality monitoring and pest control
and surveillance.
3. While some
reporting back was provided as part of the 2015/2016 work programme report
presented to the Committee at its August 2015 meeting and in the annual report
prepared by the Finance department, this report provides a summary report back
on the entire 2014/2015 local environment work programme.
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Recommendation
That the Great Barrier
Environment Committee:
a) Receives the
report back on the 2014/2015 local environment work programme.
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Comments
4. The 2014/2015
local environment work programme was funded through board’s budgets supporting
environmental enhancement ($49,558), and for biosecurity pest management
programmes ($52,936). This report provides a report back to the Committee on
that work programme.
Water Quality
Monitoring at Tryphena
5. Monitoring of eight sites in Tryphena was undertaken to provide the
board with an understanding of local freshwater stream quality. The start of this project was delayed due to challenges encountered
in procuring a local person to undertake this work. However, monitoring
commenced in April 2015 with sample collection being undertaken by Council
staff based on Great Barrier.
6. An interim
report on three months of monitoring information was received by the Committee
at its August 2015 meeting. Over this period samples were collected from eight
sites. This report noted that e.coli was present and recommended continued
monitoring of the site. Committee members have requested that in reporting back
on the full year of sampling that reference be made to previous monitoring
undertaken in this location. This will not be completed until May or June 2016.
Threatened
Plants
7. In 2014/2015 the
board funded a trial of various means to protect the leptinella population
at Awana. This trial considered the effects of stock exclusion and weed control
of invasive grasses that were considered to compete with leptinella. The
monitoring also considered changes in vegetation in response to stock exclusion
as this may affect the composition and abundance of the vegetation present at
the site.
8. A full report on
the first year of the management trial looking at the best means to protect the
leptinella population at Awana was not available at the time of writing.
It is expected to be available to board members by the end of October 2015.
9. It is unlikely
that the results of the first years management trial will be conclusive. The
report will likely recommend continuing the management trials (which include
weed control) for at least the next year, with the results to inform the
long-term management of this species at this site. It is very likely that some
form of ongoing weed-management will be required to ensure that this species
survives at this site due to the competition it faces with fast-growing exotic
species present.
10. A second
leptinella site was found at Mabey Road on land managed by the Department of
Conservation (DOC). At the time of writing, DOC’s plans for managing this site
were unclear.
Sustainability Stocktake
11. A survey of
residents’ current sustainability and low carbon practices was undertaken in
early 2015. The sustainability stocktake report was presented to the Committee
at its April 2015 meeting. Further analysis of the results indicated that Great
Barrier households were interested in options for financing low carbon and
sustainable technologies as well as more information on those options.
12. The board
subsequently resolved at its August 2015 meeting to support the development of
an online information hub.
Kaitoke Weed
and Pest Control
13. 130 hours of
species led weed control was carried out over 800m² of the fire ground as well as site specific control in key native
plant habitat areas. The work on Brush wattle removal around the Grandstand
swamp was assisted by the Navy.
14. Relative
abundance rodent and wildlife monitoring was carried out in November 2014 and
April 2015 utilising equipment already in place. Table 1 below provides a
comparison of the results over the two periods.
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Fire Ground
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Control Ground
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Rats
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Mice
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Rats
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Mice
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November 2014
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13%
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0
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13%
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0
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April 2015
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52%
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25%
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35%
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5%
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Table 1: Rodent Control Results
Community
Pest Coordinator
15. The start of this
project was delayed due to challenges encountered in procuring a local person
to undertake this work. A person was eventually engaged by organising a
contract through an existing Great Barrier business. The Community Pest
Coordinator worked with residents of Mulberry Grove to encourage pest (rat)
control on private properties. As at July 2015, relative abundance counts were
zero.
16. Many residents
also expressed interest in undertaking pest plant control. As such, it was
subsequently approved through the 2015/2016 work programme to develop a locally
specific weed control brochure.
Plague Skink
Surveillance
17. In 2014/2015, a
total of 51 sites (18 of which were funded by the board) were surveyed for
plague skink populations. As no further populations were found, researchers are
reasonably certain that the population at Shoal Bay is contained. The report
back on the surveillance work was provided to the Committee at its August 2015
meeting.
Rabbit
Control
18. Rabbit control
(burrow fumigation and night shoots) was undertaken at Kaitoke, Awana,
Whangapoua and Okiwi in March 2015. To counteract prey switch after a reduction
in rabbit numbers, Cat control was carried out in Awana during May and June. A
total of nine cats were captured during this operation. The 2014/2015 control
programme concluded in June with the use of pindone-baited carrots to control
rabbits at Okiwi. Relative abundance counts show that the number of rabbits has
reduced at these locations.
19. The reports back
from the two contractors are appended at Attachments A and B.
Weed Survey
20. In 2014/2015, the
board funded a survey of weed species on the west coast bays. The survey
reached Mangati Bay, Whangaparapara with moth plant and cotoneaster amongst the pest plants identified
and removed. In 2015/2016, the survey will continue south to Cape Barrier.
21. This work
complements regionally-funded weed control and survey work. As the
regionally-funded survey work is likely to inform future work planning (both at
a local and regional level), reports on that survey work are appended to this
report as Attachments C and D for the board’s information.
Consideration
Local
Board views and implications
22. The work programme was agreed by
the Committee in September 2014.
Māori
impact statement
23. No consultation with Maori was
required for the purposes of this report.
Implementation
24. As noted in
paragraphs 5 and 15 above, there were some difficulties in delivering this work
programme due to the board’s desire to see local people undertake the water
quality sample collection and pest coordinator roles. Since then, staff have
been investigating how to tailor procurement processes to meet the unique
situation on Great Barrier.
25. There are no implementation issues arising from this report. Regular
reporting on the environment work programme was provided through the bi-monthly
report from the Infrastructure and Environmental Services department, or as
required.
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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Post-Operational Report on Rabbit Control Programme
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11
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bView
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Rabbit control, Whangapoua – Pindone operation June
2015
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27
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cView
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2014/2015 Great Barrier Weed Control Programme
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35
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dView
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2014/2015 Weed Survey on Great Barrier - report back
from contractor
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87
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Signatories
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Authors
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Emma Joyce – Relationship Advisor
Jeremy Warden – Biosecurity Advisor
Jacinda Wooley - Ecologist
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Authorisers
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Gael Ogilvie – Environmental Services
Manager
John Dragicevich – Infrastructure and
Environmental Services Manager
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Infrastructure and Environmental Services Update
Report
File No.:
CP2015/19769
Purpose
1. To inform the Great Barrier
Environment Committee (the Committee) about the activities of the
Infrastructure and Environmental Services (I&ES) department over August and
September 2015.
Executive
Summary
2. This report is a regular update
to inform and update the Committee on the Great Barrier environment work
programme. As the work programme has only recently been agreed, this quarterly
report is limited in its discussion of the work programme.
3. The report also informs the
Committee on regional programmes that impact on the local board area.
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Recommendations
That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:
a) Notes the
information in the Infrastructure and Environmental Services update report.
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Discussion
4. The Committee agreed its environment
work programme at its June and August 2015 meetings. The work programme is
supported by budgets for pest coordinator, biosecurity initiatives,
environmental enhancement, pest management, and water quality monitoring.
5. The work programme is made up of
the following projects;
· Management
of leptinella population at Awana;
· Water
quality monitoring at Tryphena;
· Community
Pest Coordinator;
· Online
Sustainability Hub;
· Support
for fish passage enhancement;
· Weed
survey;
· Weed
management and rodent monitoring at Kaitoke;
· Rabbit
control; and
· Plague
Skink and Argentine Ant monitoring.
6. An update on the local
environment work programme is appended as Attachment A, with highlights noted
in Table 1 below.
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Project
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Update
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Rabbit and Cat Control
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· Procurement and contract material is
currently being prepared for the 2015/2016 rabbit control programme. It is
suggested that this financial year that the contract bundle all the
components (magtoxin, pindone, and cat trapping) into a single contract.
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Fish Passages
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· As
part of its decision making on the local environment work programme, the
Committee agreed to provide funding for a project to support fish passage on
Aotea Great Barrier.
· Staff
are now scoping a project to undertake validation monitoring of previously
remediated culverts with this local funding.
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Table 1: Highlights
– Local Environment Work Programme
7. A detailed update on both local
and regional biosecurity update is appended as Attachments B and C.
8. Local environmental initiatives
are also supported through regional funding. An update on regionally funded
projects is noted in table 2 below.
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The Environment Is At Its Best
Here
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Thriving Ecosystems
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· The Regional Environment and Natural Heritage Fund
opened for applications in mid-September 2015. The fund is open for one
month, with successful applicants decided by the Environment, Climate Change
and Natural Heritage (ECNNH) Committee in December 2015.
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Healthy Waterways
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· At the request of the Committee, staff are investigating
options to assess the water quality in the Kaitoke Stream, including a review
of the data collected from bore samples.
· A report outlining approaches to managing septic tanks
on the west coast of mainland Auckland will be presented to the Regional
Policy and Strategy Committee in late 2015. Outcomes of that report may
provide opportunities and a way forward for Great Barrier to address local
septic tank issues.
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Zero Waste
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· A meeting was held with local
businesses to discuss ways to encourage zero waste practices.
· Staff are currently scoping the
development of the Hauraki Gulf Plan, including ways to engage with the local
board and the local community in its development and implementation.
· The Waste Minimisation and Innovation
Fund opened for applications on 1 September 2015. Successful applications
will be decided by the ECCNH Committee in December 2015.
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Table 2: Regional
Environment Work Programme
Consideration
Local
Board Views
9. 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 outcome –
The environment is at its best here.
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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
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No.
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Title
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Page
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aView
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Update on local environment work
programme
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101
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bView
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September Biosecurity Update
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103
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cView
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August Biosecurity Update
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105
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dView
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Report on Biosecurity Advocacy on
Ferries in the Hauraki Gulf - By Terri Todd and Diane Fraser, Department of
Natural Sciences, Unitec.
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109
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Signatories
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Authors
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Emma Joyce – Relationship Advisor
Jeremy Warden – Biosecurity Advisor (Great Barrier)
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Authorisers
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Gael Ogilvie – Environmental Services Manager
John Dragicevich – Manager Infrastructure and
Environmental Services
John Nash – Relationship Manager
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Medlands Stream Riparian Fencing and Planting Project
File No.: CP2015/20523
Purpose
1. To provide the Great Barrier
Environment Committee (the Committee) with the project completion report for a
fencing and planting project on private property along Medlands Stream.
Executive
Summary
2. On 28 May 2014, the Committee
agreed to provide funding of $24,126 from the Auckland City Natural Heritage
Fund to support fencing and planting on private property along Medlands
Stream.
3. This project
involved fencing and planting at two sites on the property which would restrict
stock access to the stream, reduce bank erosion and improve water quality.
4. Recipients of any environmental
funding are required to provide a completion report to Auckland Council. As
this particular application has been of interest to the Great Barrier Local
Board, a copy of the completion report for the Medlands Stream fencing and
planting project is attached for the Committee’s information.
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Recommendation
That the Great Barrier
Environment Committee:
a) Notes the information in the
completion report for the Medlands Stream Riparian Fencing and Planting
Project.
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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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Project Completion Report
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123
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bView
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Photos
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127
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Signatories
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Authors
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Emma Joyce - Relationship Advisor
Fran Hayton - Environmental Funding Advisor
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Authorisers
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John Dragicevich - Manager Infrastructure and
Environmental Services
John Nash - Senior Local Board Advisor
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Final report on the Kaitoke Beach Dune Stabilisation
and Monitoring Project
File No.: CP2015/21836
Purpose
1. The purpose of this report is to
present the final report on the Kaitoke Beach Dune Stabilisation and Monitoring
Project to the Great Barrier Environment Committee.
Executive
Summary
2. The project results from concerns
raised in 2006 about wind-blown sand from the Kaitoke dunes which mark the
seaward boundary of the Claris airfield runway threatening airfield operations.
This was confirmed by a subsequent report which recommended a multi-year dune
planting, pest control and monitoring programme be implemented.
3. The project commenced in 2007 and
since then an annual community planting day involving local school children has
been held. The report notes that the planting methods used, which were
specifically designed for this situation, have enabled restoration and dune
stabilisation to occur very quickly such that the threat to the airfield has
now been removed.
4. The report recommends that to
ensure project success, rabbit control should continue (funded from the
biosecurity budget) and that a dune profile should be created at a cost of
$6,500. It also notes the option of continuing with the planting programme at
an annual cost of around $8,500.
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Recommendation/s
That the Great Barrier
Environment Committee:
a) Receives the Kaitoke Beach Dune
Stabilisation and Monitoring Project Final report July 2015.
b) Considers what if any
additional project activity it wishes to continue with and budget
requirements.
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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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Kaitoke Beach Dune Stabilisation and Monitoring
Project Final Report July 2015
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135
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Signatories
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Authors
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John Nash - Senior Local Board Advisor
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Authorisers
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Karen Lyons - Manager Local Board Services
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Aotea Great Barrier Ecology Conversations Phase 2
proposed plan and work programme
File No.: CP2015/21858
Purpose
1. The purpose of this report is to
present the plan for Phase 2 of the Aotea Great Barrier Ecology Conversations
to the Great Barrier Environment Committee for its approval.
Executive
Summary
2. At its 26 August 2015 meeting the
Great Barrier Environment Committee:
· received the Phase 1 report on the Aotea
Great Barrier Ecology Conversations project;
· confirmed a $47,000 budget for Phase 2 of
the project to be undertaken in 2015/16;
· agreed to consider the content of Phase 2
at its September workshop for formal approval at the committee’s October
meeting; and
· agreed to publicise the findings of this
report to all participant and interested parties.
3. The Phase 2 plan is included at
Attachment A for the committee’s consideration. Its objectives include
addressing gaps identified from community engagement in Phase 1, building buy
in for the projects objectives, identifying possible projects and engaging with
key stakeholders not included in Phase 1.
4. Attachment B outlines the
proposed work programme which is divided into two stages focusing on different
aspects of the project. It proposes the identification of a signature project
to engage and mobilise the community and development of self-help guides on
specific ecological areas requested in Phase 1 meetings.
5. The proposed work programme is
costed at $55,000 which slightly exceeds the available $47,000 project budget.
It is noted that as with Phase 1, the amount of work and associated costs is
very speculative and will be refined further as the project progresses.
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Recommendation/s
That the Great Barrier
Environment Committee:
a) Receives the Phase 2 plan for
the Aotea Great Barrier Ecology Conversations project.
b) Agrees to adopt the plan and
associated work programme with or without changes if appropriate.
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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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Aotea Great Barrier Ecology Conversations Project
Phase 2 Plan
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147
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bView
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Aotea Great Barrier Ecology Conversations Project
Phase 2 Work Programme
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151
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Signatories
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Authors
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John Nash - Senior Local Board Advisor
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Authorisers
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Karen Lyons - Manager Local Board Services
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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Great Barrier
Environment Committee
28 October
2015
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