Agenda of Waitākere Ranges Local Board

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.

Specifically members are asked to identify any new interests they have not previously disclosed, an interest that might be considered as a conflict of interest with a matter on the agenda.

The following are declared interests of the Waitakere Ranges Local Board.

Board Member	Organisation / Position
Sandra Coney	· Waitemata District Health Board – Elected Member · Women’s Health Action Trust – Patron · New Zealand Society of Genealogists – Member · New Zealand Military Defence Society – Member · Cartwright Collective – Member · Titirangi RSA – Member · Portage Trust – Member · West Auckland Trust Services - Director
Neil Henderson	· Portage Trust – Elected Member · West Auckland Trust Services (WATS) Board – Trustee/Director
Greg Presland	· Lopdell House Development Trust – Trustee · Titirangi Residents & Ratepayers Group – Committee Member · Whau Coastal Walkway Environmental Trust – Trustee · Combined Youth Services Trust – Trustee · Glen Eden Bid - Member
Steve Tollestrup	· Waitakere Licensing Trust – Elected Member · Waitakere Task force on Family Violence – Appointee
Saffron Toms	NIL
Denise Yates	· Friends of Arataki Incorporated – Committee member · EcoMatters Environment Trust – Trustee

Member appointments

Board members are appointed to the following bodies. In these appointments the board members represent Auckland Council.

Board Member	Organisation / Position
Sandra Coney	· Friends of Arataki Incorporated – Trustee
Neil Henderson	· Friends of Arataki Incorporated – Trustee
Steve Tollestrup	· Glen Eden Business Improvement District
Greg Presland	· Glen Eden Business Improvement District (alternate)
Saffron Toms	· Ark in the Park

4 Confirmation of Minutes

That the Waitākere Ranges Local Board:

a) confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Thursday, 23 February 2017, as a true and correct record.

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 Ward Councillors update

An opportunity is provided for the Waitakere Ward Councillors to update the board on regional issues they have been involved with since the last meeting.

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 Waitākere Ranges Local Board. 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.

8.1 Deputation - Healthy Families Waitakere

Purpose

1. To present a number of opportunities for the Waitakere Ranges local board to influence the food and drink environments particularly at community and Council events

Background history:

2. Healthy Families Waitakere has been working alongside key stakeholders to support event providers (and funders of events) consider how their events can promote healthy messages and also provide a healthy environment. This has included support to event organisers around;

· Healthy food and drink options

· Smokefree events including signage, messaging and promotion of cessation services

· Provision of free or low cost water

· Reducing availability of sugary sweetened beverages

· Reducing provision of “unhealthy” foods

3. Healthy Families Waitakere has also produced a Healthier Vendors guide for use by event providers and we have presented this healthier vendors guide, a questionnaire and vendors list to Leanne Roche from Auckland Council, who organises a range of events such as Movies in Parks and Music in Parks. We have been in touch with the Heart Foundation for support on developing a Healthy Buyers guide for school and sport clubs canteens. This guide aims to include a list of local food suppliers that meet our healthy food criteria and are happy to supply food at smaller quantities and wholesale prices to the canteens.

4. We are also talking with a range of water companies/providers about the provision of water at events whether it be free or at low cost. There is an opportunity for the local board to support these companies in providing affordable or in some instances free water. We are also working with manufacturers of water fountains/hydration stations to get better quality fountains into some schools and this could also be an opportunity for the local board.

5. There have also been a number of actions that multiple stakeholders have progressed that are supporting healthier communities and have provided an opportunity for us to support our local West Auckland community. These include:

· Auckland Council announcement of all Council leisure facilities removing SSB’s

· All DHB’s are now required to remove SSB’s from their sites

· The Moh has endorsed a Healthy Food and Beverage guidelines and we are supporting the use of this across multiple partner organisations, local boards and workplaces.

Recommendation/s

That the Waitākere Ranges Local Board:

a) receive the deputation presentation from Healthy Families Waitakere.

Attachments

a Creating Healthier Environments........................................................... 39

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.

Waitākere Ranges Local Board

09 March 2017

Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Six Monthly Report

File No.: CP2017/00600

Purpose

1. An update on activities across the Council from those departments which are contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008.

2. This report focuses on the six month period from July 2016 to December 2016 (first half of the 2016/17 financial year).

Executive summary

3. The implementation of the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008 (the Act) is being undertaken by a variety of Council departments across the suite of objectives that are set out in the Act. These objectives are summarised in Attachment A.

4. Council’s work in the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area (Heritage Area) continues to contribute towards achieving the objectives of the Act. Progress updates on such initiatives are presented in Attachment B. Additional details of highlights / key points are outlined in the body of this report, for the following topics:

· Waitākere Ranges Monitoring Report five yearly report: The next report is due in April 2018. Preliminary planning for the delivery of this report was initiated in July 2016. An indicative timeline and summary sheet of topic groups is provided in Attachment C.

· Kauri Dieback disease. This remains the most significant threat to the Waitākere Ranges. The 2016 surveillance of Kauri dieback within the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park has reaffirmed the disease is a widespread biosecurity issue within the parkland. Comparison of Kauri health surveys data between 2011and 2016 shows the distribution of Phytophthora agathidicida has risen from 7.9% to 18.95% of the complete Kauri area.

· Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Web page: The page is maintained with relevant information as appropriate and has been viewed 294 times in past six months and 136 times in past three months as at 5 December 2016.

· Thrive newsletter. There has been one edition of ‘Thrive‘ newsletter (November 2016) published in the first half of the 2016/17 financial year.

· Building in the Bush Design Guidelines for building in the bush within the Heritage Area. The projected completion date for the final document is scheduled for July 2017.

· Auckland Transport draft Road Corridor Design and Management Guide: The draft document has been received by Auckland Transport Network Operations and awaits final approval.

· Foothills Walkway section through Perris Road has encountered some difficulties with volunteer construction. Contractors are being considered for this section.

· Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Local Parks Design Guidelines: Presentation of a draft document to the Local Board for approval to take to public consultation is scheduled for late February/March.

· Auckland Unitary Plan decisions and appeals: The council publicly notified its decisions and the decisions version of the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan on 19 August 2016. The decisions version incorporates specific provisions for the Heritage Area in the Regional Policy Statement, the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Overlay, two new zones and the Waitākere Ranges Precincts (Wainamu, Te Henga, and Bethells). Several appeals have been received which are relevant to the Heritage Area. The two most significant appeals are to the High Court from:

· The Waitākere Ranges Protection Society: this appeal is concerned with subdivision activity and seeks to reinstate Prohibited activity status in some situations. As yet, no date has been set for a hearing.

· The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society: the appeal relates to criteria used to determine Significant Ecological Areas. The hearing began on 16 February 2017.

5. This report will also be provided in a memorandum format to the Whau Local Board, the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee and the Environment and Community Committee.

Recommendation/s

That the Waitākere Ranges Local Board:

a) receive the report.

b) note that this report and its attachments will also be provided as an information memo to the Whau Local Board, the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee and the Environment and Community Committee.

Comments

6. The Heritage Area covers an area of approximately 27,720 hectares and encompasses the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park. The Act recognises the national, regional and local significance of the Heritage Area, and promotes the protection and enhancement of its natural, cultural and heritage features for present and future generations.

7. This report collates information about all Council-wide activities which contribute to achieving the objectives of the Act. These include “business as usual” activities and projects that are specifically established to assist implementation of the Act.

8. An officer-level Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Programme Co-ordination Group (The Group) provides for exchange of information and ensures that the relevant work streams and activities are coordinated and aligned as much as possible. The Group also provides a mechanism for discussing, prioritising, monitoring and reporting of progress among Council units and Council Controlled Organisations involved in implementing the Act. It continues to develop improvements to the co-ordination of specific work streams and activities in the Heritage Area that contribute to achieving the purpose and objectives of the Act.

9. Attachment B to this report lists the projects and activities for the 2016/17 financial year and provides a brief summary of their progress. The projects and activities have been grouped under topic headings which align with the Heritage Area’s features and management objectives. These are:

· Planning and Communication - Planning for, communicating about and implementation of the Act as a whole

· Landscape - activities aimed at protecting and enhancing the characteristic landscape of the foothills, rural and forested areas and coast

· Development and Consent Activity - management of subdivision and development within the context of the Resource Management and Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Acts

· Ecosystems and Ecosystem Services - protection, restoration and enhancement of ecosystems by both Council and community

· Cultural and Built Heritage - this relates to both pre-and post-European settlement, including the relationships between tangata whenua and the Heritage Area, and the history of kauri milling, horticulture and viticulture

· Recreation Opportunities and Visitor Management- provision of facilities and services for enjoyment and appreciation of these heritage features, and management of visitor pressures and impacts.

10. The information provided in Attachment B is primarily project-based and does not cover maintenance or routine management of physical assets, staff costs or fixed overheads.

Key points and highlights

Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Five Year Monitoring Report

11. In accordance with section 34 of the Act a monitoring report on the state of the heritage area’s environment and progress towards achieving the objectives of the Act is required at least every five years. The next five yearly Monitoring Report is due in April 2018. This will be the second monitoring report prepared for the Heritage Area since the establishment of the Act in 2008. Preliminary planning of the related work program necessary to deliver this report was initiated in July 2016 An indicative timeline and summary sheet of topic groups is provided in Attachment C.

Kauri Die-back disease

12. Regional and Local Parks together with the Biosecurity team of Council continue to manage Kauri Die-back disease, which continues to be the most significant threat to the Heritage Area. Management measures adopted include track closures, monitoring disease spread, health survey of kauri trees within ten meters of tracks, maintenance and operation of hygiene stations and tree maintenance through boardwalk and raised pathways. Auckland Council’s Biosecurity team is tracking movement/expansion of kauri dieback using methods such as aerial surveying and ground truthing (direct observation). This is undertaken on a 5-year cycle, with the last cycle completed in summer 2015/16. The results of the 2015/16 survey within the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park have provided the first opportunity in this disease management programme to identify ‘rate of spread’ and have reaffirmed that the disease is a widespread biosecurity issue within the parkland.

13. Comparison of Kauri health surveys data between 2011and 2016 shows the distribution of Phytophthora agathidicida has risen from 7.9% to 18.95% of the complete Kauri area. In terms of scale, the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park represents the most heavily Kauri dieback infected area currently recorded in New Zealand. Nearly a quarter of the total Kauri area within the Park is potentially affected by Kauri dieback infection and over half the substantial Kauri areas contain symptoms of infection within them. Survey results show an increase from 10.6% in 2011 of the total Kauri area within the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park being surveyed as either Kauri dieback or possibly Kauri dieback to 23.4% in 2016 indicating over a doubling of the contaminated area in a five year period.

14. Biosecurity, Biodiversity and Parks departments are currently reviewing all management measures, to progress management options to manage Kauri dieback disease in time for inclusion on the Long-term Plan 2018-2028. In the interim, at all main track entrances there are Kauri Ambassadors in place to remind people to use the hygiene stations.

Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area webpage

15. The Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area webpage (embedded within the Council web site) has been maintained with relevant content added as appropriate. The page has been viewed 294 times in past six months and 136 times in the past three months as at 5 December 2016. The webpage contains information, embedded files, documents and web links related to the Heritage Area at one place.

‘Thrive‘ newsletter

16. There has been one edition of ‘Thrive‘ newsletter (November 2016) published in the first half of the 2016/17 financial year. ‘Thrive’ newsletter reflects the Board's commitment to sustainable rural business in the Heritage Area by providing local business news, information on accessing local and regional resources, profiles of sustainable practice, and a calendar of upcoming events and learning opportunities. The newsletter is able to be accessed from both the Waitākere Local Board website and from the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Webpage.

Building in the Bush Design Guide

17. The Building in the Bush Design Guide for building in the bush in the Heritage Area will be finalised after the Auckland Unitary Plan appeals to allow for the inclusion of current and relevant planning information. The projected completion date for the document is the end 2016/17 financial year. As an interim measure, the Local Board resolved at its meeting on 14 July 2016 to upload relevant Building Design Guidance information to the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area webpage on the Auckland Council website. The information has been available since the end of September 2016 and is titled 'Building Design Guidance for building in the bush in the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area'.

Road Corridor Design and Management Guide

18. Auckland Transport draft Road Corridor Design and Management Guide was received by the Local Board at its meeting on 23 June 2016 and endorsed for public release. The guide establishes a set of principles that acknowledges the specific character of the Heritage Area, assists in meeting the requirements of the Act and delivers routes and connections that are safe and convenient for all road users. Auckland Transport is currently seeking approval from Auckland Transport Network Operations Group Manager to release the document for use.

Foothills Walkway

19. Volunteer construction along the Perris Road section of the Swanson Foothills section was initiated but difficulties were encountered and contractors are being considered for this section.

20. Seibel Scenic Reserve physical works began 31 May 2016.

Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Local Parks Design Guidelines

21. Development of Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Local Parks Design Guidelines started for delivery in 2016/2017 financial year. A draft document is being prepared and will be presented to the Local Board in February/March for approval to take to public consultation. Subject to the Board’s approval, two rounds of public consultation are planned for March and September 2017. Each round will be of ten weeks duration.

Auckland Unitary Plan

22. The council publicly notified its decisions on the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan on 19 August 2016. The Auckland Unitary Plan (Operative in Part) incorporates specific provisions for the Waitākere Ranges in the Regional Policy Statement, the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Overlay, the creation of the Waitākere Ranges and Waitākere Foothills zones and the Waitākere Ranges Precincts (Wainamu, Te Henga, Bethells). The Auckland Unitary Plan (Operative in Part) can be found on the Auckland Council website. Click on the following link, then click on Auckland Unitary Plan (Operative in Part).

http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/planspoliciesprojects/plansstrategies/unitaryplan/Pages/home.aspx

23. There are several appeals to the Auckland Unitary Plan which affect the Heritage Area. The two most significant are appeals to the High Court from :

· The Waitākere Ranges Protection Society. The appeal relates to subdivision provisions applicable to parts of the Heritage Area. In particular, the society is challenging the application of non-complying activity status that has been applied to some categories of subdivision. The society seeks reinstatement of prohibited status which is the status that applied in the legacy Waitākere City District Plan. As yet there is no date set for a hearing.

· The Royal Forest and Bird protection Society. The appeal relates to the criteria used to determine Significant Ecological Areas (SEA) and the resulting extent of SEA in the corresponding SEA overlay which maps these areas.

The biodiversity policy part of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society appeal has been scheduled for a High Court Hearing as a priority matter. The hearing begins on 16 February 2017. Discussions with the Society have identified a set of possible amendments that would resolve the appeal.

Consideration

Local board views and implications

24. This report is for information purposes and forms the basis for a memorandum that will be provided to the Whau Local Board, the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee and the Environment and Community Committee.

25. The report is part of continuing processes to implement the Act and to evaluate progress being made to achieve its objectives. It is consistent with the priorities of the Board (as expressed through the 2015-18 Local Board Plan), and does not trigger the Significance Policy. This report is for Council reporting purposes and has not therefore been subject to a wider consultation process.

Māori impact statement

26. Te Kawerau a Maki, Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara and Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei have not been consulted specifically on this report. However, regular consultation and engagement takes place on a range of individual projects and activities described in this report, and on matters of mutual interest in the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park.

Implementation

27. There are no direct implementation issues.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act - Objectives	15
b ⇩	Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area - Summary Table of Activites and Progress for July - December 2016	17
c ⇩	Waitākere Ranges Monitoring Report Timeline	33