Agenda of Extraordinary Meeting of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

03 November 2020

Adoption of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020

File No.: CP2020/15754

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To adopt the final Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 requires that each local board complete a local board plan for adoption every three years and uses the special consultative procedure (SCP) to engage with their communities.

3. The consultation period for the SCP ran from 13 July to 13 August 2020.

4. The local board has considered all submissions and feedback received from the consultation period. Substantive changes and minor edits for clarification are proposed.

5. The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020, which includes the proposed changes, is attached to this report.

6. Pending adoption of the plan photographs, maps and other design features will be added for final publication.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) adopt the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 as set out in Attachment A of the agenda report.

b) delegate authority to the Chairperson and/or other nominated member(s) of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board to approve any minor edits that may be necessary to the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 prior to publication.

Horopaki

Context

7. The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 states that each local board must:

· adopt their local board plan by 31 October of the year following an election

· use the special consultative procedure (SCP) to engage with their communities.

8. Local board plans are strategic documents developed every three years. They set a direction for local boards and reflect community priorities and preferences. They provide a guide for local board activity, funding and investment decisions. They also influence local board input into regional strategies and plans, including annual budgets.

9. The plans inform the development of the council’s 10-year budget. They also form the basis for development of the annual local board agreement for the following three financial years and subsequent work programmes.

Timeframes

10. The implementation of COVID-19 alert levels forced a delay to the consultation period planned in June and July 2020 to be rescheduled to July and August 2020.

11. Every effort has been made to adopt the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 in October, however the unavoidable change to the dates of the consultation period has required a small extension of time. This is to ensure the local board had sufficient time to consider the submissions received.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

Consideration of submissions and feedback

12. The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board has considered the submissions and feedback received.

13. Public feedback on the draft plan was positive. The majority of submitters were supportive of the plan, its direction and themes covered.

14. Twenty-one submitters provided feedback on the Lord Howe Island reference. This made it the largest topic specific feedback received outside of the feedback form questions, with a majority requesting removal of the reference from the plan.

15. Seventeen Kaitoke and Mulberry Grove schoolchildren submitted topic specific feedback in support of marine protection across 11 submissions.

16. Overall, 35 per cent of submitters felt the plan would help the community recover from the impact of COVID-19, while two per cent did not. There were 23 per cent submitters who were unsure. The remaining 40 per cent of submitters did not respond to the COVID-19 question.

17. The key feedback points, analysis and subsequent proposed changes to the outcome chapters are outlined in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Substantive changes to the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020

Key point of feedback

Analysis

Proposed change

The top theme of feedback received was on marine protection with:

· A high proportion of submitters supporting an Ahu Moana approach for marine protection

· Several submitters noting concern over commercial fisheries

· Support for marine biodiversity and clean waters

The feedback supports the board’s direction outlined in the marine protection objective and initiatives.

However, given the high level of feedback its recommended to strengthen keywording, include advocacy for commercial fisheries reform and pursue further community engagement on an Ahu Moana approach.

Add new initiative:

Engagement with the community on an Ahu Moana approach for marine protection

Reword paragraph in challenges section to include further engagement on Ahu Moana:

‘We’ll start the process with further community engagement on a community-led Ahu Moana approach’

Add new initiative:

Advocate reform for commercial fisheries to enable sustainable fishing

Move marine biosecurity initiative from the environment objective to the marine protection objective and add biodiversity wording:

Support and enhance marine biodiversity and biosecurity by funding locally based education and enforcement

Reword below initiative to add a range of tools and key stakeholder DoC:

Investigate and implement marine protection, using tools such as, Ahu Moana, rāhui, and marine reserves with mana whenua, the community, and DoC, with Sea Change - Tai Timu Tai Pari as a guide

There were 21 submissions regarding the reference of Lord Howe Island in the plan. Seventy-one per cent requested its removal.

The feedback also requested greater community engagement and collaboration on pest control.

The Aotea predator free initiative expressed exploration in collaboration with mana whenua, community and stakeholders, however, the Lord Howe Island reference in the text was potentially misleading.

Due to the high amount of feedback, more clarity is recommended for references to pest control with the removal of any reference to Lord Howe Island and more explicit wording for community engagement and collaboration.

Reword the aspirational paragraph:

We see a future where our community deals with pests collaboratively

Reword the challenges paragraph:

The Ecology Vision provided great recommendations but no clear consensus on how best to deal to the island’s pests. We will continue to engage and collaborate with the community, mana whenua and DoC on pest control methodologies

Reword below initiative to focus on engagement with community:

Engage with the community, mana whenua and DoC on pest control methodologies to achieve an Aotea predator-free future

A few submissions noted a lack of detail around the environment initiatives

The local board plans are strategic documents and initiative/project details that relate to delivery are in the annual work programmes.

However, it’s recommended that the initiatives are made clearer by separating them into distinct topics and adding some specific keywording.

Reword below initiative to include keywording of biodiversity:

Support the biodiversity of our flora and fauna by funding our community-led Ecology Vision, our sanctuaries, environmental trusts, and community environment projects

Reword below initiative to be about the distinct topic of the advisor role:

Part-fund a conservation advisor role

Reword below initiative to be about the distinct topic of biosecurity projects:

Implement biosecurity projects focusing on education, weeds, ants, skinks, rabbits, rats and feral cat control

For better clarity remove the freshwater objective and add below distinct freshwater initiative under the environment objective:

Deliver a local freshwater stream quality programme to identify and mitigate pollution sources

A theme of social disparities emerged in the feedback with concerns for COVID-19 impacting upon social wellbeing.

The plan includes initiatives to support community wellbeing, community resilience, local economy and capacity building.

However, it’s recognised as important to note a concern for the impact of COVID-19 on social disparities.

Add new challenge paragraph:

The COVID-19 pandemic may place pressures on existing social disparities and exert further financial and social pressures. The wellbeing of our island is important to us and in the past, we have sought and gained exemptions from fuel and tourism taxes. We will continue to collaborate with mana whenua, local trusts, and groups and businesses to seek external funding and subsidies that might make life a bit easier.

Feedback was received on increasing support for social connections to improve community wellbeing

The plan includes initiatives to support marae, welfare and community groups to increase the island wellbeing.

However, COVID-19 has highlighted the need for extra support for social connectedness both online and physically.

Add new initiative:

Encourage social connectedness for the wellbeing of our elderly and vulnerable community members through funding mana whenua, community health and welfare groups

Add new initiative:

Investigate a bus or shuttle transport service which connects most of the island’s main villages and key entry points and explore funding mechanisms

Reword opportunities paragraph to include keywording for social networks:

There are significant changes to the way we live due to COVID-19. Being remote and living off the grid, we are resilient by nature and this is a chance to strengthen our local sustainability practices by building our social support networks and working together to ensure our island self-sufficiency.

Feedback was received for increased support for mentorships and apprenticeships

The plan includes initiatives to support rangatahi leadership, education programmes and build local business capacity.

However, mentorship and apprenticeship were not specifically referenced within the plan.

Add new initiative:

Encourage mentorship and apprenticeship programmes to promote island self-sufficiency

Feedback was received on waste regarding:

· risk management for the landfill

· improvements to visitor signage

· composting

Waste management lies within regional decision making but the local board can advocate on the community’s behalf and provide direction for the regional teams.

The feedback received aligns with the plan’s direction. However, it’s recommended to add an initiative regarding the landfill closure and keywording for signage and composting.

Add new initiative:

Work with council staff, mana whenua, and the community to find suitable future alternatives for island waste in anticipation of the Claris Landfill closure, and address risk management concerns.

Reword opportunities paragraph:

Our landfill will close in the near future. We will need to be innovative in our approach to reducing and recycling waste. These approaches could create job opportunities and strengthen our island economy. This also includes dealing with septic sludge waste and organic waste. We will need to make it as seamless as possible for locals and visitors by continuing to refine the current waste system through improved signage and communications.

There was feedback received both for and against the sealing of all roads across the island

Considering the mixed feedback from the community it’s recommended that improvements to roading be the main focus rather than sealing.

Reword below initiative to focus on improvements:

Strive for improvements to our roads, including sealing where appropriate, to achieve safe and healthy roads for our people and environment

Add new initiative:

Advocate for more priority to the increasing issue of dust on unsealed roads, caused by climate change and record levels of drought

Feedback was received on increasing access for tracks and cycleways

The board has a work programme item for an Accessway and Linkages Plan and it’s recommended to include as an initiative.

Add new initiative:

Work with community, mana whenua and DoC to identify accessways and linkages across the island.

Feedback was received about the difficulties associated with house builds

The local board does not have the authority to change compliance/ consenting rules.

However, the board can advocate on the community’s behalf to simplify processes during policy and process changes.

Add new initiative:

Advocate for ways to simplify the consents and compliance process and encourage green housing technologies

18. Other minor changes to the plan which respond to submissions and staff feedback include:

· Amended wording for acknowledging iwi proprietary interest to water

· Amended wording to investigate cemetery options in the centre of the island

· Amended wording to strengthen food security initiative

· Amended wording for governance of Dark Sky initiative

· Amended wording to strengthen connectivity initiative

· Specific reference to the regional park

· Specific reference to sea and air freight in the north

· Increased mention of climate change, low carbon and resilience references

· Removed reference to converting waste to energy

· For better clarity moved the initiative on community resilience from the climate change objective to the community objective

· For better clarity moved the marine protection objective to read under the climate change objective

· Reduction in duplication by incorporating protection of coastal roads within the reviewing of key infrastructure initiative and removing the coastal roads initiative

· Reduction in duplication by incorporating social enterprises within the building capacity initiative and removing the social enterprises initiative.

Changes to the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020

19. Staff recommend adopting the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 (Attachment A) which incorporates the proposed substantive changes to the outcome chapters as described in Table 1 and other minor changes.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

20. The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 reflects the impacts of predicted climate change.

21. The plan has an objective ‘Our community is resilient to the impacts of climate change’, which includes specific initiatives. There are also initiatives weaved throughout other objectives. These initiatives include:

· Support AoteaOra to deliver an ‘Aotea Ecological Footprint’ project to inform local understanding and innovation and to reduce carbon emissions across the island

· Complete an action plan for on-island food security that investigates seed banking, abattoir, island fish and farmers’ markets that align with AoteaOra’s Ecological Footprint project

· Investigate fire risks for the island in collaboration with FENZ, DoC, mana whenua and the wider community

· Establish a water security plan that starts with an understanding of our aquifers

· Support AoteaOra to establish a drinking water refill programme

· Expand our council facilities renewable energy micro-grid and provide public electric vehicle charging facilities

· Support the community in moving to low carbon, resilient and sustainable practices by funding projects, events and research

· Mitigate the effects of climate change by restoring freshwater ecosystems to provide ecological services such as flood mitigation, habitat for native biodiversity, sedimentation reduction, and carbon sequestration through riparian planting

· Seek secure, affordable and efficient freight delivery for the island

· Recommend that the majority of new council debt be acquired through green bonds

· Respond to the predicted impacts of climate change and sea level rise by reviewing our key infrastructure including the road network, wharves, airfields, community buildings, visitor centre, sports fields, bridges and all boat ramps to ensure they are fit for the future.

22. The impact on the climate of the final plans has been considered. The final publication will be an online document to minimise printing hard copies.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

23. The adoption of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 will inform the development of the council’s 10-year budget. It will also form the basis for the development of the following three years’ work programmes.

24. Planning and operational areas of the council have taken part in the development and review of the draft and final plans.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

25. The local board’s views have informed the development of the final Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020. Workshops were held on 8 and 15 September, and on 6, 13 and 20 October to discuss and consider feedback and agree any changes.

26. In developing the plan, the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board considered:

· advice from mana whenua and mataawaka

· what is already known about our communities and what is important to them

· submissions received via online forms, hardcopy forms, emails and post

· feedback provided at engagement events and online through Facebook

· regional strategies and policies

· staff advice.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

27. In developing the plan, the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

· considered views and advice expressed by mana whenua and mataawaka at Kawa Marae hui on 15 February 2020

· considered existing feedback from Māori with an interest in the local board area

· reviewed submissions received.

28. The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 promotes outcomes or issues of importance to Māori with key initiatives in the objective ‘mana whenua will prosper’ and weaved throughout the plan, including:

· Support mana whenua’s use and application of mātauranga and tikanga Māori within the moana and whenua

· Develop and improve council and mana whenua relationship networks across governance, organisation and community levels

· Support mana whenua, Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea, aspirations with collaborative projects

· Support mana whenua to develop a rangatahi leadership programme and educational initiatives.

· Support mana whenua and mana whenua enterprises to build capacity to engage in consents and compliance issues.

· Support mana whenua to protect coastal infrastructure, accessways, sites of significance, urupa and waahi tapu

· Support mana whenua to investigate housing solutions including papakainga and kaumatua housing

· Acknowledge that the Waitangi Tribunal has stated that the Treaty of Waitangi provides for Māori proprietary interest in water bodies, as well as the exercise of tino rangatiratanga and kaitiakitanga over water, and work alongside mana whenua to ensure safe and clean drinking water for everyone

· Engagement with the community on an Ahu Moana approach for marine protection.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

29. Budget to implement initiatives and projects is confirmed through the annual plan budgeting process. The local board plan informs this process.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

30. There is a minor reputational risk associated with the adoption of the final Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020. The process of consultation is likely to have raised expectations of the local board being able to achieve particular initiatives. As a result of the economic impact of COVID-19 and the council’s significantly reduced budget, it may no longer be possible to achieve all the priorities and aspirations that were identified in the draft plan.

31. This will be mitigated by clear communication of decision-making processes.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

32. Staff recommend that responsibility for approving any minor edits following adoption are delegated to the Chairperson and/or other nominated member(s) of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board.

33. Photographs, maps and other design features will be added to the plan for final publication. This will be an online digital document that will be available in early 2021.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments