Agenda of Rural Advisory Panel

I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Rural Advisory Panel will be held on:

Date:

Time:

Meeting Room:

Venue:

Friday, 6 November 2020

12.30pm

Room 1, Level 26
135 Albert Street
Auckland

Ngā Hui a te Rōpū Kaitohutohu Take ā-Taiwhenua / Rural Advisory Panel

OPEN AGENDA

MEMBERSHIP

Chairperson	Deputy Mayor Cr Bill Cashmore	Auckland Council
Members	Brent Bailey	Rodney Local Board, Auckland Council
	Alan Cole	Franklin Local Board, Auckland Council
	Lucy Deverall	Horticulture New Zealand
	Trish Fordyce	New Zealand Forest Owners Association
	Wilma Foster	Dairy New Zealand
	Richard Gardner	Federated Farmers
	Annaliese Goettler	Young Farmers
	Fiona Gower	Rural Women New Zealand
	Steve Levet	Rural Contractors New Zealand
	Craig Maxwell	Federated Farmers
	Greg McCracken	Fonterra Shareholders Council
	Andrew McKenzie	Beef and Lamb New Zealand
	Roger Parton	Rural Contractors New Zealand
	Greg Sayers	Auckland Council
	Wayne Scott	Aggregate and Quarry Association
	Geoff Smith	Equine Industry
	Peter Spencer	New Zealand Forest Owners Association
	Ken Turner	Waitākere Ranges Local Board, Auckland Council
	Keith Vallabh	Pukekohe Vegetable Growers
	Glenn Wilcox	Independent Māori Statutory Board

(Quorum 10 members)

Sandra Gordon

Kaitohutohu Mana Whakahaere Matua / Senior Governance Advisor

2 November 2020

Contact Telephone: 09) 8908150

Email: sandra.gordon@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	FMG Young Farmer of the Year 2019 - James Robertson	11

Rural Advisory Panel

06 November 2020

Update on Auckland Council’s operational drought response

File No.: CP2020/14849

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To update the Rural Advisory Panel on Auckland Council’s operational drought response actions and seek feedback on the potential impact on rural communities.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. Since October 2019 the Auckland region has experienced the most severe drought in its recorded history.

3. Water shortages initially impacted residents that use rainwater tanks. However, as the drought persisted throughout autumn and winter 2020, water shortages are now impacting the municipal network.

4. If the drought persists throughout summer 2020 the resulting water shortages will severely impact on the lives of Aucklanders and our economic recovery from COVID-19.

5. This report provides the Rural Advisory Panel with an update on recent drought response actions taken by Auckland Council and Watercare. This includes:

· a decision by the Governing Body to amend external water restrictions for commercial use (resolution GB/2020/101)

· collaboration with Watercare for funding and infrastructure management

· negotiations with private property owners regarding access to bores

· consultation on the plan change for rainwater tanks, which showed strong support for easing consent requirements

· engagement with all local boards that have residents outside the Watercare network.

6. Priority focus areas for staff over the next few months include:

· installing alternate sources for water collection for welfare use and bulk supply

· progressing water efficiency for sports fields

· continued communications to increase rainwater tank uptake and maintenance in rural and urban areas.

7. This report also seeks feedback from the Rural Advisory Panel on the potential impact of the drought and the drought response actions on rural communities.

8. A further update report will be provided to the panel at its March 2021 business meeting.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation

That the Rural Advisory Panel:

a) receive the update on Auckland Council’s ongoing operational drought response.

Horopaki

Context

Background to Auckland’s water shortage

9. Watercare’s dams were 67 per cent full at the end of September 2020, compared to 84 per cent in September 2019. September rains were significantly below average across the region.

10. Summer weather forecasts from NIWA indicate that New Zealand is likely to experience La Niña weather conditions, which could bring short periods of heavy rain.

11. An outline of key actions taken to meet potable and non-potable water needs and minimise the impacts of the water shortage on communities has been provided in the analysis and advice section.

Responding to potable water supply challenges

12. Sites are under investigation for bore supply feasibility. These are spread across the region. In some cases, the council is supporting private landowners to increase their bore take for public purposes through a facilitated consent process.

13. Communications to urban and rural residents have increased since October 2020 to promote drought preparation.

Responding to non-potable water supply challenges

14. The construction sector will require more water as the earthworks season peaks and work resumes after the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. The construction sector will have the option to apply for metered construction connections. These connections are designed to mitigate the risk of backflow contamination and water hammer on the network.

15. There are five sources of non-potable water across the region. They have provided 22 million litres of water since May 2020:

· 126 Hugo Johnston Drive, Penrose (bulk supply available)

· 467 Puhinui Road, Wiri (up to 3,000 litres)

· Western Springs (up to 10,000 litres)

· Rosedale Park (up to 3,000 litres)

· Lake Pupuke North Shore Rowing Club (up to 10,000 litres).

16. Auckland Council continues to minimise its potable water consumption for recreation and amenities through water efficiency and activating bore supplies at key sports grounds.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

Changes to outdoor commercial water use restrictions

17. On 24 September 2020, the Governing Body approved an adjustment to mandatory Stage 1 water use restrictions (resolution GB/2020/101). Commercial water users are now able to use outdoor hoses that are equipped with a handheld trigger nozzle. Commercial car washes are also allowed to operate. These changes were effective from 12 October 2020.

18. The ban on residential hose use and the use of fire hydrants for outdoor construction use will continue. These restrictions will be reviewed by December 2020, depending on overall demand, rain forecasts and dam levels.

Collaboration with Watercare for funding and infrastructure management

19. Watercare is funding most capital works to respond to the drought, including establishing supplementary bore sites. These sites will ideally provide sufficient volume and quality of water to supplement the demand from private water carriers for residential deliveries.

20. Sites are being investigated in Riverhead, Orewa, Matakana, Clevedon and Beachlands. The criteria for site selection include traffic access, bore water quality, existing bore infrastructure, bore water yield and consent requirements.

21. If sites are found to be viable, we aim to have them operational in December 2020. This will be dependent on consenting, delivery of treatment plants and equipment and site set-up.

22. Providing these sources close to communities serves the same purpose as the milk tanker shuttles that were active last summer. This reduces travel time for commercial filling companies. Water carriers will need to pay for this water in order to recover costs.

Negotiations with private property owners regarding access to bores

23. In both north and south Auckland, private bore owners have approached the council seeking support to increase their bore capacity. This may mean increasing the volume that can be extracted from a bore or allowing more traffic movements from the bore location. In this situation, the council is providing expertise to assist with consent requirements but is not funding any capital improvements required on private sites.

Water efficiency for the council’s sports fields

24. Watercare’s wastewater treatment ponds at Rosedale have been suggested by several forums as a potential option for non-potable water for irrigation purposes. This is being explored in collaboration with Watercare and Auckland Council departments.

25. Community Facilities is developing work to enable collection and water use at council facilities. Investigations are also underway for using more suitable turf and land preparation to reduce water demand. This will be a long-term programme to make our sports fields more drought resilient.

Stock water

26. Auckland Council Emergency Management is working with Ministry for Primary Industries to determine how people needing water for stock can be supported.

Communications

27. From October 2020, Auckland Council has increased its communications to rural communities about preparing for another dry summer.

28. These communications include social media graphics that are promoted on Twitter, Neighbourly, Facebook and Instagram and provided to elected members to share. We will also have advertising space in 11 regional community papers, and on digital displays and posters in libraries and service centres.

29. Drought preparation information has been included in the November 2020 rates insert.

30. Watercare has contacted all its customers that have a wastewater connection but no water supply connection. They have encouraged people to install an additional tank and book refills early. Some residents in Whangaparaoa are eligible for a reduced infrastructure growth charge for a low-flow connection, which could be installed by December 2020 depending on demand.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

31. Climate change predictions indicate that there will be more extended dry periods in the future. Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan includes provisions for drought.

32. The operational work outlined in this report reflects the policy directives from Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan to improve the drought-resilience of Auckland’s water network.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

33. Auckland Council departments are working closely with Watercare in developing and implementing the council’s operational response to the drought.

34. Auckland Transport has raised concerns about the ongoing impacts on roading and transport construction projects it is delivering or that are being delivered by Waka Kotahi (NZTA). Staff will attempt to set-up non-potable supplies in convenient locations close to construction sites, where possible.

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

Local impacts and local board views

35. Between 20 August and 6 October 2020, Healthy Waters and Watercare met with eight local boards that have residents reliant on rainwater tanks. The boards were asked to provide feedback on priority areas, welfare supply locations, and if they were aware of any private bore owners that might be able to provide large volumes to water for public use.

36. There was general agreement from local boards that staff had correctly identified the priority areas for welfare supplies to be provided. Some boards made suggestions for additional welfare supplies and private bore owners.

37. Healthy Waters will continue to liaise with local boards as specific sites are identified for additional supply points.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

38. Healthy Waters recognises the high significance of wai to mana whenua and the need to consider the rights and concerns of Māori in relation to water. Wai puna (aquifer water) is considered the most sacred water source and as such must be treated appropriately.

39. The Kaitiaki Forum has been kept up to date with the water supply situation. On 23 July 2020, the forum received an item on the drought and unreticulated communities as well as the drought contingency measures Watercare and the council are planning for the coming summer. They were in support of the council’s water tank programme and requested to be kept up to date on the measures, including the Waikato River take.

40. To give effect to this feedback, the metering of bores will be scoped for a Unitary Plan change, and work has begun to assess the condition of the Wellsford aquifer. Māori wardens provided support during the civil defense partial activation in February and March 2020 and could be called upon again to tautoko future civil defense needs.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

41. Watercare have agreed to underwrite the capital costs of emergency bore development for drought relief.

42. To reduce the impact on the council group’s constrained budgets and maintain a fair market, water carriers will need to pay for any water taken from supplementary bore supplies to recover costs.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

43. The key risks and mitigations of the council’s drought response are outlined in Table 1.

Risk	Mitigation	Risk rating after mitigation (low, medium or high)
Water carriers not able to meet demand, causing long delays for deliveries	- Encourage partial filling at lower cost - Stronger communication for water saving and early bookings	High Conditions are similar to summer 2019/2020 and some carriers are reporting higher than usual demand.
Bulk filling stations restricted or closed due to stage 2 or 3 water restrictions	- Activate supplementary bore supplies - Stronger communication for water saving and early bookings	Low Forecasts do not indicate the need for further restrictions.
Residents not able to increase tank supply due to high demand or cost of tank	- Work with tank industry to support them to meet demand - Remove consent fees - Stronger communication for water saving and early bookings	Medium There will be people unable to purchase additional tanks, particularly tenants. Tank industry is reporting some wait times for tanks.
Supplementary bores are not able to provide bulk filling	- Re-engage milk tanker fleet for private carriers on a cost recovery basis	Medium Demand would increase for Watercare’s network.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

44. A further update report will be provided to the panel at its March 2021 business meeting.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Authors

Elizabeth Johnson – Senior Specialist, Wai Ora Strategic Programmes

Andrew Chin – Head of Healthy Waters Strategy

Authorisers

Craig Mcilroy – Acting Director Infrastructure and Environmental Services
Warren Maclennan – Lead Officer Support

Rural Advisory Panel

06 November 2020

Recent amendments to National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management

File No.: CP2020/16246

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To provide further information on the implications of recent amendments to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) for Auckland Council.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The memo highlights the significant new requirements of the NPS-FM 2020 and their implications for the Council’s work programme to give effect to the NPS-FM 2020. It signals that changes will be required to the Council’s current work programme, which will be brought to the Planning Committee for their approval.

Context

3. The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management is a key instrument for delivering improved water outcomes under the Resource Management Act. The first version of the NPS-FM was introduced in 2011, with subsequent amendments in 2014, 2017 and now 2020. Sustainable management of water has been the focus of successive governments, most recently under the banner of ‘Action for Healthy Waterways’ (a continuation of the broader ‘Essential Freshwater’ programme), culminating in the release of a substantially revised NPS-FM, plus some additional regulatory instruments earlier this year.

4. Elected representatives, Mana Whenua, the CE of the IMSB and members of the Rural Advisory Panel recently received a memo from council’s Natural Environment Strategy Unit in July 2020, outlining these developments.

5. Since the August memo, staff have been working to better understand the implications of the revised NPS-FM 2020 on existing and new council work programmes. Whilst the NPS-FM is part of the wider central government package, it represents by far the greatest volume of work required of the council.

6. The Council’s implementation of the NPS-FM is being undertaken with input and oversight from across the council family, including Plans and Places, RIMU, Healthy Waters, Natural Environment Strategy, Regulatory Services, Watercare and AT.

Discussion

7. The memo prepared for elected representatives in July outlined some of the key ‘shifts’ in the package of tools released, including:

· Greater emphasis on the protection of ecosystems, including wetlands;

· Amendments to the system for delivering freshwater responses, including embedding Te Mana o te Wai as a foundational aspect of the NPS-FM, and greater emphasis on Māori values and Mātauranga Māori;

· Greater and more detailed requirements about the range and nature of ‘attributes’ required to be managed through the establishment of ‘limits’ and/or action plans. Attributes may be ‘negative’ (e.g. E. coli) or ‘positive’ (e.g. submerged native plants);

· Provisions to address high-risk farming activities.

8. These shifts are to be delivered variously through implementation of the NPS-FM, the Freshwater NES and the 360 regulations. Staff are currently analysing the immediate regulatory implications of the NES and 360 regulations and will be developing implementation support and identifying amendments required to the Unitary Plan to remove inconsistent or redundant provisions.

9. However, as identified in the July 2020 memo, changes to the NPS-FM require significant additional work of the council. In particular, the increased planning and monitoring/reporting requirements of the NPS-FM, and the shortened timeframes for implementing the NPS-FM in the Unitary Plan will necessitate expanded and accelerated programmes in both these key areas of work.

10. The council’s current NPS-FM implementation programme, documented in the Progressive Implementation Plan, was most recently agreed by the Planning Committee in November 2018, when amendments to better reflect the specific water quality issues for Auckland were made.

11. While these amendments, and the broad parameters of the implementation plan are still generally relevant, changes to the requirements of the NPS-FM, and the time in which these requirements need to be implemented necessitate a significant review of the work programme and associated implementation plan, and subsequent approval by the Planning Committee

12. Key changes necessitating this review of the NPS-FM work programme include:

· A timeframe that requires all plan changes be notified by December 2024 (previously, the deadline for this was 2025, and Councils had the option to extend this timeframe to 2030, if required).

· Major amendments to the policy framework of the NPS-FM, including requirement to identify how the fundamental concept of Te Mana o te Wai applies in Auckland;

· Greater emphasis on the integrated management of water - ki uta ki tai – not ‘just’ water quality. Water bodies are to be managed as part of a network of inter-connected freshwater systems interacting with the coastal environment, including requiring responses which explicitly address the coastal environment;

· Significant expansion of provisions relating to protection and enhancement of wetlands and streams, including in urban environments;

· The establishment of a hierarchy of obligations so that the health of a waterbody is to be prioritised first – i.e. this must be a key driver for any responses developed,

· Requiring the establishment of a long-term vision (or visions) for freshwater in the region at appropriate scales, and for goals and timeframes to achieve these visions that are “both ambitious and reasonable”;

· Greater expectations of the use of Mātauranga Māori;

· Expansion of the freshwater monitoring and reporting programme to address (amongst other things) the increased number of attributes, the more holistic approach now to ecosystem management; and greater emphasis on the sensitive coastal environments;

· An increased number of freshwater (rivers and lakes) ‘attributes’ that must be addressed, including the addition of sediment – a major issue for Auckland;

· Specific identification of the Pukekohe area as a nationally significant ‘vegetable growing area’, with short term ‘exemption’ from improving water quality above the national bottom lines (applying elsewhere) but with a consequent requirement to identify responses which achieve an improvement in water quality in the short term without compromising vegetable growing;

· More explicit and detailed engagement requirements with Tangata Whenua and the wider community.

13. The Council’s operational responses (e.g. stormwater, wastewater, catchment management) are a key way that the Council can improve water outcomes and are a critical component of the action plans required by the NPS-FM. Unitary Plan responses must support and guide appropriate operational responses.

14. Further amendments to the framework for managing freshwater are expected over the coming year or so, including potentially even more explicit requirements in relation to connected sensitive coastal environments and progress on Māori water allocation rights. Consequently, the Council’s work programme may need further amendments as these matters arise

15. Additionally, the Council’s responses to the NPS-FM need to be well integrated with other responses to central government direction, such as those developed for the National Policy Statement on Urban Development and in relation to tools still under development, such as an NPS on Highly Productive Land, and an NPS on Indigenous Biodiversity. This in itself presents some challenges.

16. Staff are further scoping the requirements of the NPS-FM and are developing a new work programme to better address these requirements. This includes identifying where there are gaps in our current approach and resources and where we need to expand or accelerate our current approach.

Next steps

17. Staff are reviewing the current work programme and associated implementation plans to make the necessary amendments to ensure all statutory requirements are addressed and can be delivered through amendments to the plan, notified by the statutory deadline of 31 December 2024. This includes identifying the nature and scale of resources required, across research. environmental monitoring and planning.

18. Over the next six months we anticipate that council approval will be required for this revised implementation plan.

19. Regular updates on the development and implementation of this work programme will be provided as the programme progresses.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Rural Advisory Panel:

a) receive the report from Jenny Fuller, Team Leader Regional Planning, Plans & Places on recent amendments to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author	Jenny Fuller - Manager Planning- Aucklandwide
Authoriser	Warren Maclennan – Lead Officer Support

Rural Advisory Panel

06 November 2020

Implementation of Action for Healthy Waterways Package

File No.: CP2020/16248

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To note high level actions taken by central government, the regional sector and Auckland Council since central government’s Action for Healthy Waterways package was gazetted on 5 August 2020 and brought into effect in stages from 3 September 2020.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. To recap, the Action for Healthy Waterways package includes an updated National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM), a new National Environmental Standard for Freshwater, and regulations under section 360 of the Resource Management Act 1991 for stock exclusion and water use metering respectively. The initial instruments were brought into effect from 3 September 2020. A further regulatory instrument for farm planning is envisaged in late 2021.

3. A national engagement structure for Freshwater Implementation has been created, overseen by the responsible Ministers of Environment and Agriculture. This includes a Freshwater Implementation Group (FIG), comprised of representatives from the regional sector (4 members), Kāhui Wai Māori (4), central government (2), primary sector (3) and environmental NGOs (3). This group is responsible for ensuring that the agreed vision and objectives of the new national direction are achieved.

4. Below the FIG, a Freshwater Implementation Directors Group has been formed to jointly design, align and influence the direction of implementation work, and determine what work is best led individually and jointly. Membership of this group comprises senior managers from central and local government, in addition to Kāhui Wai Māori representatives. Several priority projects are presently being scoped. The aim is to draw on national expertise as efficiently as possible to resolve common implementation issues to assist regional councils.

5. The Ministry for the Environment (MFE) has recently produced numerous Fact Sheets to provide information on key elements of the various regulatory instruments for a broad range of interests. Similarly, weekly webinars are being held between 21 October and 2 December 2020 to share information with interested parties. Recordings of these webinars are available on the MFE website. Technical guidance will be developed or updated, and the regional sector will be involved in their development. The Ministry’s website is being regularly updated with additional material.

6. Auckland Council staff continue to assess the implications of the new regulatory instruments, particularly the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater as it came into effect on 3 September 2020. This has implications for both planning and consenting functions. Council staff are working to ensure clear messaging is provided to affected parties about exactly what is required and by when.

7. Staff from across the regional sector network are collaborating to ensure that interpretation of the various instruments are robust. Regional sector staff will be raising issues with central government that may require further interpretation and an assessment of whether the regulatory outcome is consistent with the policy intent.

8. Within Auckland Council, Plans and Places staff will be providing periodic advice to the Planning Committee on a refreshed NPS-FM 2020 implementation plan as they complete assessments of the new regulatory requirements. This is a complex undertaking given the nature and extent of the provisions in the various freshwater instruments and their relationship to the existing Auckland Unitary Plan and other national direction. Similarly, council system and information requirements will need to be enhanced over time to support implementation of the new provisions.

9. There is significant pressure on councils to meet the plan change notification deadline of December 2024, given the preparatory steps required.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Rural Advisory Panel:

a) receive from Dave Allen (Auckland Plan Strategy and Research department) the update on how the Action for Healthy Waterways package is being implemented by central government, the regional sector and Auckland Council staff.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Dave Allen - Manager Natural Environment Strategy

Authorisers

Jacques Victor – General Manager Auckland Plan Strategy and Research

Warren Maclennan – Lead Officer Support

Author	Sandra Gordon - Kaitohutohu Mana Whakahaere Matua / Senior Governance Advisor
Authoriser	Warren Maclennan – Lead Officer Support