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Planning,
Environment and Parks Committee
01 June 2023
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Waitākere
Ranges Heritage Area Five-year Monitoring Report 2023
File No.: CP2023/06451
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To
approve the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Five-year Monitoring Report
2023 (the monitoring report).
Whakarāpopototanga matua
Executive summary
2. The
purpose of the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008 (the Act) is to
recognise the national, regional and local significance of the Waitākere
Ranges Heritage Area (the heritage area) and to promote the protection,
restoration and enhancement of its heritage features. This is
the third monitoring report. Earlier reports were published in 2013 and 2018.
3. Council performs governance and management functions in the heritage
area for activities including parks, community facilities and plant and pest
management. Watercare Services Limited (Watercare) has land, water supply and
catchment functions and manages specific assets and its activities. Auckland
Transport (AT) provides and maintains roads and other transport assets,
services and related infrastructure. The Department of Conservation (DOC)
manages several relatively small areas of DoC estate.
4. Te Kawerau ā Maki and Ngāti Whātua are mana whenua for the heritage area and have been engaged with
during the development of this report.
5. Section
34 of the Act says that Council must make a monitoring report publicly
available every five years. It must include:
· the state of the heritage
area’s environment
· progress made towards
achieving the objectives of the Act
· the funding implications
of activities undertaken to achieve these objectives.
6. Monitoring also helps to assess the ongoing effects of Council’s
many activities, and may be used to inform decision-making in the context of
annual plans and the long-term plan (10-year budget).
7. The
findings of the monitoring report are primarily based on the analysis of
existing data from separate technical and non-technical reports, plans, and
other sources of quantitative and qualitative information. Where possible, comparisons have been made with the 2018
report. The 2023 monitoring period is from 1 July
2017 to 30 June 2022.[1]
8. Overall,
the report concludes that there has been progress towards achieving the
objectives of the Act. The success (or otherwise) of council, AT and
Watercare activities is often judged depending on viewpoint. The
achievement of one objective does not always assist in achieving others.
9. The
distribution of the kauri dieback pathogen has been localised to areas on the
periphery of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park.
Monitored ecosystems have demonstrated patterns of growth consistent with
regeneration. The track network is slowly re-opening and providing
opportunities for people to enjoy recreational experiences. Subdivision and development statistics continue to show a reduction
in the number of applications and approved resource consents.
10. Overall, there has been only a minor change in the general condition
and character of landforms and landscapes, indicating that the planning
provisions continue to be effective. Positive examples of council, Watercare
and AT interventions and ongoing risks are highlighted throughout the report.
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the Planning, Environment
and Parks Committee:
a) whai / adopt the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area
Five-year Monitoring Report 2023
b) tautapa
/ delegate authority to the Manager Planning, Regional, North, West and Islands
to make any minor amendments to the Waitākere Ranges Five-year Monitoring
Report 2023 prior to publication.
Horopaki
Context
11. The boundaries of the heritage area are
defined in the Act, which recognises that this particular area has national,
regional, and local significance. The heritage area is approximately 27,700 ha
of public and private land located between metropolitan Auckland and the coast
of the Tasman Sea to the west, the Manukau Harbour coastline to the south and
the Waitākere Valley to the north.
12. Section 34 of the Act says that council must make a monitoring
report publicly available every five years. It must include:
· the state of the heritage
area’s environment
· progress made towards
achieving the objectives of the Act
· the funding implications
of activities undertaken to achieve these objectives.
13. The Act identifies ‘heritage features’[2] which span ecosystems, landscapes and landforms, the subservience of the built
environment to the area's natural and rural landscape, the past and present
human culture of the heritage area, opportunities for wilderness experiences
and recreation, the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, and the water
catchment and supply system.
14. The Act also identifies ‘objectives’ which include:
· Protection,
restoration and enhancement of the heritage features
· Recognising
and avoiding adverse or potential adverse cumulative, effects on the
area’s environment, including amenity or its heritage features
· Avoiding
any adverse effects of development, and maintaining diverse landscapes
· Future
rural land use and rural character, social, economic, environmental and
cultural well-being
· Managing
ecosystems to protect and enhance indigenous habitat, landscape and amenity
values
· Protection
of those features of the area that relate to its water catchment and supply
functions
· The
intrinsic worth of the natural and historic resources of the Waitākere
Ranges Regional Park for the benefit, use and enjoyment of the people of the
Auckland region and New Zealand.
An extraordinary period of time
15. All
activity has been assessed in the context of an extraordinary period of time
for the heritage area, all or parts of which experienced or were affected by:
· 2018
and 2021: devastating flash floods, slips and damage to homes and
infrastructure
· 2019/2020:
a regional drought in which heritage area dam levels reached a historic low
· 2020/2021:
periods of Covid-19 related public lockdowns with wide reaching effects on
communities and on Council budgets
· 2018:
closure of the forested areas of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park (the
regional park) as part of a precautionary approach to managing spread of kauri
dieback disease
· 2021/2022:
regional parks visitor counts increased to 1.282 million from 491,000 in
2011/2012.
16. These events have highlighted (amongst other things) the
vulnerability of the roads, water-supply network, homes and communities to the effects
of climate change related weather events.
Tātaritanga me ngā
tohutohu
Analysis and advice
17. The
report summarises current progress towards achieving the objectives of the Act.
It has been prepared with contributions from a wide range of sources from
across council departments, mana whenua, Watercare, AT, DoC, public media, and
heritage area communities. A six-week consultation sought views on the heritage
area over October and November 2022, and the feedback also informed the report.
18. A
range of legislation, statutory plans and documents apply to, and guide the
management of the heritage area. This framework directly influences the
ways in which activities are identified, managed and reported. Management
functions and activities include environmental programmes, management of the
built and natural environment, community and cultural assets and community
partnerships.
19. The
report is primarily based on the analysis of existing data from separate
technical and non-technical reports, plans, and other sources of quantitative
and qualitative information. It does not attempt to
duplicate other reports nor re-evaluate their conclusions. Where possible, comparisons have been made with the 2018 report. It
presents descriptions of management and monitoring activities, as well as case
studies which contribute to a better understanding of the heritage area as it
was at the end of 2022.
20. The
Act provides for Deeds of Acknowledgement to be agreed between the mana whenua
groups, Te Kawerau ā Maki and Ngāti Whātua, and the Crown or
Council. As yet, these have not been agreed, although a process to do so is now
in its early stages.
21. See
Attachment A for the full list of heritage features and objectives. See
Attachment B for conclusions and a summary of changes since 2017. See
attachment C for the complete 2023 monitoring report.
Funding implications of activities
undertaken to achieve the outcomes of the Act
22. The
heritage area does not have an overarching budget, governance or management
programme. This means that it is sometimes a challenge to understand the nature
and extent of expenditure within the heritage area. Council and local
board budgeting decisions are made for both heritage area wide and specific
sites, and these are integrated within the budgets of appropriate departments.
Report conclusions
23. There
has been positive progress towards achieving the outcomes of the Act. The
report notes that the success (or otherwise) of some activities is subject to
differences in viewpoint and that achievement of one objective does not always
assist in achieving others.
24. Residents are passionate about where they live in the heritage area,
regardless of their knowledge of the Act. They appreciate the unique landscapes
and coastlines, alongside participating in social and community stewardship
activities (arts, environment, history, community services) and volunteering.
25. Consultation for the monitoring report indicated that some people
remain concerned about the ongoing effect of weeds and animal pests on the
natural environment. Other concerns included the
effects of visitors on the heritage area’s infrastructure and local
quality of life (but noting that visitors contribute to the heritage area
economy). The long-term approach required for managing the kauri dieback
response continues to cause frustration for some communities and recreational
users.
26. There has
been only minor change in the general condition and character of landforms and
landscapes since 2017, indicating that Auckland Unitary Plan provisions
continue to be effective. Only minor or very minor negative changes were found
within individual landscape units, and many examples of positive outcomes and
changes were observed.
27. Subdivision has continued, although at a reduced rate. Fewer new
land parcels are being created, although there is continued residential
development throughout the heritage area. This is because of both
historically and recently subdivided land parcels are now being built upon,
alongside renovation and extensions to existing dwellings. Development pressures on the eastern foothills of the heritage area
are affecting the rural character along that heritage area boundary in some
places.
28. Land disturbance is an emerging risk. Extreme weather events have
contributed to increased erosion and instability in the landscape. Aerial imagery from early 2022 detected more
than 150 landslides across the regional park that were not visible in 2017. These events often affect roads and can
damage houses on, or close to the hillsides. Existing instability can also
cause landslides to occur unexpectedly, while activities that exacerbate land
disturbance (such as vegetation removal and earthworks) can contribute to
increased erosion, siltation in river and stream systems, and instability in
the landscape.
29. The
landscape has undergone a period of significant change in relation to the
management of kauri dieback, and the distribution of the kauri dieback pathogen
is localised to areas on the periphery of the park. While these areas still
present a risk of spread to other catchments, it is not as widespread as
previously thought. This supports the continuation of strategies to slow or
stop the spread of Phytophthora agathidicida within the relevant parts of the
heritage area.
30. In the regional park, total visitor counts of 491,000 in 2011/12 has
increased to 1.282 million in 2021/2022. A similar increase had been seen in
the decade before this, and the trend is likely to continue. Issues
arising from this include high levels of congestion at particular car parks, on
tracks, and at popular destinations like coastal beaches and waterfalls,
particularly at peak times. The track reopening programme has made
progress in opening up closed tracks to residents and visitors. Track upgrades
have increased track capacity, while safeguarding the surrounding environment.
State of the environment
31. Monitored
vegetation ecosystems have demonstrated patterns of growth consistent with
regeneration. While there have been improvements in biodiversity, these rely on
continued and active animal and weed pest management of those areas by council
and community groups.
32. Weed
and animal pest management programmes continue to focus on restricting spread
of these threats into the more 'pristine' areas of the regional park. As a
result, pest plant and predator management activities are prioritised in
regional and local work programmes. These programmes complement, and are
complemented by, the contributions of numerous volunteers from across the
heritage area.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
āhuarangi
Climate impact statement
33. The
report takes place in the context of an extraordinary period of time for the
heritage area, with drought, flash floods, slips and damage to homes and
infrastructure between 2017 and 2022. Flash flooding in 2018 and 2021
affected coastal and foothills areas. Roads, homes and other buildings were
destroyed. Unprecedented restrictions were put on water use in April 2019 after
two of the driest summers on record. The five heritage area dams reached a
historic low.
34. Increasing numbers of high-magnitude rainfall events induced by a
changing climate, such as those events in late 2021, triggered shallow
landslides in the heritage area’s indigenous forests. The increasing number of landslides visible on the road and through
the regional park has the potential to cause losses to
habitat and are risk areas for pest incursions. Landslides have also damaged
road infrastructure and homes. They may also affect the water supply and cause
sediment inputs into freshwater environments.
35. The
Auckland Plan 2018 recognises climate change may affect sea levels along the
Tasman Sea coastal areas and the Manukau Harbour, including water quality
runoff and effects from sediments. Coastal erosion is also a threat to the
cultural heritage sites along the coast, including a number of historic pa
sites around the bays at Te Henga, Anawhata, Piha, Karekare, Pararaha and
Whatipu.
36. The
number of very high and extreme fire danger days is expected to increase. Water
supply catchment land in the heritage area is vulnerable to the effects of
wildfire, and Watercare anticipates the potential impact on water quality
within the catchments from wildfire events to be severe.
Ngā whakaaweawe me
ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera
Council group impacts and views
37. Monitoring
helps to assess the ongoing effect of Council and CCO group activities in the
heritage area and may be used to inform decision-making in the context of the
long-term plan (10-year budget) and Annual Plan (annual budget). AT
and Watercare have provided information and context relating to the scope of their
activities, and this is referred to where relevant. Other departments such as
Resource Consents, Parks, Infrastructure and Environmental Services, RIMU,
Healthy Waters and Community Facilities have provided input where required.
Ngā whakaaweawe
ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe
Local impacts and local board views
38. The
Waitākere Ranges Local Board maintains its keen interest in all matters
associated with the heritage area. The local board acts as one of the advocates
for the heritage area and contributes to council’s policy and operational
decisions about how to manage the heritage area. There has been a series of
workshops with the local board to assist local board members to understand and
contribute to the findings of the report. These covered purpose, scope,
landscape and consenting assessments and the environmental monitoring
programme. The Waitākere Ranges Local Board
generally endorsed the report at its 25 May 2023 meeting and resolved that it
be referred to this committee for approval. The confirmed resolution, together
with any other feedback, will be tabled at the committee meeting.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
Māori
Māori impact statement
39. The
Act provides for ‘Deeds of Acknowledgement’ to be agreed between
the mana whenua groups, Te Kawerau ā Maki and Ngāti Whātua, and
the Crown or Council. A deed’s purpose is to identify opportunities for
contribution by mana whenua to the management of the heritage area by the Crown
or Council. As yet, deeds have not been agreed, although a process to do so is
now in its early stages.
40. The
purpose of a deed of acknowledgement is defined in the Act as:
· to acknowledge the
particular historical, traditional, cultural, or spiritual relationship of
tangata whenua of the heritage area, namely Ngāti Whātua and Te
Kawerau ā Maki, with any
land in the heritage area
· to identify opportunities
for contribution by mana whenua to the management of the heritage area by the
Crown or Council.
41. Throughout
the monitoring period, opportunities for mana whenua to contribute to
monitoring and management activities have been identified on a case-by-case
basis. Te Kawerau ā Maki and Council collaborated to produce the 2021
Waitākere Ranges kauri population health monitoring survey / Te Rangahau
Aroturuki i ngā Rākau Rangatira o Te Wao Nui ā Tiriwa, which
informs the monitoring report.
Ngā ritenga
ā-pūtea
Financial implications
42. There
are no direct financial implications associated with this report, however the
Waitākere Ranges Local Board, the Governing Body, AT and Watercare may
wish to use the findings in the report as information that helps to inform
future financial decisions.
Ngā raru tūpono me
ngā whakamaurutanga
Risks and mitigations
43. There
are no risks associated with approving the Waitākere Ranges
Heritage Area Five-year Monitoring Report 2023.
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
44. The
2023 five-year report will be published on the Council’s website.
45. The
2028 five-year report will cover the period from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2027,
and preparation of that will begin in 2027.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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a⇨
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Heritage features and objectives of the Act
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b⇨
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Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Five-year
Monitoring Report summary of conclusions and changes
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c⇨
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Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Five-year
Monitoring Report 2023 (Under Separate Cover)
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Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
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Author
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Eryn Shields - Team Leader Regional, North West
and Islands
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Authorisers
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John Duguid - General Manager - Plans and Places
Megan Tyler - Chief of Strategy
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Planning,
Environment and Parks Committee
01 June 2023
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Priority submissions for Auckland
Council Group: June to December 2023
File No.: CP2023/05265
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To
seek approval for staff to prepare submissions to priority government
consultations between June and December 2023.
Whakarāpopototanga matua
Executive summary
2. Central
government’s significant reform programme requires substantial resource
from the Auckland Council Group to respond to.
3. In
early 2023 staff developed a process for identifying and prioritising
government consultations. All upcoming submission opportunities are assessed
against a set of criteria and a recommendation made to this Committee on the
priority consultations relating to policy and legislative proposals.
4. The
list of prioritised consultations for the first half of 2023 were approved by
this Committee in March (resolution PEPCC/2023/33). These included reforms for
emergency management, transport, and climate change.
5. This
report seeks approval to prepare submissions on the following consultations in
the second half of 2023: National Planning Framework – part of the
Resource Management reforms, draft GPS Land Transport 2024, and replacements of
the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 and Litter Act 1979.
6. Staff
will prepare these submissions when consultations open and follow the usual
committee procedures for approval.
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the Planning, Environment
and Parks Committee:
a) whakaae / approve Auckland Council Group to prepare
submissions to priority government consultations in the second half of 2023,
being the National Planning Framework – part of the Resource Management
reforms, draft GPS Land Transport 2024, and replacement of the Waste
Minimisation Act 2008 and Litter Act 1979.
Horopaki
Context
7. Responding
to central government consultations is one important route for communicating
the issues, risks, and opportunities of proposed policy and legislative changes
on Auckland and Auckland Council Group functions and services.
8. However,
central government has a large reform programme underway which includes
numerous consultations and opportunities for the council to submit. These take
significant resource for the council to respond to and are not always equal in
importance. The time taken to respond can distract from other priorities.
9. In
early 2023, Auckland Plan Strategy and Research (APSR) with input from staff
across the Council group, developed a process for identifying and prioritising
government consultations. All upcoming submission opportunities are assessed
against a set of criteria and a recommendation made to this Committee on
priority consultations which relate to political or legislative proposals.
10. Staff applied
this process to consultations expected in the first half of 2023, and this
Committee approved submissions in the following areas (resolution PEPCC/2023/33): emergency management, transport,
and climate change.
Tātaritanga me ngā
tohutohu
Analysis and advice
11. The
criteria have now been applied to consultations expected in the second half of
2023. Those consultations are in areas of resource management system reforms,
transport, and waste minimisation.
12. The findings
of the assessment on the policy related consultations are provided in full in
Attachment A.
13. If the list
is approved, staff in the appropriate areas of council will prepare these
submissions when consultations open and follow the usual committee procedures
for approval. The substantive submissions will be considered by the
relevant committee.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
āhuarangi
Climate impact statement
14. No adverse impact identified by using these
criteria or approving priority submissions is expected in the second half of
2023.
Ngā whakaaweawe me
ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera
Council group impacts and views
15. Staff have
engaged with relevant council and CCO staff to bring the list of submissions to
this Committee for approval.
Ngā whakaaweawe
ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe
Local impacts and local board views
16. Staff have
engaged with Local Board Services to bring the list of submissions to this
Committee for approval.
17. Staff will
engage with local boards when developing submissions.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
Māori
Māori impact statement
18. Many
government consultations will be of interest to and/or have an impact on
Māori. This was considered in the development of the criteria, with
assistance from Ngā Mātārae. Input from iwi will be sought on
all submissions made as timeframes allow.
Ngā ritenga
ā-pūtea
Financial implications
19. This
work can be done within existing budget provision and as part of
business-as-usual central government advocacy activity.
Ngā raru tūpono me
ngā whakamaurutanga
Risks and mitigations
20. Government
priorities change from time to time and there are unexpected consultations. To
mitigate this risk, in these cases the decision to prepare a policy related
submission is delegated to the Chair and Deputy Chair (resolution PEPCC/2023/33). This is because short consultation
timelines often do not allow for committee meeting dates and approval.
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
1. Prepare priority
submissions when consultations open and follow the normal political procedures
for approval with the relevant committee.
2. Review and assess the
central government work programme and consultations expected in 2024.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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a⇨
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Priority submissions for Auckland Council Group: June
to December 2023
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Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
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Author
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Adam Morris - Principal Strategic Advisor
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Authorisers
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Jacques Victor – General Manager Auckland Plan
Strategy and Research
Megan Tyler - Chief of Strategy
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