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Lake Taupo Catchment Liaison Subcommittee 29 October 2012 Doc# 2283861. Agenda. Confirmation of Agenda Disclosures of Interest Minutes of Previous Meeting - 7 August 2012 Accept minutes Matters arising. Chairman's Report. Receive report. 2013/2014 Annual Plan.
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Lake Taupo Catchment Liaison Subcommittee29 October 2012Doc# 2283861
Agenda • Confirmation of Agenda • Disclosures of Interest • Minutes of Previous Meeting - 7 August 2012 • Accept minutes • Matters arising
Chairman's Report • Receive report
2013/2014 Annual Plan • Preparation of the 2013/2014 Annual Plan has commenced • Is the second year of the current Long Term Plan - no significant changes to activities or expenditure levels are expected • However, there is the opportunity to identify any changes needed • Present programme • Is aligned with discussions held leading to LTP adoption • Includes ongoing catchment management, river management and flood protection programmes • Includes development of a zone plan • Implementation of the Lake Taupo foreshore management strategy
2013/2014 Annual Plan - Key dates • Nov 2012 - Initial development/ report to subcommittees • 3 December - Council workshop • 19 Dec, Feb - Budgets considered by council • 6 March - Adoption of draft annual plan • 12 March/12 April - Consultation period • 7-10 May - Hearings • 22-24 May - Deliberations • 27June 2013 -Adoption of final Plan
2013/14 Annual Plan • Receive report
Background • Recent review of RCS’s sustainable land management activities undertaken • Is part of a wider organisational project relating to implementation of the Land and Water Flagship Goal • Workshop was held with subcommittee reps in early September • Focus was on three areas: • Prioritisation of works • Maintenance of existing schemes • Funding of catchment new works
Workshop outcomes Prioritisation • Clearly defined goals and outcomes are needed to assess priorities • Further information is needed to be able to fully assess priorities – this will require time and resources • Prioritising process must take account of community and stakeholder aspirations • Need to think in terms of regional priorities, which will require some flexibility in terms of zone priorities • Review of priorities may require review of funding policies
Workshop outcomes Maintenance and new works • Question raised as to whether maintenance grants should continue to be offered • In lieu of grants, resources are needed to provide information and advice • Are legal commitments to provide maintenance funding • Funding levels should reflect level of public good • More information required as to the effectiveness of works and environmental outcomes achieved • Where public funding involved, funds should be legally protected
SLM Review findings Strategic direction • Areas for further development: • Connections between Flagship Goals (Land and water, regional development) and RCS activities • Clear linkages between RCS work programmes and RPS, Waikato Regional Plan Work programmes • Need to be strategic rather than reactive • Incentives have a place but can be better targeted to priorities • Develop policies around use of incentives and regulation
SLM Review findings Work programmes contd. • Explore ways to reduce maintenance commitments (e.g. not apply to future new work?) • Ability to address significant issues will be determined by community ability to pay • Existing schemes should be maintained. However, need to rationalise maintenance programmes based on the benefits provided • Maintenance of non scheme works seen as less important than schemes.
SLM Review findings Integrated catchment management • More work is needed to achieve full integrated catchment management – more cross group and team connections (is the reason for the land and water initiative) • A consistent prioritisation method is needed and applied across all zones • There have been significant gains where effort has been focused in priority areas. Difficult to measure gains outside these areas. • Outcomes will be maximised where priority catchments are identified at a regional level and efforts targeted in these areas.
SLM Review findings Measurement • Need for better alignment between outcome monitoring and work programmes • Need for improved post work evaluation and review Stakeholder management • Further planning needed as to how council can work with partners and industry • Expect increased opportunities in the future for partnerships and relationships (iwi authorities, DoC, industry etc.)
SLM Review - Where to from here? • Staff are reviewing report findings and recommendations • Technical report to be available early 2013 • Any changes/improvements to be incorporated into existing programmes where possible • More significant changes to be addressed under next Long Term Plan
Discussion • Receive the SLM works report
Lake Taupo Liaison Subcommittee Biosecurity-Heritage Group Zone Report November 2012 Dave Hodges – Team Leader (Animal Pests)
Content • Pest plant management activities • Rabbits around Taupo • Regional Pest Management Strategy Review • Rooks
Pest plant management Key activities – Kevin Loe Interagency project - Broom adjacent to the Desert Road Old Mans Beard site found and dealt with Banana passion fruit in pine forests at Acacia Bay being treated Wild cherries evident as they flower – visible spread
Rabbit Management • Lake shore communities, 3 way collaboration – landowners, TDC, WRC
Regional Pest Management Strategy Review • Early draft completed (being edited) • Cost Benefit Analysis (new or changed) • Next steps • RPM committee view and comment (Nov) • Integrate CBA and policy information (Summer) • Final draft for Council endorsement (Feb/Mar) • Public submissions (Apr) • Hearings, make reqd changes, adoption (May to Jul)
Rooks – corvus frugilegis • Production threat (1968 Miranda) • Low numbers in the Waikato (~150 birds?) • High numbers in Horizons & Hawkes Bay regions • Annual costs ~$40k • Technically challenging management • especially at low numbers! • Landowners please leave alone, just report sightings. • Around Taupo • Tihoi 10 nests (30 birds) • Whakaipo Bay (unconfirmed)
Know your enemy • 30-50 cm • Conspicuous call • ‘caw, caw’ • Live ‘socially’ • Breeding rookeries • eucalyptus, pines • Very intelligent
Rooks – what does WRC do? • Annual surveillance • Visit ‘hot spots’ • Check likely looking habitat • Follow up landowner sightings • Targeted newspaper adverts and mail drops • Share information and ideas with other RC’s • Annual control • Target breeding rookeries • Direct nest poisoning via helicopter
Lake Taupo Foreshore • Project is making good progress • Project governance structure in place • Working Group – comprising both councils • Joint Project Team – Operations and Executive levels • Stakeholder group • Work plans • Hatepe beach re-nourishment trial completed • Kuratau and Hatepe wall design investigation undertaken – not to proceed • Kuratau beach re-nourishment trail to commence, subject to consents, inclusion of groynes later • Funding to be agreed on a site by site basis
Lake Taupo Erosion and Flood Strategy Alison Rawley from Taupo District Council and Lawrie Donald will discuss progress to date • Physical Works Programme • Kuratau proposals progress • Hatepe Beach replenishment trial • Funding apportionment for physical works update
Lake Taupo Foreshore • Alison Rawley Special Projects Officer - Open Spaces
Re-nourishment after high winds from the South West at Labour weekend
2012/2013 Status Report • Operations budgets generally on track for this stage of the year, although are some ‘unders and overs’ • Catchment maintenance budget expect full expenditure • New works/clean streams expect full expenditure • River management budgets expect full expenditure • Lake Taupo foreshore programme ‘in progress’ • Foreshore works planned, discussions with TDC
River Management Tongariro River • The latest flood control model reassessment indicates that the design freeboards now exist following the removal of the willow forest from the floodway • Vegetation maintenance upstream of last years willow removal is to be planned for this year • Routine floodway maintenance is underway