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Regional map. Upper Waikato. Agenda. Apologies Confirmation of Agenda Disclosures of Interest Confirmation of Minutes of Previous Meeting - 8 August 2012 Accept minutes Matters arising. Chair’s report. Receive report. The 2013 / 2014 Annual Plan. 2013/2014 Annual Plan.
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Agenda • Apologies • Confirmation of Agenda • Disclosures of Interest • Confirmation of Minutes of Previous Meeting - 8 August 2012 • Accept minutes • Matters arising
Chair’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
2013/14 Annual Plan budgets and outcome review • Nov 2012 -- Initial development/ report to Subbies • 3 December -- Council workshop • 19 Dec, Feb -- Budget 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
There is essentially no change in the Annual Plan to the proposed Long Term 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 report; Review of RCS Sustainable Land Management Works
Integrated Catchment MangementRoss Abercrombie • Healthy Farms Healthy Rivers programme update • Rural professional capacity building • UW Drystock nutrient study 2012-10-09 • UWPSP – menu of best practice • WRC involvement in the DairyNZ Sustainable Milk Project
Subcommittee member Presentation • George Moss
Upper Waikato Liaison Subcommittee Biosecurity-Heritage Group Zone Report November 2012 Dave Hodges – Team Leader (Animal Pests)
Content • Pest plant management activities • Animal pest management activities • Regional Pest Management Strategy Review • Paeroa Range/Te Kopia possum control project
Pest Plant Activities • Woolly nightshade located and control started around Lake Karapiro • WNS is moving South and will require action from landowners to stop it • bird dispersed, it often establishes in gullies and reserves where landowners don’t usually go
Pest Plant management • - Wild ginger • Yellow flag iris • Surveillance at Karapiro
Animal Pest Management Arohena Priority Possum Control • EcoFX, Sector 1 (7,932 ha) • Performance based, achieve 5% RTC • control 50% complete • Epro, Sector 2 (8,157 ha) • Performance based, achieve 5% RTC • 1 property left to treat • Small area of aerial 1080 flown late August
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)
Paeroa Range/Te Kopia Possum Control • DOC/Council collaboration • ~2,250ha Te Kopia Scenic Reserve • ~10,700ha Private land • Protect and enhance biodiversity, catchment, production values • Te Kopia Geothermal Field • Rare & threatened plants • Dactylanthus • Fernbird, NZ falcon rifleman, bats • Farming & forestry • Repeating work undertake 2006/2007
Time frames... 2 years in the making • Project scoping – Late 2010 • Monitoring – Summer/Autumn 2010/11 • Possum RTC, vegetation surveys, biodiversity overview • Consultation – commenced Autumn 2011, ongoing • Staff/landowner visits, mail-outs, iwi, contractor/landowner visits • Tendering/Contract processes – Feb-May 2012 • Contract implementation – May onwards • Contractor detailed consultation and operational planning
Operational specifics • Epro Ltd • Aerial 1080 baiting • All DOC land + some private land • Private land receiving deer repellent baits • some sensitive areas = no aerial baiting • Ground methods used on most private land • Performance based contract • 3% RTC aerial control • 5% RTC ground control • Aerial control from mid November (weather) • Ground control to follow throughout the summer
What’s the feeling around the community? • Majority of landowners very happy, some not • Typical concerns raised and in general addressed • Lambing, hunting, toxin caution periods, DOC/Private boundary issues, water supplies, timing of operation • Control timeframe determined by feedback from prior operations and consultation undertaken • Mitigations incl... • provision of muzzles, water supply exclusions, timeframe, deer repellent etc • Can’t please everyone all the time... • Council and DOC happy to proceed.
Receive the report Biosecurity-Heritage Group Zone Report • November 2012
Activities andProgramme projection for this year Operations budget expectations as of October 2012.Generally on track overall for this stage of the year, although there are some ‘unders and overs’ • Catchment maintenance budget expect full expenditure • New works/clean streams expect full expenditure • River management budgets expect full expenditure • .
On going projects • Tahunaatra Catchment survey of issues and assessment of possible remedial works to reduce the impact of land use on water quality • Norm Ngapo (contractor)is in the process of doing an; An analysis of the Soil Conservation Asset Management Maintenance Programme in the Upper Waikato Zone. • A contract will be let for the development of a Zone Plan for the Zone in the next 2 months.
Information & Advice • Colin Stace
Strong demand • Revegetation and weed control • Biodiversity • Funding options • Potential New Works • Gully erosion • New staff
Funding Options • WCEET • Waikato River Authority • TARIT • Biodiversity Fund (DoC) • Assisting applications … follow up www.waikatobiodiversity.org.nz
