Agenda of Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting

1 Opening

Upper Waitaki Zone Committee Meeting Friday 15 February 2019 9.30am Mackenzie Country Inn, Twizel
9.00am	Item	Arrive/cup of tea	Lead
9.30am		Standing Items Apologies, Minutes, Correspondence
	1	Regional Committee update	Sandra Hampstead-Tipene
9.45am	2	Communication: Zone Committee message/photo of the month	All
10.00am	3	Mackenzie Basin Agency Alignment Project – Plan Guidelines	Julia Forsyth, Principal Planner, Environment Canterbury
10.30am	4	Zone Delivery Update and 2019 Work Programme	Chris Eccleston, Zone Manager, Environment Canterbury
11.00 – 11.20		Morning tea
11.20am	5	Zone Committee’s 2019 Work Programme · What topics for meetings? · Meeting frequency? · Field trips?	All
12.00pm	6	Zone Committee’s 2018 Annual Report Identify changes to be made to the draft 2018 Annual Report	All
12.15pm	7	General Discussion	All
12.30pm		Close and lunch

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Minutes 23 November 2018

MINUTES

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting

23 November 2018

MINUTES OF Mackenzie District Council
Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting
HELD AT THE WRINKLY RAMS, Omarama,
ON Friday, 23 November 2018 AT 11.00am

PRESENT: Member Simon Cameron (Chairman), Member Matthew Bayliss, Member Sandra Hampstead-Tipene, Member Barry Shepherd, Member Richard Subtil, Member John Sunckell, Member John Wilkie, Member Craig Dawson, Member Stuart Barwood

IN ATTENDANCE: Barbara Gilchrist (Facilitator), Joy Paterson (observing) Chris Eccleston (Ecan), John Benn (Department of Conservation), Arlene Goss (Committee Administrator), three members of the public.

1 Opening

The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting

2 Apologies

Apologies were received from member Lisa Anderson, and from Matt Bayliss for lateness.

3 Declarations Of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

4 Visitors

The chairman welcomed Joy Paterson who has applied to join the committee, and also welcomed the mokopuna of member Sandra Hampstead-Tipene.

5 Reports

5.1 Minutes of Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting - 21 September 2018

Barbara Gilchrist read out a resolution from the Lower Waitaki zone committee to support Network Waitaki in its efforts to ensure security of supply. This is on page 16 of the agenda. A resolution was passed to support Network Waitaki.

Richard Subtil raised the issue of recent rain bringing down material from the Clay Cliffs. Discussion was held on the effects of this on Lake Benmore and the TLI of the lake. It was noted that the committee had already looked into the issue and it was found to be too expensive to prevent erosion. Works would only shift the problem upstream or downstream.

Matt Bayliss joined the meeting at 11.07am.

Mr Subtil suggested that boulders be placed in one spot to prevent further cutting in. Discussion was held on rock reinforcement. The committee agreed to re-visit this issue and invite the Ecan river engineer to speak to the committee. Mr Subtil will attempt to get a photo taken from the air and will circulate this to members. Staff were directed to follow up on this issue.

Committee Resolution UPP/2018/19

Moved: Member Barry Shepherd

Seconded: Member Stuart Barwood

That the Minutes of the Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting held on Friday 21 September 2018 be confirmed as a correct record of the meeting.

Carried

Committee Resolution UPP/2018/20

Moved: Member Barry Shepherd

Seconded: Member Sandra Hampstead-Tipene

That the Upper Waitaki Zone Committee endorses the following resolution passed by the Lower Waitaki Zone committee at its meeting on October 18:

That the Lower Waitaki South Coastal Canterbury zone Committee writes to Network Waitaki’s Chief Executive to support Network Waitaki’s application to MBE’s Provincial Growth Fund for support for development of a new supply point to guarantee long term security of supply of electricity in North Otago.

Carried

5.2 Minutes of the Joint Meeting of the Lower and Upper Waitaki Zone Committees on October 18, 2018

These minutes were noted by the committee.

5.3 Upper Waitaki Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement 2019 Program

Chris Eccleston spoke on behalf of Tami Woods, who could not attend the meeting. He provided background to the paper in the agenda. Questions were asked about the need for another layer of process in addition to farm environment plans. Mr Eccleston said for some people it would be less helpful than others. Feedback was given on the process and the need for auditing. It was noted that this process would not require more visits to farms than what was currently undertaken.

Mr Eccleston was asked if the focus could be put on consent holders who were previously subject to enforcement action. He would take this question back to staff and this would be considered as part of the action plan.

The committee then resolved that the Wairepo, Kellands Pond area be added to the list as a catchment of concern.

Committee Resolution UPP/2018/21

Moved: Member Matthew Bayliss

Seconded: Member Sandra Hampstead-Tipene

That the Upper Waitaki Zone Water management committee requests staff to add the Wairepo Kellands Pond area as a catchment of concern for a ‘whole of farm’ approach, alongside the existing focus in the Omarama catchment.

Carried

5.4 Immediate Steps Biodiversity Decisions

The balance of the fund is $104,000. If the committee agreed to fund the projects in the agenda, it would all be spent until the end of the financial year in July, 2019. Discussion was held on whether remedial work at the Clay Cliffs would qualify for biodiversity funding. The committee was unsure.

Regarding the Omarama Fencing Project, the committee questioned whether the planning was advanced enough to understand what it was committing to. Where would the fencing go, how much would it cost, who would be contributing to the cost?

Richard Subtil said this was an application from the Omarama Stream Water Users Group, of which he is a member, and he answered questions on the project. It was agreed to fund the project subject to Rob Carson-Iles coming back to the committee with clarification on where the money was to be spent.

Committee Resolution UPP/2018/22

Moved: Member Richard Subtil

Seconded: Member Matthew Bayliss

That the Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee agrees to fund the Boultons Gully Willow Control Project in the amount of $7,500 from the Immediate Steps Biodiversity Fund.

Carried

Committee Resolution UPP/2018/23

Moved: Member Richard Subtil

Seconded: Member Craig Dawson

That the Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee agrees to fund the Omarama Stream Fencing Project in the amount of $41,669 from the Immediate Steps Biodiversity Fund, subject to staff coming back to the committee with clarification on where the money will be spent.

Carried

5.5 GENERAL BUSINESS

Ian Whitehouse was invited to update the committee on the Bridge Project.

Barbara Gilchrist updated the committee on the Love Your Lakes campaign and other communication activity including a competition in December. Fridge magnets have also been distributed to all holiday homes in Twizel.

The chairman noted the loss of Scott Theobald who worked locally for the Department of Conservation. John Benn from the Department of Conservation spoke. He updated the committee on a new limit for cadmium in fertilizer. This may impact New Zealand. Also a disease called white rust (Albugo candida) has been found on a native plant in the basin for the first time. This plant is named Lepidium Solandri, is located at Simons Pass, is very rare and has gone extinct in Otago.

The committee heard feedback on how the work of the committee was being received elsewhere and agreed they were making good progress. Member Barry Shepherd noted this was his last meeting and was thanked for all his work for the committee. Barbara Gilchrist also said this would be her last meeting as committee facilitator.

The chairman thanked everyone for their work this year.

5.6 Papers for the Information of the Committee

The papers on the agenda were noted.

The Meeting closed at 12.00pm.

The minutes of this meeting were confirmed at the first Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting held in 2019.

...................................................

CHAIRPERSON

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 15 February 2019

5.2 Regional Committee Report

File Reference: NA

Author: ,

Authoriser: ,

Attachments: Nil

Purpose of Report

This report is from Sandra Hampstead-Tipene, Lesley Woudberg

To provide a summary of the Regional Committee meeting of 11 December 2019.

Staff Recommendations

1. That the report be received. That the Upper Waitaki Zone Committee receive the summary report of the Regional Committee.

Background

1. WATER USAGE AND COMPLIANCE

· Presentation https://www.ecan.govt.nz/data/document-library/?ids=3533932,3476623,3461497,3461488,3426958,2950273,2433544,1929055,3035217,3169466,3169471,3169475,3169478,3169490,3169500,3169509,3169518,3169526,3169536,3169539,3169544,2991135,2991128

· Regulations require water meters on takes of 5 l/s and greater

· Approx 5,000 telemetered takes and 1,000 takes annually uploaded

· Goal is to have everyone providing real time data but not there yet

· Encounter significant data management/verification challenges

· All meters calibrated every 5 years

· Compliance journey starts with verification, warnings, abatement notices and finally enforcement

· System does not measure efficiency

· Key messages to consent holders

o No tolerance for missing meters

o Need to reverify meters every 5 years

2. CWMS FIT FOR FUTURE

· Mayoral Forum provided feedback on an interim report that included the;

o “social capital” built up by the CWMS

o direction of travel

o 3 waters focus of TAs

o CWMS as a vehicle for a collective effort to improve water management

· The committee discussed emerging strategic issues

o possible change “irrigated land area” target for a “better water management” target

o growing collective commitment to deliver

o generating real change in world of complexity, lag times and climate change

o providing for cultural values

o generating resourcing and capacity

o balance between monitoring/reporting and doing

3. ACKNOWLEDGE WORK OF WAIMAKARIRI AND OTOP

· Waimakariri and OTOP zone committees both completed their ZIP Addenda in early December. These documents are a culmination of extensive community engagement over 2 years.

Arlene Goss

Committee Administrator (Temp)

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 15 February 2019

5.5 Upper Waitaki Committee inZone Update

File Reference: NA

Author: ,

Authoriser: ,

Attachments: Nil

Purpose of Report

This report was written by Chris Eccleston, Zone Manager

To provide the Upper Waitaki Zone Committees with a demonstration of the new inZone tracking and reporting tool and to outline the Zone Delivery Work Programme.

Staff Recommendations

1. That the report be received.

Background

The inZone system has been developed to provide a single, searchable source of information on Zone Delivery Work Programmes across the region. Its development will enhance the visibility of progress and enable prioritisation and delivery of actions against the work programme.

Each of the Zone work programmes in the system is divided into:

· Outcomes

o The high level, long term goal (approximately 3 to 5 years)

o Covers the recommendations laid out in the ZIP/ZIPA

· Milestone

o A programme of work (approximately 6 months to 2 years) that deliver elements of an Outcome or Outcomes)

· Projects

o The individual activities (approximately 1 day to 6 months) that will contribute to the delivery of a Milestone or Milestones

o The projects will form the basis for the Zone Delivery Team (Land Management Advisors, Biodiversity Officers and Resource Management Officers) individual and collective work plans.

Progress against projects and milestones will be reported on a monthly basis and the intent is to bring progress reports against the Milestones and Outcomes to the Zone Committee every second month.

Also included with this paper is the Upper Waitaki Zone Delivery Work Programme, to provide the Zone Committee with an overview of the work being undertaken.

Upper Waitaki Zone Delivery Work Programme

Outcomes		Milestones		Projects
Farming at GMP or better
Farmers in the Upper Waitaki zone support and apply innovative good management practice including recognition of mahinga kai values
		All landowners who require a land use consent for their property because of PC5 provisions, have applied and received their consent.		· Obtaining LU Consent: Assisting Upper Waitaki farmers who require a land use consent, to obtain such a consent · FEP and nutrient budgets reviews: LMA reviews of FEPs and nutrient budgets submitted as part of consent applications.
		Willow Burn: Extension and support programme developed and implemented for farmers within the Willow Burn catchment. Programme updated annually.		· Willow Burn extension – Assisting Willowburn farmers, through a targeted extension programme, to reduce ecoli, sediment, N and P losses from their properties and to move up an audit grade where applicable
		Quail Burn: Extension and support programme developed and implemented for farmers within the Quail Burn catchment. Programme updated annually		· Quail Burn extension – Assisting Quailburn (includes Serpentine and Henburn) farmers, through a targeted extension programme, to reduce ecoli, sediment, N and P losses from their properties and to move up an audit grade where applicable
		Grey River: Extension and support programme developed and implemented for farmers within the Grey River catchment. Programme updated annually		· Grey River extension – Assisting Grey River farmers, through a targeted extension programme, to reduce ecoli, sediment, N and P losses from their properties and to move up an audit grade where applicable
		Omarama Stream: Extension and support programme developed and implemented for farmers within the Omarama Stream catchment. Programme updated annually		· Omarama Stream extension – Assisting Omarama Stream farmers, through a targeted extension programme, to reduce ecoli, sediment, N and P losses from their properties and to move up an audit grade where applicable
		Benmore Irrigation CSA: Critical source areas with BIC area identified and mapped		· Benmore Irrigation Company CSA surveys: Carry out Critical Source Area (CSA) surveys in BIC area, with focus on waterways
		Willow Burn landholder mahinga kai awareness, understanding, extension and support programme developed and implemented		· Mahinga kai extension: Develop and implement an Upper Waitaki mahinga kai extension programme in consultation with local Rūnanga
Improving recreational and amenity values
Environmental impacts of recreational activities are sustainably and appropriately managed
		Support TAs, DOC, F & G, A to O, generators and other stakeholders to provide and manage infrastructure that promotes safe recreation.		· Zone committee forum: Encourage Zone Committee to provide forum for stakeholders to address infrastructure issues · Camping ground monitoring: Monitoring camping grounds for compliance with human waste disposal regulations
		Monitoring and compliance of contaminants, including human waste, that may impact on recreational values.		· Camping ground monitoring: Monitoring camping grounds for compliance with human waste disposal regulations · Water quality reporting: Report water quality results and trends to Zone Committee and stakeholders
		Public are aware of recreational and amenity values of water in the Upper Waitaki		· Water quality reporting: Report water quality results and trends to Zone Committee and stakeholders
Focus on wetlands, spring-fed and hill-fed streams
Priority wetlands, spring-fed and hill-fed streams are identified, and their ecological and cultural quality is maintained and steadily improved over time
		Willow Burn: Management plans are developed and implemented for spring-fed and hill-fed streams, and wetlands		· Willow Burn Catchment: Develop and implement a Willow Burn catchment management plan.
		Quail Burn: Management plans are developed and implemented for spring-fed and hill-fed streams, and wetlands		· Quail Burn Catchment: Develop and implement a Quailburn catchment management plan. (includes Serpentine and Henburn)
		Greys River: Management plans are developed and implemented for spring-fed and hill-fed streams, and wetlands		· Greys River Catchment: Develop and implement a Greys River management plan
		Annual allocation of Biodiversity Strategy and Immediate Steps funding is fully utilised on projects that protect and enhance high value wetland areas, hill-fed stream catchments and dryland vegetation areas		· Pre-emptive weed control projects · Dryland biodiversity projects · Galaxiid habitat and fish passage project: · Big-nose galaxiid research project: · Mackenzie Trust dryland heritage: Supporting Mackenzie Trust dryland heritage area projects
		Partnerships developed with organisations, including DOC, District Council, QEII, Beef and Lamb NZ and other farmer groups to ensure a step change in the protection and enhancement of terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity in the zone.		· Mackenzie Trust dryland heritage: Supporting Mackenzie Trust dryland heritage area projects
Biodiversity step change
A step change in biodiversity protection and enhancement is achieved by supporting landowners, District Council, QEII trust, community groups, DOC and other agencies to undertake biodiversity protection and enhancement projects.
		Areas of grey scrub in the Upper Waitaki zone are identified and protected		· Grey scrub protection: Protecting known areas of Grey scrub in the Quail Burn and Grays River catchments
		Annual allocation of Biodiversity Strategy and Immediate Steps funding is fully utilised on projects that protect and enhance high value wetland areas, hill-fed stream catchments and dryland vegetation areas		· Pre-emptive weed control projects · Dryland biodiversity projects · Galaxiid habitat and fish passage project: · Big-nose galaxiid research project: · Mackenzie Trust dryland heritage: Supporting Mackenzie Trust dryland heritage area projects
		Partnerships developed with organisations, including DOC, District Council, QEII, Beef and Lamb NZ and other farmer groups to ensure a step change in the protection and enhancement of terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity in the zone.		· Mackenzie Trust dryland heritage: Supporting Mackenzie Trust dryland heritage area projects
Quality, affordable drinking water
Safe drinking water is available for all.
	Reduce risk to drinking water by protecting CDWPZs		· Drinking water managing risk from farming activities: Work with TAs, facility managers and farmers to identify and manage risk from farming activities · Drinking water managing risk from effluent treatment systems: Work with TAs, facility managers and landowners to reduce risk to drinking water supply from human effluent treatment and disposal systems · Zone committee forum: Encourage Zone Committee to provide forum for stakeholders to address infrastructure issues · CDWPZs monitoring: Monitoring programme for CDWPZs
	Policy and processes developed to manage landowners’ transition from non-compliant septic tanks to compliant human waste effluent disposal systems		· Septic tank transition policy development: Environment Canterbury develop policy and process to manage landowners’ transition from non-compliant septic tanks to compliant human waste effluent disposal systems
Compliance
All consents in the Upper Waitaki Zone that need monitoring are monitored, high risk pollution incidents are responded to and consent holder’s practices are aligned with community outcomes.
	All incident response / daily alert matters are responded to in a timely way.		· Compliance dashboard: Compliance dashboard is monitored by appropriate personnel
	Comprehensive monitoring programmes in place for all regionally and locally significant consents		· Regionally Significant Consents (RSCs): Monitoring of RSCs · Fish screen monitoring: Monitoring of regional prioritised fish screens · Water use consents: Monitoring of regionally allocated water use consents with: - Missing Data, - System verified as compliant water takes, but with a high-risk rating or history of non-compliance and 10% of others · Zone Priorities: Monitoring of priority water permits with complex water quality conditions · Compliance reporting: Quarterly compliance update to Zone Committee.
	Quail Burn: Comprehensive monitoring program in place for farmers within the Quailburn catchment. Priority catchment updated annually		· Quail Burn Catchment: Develop and implement a Quailburn catchment management plan. (includes Serpentine and Henburn)

Arlene Goss

Committee Administrator (Temp)

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 15 February 2019

5.6 Zone Committee Work Programme 2019 Cover Paper

File Reference: NA

Author: ,

Authoriser: ,

Attachments: Nil

Purpose of Report

This report is from Ian Whitehouse, Environment Canterbury.

To prompt discussion by zone committee members on what they want to do in 2019 including meeting topics, field trips and frequency of meetings.

Staff Recommendations

The zone committee identifies and agrees the key things to be included in the committee’s 2019 Work Programme.

Background

The Committee’s Terms of Reference describes the committee’s purpose and functions as:

1. Facilitate community involvement in the development, implementation, review and updating of a ZIP that gives effect to the CWMS in the Upper Waitaki Zone;

2. Monitor progress on the implementation of the ZIP.

The zone committee has been in operation for nearly ten years. A ZIP Addendum has been produced. Plan Change 5 of the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan gives effect to some of the ZIP Addendum recommendations.

It is timely, at the start of another year, for the committee to discuss and identify what it wants to have achieved by the end of 2019.

As a prompt for the committee’s discussion, the following are suggested as things that the committee could want to achieve by the end of the year:

a) Facilitate a collaborative approach to delivering the ZIP and ZIP Addendum by . . . .;

b) Connect with the following key land and water-related projects in the zone and take a leadership or supporting role as appropriate . . . :

c) Understand the state of the water resource in the zone and help the community understand this;

d) Celebrate and help communicate achievements relating to land and water management in the zone;

e) Understand the following land and water management issues in the zone and help progress fixing them by . . .;

f) Follow up on biodiversity projects that have been funded by the committee.

The committee operates mainly through meetings and field trips. Having a focus for each zone committee meeting or field trip would assist the facilitator and zone delivery team develop and deliver the committee’s 2019 work programme.

A key question to be addressed is whether the committee will meet every month. It could meet every two months, or monthly but not in some months, or some other frequency.

As a prompt for the committee’s discussion, the following are suggested as possible topics/themes for zone committee meetings:

i. Braided rivers – the BRIDGE Project wants to have the 3^rd meeting of the Ahuriri River Reach Group on the same day (or as part of) the 15 March Upper Waitaki zone committee meeting.

ii. Integrated monitoring.

iii. Update on state of water resources in the zone;

iv. Community sewerage schemes, public toilets and visitor numbers.

v. Drinking water.

vi. Implementing Plan Change 5 and ZIP Addendum.

vii. Understanding Ngai Tahu values (combined hui with Lower Waitaki and OTOP zone committees).

There may be opportunities for field trips to help the committee understand some of the topics. What ideas do the committee have for field trips?

The committee usually has a hangi (or lunch) at its last meeting of the year.

Most of the committee meetings are in Twizel. Does the committee want to continue this? It could make sense to have the March meeting in Omarama if this meeting is alongside (or replaced by) the Ahuriri River Reach Group meeting.

2019 Schedule for Upper Waitaki Zone Committee meetings

15 February

15 March

26 April

17 May

21 June

19 July

16 August

20 September

18 October

22 November

Arlene Goss

Committee Administrator (Temp)