Agenda of Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Membership:

Simon Cameron (Chairman)

Lisa Anderson

Matthew Bayliss

Sandra Hampstead-Tipene

Richard Subtil

John Sunckell

John Wilkie

Craig Dawson

Stuart Barwood

Joy Paterson

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The purpose of local government:

(1) The purpose of local government is—

(a) to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and

(b) to meet the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.

(2) In this Act, good-quality, in relation to local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions, means infrastructure, services, and performance that are—

(a) efficient; and

(b) effective; and

(Local Government Act 2002)

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 17 May 2019

5 Reports

5.1 Upper Waitaki Zone Committee Meeting Timetable

File Reference: NA

Author: Charlotte Borrell, Governance Advisor

Authoriser: Stuart Grant, Acting Group Manager Projects & Admin

Attachments: Nil

Upper Waitaki Zone Committee Meeting Friday 17 May 2019 9.30am Ohau Lodge, Lake Ohau
9.00am	Item	Arrive/cup of tea	Lead
9.30am		Standing Items Apologies, Minutes, Matters arising: Action list from 15 February
	1	Regional Committee update	Sandra Hampstead-Tipene
9.40am	2	Zone Committee’s 2019 draft Work Programme	Ian Whitehouse, Zone Facilitator, Environment Canterbury
10.00am	3	Communication: Refreshing the Zone Committee “Posters” (at the five locations across the zone)	Kate Doran
10.25am	4	Clay Cliffs erosion: brief report	Ian Whitehouse, Zone Facilitator, Environment Canterbury
10.35am	5	Election of officers	All
	6	Information Paper: Omnibus Plan Change
	7	Information Paper: Waitaki Shorelines Authorities Committee meeting
	8	Information Paper: Lake Middleton
10.45am		Depart for Lake Middleton
11.00am		Briefings and discussion beside lake (see outline of field trip and background material)	Various
12.30pm		Return to Lake Ohau Lodge	All
12.40pm		Lunch

Charlotte Borrell

Governance Advisor

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 17 May 2019

5.5 Zone Committee’s 2019 Draft Work Programme

File Reference: NA

Author: Charlotte Borrell, Governance Advisor

Authoriser: Stuart Grant, Acting Group Manager Projects & Admin

Attachments: 1. UWZC proposed 2019 work programme ⇩

Purpose of Report

This report is from Ian Whitehouse, Environment Canterbury.

To provide details of the committee’s proposed 2019 work programme.

Staff Recommendations

1. That the report be received.

2. The Zone Committee agrees its 2019 Work Programme, noting that this is a “living” document and will be reviewed and revised in October 2019.

background

The committee identified at its February meeting what they wanted covered at meetings and field trips in 2019. The zone facilitator has compiled this into a draft Work Programme as attached.

It is proposed that the focus of the committee’s meetings be:

June: traditional Maori place names and history (joint meeting with Lower Waitaki committee);

July: various topics including 2019 Love your lakes campaign; Clay Cliffs; Mackenzie Basin Agency Alignment Project;

September: state of the water resource in the zone;

October: various including Haldon Arm; update on Mackenzie Alignment Project; review of Work Programme.

November: catchment groups (tentative – to be confirmed).

In the attached proposed Work Programme, committee activities are grouped in seven themes and these are described below.

OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED (DRAFT) WORK PROGRAMME

1 Managing tourist impacts.

This continues to be a focus for the committee with specific activities planned for 2019 around Lake Middleton and continuing the Love your lakes campaign, and proposed for Haldon Arm.

At the February meeting, Committee members asked about sewerage disposal at the Haldon Arm campground. Information from Mackenzie District Council indicates that the sewerage system at the campground does not allow pumping (and transport of the waste offsite). It is proposed that the committee be briefed on the water quality (including lake “weed”) in the Haldon Arm at the September meeting and discuss at that meeting (or in October) what the committee wants to do, if anything in relation to concerns about the impact of visitors on Haldon Arm. The September timetable is to align with the proposed timing of the annual briefing to the committee on the results of water quality monitoring across the zone. Graeme Clarke, Environment Canterbury Science Team Leader, would present the monitoring results including specific information about the state of the Haldon Arm.

2 Making things happen

This theme covers the work the committee is doing, or wants to do, to improve land and water management in the zone.

Committee members have expressed concerns about the impact of erosion of the Clay Cliffs on water quality in Lake Benmore. A brief technical memo on this will be tabled at this (May) meeting, however there is insufficient time to discuss what the committee wants to do next and this discussion has been scheduled for the July meeting (as June meeting at Waihao will focus on Maori place names in the Waitaki).

There are a number of catchment groups in the zone and it is tentatively proposed that the committee hear from these groups at its November meeting, possibly with a field trip. This needs to be discussed further later.

3 Communication and engagement

This theme covers the communication and engagement activities of the committee, ably supported by Kate Doran and other Environment Canterbury staff.

4 Understanding the Treaty of Waitangi and Ngai Tahu values

The focus of the June meeting will be a presentation by Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu (TRoNT) staff on traditional Maori place names and history of the Waitaki. This meeting will be a combined meeting with Lower Waitaki Zone Committee and will be on Wednesday 19 June at Waihao marae. This is a change of date (to fit with the Lower Waitaki schedule and the availability of TRoNT staff).

Zone Committee members are encouraged to go on (free) Treaty Training workshops and Noho Marae that are organised by Environment Canterbury. The facilitator will inform committee members of these as they are scheduled. Mat Bayliss is going to Treaty of Waitangi training in June.

5 Mackenzie Basin Agency Alignment

The committee is interested in the Mackenzie Basin Agency Alignment Programme, particularly how the committee might help. The Alignment Programme is currently developing a 2019/20 Work Programme and this will be brought to the zone committee at its July meeting along with thoughts on how the zone committee could support the Programme.

6 Keeping informed on the state of the water resource and on water management activities in the zone

It is important that the zone committee is well informed about the state of the land and water resources in the zone. Understanding this will help the committee in its decision making. It also helps committee members communicate accurately to their networks and community. The draft Work Programme includes a briefing or workshop where Environment Canterbury would present the results from the water resource monitoring in the zone and the committee would discuss what the results mean.

The Work Programme also includes progress Zone Delivery updates from Environment Canterbury.

7 Waitaki Flow and Allocation Plan Review

This is included as a placeholder and reminder that the Waitaki Flow and Allocation Plan will be reviewed by 2023. Some work on this may have started by late 2019. The schedule for the review and how the zone committees will be involved should be clearer by October when it is proposed that the committee’s Work Programme be reviewed and updated.

Ian Whitehouse

Environment Canterbury

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 17 May 2019

5.6 Communication: Refreshing the Zone Committee Posters

File Reference: NA

Author: Charlotte Borrell, Governance Advisor

Authoriser: Stuart Grant, Acting Group Manager Projects & Admin

Attachments: Nil

Purpose of Report

This report is from Kate Doran, Environment Canterbury Communications and Engagement.

To provide a summary of the Zone Committee’s community-facing posters produced in summer 2018 and discuss updating these for winter 2019.

Staff Recommendations

1. That the report be received.

2. The Zone Committee agrees to refresh the suite of Zone Committee posters (at five locations) for winter.

Background

A suite of community-facing posters was created and distributed in summer 2018 in line with two of the committee’s key outcomes:

• To raise the profile of the zone committee within the local community (increasing engagement)

• To increase understanding in the community on key issues around water management.

Five different posters – for Twizel, Otematata, Omarama, Tekapo and Aoraki Mt Cook – were created with input from key sources such as local rūnanga, Ka Huru Manu, Environment Canterbury Science and the zone committee members. The completed posters were distributed throughout the five locations on community noticeboards, schools, councils, camping grounds and places of high traffic.

FEEDBACK FROM 2018 POSTERS

Positive feedback on the community posters – both design and content – was received from members of the community, the zone committee members and stakeholders. The posters were endorsed by all four papatipu rūnanga and Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu.

The completed posters proved to be a useful tool to highlight key zone committee news and have had great longevity - some are still in place.

Challenges included extending the print deadline to allow more time for stakeholder feedback of drafts, and – from a more practical point of view - finding space for the larger posters on existing community noticeboards (for example Twizel Four Square only takes A4 size posters) .

The committee is invited to share any additional feedback.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REFRESHING THE COMMUNITY POSTERS

· Keep the same ‘look and feel’ but update the photos featured across the banner, as well as the zone news and water quality data.

· Improve readability to allow for A3 size – as this was the most practical size to fit on existing community noticeboards. This will mean less text and more visual communication.

· Add a mechanism to gain feedback from the public. A good option could be to offer a Love Your Lakes carry bag or entry into a competition as an incentive for those that get in touch.

· Adjust distribution slightly to better fit town sizes e.g. Print extra posters for Twizel, less for Aoraki Mt Cook.

· Refine distribution of posters to include ‘helpers’ who know of extra local locations.

OTHER COMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES 2019

Other communications activities throughout the year have been detailed in the draft work plan for 2019 provided by the Zone Committee Facilitator (see previous agenda item). These include the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee, the regular e-newsletter to stakeholders and public, newspaper ‘snapshots’ on Immediate Steps projects, and continuing with the Love Your Lakes campaign, pending confirmation from the committee.

Kate Doran

Environment Canterbury Communications and Engagement

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 17 May 2019

5.7 Clay Cliffs Erosion

File Reference: NA

Author: Charlotte Borrell, Governance Advisor

Authoriser: Stuart Grant, Acting Group Manager Projects & Admin

Attachments: 1. Clay Cliffs Memo ⇩

urpose of Report

This report is from Graeme Clarke, Environment Canterbury, via Chris Eccleston, Zone Manager, Environment Canterbury.

To provide a follow up for the Zone Committee regarding a question relating to the impact of erosion from the Clay Cliffs on water quality in Lake Benmore.

Staff Recommendations

1. That the report be received.

2. The Zone Committee receives the compilation of existing information on the likely impact of erosion from the Clay Cliffs on water quality in Lake Benmore noting that there will be further discussion at a future meeting regarding possible works at the Clay Cliffs.

Background

At the November 2018 zone committee meeting concerns were raised about erosion from the Clay Cliffs. Following the meeting, Joy’s husband, James, very kindly took Richard Subtil for a scenic flight and his photos below tell the story. Richard comments that “the river is only currently running at a pretty tame 37 cumecs and the discolouration is pretty stark.”

At the February 2019 meeting the question was asked about the impact of erosion at Clay Cliffs on water quality in Lake Benmore and whether something needed to be done to reduce this erosion.

The attached memo from Graeme Clarke has been compiled from historical information. No new work has been done. The information indicates that the erosion probably does not impact on the water quality in the lake.

The committee needs to discuss this matter further. It is proposed to have this discussion at the 19 July meeting (as the June meeting is joint with Lower Waitaki zone committee and focussed on traditional Maori place names in the Waitaki).

A close up of a rocky mountain

Description generated with very high confidence

Water next to the ocean

Description generated with high confidence

Sediment discharge from beneath Clay Cliffs into Ahuriri River on 23 November 2018.

River flow of 37m³/s. Photos by Richard Subtil.

Charlotte Borrell

Governance Advisor

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 17 May 2019

5.8 Election of chair and Deputy Chair

File Reference: NA

Author: Charlotte Borrell, Governance Advisor

Authoriser: Stuart Grant, Acting Group Manager Projects & Admin

Attachments: Nil

Staff Recommendations

That the Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee elects:

XX as Chair for 2019

XX as Deputy Chair for 2019

XX as the Committee’s representative on the Regional Committee

Background

Each year, the Committee is required to appoint the Chair and Deputy Chair from the membership by simple majority. There is no limit on how long a person can be in either of these positions. The committee also needs to appoint a member to the position of representative on the regional committee.

Charlotte Borrell

Governance Advisor

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 17 May 2019

5.10 Waitaki Shorelines Authorities Committee

File Reference: NA

Author: Charlotte Borrell, Governance Advisor

Authoriser: Stuart Grant, Acting Group Manager Projects & Admin

Attachments: 1. UNCONFIRMED Waitaki Lake Shorelines Authorities minutes April 2019 ⇩

Purpose of Report

This report is from Ian Whitehouse, Environment Canterbury, using information from Graeme Clarke, Environment Canterbury.

To provide information on the April meeting of the Waitaki Lakes Shoreline Authorities Committee.

Staff Recommendations

That the report be received.

Background

The Waitaki Shorelines Authorities Committee is a forum for raising and discussing matters regarding the Waitaki lakes. The Committee meets twice a year and includes representatives from Waimate District Council, Waitaki District Council, Environment Canterbury, Haldon Arm Reserve Trust, Ahuriri Community Board, DOC, LINZ, Meridian Energy, Waitaki Lakes and Rivers Committee and the Upper Waitaki Zone Committee. Neither the Zone Committee Chair or Zone Facilitator were able to make the last meeting of the Waitaki Shorelines Authorities Committee.

INFORMATION FROM APRIL MEETING OF SHORELINE AUTHORITIES COMMITTEE

Justin McLauchlan and Graeme Clarke, Environment Canterbury, attended the Waitaki Lakes Shoreline Authorities meeting in Waimate on 18 April 2019, and a couple of things came up that may be of interest to the Upper Waitaki Zone Committee. The minutes are attached.

1. April Hussey from LINZ mentioned she is looking at determining which ZC meetings across Canterbury she should be attending, and there was support from the group for LINZ to be present/visible at the Upper Waitaki ZC meeting. I suspect you will hear from her in due course.

2. There was considerable discussion around Lagarosiphon, and the struggle LINZ is having in managing/controlling it. LINZ felt it would be useful to have the message around “check, clean, dry” reinforced to the community, and possibly highlighting the issues around infestations of invasive weeds. I agree, and given the press around Didymo has died down, it would be useful to reinforce the message, especially in light of the lake snow incursion and the ongoing Lagarosiphon issues. I wonder if the “Love your lakes” brochure we put out each year may provide an opportunity to do that, or if you can see another way we could help facilitate getting that message out.

Date:	Friday, 17 May 2019
Time:	9.30am
Location:	Lake Ohau Lodge