THE UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO
TE WHARE WĀNANGA O WAIKATO
Environmental Policy Committee
Minutes of the meeting held 19 April 2013
PRESENT:
Professor David Hamilton (Chair); Mr John Cameron, Associate Professor Eva
Collins, Dr Chris Eames, Rachael Goddard, Hine-iti-moana Greensill, Mr Mark
Thompson.
Secretary:
Ms Cassandra Beattie
13.16
APOLOGIES
Received
Apologies for absence from Associate Professor Priya Kurian and Ms Danyell Summers.
13.17
CONFIRMATION OF THE
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
MINUTES
OF
THE
ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICY
Confirmed
1. The minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2013.
2. The minutes of the special meeting between the Environmental Policy Committee and the
Vice-Chancellor held on 12 February 2013.
13.18
ICE AWARDS
Resolved
1. An ICE Awards working party will be established, comprising of Rachael Goddard, John
Cameron, Chris Eames and Eva Collins.
2. The working party will look at conditions of entry for the ICE awards and adapt them
from the existing conditions.
3. CAPEX proposals only can be considered for funding.
13.19
ORANGA LAKE UPDATE
Noted in discussion
1. Waikato Regional Council had given approval for alum dosing to start. Alum dosing will
assist with the settling of sediment. However pH levels potentially dropping may cause
fish to die. Care needs to be taken with the alum dosing operation.
2. The use of small alum dosing from time to time may help control the lakes clarity.
3. Catchment pits (connected to storm water pipes leading into the lake) are used to collect
debris so it does not enter into the lake. They are emptied annually.
4. An application may be made to the Waikato River Authority for funding to put a lining
material on the bottom of the lake to control phosphorus levels.
5. The other issue is organic matter in the form of leaves falling into the lake. This could be
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reduced by staged removal of certain trees around the lake edge and replanting of native
non-deciduous trees.
6. The sediment removed from Oranga Lake has been disposed of on-site instead of being
planted in. This was due to the poor make-up of the soil, and the sediment drying to hard
compact material. Additionally, SMPD did not wish to use the sediment for planting in.
Restoration of the sediment area will be the next project to commence, with the creation of
a native planted site for learning and application.
13.20
CHAPEL LAKE RESTORATION
Noted in discussion
1. The island in the centre of Chapel Lake has been removed, with the sediment being spread
toward the edges of the lake to create a stabiliser and planting barrier.
2. The water lilies’ in Chapel Lake will be controlled to eliminate the excessive build-up of
organic matter in the future.
13.21
REPORT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR
Received
1. The February/March progress report from the Environmental & Sustainability
Coordinator.
2. A further oral report in which it was noted that:
a. That it may be beneficial to bring in a facilitator to guide the development of the
Sustainability Plan.
b. That the Waste Minimisation and Management Action Plan (WMAP) and Waste Plan
and Energy Plan are a crucial part of the University’s UN Commitment to Sustainable
Practices of HEI.
c. ACTS membership is being trialled for one year. The link to the website has been sent
out to staff and the next step is to get students engaging with the site. Monitoring of
how many people use it and what people got out of it will determine if we continue
the membership.
13.22
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Received
1. The draft Environmental Policy with track changes and comments (updated December
2012).
2. The current 2013 Environmental Policy available on the University of Waikato website.
3. The 2004 version of the Environmental Policy.
Considered
1. The content and format of the draft Environmental Policy.
2. A recommendation that the Environmental Policy gets ratified by Council.
Noted in discussion
1. That the Office of the Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Executive) had asked the committee to
reconsider the use the word policy.
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2. The committee strongly supported the policy as an overarching document with plans and
action plans to sit underneath this policy.
3. The acceptance and ratification of the Environmental Policy would show that the
University acknowledges environmental issues at the forefront.
4. That the majority of universities in New Zealand have an Environmental Policy, that is
either ‘underway’, or fully ratified.
5. The policy will have to have a sense of monitoring and compliance that is achievable.
6. That more research was required into what other New Zealand University Environmental
Policies contain in terms of content, how they are monitored, how often they review the
policy and to whom they report to.
7. That the committee has to ascertain whether the original Environmental Policy was
approved in 2006.
13.23
SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
Considered
An action plan for the development of the Sustainability Plan.
Noted in discussion
1. That a facilitator may be required to help progress the Sustainability Plan.
2. That the Sustainability Plan is a short three page document that will inform the more
robust action plan with KPIs and milestones.
13.24
SUSTAINABILITY TRAINING FOR STAFF
Considered
That sustainability training should be included as part of staff orientation.
Noted in discussion
1. That the information provided to staff at staff induction sessions is limited. Rachael is to
talk to Mike Bell about increasing the information provided about sustainability and
environmental issues.
2. Students should be presented with sufficient information on environmental sustainability
when starting university. Information could be sent out through official university
information packs or through the Waikato Students Union.
3. That Communications and External Relations was developing an App for smartphones
with information on what facilities are on campus and where to find them. This would
include environmental projects such as the ‘Faculty of Worms’.
13.25
SIR ALAN MARK ON CAMPUS
Noted in discussion
1. That there is an opportunity for Sir Alan Mark to visit the University of Waikato on 13
June 2013. The purpose of the visit would be to raise awareness and influence crucial
policies around biodiversity and climate change.
2. That due to the timing of this event, committee members would look at information
provided on the website (www.wiseresponse.org.nz) and organise an action plan for his
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visit between committee meetings.
13.26
TERMS OF REFERENCE AND CONSTITUTION
Noted in discussion
That due to time constraints the update of the Terms of Reference and Constitution for the
Environmental Sustainability Committee has been deferred to the next meeting of the
committee.
13.27
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Reported
The next meeting of the Environmental Policy Committee will be held on 14 June 2013 in FMD
meeting room 1.
Cassandra Beattie
Student and Academic Services Division
6 May 2013
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