ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE COMMITTEE Minutes of the meeting of the Environmental Performance Committee of the Waikato Regional Council held in the Council Chamber, Waikato Regional Council office, 401 Grey Street, Hamilton East at 10:06am on Wednesday 10 August 2016. MEMBERS: Cr CW Graf (Chair), Cr TH Bramley, Cr ST Kneebone, Cr LA Livingston, Cr KA White Ex‐officio Cr PA Southgate IN ATTENDANCE: Cr H Vercoe, Cr S Husband, Cr AD Livingston Director Resource Use (C McLay), Manager Industry and Infrastructure STAFF: (B Sinclair), Manager Investigations and Incident Response (P Lynch) and Democracy Advisor (A Williams) Land and Soil Scientists (M Taylor and J Caldwell). Waikato District Council: Mayor (A Sanson), Chief Executive (G Ion), General Manager (T Harty). GUESTS: Chief Executive at Fertiliser Association (P Mladenov), Executive Manager at Fertiliser Association (G Sneath), General Manager of Innovation at Ravensdown (M Manning), Science Manager at Balance (A Stafford) APOLOGIES: Cr T Bramley (Lateness) Confirmation of Agenda (Agenda Item 1) Chair advised the Committee that two further discussion items would be included for the Public Excluded portion of the meeting, these were:  Discussion with Waikato District Council regarding wastewater infrastructure issues and compliance; and  Outline of significant concerns and response actions for a non‐complying site in the region. Cr C Graf moved/Cr K White seconded EPC16/26 THAT the agenda for the Environmental Performance Committee of 10 August 2016 with amendments as agreed be confirmed as the business for the meeting. The motion was put and carried (EPC16/26) Minutes of the Environmental Performance Committee – 10 August 2016
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Disclosures of Interest (Agenda Item 2) There were no disclosures of interest. SECTION A: (UNDER DELEGATION FOR THE INFORMATION OF COUNCIL) Resolution to Exclude Public (Agenda Item 3) Cr Kneebone moved/Cr Livingston seconded EPC16/27 THAT in accordance with the provisions of Standing Orders NZS902:2003 Appendix A & B (P40/42) and Section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, the public be excluded from the following part/s of the proceedings of the meeting. The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter and the specific grounds under Section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows: Item No. 4 Item Name and general subject of Reason for passing this Ground(s) under each matter to be considered resolution in relation Section 48(1) for the to each matter passing of this resolution Update on Prosecutions Conclusive reasons to S48(1)(a) withhold exist under Section 6 Good reason to withhold exists under Section 7 This resolution is made in reliance on Section 48(1)(a) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 and the particular interest or interests protected by Sections 6 and 7 of that Act which would be prejudiced by the holding of the whole or relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting in public are as follows: Item No. Reason/s for withholding official information Section/s 4 Maintenance of the law and right to a fair trial S6(a) 4 Protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of S7(a) deceased natural persons 4 Legal privilege S7(g) Recommended that in accordance with the provisions of Standing Orders NZS9202:2003, Clause 2.16.4 and the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, Section 48 (5), that Mayor Alan Sanson, Gavin Ion and Tim Hardy (of Waikato District Council) remain in the public excluded session to present public excluded discussion item regarding the infrastructure and compliance issues at Raglan. The motion was put and carried (EPC16/27) Minutes of the Environmental Performance Committee – 10 August 2016
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Return to Open Meeting at 11:12am Consent and Incident Response Statistics File: 03 04 30 (Agenda Item 5) Doc # 6300484 Manager – Industry and Infrastructure within the Resource Use Directorate (B Sinclair) provided an overview of recent work within the Resource Use Directorate. During questions, answers and related discussion the Committee members raised or noted the following matters:  The Committee congratulated staff on the 99.8% compliance rate with the consent processing timeframes set out in the Resource Management Act: discount regulations, noting that this performance exceeded the annual target of 95%.  In regards to the aerial 1080 discharge applications, the Committee queried whether these would be made redundant with central Government considering new legislation. The Committee was advised that this would be dependent on how central Government changed the legislation.  Discussion ensued regarding the likely resolution of appeals lodged in relation to recent consent decisions relating to the AFFCO and Wallace Corporation sites. The question was raised regarding the likely costs of any reduction in nutrient levels that will be required under the new consents should the appeals be resolved. Staff advised that these were matters that the Commissioners would have considered when making their decisions and found to be acceptable given the circumstances of each case.  The Committee requested a breakdown of the ‘Stock in Waterway’ complaints. Cr S Kneebone moved/Cr L Livingston seconded RESOLVED EPC16/30 THAT the report “Consent and Incident Response Statistics” (Doc # 8743877 dated 28 July 2016) be received for information. The motion was put and carried (EPC16/30) Due to the availability of guests, the agenda was amended at this point to hear item 7 before item 6. Cadmium Management in the Waikato Region File: 47 07 01 (Agenda Item 7) Doc # 8322260 This item took place in two parts, a presentation from Waikato Regional Council Staff and a presentation from guests from the Fertiliser Industry. Both items were accompanied by a detailed presentation that would be provided to the Committee after the meeting. Prior to the presentation of the Waikato Regional Council report, Land and Soil Scientist (Matthew Taylor) introduced the guests from the Fertiliser Industry who would be speaking on Cadmium Management. These were: Chief Executive of the Fertiliser Association (Phillip Mladenov), Executive Manager of the Fertiliser Association (Greg Sneath), General Manager of Innovation at Ravensdown (Mike Manning), and Science Manager at Ballance (Aaron Stafford) Minutes of the Environmental Performance Committee – 10 August 2016
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Presenting the Waikato Regional Council report on cadmium management in the Waikato Region was Land and Soil Senior Scientist (Jonathan Caldwell). The report provided the Committee with information on the current state and trend of cadmium levels in soil, freshwater and sediments across the Waikato Region. Further, the report updated the Committee on the implementation of the national cadmium management strategy. During questions, answers and related discussion the Committee members raised or noted the following matters:  There were no statistics for cadmium levels in groundwater from 2012‐2016. Waikato Regional Council was committed to monitoring cadmium levels going forward.  Monitoring of cadmium in shellfish was undertaken through food surveying done by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Cadmium levels in Bluff Oysters were elevated due to them growing in a naturally high cadmium area. MPI had not picked up cadmium levels in other shellfish however it was not a particularly wide survey.  Cadmium bio‐accumulated in the kidneys and liver over time, while it was not immediately threatening, the longer one lives the more one will consume. Executive Manager of the Fertiliser Association (Greg Sneath) presented to the Committee on the national strategy for cadmium in agriculture as well as soil cadmium sampling carried out on farm by the Fertiliser Industry. During questions, answers and related discussion the Committee members raised or noted the following matters:  Uptake of cadmium into plants from fertiliser varies depending on the type of plant and soil.  Allowable cadmium levels in food were lower in New Zealand as opposed to internationally. New Zealand food safety standards are tightly controlled.  Monitoring of cadmium levels was being done four yearly to establish any trends. Cadmium levels were currently measured using international guideline levels.  Sourcing of low cadmium phosphate rock is difficult. In the long term, different sources for the rock would give different levels of cadmium.  Technology to manage/remove cadmium was developing.  Sampling that was done in Otorohanga/Waipa had proven to be higher than in the rest of the Waikato. While reasoning for this could not be provided, it was possibly due to elevated background levels and/or a history of elevated use of cadmium in the area.  Farmers were advised to manage their cadmium levels and encouraged to test soils once every five years. Chair (Cr Clyde Graf) thanked the guests for the time and attendance. Cr K White moved/Cr L Livingston seconded RESOLVED EPC16/31 THAT the report “Cadmium management in the Waikato region” (Doc # 8322260 dated 15 July 2016) be received for information. The motion was put and carried (EPC16/31) Minutes of the Environmental Performance Committee – 10 August 2016
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Rule Framework for Damming and Taking of Water File: 03 04 30 (Agenda Item 6) Doc # 8887299 Presented by Team Leader Resource Use (Mark Davenport) and Resource Officer (Pip McLane) this report provided the Committee with an overview of the rules relating to the damming of water for later use, in particular for the purposes of storing water during periods of high flow for use during periods of low flow. During questions, answers and related discussions the Committee raised or noted the following matters:  Concern was raised regarding the limited water supply at Tairua over the summer months and issues that may arise in areas requiring damming such as Grahams Creek. A question was asked about whether it was a complex exercise to store water or if it was simply a cost issue. In response, the Committee was advised that while water storage is expensive, other issues needed to be considered beforehand, such as how much of the natural creek flow could be used, and if in summer months a system could operate without exceeding the allocated flow. Cr C Graf moved/Cr S Kneebone seconded RESOLVED EPC16/32 THAT the report “Rule Framework for the Damming and Taking of Water” (Doc # 8887299 dated 2 August 2016) be received for information. The motion was put and carried (EPC16/32) Meeting closed at 12:29pm Doc # 8903076