Waimāero

Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board Submissions Committee

Open Minutes

 

 

Date:                                    Monday 31 January 2022

Time:                                   4.32pm

Venue:                                 Audio/Visual Link

 

 

Present

Chairperson

Members

Bridget Williams

Linda Chen

Jason Middlemiss

Shirish Paranjape

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maryanne Lomax

Manager Community Governance, Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood

941 6730

maryanne.lomax@ccc.govt.nz

www.ccc.govt.nz

To view copies of Agendas and Minutes, visit: www.ccc.govt.nz/the-council/meetings-agendas-and-minutes/

 

Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board Submissions Committee

31 January 2022

 

Part A           Matters Requiring a Council Decision

Part B           Reports for Information

Part C           Decisions Under Delegation

 

Post meeting Note: This meeting was held via audio/visual link on the Zoom platform due to New Zealand being at the red setting of the Covid-19 Protection Framework (the Traffic Alert system) on the date the meeting was scheduled. These minutes provide a written summary of the meeting proceedings.

 

1.   Apologies Ngā Whakapāha  

The Chairperson advised the meeting that she had received apologies from David Cartwright and Mike Wall. Linda Chen moved, seconded by Jason Middlemiss, that the apologies be accepted. The motion was put to the meeting and carried unanimously.

Committee Resolved FBSC/2022/00001

That the apology received from David Cartwright and Mike Wall for absence be accepted.

Linda Chen/Jason Middlemiss                                                                                                                             Carried

 

2.   Declarations of Interest Ngā Whakapuaki Aronga

The Chairperson asked members to advise if there were any declarations of interest relating to the matters on the agenda. There were no declarations of interest recorded.

 

3.   Water Supply, Wastewater and Stormwater Bylaw Review

 

Committee Comment

Staff from the Community Governance Team advised that they had collated initial feedback about the Bylaw Review received from the Submissions Committee members and used this as the basis for a draft submission.

The Submissions Committee proceeded to review the draft submission and made the following comments:

·         The Committee endorsed the submission points regarding backflow prevention and equipment that may cause pressure surges.

·         The Committee agreed to remove a comment about community involvement in the placement of additional water storage tanks. This followed advice that the respective provision in the new Bylaw only refers to private water storage tanks for new-builds on Banks Peninsula, not public assets on Council land.

·         The Committee endorsed the submission points regarding aerial application activities.

·         The Committee endorsed the submission points regarding water wastage.

·         The Committee endorsed the submission points regarding ensuring trees are not planted in places where they are likely to damage underground infrastructure.

·         The Committee discussed the submission point regarding empowering residents to better understand their obligations to prevent contaminants entering the network. The draft submission originally referred only to the stormwater system. The Committee amended this to refer to both stormwater and wastewater networks.

The Committee discussed whether to seek speaking rights at the Hearing. Governance Staff recommended that the Committee requests speaking rights initially, as this will give the Board the opportunity to speak if it wishes to do so particularly if strong feedback is received from the Community that the Board may wish to support. The Board will have the opportunity to change its mind before the hearing and decide it no longer wishes to speak. The Committee accepted this advice and agreed to request speaking rights at the Hearing.

Governance Staff then recommended that the Committee approves the submission, and authorises the Chairperson to approve any final changes that may be necessary before the submission is submitted. This was moved by Bridget Williams and seconded by Shirish Paranjape. On being put to the meeting the motion was carried unanimously. 

 

Staff Recommendations

That the Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board Submissions Committee:

1.         Considers making a submission to the Council on behalf of the Board on the Water Supply, Wastewater and Stormwater Bylaw Review.

 

Committee Resolved FBSC/2022/00002

That the Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board Submissions Committee:

1.              Approve the following submission to the Council on behalf of the Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board regarding the Water Supply, Wastewater and Stormwater Bylaw Review:

Question

Feedback

Do you have any comments on the proposed replacement bylaws?

The Board supports the separating of the existing bylaw into two new bylaws. This should streamline processes as the current bylaw is managing all three waters under one.

 

The Board understands that backflow prevention is important to support the Council’s aim of achieving an exemption from mandatory chlorination, and supports the new measures in the bylaw.

 

The Board would appreciate additional information regarding issue two, the prohibition of equipment that may cause pressure surges, and whether historical problems with have been due to a lack of appropriate technology.

 

The Board seeks further clarification about issue three, regarding requirements to notify the Council before undertaking certain spraying operations. In practice, could this result in every farmer needing to contact the Council before spraying their crop? The Board recommends clarifying the definition of ‘aerial application activities’ to make this section easier to interpret. The Board also notes that drone technology is becoming more commonplace and drones designed for spreading fertilizer and sprays have been developed. Is it intended for these technologies to be captured by this bylaw provision?

 

The Board seeks further clarity about how the Council will be aware of, and enforce, offences related to water wastage. The Board also notes that the wording of draft bylaw clause 19(6) is similar to existing clauses in the Local Government Act 2002, so suggests that the stated goal of providing further clarity of what is considered ‘wastage’ could be strengthened by adding examples into the body of the bylaw instead of only putting them in the explanatory note.

 

The Board supports the new provisions to ensure appropriate species of trees are planted in appropriate areas. The Board fully supports planting trees and the amenity and environment benefits they bring, but is aware of a number of problems caused by historic decisions to effectively plant the ‘wrong tree in the wrong place’. The Board further recommends clarifying whether the new bylaw provisions will apply to new subdivisions. The Board would not want to discourage developers from planting trees in new developments, but provisions to ensure the right trees are planted in the right places would be beneficial.

 

The Board supports the Council empowering residents to have  a better understanding around the obligations to prevent contaminants entering the wastewater and stormwater networks. The Board recommends that the Council ensures this information is communicated in a clear, effective and inclusive manner.  

 

Would you like to speak to the Hearings Panel?

Yes

 

2.              Authorise the Chairperson to approve any amendments to the submission which may be necessary before it is submitted.

Bridget Williams/Shirish Paranjape                                                                                                                   Carried

 

 

 

Meeting concluded at 5.02pm.

 

CONFIRMED THIS 14TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2022

Bridget Williams

Chairperson