24 February 2021
Planning and Regulatory Working Party Record of Actions
Meeting held in the Committee Room, 36 Water Street, Whangārei
and via Zoom video and teleconferencing
on Wednesday 24 February 2021, commencing at 9.30am
Present: Cr Joce Yeoman Chair (via Zoom)
Cr Amy Macdonald (via Zoom)
Cr Colin Kitchen (via Zoom)
Cr Justin Blaikie (via Zoom)
Cr Penny Smart Ex-officio (via Zoom)
Juliane Chetham TTMAC Representative (via Zoom)
Mira Norris TTMAC Representative (via Zoom)
Rowan Tautari TTMAC Representative (via Zoom)
In Attendance: Ben Lee GM - Strategy, Governance & Engagement (Zoom)
Colin Dall GM - Regulatory Services
Justin Murfitt Strategic Policy Specialist
Alison Newell Natural Resources Policy Manager
Rachael King Planning & Policy Administrator (minutes)
The Chair declared the meeting open at 9.33am
1.0 KARAKIA TIMATANGA
Joce Yeoman
The passing of Alan Halliday and the huge contribution he had made was acknowledged
2.0 APOLOGIES | NGĀ WHAKAPAHĀ
The standing apology from TTMAC representative Pita Tipene was noted
3.0 DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST | NGĀ WHAKAPUAKANGA
Colin Kitchen noted that several incidents relate to fires – advised that he is associated with FENZ
4.0 REPORTS | NGĀ RIPOATA
4.1 Record of Actions
A conversation is scheduled for the next TTMAC meeting regarding the reporting stream between TWWAG and Council
TWWAG is providing technical advice to Council moving forward
Discussion took place regarding structure of the engagement plan
Agreed Action
Re-draft bullet point from minutes (Alison Newell)
4.2 Planning & Policy Work Programme
Taken as read
Discussion took place regarding coastal occupation charging and TTMAC / MTAG’s role in the development of the document
Regional Plan guidance material – draft has been provided to MTAG who felt that it was too wordy and technical
Conversation around hotline etc. may be brought into another agenda if necessary
Agreed Actions
COC put back on the TTMAC agenda to allow a robust conversation to take place (Ben Lee)
Hold a council COC workshop after the TTMAC meeting
9.17am – Colin Kitchen left the meeting
4.3 Regulatory Services Work Programme
Taken as read
Discussion took place regarding opportunities for transfer of powers / deputisation
Colin Dall advised that this has been looked at in the past, but is not the best timing given that we are looking at a complete overhaul of the RMA
Enforcement is not easy to delegate, however, at the moment we do contract some of that work out to eg. security agencies – need to ensure that staff are appropriately qualified and security issues are considered – raft of legal issues to consider when accessing private property etc.
Look at recurring issues (ie. burning of rubbish), education campaigns, look at how we can get info
Agreed Action
Look at the driving factors behind continued non-compliance – ignorance, cost of other disposal etc? (Alison Newell)
4.4 Regional Plan Update
Have received decisions from Environment Court following on from NPS and NES
Fishing controls – have received the list of 53 expert witnesses – hearing set down for three weeks in late July/early August
Council has contracted Mike Farrow to work with ONLs
Discussion took place regarding Te Mana o Te Wai
Vehicles on beaches currently going through the Environment Court
4.5 Freshwater Management Plan Change Update
Taken as read
Wetland mapping - MfE sent base documents yesterday – we are unable to use the data – no report sent, waiting to hear back from MfE
Council received sediment source tracking data for the Hātea catchment yesterday – why are the mitigation scenarios only focussing on pasture?
Agreed Actions
Brenda to send email explaining limitations – if this is insufficient, then:
make contact with NIWA and ask them what information or data they are lacking to be able to do mitigation modelling for forestry
4.6 RPS Review
Taken as read
Staff feel that the RPS review should be put on hold in light of the current planning landscape
The Working Party supports the recommended actions in the paper
Agreed Action
Prepare a paper for consideration by council for approval to hold off on initiating the RPS review until the broader planning framework is confirmed (Alison Newell)
4.7 Process for managing consent compliance monitoring
Taken as read
The meeting concluded at 11.28am