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MINUTES of the Deliberations FOR THE DRAFT MOUTERE WAIMEA RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN MEETING
held 9.30 am, Wednesday, 9 March 2022
via Zoom |
Present: Councillor
C Mackenzie (Chair), Councillors D Ogilvie and A Turley
Iwi representatives: Kura Stafford and Ursula Passl
In Attendance: Senior
Community Policy Advisor (A Gerraty), Reserves & Facilities Manager (R
Hollier), Executive Assistant to the Mayor (R Scherer), Graduate Community
Policy Advisor (N Lindsay), Team Leader – Community Policy
(A Bywater) and Community Policy Advisor (A Smith)
Chairperson, Councillor Mackenzie welcomed everyone to the deliberation’s meeting and invited Ursula Passl to present the opening karakia.
Councillor Mackenzie declared her interest in the establishment of a new community centre in Wakefield and noted that she is the Council representative on the committee considering the community centre.
Kura Stafford declared her relationship with Rory Stafford, who is her uncle.
Councillor Turley noted that she is the Council representative on the Mapua Waterfront group but that she does not consider this is a conflict of interest.
2 Apologies and Leave of Absence
At the hearing on 28 March 2022, the Te Atiawa Manawhenua Ki Te Tau Ihu Trust was unable to present their submission due to staff illness. The Hearing Panel agreed to hear the submission from the Trust (#29837) prior to this deliberations meeting.
Ian Shapcott presented the submission and thanked the Council for providing flexibility and allowing him to present the submission today.
Mr Shapcott said that the Trust supports the draft plan which includes good outcomes. He also noted that the Council’s reserves staff and iwi have a profoundly sound relationship and the opportunity to engage with the Council is appreciated.
Mr Shapcott referred to co-existence and kaitiakitanga stressing the importance of all living organisms and referred to Net Enduring Restorative Outcomes where any solutions must be both restorative and enduring.
Mr Shapcott said that the Trust was looking forward to working together with the Council to share the Māori world and to enhancing environmental habitat by applying Te ao Māori principles to the plan.
Presentation
Reserves and Facilities Manager, Richard Hollier provided a powerpoint presentation to help the Panel understand how the Council plans for reserves and open spaces. He referred to the different planning processes the Council undertakes and how they all fit together. The presentation will be shared with the Mapua & Districts Community Association. Councillor Mackenzie also suggested that all community groups/associations would benefit from Mr Hollier’s presentation.
3 Reports
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3.1 Submissions and deliberations on the Moutere-Waimea Ward Reserve Management Plan Senior Community Policy Advisor, Anna Gerraty, presented the report. |
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4 DELIBERATIONS The Chair led the meeting participants through the draft resolution point by point as follows: a. Agreed – Ms Stafford noted that Ngati Tama owns the land that Ngātimoti School is located on (adjoining the Recreation Reserve) and she asked that a process be put in place to ensure iwi engagement is undertaken where iwi land is adjacent to a reserve. b. Agreed – subject to confirming a specific date for completion of the Māpua development plan. c. Agreed. d. Agreed. The issue of safe access for children to the playground within Faulkner Bush was discussed. Reserves and Facilities Manager, Richard Hollier said that staff will ensure the car parking area is developed to ensure user safety. Recommend the new car park is located to the east of the highway entrance, retain the internal loop road as a pathway and make provision for overflow parking. It was also suggested that the development work in Faulkner should be done within the next five years or preferably as a priority. e. Agreed – Wording of Policy 10 to read: “Enhance the lookout area by upgrading the existing wooden structure and providing interpretative signage.” f. Agreed. g. Agreed. h. It was noted that this point was both wordy and unclear. It was agreed that Ms Passl and Ms Stafford would draft suitable wording to be included in the final plan. i. This point also needs to be simplified. Ms Stafford agreed to provide suitable wording to be included in the final plan. j. Agreed. k. Agreed. Ms Stafford requested that the term ‘Te Tau Ihu iwi’ be replaced with ‘Te Tau Ihu/Te Tauihu iwi’ throughout the Plan. l. It was agreed that Ms Passl and Ms Stafford would draft suitable wording to be included in the final plan. m. Agreed. n. It was agreed that Ms Passl and Ms Stafford would draft suitable wording to be included in the final plan. o. Agreed. p. Agreed. q. It was agreed that Ms Passl and Ms Stafford would draft suitable wording to be included in the final plan. Acknowledgement of volunteer groups and the positive benefits they provide will be acknowledged in the foreword to the final plan. r. Agreed. s. Agreed but delete the words “where possible”. t. Agreed. u. Agreed but need to replace the word “native” with indigenous. This should be checked throughout the final plan for consistency. v. Agreed. A clarification of “blue carbon” will be included in the glossary of the final plan document. w. Agreed. x. Agreed. y. Agreed. z. Agreed. aa. Agreed bb. Agreed cc. Agreed dd. Agreed but define wild spaces versus open space, perhaps use the word “natural”. ee. Agreed with the removal of the following words: “but consider decommissioning the deep gully track in the centre of the reserve (located between van Beek Place and the cul-de-sac end of Brabant Drive), on the erosion prone cliffs.” ff. Agreed. gg. Agreed. hh. Agreed to delete policy 4 in section 5.8.16. It was requested that the areas for planting in Research Orchard Road should be clarified and a more recent photo of the area used in the final plan. The meeting adjourned for lunch at 12.07 pm and reconvened at 12.35 pm. ii. Agreed but remove the following words: “in ways that support recreational and ecological values.” jj. Agreed. kk. Agreed. ll. Agreed. Replace the word “edible” with “fruit and nut”. In response to a question about fruit and nut trees, Mr Hollier said that these are planted in several areas on a case-by-case basis. mm. Agreed. Add the words “(known as the Village Green)” after Whitby Green. Remove the words “when required” from the policy relating to replacement of the toilet at Whitby Green. Ms Stafford noted the need to amend Policy 6 in Section 5.11.17 ‘Whitby Green’ to provide for iwi engagement before initiating any public consultation processes to declare land as reserve, and to make the same amendment to all 18 similar policies in the Plan. Policy 6 to be reworded to read: “Following the conclusion of the Nelson Tenths Reserve claim process, engage with iwi before initiating a public consultation process to declare…”. nn. Agreed with the addition of wording in bold: If, following community consultation, Council decide that the old hall is to be replaced by another building located elsewhere, work together with the Wakefield community to consider options for the future of this reserve. oo. Recommend editing the final Plan to indicate that Council will undertake further consultation with the Wakefield community on two aspects of the concept plan for Wakefield Recreation Reserve: (i) the preferred site of the proposed new community facility (if it is to be located in Wakefield); and (ii) the route of the proposed internal road (it may be altered to make use of the existing legal access onto the State Highway, or exit opposite Eighty Eight Valley Road, if Waka Kotahi agree to either of these options). What is built on the ground may therefore differ from that shown in the concept plan included in the final Plan. pp. Agreed. qq. Agreed rr. Agreed Ms Stafford agreed to review the draft Whakatauki in the plan and to provide a replacement if appropriate. Ms Stafford also agreed to provide wording around the Accidental Discovery Protocol contained in the Appendix. Ms Gerraty explained that staff propose a number of minor amendments be made to policies for several reserves bordering the Waimea Inlet, in response to some submissions that opposed the construction of further pathways alongside the Inlet. The Panel agreed to the following: · Higgs Reserve –commentary regarding the location of tracks close to wildlife habitat. · Waimea Inlet Esplanade Reserve – minor changes to wording around maintaining the existing path. · Appleby Valley Road Esplanade Reserve – removed words around pedestrian access and possible new paths. · Westdale Road – minor amendments. · Hoddy Road Esplanade Reserve – removed reference to pedestrian access. · Maisey Road Esplanade Reserve – clarification of unformed legal track, removed option to develop a gravel path. · Waimea Estuary Esplanade Reserve – Important habitat for banded rail. Focused on margin and removed any commentary about walkways. · Hoddy Estuary Park – removed policy about paths. · Research Orchard Road – inclusion of replanting of half the mown area with native coastal species. In response to a question, Ms Gerraty said that any significant changes to the plan would be referred to in the foreword and also noted in the press release when the final plan is produced. The meeting also discussed: Dark skies – Mr Hollier noted that generally the Council does not install lighting in reserves. Any lighting that is in place is for safety reasons, for example to a toilet area. Fencing on Reserve Areas – it was agreed that the right balance is required in terms of fences within reserve areas. While some are necessary to protect the bush, once the under-storey is established, fences won’t be required. Staff will work with the Wakefield Bush Restoration Society to agree on any fencing regime; this intention will also be added to the relevant policies in Faulkner Bush Reserve and Edward Baigent Memorial Scenic Reserve. Significance of Trees Planted by Early Settlers – Councillor Turley suggested that signage could be installed to acknowledge early settlers who planted trees in reserve areas, specifically Lord Rutherford Park in Brightwater. Dirt Pump Track at Brightwater – Councillor Turley also referred to a dirt pump track at Brightwater which has become extremely muddy and is hardly being used. Mr Hollier advised that the track at Brightwater was actually set up by the public, not the Council. Wakefield Recreation Reserve – it was agreed that, in response to submissions, Council will undertake further consultation with the Wakefield community on two aspects of the concept plan for Wakefield Recreation Reserve: (i) the preferred site of the proposed new community facility (if it is to be located in Wakefield); and (ii) the route of the proposed internal road (it may be altered to make use of the existing legal access onto the State Highway, or exit opposite Eighty Eight Valley Road, if Waka Kotahi agree to either of these options). The needs analysis for the new Wakefield/Brightwater community facility should include investigation about where the best location for this facility would be at Wakefield Recreation Reserve, if Council choses to construct the facility at this reserve. It could either be sited at the location indicated on the concept plan, or closer to the highway (if the existing sports facilities are removed to make way for it). What is built on the ground may therefore differ from that shown in the concept plan included in the final Plan. |
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That the Hearing Panel: 1. receives the Submissions and deliberations on the Moutere-Waimea Ward Reserve Management Plan Report RSH22-03-1; and 2. in response to matters raised in the submissions received on the Draft Moutere-Waimea Ward Reserve Management Plan, requests staff make the following changes to the Draft Plan in order to prepare the proposed final Moutere-Waimea Ward Reserve Management Plan for consideration by the hearing panel: a. amend wording of Section 5.2.3 ‘Ngātimoti Recreation Reserve’ to: provide for car park expansion if there is sufficient demand in future; mark the car park to ensure FENZ access to the building is always available; add wording providing for expansion of the community building and installation of water tanks; clarify that the area will be otherwise maintained as mown grass/open space for the foreseeable future; and encourage the Ngātimoti Reserve Committee to seek ideas from the local community for future development plans and then discuss these with the Council, noting that further community consultation may be required depending on the significance of any proposal; b. amend text in the issues and options part of section 5.7.18 to outline the Council’s intention to develop a development plan for the northern end of Māpua Recreation Reserve incorporating multiple uses of this site (examples of such uses could potentially include open space for Scout activities, a storage facility, picnicking and other passive use, a small area for community gardens, a food forest along the boundaries with neighbouring homes etc); c. amend
Policy 9 in section 5.7.18 to read “Work with the Māpua
community to prepare a development plan for d. with regard to vehicle movement and parking issues, amend section 5.11.9 ‘Faulkner Bush Reserve’ to provide for Option 1, i.e., restrict vehicles year-round to an enlarged (estimated capacity of 30 vehicles), landscaped car parking area near the existing toilets/highway entrance; e. with regard to the old lookout structure, amend section 5.11.9 ‘Faulkner Bush Reserve’ to provide for Option 2, i.e., retain and upgrade the existing lookout structure; f. amend the second to last sentence on Page 1 by deleting “Consultation…” and replacing with “Engagement…”; g. delete the second sentence in the text box on page 2 and replace it with: “Although English is currently the most widely spoken language in te Tai o Aorere, Te Reo Māori has special status under the law as an official language of New Zealand.” h. add the following text to the start of the third paragraph on Page 3: “For the responsible implementation of kaitiakitanga, the real community of interest must encompass all living organisms in the place which is the subject of management, be it about managing the status quo or about changing it. In the broadest sense, the ‘place’ is planet earth”; i. amend the second to last paragraph on page 13 to read “…which adapts us all and adapts to fit the current reality”; j. fix the hyperlink to iwi management plans on page 15 to ensure it links to this webpage: https://www.tasman.govt.nz/my-region/iwi/iwi-management-plans/ (the link in the draft Plan was broken); k. amend the sentence on page 24 by inserting ‘wāhi taonga’ after ‘wāhi tapu areas’ so that it reads: “Areas of cultural significance to all eight Te Tau Ihu Iwi within the Moutere-Waimea Ward include, but are not limited to: historical reserve lands, wāhi tapu areas, wāhi taonga, numerous pā sites, cultivation grounds, waiora, urupā and papakāinga”; l. provide further clarity about the difference between Māori cultural sites and Archaeological sites/precincts in the Plan. Move the sentence “The Tasman Resource Management Plan identifies ‘Archaeological Precincts’ at the northern end of Kina Peninsula and at Grossi Point peninsula, Māpua.” below the third paragraph on page 24 and adding the following sentences to this new paragraph: “Many recorded archaeological sites are also listed in that Plan and in the database maintained by the New Zealand Archaeological Association. However, it is important to clarify that many physical sites of Māori cultural significance do not have an archaeological record. While some Māori cultural sites have physical evidence of prior human activity, this term also relates to intangible/metaphysical aspects of Māori culture. For example, Māori cultural sites can also represent journeys/trails, involve points of topographic significance and/or the realm of spiritual presences. There is therefore always a need to be on the alert for these unexpected sites. The Accidental Discovery Protocol included in Appendix 1 of this Plan provides guidance for such situations”; m. add a new paragraph below the first paragraph on page 39 that reads “Council’s Open Space Strategy outlines additional opportunities for enhancing and extending habitat continuity. The Strategy compliments the provisions of this Plan and should be referred to when planning and implementing habitat restoration projects in the Ward”; n. add the following definition to the Plan’s Māori Glossary: “Wāhi taonga - Some cultural resources are regarded as wāhi taonga. These comprise a broad category of resources used cultural practices and activities, including flora and fauna for rongoā (medicine), flora and fauna for weaving (e.g., pīngao, kiekie, pigeon feathers), and wood for carving purposes (e.g., tōtara)”; o. replace the subheading ‘Weed and pest control’ on page 39 with ‘Pest management’ and also replacing the term ‘weed and pest’ (which appears four times on page 39 and once on page 193) with ‘pest plant and pest animal’; p. replace the term ‘natural values’ with ‘natural attributes’ where they occur in the Plan (on pages 39, 132, 181, 184 & 192) and replace the heading ‘Overview of Ecological Values’ in section 1.2 (page 38) with ‘An Overview of the Ecology’; q. replace the term ‘natural resources’ on pages 35, 36(x2), 37, 47, 49 & 228 with the italicised text below, and reword a sentence on page 13 and fix a spelling error on page 228 as per the underlined text: i. Page 13: Manaakitanga – to care for each other, to be respectful, which includes an act of reciprocity of sharing an act of reciprocity of sharing ngā taonga tuku iho with others; ii. Page 35: Māori have an inherited obligation and responsibility to look after the natural world, te taiao, including park and reserve areas; iii. Page 36: Māori have a duty to their future generations to take care and protect the natural world, te taiao and seek to exercise kaitiakitanga in accordance with tikanga Māori (customs), kawa (protocol) and mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge); iv. Page 36: Ki uta ki tai is a metaphor for resource management based on a whole of landscape approach from the mountains to the sea management of the natural world, te Taiao; v. Page 37: Policy 6(vii). management of infrastructure and wastewater services, to ensure the mauri of the natural world, te taiao is enhanced/ restored to provide a positive net benefit to the environment; vi. Page 47: The purpose of a CIA is to assess the potential impacts on cultural ecological values and ensure the spiritual and physical wellbeing of taonga important to iwi/Māori (including natural attributes, people and sites) are enhanced, maintained or protected and kaitiaki responsibilities are upheld; vii. Page 49, Policy 4: Work together with Te Tau Ihu iwi to ensure the mauri of the natural world, te taiao is enhanced/restored (e.g. on projects to manage wastewater/other human waste), to provide a positive net benefit to the environment; viii. Page 228: The Strategy also aims to make the most of Council’s relationships with other providers and managers of open spaces (such as the Department of Conservation and Ministry of Education) and the many volunteer agencies that work to protect and enhance the natural world, te taiao, which embraces natural resources and improves access to recreation settings; r. add a new Objective 2 to Section 4.1 ‘Climate Change’ to read: “To align the use and development of parks and reserves with the emission reduction goals of Council’s Tasman Climate Action Plan.”; s. amend Policy 2 in Section 4.1 to read “Promote soft engineering and adaptation to coastal erosion, rather than hard defences, including ensuring coastal ecosystems have room to retreat”; t. amend Policy 3 in Section 4.1 by deleting “complies” and replacing with “should comply”; u. add the following text to Policy 5 in Section 4.1: “Enable the retreat of coastal ecosystems by proactively planting indigenous coastal species further inland”; v. amend the wording of Policy 7 in Section 4.1 to read: “Increase carbon sequestration as part of ongoing management of parks and reserves, including: planting more trees to increase biomass; re-instating wetland habitat; establishing ‘blue carbon’ coastal plantings; managing animal pests; and minimising practices that reduce the capacity of vegetation to sequester carbon”; w. amend Objective 3 and Policy 1 in Section 1.2 ‘Overview of Ecological Values’ to refer to “relevant sections in Part 3”; x. amend the wording of Policy 5 in Section 1.2 to read: “Plants used in restoration or revegetation projects should be appropriate to the locality, enhance climate resilience (e.g. include a mix of drought/fire/flood tolerant species) and be eco-sourced wherever possible”; y. amend the wording of Policy 1 in Section 4.1 to read: “Recognise and provide for the effects of climate change in management of parks and reserves, including: a) The effect of sea-level rise, particularly in relation to indigenous species whose habitat is the coastal margin where sea level rise projections show that extensive inland migration will be required over the next few decades, or in low-lying areas where salination is predicted to occur; b) The effect of increasing drought and wildfires, in areas which are likely to be affected by this; c) The effect of more extreme weather events and the flooding and erosion that can result, in areas which are likely to be affected by this; d) The need of indigenous species to migrate to reflect the changing climate (e.g. seasonal and temperature shifts); and e) The migration of pest species”. z. regarding the objective in Section 3.1, add a note that reads: “Local Purpose Reserves are classified for a variety of purposes, and they should be managed for their primary purpose, with other uses allowed or provided for to the extent that they are compatible with that purpose. The majority of Local Purpose Reserves listed in the Plan are for ‘Esplanade’ purposes, and desired environmental outcomes for these are set out on page 14 of the Plan.”; aa. amend Policy 3 in Section 3.2 ‘Organised Events’ by adding the following text: “i) Organisers of large events are encouraged to follow Zero Waste Event Guidelines”; bb. amend Policy 3 in Section 5.3.3 ‘Dovedale Church Land’ to read: “Replace the old toilet behind the church with a containment toilet.”; cc. amend
policy 4 in Section 5.4.2 to read: “Install additional water tanks
with connections for fire appliances, to supplement the firefighting water
supply dd. expand on the wording of policy 2 in section 5.5.4 by adding a new paragraph that reads: “Lead development of a landscape plan that incorporates more ‘wild’ spaces, including coastal vegetation and forested edges, along with an enhanced orchard area, while retaining open space areas for passive recreation and picnicking.”; ee. amend
the wording of policy 4 in section 5.6.6 to read: “Maintain ff. expand Policy 4(vii) in Section 5.7.29 ‘Waterfront Park’ to read: “interpretative panels, including information about site remediation”; gg. add a new policy under the heading for 5.8 ‘Waimea/Waimeha Inlet Reserves’ that reads: “Council will work with iwi and environmental groups to protect significant native habitats (e.g. saltmarsh, coastal forest and sedgeland/herbfields) around Waimea/Waimeha Inlet and link these protected areas together where possible.”; hh. delete policy 4 in section 5.8.16, which reads: “Maintain inland areas of parcel (b) as mown grass open spaces for passive recreation, with native shade trees, picnic tables and signage”, and replace it with a new policy 4 that reads: “Restore parcel (b) by replanting half of the mown area (as at 2022) with indigenous coastal species, while retaining a small picnic area with views to the Inlet, indigenous shade trees and seating.”; ii. add a new Policy 6 to Section 5.11.2 ‘Baigent Valley Road-Golf Road Esplanade Reserve’ that reads: “Undertake, or support community groups to undertake, plantings in the area. jj. amend Policy 2 in Section 5.11.5 ‘Genia Drive Recreation Reserve’ to read: “Manage the forest remnant area for the primary purpose of native forest protection and enhancement, including drought resilience.”; kk. add a new Policy 3 to Section 5.11.12 ‘Shuttleworth Recreation Reserve’ to read: “Plant shade trees on the northern edge of the playground and provide seating here.” ll. add a new policy to Section 5.11.14 ‘Wakefield Railway Reserve Walkway’ that reads: “Plant fruit and nut trees along the walkway.”; mm. add a new policy to Section 5.11.17 ‘Whitby Green’ that reads: “Enable part of the Council-owned land at Whitby Green to be leased to an EV charging provider, for the purpose of installing charging station/s for electric vehicles and/or electric bikes.”; nn. add a new policy to Section 5.11.9 ‘Wakefield Hall Reserve’ that reads: “If the Council, in conjunction with the community, decides that the old hall is to be replaced by another building located elsewhere, work together with the Wakefield community to consider options for the future of this reserve.”; oo. recommend editing the final Plan to indicate that Council will undertake further consultation with the Wakefield community on two aspects of the concept plan for Wakefield Recreation Reserve: (i) the preferred site of the proposed new community facility (if it is to be located in Wakefield); and (ii) the route of the proposed internal road (it may be altered to make use of the existing legal access onto the State Highway, or exit opposite Eighty Eight Valley Road, if Waka Kotahi agree to either of these options). What is built on the ground may therefore differ from that shown in the concept plan included in the final Plan; pp. correct the error in the Plan by deleting the date ‘2025’ and replacing this with the correct date of ‘2030’ where it appears in Section 5.11.4 ‘Robson Reserve’ (i.e. on page 181 and in policy 9 on page 182); qq. amend the sentence in Section 5.11.6 ‘Edward Baigent Memorial Scenic Reserve’ to read: “Several mature kahikatea have been affected by recent droughts and have died and these areas should be underplanted.”; rr. make other minor editorial changes; and 3. agrees that staff give effect to the recommendations referred to in Resolution 2 above when preparing the amended Moutere-Waimea Ward Reserve Management Plan; and 4. agrees that the amended Moutere-Waimea Ward Reserve Management Plan and the hearing panel report be presented to the Full Council for consideration and adoption on 19 May 2022. |
Chairperson, Councillor Mackenzie thanked everyone for their considered and specialist input to the Moutere-Waimea Reserves Management Plan. She noted the considerable amount of staff input to the plan document and thanked Ms Gerraty and Mr Hollier for their work.
Ms Passl thanked the Chairperson for the opportunity to participate in an honest and open process.
Ms Stafford also thanked the Chairperson for the opportunity to be involved in the hearing and deliberations and acknolwedged the tremendous work that had been completed in consultation with iwi.
Ms Stafford presented the closing karakia.
Nil
The meeting concluded at 2.30 pm.
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