I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of theCatchment Operations Committee will be held
on:
Date:
Time:
Venue:
Wednesday, 13 April 2016
9.00am
Tararua Room
Horizons Regional Council
11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North
CATCHMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
AGENDA
MEMBERSHIP
Chair
Deputy Chair
Councillors
Cr MC Guy
Cr JJ Barrow
Cr LR Burnell, QSM
Cr DB Cotton
Cr EB Gordon (ex officio)
Cr RJ Keedwell
Cr PJ Kelly JP
Cr GM McKellar
Cr DR Pearce
Cr PW Rieger QSO JP
Cr BE Rollinson
Cr CI Sheldon
Michael McCartney
Chief Executive
Contact Telephone: 0508 800 800
Email: help@horizons.govt.nz
Postal Address: Private Bag 11025,
Palmerston North 4442
Full Agendas are available on Horizons Regional Council website
www.horizons.govt.nz
Note:
The reports contained within this agenda are for consideration and should not be construed as Council policy
unless and until adopted. Items in the agenda may be subject to amendment or withdrawal at the meeting.
for further information regarding this agenda, please contact:
Julie Kennedy, 06 9522 800
CONTACTS
24 hr Freephone :
0508 800 800
help@horizons.govt.nz
www.horizons.govt.nz
SERVICE
CENTRES
Kairanga
Cnr Rongotea &
Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Rds,
Palmerston North
Marton
Hammond Street
Woodville
Cnr Vogel (SH2) & Tay
Sts
REGIONAL
HOUSES
Palmerston North
11-15 Victoria Avenue
Wanganui
181 Guyton Street
DEPOTS
Levin
11 Bruce Road
Taihape
Torere Road
Ohotu
Taumarunui
34 Maata Street
POSTAL
ADDRESS
Horizons Regional Council, Private Bag 11025, Manawatu Mail Centre, Palmerston North 4442
FAX
06 9522 929
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
Apologies and Leave of Absence
5
2
Public Speaking Rights
5
3
Supplementary Items
5
4
Members’ Conflict of Interest
5
5
Confirmation of Minutes
Catchment Operations Committee meeting, 16 February 2016
6
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Report No: 16-60
Annex A - Schedule of Completed Works
7
Pump Station Improvements Reports (PRD 04 00)
Report No: 16-61
Annex A - Pump Station Improvements Reports Summary
8
9
12
13
61
64
65
Whanganui Flood Management Review Group Update (PRD 05 34)
Report No: 16-63
69
Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)
Report No: 16-64
Annex A - SLUI Target Parcels
Annex B - SLUI Overview and Plan Progress
Annex C - SLUI Mapped Priority Land
Annex D - SLUI Works Tracking
11
15
50
South Eastern Ruahine Scheme - Gravel Report (PRD 05 29)
Report No: 16-62
Annex A - Whanganui Flood Management Review Group - Task
List
10
7
72
77
85
86
87
88
Whanganui Catchment Strategy
Report No: 16-65
89
Regional Coast and Land
Report No: 16-66
93
Members’ Questions
Page 3
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
14
Public Excluded Section
14.1
Procedural motion to exclude the public
PX1
Confirmation of Public Excluded Meeting held on 16 February 2016
PX2
Committee to consider whether any item in the Public Excluded
minutes can be moved into the public domain, and define the
extent of the release.
PX3
Members’ Questions
99
Page 4
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
AGENDA
1
Apologies and Leave of Absence
At the close of the Agenda no apologies had been received.
2
Public Speaking Rights
Notification to speak is required by 4pm on the working day prior to the
meeting. Further information is available on www.horizons.govt.nz\Council\ or by
phoning 0508 800 800.
Petitions/Deputations
Deputations: Written notice (fewer than 150 words) concerning the nature of the
deputation must be lodged with the Chief Executive at least 2 working days before the
date of the meeting and subsequently approved by the Chairperson.
Petitions: Written notice to the Chief Executive is required at least 2 working days
before the date of the meeting.
Further information is available on www.horizons.govt.nz\Council\ or by phoning 0508
800 800.
3
Supplementary Items
To consider, and if thought fit, to pass a resolution to permit the Committee/Council to
consider any further items relating to items following below which do not appear on the
Order Paper of this meeting and/or the meeting to be held with the public excluded.
Such resolution is required to be made pursuant to Section 46A(7) of the Local
Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended), and the
Chairperson must advise:
4
(i)
The reason why the item was not on the Order Paper, and
(ii)
The reason why the discussion of this item cannot be delayed until a
subsequent meeting.
Members’ Conflict of Interest
Members are reminded of their obligation to declare any conflicts of interest they might
have in respect of the items on this Agenda.
Page 5
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Minutes of the thirteenth meeting of the ninth triennium of the Catchment Operations Committee
held at 10.30am on Tuesday 16 February 2016, in the Tararua Room, Horizons Regional Council,
11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North.
PRESENT
Crs MC Guy (Chair), JJ Barrow, LR Burnell QSM, DB Cotton,
EB Gordon, RJ Keedwell, PJ Kelly JP, GM McKellar (to 3.09pm),
DR Pearce, PW Rieger QSO JP, BE Rollinson, and CI Sheldon
IN ATTENDANCE
Chief Executive
Group Manager River
Management
Committee Secretary
ALSO PRESENT
Mr M McCartney
Mr AD Cook / Mr R Strong
Mrs JA Kennedy
At various times during the meeting:
Mrs S Craig (Acting Group Manager Corporate & Governance),
Mr C Grant (Acting Group Manager Environmental Management),
Dr J Roygard (Freshwater & Science Manager), Mr D Harrison
(Environmental Programme Coordinator), Mr A Gray (Environmental
Management Officer-Wanganui), Mr M Todd (Environmental
Monitoring
Coordinator),
Mr
G
Cooper
(Manager-Land),
Mr M Chakraborty (Senior Research Associate), Mr P Blackwood
(Senior Design Engineer), Ms A Shears (Senior Research Associate),
Ms A Koehler (Acting Media & Communications Manager), National
Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Representatives, Dr Clive
Howard-Williams (Chief Science Advisor), Ms Peta Pearce (Climate
Scientist), and Dr Jochen Schmidt (Chief Scientist), Cr B Petrenas
(Palmerston North City Council), Mr J Beard (member of the public),
and a member of the press.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
APOLOGIES
There were no apologies.
Cr McKellar departed from the meeting at 3.09pm.
PUBLIC SPEAKING RIGHTS
There were no requests for public speaking rights.
SUPPLEMENTARY ITEMS
There were no supplementary items to be considered.
MEMBERS’ CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
There were no conflicts of interest declared.
The Chairman introduced Mr Ramon Strong who had been appointed as Group Manager River
Management . The Chairman acknowledged and thanked Mr Cook (retiring Group Manager River
Management) for his achievements and input during his length of service.
Page 7
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
COP 16-129
Moved
McKellar/Barrow
That the Committee:
confirms the minutes of the Catchment Operations Committee meeting held on
11 November 2015 as a correct record, and notes that the recommendations
were adopted by the Council on 24 November 2015.
CARRIED
RIVER AND DRAINAGE ENGINEERING REPORT (PRD 01 02)
Report No 16-14
The purpose of this item was to report on progress with river and drainage activities for the period
1 November 2015 to 31 January 2016. Mr Cook (Group Manager River Management) guided
Members through the item, elaborated further on activities as required, and he responded to
Members’ questions of clarification. A range of photographs and a graph were shown in support
of several of the activities. In response to a query, Mr Cook explained that Horowhenua District
Council (HDC) had sought advice from Horizons Regional Council (HRC) staff in regard to
consenting and system design requirements, for a proposal to divert stormwater from the
Okarito/Fairfield/Kennedy Drive catchment area in Levin. He explained HDC’s proposal to build
and commission a new pumpstation, with a request for HRC to then manage and operate the
station, and ultimately be accommodated as part of the Koputaroa Scheme management. It was
expected that HDC would submit to HRC’s Draft 2016-17 Draft Annual Plan in respect to the
proposal. Mr Cook responded to concerns from Cr Sheldon about the impact of the proposal on
land in the Koputaroa area, and rating equity. The Chair asked Cr Sheldon if she would like to
register a conflict of interest. Cr Sheldon declined and said her concerns were concentrated on
the area as a whole, not just her property.
The Chief Executive expressed concerns at the delay in receiving a response from the Ministry of
Civil Defence and Emergency Management in expediting the June 2015 flood repair application.
Mr Cook updated Members on the process and outcomes of meetings held to date. Accordingly,
a further recommendation (d) was suggested.
In briefing Members on the realignment works at Anzac Cliffs, Mr Cook displayed a series of
photographs and responded to questions of clarification. Mr Cook undertook to arrange a site visit
for Councillors to view progress. Photographs were shown depicting progress on the Hoihere
Block Wall project with commentary from Mr Cook.
In discussing issues associated with drain maintenance costs with the drainage schemes,
Mr Cook noted the higher drain maintenance costs with spraying of channels, due to landowners
fencing off more drains. Several Members commented on this issue and suggested it be flagged
for further discussion.
Mr Cook and the Chair referred to recommendations (b) and (c) and commented on the
corresponding paragraphs; para 9.44 - Whangaehu-Mangawhero River Management Scheme,
and para 11.30 - Moutoa Drainage Scheme.
Cr Burnell took the opportunity to thank the Group Manager River Management for his efforts
associated with expediting the Koputaroa Drainage stopbank repairs. Mr Cook noted that a
newsletter to ratepayers in the Koputaroa Drainage Scheme, providing details of a proposal to
change the rating system, would be sent out to all ratepayers in the Scheme.
Page 8
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
COP 16-130
Moved
Rieger/Burnell
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
receives the information contained in Report No. 16-14 and annexure.
b.
approves the unbudgeted expenditure of $11,000 of WhangaehuMangawhero Scheme emergency reserve funds and $2,200 of
Infrastructure Reserve funds for pro-active channel maintenance work on
the Whangaehu River during the present financial year.
c.
approves the unbudgeted expenditure of $18,600 of reserve renewal funds
within the Moutoa Drainage Scheme and $4.660 of general rate, for the
renewal of No.1 pump at Cook’s pump station.
d.
requests that the Chairman of Horizons Regional Council formally writes to
the Minister of Civil Defence and Emergency Management urging prompt
action in expediting the June 2015 flood repair application that has been
lodged with the Ministry.
CARRIED
PRESENTATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF WATER AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(NIWA) - CLIMATE AND WEATHER OF THE MANAWATU REGION
Report No 16-16
Dr Roygard (Freshwater and Science Manager) introduced the NIWA representatives: Dr Clive
Howard-Williams (Chief Science Advisor), Ms Peta Pearce (Climate Scientist), and Dr Jochen
Schmidt (Chief Scientist). Dr Howard-Williams thanked Council for the invitation to present the
Climatology report. Ms Pearce, author of the report, gave an overview of the Climatology report
and presented maps showing the variation in different variables throughout the Region, which
included rainfall, temperature, wind, and weather phenomena, and also included a range of
derived climatological parameters, such as the mean annual days of soil moisture deficit. She
commented on the work underway for a further report about climate change projections for the
Region which would include information on climate change projections for flooding, hydrology,
droughts. At the conclusion of her presentation, Ms Petra and her colleagues responded to
Members’ questions.
COP 16-131
Moved
Guy/Gordon
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
receives the presentation from the National Institute of Water and
Atmospheric Research.
CARRIED
The meeting adjourned at 12.18pm.
The meeting reconvened at 1.00pm.
SCHEME
RESERVES
TARGETS,
CONTRIBUTION
REPLENISHMENT PERIODS (PRD 05 00)
Report No 16-15
LEVELS
AND
EXPECTED
The purpose of this item was to report on a review of scheme emergency reserve target and
contribution levels, and sought approval for some recommended changes in that regard. Mr Cook
(Group Manager River Management) took Members through the item and explained the
Page 9
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
requirements for schemes to maintain an annual contribution to their reserve funds in order to
maintain an adequate level of emergency funding. He explained the proposal to introduce an
average annual damage cost base contribution for setting of reserve contributions and to promote
increase contributions where appropriate. He referred Members to the table at annex A showing
proposed target levels for individual schemes. Mr Cook depicted a sample “Flood Loss Curve”
graph and explained the calculation. In discussing the item, Cr Keedwell noted her concerns
about a possible level of risk to Horizons Regional Council. She said with the drawdown against
reserves following the June 2015 floods, it was important that an adequate level of contributions to
reinstate reserves be secured within an appropriate timeframe, to cover any extreme event. There
was full discussion around the recommendations with Members’ comments and views provided. A
suggestion was made to look at alternative options / solutions for flood control protection.
Concern was expressed about the affordability of increased contributions to the schemes, in
particular the Rangitikei Scheme, with suggestions offered on how to deal with the scheme as a
separate case. Ultimately, a new recommendation (c) was included to address the Rangitikei
Scheme.
COP 16-132
Moved
Gordon/McKellar
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
receives the information contained in Report No. 16-15 together with Annex
A; and
b.
endorses the average annual damage approach for the setting of scheme
emergency reserve contributions and promotes increased contributions
where appropriate to achieve the assessed level of funding required to
reinstate all flood damage incurred in events greater than 2% AEP (up to
50-year return period),
c.
requests staff to further consider all options for addressing the apparent
special case of the Rangitikei Scheme.
CARRIED
ISSUES ARISING FROM RIVER AND DRAINAGE SCHEME MEETINGS - APRIL / MAY 2015
(PRD 05 00)
Report No 16-17
This item informed the Committee of progress with addressing the more significant issues raised
at the Annual Catchment Community meetings for River and Drainage Schemes held during
April-May 2015. Mr Cook (Group Manager River Management) referred to the table at annex A
which listed the actions taken to date in respect of each issue. A few unresolved issues would be
carried forward to the 2016-17 schedule for attention.
COP 16-133
Moved
Barrow/Gordon
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
receives the information contained in Report No. 16-17 and Annex A.
CARRIED
In referring to the Follow Up Sheet, 11 November 2015, Mr Cook made a correction to the ‘Action
Taken’ for Item No. 1. Amend ‘MDC, CEO’ to ‘MDC, Assets Manager’.
Page 10
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
MANAGING MATURE POPLARS AND WILLOWS
Report No 16-18
This item sought to introduce an enhanced programme to provide advice and assistance to
landowners for managing their space planted poplar and willow poles. Mr Grant (Acting Group
Manager Environmental Manager) introduced the item which sought guidance from Council for a
consistent management approach. The item and recommendations reflected the outcome of
discussions from a Councillors’ Workshop held on 17 November 2015. Mr Cooper (Environmental
Manager-Land) outlined some of the major concerns held by landowners with the mature trees
(mainly poplars), and said that landowners believed Horizons Regional Council was not providing
sufficient assistance in that regard. Mr Cooper responded to Members’ questions of clarification
about the offer to train local contractors to undertake form pruning. It was suggested that the
requirements of the One Plan be noted in respect of the recommendations.
Cr Cotton commented on his support for the recommendation to provide one-off training on form
pruning. He noted a previous request for an audit to be undertaken on the planting programme for
poplars, in particular to ask farmers about the practice of form pruning. He understood the
question had not been included in the survey. He requested a copy of the survey and report
presented to Council. Cr Cotton asked for the minutes to record his comments.
COP 16-134
Moved
Gordon/Barrow
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
Receives the information contained in Report No. 16-18.
b.
Approves the enhanced poplar pole programme including the advice
and funding criteria.
c.
Council endorses the continued provision of free follow up advice to
all pole planting programmes, noting that this advice will further
stress the importance of maintenance to avoid any legacy issues.
d.
Council endorses the provision of training to interested contractors
on form pruning to trees planted under various Horizons funded
programmes, noting that these contractors could be recommended to
landowners to undertake works on a user-pays basis.
e.
Council provides one –off training to interested and suitably qualified
contractors for removal of existing, overly mature poplars. These
contractors could be recommended to landowners to undertake
works on a user-pays basis.
f.
Council continues to provide free follow up advice regarding the
replanting of sites where mature poplars have been removed,
g.
Council endorses a recommendation that grants will not be provided
to fund the replanting of these sites unless, in the opinion of staff, the
site is a high priority for the protection of district, regional or national
infrastructure or is a top priority land parcel; in these circumstances a
grant of up to 30% will be offered, to be funded from the appropriate
council work stream.
h.
notes the requirements of the One Plan in respect to these
recommendations.
CARRIED
Page 11
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
INTRODUCTION OF A CHARGING REGIME FOR WHOLE FARM PLANS
Report No 16-19
This item sought support for a proposed package to introduce part charging for Sustainable Land
Use Initiative (SLUI) Whole Farm Plans (WFP). Mr Grant (Acting Group Manager Environmental
Management) introduced the item. The item and recommendations reflected the outcome of
discussions from a Councillors’ Workshop held on 17 November 2015. Mr Cooper (Environmental
Manager-Land) summarised the pros and cons (para 8.6) to introducing a charging regime.
Cr Cotton tabled a paper in support of introducing a charging regime for WFPs and explained his
views. Members considered Cr Cotton’s tabled paper and provided explanations of why they
would, or would not support his views. There was full discussion on the proposal to charge with
Mr Cooper responding to questions of clarification about a partnership with Beef and Lamb New
Zealand and their ability to produce WFPs, contractual obligations with the Ministry of Primary
Industries (MPI), the risk of potentially slowing down the uptake of WFPs which could result in a
failure to meet MPI WFP targets, and the possible implications of that to MPI funding. Concern
was expressed by some Members at the number of WFPs completed compared to actual
implementation of works. Members expressed their views and comments in favour of, or against
the recommendations. The achievements and progress of the SLUI WFP programme to date, and
the success in securing MPI funding was highlighted to Members. Ultimately, after full discussion,
Members believed that a Councillor Workshop be held to consider all options for WFP charging,
the outcome of which would be presented to Council.
COP 16-135
Moved
Cotton/Keedwell
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
receives the information contained in Report No. 16-19 and Annexes.
b.
asks the Chief Executive to organise a workshop, including up to four
members of the SLUI Advisory Group and Council, the outcome of which will
help inform a paper on options for Whole Farm Plan charging to come back
to Council.
CARRIED
Cr McKellar left the meeting at 3.09pm.
SUSTAINABLE LAND USE INITIATIVE (SLUI)
Report No 16-20
This report updated Members about progress on Council’s Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)
for the period 1 November to 31 December 2015. Mr Cooper (Environmental Manager-Land)
introduced the report, updated Members on progress and responded to Members’ questions of
clarification.
COP 16-136
Moved
Kelly/Sheldon
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
receives the information contained in Report No. 16-20 and Annexes.
CARRIED
Page 12
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
WHANGANUI CATCHMENT STRATEGY
Report No 16-21
This report updated Members on progress on the Whanganui Catchment Strategy for the period
1 November to 31 December 2015. Mr Cooper (Environmental Manager-Land) introduced the
report and commented on the field day on the Whanganui Enhancement Trust Demonstration
Farm held on 11 February 2016. The speaker was Mr John Paul Pratt who spoke on the impacts
of climate change for farming in the area, risks and opportunities. The Chairman commented on
the expertise of Mr John Paul Pratt as a speaker and suggested he be invited to speak at a future
Councillors’ Workshop.
COP 16-137
Moved
Keedwell/Barrow
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
receives the information contained in Report No. 16-21.
CARRIED
REGIONAL COAST AND LAND
Report No 16-22
This report updated Members of the progress on Council’s Regional Land and Coast activities
from 1 November to 31 December 2015. Mr Cooper (Environmental Manager-Land) introduced
the report and responded to Members’ questions of clarification. He said the upcoming Ballance
Farm Environment Awards evening would be held on 17 March, 2016. Mr Gray (Environmental
Management Officer-Wanganui) responded to questions about progress on a slump in the Lower
Whangaehu catchment (picture shown on page 122). Mr Cooper referred to paragraph 7.20 and
commented on the work needed to remind forestry companies of their obligation to provide
Erosion and Sediment Control Plans, and he commented on a complaint received about “hill
country cropping”.
COP 16-138
Moved
Rieger/Keedwell
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
receives the information contained in Report No. 16-22.
CARRIED
Page 13
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
PROCEDURAL MOTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC
COP 16-139
Moved
Guy/Burnell
THAT the public be excluded from the following part(s) of the proceedings of this
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 follows.
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 section 6 and section 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,
as follows:
CARRIED
General subject of each matter
to be considered
Reason for passing this
resolution
Ground(s) under section 48(1)
for the passing of this resolution
PX1 Confirmation of Public
Excluded Meeting held on
11 November 2015
s7(2)(h) - the withholding of the
information is necessary to
enable the local authority to
carry out, without prejudice or
disadvantage, commercial
activities.
s48(1)(a)
The public conduct of the part of
the meeting would be likely to
result in the disclosure of
information for which good
reason for withholding exists
under section 7.
PX2
Council / Committee to consider whether any item in the Public Excluded minutes can be moved into
the public domain and define the extent of the release
PX3
Members’ Questions
The meeting adjourned to the Public Excluded part of the meeting at 3.18pm and resumed at
3.30pm.
MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS
Cr Sheldon asked for a presentation to a future meeting on a Sediment Reduction Study involving
Ms Courtenay Mitchell. She commented on the value of inviting Mr John Paul Pratt to speak at a
future Councillors’ Workshop.
The meeting closed at 3.35pm.
Confirmed
_________________________
GROUP MANAGER RIVER MANAGEMENT
______________________________
CHAIRMAN
Page 14
Report No.
16-60
Information Only - No Decision Required
RIVER AND DRAINAGE ENGINEERING REPORT (PRD 01 02)
1.
PURPOSE
1.1.
The purpose of this item is to report on progress with river and drainage activities for the
period 1 February 2016 to 31 March 2016.
2.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
receives the information contained in Report No. 16-60 and annexure.
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Page 15
Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
3.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
3.1.
Funding provision for all activities reported on in this item is either included in the River and
Drainage General or River and Drainage Schemes Activity sections of the
2015-25 Long-term Plan (LTP); is covered by an approved carry-forward of unexpended
budget in 2014-15; or additional approval will be specifically sought by way of
recommendation in the item.
4.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
4.1.
Various matters contained in this item either have been, or will be, communicated with
scheme ratepayers through their respective Scheme Liaison Committee and / or Annual
Catchment Community Meetings. As necessary, other issues will be the subject of media
releases.
5.
SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT
5.1.
There are no significant risks inherent in the adoption of recommendations contained in
this report. There is however a significant risk of the drawdown of an excessive proportion
of individual scheme emergency reserve funds for the purpose of flood damage
reinstatement, in the event that a positive response to Council’s application for assistance
under the National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan is not received.
6.
DISCUSSION
6.1.
The cumulative effect of the Lower Manawatu Scheme (LMS) upgrade work and the
widespread flood damage from the June 2015 event continues to generate a high workload
for the River Management Group and the effects of that on the works programme are
becoming more apparent as the end of the financial year approaches. That combined with
imminent retirements of senior staff have necessitated some alterations to works
programmes, with the possible outcome being deferment of some scheme audits
(provision to be made with the next LTP review).
6.2.
On 29 March 2016, staff became aware that contractor M&M Earthmovers Ltd had
sustained a serious harm injury to one of their staff in the course of undertaking an
earthworks contract as part of the LMS upgrade. Initial investigation suggests that while
dis-establishing from site, a staff member started an earthmoving tractor by standing
outside the cabin whilst reaching inside to simultaneously depress the clutch with his hand
and turn the ignition. The tractor was in gear and started moving when the clutch was
released resulting in a leg-crush injury to the staff member and subsequent hospital
treatment. M&M Earthmovers have notified Worksafe NZ and are conducting an internal
accident investigation which will be forwarded to Horizons’ for further assessment when
completed.
6.3.
At the time of writing this report 15 of the 22 Annual Catchment Community meetings have
taken place. Attendance levels have varied (from 1 to 30) and not surprisingly those that
have been well attended are typically schemes that were impacted in some way by the
June 2015 flood event and / or those facing specific issues. Newsletters also clearly
helped lift attendance levels at the Koputaroa Scheme and Te Kawau Scheme meetings.
Two meetings actively discussed reducing proposed rate increases (Upper Manawatu and
Manawatu Drainage) with the Tutaenui meeting generally in agreeance that the operating
expenditure base needed increasing. In all cases submissions on Horizons’ Draft Annual
Plan (DAP) were encouraged.
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Page 17
Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
6.4.
Staff met with officers from Manawatu District Council (MDC) and New Zealand
Transport Agency (NZTA) to discuss options for progressing channel realignment /
erosion protection works immediately upstream of the Raumai Bridge on the Pohangina
River. This reach of the river has been advancing toward Pohangina Valley Road and both
Horizons’ staff and the public have been highlighting the risk of the bridge approach being
severed in a large flood.
6.5.
The Pohangina-Oroua Scheme undertakes channel maintenance in the general vicinity
and while this provides a degree of indirect benefit to MDC assets, the mandate of the
scheme and it’s funding model does not allow for it to carry out works that directly protect
those assets. In the interests of the wider community Horizons Regional Council (HRC)
staff last year prepared a design for works that would shift the river out of the large erosion
embayment that has developed, thereby reducing the risk of severance under flood
conditions. Those works are estimated to cost $160,000, excluding design and supervision
costs.
6.6.
A case has been made to both MDC and NZTA for a pro-active response to the present
problem, as opposed to waiting until the erosion encroaches on and possibly severs the
bridge approach. The degree of difficulty and cost of remedial works will inevitably
increase if the erosion embayment is allowed to develop further.
6.7.
It has been confirmed that there is sufficient scope within current NZTA funding policy for
such proactive works where a business case is able to justify that approach. Accordingly it
has been agreed that HRC will provide some supporting information around risk, likelihood
and consequence by the end of April, such that MDC is able to present a case for NZTA
funding in the 2016-17 year. Staff have agreed that HRC would contribute to the extent of
managing the works tender process and supervising the works.
6.8.
As previously reported, a first claim for specific flood damage reinstatement works costs
was submitted to the MCDEM, in November 2015. The total claim was in the sum of
$1,782,147, with a maximum MCDEM share of those costs, after applying the deductible,
of $546,765. Subsequently staff have on request submitted detailed documentation for
approximately 30 repair sites, and have responded to many requests for claim explanation,
as part of MCDEM’s audit process. Recent advice is that a further sample of claims will be
subjected to the audit process.
MCDEM staff will then prepare a report with
recommendations and it is anticipated that the report will be with the Minister for her
approval no earlier than the end of April.
6.9.
MCDEM’s interpretation of section 26 of the National Civil Defence and Emergency
Management Plan is becoming clearer as the process progresses and ultimately the
anticipated approval of the claim should provide staff with sufficient confidence around the
level of financial assistance that can be expected with outstanding works, a number of
which have been deferred pending this initial approval.
6.10. Updating comments contained in the previous report, all 20 LMS capital works contracts
have now been let. Most are progressing well although works to the Oroua River right
stopbank between Hoihere Road and Rangiotu are falling behind programme. The
contractor has been advised in writing of those performance issues and has increased their
resources in order to achieve a realistic completion date. Favourable weather in April will
be an important factor in determining how many of the contracts not yet completed can be
substantially completed by early May.
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6.11. There has been little change in status over the period in regard to the Horowhenua
District Council’s (HDC’s) intention to increase stormwater discharge from Levin to the
Koputaroa Stream. The proposal requires the construction of a new pumpstation, with
HDC intending to design and build and have Horizons maintain and operate. Should that
proposal proceed, the rating classification for the Koputaroa Scheme would almost
certainly require some revision to ensure the beneficiaries of those works contribute to the
operating cost. The consenting process will determine what the effects of that proposal will
be and that in turn will inform the scale and extent of any mitigation measures required to
allow the proposal to proceed. It is expected that HDC will submit to HRC’s 2016-17 DAP
on this proposal and what form they consider any operational agreement with Horizons
should take.
6.12. The Wanganui Flood Management Review Group met on 16 February and again on
31 March. An update on the progress of that group is the subject of a separate report.
6.13. Although much has been said in this space, this report would not be complete without the
formal acknowledgement of the contribution that retiring Group Manager Allan Cook has
made to river management in the Horizons Region. Allan has considerable mana at a
national level and is widely respected for his strength of character in dealing with the
seemingly insurmountable list of issues generated in the aftermath of the 2004 floods. An
event of that size and scale has devastating effects on communities and that would have
placed Allan under a high level of personal stress. It demonstrates a number of admirable
personal traits to continue functioning in those circumstances and to largely see through
the response to that event. I wish Allan a very happy retirement.
7.
INVESTIGATIONS AND DESIGN
INVESTIGATIONS
7.1.
As reported previously, the 19-21 June 2015 flood event has placed a high demand on
design resources relating to both scheme and public matters arising from the flood, and
this has not yet abated. There still is a continuing volume of advice required for roading
waterway crossing reinstatements and undermined sections of road and other related
activities.
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TAONUI BASIN
7.2.
Periodic design advice continues associated with fulfilling the consent conditions including
enlargement of the waterways and completion of ring banks. This has included design
advice on difficult sites, where simple stopbank works are not possible, due to site
constraints.
LOWE MANAWATU SCHEME (LMS)
7.3.
The current 2015-16 summer construction season is at Year 10 of the 12-Year Rural
Upgrade Project programme. Survey, designs and plans have been completed on multiple
reaches of the upgrade project to achieve the 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP)
(100 Year) standard with 450 mm freeboard. During the reporting period designs on these
works have included:
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The upgrade at Longburn. This had the added complexity of accommodating NIMT
railway embankments.
Karere Road stopbank.
Several Whirikino isolated dayworks jobs.
Design of a retaining structure on the Oroua stopbank, necessitated by the close
proximity of a building.
Further detailed design on optimising stopbank upgrades at the Saunders site on
the Oroua River.
7.4.
Design levels were provided to the Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) for a section
of the Mangaone stopbank downstream of Amberley Avenue in order to permit
reinstatement. A PNCC contractor had inadvertently lowered the section of stopbank while
undertaking to the walkway on top of it.
7.5.
A minor design change was completed on the upgrades required to achieve a 0.2% AEP
flood protection standard on the section at Flygers Line spillway. Further design support
was provided on the Richardsons Line upgrade – that will prevent flows across the
Palmerston North Airport in a 0.2% AEP (1 in 500 year) flood. Design at Benmore Avenue
continues to be on hold whilst landowner agreements are confirmed. Detailed assessment
is proceeding on mitigating flooding on isolated properties located in the Mangaone
floodway.
7.6.
Staff attended a meeting of the Foxton Loop working group. Data and a MIKE11 computer
model have been provided to the Save Our River Trust (SORT) group’s consultant, GHD
Ltd.
7.7.
A memorandum was prepared recommending a structural/geotechnical examination of the
Sluggish Main Drain floodgate structure. This was prompted by the increased forces the
structure would have to withstand with the higher stopbanks required as part of the LMS
upgrade project. The upgraded heights at the structure are parked until this study is
completed.
LOWER WHANGANUI RIVER
7.8.
Several important matters have proceeded including:
1. 90% completion review of the June 2015 flood size.
2. Initial review of design flood levels.
3. Initial assessment of whether silt removal should be programmed. The initial
findings are that whilst there is significant silt deposition at the river margins, the
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impacts on flood levels are almost entirely mitigated by compensating scour in the
main river channel. That is there is no nett effect in regard to cross sectional area,
not withstanding the challenges that Whanganui District Council (WDC) is facing
at some locations with a changing cross-sectional profile (maintaining their
stormwater outfalls to the river).
7.9.
The review of the discharges in the June 2015 floods for the following four streams is 75%
completed, with the assessments for the first three listed below completed. The
discharges are all above the 1% AEP flood flow, some substantially. This explains the very
high flood levels that occurred in the Aramoho area:
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Matarawa Floodway
Upokongaro Stream
Makirikiri Stream
Kukuta Stream.
AWARUA STREAM
7.10. Investigations into potential flood mitigation measures for the lower reaches of Awarua
Stream are well underway. Several houses were flooded in this area during the June 2015
storm. Any proposed measure needs to include the maintenance of access to Whanganui
Airport. A draft report has been completed and circulated to WDC staff for comment with
the intention of finalising it by the end of April. This item and progress with other Lower
Whanganui River issues are covered in a separate report.
MANGARAMARAMA
7.11. A detailed site survey and design investigation was completed on the Mangaramarama
Stream flood mitigation. The study reach was 3.6 km downstream of the PahiatuaPongaroa Road crossing. This area frequently floods and travels across a large area of
land to flood properties in the Shortt Road and Carisbrook Road area. Principal findings
were:
1. The capacity of the winding and very flat (gradient is only around 0.1%) stream is
only around 25 cumecs. This is in comparison to the mean annual flood of
53 cumecs and a 1% AEP (1 in 100 year) flood of 143 cumecs.
2. The capacity of the channel over this reach could be increased to 45 cumecs by the
construction of two overflow paths (with the reinstatement of one that was previously
filled in) and a 70 m long channel realignment.
3. The Pahiatua-Pongaroa Road Bridge capacity is around 33 cumecs prior to
overflows commencing, and with 1 m of heading up can get to around 50 cumecs.
4. The suggested measures will not solve the difficult flood problem, but will alleviate
the frequency of flooding, but some will also come at considerable financial cost to
the Scheme.
SOUTH EASTERN RUAHINE SCHEME
7.12. The report on the South Eastern Ruahine gravel assessment has been completed. This
report covers nine streams essentially between Dannevirke and Woodville and required a
significant investigation effort. The findings of the report are presented as a separate
agenda item.
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MAKIRIKIRI
7.13. Further work was undertaken on the structural design of the new floodgate structure to
reduce construction costs, yet retain the level of service. This structure will significantly
reduce the time that floodwaters are ponding on farmland following major floods in the
Turakina River.
ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (AMS)
7.14. Further testing of updates to the AMS software was completed early in March. A number
of issues were identified and have been addressed by Datacom. Final testing is underway
and due to be completed by the end of March. While further incremental improvements
are desirable, it is acknowledged that outstanding issues are relatively minor and do not
affect the key functionality of the AMS.
7.15. In addition to routine administration matters the AMS software testing raised some minor
data issues that have been addressed. In particular, there was a need to rationalise the
AMS status of a number of assets to ensure a more consistent approach and more
accurate reporting.
MCDEM CLAIM
7.16. Follow-up support was provided to assist the MCDEM with processing our first claim for
damage to scheme infrastructure in the June 2015 flood as described earlier in this
report.
TE KAWAU NEWSLETTER
7.17. Work has been completed on drafting a newsletter to ratepayers in the Te Kawau Drainage
Scheme. Ratepayers are being informed of outcomes of the scheme audit in 2015, in
particular the proposed relatively minor adjustments to the rating system. The newsletter
also includes an overview of the June 2015 flooding and the opportunity has been taken to
remind ratepayers of the access requirements to facilitate maintenance along scheme
drains.
FLOOD LOSS CURVES UPDATED FOR JUNE 2015 EVENT
7.18. Preliminary damage costs for the June 2015 flood have been plotted on the flood loss
curves for each scheme affected. The points plotted are based on the estimated return
period of the event in each scheme in the same way that points have already been plotted
for the floods in 2004 and 2010. Typically these points show considerable variability from
the curves, which is to be expected given the wide range of factors affecting the actual
damage in any particular flood event. It is important to remember that the curves only
show the average expected flood loss and that plotting actual damage points serves to
highlight the need to carefully consider the possible reasons for the variance, to identify
why there was more or less damage than expected and to revise the flood damage factors
if necessary. Further work would be required to draw any significant conclusions at this
stage.
STOPBANK DESIGN AND AS BUILT LEVELS
7.19. Further work has been done on plotting the current stopbank levels, with a start made on
the Palmerston North City Reach.
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FLOOD PROTECTION SYSTEMS PERFORMANCE TOOLS
7.20. A detailed trial has been completed on the Flood Protection Systems Performance Tool.
This tool has been developed / funded collaboratively by Regional Councils nationally.
7.21. This is a step beyond Council’s current AMS. The AMS tracks the visual / apparent
condition of Council’s flood protection assets but does not consider all of the factors that
contribute to network performance. Thus, a defect in a stopbank at one location can be
much more serious than the same defect at a different location, but the AMS takes no
account of this. Also, the level of service provided can be adversely affected by aspects of
the river system that are not scheme assets. Therefore, a berm that is too narrow or
subject to siltation can adversely affect flood carrying capacity.
7.22. A comprehensive framework has been devised that divides the stopbanks into segments
several hundred metres long, and gives each segment a score according to the
consequences of that segment failing, and the likelihood of failure attributed to a range of
potential failure modes. Scheme review work has provided a lot of information that allows
these consequences and probabilities to be quantified in a detailed way.
7.23. The consequence is related to the expected damage cost to protected property should a
failure occur. Possible failure mechanisms fall into three categories. If flood carrying
capacity is inadequate, a major flood will overtop and scour away the stopbank. A
geotechnical failure can result from soil that is too porous or weak, or from poor condition
of backfill around pipes and structures. A combination of a narrow berm and inadequate
edge protection can allow the river to undermine the stopbank and cause its failure.
Several aspects of each of these three categories are given a score, and entered into a
spreadsheet, which then generates a performance score for each stopbank segment.
7.24. The system has been trialed on 33 km of LMS stopbanking, in three separate reaches, and
the preliminary results appear to be intuitively sensible.
7.25. The trial results were presented to the bi-Annual meeting of River Managers from around
the country in March and compared well with work undertaken in Hawkes Bay. It is
intended to extend this work to the entire LMS and to use the findings of this work to (at
least in part) set the tone for the next update of the LTP.
DESIGN ADVICE
7.26. During this period ongoing design advice has continued to be given to River Management
Project and Scheme Management staff and other departments and TLA’s staff in relation to
several matters. They continue to be mainly focused on flood-related matters as outlined
above. Designs completed included:
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Design of a riverbed stabilisation weir on the Turakina Stream at a river ford
crossing at the McLeay farm around 800 m downstream of the Taurimu Road and
Turakina Valley Road intersection. This crossing was washed out in the June 2015
floods. This design consisted of driven railway irons and rock riprap.
Design advice on rock riprap protection works at AFFCO at river distance 38.7 km
on the left bank of the Oroua River. This involved rock of median mass 300 kg.
Design of rock repair works to the toe of the spillway of Matarawa Scheme Dam
3.1. This dam attenuates flow in the Kaukatea Stream, a tributary of the Matarawa
Stream. The spillway suffered some damage in the severe flood of 19-21 June
2015. The event was measured at 60% greater than the 1% AEP (1 in 100 year)
flood in the downstream reaches of the Matarawa Stream at No.3 Line near
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Wanganui. It is likely the severity was similar at this dam, which otherwise has
performed very well.
A brief was updated for potential changes in a fluvial study of silt deposition on the
Manawatu and Oroua Rivers. This was to reflect a change of direction from a
computer-based modelling study to examination of LiDAR data.
Information was provided to facilitate the construction of the sediment trap and boat
ramps at Lake Horowhenua.
DESIGN ADVICE
7.27. Regulatory work completed over the period included recorded advice on 63 substantive
matters matching the previous period.
7.28. This regulatory work involves providing advice on flood risks and technical reports for
consent applications, re-zonings and subdivisions including:
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Advice on 37 flood risk and related enquiries.
A detailed site assessment was completed on a proposed house at Mangatainoka
and a number of other flood risks were evaluated.
Protracted discussions were held with the management responsible for locating a
new house on the Whakarongo floodplain off Napier Road. Whilst safe egress from
a small stream had been provided, the applicant’s consultant had not forwarded
details on the flooding depths from the Manawatu River. Horizons’ staff had
provided these to the consultant during the formative stages of the design of the
house. A safe option was formulated and agreed.
Multiple advisories were provided to landowners in the Mahi Grove and Roots
Street vicinity near Pharazyn Street, Feilding. This area is floodable from local
stormwater paths. Manawatu District Council are currently constructing a lowered
length of Pharazyn Street to reduce flood risks to existing and future houses.
However, minimum floor levels are still required (albeit at lower levels). These
generally vary from 350 mm to 550 mm above ground level in this vicinity,
depending on whether the houses are close to flow paths in a 0.5% AEP storm.
A meeting was held with MDC Engineering and Planning staff to confirm the flood
mitigation strategies for new houses and to look in detail at optimal measures for
the proposed Resource Recovery Centre in Kawakawa Road.
A site visit and meeting was held with a landowner who submitted against a
consent application for a subdivision in Sandon Road. An MDC staff member also
attended. The submitter’s concern was that existing flooding issues would be
aggravated by the additionally generated stormwater of up to five new houses with
100 m long driveways. The applicant’s consultant has provided a proposal for
detention storage at a suitable location.
Advice was provided and meetings held with MDC staff and their consultant on the
formulation of a flood risk map. This was an important component of the
information required for their review of the rural areas in the District Plan.
Advice was provided to the Commissioner for the proposed Waitarere Surf Club
Building Notice of Requirement (NOR) for land. This was to address the veracity
and basis of the Erosion Hazard Lines (EHZ) and the optimum positioning of the
building to provide maximal beach visibility and yet not be vulnerable to the
“current” erosion hazards – i.e. without consideration of future sea level rise (this
may be mitigated at this location by coastal progradation, but that is as yet
uncertain).
Information was provided on flood risks in the Rangitikei District. This was to
assess their review of the District Plan.
Design information and advice was provided to WDC consultants who are
modelling the Matarawa Stream through the urban area.
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Advice was provided on 12 bridges and one new culvert. This included two
replacement Kiwirail Bridges in the Taumarunui to Ongarue section of the NIMT.
This likely completes the advice required on this nine-bridge upgrade project.
A site meeting and further advice was also provided on options to mitigate scour
risks to Kiwirail Bridge 114 at Ngawapurua.
Advice continues to be provided on the several proposed PNCC bridges. These
included the major walkway and pipeline bridge across the Manawatu River at one
of three locations, the Arapuke suspension bridge on the Sledge Track over the
Kahuterawa Stream and the Turitea and Kahuterawa Bridges for the proposed
walkway to Linton.
Detailed advice was also provided on the debris arrestor required for the
strengthening works on the Ngahere Road Bridge over the Turitea Stream. As the
most cost-effective option advanced by PNCC is for construction of additional piers
with very small span lengths, the debris deflector is essential to avoid inevitable
debris build up at the bridge. The design for the recent Makino diversion debris
deflector and design velocities were provided.
Advice was also provided on the replacement bridge at 250 Flygers Line. This
bridge/culvert was damaged in the June 2015 floods and repair works to the road to
mitigate erosion are also required.
The other three bridges were replacement of three flood damaged bridges over the
Porewa Stream and two tributaries of the Kiwitea Stream.
A consent application for two ford crossings on the Makowhai Stream was
assessed and referred back to the applicant’s consultant, as the effects assessment
had not satisfactorily addressed all of the issues.
Advice was provided to a gravel extractor located in the Rewa to Mangarere Road
reach of the Rangitikei River. This extractor wanted to combine his two consents
into one, with the total the sum of the previous two consents. The application met
technical standards and was recommended for approval. With any of these
consents the consent holder must first approach the Area Engineer before
extracting to confirm the quantities and location for the optimal gravel extraction
location.
A request was made to extend the large boulder extraction closer than 1 km to the
Whangaehu Bridge at Tangiwai. This is a no-go zone to avoid threatening the
bridge stability during flood or lahar, and this policy was advised. A second
question about extraction further upstream may be possible once further details are
provided.
Advice was provided on an application to increase the extraction from 1,000 to
1,500 cubic metres per annum on a reach of the Waikawa Stream.
A consent application for works to prevent a reserve being cut off by an avulsing
stream near Pongaroa was assessed and recommended for technical approval.
The works involved a stopbank to contain overbank flows and a rock riprap lining.
A consent application from NZ Defence Force was assessed for erosion repairs on
the left bank of the Kahuterawa Stream at Linton. This was for nine stub groynes
over a 120 m length. This proposal was extensively consulted on and only minor
refinements were required.
Further advice was provided on remedial works to the seawall at Akitio and on
erosion protection works on River Road near Akitio.
Advice was provided for several sites of damaged riverbank on the Whanganui
River and repairs undertaken. These included the walkway near Cobham Bridge,
beside the Waimarie and erosion near the City Bridge.
A consent application to realign the Mangamania Stream to protect SH3 and enable
a fill site was assessed and generally supported. The only major concerns were the
size of rock armouring at one site and a further temporary diversion was not
supported, as it was likely to result in erosion and may be difficult to close off after
construction.
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8.
A further meeting was held with several parties on riverbank protection and
retaining wall repairs on four sites on SH4 adjoining the Mangawhero River. This
damage was caused in the June 2015 storm. The required design parameters and
consenting requirements to expeditiously complete the works were further agreed.
A consent application for works on the secondary stopbank at 449 Ruahine Street
was recommended for technical approval.
Several other compliance matters and diverse unrecorded enquiries.
CENTRAL AREA
GENERAL
8.1.
This reporting period saw generally high temperatures and low rainfall. As a result river
levels have remained low. Rainfall recorded across the Region was only half to one third
of that which fell during the last reporting period. Several gauges have recorded their
lowest river levels since 2004.
8.2.
The total rainfall for this period (1 February 2016 to 21 March 2016) has been recorded as:
84.5 mm at Milson Line (Mangaone); 65.0 mm at Cheltenham (Makino); 101.5 mm at
Scotts Road (Kahuterawa); 161.0 mm at Delaware Ridge (Pohangina); 365.5 mm at
Makawakawa Divide (Pohangina); and 96.0 mm at Rangiwahia (Oroua).
8.3.
On the Manawatu River, flows remained at low levels commonly seen at this time of year.
The peak flow at the Teachers’ College recorder site for the period was 172 cumecs
(16 m stage), on 18 March.
8.4.
The Oroua River peaked at Almadale Slackline recording site on 18 March resulting in a
flow of 18 cumecs (14 m stage). For the majority of this reporting period, flows remained at
low levels not seen since April 2004.
8.5.
Flows in the Mangaone Stream reached a peak of 0.39 cumecs (0.44 m stage) on
17 March. Flows had generally remained between 80 and 100l/s until this time.
8.6.
The Makino Stream at Reids Line reached 0.61 cumecs (0.59 m stage) on 17 March. The
flow trend continued to fall throughout the period, with the lowest flow around the middle of
March of 0.54 cumecs (0.56 m stage).
8.7.
The Tokomaru Stream peak flow was 4.0 cumecs (1.4 m stage) on 19 February. After
each small rainfall event, flows quickly returned to well under the low flow gauging
threshold and on occasion under the One Plan water allocation level of 0.24 cumecs.
8.8.
The Kiwitea Stream’s flow first dropped below One Plan water allocation levels of
0.15 cumecs on 5 February. Water flows remained around this level until mid February but
dropped once again below this threshold between 9 and 14 March. This reporting period’s
peak event, reaching 2.54 cumecs (1.0 Stage), occurred on 18 March and levels have
since remained above One Plan levels.
8.9.
Staff have continued to assist in the delivery of the Rural Upgrade Project and City Reach
Upgrade programmes. CCTV inspections are continuing for all culverts located within this
years Rural Upgrade Project work programme, to identify any repairs or renewals that can
be done by the Scheme during the upgrade works.
8.10. On Tuesday 1 March, all Kairanga Service Centre Staff attended a workshop on
2015 revision to the Health and Safety at Work Act.
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8.11. The LMS Annual Catchment Community meeting was held on 22 March. The budgets and
works programmes were the main items for discussion with emphasis placed on the issue
of silt deposition on the Oroua River berms and the challenges that poses to the LMS.
8.12. Scheme engineers have been assisting PNCC with He Ara Kotahi, the shared path that will
run along the Manawatu River, and the Kahuterawa and Tiritea Streams. The working
party for this project consists of the NZ Defence Force, Massey Farms, Rangitaane, New
NZTA and Horizons. It is chaired by PNCC staff.
8.13. Scheme engineers have been involved in developing the HDC cycleways strategy
documents, which includes better access to the river and provides a planning framework
for the provision of cycleways on the top of stopbanks in the Whirokino area.
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME
8.14. Works undertaken on the various rivers within the Scheme during this period include the
following:
MANAWATU RIVER
8.15. Maintenance throughout the City Reach is continuing including mowing, spraying and
freeing of native plantings, inspections and drain debris clearing. Due to the prevailing dry
weather conditions no plantings have been undertaken during this period.
8.16. On Friday 4 March, staff from the Kairanga Service centre participated in an afternoon
picking up rubbish along the banks of the Manawatu River at Dittmer Drive. Several
rubbish bags full of litter including a lounge suite, were removed from the Esplanade area
stretching from Fitzherbert Bridge to Maxwells Line.
8.17. Staff undertook other maintenance tasks along the river and around the Moutoa Sluice
gates and tower. These included inspecting and clearing floodgates, mowing floodway
stopbanks, spraying and mowing the Foxton Loop, spraying weeds on and near stopbanks,
small stopbank repairs and maintenance, cleaning drains, grass seeding, debris removal
and disposal and 50 m of fencing work.
8.18. CCTV inspections are continuing with culverts located within the extents of the Rural
Upgrade Project taking priority. For many of these inspections to be completed, additional
preparations to de-water and clean out the culverts must be finished.
8.19. Significant damage has occurred in the Ashhurst Domain area between the Road and Rail
Bridges. The Ashhurst Road Bridge to the Manawatu Gorge marks the upstream boundary
of the LMS, and therefore this area is not maintained by the Scheme. However, such is
the importance of the Ashhurst Domain, and the risk that the river may get out of alignment
and cause damage downstream of the bridge, the Scheme has agreed to assist PNCC in
repairing the damage by providing engineering advice and to contribute $30,000 towards
the cost of erosion repairs between the Road Bridge and the confluence of the Pohangina.
A small amount of gravel relocation will be necessary to build-up the area into a suitable
alignment, followed by the construction of permeable groynes with tied tree works and a
rock riprap section at the upstream end. These works are due to start shortly when
resources become available.
8.20. The June 2015 event also caused significant erosion damage to the river bank adjacent to
Hoult’s yard in Aokautere, where recently constructed bank protection works were
destroyed as a result of weakening of the upstream berm caused by a slip. The repair
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works have been designed and tenders called. The contract for this work is expected to be
awarded later in April.
8.21. The construction of the rock lining at the Esplanade in the City is progressing more slowly
than expected due to rock supply issues. The revised completion date is early April.
8.22. Work is progressing well on the earthworks component of the upgrade on Robert Ervine’s
property in Rangiotu. Works have commenced on the spur bank and the new drainage
culvert has been installed
8.23. Work has commenced on the Hoihere Bridge stopbank upgrade and stop log construction.
The works involve the construction of a concrete wall on the river side toe of the stopbank
and a three tier block wall on the land side. Unfortunately, the width of the stopbank could
not be increased due to the close proximity of a house on one side and stock race on the
other and accordingly structural walls are the most cost effective solution for raising the
stopbank at this location. Also included in this work is a stop log that will be installed when
required at one end of the bridge. Work is progressing well and to programme.
OROUA RIVER
8.24. Two erosion sites from the June floods were repaired, one using tied tree bank protection
works, and the other using concrete demolition material as riprap. A further site was
prepared by moving river gravel, to enable reinstatement upon riprap material becoming
available.
8.25. Tenders are currently being evaluated for the supply and delivery of rock to sites near
Feilding. These sites were damaged during the June 2015 flood event and require
reinstatement while conditions permit. The three sites identified are adjacent to Johnston
Park, the AFFCO Plant and Feilding Golf Club.
8.26. The willow mulching programme on the Oroua has continued from Hoihere Road Bridge
downstream. Two areas of pine plantation were clear-felled in conjunction with the river
clearance, to allow the stopbank upgrade to progress. Mulching on both the left and right
banks were completed with a long reach excavator. This, along with the vegetative
spraying programme is intended to maximise flood flow conveyance and discourage
siltation. Aerial spraying from the Manawatu confluence to Hoihere Road is programmed
over the coming month.
8.27. Gravel extraction works have continued to occur within the Oroua, both downstream of
Awahuri Bridge by Hoult Contractors and upstream of Kopane Bridge by Hills Transport.
8.28. A contract for the raising of the stopbank on the Oroua at Kaimatarau Road has been
awarded and works will start shortly.
MANGAONE STREAM
8.29. Repairs to flood damage that occurred during the June flood continued over the period.
8.30. General maintenance has continued along the stream reserve including edge trimming,
weed spraying and the trimming of over-hanging trees and hedges. Mowing of the
Mangaone Stream City Reaches has been completed this reporting period. The next mow
will be scheduled when required. Favourable growing conditions have continued into the
summer season leading to the possibility of additional mowing requirements to keep the
area looking tidy. The areas which had suffered during previous months due to prolonged
unfavourable mowing conditions have now improved with regard to grass cover and length.
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
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8.31. Minor repairs were completed by Horizons staff to fill holes dug into the stream bank by
members of the community below Benmore Avenue. This type of activity has occurred
previously, and not only puts the diggers at risk that the bank may collapse on them, but
puts the wider community at risk as it creates a weakness in the stopbank that is quickly
exploited by the stream in times of flood.
8.32. An area of berm was cleared during the period downstream of the Botanical Road Bridge.
8.33. Flood damage repair works have been completed within the City Reach with only a few
non-urgent sites remaining to be revisited at a later time. A total of 1580 tonnes of rock
riprap has been placed within the City Reaches, along with all required bank shaping
between Flygers Line and Amberley Avenue having been completed.
8.34. Scheme staff are continuing to liaise with PNCC regarding repair requirements around City
assets. Where the walkway is planned for construction under bridges, and repairs are less
urgent, protection works will be combined.
8.35. The stopbank upgrade works along the Mangaone Spillway have commenced. Several
berm areas within the City Reach are being utilised for borrow material, the first located
downstream of Flygers Line. Using berm areas for borrow material will help reduce berm
height, reinstate channel capacity and the location will reduce the cost of the stopbank
work.
8.36. Most vegetated beaches within the channel were removed during the June flood events,
and those that have reformed have now started to regenerate with vegetation. Spraying is
planned to take place in the coming reporting period. Excessive vegetation growth within
the channel needs to be controlled to maintain channel capacity, and is usually controlled
with spraying or mechanical beach removal.
8.37. The Mangaone Stream in the City Reach is being frequently inspected by staff and is
generally in good condition with regard to bank stability (the potential for bank erosion to
undermine flood protection structures). Works undertaken following the June 2015 flood
event will continue to be monitored during the winter period. Remaining non-urgent works
are to be completed next year (replacement of timber floodwall with rock riprap below
Rangitikei Line), or combined with PNCC pathway construction.
8.38. As previously advised, a contractor working for PNCC on pathway construction
unintentionally lowered the stopbank crest downstream of Amberley Avenue.
Reinstatement work occurred promptly and in accordance with the directions of staff and at
PNCC’s cost.
MAKINO STREAM
8.39. An area of mature pine trees was clear-felled in preparation for erosion repairs and
stopbank reconstruction works to be completed. Fill material has been stockpiled on site
ready for the work.
8.40. The annual maintenance run along the stream has been completed. Extensive bamboo
growth has taken hold in certain reaches of the stream, and even though this was
removed, it will take several seasons to completely remove this invasive plant from the
stream.
8.41. Late in the period staff had an initial meeting to consider ways in which the operational
reliability of the Makino gate structure at the head of the Reids Line Spillway could be
further improved.
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DERBY CREEK
8.42. Erosion repairs were completed at two sites, both using concrete riprap material.
STONEY CREEK
8.43. Some lengths of stopbank along Stoney Creek have been mulched to clear unwanted
weed growth. Two locations on the stopbank had minor repairs completed as they were
below design height.
8.44. Significant channel maintenance works were completed, starting at the State Highway and
progressing downstream over lower properties. Works involved the removal of gravel and
silts from the stream bed to regain the design channel flood-carrying capacity.
MANGAORE STREAM
8.45. All floodgates were inspected and spraying undertaken to retain channel capacity.
MOUTOA FLOODWAY
8.46. The stopbank was mown (6 km) to remove fescue, and all floodgates have been checked.
TOKOMARU RIVER
8.47. Maintenance along the Tokomaru River has included 3 km of mowing, repairs to the
stopbank, spraying of pest plants and a repair to a floodgated culvert.
LOWER KIWITEA STREAM SCHEME
8.48. The Annual Catchment Community meeting was held on 22 March 2016. Main issues
discussed were the scheme budget for the year 2015-2016; the damage resulting from the
June 2015 flood; an update on the reinstatement works; progress with the flood damage
insurance claims; anticipated “end of year” expenditure and the proposed 2016-2017
scheme budget. Issues of scheme reserves debt levels and rate levels were also
discussed.
8.49. Concrete riprap material has been stockpiled at two sites, both resulting from the June
2015 flood, ready to be placed when a contractor becomes available.
KAHUTERAWA STREAM SCHEME
8.50. The maintenance programme of works was completed on the Kahuterawa Stream. This
involved the clearing of flood debris and/or blockages in the stream, minor realignment of
the channel where required, the relocation of gravel beaches and the layering of existing
willow trees as required.
ASHHURST STREAM SCHEME
8.51. As agreed at the last Annual Catchment Community Meeting for the scheme, a programme
of works was put together to replace the stock-gates on the stream where recent flood
protection works were completed. Four of six stock-gates programmed for replacement in
this financial year have been completed.
8.52. Machine cleaning of the stream over two properties was completed, as required.
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
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8.53. Significant gravel extraction was undertaken on a property at the downstream end of the
Scheme to reinstate the stream channel and prevent over-land flow in times of flood.
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME – CITY REACH PROJECT
ANZAC CLIFF REALIGNMENT
8.54. The Practical Completion Certificate that forms Separable Portion A of this major contract
was issued on February 29 2016. This commences the Defects Liability Period of
12 weeks. Site restoration and reinstatement works are still to be completed.
8.55. The reinstatement cannot be completed until the contractor advances the earthworks to a
stage where they will vacate the site on the right bank and establish their compound on the
cliff side of the river. The reinstatement work to complete is mainly within the compound
area and will be completed during the maintenance period.
8.56. With Practical Completion issued, 50% of the retentions monies held by Horizons for
Separable Portion A were released. Also released was the independent Engineer to the
Contract from his responsibilities.
8.57. The earthworks component of the contract, Separable Portion B, are under way.
Difficulties and delays are being encountered by the contractor, that is in the quantity of
material (fine silts) that has to be moved to stockpile, dried and moved again to fill and be
compacted. This may delay the previously anticipated completion time for the earthworks.
MANGAONE STREAM
8.58. Works to complete the 1 in 500 year flood protection of the City in relation to the Mangaone
Stream are required in four areas. The following works are either underway or have
reached completion.
FLYGERS LINE FLOODWAY STOPBANK
8.59. The contract to realign and raise 355 m of the Mangaone Stream floodway stopbank at
Flygers Line has been completed and is in the Defects Liability period. All fill material was
imported for the project. New grass growth on the new bank is well advanced.
ROWAN- AIRPORT COMPANY STOPBANK RAISE AND REALIGNMENT
8.60. This stopbank requiring raising is adjacent to Richardson Line and runs largely through
private property. The bank requires extending by 660 m across Richardson Line and into
the Palmerston North Airport Company land at Milson.
8.61. A contract has been let to complete the earthworks component of the project that is the
realigning, raising and extending the stopbank. The roadworks are a separate contract.
8.62. The works are well advanced with all fill material having to be imported to the site.
Contract completion date is early April.
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RICHARDSON LINE ROAD RAISE
8.63. With the extended stopbank crossing Richardson Line and into the Airport land,
Richardson Line requires raising by 900 mm. To accommodate the lift and to allow for a
smooth vertical curve, 150 m of roadworks is required.
8.64. A contract was let in February to undertake the works and work has progressed ahead of
schedule.
8.65. The roadworks are now substantially completed with only the second coat of seal to be
applied within the next month.
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME RURAL UPGRADE PROJECT
8.66. The following table schedules all current Rural Upgrade Project works and provides commentary on
present project status.
Project Title
Description
Status
Oroua River Left Bank Stopbank
Upgrade, Hoihere Road to
Rangiotu
Upgrade 5,200 m of stopbank on the
left bank of the Oroua River
downstream from the Hoihere Road
Bridge to Highway 56 at Rangiotu.
Works are approaching Practical
Completion with the Contractor
expected to vacate the site by
1 April2016.
Oroua River Right Bank
Stopbank Upgrade, Hoihere
Road to Rangiotu
Upgrading 5,300 m of stopbank on
the Oroua River right bank
downstream from the Hoihere Road
Bridge to Highway 56 at Rangiotu.
Works on this Contract are in progress
with the initial upstream 2,760 m
expected to be complete by
1 April 2016. Work is progressing
slower than programmed.
Oroua River Right Bank, Firth
block wall and concrete
floodwall at Reilly property,
379 Hoihere Road
Construct a Firth block retaining wall
and concrete floodwall to upgrade
the stopbank adjoining this house as a
result of a very narrow berm width.
Works include installing a removable
stop log across Hoihere Road.
The concrete floodwall, roadside
abutment and in-road foundation for
the stop log are complete. Remaining
work on the Firth block wall is
expected to achieve practical
completion by 1 April 2016.
Oroua River Right Bank
Stopbank Transition at Hoihere
Road Bridge
Upgrade a section of right bank
stopbank immediately upstream of
the Hoihere Road Bridge.
Construction works on this stopbank
upgrade have now achieved Practical
Completion.
Oroua River Left Bank Road
Raising at Hoihere Road Bridge
Raise Hoihere Road to the adjoining
upgraded left bank stopbank height.
Works on the road raising have now
achieved Practical Completion.
Protect Individual Property:
Hopkins Farming Group, 1591 &
1601 State Highway 56
Construct bunds around two houses
owned by the Hopkins Farming Group
on State Highway 56, Tiakitahuna.
Stockpiling of fill material has
commenced on site. Construction of
the earth bunds is expected to have
commenced by 10 April 2016.
Protect Individual Property:
S. Bond house,
767 Lockwood Road
Protect the Bond house at
767 Lockwood Road by waterproofing
(tanking) the ground floor area of this
house.
Waterproofing works on this property
has now achieved Practical
Completion.
Protect Individual Property:
R. Astwood house,
802 Lockwood Road
Raise the Astwood house at
802 Lockwood Road.
House raising work on this property
has now achieved Practical
Completion.
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Page 32
Protect Individual Property:
V. Muncey house,
821 Lockwood Road
Provide flood protection to the
Muncey house at 821 Lockwood
Road.
Due to the landowner being unwilling
to sign a Land Entry Agreement
authorizing works to proceed, this
work has now been postponed for the
current FY and the consent authority
informed.
Protect Individual Property:
G. Lynch house,
892 Lockwood Road
Raise the Lynch’s Farm Manager’s
house at 892 Lockwood Road.
House raising work on this property
has now achieved practical
completion.
Protect Individual Property:
Vertogen House,
691 Lockwood Road
Protect the Vertogen house at 691
Lockwood Road by waterproofing
(tanking) the ground floor area of this
house.
A publicly advertised RFT process for
this project attracted no responses.
Consequently three building
companies were invited to tender for
the work. An award is expected
shortly.
Protect Individual Property:
Strahan Dairy Farm,
Rangiotu Road
Construction 65 m of concrete
floodwall on the Strahan farm to
complete protection of dairy buildings
and other infrastructure.
Tenders for this project close on
8 April 2016. The landowner has
requested that works commence on
23 May 2016 to suit their farming
operations.
Manawatu River Right Bank
Stopbank Upgrade, Karere
Road, Longburn
Upgrade 4,250 m of the Manawatu
River right bank stopbank in the
vicinity of Karere Road, Longburn.
This project has increased in scope to
include an extended length upstream
of the railway line behind Longburn.
Approximately 3,500 m of this project
is at design level. Works are
progressing satisfactorily although
negotiations are currently in progress
with Kiwi Rail to obtain authority to
complete a short section of stopbank
that extends onto rail corridor land.
Manawatu River Right Bank
Stopbank Upgrade, Ervine
Property & Funnell Lease,
Rangiotu
Upgrade 3,600 m of the Manawatu
River right bank stopbank
immediately downstream of the Opiki
Bridge and through the Ervine
property into Taonui Basin ‘D’.
Works on the Ervine property are
expected to achieve Practical
Completion by 1 April 2016. The
remaining work on adjoining Funnell
lease land is expected to achieve
practical completion by mid-April.
Manawatu River Left Bank
Stopbank Upgrade, BM 486,
Funnell Lease, Poplar Road
Upgrade 1,600 m of the Manawatu
River left bank stopbank on Councilowned land currently leased by
Mr Funnell adjoining Poplar Road,
Opiki.
Construction works on this stopbank
upgrade have now achieved Practical
Completion.
Manawatu River Right Bank
Stopbank Upgrade, Bielski &
Parlato properties.
Upgrade 360 m of the Manawatu
River right bank stopbank on the
Bielski & Parlato properties
downstream from the Moutoa
floodgates.
Construction works on this stopbank
upgrade have now achieved Practical
Completion.
Manawatu River Right Bank
Stopbank Upgrade, Whirokino
Road and Springs Road
Upgrade 2,500 m of the Manawatu
River right bank stopbank on
Department of Conservation reserve
land at two locations in the vicinity of
Whirokino Rd and Springs Road,
Whirokino.
A Contract has been awarded to
Paranui Contractors Ltd on
12 February 2016 in the sum of
$374,495. Earthworks are
progressing satisfactorily.
Manawatu River Right Bank
Stopbank Upgrade, Various
Small Locations, Whirokino
Upgrade 17 individual sections of
stopbank on the Manawatu River
right bank in proximity to Whirokino
Road upstream of State Highway 1.
Four sections of stopbank upgrade
have been completed with another
four to commence by 1 April 2016.
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
The remainder will be completed as
part of the above-listed Whirokino
Road and Springs Road Contract.
Page 33
Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
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Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Manawatu River Left Bank
Stopbank Upgrade, Akers
Property, Linton
Upgrade 800 m of the Manawatu
River left bank stopbank at the Akers
property immediately upstream of
Akers Road, Linton.
Approximately 100 m of the upgrade
works are now at design level. A.
Variation has been instructed due to
an identified increase in the required
fill volume at one location due to
incomplete site survey data. Works
are progressing satisfactorily.
Manawatu River Right Bank
Stopbank Upgrade, Higgins &
Tait-Jamison, Whakarongo
Upgrade 4,880 m of the Manawatu
River right bank stopbank at
Whakarongo.
Landowners have been contacted to
discuss the proposed works however,
this project has now been postponed
until the 2016-17 financial year.
9.
NORTHERN AREA
GENERAL
9.1.
The long dry stable weather conditions experienced through February and March have
been ideal for a continuation for advancing planned maintenance works and also the much
needed river bank repair work resulting from last year’s June floods. Work is advancing
well and on program as we look forward to a continuation of favourable conditions into
April. Demands on staff responding to engineering advice requests from non-scheme
areas continues and it is in this area in particular that we are experiencing a high level of
positive feedback. Many landowners are unaware of what they can and can not do around
waterways and welcome the contact and advice we provide. There remains the possibility
of additional work being programmed if Horizons are successful with their MCDEM flood
damage claim but the available window continues to reduce as autumn progresses.
TRAINING AND FORUMS
9.2.
Recently two staff members attended the Safe Use of Quad Bike Course. This Health and
Safety requirement is becoming more important as staff are no longer approved to travel
as passengers on quad bikes and must achieve a level of competence before using a bike
to accompany a landowner when inspecting a site.
ENGINEERING ADVICE
9.3.
9.4.
During the last two months there have been continued requests for advice on a variety of
issues that have included;
 Removal of large trees in waterways
 New gravel extraction opportunities
 Wasp removal from giant willow aphid infested trees
 Clearing stream channels of vegetation
 Repairs to stream bank erosion sites.
Rather than seeing the number of requests for advice easing as time elapses from last
year’s floods staff are experiencing a constant if not increasing level of demand.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
9.5.
There were no community involvement meetings attended during this reporting period.
RANGITIKEI RIVER CONTROL SCHEME
9.6.
The scheme Annual Catchment Community meeting is scheduled for Thursday 7 April
2016.
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Page 34
RANGITIKEI MAINTENANCE WORKS
9.7.
Flood damage work identified and prioritised following the aerial and jet boat inspections
last year is progressing well and on schedule. At the beginning of 2016 there were
concerns that rock supply may become an issue when programming work. The high
competing demand for rock from both within Horizons and from the wider community was
likely to exceed the Linton quarry supply potential. Fortunately through a process of
negotiation and prioritisation with our supplier, along with the implementation of good
internal management processes, this risk has largely been addressed.
9.8.
The presence of the giant willow aphid is again being experienced this year. New willow
plantings along the Rangitikei River are particularly affected as the aphid seems to have a
preference for these younger stems. A trial spraying of field nursery sites is underway to
gauge the effectiveness of controlling the pest in areas we wish to use for future pole
supply.
9.9.
Aerial spraying of gravel beaches to control vegetation growth and to open up the river
management corridor will be completed by the end of March. In recent years we have
found this activity very cost effective in keeping the river fairway open and encouraging
favourable river alignments, assisting with beach mobilisation during flood events and as a
consequence lessening pressure on edge protection.
RANGITIKEI CAPEX WORKS
9.10. Capital work repairing the Parewanui Stopbank flood damage repairs at Walmac Farm is
now complete including the re-erecting of fencing in conjunction with the farm manager.
RANGITIKEI RIVER ENHANCEMENT
9.11. No enhancement work undertaken this period.
GRAVEL EXTRACTION
9.12. No gravel extraction from Horizons consents this period.
POHANGINA-OROUA RIVER CONTROL SCHEME
9.13. The scheme Annual Catchment Community meeting was held on 23 March 2016. Good
discussion took place at the meeting particularly regarding options for the Scheme once
debt has been repaid. Discussion also involved the reluctance of some landowners to
enter into cost-share agreements and the effects that has on adjoining landowners.
POHANGINA RIVER
9.14. In addition to the normal channel maintenance activities undertaken during the period there
has been good progress on erosion control work carried out for landowners under a 60/40
cost split with Horizons. The benefits of establishing tree groynes at the Passey property
during February are already showing dividends with evidence of silting now occurring
between the branches where flow has been reduced. It is hoped the property owner will
also agree to an additional two or three groynes in this reach to provide further bank
protection and resilience against erosion.
9.15. Staff have been encouraging Higgins Aggregates to extract gravel from a high beach that
has built up opposite the Ward property. Over recent floods we have seen this build up of
gravel force the river flows into the left bank where repeated damage is occurring to
erosion protection works. Before winter work is planned to widen the river channel through
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Item 6
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this reach through a combination of gravel relocation, vegetation clearance, and easing of
a tight upstream bend. This will enable river flows to spread over a wider area helping
reduce velocities and erosion capability.
OROUA RIVER
9.16. The new owners of the old Twentyman property off Armadale Road are proving to be very
pro-active in wishing to protect their property against river erosion. An agreement is now in
place with them to commence 200 m of protection work in April that the previous owner
had deferred.
9.17. An agreement is also in place for the construction of tree groynes in April on the Nesdale
property to protect river bank around a creek outlet.
TOTARA RESERVE
9.18. Channel maintenance work around the Gilchrist / Pettifar walking tracks has been
completed to encourage river flows to remain on the opposite bank giving new plantings of
willow time to establish.
GRAVEL EXTRACTION
9.19. No gravel has been extracted from either river during this period.
UPPER WHANGANUI RIVER MANAGEMENT SCHEME
9.20. The scheme Annual Catchment Community meeting is scheduled for Thursday 14 April
2016.
9.21. The largest component of the works programme this year is the removal of the poplars
both upstream and downstream of the State Highway Bridge over the Ongarue River. The
job is almost complete and although logistically it has been difficult to organise in an urban
environment with traffic management required on four district roads and a State Highway,
the job has gone without a problem.
9.22. There will be a small income from the sale of poplar logs to the OJI Pulp Mill at Kinleith.
TARINGAMOTU RIVER MANAGEMENT SCHEME
9.23. The scheme Annual Catchment Community meeting is scheduled for Thursday 14 April
2016.
9.24. Planned work this year removing debris from a 8.29 km section of channel along the lower
reaches of the river upstream of the Ongarue confluence is now completed.
MATARAWA FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME
9.25. The scheme Annual Catchment Community meeting is scheduled for Monday 4 April 2016.
9.26. The River Management Design team has now finalised the flood damage repair
requirements for the Dam 3.1 spillway. This work which includes a rock lining along the
spillway base to protect the stream discharge interface will be costed in March with work
being undertaken in April while ground conditions remain favourable for heavy machinery.
9.27. Staff have completed a vegetation and channel blockage survey of the Lower Matarawa
Stream from the Wanganui city boundary at the upper end to Anzac Parade. This section
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Page 36
of stream runs through the rear of private properties and maintenance responsibility has
rested with those landowners. The channel has become heavily overgrown and now has
limited conveyance. Recent flooding has highlighted the difficulties in relying on
enforcement (Land Drainage Act 1908) as a maintenance regime. Horizons Regional
Council and WDC staff are discussing the best way forward to resolve this issue.
TUTAENUI FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME
9.28. The scheme Annual Catchment Community meeting was held on 23 March 2016.
9.29. Robust discussion took place at the meeting around concerns that the schemes current
budget was inadequate to enable desired levels of channel maintenance work to be
completed. As a consequence, those present opted to make a combined Annual Plan
submission seeking to have the Scheme’s rates increased by 5%.
9.30. Work is now complete constructing a rock lining at the old wooden flume site adjacent to
531 Wellington Road. The new rock work will better protect the culvert outlet from erosion
with the added advantage of also reducing the noise nuisance created by water freefalling
several metres from the old flume to the stream.
9.31. The New World supermarket has completed flood damage repairs to a mass block wall
and rock lining adjacent to their car park. The flood in June 2015 undermined the mass
block wall causing a partial collapse and tilting forward of the blocks. Their contractor took
advantage of dry channel conditions to reinstall the wall at a lower foundation level and
well below the expected scour depth.
MAKIRIKIRI FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME
9.32. There is no scheme Annual Catchment Community meeting scheduled for this year.
9.33. Tender documents for the construction of the flood egress gate on the Makirikiri Stream
have been advertised with the tender closing Friday 1 April. Work will commence almost
immediately on this project following tender evaluation if a contract is able to be awarded
within the available budget.
POREWA FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME
9.34. There is no scheme Annual Catchment Community meeting scheduled for this year.
9.35. De-silting of Dam 100 is now deferred as a change in work priorities has seen the
commencement of work at Dam 29 removing slip material that threatens the operational
integrity of the structure.
WHANGAEHU MANGAWHERO RIVER MANAGEMENT SCHEME
9.36. The scheme Annual Catchment Community meeting was held on 16 March 2016.
9.37. For the first time this was held in conjunction with the Turakina Scheme Annual Catchment
Community meeting and the new format was supported by those in attendance. Both
schemes are very similarly in nature focussing on vegetation management and are
managed by the same staff. The cross pollination of ideas at the meeting and the
exchange in experience was seen as beneficial to both parties.
9.38. No work was undertaken during this period.
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TURAKINA RIVER MANAGEMENT SCHEME
9.39. The scheme Annual Catchment Community meeting was held on 16 March 2016.
9.40. There was some discussion on whether the works programme was sufficient in scope to
meet the needs of members in the upper catchment. The Liaison Committee will report on
the merits of funding a scheme along the lines of the Pohangina River Scheme where
project work is partially funded by the benefiting landowner.
9.41. No work undertaken this period.
LOWER WHANGANUI
PROGRAMME
VEGETATION
MANAGEMENT
AND
FLOOD
PROTECTION
9.42. The scheme Annual Catchment Community meeting is scheduled for Monday 4 April 2016.
9.43. Work repairing the flood damage to the Kowhai Park stopbank is nearing completion. The
re-grassing of the worked areas is expected in the very near future as we move into the
favourable seed germinating autumn period.
9.44. A decision on the future of a seriously flood damaged house just upstream of Anzac
Parade on the Matarawa Stream Bridge has been made. With this certainty known we are
now able to move forward with negotiations to determine permanent floodwall repairs
through the property.
9.45. Priority continues to be given to the reinstatement of damage to flood protection assets
while other programmed vegetation maintenance work is deferred, at least until the
outcome of the MCDEM assistance claim is known.
PAKIHI SCHEME
9.46. There is no scheme Annual Catchment Community meeting scheduled for this year.
9.47. The small budget available each year to undertake scheme work provides a challenge
each year attracting an approved contractor willing to locate on site for less than a days
work. This will improve in subsequent years as the work programme moves into a biannual pattern to become more efficient in utilising the limited funding available. For this
year’s work, debris was removed from the channel through Punch’s property.
FOREST ROAD DRAINAGE SCHEME
9.48. There is no scheme Annual Catchment Community meeting scheduled for this year.
9.49. No work undertaken this period.
HAUNUI DRAINAGE SCHEME
9.50. There is no scheme Annual Catchment Community meeting scheduled for this year.
9.51. No work undertaken this period.
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OTHER WORKS
NORTHERN ANNUAL SCHEME REPORTS
9.52. Each year an Annual Report is prepared outlining the activities, and financial standing of
the 14 schemes in the Northern Area for the previous financial year. Currently the report is
40% completed.
THE BIG FIVE
9.53. Currently one staff member is representing the Marton Service Centre on the Big 5
Strategy Group. Strategies such as Celebrating Success, Understanding our Business,
Process for Innovation etc. have been included into an Action Plan 2.0 with subgroups
looking at guidelines and processes to see the realization of the particular strategies in the
Action Plan. Emphasis will continue to be placed on this during the coming year.
ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT WORK
9.54. As a result of the June and the September 2015 flood events there has been an increased
level of requests for flood damage repair works. This year to date, there have been
16 environmental grant applications made with repairs at seven sites now being
completed, with a further five sites being approved, one awaiting approval, and three
others which have been delayed by the property owners.
9.55. A further two applications are being prepared for approval and will show in the next bimonthly report.
OTHER PROJECTS
MOAWHANGO RIVER
Planned vegetation management and clearance work for Genesis Energy is complete for the year
with only the burning of slash piles to undertake in April / May when conditions allow.
10.
EASTERN AREA
GENERAL
10.1. The last two months have been dry, and while rainfall levels have been typical for this time
of year, it was the wet spring and early summer that prevented the catchment from drying
out to the drought-like conditions of last year. Fortunately this weather has made river
works and earthworks fairly straight forward and staff have been able to get on top of the
increased workload and insurance works that resulted from the June 2015 flood.
10.2. The highest total rainfall recorded in the eastern catchment over the last two month period
was close to 200 mm, this was recorded at the Upper Mangahao hydro recording site in
the Tararuas, and is similar to what fell over the same period last year.
10.3. Over the last two months staff have been focused on undertaking the bulk of the flood
damage works that were programmed for this season. A good portion of the cost of this
work is included in the MCDEM claim.
10.4. The total damage to eastern rivers and streams caused by the June flood was estimated to
be close to $2.2M, and this season it is planned to repair just under $2.0M of it, meaning
that 90% of the damage caused by the flood should be repaired by the end of the season.
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
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Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Of the extra work undertaken this season, we will actually complete all of the $0.7M worth
of works that can be claimed upon, equating to $413,854 of potential Central Government
MCDEM assistance.
10.5. During March staff have also been busy preparing for, and holding Catchment Community
Meetings for the Mangatainoka, Upper Manawatu, South Eastern Ruahine, Akitio and
Eastern Manawatu Schemes. This season the focus of these meetings was broadened in
an effort to give attendees the opportunity to be informed and ask questions about a wider
range of the initiatives that are currently underway within Council. As such, several other
team members also attended the meetings and there was good discussion, especially in
regard to current pest plant issues.
10.6. During this period staff have also been busy following-up on a number of non-scheme
enquiries, organising and undertaking environmental grant works and undertaking Health
and Safety Audits.
10.7. Gravel extraction rates over the last two months have again been high. Nearly 11,250 m³
of gravel was extracted a substantial portion taken from the South Eastern Ruahine
streams for the State Highway upgrade just south of Dannevirke.
AKITIO SCHEME
10.8. The Akitio River over the last two months has again been fairly settled and this is clearly
because there has been little in the way of rain, and while this is not unusual, there has
only been about 50 mm of rainfall over the period.
10.9. Because the river has been settled and this is a year of (programmed) reduced works,
there has bee little Scheme activity. The only work to be undertaken was a small amount of
Old Man’s Beard (OMB) control. Further aerial spraying work is programmed for the
2017-18 FY year.
10.10. Other than the activities mentioned above, and as mentioned in the last Bi-monthly report;
staff met with Tararua District Council (TDC) staff, Scheme Liaison Committee members
and the wider Akitio beach community last October to discuss their concern about the
decaying willow debris that has been washing up on the beach and how this could best be
addressed.
10.11. An initial plan to gather up the debris and burn it is now on hold subject to further
discussion within the Akitio Ratepayers Association.
10.12. The Akitio Scheme Catchment Community meeting was held in Dannevirke at 11.00 on
24 March. Unfortunately, the meeting was poorly attended, likely due to the minimal
Scheme activity.
EASTERN MANAWATU SCHEME
10.13. Over the last two months the Eastern Manawatu River has been settled and inspections
show that no further debris dams have formed. In recent years, as sprayed willows start
breaking down, the possibility that debris dams could form during a flood has been one of
the biggest factors to consider when managing this scheme. Although the balance of the
reserve fund is acceptable, the management philosophy to date has been to programme a
substantial portion of the annual works budget to debris dam removal in case it is needed.
Fortunately, so far this season, only a small amount of this provision has been needed and
as such the whole works budget is currently sitting at 50% expended. Over the next two
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Page 40
months staff will make a judgement call and likely start utilising these funds for other
clearance works.
10.14. An interesting point to note however is that recent inspections have shown that a fair
amount of willow regrowth is now evident. This is likely due to the fact that the willow in a
large part of the scheme was last sprayed six years ago and as such new growth has got
to the stage where it really starts to bolt and become obvious. A large amount of spot
spraying will be budgeted in next years works programme as a result.
10.15. The Eastern Manawatu Scheme Catchment Community meeting was held in Dannevirke at
1.30 pm on 24 March. The meeting was run in tandem with the South Eastern Ruahine
Scheme meeting in an effort to make the meetings more efficient and offer the chance of
cross pollination of discussion. The meeting was well attended and there was a lot of good
discussion, however very few of the issues raised were in direct relation to the scheme.
MANGATAINOKA SCHEME
10.16. Programmed works continued on the Mangatainoka Scheme this period, primarily to repair
damage caused by the June flood. Works that were completed this period include tree
bank protection work, a number of Permeable Mesh Unit (PMU) jobs and the
maintenance layering of a section of willows. Unfortunately, while work has progressed,
staff workload and contractor availability has meant that staff have struggled to complete
the number of works that they had hoped to, despite the favourable weather conditions.
10.17. As mentioned earlier this season’s programmed scheme works include $393,172 worth of
extra flood damage repairs. Funding this requires the reprioritization of $159,000 worth of
budgeted funds and had originally required the addition of $230,000 worth of emergency
reserve funds. Early indications are however that the scheme will receive funding as part
of the MCDEM claim for 60% of the cost of flood damage repairs, totalling $206,500 for the
Mangatainoka Scheme. This, combined with planned under expenditure on flood damage
repairs as a result of the postponement of a rock lining planned for Fonterra owned land
has meant that it is likely that there will be no requirement for the approved emergency
reserve drawdown.
10.18. Staff have also been investigating the ongoing flooding problems caused by the
Mangaramarama Stream, north of Pahiatua. Proposed solutions to the issue include the
realignment of one meander, the excavation of two overflow channels in the stream, as
well as a short stopbank to redirect the worst of the flood waters around several properties.
Survey at select locations of the stream channel has been completed and the design team
have produced figures indicating the effect on channel capacity of some of these
proposals.
10.19. Going forward, staff will continue to be busy organising scheme works, including preparing
for and undertaking the scheme’s initial aerial spraying programme.
10.20. The Mangatainoka Scheme Catchment Community meeting was held in Woodville at
1.00 pm on 17 March. The meeting was well attended, and the works programmes and
budgets presented for 2015-16 and 2016-17 were well received. The Mangaramarama
Stream flood alleviation proposals were also presented and discussed, with attendees
supporting the undertaking of the first of the proposed measures next financial year.
10.21. As part of the move to a more diverse catchment meeting a short presentation was also
made by HRC’s Biodiversity team on the recent Velvet Leaf incursion.
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
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Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
SOUTH EASTERN RUAHINE SCHEME
10.22. As reported previously, the South Eastern Ruahine Scheme has made good progress in
working its way through the seasons programmed works and flood damage. All but three
of the claimable flood damage works have now been completed and this puts the scheme
in an excellent position going forward.
10.23. Fortunately this scheme is able to make an early start to this sort of work because it is
generally made up of a large number of steep, small streams that are relatively accessible
throughout most of the year.
10.24. As mentioned in the past, this season’s programmed scheme works include $389,242
worth of extra flood damage repairs. Funding this requires the reprioritization of $40,000
worth of budgeted funds and had originally required the addition of $357,500 worth of
emergency reserve funds. However, initial indications are however that the scheme will
receive funding through the MCDEM claim for 60% of the cost of flood damage repairs,
totalling $93,533, which now means the drawdown is likely to be $210,000.
10.25. A large amount of gravel was extracted this period (11,250 m³) this will help remove some
of the inflow that occurred during the June Flood.
10.26. Going forward staff will focus their efforts on completing the still outstanding programmed
maintenance works, there is a small amount of non claimable flood damage works but the
majority of the work will be willow maintenance.
10.27. During this reporting period staff have also been busy preparing for the Catchment
Community meetings. The South Eastern Ruahine Scheme Catchment Community
meeting was held in Dannevirke at 1.30 pm on 24 March and this season the meeting was
run conjointly with the Eastern Manawatu Scheme meeting in an effort to make the
meetings more efficient and offer the chance of cross pollination of discussion. The
meeting was well attended and there was a lot of good discussion, however very few of the
issues raised were in direct relation to the scheme.
IHURAUA SCHEME
10.28. Ongoing inspections show that the Ihuraua Stream channel is still relatively clear and free
flowing. Previous years efforts to clear the constrictions that were identified in the 2011
Ihuraua Scheme Audit have clearly been of benefit and staff are currently busy organising
a channel spraying programme for the coming months to clear this season’s weed growth.
TAWATAIA - MANGAONE SCHEME
10.29. As with the Ihuraua, the schemes channels are still working very well, however this
seasons weed growth needs spraying and staff are busy organising these works for next
month. One landowner has been in touch concerned about self seeded willow growth,
which is what congested the channel back in the 1980s, so staff have been in touch to
ensure these plants are treated before they can become a problem.
UPPER MANAWATU – LOWER MANGAHAO SCHEME
10.30. Works are now well under way despite being initially held up due to fluctuating river levels.
Good progress has continued this period with tied tree works and willow layering being
undertaken on both the Manawatu and Mangahao Rivers, along with a number of drains
being mechanically cleaned. Contractors also treated 2 hectares of willow plantings for
OMB, finding and poisoning some very well established vines.
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Page 42
10.31. Staff have noticed that there has been excellent willow growth throughout the scheme with
the arrival of warmer weather. Willow poles in all locations continue to show good growth,
and tree bank protection and PMU work are showing good signs of establishment.
10.32. Going forward, staff will continue to undertake the rest of the scheme’s programmed works,
which include $189,702 worth of flood damage repairs. Funding this will require the
reprioritization of $50,995 worth of budgeted funds and originally required the drawdown of
$128,245 worth of emergency reserve funds. However, initial indications are that the
scheme will receive funding through the MCDEM claim for 60% of the cost of flood damage
repairs, totalling $113,821, which now means the drawdown is likely to be $10,000.
10.33. We are now over 50% of the way through the seasons programmed work and anticipate
completing the majority of programmed works within the next bi-monthly period.
10.34. There has been no gravel extraction on the Upper Manawatu/Lower Mangahao Scheme
this period
10.35. The Upper Manawatu/Lower Mangahao Scheme Catchment Community meeting was held
in Woodville at 10.00 am on 17 March. The meeting was well attended and the presented
works programmes for both 2015-16 and 2016-17 were generally well received. There
was robust discussion over the proposed 1.3% rate increase for next year with some
attendees expressing a need for a 0% increase due to current hardship in the dairy sector.
Those with those concerns were encouraged to make an Annual Plan submission.
10.36. As part of the move to a more diverse catchment meeting a short presentation was also
made by HRC’s Biodiversity team on the recent Velvet Leaf incursion to New Zealand and
its potential damage to the agriculture sector.
ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT WORKS AND ENGINEERING ADVICE
10.37. Over the last two months the number of requests for non-scheme and environmental grant
advice has dropped off considerably. This is fairly typical for this time of year as water
levels drop and the incidences of erosion diminish. It is this period that a lot of the
previously approved environmental grant works are usually undertaken. However, most
works have actually already been completed, the rock lining at Short’s and the tree bank
protection work were completed at the end of January and the only other approved works,
the reserve protection at Pongaroa and the tree works on the Mangatoro at Hooper-Smiths
are both programmed for completion next month.
10.38. The status of all environmental grant works will be further reported on in a separate item in
the agenda document.
11.
SOUTHERN AREA
GENERAL
11.1. The weather over this last period has been fairly settled which has enabled staff to make
good progress with their maintenance work. The improved conditions have also allowed
the spraying contractors to catch-up with their spray programs.
11.2. Staff attended a meeting with HDC and a number of landowners who live adjacent to the
Koputaroa Stream to discuss the Northern Levin Stormwater Upgrade proposal.
11.3. Staff continue to work with the Horizons’ Freshwater Team and contractors to revise the
cost estimates for the works around Lake Horowhenua.
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
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Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
11.4. Community Catchment meetings have been held for a number of schemes including
Manawatu, Makerua, Te Kawau, Hokio, Moutoa and Koputaroa, with Ohau-Manakau to
take place on Monday 11 April. The meetings to date have generally been well attended
with the exception of the Hokio and Moutoa meetings.
11.5. Newsletters have been sent out to the ratepayers in the Koputaroa and Te Kawau
Drainage Scheme advising them of outcomes of scheme audits and proposed changes to
the scheme rating system.
11.6. Staff attended a Health and Safety seminar on changes resulting from the introduction of
the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
11.7. Staff were involved with site visits by Emergency Management staff from Horizons, PNCC,
MDC and HDC to Burkes Pumpstation, Sluggish Main Drain Floodgates and Moutoa
Floodgates.
OHAU-MANAKAU SCHEME
11.8. This period has been relatively dry with only a few high flow events occurring. The highest
flow of the period was on the Waikawa with 1.3 m (43 m³/s) on 19 February with very low
flows for the biggest portion of the rest of the time and other smaller freshes mid March.
The highest flows for the other channels are as follows: Ohau with 0.927 m (35 m³/s) and
Manakau Stream with 1.3 m (1.8 m³/s).
11.9. Work during this period included erosion protection and gravel extraction. Concrete riprap
was placed on multiple sites on the Manakau Stream between distance 3.8 and 5.5 km and
also one site on the Ohau River at distance 7.8 km. All of them were to limit further erosion
of land adjacent to the outsides of a number of river bends.
11.10. Gravel extraction has been undertaken on the Waikawa Stream. This work is part of the
resource consent to lower the bed of the channel to increase capacity and reduce flooding
to adjacent paddocks. A total of 5,000 m³ was removed from the channel and stockpiled
adjacent to the channel. This site will need to be closely monitored for erosion and repairs
made as they require.
11.11. 1.6 km of drain was machine cleaned this period.
MANAWATU DRAINAGE SCHEME
11.12. The Catchment Community meeting took place on 22 March and was well attended.
Discussion focussed on a range of issues including the recent pump station Health and
Safety Audit and the proposed targeted rate increase contained in the Draft Annual Plan.
11.13. During this period the annual visual inspection of our floodgate and stopbank assets within
the scheme were completed. From the inspections, a works programme will be complied
to address all the minor repair works that are identified and prioritize them accordingly.
11.14. Along the Hansen Line Drain, at the roadside entrance, a culvert has been replaced that
lead into Barnes’s property. Additional repairs were also carried out at two adjacent
culverts to fix areas of slumping.
11.15. Along Mitchell’s Creek, a 750 mm culvert was replaced with a new 1050 mm culvert. On
the Bruce’s property, a section of the drain where a wash out occurred has been fixed with
concrete to stabilise the drain bank.
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Page 44
11.16. Over a two year period, floodgated culverts have been inspected to determine their
condition. Last year the CCTV inspections of all the floodgated culverts along Burkes
Drain were completed. This period we have inspected all 21 floodgated culverts along the
Manawatu Main Drain. This information will then be used to determine the potential risk
failure of the structure and the consequence of such failure. The result of the risk failure
and the consequence failure will then be combined to provide a culvert priority repair
program.
11.17. Along a section of the Taouni Stream from Milson Line to the top of the McLeod’s property
(11.7 km – 13.9 km), a long reach excavator has been used to clean the stream.
11.18. A total of 45 km of scheme drains have been sprayed with herbicides this period.
MAKERUA DRAINAGE SCHEME
11.19. The Catchment Community meeting took place on 18 March and was well attended.
Discussion covered a range of issues including the spillway proposal for the Linton Main
Drain and the recent pump station Health and Safety Audit.
11.20. At Donnelly’s Pumpstation, No.1 pump was removed for servicing. The pump is expected
to be reinstalled in early April. Some building maintenance was also carried out.
11.21. A 300 m section of stopbank on the left bank of Rowlands Drain, on Gledhill’s property,
was broken down and reconstructed.
11.22. A 750 mm culvert was placed under the road from Ashley Drain into Hopkins property. This
is to act as an overflow pipe in high water flows to take the excess water to the Boundary
Pumpstation.
11.23. The remaining two culverts on Linton Main Drain have had CCTV inspections and now a
prioritised renewals programme can be established for the floodgated culverts on the drain.
11.24. A total of 34 km of scheme drains have been sprayed with herbicides during the period.
KOPUTAROA DRAINAGE SCHEME
11.25. The Catchment Community meeting took place on 21 March and had the highest
attendance of this round of meetings to date. Attendance was reflective (in part) of the
success of the newsletter sent to ratepayers in advance of the meeting but more relating to
two very topical issues; a spillway proposed for the right Koputaroa Stream stopbank and
the HDC Levin stormwater disposal plan referred to earlier in this report. Subsequent to
the meeting a meeting on site was held for those interested in the detail associated with
the spillway location.
11.26. The gravity outlet for Koputaroa No.2 Pumpstation was extended this period. The
pumpstation adjacent to the outlet has a couple of health and safety issues, the most
significant being the fall height from the side of the working platform into the drain. New
pipes were installed to bring the gravity inlet the headwall out to the front of the
pumpstation eliminating the fall height issue.
11.27. The headwall of the M3 Drain gate was repaired with railway irons and timber. This was
due to the existing headwall collapsing. The gate was removed from the culvert pipe and
refurbished due to the amount of surface rust.
11.28. A culvert on the Aratangata No.3 Drain had collapsed and has been replaced.
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
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Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
MOUTOA - WHIROKINO DRAINAGE SCHEME
11.29. This Catchment Community meeting also took place on 22 March. Attendance levels
contrasted with the Koputaroa meeting; discussion with the handfull of attendees focussed
on a range of issues including Foxton stormwater issues and the recent pump station
Health and Safety Audit. Comment on the pump station Health and Safety Audit included
the observation that staff needed to be mindful of future stations modifications/upgrades –
in essence ensuring that money spent addressing a particular issue was not better put
toward a future upgrade.
11.30. Repairs were undertaken to the retaining wall at the entrance of Cooks Pumpstation. The
wall was replaced along with the stairs leading up from the work area to the station door.
11.31. The weed screen at Diagonal Pumpstation was de-watered and inspected. The screens
were required to be replaced so measurements were taken and new screens
manufactured. In order to accommodate the work within the current FY budget installation
will take place early in the new FY.
11.32. Parts of the old retaining wall from Cooks Pumpstation were utilised to tidy-up the retaining
wall at the Diagonal Pumpstation entrance.
TE KAWAU DRAINAGE SCHEME
11.33. The Catchment Community meeting took place on 29 March and was well attended.
Discussion focussed on a range of issues including the recent pump station Health and
Safety Audit, the LMS upgrade of the Oroua stopbanks, the Main Drain outfall to the
Manawatu River and the proposed targeted rate increase contained in the Draft Annual
Plan. The apparent raising of a section of Rongotea Road between Kairanga and the
Oroua River was also a topic of discussion, with staff confirming that the matter had been
raised with MDC staff but that it had yet to be satisfactorily resolved.
11.34. In 2009, a CCTV program was implemented to inspect all of the significant culverts
structures through the stopbank within the Te Kawau Drainage Scheme. Over a two year
period, 42 floodgated culverts were inspected to determine their condition. This
information was then used to determine potential failure likelihood. Failure consequences
were then assessed and an overall risk profile determined, with that in turn used to
determine a repair programme.
11.35. Eight culverts were assigned a high priority for replacement or remedial work, a further four
culverts were identified as being of medium risk and another five culverts were identified as
being of low risk.
11.36. To date all eight of the high priority floodgated culverts have been replaced. This period
has seen the remaining medium priority and three low priority floodgated culverts replaced.
The two outstanding low priority culverts will be replaced next year.
11.37. During this period the annual visual inspection of our floodgate and stopbank assets within
the scheme were started. From this, a works list will be complied to address all the minor
repair works that are identified from these inspections.
11.38. A total of 27 km of scheme drains have been sprayed with herbicides this period.
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Page 46
HOKIO CATCHMENT DRAINAGE SCHEME
11.39. The Catchment Community meeting took place on 29 March and despite recent events
had a grand attendance total of one ratepayer. As a consequence the meeting was rather
abbreviated in nature and centred on very site specific matters.
11.40. Mitigation works were undertaken on Kane’s property which included the installation of four
floodgated culverts and the construction of a low bund to reduce the flooding of
surrounding paddocks. This work is in conjunction with the upgrade of culverts in drains
leading into the Arawhata Stream.
11.41. Willows blocking the stream were removed at distance 2.8 km.
growing in the channel causing restrictions.
These willows were
11.42. Staff are investigating issues with a section of McLeavey Road Drain that has been piped
and is now causing issues for the upstream landowner. The culvert was installed at least
10 years ago and involves several different properties. Initial CCTV inspection of the pipe
found deformed pipes and blockages which made it impossible to carry out a full inspection
of the pipeline. Staff have already removed the damaged sections of pipe to allow further
investigation and further CCTV inspections will take place shortly.
11.43. Culverts were upgraded on Bruce Road and CD Farm Road to increase the capacity of
flows under the roads. This work was carried out by HDC on behalf of the scheme and is
part of the general scheme upgrade and Lake Horowhenua sediment minimisation works.
12.
ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT WORK
12.1. The status of grants approved during the 2015-16 year to date, together with those
approved last year but deferred, is as shown in the table below:
Name
River
Type of Work
Date
Approved
Work Status
Estimated/
Actual
Works Cost
($)
$1,800
estimated
Value of
Grant
Blackfern
Lodge
Ongarue
River
Tree removal,
cut up and stack.
12/8/2015
Completed
N Tripe and
T Mathews
Mangatipona Grade control
Stream
30/4/2015
Completed
$17,960
estimated
$5,388
estimated
G Bennett
Upper
Mangahao
River
Erosion
protection
12/6/2015
Completed
$22,370
actual
$6,710
actual
K Norman
Upper
Mangahao
River
Erosion
protection
17/7/2015
Completed
$7,360
actual
$2,208
actual
Tunnel Hill
Makirikiri
Stream
Flood water
egress structure
29/7/2015
Yet to
commence
$75,000
estimated
$22,500
estimated
$2,962
actual
$890 actual
$540 estimated
– funding
issue to
resolve – will
most likely be
deferred to
next year.
Bird and
Brown
Kiwitea
Stream
Erosion
protection
31/7/2015
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Completed
Page 47
Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
C
Williamson
Waituna
Stream
Erosion
protection
21/9/2015
Completed
$10,000
estimated
$3,000
estimated
N Short
Tapuata
Stream
Erosion
protection
21/9/2015
Completed
$6,000
actual
$1,800
actual
S Dittmer
Kiwitea
Stream
Erosion
protection
21/9/2015
Completed
$5,195
actual
$1,559 actual
M&N
Stewart
Porewa
Stream
Erosion
protection
21/9/2015
Completed
$7,962
actual
$2,388 actual
E Brook
Kiwitea
Stream
Erosion
protection
21/9/2015
Completed
$16,663
actual
$4,990 actual
C Nagel
Tutaenui
Stream
Erosion
protection
21/9/2015
Completed
$7,200
estimated
$2,160
estimated
J Heald
Manawatu
River at
Oringi
Erosion
ptotection
4/9/2015
Completed
$23,608
actual
$7,082
actual
Kym Black
Oroua River
at
Rangiwahia
Erosion
protection
30/10/2015
Yet to
commence
$13,000
estimated
$3,900
estimated
D
Voelkerling
Porewa
Stream
Erosion
protection
30/10/2015
Completed
$12,200
estimated
$3,600
estimated
W Blakely
Porewa
Stream
Erosion
protection
16/12/15
Completed
$27,415
estimated
$8,225
estimated
Curwen
Hare
Kiwitea
Stream
Erosion
protection
16/12/15
Completed
$7,018
actual
$2,105
actual
FullertonSmith
Tutaenui
Stream
Erosion
protection
2/12/15
Completed
$19,500
estimated
$5,850
estimated
Redmayne
Mangatikotok Channel grade
o Stream
control
Turakina
5/2/2016
Work
underway –
$41,000
estimated
$12,300
estimated
HooperSmith and
Taylor
Mangatoro
Stream
Erosion
protection
4/2/2016
Yet to
commence
$8,000
estimated
$2,400
estimated
Pongaroa
Way –to-go
community
group
Jarrod
Drysdale
Pongaroa
River
Erosion
protection/chann
el control
4/2/2016
Yet to
commence
$11,500
estimated
$3,450
estimated
Mangaroa
Valley
Erosion control
1/3/2016
Yet to
commence
$5,900
estimated
$1,770
estimated
C Hughes
Tutaenui
Stream
Erosion control
30/3/20165
Yet to
commence
$14,200
estimated
$4,206
estimated
will be part
deferred to
next year.
Total Estimated Grant Commitment To Date
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
$109,075
Page 48
12.2. The Annual Plan budget for Environmental Grants (Rivers Fund) during the current year is
$60,000. Having considered a paper to the Strategy and Policy Committee on 8 December
2015, Council approved an additional $50,000, giving a total budget of $110,000.
12.3. While that budget has in effect, been fully committed (refer table above), the deferral, at
least in part, of two large works on the Tunnel Hill property at Turakina is likely to result in
an under expenditure of grant funding in the approximate sum of $25,000.
13.
SIGNIFICANCE
13.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and
Engagement.
Ramon Strong
GROUP MANAGER RIVER MANAGEMENT
ANNEXES
A
Schedule of Completed Works
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Page 49
Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
SCHEDULE OF COMPLETED WORKS
FEBRUARY TO MARCH 2016
NORTHERN SCHEMES
Annex A
River
Distance
km
Left Bank
(LB) Right
Bank(RB)
Property Owner/Location
Type of Work
SCHEME NAME
RANGITIKEI RIVER CONTROL SCHEME
RIVER NAME
RANGITIKEI
Flood gates
Check all floodgates
River Inspection
Check for rail irons in the channel
River Inspection
Remove irons from channel
Quantity
X 15
1.80
RB
Scotts Ferry
Rock repairs
220 m
1.80
RB
Scotts Ferry
Remove silt from rock wall
250 m
3.20
LB
Tangimoana Stopbank
Repairs to sand stopbank
40 m
4.80
RB
Parewanui Drain
Drain clean No. 3 Drain
19.30
LB
Simpson Haul Road
Stockpile rock
22.20
RB
Bulls Bridge
Clean drain out to river
32.50
LB
Kakariki Bridge
Rock repairs
65 m
37.40
LB
Kakariki Rangitikei
Aggregate
Beach clearing
5 Ha
40.00
RB
Lovelock
Repair groynes
244 m
47.50
RB
Marshall
Repairs to groynes
210 m
55.50
LB
McVitty
Repairs to groynes
220 m
700 m
252 Tonne
900 m
SCHEME NAME
POHANGINA-OROUA SCHEME
RIVER NAME
POHANGINA RIVER
22.80
RB
Passey
Rope and rail groynes
45 m
22.80
LB & RB
Passey
Channel maintenance
3 ha
25.50
RB
Totara Reserve
Channel maintenance and
vegetation removal
1 km
SCHEME NAME
POHANGINA-OROUA SCHEME
RIVER NAME
OROUA
28.70
Hoggard
RB
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Live tree bank protection work
35 m
Page 50
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
SCHEME NAME
RB
SCHEME NAME
SCHEME NAME
SCHEME NAME
Porewa
Clean and inspect dams
Dam 29
Clear blocked inlet drain from slip
Item 6
POREWA VALLEY FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME
PAKIHI FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME
Punch
Remove vegetation from channel
140 m
MATARAWA FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME
Blinkbonnie
Install three new flood gates
Dams
Clean and inspect dams
X3
TUTAENUI FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME
Tutaenui Stream – Curls Br
Remove trees from channel
X 15
Tutaenui Stream – Marton
Remove trees from channel,
Marton
3 km
Tutaenui Stream – Marton
Shift metal beaches
Tutaenui Stream – Marton
Shift metal beaches
Tutaenui Flume
Replace flume with rock
Drain Spraying
Marton township
Drain Spraying
Bulls – Mike Young
Wilson Park
Drain clean Folly Stream
Dams
Clean and inspect dams
40 m
.800 m
1.800 m
350 m
UPPER WHANGANUI RIVER MANAGEMENT SCHEME
Upper Wanganui River
247.80
LB
Para St beach
Rip gravels
0.25 ha
248.00
RB
Matapuna beach
Rip gravels
0.39 ha
LB
Taumarunui St
Mulch bamboo
50 m
RB
Curtis Joinery
Mulch bamboo
150 m
RB
Above SH Bridge
Mulch vegetation
125 m
RB
Above SH Bridge
Remove poplar
80 m
LB
Above SH Bridge
Remove poplar
70 m
LB
Below SH Bridge
Remove poplar
225 m
Ongarue River
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Page 51
Annex A
SCHEME NAME
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 6
SCHEME NAME
LB
Upokongaro Jetty
Monthly maintenance and remove
silt
X2
LB
Kowhai Park
Culvert inspections
X2
LB
Kowhai Park
Complete Section A stopbank
repairs
RB
Balgownie
Mow stopbank
SCHEME NAME
777 m
X1
TARINGAMOTU RIVER SCHEME
LB & RB
Hayes/Wright
Remove debris from channel
3.41 km
LB & RB
Below Ngakanui Bridge
Remove debris from channel
4.88 km
LB & RB
Filleul
Remove debris from channel
.10 km
LB
Filleul
Bank protection work
Non Scheme
Annex A
LOWER WHANGANUI RIVER MANAGEMENT SCHEME
30 m
MOAWHANGO
LB
Ashton
Remove dead willows from
channel
680 m
LB & RB
Duncan
Remove dead willow from channel
322 m
LB & RB
Batley
Remove dead willow from channel
100 m
ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT WORKS
Completed
N Tripe
Blackfern Lodge
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Repair grade control structures on
Mangatipona Stream
Remove willow from Ongarue
Stream
X2
Page 52
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Left Bank
(LB) / Right
Bank (RB)
Property Owner/Location
SCHEME NAME:
OHAU-MANAKAU
RIVER NAME:
Ohau River
7.8km
RB
Hazlitt
Type of Work
Quantity
Placement of conc riprap
64m
3
RIVER NAME:
Manakau Stream
3.8km
RB
MacArthy estate
Placement of conc riprap
16m
3
2.9km
LB
Goreman
Placement of conc riprap
32m
3
5-5.5km
BOTH
Kay
Placement of conc riprap
24m
3
RIVER NAME:
Waikawa Stream
5.7-6.2
McArley/Miritana
BOTH
RIVER NAME:
SCHEME NAME:
0.0-0.3
LEFT
Gravel extraction
Drainage
Manakau drain
Machine clean
1km
Burnells drain
Machine clean
600m
MAKERUA DRAINAGE
Donnelly’s Pumpstation
Pump 1 removed for service. New roof
for Pumpstation shed built
Rowlands Stopbank
Remove section of left bank, key in
fresh material, compact and rebuild
bank
Ashlea Road drain
Place 750mm culvert under the road
from Ashlea road into Hopkins property
Drain Maintenance Chemical
SCHEME NAME:
11.7-13.9
SCHEME NAME:
5,000 m³
300m
34km
MANAWATU DRAINAGE
Hansen’s Line
Replace culvert at roadside drain
entrance into Barnes Property and
repair slumping at two adjacent
culverts
Mitchells Creek
Replace 750mm culvert pipes with
1050mm and repair wash out.
Taonui Stream
Long reach digger cleaned section of
Taonui from Milson line to top of
McLeads property
2.2km
Drain Maintenance Chemical
45km
KOPUTAROA DRAINAGE
Kop no.2 Pumpstation
Extension of gravity outlet pipe
M3 gate
Gate refurb and headwall repair
Aratangata no.3 drain
Culvert replaced due to damage
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Page 53
Annex A
River
Distance
(km)
Item 6
SOUTHERN SCHEMES
Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
River
Distance
(km)
Left Bank
(LB) / Right
Bank (RB)
Type of Work
Drain machine clean
SCHEME NAME:
Annex A
Property Owner/Location
Quantity
5.5km
MOUTOA - WHIROKINO DRAINAGE
Cooks Pumpstation
Repair/replacement of retaining wall
and steps
Diagonal Pumpstation
Weed screen investigation
Diagonal Pump station
Retaining wall reconstruction
SCHEME NAME:
TE KAWAU DRAINAGE
3.7-4.4
Te Kawau Main Drain
Machine clean and cart section along
road downstream from Kellow Road
0.7km
0.0-0.5
Goodwin’s Drain
Machine clean section of Goodwin’s
drain
0.5km
S23a
Culvert replaced 600mm
S23
Culvert Replaced 450mm
S17a
Culvert Replaced 450mm
Drain Maintenance Chemical
27km
150m
SCHEME NAME:
HOKIO DRAINAGE
2.9km
Hokio stream
Removal of willow blockages
0.6-1.0km
Arawhata stream
Construction of bund and floodgates
2.5-2.9km
Arawhata stream
Refurbish section of drain
Midway Drain
Road culvert upgraded under CD Farm
Road
Pescini Drain
Road culvert upgraded under Bruce
Road
Kimberley Drain
Road culvert upgraded under Bruce
Road
BOTH
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
350m & 4
floodgated
culvert
400m
Page 54
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 6
EASTERN SCHEMES
TARARUA SCHEMES
River Distance
(km)
River Bank
(LB/RB)
Property Owner /
Location
Type of Work
Quantity
RIVER / REACH:
Mangatainoka River: Reach 1
RIVER / REACH:
17.9km
Mangatainoka River: Reach 2
Right
Harris
PMU Groynes
40m
RIVER / REACH:
20.1km
20.9km
21.2km
Mangatainoka River: Reach 3
Left
Sowry
Right
Schroder
Left
Swansson
Tied Tree Work on R&R
PMU
PMU Groynes
10m
30m
40m
RIVER / REACH:
47km
47km
Mangatainoka River: Reach 6
Right
Carter/Spring
Right
Carter
Tree Groynes
Layering
20m
300m
SOUTH EASTERN RUAHINES
SCHEME
RIVER / REACH:
2.2 km
Raparapawai Stream (M1)
Both
D. Cammock
Clear drain outlets
120 m
RIVER / REACH:
3 km
3 - 8 km
Oruakeretaki Stream (M1)
Left
Parker, ver Waayen
Both
various
Clear channel debris
Cut & paste OMB vines.
120 m
2 ha
RIVER / REACH:
.6 km
Otamarahu Stream (M1)
Both
P. Charmley
Channel clear. Windthrow
100 m
RIVER / REACH:
6.5 km
Otomaraho Stream (M1)
Right
G. & R. Stephenson
Concrete Bank Protection
10 T
RIVER / REACH:
1 km
2.5 km
Rokaiwhana Stream (M3)
Left
M. Joho
Both
C. Bond
TBPW
Gravel Extraction
RIVER / REACH:
5 km
6.3 km
Tamaki River
(M4)
Right
Right
TBPW & tree clearance
TBPW and planting
Golf Course Farm
P. Boyden
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
30 m
3000 m3
50 m
100 m
Page 55
Annex A
MANGATAINOKA SCHEME
Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
6.9 km
7 km
9 km
7 - 10 km
7 - 10 km
Right
Left
Left
Both
Both
RIVER / REACH:
Northern Streams (M5)
4 km
3 km
Both
Both
RIVER / REACH:
Drainage (DR)
36 & 39
Both
P. Hardie
R. Trotter
P. Hardie
various
various
Repair TBPW
Repair TBPW
Repair TBPW
Channel clearance Debris
Cut & paste OMB vines.
50 m
80 m
60 m
2 km
2 ha
Williams(Mangatera)
G. Irwin(Tapuata)
Channel clearance. Wind
throw
Channel clearance.
400 m
80 m
O'leary, Brass,
Blatchford.
Clean drain
200 m
Annex A
UPPER MANAWATU / LOWER MANGAHAO SCHEME
RIVER / REACH:
Manawatu River
117-118km
117-118.5km
118.2Km
Mangahao River
0.8km
0.8 - 1.5km
1km
Manawatu and Mangahao River: Reach 1 (U1)
RIVER / REACH:
Armistead Drain
Ruawhata 1,2
Ruawhata 3
RB
Both
RB
Yates
Yates/Parks/Harris
Yates
OMB Control
Layering
Tied Tree Work
1km
1.5km
40m
Left
Both
Right
Longfields
Longfield/ Cooper
Cooper
Tied Tree Work
Layering/Mulching
Tied Tree Work
60m
700m
10m
Drainage (DR)
Channel
Channel
Channel
Cassel, Jackson
Cooper
Hogg, Fergus
Mechanical Clean
Mechanical Clean
Mechanical Clean
350m
2,996m
816m
EASTERN MANAWATU SCHEME
RIVER / REACH:
144.9km
Manawatu River: Lower Reach (EL)
Both
Healed
Channel Clearing
300m
RIVER / REACH:
209km
Manawatu River: Upper Reach (EU)
Both
C. Alderson
Channel Clearing
50m
Akitio River (RC)
Right
Cut OMB
1 ha
AKITIO SCHEME
RIVER / REACH:
40km
TDC
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Page 56
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
River Bank
(LB/RB)
Property Owner /
Location
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME
ALL FLOODGATES
0 km
Foxton Beach
0 to 10 km
0 to 10 km
22.9 km
RB
RB
RB
1 to 60 km
25.2 km
RB
29 km
30 to 45 km
LB
LB
31 km
LB
36 km
40 km
39 km
Foxton Loop
Foxton Loop
Landcorp
Manawatu Bend
Inspection
Landcorp
Mangaore Outlet
Berm
Various Stopbanks
Parlato’s, McAloon’s
Poplar Road
Coles, Funnell’s
Funnell’s
Funnell’s
Seymour to Funnell
Seymour / Funnell
Funnell / McAloon
Foxton to Ashhurst
LB
LB
LB
Various Stopbanks
42 km
76.5 to 77.5 km
77 – 84 km
RB
RB
RB
83.9 km
RB
RB
RB
98 – 99 km
Funnell
Dittmer Drive
City Reaches
Gasworks Drain
Outlet
Fitzherbert Bridge
Ashhurst Walkway
Various
Various
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME
7.5 km
RB
7.5 km
RB
7.5 km
RB
8 km
LB
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
HopkinsMain Drain
Road
HopkinsMain Drain
Road
HopkinsMain Drain
Road
O’Brien/Du
ncanMangawha
ta
Type of Work
Quantity
MANAWATU RIVER
Regular Inspection
Mow Stopbank
Spray weeds from
stopbank of loop
Mow Foxton stopbanks
Spraying
Inspect inside bends for
spray back
Spraying
200 m
7 km
Mowing
Mow Moutoa stopbanks x3
1000 m
12 km
Spraying & grass seeding
Spraying
Debris removal and
burning, fence removal
from stopbank
Fencing Willows
Stopbank Mowing
Mow crest of Stopbank
Mowing
Jet Boat Inspection
Spray weeds from
stopbank
Remove wood from
Stopbank batter
Spraying of rock
Stopbank Mowing
Spraying of Rock
Spraying of rock
Native maintenance
Inspections of mowing
locations
Floodgate Checks
OROUA RIVER
149
5 km
20
25 m
2000 m
5 km
11,000 m
90 km
30 sites
1 km
1000 m
6000 m
220 m
300 m
1000 m
x5
8
Tied Tree Bank Protection
20 m
Mulching of existing willow
630 m
Clear felling of pine
plantation
30 m
Mulching of existing willows
5 km
Page 57
Annex A
River Distance
(km)
Item 6
CENTRAL SCHEMES
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
LB
Various
Willow spraying
12 km
RB
Various
Willow spraying
12 km
26.5 km
LB
T Shannon
Repairs to stopbank in
Spillway
30 m
31.4 km
LB
Gravel Relocation
32.3 km
RB
BaileyDalton’s
Road
PatchingAwahuri
Road
Item 6
11 km
11 km
Annex A
50 m
MAKINO
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME
7.0 km
RB
7.0 km
RB
10 km
Concrete riprap protection
Channel
10 km
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME
Neal Awahuri
Road
Neal Awahuri
Road
Various
Sites
Fell Pine Trees
Stockpile fill material
Spray willows in channel
Duke
Street to
Derby
Street
Channel clearance
Structure
Run floodgates
1
6 sites
MANGAONE
5 km
LB
Botanical
Road
Remove debris from berm
channel
25 m
8 km
RB
Flyger’s
Line
Remove debris from berm
channel
2 tonnes
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME
STONEY CREEK
2.0 km
LB/RB
Joe/Currie
– Te Matai
Road
Mulching of weed growth
on stopbank
1300 m
2.0 km
LB/RB
Joe/Currie
–Te Matai
Road
Channel Maintanence
1460 m
2.4 km
LB
Eagle/Turfl
ands
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME
Stopbank repairs
50 m
MOUTOA GATES
Ran gates
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME
2
DERBY CREEK
0.2 km
LB
Houghton Bunnythorp
e Road
Concrete Riprap protection
25 m
0.2 km
RB
Houghton
Concrete Riprap protection
13 m
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Page 58
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME
MOUTOA FLOODWAY
0 to 1 km
RB
2 to 9 km
RB
LB/RB
RB
All of
Floodway
Floodway
stopbanks
I AugustNala Stud
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME
Collett
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME
Check all floodgates
Mow crest
MANGAORE STREAM
Check Floodgates
Spraying
7 gates
6 km
x2
2000 m
KARA CREEK - MANGAPUKATEA
Repair drop out on channel
20 m
damage
TOKOMARU RIVER
2-7 km
Various
Check Floodgates
2 km to 7 km
Makerua
Check culverts for debris in
gate
7 culverts
Floodgate Maintenance
and repair
Fencing
1 culvert
Mow stopbank crest
Repairs to crest of
stopbank
Spray blackberry infestation
3000 m
300 m
5 to 8 km
5 km
LB
LB
5 km
LB
5 km
LB
McKinnon’
s
Various
Hopkins
Wetland
Hopkins
Wetland
Hopkins
Wetland
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME
Whakarong
o drain
Turf Farm
Ashhurst
Drain
ASHHURST STREAM SCHEME
x9
70 m
700 m
Repairs to T 8A Culverrt
LMS DRAINS
Digger clean out drain and
remove tailings
Weed removal from
stopbank
150 metres
80 metres
ASHHURST
0.1 km
LB/RB
Cayzer –
Hackett’s
Road
Gravel Extraction –
Channel Maintenance
150 m
2.1 km
LB/RB
Denton Ashhurst
Road
Machine clearance /
channel reshape
200 m
2.1 km
LB/RB
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Denton –
Ashhurst
Road
Install new stock gate
x1
Page 59
Annex A
LOWER MANAWATU SCHEME
0.9 km
2 km
Item 6
–
Bunnythorp
e Road
Item 6
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
2.4 km
LB/RB
Morrison –
Ashhurst
Road
Machine clearance /
Channel reshape
2.4 km
LB/RB
Morrison –
Ashhurst
Road
Install new stock gate
x1
2.75 km
LB/RB
Ramsay/B
urton –
Wyndham
Street
Install new stock gate
x1
2.85 km
LB/RB
Burton/Lloy
d–
Wyndham
Street
Install new stock gate
x1
Annex A
LOWER KIWITEA STREAM SCHEME
150 m
KIWITEA
7.0 km
RB
Signal –
Bell Road
Stockpile concrete riprap
220 tonne
8.0 km
RB
Signal –
Bell Road
Stockpile concrete riprap
160 tonne
Channel Maintenance –
Willow Layering, Debris
Removal, Gravel
Relocation
5.5 km
KAHUTERAWA STREAM SCHEME
5.5 km
LB/RB
River and Drainage Engineering Report (PRD 01 02)
Scheme
Area
Page 60
Report No.
16-61
Decision Required
PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENTS REPORTS (PRD 04 00)
1.
PURPOSE
1.1.
The purpose of this item is to report on a Health and Safety Audit of Horizons pump
stations and to seek approval to undertake the recommended actions to address the
issues identified.
2.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2.1.
Five of the land drainage schemes administered by Horizons Regional Council (HRC)
include in their asset inventory a total of 22 pump stations. These stations vary in age and
size, with the older stations by and large less likely to meet what would constitute a safe
working environment by today’s standards. Some steps have already been taken to
address outstanding issues but legislative change has necessitated a more comprehensive
assessment.
2.2.
Pump stations, by their very nature, present a wide range of potential health and safety
issues and these are often compounded by the nature of the working environment. Issues
include a wide range of slip, trip and fall hazards, hazards associated with rotating
machinery (for example clothing becoming caught in a rotating shaft), electrical hazards
and issues relating to confined spaces.
2.3.
The approach to treating these hazards falls into three categories; measures to minimise,
measures to isolate or eliminating the hazard altogether. The assessment has identified a
wide range of issues and these have been categorised on the basis of risk (a function of
likelihood and consequence) together with an estimate of the proposed treatment cost.
2.4.
It should be noted that eliminating a particular hazard is the most definitive treatment
strategy, recognising that some activities contain an inherent risk (e.g. cleaning a weed
screen). Some of the issues identified relate more fundamentally to station configuration
and these are typically the older stations. In some cases, particularly where a hazard is
inherently part of the station configuration, a more cost-effective approach may be to
develop an isolation strategy in combination with a more comprehensive renewal /
upgrade. This is particularly the case where age / condition, station functionality and level
of service demands are also influencing factors. This in turn, gives rise to wider
considerations around asset condition / remaining life and a renewal / replacement plan.
3.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
receives the information contained in Report No. 16-61 and Annex.
b.
endorses that all hazard mitigation works in the high risk areas be completed by
31 December 2016; and
c.
notes that the issues identified in the medium risk category are either addressed as
part of a future renewal / replacement plan or programmed for completion over the
next five years.
Pump Station Improvements Reports (PRD 04 00)
Page 61
Item 7
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 7
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
4.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
4.1.
Assuming Council adopts the recommendations contained in this report the Schemes
involved are likely to be able to absorb the additional costs without any significant impact
on the overall full year result for the 2016/ 17 Financial Year. There will however be
financial impacts beyond the 2016/ 17 Financial Year and these are intended to be
addressed through the next Long Term Plan (LTP).
5.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
5.1.
The issues raised in this item have been discussed at the Annual Catchment Community
meetings. It isn’t intended to undertake any specific community engagement on this issue
but to provide updates to future Liaison Group/ Annual Catchment Community meetings.
6.
SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT
6.1.
There is no significant business risk associated with this item.
7.
BACKGROUND
7.1.
The River Management Group currently maintains 22 pump stations of various designs
and conditions.
7.2.
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, a Person Conducting a Business or
Undertaking (PCBU) who manages or controls a workplace must ensure, so far as is
reasonably practicable, that the workplace, the means of entering and exiting, and anything
arising from the workplace are without risk to the health and safety of any person.
7.3.
Issues raised at the 2014-15 Annual Catchment Community meetings led staff to
undertake a comprehensive review of pump stations to identify the various hazards
associated with the activities undertaken at these work sites and to identify the actions
needed to ensure a safe working environment for both Council staff, its contractors and the
public.
7.4.
As part of the review process, staff visited each pump station to identify the activities
undertaken at each site and the hazards associated with each activity. An independent
consultant was also invited to visit several pump stations, to provide guidance around the
actions required to provide a safe working environment.
7.5.
Individual reports have now been produced for each pump station listing the hazards
identified at each site and the actions required to either eliminate, or minimise, the risk
associated with each activity.
8.
DISCUSSION
8.1.
A review of the individual pump stations reports has identified five key hazardous areas
which are present at the majority of the sites. The areas identified are:
1. Weed Cleaning Platforms – these areas are located at the front of the stations
and are accessible to staff, contractors and in some cases the public. These areas
are used frequently to remove weed from the weed screens and have a range of
slip, trip and fall hazards.
2. Pump Chamber – This area is located inside the pump shed and access is limited
to staff, contractors and those landowners issued with keys. This area is used to
inspect and maintain the pumps and during the removal of the pumps for
servicing/repairs.
Pump Station Improvements Reports (PRD 04 00)
Page 62
3. Surge Chamber – This area is located adjacent to the pump shed and access is
limited to staff and contractors. This area is used to inspect and maintain the
internal floodgates on the pumps.
4. Pump Shed – This area is limited to staff, contractors and local key holders. This
area is used frequently to check on the operation of the pumps and houses both
electrical and mechanical components.
5. Pump Station Surroundings - This area is accessible to staff, contractors and the
public. The area is used frequently to access the pump station and drain to check
on its operational condition.
8.2.
To determine the risk associated with the hazards located in each of the five areas, staff
have looked at the frequency with which these areas are visited. This information has
been used to determine the likelihood of an incident occurring. The potential severity of
the incident is based on the worst case scenario.
8.3.
Appendix A shows the potential risks associated with each area and ranks them either
high or medium priority. The weed screen area, along with the pump shed and
surroundings, are all high priority due to the frequency that individuals enter these areas
and the potential risk to non-Council employees.
8.4.
These reports have identified three areas that require immediate work to ensure the safety
of all those that may enter these areas. Total cost to address all of the high priority works
is $141,500 across the five different drainage schemes.
8.5.
The pump chamber and surge chamber areas can, in most cases, be isolated therefore
limiting access to these areas. Any work in these areas will require specific site hazard
assessment and either temporary, or permanent, hazard mitigation works to ensure the
safety of staff and contractors.
8.6.
The use of temporary hazard mitigation will limit the periods that certain works can be done
and could potentially hinder the operations of the pump station. The temporary works
could also cost the same as a more permanent solution and would require repeating every
time access is required to these areas. The total cost to address all of the medium priority
works is $296,500 across the five different drainage schemes.
8.7.
Current funding for the five schemes affected over the 2015-16 and 2016-17 year will allow
for the completion of all of the mitigation works associated with the high risk areas.
9.
SIGNIFICANCE
9.1.
This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and
Engagement.
John Foxall
Ramon Strong
AREA ENGINEER, SOUTHERN
GROUP MANAGER RIVER MANAGEMENT
ANNEXES
A
Pump Station Improvements Reports Summary
Pump Station Improvements Reports (PRD 04 00)
Page 63
Item 7
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Annex A
Item 7
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Pump Station Improvements Reports (PRD 04 00)
Page 64
Report No.
16-62
Information Only - No Decision Required
SOUTH EASTERN RUAHINE SCHEME - GRAVEL REPORT (PRD 05 29)
1.
PURPOSE
1.1.
The purpose of this report is to inform the Committee about the findings of a study of the
gravel resource of the South Eastern Ruahine Streams and Rivers.
2.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
receives the information contained in Report No. 16-62.
3.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
3.1.
There are potentially some impacts to operational expenditure but these have yet to be
quantified and are likely to be able to be accommodated within existing budgets.
4.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
4.1.
The findings of this report will be communicated to the Scheme Liaison Committee.
5.
BACKGROUND
5.1.
The streams and rivers in this study form part of the South Eastern Ruahine Scheme. The
objectives of this Scheme are:

reduce erosion losses;

minimise the losses of farm production caused by floods and gravel overflows;

improve farm drainage through the maintenance of stream bed levels and thus
water levels;

create a natural river pattern using natural processes (wherever practicable);

establish low maintenance native forest cover as part of the revegetation of
unstable riparian land; and

enrich the environment by encouraging native revegetation and thus improving
wildlife habitat along the streams.
5.2.
Many of these objectives are achieved through the management of the gravel resource in
the Scheme streams and rivers. Many of the watercourses have had gravel traps installed
in their upper reaches, around the bush line, with an aim of preventing large ‘slugs’ of
gravel from moving downstream.
5.3.
It is important to understand how the gravel resource in the rivers and streams is changing
over time to understand how effective the gravel management practices are in terms of
meeting the Scheme objectives as well as ensuring their sustainability. This Scheme in
particular requires an adaptive management approach and the state of the gravel resource
is a significant indicator of when a change in management approach might be required.
South Eastern Ruahine Scheme - Gravel Report (PRD 05 29)
Page 65
Item 8
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 8
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
6.
COMMENT
6.1.
A full study report comprising some 219 pages is available on request.
6.2.
This study has examined the gravel resource in nine rivers and streams that form part of
the South Eastern Ruahine Scheme. It is based on an analysis of cross sectional surveys
that have been carried out at various times since the 1970s, with the most recent surveys
conducted in the summer of 2013-14.
6.3.
The study has examined each watercourse individually and looks at how the mean bed
level and gravel resource has varied over time.
6.4.
In general terms, it has been found that the gravel traps in the upper reaches of the
surveyed rivers have performed well in terms of reducing the volume of gravel being
transported into the lower reaches.
6.5.
It has also been found that there is often evidence that the mean bed levels of the rivers
and streams have been falling in the lower reaches. This would have been one of the
desired effects when the gravel traps were set up, as one of the drivers for removing gravel
from the river systems was to improve the flood carrying capacity of the watercourses
downstream.
6.6.
However, the long-term impacts need to be considered. If bed levels continue to drop,
they may become a problem in terms of the undermining of bank protection works and / or
other infrastructure such as bridges.
6.7.
Furthermore, the rivers and streams located in the South Eastern Ruahine ranges are a
significant source of gravel to the Manawatu River, which is know to be degrading in its
upper reaches, and as such, the trapping of gravel may be having far wider environmental
effects.
6.8.
It is noted that the downstream end of the gravel traps in the Otamarahu Stream has seen
a significant degradational trend in the mean bed levels of the stream. This is likely due to
the vegetation growth on the stream berms in this reach. This growth may well have
stabilised the berms so much that the stream bed has become somewhat ‘starved’ if bed
load, leading to bed scour.
6.9.
In the Oruakeretaki Stream there has been a significant dropping of mean bed levels
immediately below the gravel traps. The bed level below Top Grass Road has fallen some
3 m since 1974. This drop in mean bed level is likely attributable to the gravel traps
starving this reach of gravel supply.
6.10. It is recommended that the rivers and streams of the South Eastern Ruahine Scheme are
resurveyed in 2018-19, covering at a minimum, all cross sections surveyed in 2013-14. At
this time the cross section network should be expanded to better cover the reaches
downstream of the gravel traps.
6.11. Consideration will be given to some relatively minor changes in management approach,
and these will be discussed with the Scheme Liaison Committee when it convenes later in
the year.
7.
SIGNIFICANCE
7.1.
This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and
Engagement.
Jon Bell
DESIGN ENGINEER
Ramon Strong
GROUP MANAGER RIVER MANAGEMENT
South Eastern Ruahine Scheme - Gravel Report (PRD 05 29)
Page 66
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 8
ANNEXES
There are no attachments for this report.
South Eastern Ruahine Scheme - Gravel Report (PRD 05 29)
Page 67
Report No.
16-63
Information Only - No Decision Required
WHANGANUI FLOOD MANAGEMENT REVIEW GROUP UPDATE (PRD 05 34)
1.
PURPOSE
1.1.
The purpose of this item is to update the Committee on progress being made with the
investigation of the many flooding issues in Wanganui, as identified during the extreme
rainfall event of 19-20 June 2015.
2.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
receives the information contained in Report No. 16-63 and Annex.
b.
notes the intention to propose an extension to the Matarawa Flood Control Scheme, to
include clearance and maintenance of the Matarawa Stream through Wanganui East,
through Horizons Regional Council’s (HRC’s) 2017-18 Draft Annual Plan (DAP).
3.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
3.1.
There is no immediate financial impact arising from the recommendations contained in this
item. Those investigations currently being undertaken by HRC are being funded through
the Schemes General Investigations Activity budget. However, depending on the rate at
which future investigations are to be undertaken and on the scale of any physical works
that may follow from the investigation findings, it may be necessary to make new funding
provision through either current or future DAP processes.
4.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
4.1.
It is important that the community be well informed of investigation findings, especially in
terms of flood risk, and that they are formally engaged in the consideration of options for
managing or mitigating such risk.
4.2.
A Communications Plan has been developed which provides for periodic releases through
various media outlets, to inform the community of progress with investigations and with
findings as specific studies are completed. The Plan will be further developed as, and
when, there is a need for fuller engagement with either sections of the community or with
the wider Wanganui stakeholder group.
5.
SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT
5.1.
There is no significant business risk emanating from this item.
6.
BACKGROUND
6.1.
A report to the Council meeting of 15 December informed members of the establishment of
a Whanganui Flood Management Review Group comprising officers from Whanganui
District Council (WDC) and HRC together with two representatives of Whanganui River
iwi.
Whanganui Flood Management Review Group Update (PRD 05 34)
Page 69
Item 9
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 9
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
6.2.
The Review Group has now met on three occasions, most recently on 31 March, when it
reviewed progress with a prioritised schedule of 23 separate issues requiring investigation.
The schedule, updated to reflect discussion at the meeting, is attached at Annex A.
6.3.
It is intended that the Review Group members will report regularly through their respective
Council Committees.
7.
DISCUSSION
7.1.
The highest priority task was a full resurvey of the Whanganui River channel from the
mouth to Kaiwhaiki. Both WDC and HRC made special funding available to allow that work
to proceed. Both the field work and data processing were completed by the end of
February.
7.2.
Analysis of the surveyed cross sections to identify any change in mean bed levels, channel
shape and channel capacity is currently underway and a full report is expected by the end
of April. There is expected to be considerable interest within the community in the contents
of that report.
7.3.
The survey data obtained is also required as an input to a number of other higher priority
tasks and good progress is now being made with those by HRC. In particular, a consultant
is updating the flood prediction model at Town Bridge and that work is expected to be
completed by the end of April. In addition, work has commenced in-house on the
recalibration of the model used for flood protection design purposes. Once that has been
completed, it will be possible to review the present standard of flood protection at both
Balgownie and Kowhai Park and to model various river flows for different protection
scenarios and for flood risk advice purposes. Again, it is expected that much of this work
will be completed by the end of April.
7.4.
An issue of concern to the owners of businesses at Balgownie is the ponding of ‘local’
stormwater behind the Balgownie stopbank at the time of elevated Whanganui River levels.
WDC is expected to have completed modelling of contributing catchment flows by the end
of May and to have identified mitigation options by the end of July. It is likely that a
preferred option could impact in some way on the Balgownie stopbank.
7.5.
A high priority has been assigned to understanding the nature and scale of congestion
within the Matarawa Stream channel through Wanganui East. Concerns about the state of
that channel and the associated flooding impacts featured prominently in post-June 2015
community meetings. A property-by-property survey over approximately 110 titles has
been completed and a rough order of cost estimate for clearance works has been
prepared. The Review Group agrees that a community approach to the problem is
required and that work should proceed as soon as possible. However, there is some
concern around the risk of proceeding before there has been adequate consultation around
funding arrangements with the affected community.
7.6.
The Review Group acknowledges that an extension of the Matarawa Scheme to include
the subject section of stream, and the establishment of a new rating category to reflect the
benefits that will accrue from clearing and maintaining the channel, is the logical way of
addressing the issue. Accordingly, the Review Group recommends that HRC undertakes a
non-statutory consultation process later this year, with the objective of including a scheme
extension proposal in the 2017-18 DAP. Physical works could then commence in say
November / December 2017.
7.7.
Another significant task has been a study of the Awarua catchment, with a particular
emphasis on determining the flood risks to both houses and road access downstream of
SH3, and identifying viable flood mitigation options. A draft investigations report was
tabled at the recent Review Group meeting and it is expected that a final report will be
received at the next meeting in late April. An interesting finding from a study of the
hydrology has been that the peak Awarua Stream discharge at Whikatoria Road has been
Whanganui Flood Management Review Group Update (PRD 05 34)
Page 70
assessed to be 12% above the estimated 200-year flood discharge. That is consistent with
other nearby Whanganui River tributary catchments. For example, the Matarawa, where
the flow return period has significantly exceeded the rainfall return period, largely as a
result of the particularly wet antecedent conditions.
7.8.
Finally, the Review Group has considered the suggestion arising from a joint HRC / WDC
meeting held on 30 September 2015, that the Group should report through a small joint
governance group. The Review Group considered that since there is already bi-monthly
reporting to each Council, there would be little benefit from the additional work involved in
adding another reporting layer.
8.
COMMUNICATIONS
8.1.
To date there have been four media releases concerning the work of the Review Group.
The Group recommends that the next release be in the form of a feature article in May,
when a number of investigation findings are expected to be available.
9.
SIGNIFICANCE
9.1.
This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and
Engagement.
Allan Cook
PROJECT ENGINEER
Ramon Strong
GROUP MANAGER RIVER MANAGEMENT
ANNEXES
A
Whanganui Flood Management Review Group - Task List
Whanganui Flood Management Review Group Update (PRD 05 34)
Page 71
Item 9
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 9
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item
1
2
Annex A
3
4
5
6
7
8
WHANGANUI FLOOD MANAGEMENT REVIEW GROUP – ISSUES FOR INVESTIGATION (Updated following meeting of 31 2016)
Issue
Investigations
Who
Comment
What changes have occurred in bed
levels/channel capacity since last survey in
1996? Information required in respect of
both flood flows/levels and stormwater
outlet issues in lower river.
Full channel cross-section survey
from mouth to Kaiwhaiki. More
intensive survey in lower river for
stormwater outlet and navigation
needs.
HRC.
Update flood prediction models at Town
Bridge and from Pipiriki to Wanganui.
Recalibrate
real-time
flood
forecasting models to reflect new
cross-section data.
Review June 2015 flood size,
review mouth scour situation on
ebb tide, run model with new
cross-sections and compare
levels to those from previous
sections; run model with new
sections and new calibration
flood
discharge.
Examine
inconsistent flood levels and
understand causes (e.g. super
elevation, swash etc.).
Recalibrated model referred to
above is a pre-requisite.
HRC/Consultant
Revise flood frequency analysis.
HRC
(1-2 man-days)
HRC
(2 man-days)
HRC
Re-calibrate hydraulic model and produce
report identifying effect on all design flow
scenarios as used for flood mitigation
design and flood risk advice purposes.
Review information used for flood risk
advice in Wanganui to ensure it reflects
levels experienced in June floods.
What is the revised return period of past
floods, including June 2015?
Review/confirm current standard of
protection at Balgownie and Kowhai Park.
What effect did major lower river tributary
flows have on June flood? (Matarawa
Floodway, Upokongaro, Makirikiri, Kukuta).
Water ponding behind stopbank at
Balgownie and Gilberd Street outlet
problem.
Will drop out of model recalibration work.
Calculate
flows
from
data
collected during flood.
Assemble data – WDC has
topographical/LIDAR info. HRC
has floor level data for all
buildings.
Whanganui Flood Management Review Group Update (PRD 05 34)
WDC to assist
with funding.
HRC
(3 man-weeks)
Field work and data processing (both water and land
sections) completed. Data forwarded to T&T re port
investigations. HRC analysis (changes from 1995 to
2016) is underway – some initial findings (net
lowering of MBL). Report expected by next meeting –
end of April 2016.
Funded in current year (approx. $12,000) as part of
Item 1. Contract awarded to Hydro Tasmania – work
on track -completion by end April.
HRC (Dec 2015) agreed to give priority to this work
by way of deferring Ngatarua investigations. Recalibration will be completed by end of April 2016.
Priority
1
2
3
HRC
As for Item 3 above.
3a
As for Item 3 above. (50% completed to date).
3b
2015-16. As for Item 3 above - following model
recalibration.
Include in re-calibration task- as for Item 3 above.
3c
3d
WDC
Commenced and expanded to include Westbourne/
Gonville catchments. $6 million budget over 2 years.
Modelling results available by the end of May. Option
identification by the end of July 2016. WDC expect to
Page 72
4
9
At what frequency should channel resurveys be undertaken?
10
Elevated bed levels in vicinity of Q-West.
11
Flooding arising from the Awarua
catchment – affecting Whikatoria Road
area.
12
13
14a
14b
Flooding arising from the
catchment – affecting Putiki.
Ngatarua
What is the present risk of flooding at
Putiki from the Whanganui River and
Ngatarua Stream?
Does the community desire a higher
standard of protection?
What is the present risk of flooding at
Taupo Quay commercial area?
discuss potential disturbance of stopbank for some
options. Overland flow paths for entire City have
been mapped and will be included in LIMS.
Review historic channel changes
and their impacts on channel
capacity/flood levels.
Investigate
dredging,
bank
alignment improvement.
Complete a detailed study of the
Awarua catchment. Identify flood
mitigation options. WDC to
provide design flow reports,
survey information (house and
road levels in Whikatoria Road
area and culvert information.
HRC
Complete detailed study of
Ngatarua catchment and identify
flood mitigation options.
Requires as a pre-requisite
Ngatarua investigation findings
plus Whanganui River model
recalibration.
HRC/WDC
Requires as a pre-requisite the
Whanganui River model recalibration.
HRC/WDC
How might the risk of flooding at Taupo
Whanganui Flood Management Review Group Update (PRD 05 34)
WDC
HRC/WDC
HRC to collate costs of recent survey to assist with
recommendation around future survey frequency.
Information to be tabled at next meeting – end April.
Being addressed as part of T & T study. Channel
survey data provided. As for Item 1.
Awarua is high priority-programmed for Feb-April
2016 under HRC Wider Rivers Investigations activity.
Note - provision for mitigation work is to be discussed
during WDC Annual Plan process.
HRC/WDC
WDC
Draft report tabled at meeting of 31 March. WDC
feedback to be provided by 8 April and final report to
be tabled at next meeting – end of April.
This investigation deferred (Council Dec 2015) to
facilitate progress with priority Item 3 above. Is now
programmed for 2016-17 under Wider Rivers activity.
Relevant information should be available by late
2016/early 2017. Consideration needs to be given as
to the nature and timing of community engagement.
10
1
4
Annex A
Assess
secondary
storage
capacity and overland flow paths.
Investigate options for improving
ponded water egress – e.g.
enlarged culverts (will only
reduce duration) or pumping (will
reduce duration and peak level).
Item 9
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
5
9
Relevant information as to risk will be available by
June 2016.
6
Development of mitigation options is a substantial
6?
Page 73
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 9
Quay impact on development proposals for
the area?
15
16
17
Annex A
18
Does the community desire a higher
standard of protection than is presently
provided at Kowhai Park/Anzac Parade?
Bank slumping at Shakespeare Cliff.
Flood walls in Lower Matarawa Stream –
what is their current state? Can they be
satisfactorily reinstated?
Matarawa Stream and Mateongaonga
Diversion/Stream channels in urban area.
What is their present state?
HRC/WDC
Detailed survey of channel.
Investigate failure mode.
NZTA
HRC/Geotech Consultant.
HRC/WDC
Investigations underway. Issues
being discussed with insurance
loss-adjuster.
Detailed inspection – identify
works required. Are culvert sizes
appropriate?
Whanganui Flood Management Review Group Update (PRD 05 34)
HRC/WDC
task and there is no present funding in place.
Consideration needs to be given as to the nature and
timing of community engagement. Priority may need
to be reviewed at some stage in view of Wanganui
Town Strategy proposal for area re-generation.
Relevant information as to risk will be available by
June 2016. However, before the community could
respond to this question, cost estimates for
alternative protection levels would be required - i.e. a
substantial amount of work with no present funding
provision. Consideration needs to be given as to the
nature and timing of community engagement.
NZTA repair work to cover bank scheduled to
commence by the end of May, expected to take 4
months. Contract has been awarded to Higgins.
Temporary repairs have been completed. It has been
confirmed that the insurer has settled with owner and
property is for sale in damaged condition. Flood risk
has been documented in LIM, together with advice
that HRC prefers to reinstate flood wall on original
alignment. Real Estate agent to be informed if
possible.
Detailed inspection of Matarawa Stream completed.
Very bad congestion – substantial clearance cost –
ROC = $250k? Full report to be tabled at end April
meeting. Consideration has been given to including
this section of stream within the Matarawa Scheme
for maintenance purposes (is presently a property
owner responsibility). However there is an issue with
interim funding until a new targeted rating category
can be introduced within the Matarawa Scheme
rating system. It is recommended that HRC should
consult with the community through the Draft 201718 Annual Plan, with any works delayed until late
2017. An assessment of road culvert capacities is a
separate issue yet to be considered.
Page 74
9
3
1
4
19
20
21
22
Flooding from Churton Creek (Karemu
Stream).
Flooding from Tutaeika, and Kaikokopu
Streams, and Zoo Creek.
Requires assessment of recent
channel survey data as soon as it
becomes available.
Requires assessment of recent
channel survey data as soon as it
becomes available.
Comprehensive
investigation
required.
WDC
Comprehensive
investigations
required. HRC could review
hydrology, WDC to review piped
systems design, overland flow
paths and flood maps.
WDC/HRC
Do
we
currently
have
adequate
telemetered catchment rainfall data for
flood prediction purposes?
WDC
Recent survey data (cross-sections) are available –
full report for next (end April) meeting.
??????
2
2
WDC/HRC
HRC could review catchment hydrology only but has
no capacity for this work until late 2016-17, possibly
2017-18.
HRC has no capacity for this work until late 2016-17
– possibly 2017-18.
7
8
HRC
Ideally two more rain gauges are required in the
lower western part of catchment. Possibility of
funding capex within current financial year.
Uncertainty re ongoing opex. Agreed that a proposal
for the additional gauges be considered through
2017-18 DAP.
3
Annex A
23
Stability of right bank abutment at Dublin
Street Bridge. Has channel scoured as a
result of silting on opposing bank?
Has there been any damage to rock
linings/groynes through the City?
Item 9
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Whanganui Flood Management Review Group Update (PRD 05 34)
Page 75
Report No.
16-64
Information Only - No Decision Required
SUSTAINABLE LAND USE INITIATIVE (SLUI)
1.
PURPOSE
1.1.
This report is to update Members about progress on Council’s Sustainable Land Use
Initiative (SLUI) for the period 1 January to 31 March 2016.
2.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
receives the information contained in Report No. 16-64 and Annexes.
3.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
3.1.
There are no direct financial impacts associated with this report, however it does update
Members on a number of financial matters associated with SLUI.
4.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
4.1.
Consultation was carried out through the 2012-22 Long-Term Plan submission process.
4.2.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has a key role in funding and overseeing this
activity.
4.3.
The SLUI Advisory Group is updated every six months on progress with this programme
and receives copies of these agenda items.
5.
SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT
5.1.
There are no significant risks inherent in the adoption of recommendations contained in
this report.
6.
BACKGROUND
5.1
SLUI has been in operation in our region since 2006. The initiative, targeting hill country
erosion, is funded from Central Government’s Hill Country Erosion Fund (HCEF), Horizons’
rates and farmer contributions.
5.2
SLUI is delivered in partnership with the HCEF and MPI through a contracted works
programme which sets targets for plans and works completed.
5.3
This is the first year of a four year contract until June 2019.
5.4
The 2015-19 contract targets have been agreed with MPI. The contract document was
finalised in late December and signed off in early February.
Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)
Page 77
Item 10
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 10
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
The agreed contract targets are shown in Table 1.
Contract Target
2015-16
WFP Completed (no.)
n/a
WFP area mapped (ha)
25,000
Area mapped in target catchments (ha)
17,500
Afforestation (ha)
Retirement (ha)
1,700
Riparian Retirement (ha)
Managed Retirement (ha)
Poles planted (no.)
24,000
Area protected by space pole planting (ha)
800
Other non retirement (ha)
Table 1: Contract Targets
7.
REPORT ON PROGRESS
Whole Farm Plan Development
The contract target for 2015-16 is 25,000 ha which will equate to 40-55 individual WFPs.
Table 2 summarises progress toward WFP development by plan as it is not possible to
accurately calculate the area of the farms until the final maps have been completed. Graph
1 shows the area of WFPs mapped by year, while Maps 1 and 2 (appended) refer to the
progress on WFP development.
Whole Farm Plan Development
Contract 1
Farms Mapped *
1
Plans Completed *
Plans Delivered *
3
2
Contract 2
Contract 3
2006-10
2010-14
2014-15
2015-16
289
247
63
20
289
247
63
13
289
247
63
9
4
Cumulative *
289
536
599
Table 2: Whole Farm Plan Development to 30 March 2016
Notes:
612
*1 Number of farms physically mapped (the majority of these are contracted to LandVision Ltd).
*2 Number of plans completed, including mapping, financial, physical document, and entered into HRC
tracking system.
*3 Plans delivered and presented to landowner (this signals start of implementation process and Stage
1 of SLUI having been completed).
*4 Cumulative total of completed WFPs.
Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)
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Item 10
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Graph 1: Area of WFPs mapped by year (hectares). NB: Red line reflects annual area target
7.1.
A spreadsheet to manage priority assessment is continually updated for proposed WFPs.
The priority list for 2015-16 WFPs currently has 34 plans covering approximately 26,384 ha
(106% of the hectare target). Staff have documentation out with a further 27 landowners
who are considering getting a WFP.
7.2.
The contract with MPI states that 70% of our mapping effort, by area, will be undertaken
within the priority catchment areas. To date 16 of the 25 (64%) plans are within these
catchments. This does not mean the plans outside the priority catchment do not have
priority land within them.
Implementation
7.3.
Implementation generally begins the year following completion of the WFP. The SLUI
programme budgets on implementation taking at least five years to complete the major
works and longer to complete a pole planting programme. In Table 2 the emphasis is on
plan production, originally against the plan target. The target is now based on area
completion, not number of plans. The tables below are presented to give an indication of
plan uptake or implementation.
We are continually reviewing all plans delivered to landowners and those who have never
been active or haven’t been active for some time are reviewed and the landowner is recontacted every year or so.
Table 3 looks at the uptake from recently completed plans. This table aims to give an
indication of how successful the programme is in getting completed plans delivered to
clients, discussed and agreed. Works will start either when finances are available or at the
next planting season.
Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)
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Item 10
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Implementation of Plans by Year of Completion
Measure
2013-14 Plans
2014-15 Plans
2015-16 Plans
At 30 June
at 28 Aug 2015
To date
Plans Completed
55
63
13
Plans Doing Works
53
58
7
92%
54%
% Plans Doing Works
96%
Table 3: Implementation Progress to 31 March 2016
Notes:
7.4.
Internal targets have been set for these measures but there are no contractual requirements. Targets
are as follows:
In the year following the plan being completed the % plans “doing works” will be
1 July following – 50% doing works
1 October following – 75% doing works
1 January following – 90% doing works
Once implementation programmes begin, staff will visit landowners to give advice on
location and technical needs for work, help assess costs, agree on grant rates and on how
and by who the works will be completed. Once the work has been completed staff will
inspect the work and help landowners make a claim for the grant available. This is then
recorded against the Incentives and Works programme as shown in Table 4.
Incentives and Works (Grant Projects and Council Funded Projects)
7.5.
For the financial year to 31 March 2016 the 236 individual implementation projects
completed have had a grant cost of $678,165. The work types, cost and hectares treated
are summarised in Table 4.
Number of
Claims
Total Cost ($)
Grant Paid ($)
Grant Rate –
Average (%)
Afforestation
7
327,200
79,609
24
317
Retirement
21
247,037
124,965
51
123
Riparian retirement
46
619,748
306234
49
212
Managed retirement
4
36,763
18,381
50
34
Space planting
130
272,659
127,391
47
Gully Planting
23
39,557
18,638
47
Structures & earthworks
3
5,423
2,714
50
3
Other
2
466
233
50
0
44
1,233
Work Type
Hectares
Treated (Ha)
544
Grand Total
236
1,548,858
678,165
Table 4: Work Types and Grants 1 July 2015 – 31 March 2016
7.6.
Claims for works completed in 2015-16 are 104% by number and 89% by grant cost
compared to this time in 2014-15. The bulk of claims by dollar value are for riparian
retirement and by number are for space and gully planting.
7.7.
Works completed and claimed to date represent around 49% of the contract target for
2015-16.
The breakdown of work completed by type and grant are shown in Graphs 2 and 3.
Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)
Page 80
Item 10
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Graph 2: Area of SLUI works completed in 2015-16
Map C annexed to this report shows the proposed works against works to date.
Graph 3: Cost of SLUI works completed in 2015-16
Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)
Page 81
Item 10
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
7.8.
7.9.
Staff have a grant allocation in which to manage individual work programmes with their
clients. In addition there is a centralised approval and allocation system for any works over
$20,000 grant, where applications must be made by the landowner. To date this year the
total amount of grant allocated has been $1.724 M out of a revised pool of $1.760 M.
Activity and Contract Management
The summer has been kind in terms of meeting SLUI objectives. The WFP mappers have
had a good run doing field work, summer fencing programmes are underway and tree
survival has been good.
7.10. Staff have contacted their clients who still have work programmes to be completed. As is
typical for this stage in the year, most clients have confirmed they will complete their works,
and as is usual this is subject to their fencer arriving on time. A few large jobs have been
postponed; one pre plant spray for gorse control has been put off until spring on the advice
of the chemical respresentative., one large riparian fence has been postponed as the
landowner has had to repair boundary fences after last winter and one large fence
programme is awaiting a fencer.
7.11. Staff have met with landowners regarding potential planting programmes including:
 A WFP plan sold to a forestry company planning to plant 500 ha this winter and a
similar amount in 2017. SLUI will support a proportion of this programme;
 400 - 600 ha manuka planting programme, with 60 ha to be completed before the
end of June with grant assistance. The remaining planting may fit AGS or SLUI but
there are some vegetation clearance hurdles to overcome;
 Potential JV planting of around 100 ha for winter 2017, subject to Council support;
 A large retirement fence has been put on hold as we await confirmation of cofunder contribution from Nga Whenua Rahui.
7.12. Pole planting claims completed under SLUI and Environmental Grant have included 33
claims under the Mitigation Package with a cost of $38,094.
7.13. The final contract document with MPI has been signed. Two milestone reports have been
sent to MPI, October and February. A further report is due early April. The changes to
milestone reporting means Horizons will report to MPI more regularly and will receive more
regular payments.
7.14. Staff attended a Council workshop on 31st March to discuss issues around payment for
WFP.
7.15. A small Manuka trial will be supported on an upper Manawatu property using open grown
seedlings from Murrays Nursery.
7.16. As part of the SLUI scholarship programme we have moved to support various Honours
level projects where the research subjects will have relevance to SLUI. In the past we have
supported students undertaking; pasture shading under various pole spacings, what
triggers sudden reactivation of ancient earthflows, and pasture pugging. We are currently
supporting research projects into the economic and environmental issues around irrigation
on sheep and beef farms, and the environmental effects of hill country cropping. This year
we plan to support a project looking at the contribution of sediment to waterways from large
scale slump/earthflows. To this end we have helped with labour and materials to set up
monitoring of an earthflow at Utiku and feeding sediment into the Rangitikei River. We
have received the initial video footage of this earthflow, as a time lapse over last winter and
this summer. The video will be presented during the meeting.
7.17. Malcolm Todd ran two soil erosion severity calibration workshops, these are run
periodically for staff and WFP mapping contractors to ensure consistency in mapping. Four
staff from Landcare Research attended one of the days.
Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)
Page 82
7.18. The potential project to evaluate WFP effectiveness has developed into a proposal partly
funded by the Ministry for the Environment entitled; Whole Farm Plans: A vehicle for
implementing policy. AgResearch and Horizons are supporting this project with funding. It
is hoped the project will be signed off by early April. The project will involve field interviews
with farmers about understanding the dynamics of WFP in a regulatory and non regulatory
context (One Plan NMP and SLUI WFP). This work will form a vital part of the mid contract
SLUI review.
7.19. Work on Joint Venture forests:
 McIntosh – this years pruning and thinning of pine blocks completed. Have started
work in alternative species redwoods, cyprus, oaks and eucalyptus;
 DeRoles – completed work in two of the three pine blocks in this years programme;
 Stellingwerf – completed first thin;
 McGregor – pre assessment measurements completed for budget forecast;
 Chisholm – fence repairs from winter storm;
 Silk – spraying.
8.
SIGNIFICANCE
8.1.
This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and
Engagement.
Grant Cooper
NATURAL RESOURCES &
PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER – LAND
Craig Grant
ACTING GROUP MANAGER
NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES
A
SLUI Target Parcels
B
SLUI Overview and Plan Progress
C
SLUI Mapped Priority Land
D
SLUI Works Tracking
Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)
Page 83
Item 10
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Annex A
Item 10
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)
Page 85
Annex B
Item 10
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)
Page 86
Annex C
Item 10
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)
Page 87
Annex D
Item 10
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI)
Page 88
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
16-65
Item 11
Report No.
Information Only - No Decision Required
WHANGANUI CATCHMENT STRATEGY
1.
PURPOSE
1.1.
This report is to update members on progress on the Whanganui Catchment Strategy for
the period 1 January to 31 March 2016.
2.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2.1.
The Whanganui Catchment Strategy (WCS) project relates to its ‘strategy’ activities
introduced in 1997 which focus on the upper Whanganui River catchments and aim to
prioritise an incentive programme in the area. Ultimately the strategy aims to address
erosion ‘hot spots’ that affect downstream water quality. Funding from the Whanganui
River Enhancement Trust (WRET) is managed to assist this programme.
3.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
receives the information contained in Report No. 16-65.
4.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
4.1.
There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper.
5.
SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT
5.1.
There are no significant risks inherent in the adoption of recommendations contained in
this report.
6.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
6.1.
This is a public item and therefore Council may deem this sufficient to inform the public.
7.
OUTPUTS
MEASURE
REPORTING PERIOD
1
st
2
nd
3
rd
4
th
YTD
ACTUAL
TARGET
%
WCS farm plans completed / delivered
0
0
0
1
1
2
50
Grant projects agreed
31
3
13
0
47
25
188
Complete Annual Report to WRET (2014-15)
1
0
0
0
1
1
100
Complete progress reports to WRET (2015-16)
0
0
1
1
1
2
50
Run Demonstration Farm Field Day
0
start
1
1
1
100
Establish new on farm pole nurseries with WRET
1
start
1
2
50
Land improvement (hectares protected)
0
16
55
150
37
Whanganui Catchment Strategy
15
24
Page 89
Item 11
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
8.
DISCUSSION
Activity:
8.1.
Courtney Haywood is settling into work in the lower Whanganui and surrounding
catchments. A good part of her early work is completing pole planting claims that include
works approved under the Mitigation Package approved by Council.
8.2.
February was hot and dry in the lower Whanganui catchment and farmers have been
relieved by the March rains. The increase in autumn growth is accompanied by increased
risk facial eczema and grass staggers.
8.3.
In the upper catchment (Ruapehu) reliable summer rains have kept the grass and Horizons
plantings growing. There has been an increase in the prevalence of rust on “toa” poles but
not enough to restrict growth.
8.4.
A further meeting has been carried out with Nga Honoga Marae Trust outlining areas
where land can offer support.
8.5.
Staff have signed up a number of programmes to receive funding from the Central
Government resilience package. This funding is likely to impact on our ability to fully spend
our E grant programme in the area.
8.6.
One WCS/WRET farm plan has been completed and delivered to the landowner, two more
are in preparation and a further two have expressed an interest in a plan.
8.7.
Ten on farm inspections have been carried out for activities such as pole planting and
pruning, weed control and release spraying within riparian margins, planting manuka and
AGS applications.
Implementation:
8.8.
The Environmental Grant approvals are unchanged from last month with 47 Environmental
Grant applications for 2015-16. These projects have a total cost of $219,483 and grant
funding of $94,439. The grant costs are shared between Horizons (allocated $50,000) and
WRET ($53,000) plus demonstration farm costs.
8.9.
Nineteen claims have been completed with a grant cost of $17,247. There has been 15
claims for space planting, two riparian fencing, one bush retirement and one wetland
retirement.
8.10. Staff attended the Taumarunui Sustainable Land Management meeting and spoke on
manuka planting options for the area.
Implementation (WRET):
8.11. The WRET Demonstration farm field day was run on the 11th February and verbally
reported at the last catchment Operations Committee meeting.
8.12. The farm works programme is continuing with retirement fencing and establishment of
more sediment dams.
8.13. The on WRET supported farm nurseries have had maintenance work undertaken over the
summer, this has included spraying for weed control and rust. The poles are establishing
well.
8.14. Staff are exploring options to establish a third nursery site this coming spring.
8.15. No WRET reporting has taken place this period.
Whanganui Catchment Strategy
Page 90
One Plan Implementation:
8.16. One Plan implementation continues with vegetation clearance and earth disturbance
consents issued. Staff are also involved in a number of compliance inspections as a first
port of call for issues in the area. More detail is provided in the Regional and Coast
Report.
Other:
9.
SIGNIFICANCE
9.1.
This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and
Engagement.
Grant Cooper
NATURAL RESOURCES &
PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER – LAND
Craig Grant
ACTING GROUP MANAGER
NATURAL RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES
There are no attachments for this report.
Whanganui Catchment Strategy
Page 91
Item 11
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
16-66
Item 12
Report No.
Information Only - No Decision Required
REGIONAL COAST AND LAND
1.
PURPOSE
1.1.
This report is to update members of the progress on Council’s Regional Land and Coast
activities from 1st January to 31st March 2016.
2.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Committee recommends that Council:
a.
receives the information contained in Report No. 16-66.
3.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
3.1.
There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper.
4.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
4.1.
This is a public item and therefore Council may deem this sufficient to inform the public.
5.
SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT
5.1.
There are no significant risks inherent in the adoption of recommendations contained in
this report.
6.
OUTPUTS
REPORTING PERIOD
MEASURE
1
st
2
nd
3
rd
4
YTD
ACTUAL
TARGET
%
0
2
0
0
2
0
th
Soil health workshops
0
0
0
Produce soil health plans
0
0
start
Produce Environmental Farm Plans
0
0
start
2
2
5
40
Environmental grant projects
34
7
1
3
45
50
90
Implement SOE Soil programme
0
start
0
1
0
Fund Poplar and Willow Trust
0
1
0
0
1
1
100
Fund and support Ballance Farm Environment Awards
to complete annual programme
0
start
0
1
0
Other industry partnerships supported
0
start
0
2
0
Manage HRC nurseries to produce poplar poles (poles
produced winter 2015)
0
14,333
14,333
14,000
Source additional poplar poles (poles sourced)
0
17,050
17,050
13,000
Provide technical support to P&W Research Trust to
provide sites for trial and bulking new clones
0
0
1
1
1
One Plan Implementation (in field consents)
7
5
9
8
29
NA
One Plan Implementation (forest sediment control
plans)
0
7
10
24
41
NA
Land improvement (hectares protected)
0
16
28
61
89
150
Regional Coast and Land
0
Page 93
116
100
59
Item 12
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
7.
DISCUSSION
Activity:
7.1.
This period has seen the work continue to focus on completing claims for works. February
has been hot and dry. Rains in March have eased worries of an autumn drought. Pole and
other planting survival has been good, many trees were starting to show signs of stress
before the rain.
Implementation:
7.2.
This activity group (Regional Land) has seen a total of 45 Environmental Grant projects
approved with a total cost of $318,249 and a grant cost of $84,654. Five projects have
been transferred to other funding streams (1 to SLUI, 3 to Freshwater, 1 to Whanganui
Catchment Strategy).
A total of 21 claims have been completed; 18 for space planting, and one each for riparian,
bush retirement and afforestation, these claims have had a grant cost of $40,779.
7.3.
Two farms have had an Environmental Property Plans (EPPs) completed and field work
has been undertaken on three others. No plans have been delivered as yet.
Industry Partnerships:
7.4.
The Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) programme is continuing. The Awards
evening was held on the 17th of March. There were seven finalists from this years entrants
and the winners were;
Supreme Award Winners – Harkaway Trust (David and Adrienne Hopkins) along with Price
Trusts Partnership (Ben and Belinda Price). These are owners and 50:50 sharemilkers
dairy farming 680 cows at Nukumaru on the Horizons western boarder. They also won the
PGG Wrightson People in Agriculture, Farm Stewardship QE II National Trust and LIC
Dairy farm Award.
Other award winners were;
Grant and Sandra McMillan, Ongarue – Massey University Innovation and
Waterforce Integrated Management Awards
Tim and Nicola Hewitt, Pahiatua – CB Norwood Agri-Business and Margaret
Mathews Trophy
Woodhaven Gardens Ltd, Levin – Hill Laboratories Harvest Award
Meads Farming Ltd – Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award
John and Marina Poulton and Rod and Bev Poulton, Dannevirke – Beef + Lamb NZ
Livestock Award
Hastings Group, Ohakea – Horizons Regional Council Integration of Trees on
Farm.
A field day will be held on the winners property at a date to be confirmed.
7.5.
Staff attended a Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+L NZ) Green Thistle Beetle workshop at
Fordell. It is hoped this beetle will provide some control for californian thistle.
7.6.
Staff met with B+L NZ to discuss a future workshop on how to get “more value” from your
SLUI WFP.
7.7.
Two Middle Districts Farm Forestry field days were held, staff spoke at one in Taihape on
managed retirement as a land use and staff attended the other field day at Waiouru.
Regional Coast and Land
Page 94
7.8.
Grant Cooper represents Horizons on the Land Managers Group. This group met recently
in Wellington and issues discussed included the National Environmental Standard for
Forestry, coordination of national soil research, potential changes to the Ballance Farm
Environment Awards, Envirolink funding, and use of SedNet at farm scale.
Nursery:
7.9.
Woodville; Ongoing management has included spraying for weed control, rust and Giant
Willow Aphid. The 16,000 new poplar and willow stakes planted this year (first production
winter 2018) were all thinned. Pruning has been completed on the production poles for this
winter. The dry February slowed growth a little, rain in March will get us through autumn.
7.10. Bulls; Pruning and thinning has been completed.
7.11. In the Northern Nurseries staff have undertaken release spraying and regular maintenance
on council owned and WRET funded nurseries. Rust control spraying has been completed.
New clones planted this year (Shinsei and Ciliata) are growing well.
7.12. Weber; completed pre harvest pole count.
7.13. Horizons hosted the national nursery managers meeting at Woodville. This is an
opportunity to share information and advice on growing poles. Staff from the Poplar and
Willow Research Trust were in attendance and commented favourably on our hosting.
7.14. Staff have visited four farmer suppliers and given advice on pruning, irrigation, Giant
Willow Aphid and pole harvesting.
7.15. Supplies of dynex and netlon pole sleeves have been received into stock for the winter
planting season.
Soil Health:
7.16. One soil health plan is currently under preparation.
7.17. The second half of the SOE Soil Health monitoring field work is planned for this autumn.
We are yet to receive the full range of lab results for the spring sampling.
7.18. The Land Monitoring Forum met in February, Malcolm Todd represents Horizons on this
group. Topics were discussed around soil and erosion monitoring and research, with a
current focus on bringing consistency to regional monitoring that will allow incorporation
into the online Land and Water Aotearoa website.
Advice and Information:
7.19. Staff have visited 24 landowners primarily to give advice on next years works programmes
including:
 One inspection for potential sand blow and erosion
 Poplar deaths within a shelterbelt planting
 Poplar and willow pole planting (10)
 Poplar and willow pole pruning (2)
 Manuka planting and possible AGS funding (2)
 Weed control in riparian areas
 Meeting with residents and Rangitikei District Council at Koitiata regarding a sand blow
that was approaching the settlement. Advice given and an action plan is being
implemented.
7.20. Dave Harrison was present at a meeting of the regional Growth Forum, Accelerate>25
regarding opportunities for Manuka honey production in the region. A draft action plan has
been circulated.
Regional Coast and Land
Page 95
Item 12
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Item 12
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
7.21. There is an increasing interest from landowners to carry out pruning of poplar poles. This
raises the issue of finding suitable contractors and giving them some training to ensure the
job is carried out to best practice. Landowners are also showing more interest in having
contractors carry out their pole planting programmes. The same issues arise for staff,
ensuring planting to best practice. There is also some concern over the management of
the Health and Safety requirements of these contractors.
Training:
7.22. There were three Manuka honey workshops held over the period. Staff attended a variety
of these. At Hawera over 300 people attended a Manuka workshop, this was followed a
week later by a planting field day. Horizons hosted Manuka Farming NZ who presented to a
cross section of staff and councilors on opportunities for Manuka plantations within our
region.
7.23. Other training opportunities included;
 Light Utility Vehicle (LUV) driver training
 Horizons course Building Positive Workplace Relationships
 Freshwater reform consultation
 Internal training for new staff into “soft sand” land use and erosion control
One Plan Implementation:
7.24. Thirteen staff have totalled 440 hours work on One Plan implementation this year. The
statistics on number of consents issued doesn’t tell the full story of the work being carried
out in this area. Work this period includes:
 Three inspections regarding farm dam construction and one dam repair
 Three inspections for possible culverting consents
 One for water reticulation advice/consent
 One for drilling a bore
 One regarding drainage issues and two for issues of overland flow of water
 One for rock harvesting, possible land disturbance
 One to remove raupo from a wetland, included advice from Science Team
 Two vegetation clearance, possible full consent required, included advice from
Science Team
 Four site visits for Erosion and Sediment Control Plans
 Three inspections where landuse consent not required
 A total of 41 Erosion and Sediment Control Plans have been submitted this year.
Regional Coast and Land
Page 96
7.25. Total consents issued to date are recorded by type and location:
Location
Consent Type
Total
WCS Area
Regional and
Coast Area
Vegetation clearance
5
4
9
Cultivation > 20 degrees
0
4
4
Land disturbance < 20
degrees
1
5
6
3
7
10
9
20
29
Land disturbance >20
degrees
Total
8.
SIGNIFICANCE
8.1.
This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and
Engagement.
Grant Cooper
NATURAL RESOURCES &
PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER – LAND
Craig Grant
ACTING GROUP MANAGER
NATURAL RESOURCES &
PARTNERSHIPS
ANNEXES
There are no attachments for this report.
Regional Coast and Land
Page 97
Item 12
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Catchment Operations Committee
13 April 2016
Public Excluded Section
RECOMMENDATION
That the public be excluded from the remainder of the Council meeting as the general subject
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 follows.
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 section 6 or
section 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, as follows:
General subject of each matter
to be considered
Reason for passing this
resolution
Ground(s) under section 48(1)
for the passing of this resolution
PX1 Confirmation of Public
Excluded Meeting held on
16 February 2016
s7(2)(h) - the withholding of the
information is necessary to
enable the local authority to
carry out, without prejudice or
disadvantage, commercial
activities.
s48(1)(a)
The public conduct of the part of
the meeting would be likely to
result in the disclosure of
information for which good
reason for withholding exists
under section 7.
PX2
Council / Committee to consider whether any item in the Public Excluded minutes can be moved into
the public domain and define the extent of the release
PX3
Members’ Questions
Public Excluded
Page 99