Minutes of a meeting of the Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit
Held in Ruma Mārama, Level 2A, Civic House, 110 Trafalgar Street, Nelson
On Friday 11 March 2016, commencing at 1.03pm
Present: Councillors M Higgins (Chairperson) and B Dowler (Tasman District Council), Councillor R Copeland (Nelson City Council), and Mr D Shaw (Nelson City Council Representative)
In Attendance: Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit Manager (R Kirby), Senior Asset Engineer – Solid Waste (J Thiart), Industry Customers’ Representative (P Wilson), Iwi Representative (M Hippolite), Management Accountant (A Bishop), and Administration Adviser (G Brown)
There were no apologies.
1. Confirmation of Order of Business
There was no change to the order of business.
Iwi Representative, Matt Hippolite, advised that he was now a Trustee of the Ngati Koata Trust, and that the Interests Register needed to be updated to reflect this.
There were no further updates to the Interests Register, and no interests with items on the agenda were declared.
There was no public forum.
4.1 11 December 2015
Document number M1643, agenda pages 4 - 9 refer.
An error was highlighted in section 5 of the minutes. The third paragraph should read ‘spraying on Rabbit Island’ and not ‘spraying and Rabbit Island’.
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Resolved NRSBU/2016/001 THAT the amended minutes of the meeting of the Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit, held on 11 December 2015, be confirmed as a true and correct record. |
Document number R5546, agenda pages 10 - 23 refer.
Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit Manager, Richard Kirby, explained the process for the accidental discharge consent application. He said a Council officer reviewed the application which was then reviewed by a lawyer. In response to a question, he advised that cultural impact assessments at the site were conducted over a year ago.
The submission to Moturoa/Rabbit Island Reserve Management Plan review was discussed.
It was highlighted that there was a growing issue with people entering into hazard areas on Rabbit Island and pressure was increasing on logging operators. It was suggested that Rough Island could be an alternate area to spread biosolids in the future should conflicts persist.
It was agreed information was to be added to the submission in relation to Rough Island. It was highlighted there were benefits to spreading biosolids such as reduced landfill costs, ecological and economic benefits, no pathogens and no risk to the public.
Wahi Tapu protocols were discussed and in response to a question, Mr Kirby explained the protocols would be included as part of the resource consent conditions.
There was a discussion about Bokashi Logic in that it was beneficial for compost bins and in circumstances where there were anaerobic issues with waste.
In response to a question, Mr Kirby said introducing Bokashi Logic at the Neale Park pump station would not reduce the odour as the pump station was constantly flowing so was already aerobic.
In response to a further question, Mr Kirby explained that there was no evidence to support the use of Bokashi Logic as a solution for sludge in wastewater ponds and it would cost approximately $200,000 per annum to introduce this process to all three ponds. He added that a business case was currently being compiled around the removal of sludge from the ponds and one of the options analysed would be the use of Bokashi Logic.
In response to a question, Mr Kirby said there was a budget of $200,000 in 2016/17 for sludge removal.
In response to a question, Mr Kirby advised the operation and maintenance contract with Nelmac was for a period of three plus two plus two years and that the first three years would expire in September 2016.
In response to a question, Senior Asset Engineer – Solid Waste, Johan Thiart explained the USEPA source referenced in section 4.18 of the report was measured using the average springtime discharge.
It was highlighted that number 4 in the action plan ‘Review risk of contributors leaving NRSBU’ was complete.
The NRSBU balance sheet as at 31 January 2016 was tabled (A1519221).
In response to a question, Management Accountant, Andrew Bishop, advised that the surplus illustrated in the balance sheet would be best utilised to repay some term debt to both Nelson City and Tasman District Councils.
In response to a question regarding the NRSBU Status Report, Mr Thiart said that in relation to the Bell Island Energy Audit a final decision would be made in the coming months. He added that optimisation of oxygen levels was currently running at 30% power over the summer.
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Resolved NRSBU/2016/002 THAT the report General Manager's Report (R5546) and its attachments (A1508800, A452094 and A1432009) be received; AND THAT the potential future distribution of biosolids at Rough Island be linked to section 2.5 of the Submission to the Moturoa/Rabbit Island Reserves Management Plan (A1508800). |
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1 A1519221 - NRSBU balance sheet as at 31 January 2016 |
There being no further business the meeting ended at 2.23pm.
Confirmed as a correct record of proceedings:
