Minutes of a meeting of the Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit
Held in Ruma Mārama, Floor 2A, Civic House, 110 Trafalgar Street, Nelson
On Friday 24 June 2016, commencing at 1.01pm
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 (J McDougall)
It was noted that Councillor Copeland would be a few minutes late.
1. Confirmation of Order of Business
There was no change to the order of business.
The Chairperson declared an interest with item 5.8 Contract 3619 – Biosolids Operation.
For future reference (as the item was not on today’s agenda), the Chairperson declared an interest in the Rabbit Island hearing decision.
There were no updates to the Interests Register, and no further interests with items on the agenda were declared.
There was no public forum.
4.1 11 March 2016
Document number M1761, agenda pages 5 - 8 refer.
|
Resolved NRSBU/2016/003 THAT the minutes of the meeting of the Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit, held on 11 March 2016, be confirmed as a true and correct record. |
Document number R5962, agenda pages 9 - 26 refer.
Attendance: Nelson City Councillor Ruth Copeland joined the meeting at 1.06pm.
The General Manager’s report was discussed as follows:
5.1 Bokashi Logic project proposal
In response to a query, Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit Manager, Richard Kirby, advised that it was hoped to have enough details of the Bokashi Logic proposal for the September meeting so that a decision could be made on the next step.
It was suggested that any decision on the Bokashi Logic proposal might need to go to the owners (Tasman District Council and Nelson City Council) because of its significance, as the Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit committee only had four voting members.
5.2 Pond Sludge Management
It was noted that the ponds were desludged last in 1994-1996. It was advised that Pond 2 was not completely desludged at that time due to the lack of a location to receive the sludge.
In response to a question, Senior Asset Engineer – Solid Waste, Johan Thiart, advised that the proposal from Gurney Environmental stated that the sludge levels in the ponds would be reduced by 2.5 feet to 12 inches.
In response to a further question, Mr Thiart advised that action needed to be taken on pond 2 within 3 years, and within 7-10 years on ponds 1 and 3.
Mr Thiart advised that he would report back at the September meeting on the possibility of the Cawthron Institute undertaking a study of the capacity of Bell Island to receive the sludge.
In response to a request, Mr Thiart said he would circulate information about the Accel-o-Fac mixers/aerators included in the Gurney Environmental proposal.
Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit Manager, Richard Kirby, advised that he would provide information to the September meeting on the proposal received from Gurney Environmental.
5.3 Bell Island Spit Restoration
Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit Manager, Richard Kirby agreed to invite the Spit Restoration Group to make a presentation to the Board on their continued activities at the spit area at the December Board meeting.
5.4 Sampling and Laboratory Auditing
Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit Manager, Richard Kirby said that the accuracy of sampling and laboratory auditing had been discussed at the last contributor meeting, with a need identified for some processes to be sharpened. It was discussed whether testing was being undertaken in a consistent way and queried if the tests were reliable enough to reveal any systemic problems.
5.5 Trade Waste Agreement Amendments
Senior Asset Engineer – Solid Waste, Johan Thiart, noted that at the previous meeting it had been agreed to decide on the process as a group.
It was also noted that some industries occasionally needed to put an elevated load on the system and this could skew results. An example of this was discharging from log vats. These elevated loads would need to be scheduled around other contributors and it was confirmed that these matters were being discussed with other contributors.
5.6 Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey
Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit Manager, Richard Kirby noted the comments received from survey respondents, with some disappointment considering that costs had been more fairly allocated and a transparent agreed process used.
5.7 Contract 3458 – Operation and Maintenance
Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit Manager, Richard Kirby, advised that he recommended that the current contract (with Nelmac) be rolled over for a further two year period.
In response to a query, Mr Kirby advised that the contractor’s performance had been evaluated and any deficiencies were either being addressed or had been addressed.
5.8 Contract 3619 – Biosolids Operation
Attendance: The Chairperson declared an interest with item 5.9 Contract 3619 – Biosolids Operation and left the meeting at 2.16pm.
It was noted that in 10.2, the date should be changed from December 2016 to December 2015.
The group asked for paragraph 10.4 to be amended to read:
With the sludge processing system, ATAD’s, back to full capacity following remedial work it is projected that land available at Rabbit Island and Bell Island will be adequate for the application of all biosolids produced at Bell island for the next three to five years.
Attendance: The Chairperson returned to the meeting at 2.20pm.
Attendance: Councillor Higgins declared an interest in the Rabbit Island hearing decision.
5.9 Key Performance Indicators
In answer to a query, Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit Manager, Richard Kirby, advised that there had been three accidental discharges in the last three months. It was highlighted that it was impractical for all accidental discharges to be prohibited.
5.10 Compliance outcomes
Group members had no comment on this part of the report.
5.11 Health and Safety
The large number of visitors to the Bell Island Wastewater Treatment Plan was noted.
5.12 Financial
Management Accountant, Andrew Bishop, presented the financial report for the period ending 31 May 2016 (A1565151).
Mr Bishop noted that expenditure was below budget and that interest received was also below budget, reflecting the current economic environment. Mr Bishop noted that refunds would be being made this year.
|
Resolved NRSBU/2016/004 THAT the report General Manager's report (R5962) and its attachments (A1516705 and A1565151) be received; AND THAT Contract 3458 Operations and Maintenance with Nelmac be extended on the same terms and conditions for another 2 years to 30th September 2018 at an annual cost of approximately $1,600,000 excl GST. |
6. NRSBU Demand Management
Document number R6063, agenda pages 27 - 31 refer.
Senior Asset Engineer – Solid Waste, Johan Thiart, presented the report.
|
Resolved NRSBU/2016/005 THAT the report NRSBU Demand Management (R6063) be received. |
Attachments
1. A1516705 – Bell Island Spit Restoration
2. A1565151 – Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit Financial Report for the period ending 31 May 2016
3. R6063 - NRSBU Demand Management
There being no further business the meeting ended at 2.56pm.
Confirmed as a correct record of proceedings:
Chairperson
Date