AGENDA
Ordinary meeting of the
Forestry Advisory Group
Tuesday 10 September 2019
Commencing at 4.00p.m.
Ruma Mārama, Floor 2A
Civic House
110 Trafalgar Street, Nelson
Pat Dougherty
Chief Executive
Membership: Mr John Murray (Chairperson), Her Worship the Mayor Rachel Reese, Councillor Luke Acland, Mr Alec Louverdis and Mr Peter Gorman
Quorum: 4 – comprising the Chair and one elected member (decision makers), plus one Council officer and the independent forestry expert (for advice only)
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Forestry Advisory Group
10 September 2019
1. Apologies
1.1 An apology has been received from Councillor Acland
2. Confirmation of Order of Business
3.1 Updates to the Interests Register
3.2 Identify any conflicts of interest in the agenda
Document number M4372
Recommendation
That the Forestry Advisory Group 1. Confirms the minutes of the meeting of the Forestry Advisory Group, held on 30 July 2019, as a true and correct record. |
6. Forestry Update - Number 9 - September 2019 8 - 32
Document number R10380
Recommendation
That the Forestry Advisory Group 1. Receives the report Forestry Update - Number 9 - September 2019 (R10380) and its Attachments (A2256013, A2255860, A2257694, A2253872, A2251919 and A2251918); and 2. Receives the fire risk assessment of forestry assets (A2256013) of Report R10380; and 3. Notes the fire risk assessment undertaken on Parks and Reserves assets (A2255860) of Report R10380.
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Forestry Advisory Group Minutes - 30 July 2019
Minutes of a meeting of the Forestry Advisory Group
Held in the Ruma Mārama, Floor 2A, Civic House, 110 Trafalgar Street, Nelson
On Tuesday 30 July 2019, commencing at 3.06p.m.
Present: Mr J Murray (Chairperson), Her Worship the Mayor R Reese, Mr A Louverdis and Mr P Gorman
In Attendance: Councillor Ian Barker, Environmental Programmes Advisor (S Moore-Lavo); Lachie Grant (LandVision); Sam Nuske, Johan Visscher and Mitch White (PF Olsen Ltd) and Governance Adviser (J Brandt)
Apology: Councillor Acland
1. Apologies
Resolved FAG/2019/009 |
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That the Forestry Advisory Group 1. Receives and accepts an apology from Councillor Acland. |
Murray/Her Worship the Mayor Carried |
2. Confirmation of Order of Business
There was no change to the order of business.
3. Interests
There were no updates to the Interests Register, and no interests with items on the agenda were declared.
4. Confirmation of Minutes
4.1 4 April 2019
Document number M4133, agenda pages 4 - 9 refer.
Resolved FAG/2019/010 |
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That the Forestry Advisory Group 1. Confirms the minutes of the meeting of the Forestry Advisory Group, held on 4 April 2019, as a true and correct record. |
Murray/Her Worship the Mayor Carried |
5 Forestry Update - Number 8 - July 2019
Document number R10117, agenda pages 10 - 26 refer.
Group Manager Infrastructure, Alec Louverdis, presented the report. He provided an update about the engagement process undertaken with residents in the Tantragee, about the envisaged timeline for harvesting, noting that it was likely to be undertaken in 2020.
Mr Grant of LandVision tabled a document (A2239690) and answered questions about fire risk assessments matrix undertaken for Parks and Reserves.
The Group agreed that the matrix and definitions presented were suitable to assess forest blocks close to the city, and that where there were overlaps with assessments carried out for parks and reserves, the Group would like to see the information.
Environmental Programmes Adviser, Susan Moore-Lavo, answered questions about the regional forestry role, noting the appointment of Brad Chandler to the role and that the regional approach was envisaged to improve consistency across the Top of the South.
PF Olsen gave a Powerpoint presentation updating the Group on the log market in general, and the situation particular to Nelson. Mr Nuske outlined impacts of the downturn for Nelson and the value recovery achieved through management strategies.
PF Olsen noted the tending and pruning regime used in Nelson City Council forests. It was noted that in order to ensure maximum fire risk mitigation, consideration would be given whether to prune or not to prune as part of the fire risk mapping to be undertaken.
Mr Louverdis tabled two documents, the Tree Crop Valuation 2018 (A2235770) and the Tree Crop Valuation 2019 (A2235775). He noted that, in summary, the value of Nelson City Council forestry blocks had gone up by approximately $180K.
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Resolved FAG/2019/011 |
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That the Forestry Advisory Group 1. Receives the report (R10117) and its Attachments (A2199402, A2214620 and A2209414); and 2. Approves the 0.5 Ha Douglas Fir block in Marsden Valley (44.01) not be harvested. |
Her Worship the Mayor/Murray Carried |
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Attachments 1 A2239690 - Fire risk assessment criteria 2 A2239156 - PF Olsen Powerpoint presentation 3 A2235770 - Tree Crop Valuation 2018 4 A2235775 - Tree Crop Evaluation 2019 |
There being no further business the meeting ended at 4.36p.m.
Confirmed as a correct record of proceedings:
Chairperson
Date
Item 6: Forestry Update - Number 9 - September 2019
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Forestry Advisory Group 10 September 2019 |
REPORT R10380
Forestry Update - Number 9 - September 2019
1. Purpose of Report
1.1 To provide an update to the Forestry Advisory Group (Group) on forestry activities since Council adopted the Forestry Review recommendations in September 2016 and since the July 2019 update.
2. Recommendation
3. Update
Douglas Fir Harvesting and Poisoning
3.1 Update is detailed below. Only outstanding items are shown in the table.
block/stand/species/area |
Status |
Brook/22.08/D Fir/3.4Ha |
Programmed for late Oct to Dec 2019. |
Maitai/9.01/D Fir/4.3Ha |
Group resolved in Sept 2018 to consider harvesting the remaining 3Ha in 2022 & to re-plant the rest of the block in radiata. |
Marsden/42.06/D Fir/20.3Ha |
Group resolved that this block not be cleared until the trees can be commercially harvested around 2027 with a review in 2022. |
Brook Block 21/04
Group resolutions |
Progress |
Approves the felling to waste of the remaining Brook block 21/04 adjoining the BWST. |
All work is complete. |
Tantragee Block (Brook) harvesting
3.2 The Group resolved in April 2019 as follows:
“Approves a site-specific harvesting option in principle (A2171177) with respect to the Tantragee Block that will allow consultation with the residents to commence, noting that the final plan will be presented to the Forestry Advisory Group”
3.3 Poisoning of trees for stage one is complete with stage 2 to commence in the winter of 2020.
3.4 Following the initial public consultation meeting with residents on 27 May and several follow up meetings to discuss hours of work, PFOlsen developed and presented a harvesting plan for Zone 4 to residents on 28 August 2019. A harvesting date has been tentatively set for January 2020.
3.5 The removal of several trees requested by two of the residents is planned to be undertaken in September. One tree is very close to powerlines and requires co-ordination with the utility operator.
Tasman Pine Forests and Waahi Taakaro harvesting
3.6 The small area of Council owned forest adjacent to the Waahi Taakaro golf club has yet to be harvested by Tasman Pine Forests as part of their larger block.
Fire Risk
3.7 The Group requested, following the recent Pigeon Valley fires, that an assessment be made of Nelson’s forestry assets with respect to the fire risk. Refer to Attachment 1.
3.8 The Group also noted the work done on non-forestry estates (parks and reserves) and requested that they be provided a summary of that assessment. Refer to Attachment 2.
Health and Safety
3.9 A SWO with the entire Group is planned for the afternoon of 10 September before this meeting in the Maitai block.
Finance
3.10 Harvesting net revenue for the year was $784,496 against the full year budget of $1,959,973. Refer to Attachment 3 – PF Olsen Annual report ending 30 June 2019.
3.11 An updated summary of Council budgets is appended as Attachment 4.
4. Harvesting Plans
4.1 Schedule of harvesting:
4.1.1 Maitai – late August until late October 2019.
4.1.2 Brook – late October to end December 2019. PF Olsen will be liaising with the NMTBC for their International Aorere Enduro event scheduled for 26-28 October 2019.
4.1.3 Tantragee – January 2020.
4.2 On the back of moving in a crew to harvest the area in the Maitai, PF Olsen will also be harvesting the four small blocks in the Brook (see item 4.1.2) as follows (refer to Attachment 5):
4.2.1 Block 22/08 – Harvesting using hauler and existing skid site. Public walkway and swimming hole will need closing.
4.2.2 Block 22/02 - Harvesting using hauler and existing skid site. Minimal recreational impacts.
4.2.3 Block 22/06 – Harvesting using hauler and existing skid site. Some mountain bike trails will need to be closed.
4.2.4 Block 22/05 – Harvesting of main trees to existing skid site, with the rest of the trees to be poisoned to mitigate risk to water pipeline and private properties.
5. Alternate Uses
5.1 Council agreed to retire approximately 140Ha of forestry and consider alternate uses and this Group has approved the Alternate Use Plan. Lachie Grant (LandVision) will be in attendance to answer any questions the Committee may have relating to alternate use.
5.2 The work planned for 2019/20 is appended as Attachment 6.
6. Forestry Stewardship Council Accreditation (FSC)
6.1 PF Olsen has finalised the draft FSC management plan and is preparing a consultation document. Any feedback from that consultation will be considered for possible inclusion in the final plan before seeking accreditation.
6.2 The Group agreed that consultation would wait on the outcome of the more detailed harvest planning being carried out on the sensitive harvest areas in the Maitai, Tantragee and Marsden Valley forests and incorporating those lessons into the planning and consultation.
6.3 The draft consultation document will come back to the Group for sign-off in the new calendar year.
Author: Alec Louverdis, Group Manager Infrastructure
Attachments
Attachment 1: A2256013 - NCC Forestry Fire Risk ⇩
Attachment 2: A2255860 - NCC Reserves Fire Risk Summary ⇩
Attachment 3: A2257694 - Forestry Annual Report ⇩
Attachment 4: A2253872 - Forestry Accounts ⇩
Attachment 5: A2251919 - Brook Small Harvest Areas ⇩
Attachment 6: A2251918 - Alternative Species Update Aug 19 ⇩
Important considerations for decision making |
1. Fit with Purpose of Local Government The regular updates support the effective and efficient management of Council’s productive forests. |
2. Consistency with Community Outcomes and Council Policy The Group aligns with the following outcomes: “Our Council provides leadership and is supported by an innovative and sustainable economy”. |
3. Risk The Group has been set up to specifically have an oversight on all things relating to forestry to reduce the risk to Council. |
4. Financial impact The Group has been set up to monitor forestry activity and to manage income and expenses accordingly. All expenditure recommended in this report is in line with this oversight. |
5. Degree of significance and level of engagement This update report is of low significance. |
6. Inclusion of Māori in the decision making process Maori have not been consulted as part of this report. |
7. Delegations The Group’s Terms of Reference powers to decide include: “a. Forestry and harvesting management plans (including replanting) as prepared by the Forestry contractor and endorsed by the independent forestry external expert; b. Engagement of consultants required to undertake all works necessary to guide recommendations to the Commercial Subcommittee and Council.” |