Forestry Subcommittee Minutes - 1
December 2020
Present: Mr
J Murray (Chairperson), Her Worship the Mayor R Reese, Councillors K Fulton, T
Skinner, Mr P Gorman (Independent Forestry Expert), Mr A Louverdis (Group
Manager Infrastructure) and Mr P Harrington (Officer)
In Attendance: PF
Olsen representatives (S Nuske and K Richards), LandVision Ltd representative
(L Grant) and Governance Adviser (J Brandt)
Apologies : Councillor
T Skinner (lateness)
1 Apologies
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Resolved FS/2020/027
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That the Forestry
Subcommittee
1. Receives and accepts an
apology for lateness from Councillor T Skinner.
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Murray/Her Worship the Mayor Carried
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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. Public Forum
There was no public forum.
5. Confirmation of
Minutes
5.1 29
September 2020
Document number M15167, agenda
pages 6 - 9 refer.
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Resolved FS/2020/028
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That
the Forestry Subcommittee
1. Confirms
the minutes of the meeting of the Forestry Subcommittee, held on 29 September
2020, as a true and correct record.
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Murray/Her Worship the Mayor Carried
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6 Chairperson's
Report
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The Chairperson, Mr Murray,
acknowledged that the Forestry Advisory Group had been renamed to Forestry
Subcommittee since the last meeting. He thanked departing member Councillor
Sanson for her contribution to the Group in the last year, and welcomed the
new members, Councillors Fulton and Skinner.
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Resolved FS/2020/029
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That the Forestry
Subcommittee
1. Receives
the verbal Chairperson’s report.
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Murray/Her Worship the Mayor Carried
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7 Draft 2021-31
Forestry Activity Management Plan
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Document number R20298, agenda pages 10 - 60 refer.
Group Manager Infrastructure, Alec Louverdis, presented
the report. He answered questions about the Emissions Trading Scheme,
financial projections, iwi engagement, biodiversity, and the process to retire
forestry blocks.
The Subcommittee requested that additional detail be
included in the introductory section of the Forestry Activity Management Plan
about Council’s decision to retire part of its commercial forestry,
following the commissioning of and recommendations from the Catalyst Group
report (July 2016), entitled ‘Nelson City Council’s production
forests – Assessment of non-monetary values’.
Attendance: Councillor Skinner joined the meeting at
3.40p.m.
Discussion took place regarding the purpose of the
Forestry Activity Management Plan, as stated in the executive summary page
(agenda page 22). It was agreed to change the wording to the following:
The Goal of the Forestry Activity in relation to its
production forests are to manage its forest estate on a sustainable basis and
to maximise net present value, and to implement best practice forest industry
standards while protecting environmental and recreational values.
The motion was taken in parts.
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Resolved FS/2020/030
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That the Forestry Subcommittee
1. Receives the report
Draft 2021-31 Forestry Activity Management
Plan (R20298) and its
Attachment (A2072414); and
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Skinner/Fulton Carried
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Resolved FS/2020/031
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That the Forestry Subcommittee
2. Approves the amended Draft Forestry
Activity Management Plan 2021-31 (A2072414) as the version to be forwarded to
Council as the version to inform the Long Term Plan 2021-31.
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Fulton/Skinner Carried
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Resolved FS/2020/032
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That the Council
1. Approves
the amended Draft Forestry Activity Management Plan 2021-31 (A2072414) as the
version to inform the Long Term Plan 2021-31; and
2. Notes
that the amended Draft Forestry Activity Management Plan 2021-31 will be
updated and, the final Activity Management Plan approved, after the adoption
of the Long Term Plan 2021-2031.
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Fulton/Murray Carried
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8. Forestry Stewardship
Council Management Plan - Deliberations
Document number R20333, agenda
pages 61 - 205 refer.
Team Leader Parks and Facilities
Activity Management, Paul Harrington, presented the report. He noted the
need for a further amendment to the Forestry Stewardship Council Management
Plan, to reflect the decision made by the Forestry Advisory Group on 5 May 2020
to replant Marsden Block 42.06 in radiata pine.
Forestry representation on the
Biodiversity Forum was discussed.
PF Olsen Representative, Kit
Richards, answered questions about the proposed amendments to the Forestry
Stewardship Council Management Plan.
The motion was taken in parts.
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Resolved FS/2020/033
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That
the Forestry Subcommittee
1. Receives
the report Forestry Stewardship Council Management Plan - Deliberations
(R20333) and its attachments
(A2476873 and A2514843); and
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Her Worship the Mayor/Fulton Carried
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Resolved FS/2020/034
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That
the Forestry Subcommittee
2. Determines having considered
the written and oral submissions that the proposed amendments to the Forestry
Stewardship Council Management Plan as set out in Attachment 2 (A2514843) of
Report R20333, and as further amended on 1 December 2020 by the Forestry
Subcommittee, be accepted; and
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Her Worship the Mayor/Fulton Carried
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Resolved FS/2020/035
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That
the Forestry Subcommittee
3. Agrees
to seek Forestry Stewardship Council accreditation for Nelson City
Council’s forestry estate.
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Her Worship the Mayor/Fulton Carried
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9. Forestry Update -
Number 14
Document number R20334, agenda
pages 206 - 217 refer. Team Leader Parks and Facilities Activity Management,
Paul Harrington, presented the report.
The subcommittee requested
officers to review the way Forestry is being financially accounted for and
reported on.
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Resolved FS/2020/036
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That the Forestry
Subcommittee
1. Receives the report
Forestry Update - Number 14 (R20334) and its Attachments (A2518534,
A2518573 and A2518533).
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Skinner/Fulton Carried
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There being no further business the meeting ended at 4.39p.m.
Confirmed as a correct record of proceedings:
Chairperson
Date
Item 7: Forestry Update
- Number 14
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Forestry Subcommittee
23 March 2021
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REPORT R22589
Forestry
Update - Number 14
1. Purpose
of Report
1.1 To
provide an update to the Forestry Advisory Group (Group) on forestry activities
undertaken since Council adopted the Forestry Review recommendations in
September 2016, and since the December 2020 update.
2. Recommendation
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That
the Forestry Subcommittee
1. Receives
the report Forestry Update - Number 14 (R22589) and its Attachments
(A2582672, A2577989 and A2578176); and
2. Agrees
on a harvesting date for the Nelson City Council owned Brook blocks to be May
to September 2021.
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3. Harvesting
Bridges
3.1 An
update of the progress with the bridges is shown below.
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Maitai
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Work commenced on 24 February 2021
and is expected to take approximately 8 weeks to complete. The 22 metre long
bridge will span the river and replace the existing ford crossing. The bridge
will ensure that the freshwater quality of the river is maintained during any
harvesting, and vehicle traffic will no longer require to cross at the ford
which means the area can be accessed during and after rain events.
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Roding
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Work to commence in May 2021.
Resource consent is being secured.
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Maitai and Brook harvesting
3.2 Harvesting
in the Maitai and Brook is expected to commence during winter 2021.
3.3 Following
bridge construction, considerable work is planned in the Maitai forests.
Consultation with residents, the recreation sector and Council staff will be
undertaken to ensure impacts are minimised. A detailed communications plan is
being prepared.
Tantragee Block harvesting
3.4 The
Tantragee Block will follow the harvesting of the Brook Blocks (which is
expected to take place between May and July 2021), to ensure continuity of work
for the harvesting crew and to reduce costs.
3.5 On
5 May 2020, the Forestry Advisory Group resolved:
“Agrees on a harvesting
date, taking all factors into account, for the Nelson City Council owned Brook
blocks to be July to September 2021”.
3.6 It
is proposed to bring the start date forward to enable commencement in May 2021.
3.7 Recreation
sector stakeholders have been contacted and most reported this change to be
favourable. General comments included being mindful of school holidays and one
concessionaire noted the disruption harvesting causes to the public and
businesses generally.
3.8 It
is noted that the earlier start date will reduce the risk that harvesting
activity continues into the spring/summer months, which are busier for
recreation, and commences closer to the start of Term 2 (3 May) meaning less
risk of occurring during holidays.
3.9 Work
is underway to prepare a communications plan, to contact residents again to
discuss the harvesting plan and to secure a traffic management plan. Revised
costs will be presented to the next meeting of the Subcommittee.
4. Tasman
Pine Forests and Waahi Taakaro harvesting
4.1 When
Tasman Pine Forests Ltd harvest the block adjacent to the Waahi Taakaro Golf
Club, the work will also include harvesting the small area planted by them on
Council land. This work is expected to take one month and PF Olsen will monitor
the work to ensure that the trees on Council owned land are harvested to the
required standards. The small area will be replanted with indigenous species.
5. Health
and Safety
5.1 There
are no Health and Safety issues nor Safe Work Observations (SWO’s) to
report since December 2020.
5.2 Extra
measures and communication were undertaken to ensure that recent business as
usual thinning work in the Maitai progressed in a safe manner, as it is in
proximity to a number of mountain bike trails.
6. Finance
6.1 An updated summary of Council budgets to December 2020 is
appended as Attachment 1 and PF Olsen’s Quarterly Report to December 2020 is
appended as Attachment 2.
7. Alternate
Uses
7.1 Council
agreed to retire approximately 140Ha of forestry and consider alternate uses
and an Alternate Use Plan has been approved. Refer to Attachment 3 for an update.
Lachie Grant (Landvision) will be in attendance to update the Group further.
8. Forestry
Stewardship Council
8.1 Following
the consultation process in 2020 the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC)
Forestry Management Plan was submitted to the certification body (an
independent body that assesses forest managers against FSC standards), and has
now been approved. The final Plan is available for viewing online here: www.nelson.govt.nz/Forest-Management-Plans.
8.2 In
response to submissions to the FSC Plan, a page on the Council’s website
is being developed to improve the communication of information relating to NCC
forestry. This will include general information on the NCC forestry estate, FCS
accreditation, the Forestry Subcommittee and planned harvest information. This
webpage should be live within the next month or two.
9. Iwi
Forestry Activity Management Plan (FAMP) consultation
9.1 An
individual session with iwi on the FAMP was held on 4 November 2020. The
feedback, along with commentary is presented below.
General comment
9.2 Recommendation
from iwi that the goal of the AMP’s should reference iwi partnership and
Te Tiriti o Waitangi as well as consideration of natural world view,
sustainability and cultural acknowledgment.
Officers are working on
drafting an introduction from the Council Kaumatua to compliment the Mayors
introduction to deal with this matter.
Specific requests
9.3 Iwi
identified the desire for Cultural Health Indicator Monitoring (CHIM) –
seasonal assessment of bird life, fish, plants, water clarity and overall
biodiversity at Council forestry blocks.
Officers propose further
engagement with iwi on this matter to define scope and
costs.
9.4 Iwi
requested representation on the Subcommittee.
This is a decision for
Council.
9.5 Iwi
requested that iwi monitors attend harvesting operations and to be paid by
Council for their time.
Officers propose further
engagement with iwi on this matter to define need, scope, quantum and
costs.
9.6 Iwi
requested research into the viability of other commercial species (other than
pine) and alternate felling techniques.
Funding provision has been
set aside in Year 1 of the LTP budget to undertake further work on this
matter.
9.7 Iwi
requested that Council fund the cost of managing wilding pine impacts on
neighbouring land as a means to accurately acknowledge the overall cost of
forestry.
Council have already made the
decision to remove around 29.9Ha of Douglas Fir in the Brook/Maitai and Marsden
blocks to address the spread of wildings from this species, which shows
Council’s leadership in this area.
In terms of wilding pines,
Council is a very small forestry landowner in the Nelson area - 520Ha of a
total forestry area of approximately 8,870ha (6%). The effect on wilding pines
on neighbouring properties from Nelson forestry blocks is deemed minimal and
will reduce further once the 21ha Douglas Fir stand is removed by harvesting in
the short-medium term.
Author: Paul
Harrington, Team Leader Parks and Facilities Activity Management
Attachments
Attachment 1: A2582672
- NCC Forestry Accounts Summary at 31Dec2020 ⇩
Attachment 2: A2577989
- NCC PF Olsen Forestry Quaterly Report - Q2 - 2020-21 ⇩
Attachment 3: A2578176
- Landvision alternative species update - Feb2021 ⇩
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Important considerations for decision making
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1.
Fit with Purpose of Local Government
The regular updates support the effective and
efficient management of Council’s productive forests and through best
practices and sustainability contributes to Local Government well-beings of
social, economic, environmental and cultural.
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2.
Consistency with Community Outcomes and Council Policy
The Group aligns with the following outcome:
“Our Council provides leadership and is supported by an innovative and
sustainable economy”.
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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.
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4.
Financial impact
The Group has been set up to monitor forestry
activity and to manage income and expenses accordingly. Any expenditure
recommended in this report is in line with this oversight.
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5.
Degree of significance and level of engagement
The report deals with a number of matters that
have required individual engagement with individuals/groups.
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6.
Climate Impact
Commercial pine forestry and harvesting is a
sustainable practice and contributes positively to climate change
mitigation.
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7.
Inclusion of Māori in the decision making process
Iwi have not been consulted in the preparation of
this report but have been consulted on separately with respect to the FAMP.
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8.
Delegations
The Forestry Sub Committee’s areas of
responsibility include:
Areas of
Responsibility:
· All matters relating to the commercial forestry
operational portfolio including environmental and recreational issues
Powers to Decide:
· In accordance with Council’s Annual Plan and
Long Term Plan:
o Approval of forestry and harvesting management
strategy and plans
o Approval of the
engagement of contractors/consultants and forestry tenders
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