Ecology and Landscapes Briefing 26 July 2018

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Ecology and Landscapes Briefing 26 July 2018"

Kelley Potter
5 years ago
Views:

Ecology and Landscapes Briefing 26 July 2018 Part 1 1. Introductions Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 2. Council Obligations 3. History of Hutt development and native vegetation clearance 4.

1 Ecology and Landscapes Briefing 26 July 2018 Part 1 1. Introductions Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 2. Council Obligations 3. History of Hutt development and native vegetation clearance 4. Significant vegetation and habitats by area 5. Changes to native vegetation cover through time 6. The Project so far 7. SNA maps 8. Policy approach - District Plan and Nonregulatory 9. Where to from here? Working Group

2 Part 2 Council Obligations Vegetation in Hutt City

3 Council Obligations Resource Management Act NZ Coastal Policy Statement Regional Policy Statement Relevant case law Forest and Bird v New Plymouth District Council Forest and Bird v Auckland Council

4 Resource Management Act 1991 Section 6 Matters of national importance...recognise and provide for: (a) the preservation of the natural character of the coastal environment (including the coastal marine area), wetlands, and lakes and rivers and their margins, and the protection of them from inappropriate subdivision, use, and development: (b) the protection of outstanding natural features and landscapes from inappropriate subdivision, use, and development: (c) the protection of areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna:

5 Regional Policy Statement 2013

Regional Policy Statement: Indigenous Biodiversity Policy 23: District and regional plans shall identify and evaluate indigenous ecosystems and habitats with significant indigenous biodiversity

6 Regional Policy Statement: Indigenous Biodiversity Policy 23: District and regional plans shall identify and evaluate indigenous ecosystems and habitats with significant indigenous biodiversity values; these ecosystems and habitats will be considered significant if they meet one or more of the following criteria: Representativeness Rarity Diversity Ecological context Tangata whenua values

7 Regional Policy Statement: Indigenous biodiversity Policy 24: District and regional plans shall include policies, rules and methods to protect indigenous ecosystems and habitats with significant indigenous biodiversity values from inappropriate subdivision, use and development.

8 Regional Policy Statement: Landscapes Policy 25: Identifying outstanding natural features and landscapes district and regional plans Policy 26: Protecting outstanding natural features and landscape values district and regional plans Policy 27: Identifying special amenity landscapes district and regional plans Policy 28: Managing special amenity landscape values district and regional plans

9 NZ Coastal Policy Statement 2010 Policy 13: To preserve the natural character of the coastal environment and to protect it from inappropriate subdivision, use, and development including by: assessing coastal natural character by mapping or otherwise identifying at least areas of high natural character; and ensuring that plans, identify areas where preserving natural character requires objectives, policies and rules, and include those provisions.

10 Regional Policy Statement: Coastal Natural Character Policy 3: Protecting high natural character in the coastal environment district and regional plans District and regional plans shall include policies, rules and/or methods to protect high natural character in the coastal environment from inappropriate subdivision, development and use

whether these provided the level of protection required by the Resource

11 Forest and Bird v New Plymouth District Council 2015 Environment Court considered methods provided by the council for protecting Significant Natural Areas, and whether these provided the level of protection required by the Resource Management Act. It is clear in our view that s6(c) imposes a duty on the council to protect SNAs

12 Forest and Bird v New Plymouth District Council Reliance primarily on QEll Covenants and associated methods to protect SNAs on private land does not provide the protection required by s6(c) of the Act Reliance on community attitude to protect SNAs is not adequate because it does not take account of differences in community attitudes and the high vulnerability of some SNAs.

13 Forest and Bird v Auckland Council 2018 Environment Court judgment The Court found that the independent hearing panel on Auckland Council s Unitary Plan erred in law by modifying the extent of identified Significant Ecological Areas on the basis that other planning considerations outweighed their identification.

History of the Hutt Along the eastern shore from the mouth of the Hutt river to outside of Ward Island the forest was uninterrupted As seen from the ship, or the hills, a lofty pinewood appeared to

14 History of the Hutt Along the eastern shore from the mouth of the Hutt river to outside of Ward Island the forest was uninterrupted As seen from the ship, or the hills, a lofty pinewood appeared to occupy the whole breadth and length of the Hutt Valley, broken only by the stream and its stony margin. This wood commenced about a mile from the sea, the intervening space being a sandy flat and a flax marsh. The cultivations of the natives were nearly all on the hillsides, and chiefly about what is now the Petone railroad station (cited in Winsome Shepherd, Wellington s Heritage: Plants, Gardens, and Landscape, 2000) Charles Heaphy 1839

History of the Hutt When the early settlers arrived a little over 100 years ago the dominant trees of the original forest which clothed the Hutt Valley practically to the Petone foreshore were mainly

15 History of the Hutt When the early settlers arrived a little over 100 years ago the dominant trees of the original forest which clothed the Hutt Valley practically to the Petone foreshore were mainly totara, white pine and rimu, some rata and in swampy areas pukatea. By 1870 nearly all the timber had been cleared from the valley, and when the railway was put through to Lower Hutt, in 1874, and extended to Silverstream in 1875, totaras were cut from the adjacent hills. About this time much of the totara forest on the Western Hutt hills was milled and the debris burnt, so that the land could be sown with pasture grasses. (Barbara Croker, Forest Regeneration on the Western Hutt Hills, Wellington, Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 1953) Barbara Croker 1953

16 History of the Hutt Hutt Valley floor (William Williams, circa )

17 History of the Hutt Work on the railway tracks outside the Grand National Hotel in Petone (Sydney Charles Smith, circa 1920)

18 History of the Hutt Waiwhetu Stream, Eastern Hills 1890

19 History of the Hutt Stokes Valley 1958

20 History of the Hutt Looking west along Moore's Valley Road (foreground) and Wainuiomata River (William Williams circa 1880)

21 History of the Hutt Overlooking Lowry Bay 1889 (Frederick James Halse)

22 History of the Hutt Mahina Bay circa 1909

23 History of the Hutt Orongorongo Valley 1955

24 History of the Hutt Most lowland areas, especially the major river valleys and hillsides, were cleared of indigenous vegetation by the early to mid 1900s. The forests that were not clear-felled were mostly selectively logged including Remutaka, Wainuiomata Water Catchment, Eastern Bays. These areas still have primary forest.

25 Our Native Biodiversity New Zealand s native biodiversity is in decline. Around 83 % of native birds, bats, reptiles and frogs are classified as threatened or at risk of extinction (Ministry for the Environment)

26 Valley Floors The valley floors of the Hutt River and Wainuiomata River were home to extensive kahikatea and pukatea swamps, with tōtara, mataī and ribbonwood forests in drier areas, and raupō swamps at the Hutt River mouth.

27 Valley Floors 53 species of native bird, e.g. Australian coot, black shag, and little black shag, have been observed across the wetlands of the Wainuiomata, Moores and the Orongorongo Valleys, including 26 Threatened or At Risk at a national scale, and other species rare in the Wellington region. Orongorongo and Wainuiomata are braided rivers, which is a nationally endangered ecosystem type.

28 Western Hills The Western Hills were mosaics of kohekohe, tawa, kāmahi and rewarewa with grand, ancient podocarps, such as rimu, tōtara, and miro, as well as abundant climbers and northern rātā.

29 Western Hills 2 species of At Risk orchids, healthy populations of, Threatened-Nationally Critical ramarama (highly susceptibility to the recently arrived myrtle rust). Regionally rare plant species include several rātā species, the small rengarenga lily, and white maire.

30 Western Hills 19 bird species; 7 of which are At Risk, 2 others regionally rare. New Zealand bush falcon has been sighted right across the western hills. At Risk whitehead, long tailed cuckoo, kaka and regionally sparse bellbird.

31 Western Hills 6 species of native lizard; 3 of which are At Risk 10 freshwater fish species, including 4 At Risk giant kōkopu and inanga. These fish migrate via Hutt River.

32 Eastern Hills Widespread beech forests, with hard beech, black beech, red beech, and kāmahi interspersed with many rātā species and podocarps such as rimu, tōtara, and miro.

Eastern Hills At least 11 Threatened, 20 At Risk and 17 regionally rare or declining plant species 40 species of native bird have been observed in these forests, including four listed as Threatened,

33 Eastern Hills At least 11 Threatened, 20 At Risk and 17 regionally rare or declining plant species 40 species of native bird have been observed in these forests, including four listed as Threatened, 17 as At Risk and a further two which are regionally sparse. At Risk- Declining North Island rifleman and North Island robin are known. NZ falcon (At Risk) breed on the urban edge of the Eastbourne hills

34 Eastern Hills 8 species of skink and gecko, including barking gecko and Raukawa gecko 9 species of freshwater fish including 3 At Risk and threatened lamprey Kiwi reintroduced to Wainuiomata Water Catchment

35 Coastal Areas Exposed coastal cliff faces provided habitat for diverse communities of windswept shrubs such as matagouri and tauhinu (cottonwood), speargrass, and pōhuehue vines that provided save havens for a range of lizard and invertebrate species.

36 Coastal Areas The coastal dunes, beaches and cliffs from Petone foreshore to the Turakirae Headland are home to some of the country s rarest plant species. Eight plant species are classified as Threatened, 13 species listed as At Risk and a further 10 species are considered regionally rare or declining.

The nationally threatened bird species include white heron, black-billed gull, Salvin's mollymawk, New Zealand

37 Coastal Areas The shore provides a vacation spot for international migrants such as Eastern curlew, turnstone, and the occasional little Egret. The nationally threatened bird species include white heron, black-billed gull, Salvin's mollymawk, New Zealand shore plover, black-fronted tern, reef heron, lesser knot, banded dotterel, and Caspian tern 68 species of indigenous birds including 10 Threatened, 28 At Risk, 2 regionally rare or declining.

38 Coastal Areas The beaches, dunes, cliff faces, and scree slopes from Pencarrow headland to Turakirae Headland are particularly important habitat for 6 species of indigenous lizards, 3 of which are listed as At Risk including spotted skink, Ngahere gecko, and barking gecko

Change in Vegetation Cover 1995-2017 Divide City into 1km x 1km

39 Change in Vegetation Cover Divide City into 1km x 1km Level 1 grids Choose 124 grids for assessment as marked by red dots.

Change in Vegetation Cover 1995-2017 Within each Level 1 grid use random numbers

40 Change in Vegetation Cover Within each Level 1 grid use random numbers to identify 5 x Level 2 grids of 100 x 100m for assessment Total 620 x Level 2 grids.

41 Change in Vegetation Cover For each Level 2 grid examine (using an online GIS viewer) aerial photography dated: 1995 (black and white) 2008 (colour) and 2017 (colour).

Change in Vegetation Cover 1996-2017 For each Level 2 grid and each

completely covered by native vegetation.

42 Change in Vegetation Cover For each Level 2 grid and each photograph I counted the number (out of 100) of 10m 2 Level 3 grids completely covered by native vegetation. Completely covered grids counted as 1, partially covered or not covered Level 3 grids counted as 0.

43 Change in Vegetation Cover Methodology currently being peer reviewed Indicative results confirm anecdotes about widespread regeneration. Need to be careful that high value primary forest is not being lost while lower value recent regeneration is being gained Opens up some policy options Monitoring repeat in future, track trends, change policy approach if required

44 Part 3 Project So Far

45 Project So Far Commissioned consultant assessments of significant natural areas, natural landscapes and natural features, coastal natural character Wrote to potentially affected landowners with draft maps and invitation to discuss and refine the maps and their implications Offered site visit Held several public drop-in sessions to discuss Many one on one discussions with landowners, by phone and in person Requested site visits underway

46 Refining the SNA Maps Responding to feedback: 10 metres from buildings (legally established buildings with a footprint of 10m 2 or more). Some larger significant sites may contain buildings the SNA rules would not affect the building Excluding areas that have regenerated or been planted within the last 23 years, as evidenced by 1995 aerial photography Removing river beds, including those of the Wainuiomata and Orongorongo rivers Making property-specific changes discussed with landowners

47 Refining the SNA Maps Indicative Results At least 130 private properties will be removed 11% of affected private properties Over 2,200 hectares private land removed 28% of the area of private land Revised maps will be sent to landownerss

48 Towards a District Plan Policy Approach Regional Policy Statement says District Plan must identify and protect with rules Environment Court says cannot rely on voluntary protection alone may leave high value areas vulnerable Aerial photography comparison suggests we are gaining native vegetation cover on public land and on rural private land. Private land on the urban fringe is not changing, not losing Policy approach could therefore focus regulatory protection on higher value ecological areas and be more permissive on other areas

49 Higher Value Vegetation Types (Slide 1 of 2) Vegetation, which includes greater than 50% indigenous species in the following vegetation types: Wetlands, including swamp forest Primary forest Forests containing podocarps with a DBH greater than cm Modified primary forest (modified by loss of some podocarp species) Kohekohe-tawa Tawa-kāmahi Beech forest

50 Higher Value Vegetation Types (Slide 2 of 2) Coastal grey scrub Riparian margins, and fish passageways Marine mammal influenced sites Sand dune Shingle beach Stony beach Earthquake raised beach Estuary Braided river

51 Mapping Higher Value Areas is Difficult Mapping higher value areas is difficult. We are generally not being given access to private land Therefore we may have to use a descriptive approach

52 Towards a District Plan Policy Approach Clearance of higher value vegetation types is discouraged by policies and is a discretionary activity. Activities in lower value parts of Significant Natural Areas are enabled subject to achieving no net loss of biodiversity values That means: Clearance mitigated on-site by improvements via other planting, stock exclusion, weed and pest control; or Clearance offset by off-site improvements on an appropriate biodiversity improvement project

53 Towards Complementary Non-Regulatory Measures Rates relief Grants funding for active management Remission of resource consent fees for consents triggered by Significant Natural Areas Council ecologist available at no cost to landowner for input to consent applications or property management plans, advice on weed and pest control

54 Part 4 Next Steps

55 Collaborative Working Group Briefings Landowner/ Resident groups Community Boards/Panels Iwi Conservation Groups Representatives Terms of Reference Collaborative Working Group Information and advice Recommendations to Council Consensus or otherwise

56 Other Consultation The working group is not binding on anyone Any formal District Plan change would have submission, further submission hearing and appeal processes

Te Arai dune lands. Christine Wild for the Te Arai Beach Preservation Society

Te Arai dune lands. Christine Wild for the Te Arai Beach Preservation Society Te Arai dune lands 1 Community concerns about the environmental impacts of increased subdivision provision on the Te Arai dune lands of the Landscape Protection Zone Rural; Mangawhai/Pakiri Christine Wild