Agenda of Strategy Planning and Partnerships Committee Meeting

Strategy Planning and Partnerships Committee

Fields of Activity

Oversight of all matters relating to the Council’s Strategy Planning and Partnerships functions and the development of policies and strategies in relation to those functions. The matters within this committee’s responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

· Resource Management Act 1991

· Building Control including the Building Act 2004 and the New Zealand Building Code

· Bylaws

· Health Act 1956

· District Plan

· Historic Places Act 1993

· Security Patrol

· Maritime Planning Schemes

Other regulatory matters including:

· Animal and pest control,

· Dangerous goods and Hazardous substance,

· Fencing of swimming pools,

· Litter,

· Alcohol,

· Noise abatement,

· Public health and safety,

· Prostitution,

· Gambling,

· Parking control.

· Responsibility for all matters related to the District’s environment including the environment of neighbouring districts and water bodies

· Other Regulatory matters not otherwise defined.

Membership (Mayor and 14 Councillors)

Chairman appointed by the Council

Deputy Chairman appointed by the Council

The Mayor

All Councillors

Quorum – 8 members

Delegated Powers

General Delegations

1. Authority to exercise all of Council powers, functions and authorities (except where delegation is prohibited by law or the matter is delegated to another committee) in relation to all matters detailed in the Fields of Activity.

2. Authority to re-allocate funding already approved by the Council as part of the Long Term Plan/Annual Plan process, for matters within the Fields of Activity provided that the re-allocation of funds does not increase the overall amount of money committed to the Fields of Activity in the Long Term Plan/Annual Plan.

3. Responsibility to develop policies, and provide financial oversight, for matters within the Fields of Activity to provide assurance that funds are managed efficiently, effectively and with due regard to risk.

4. Responsibility to monitor Long Term Plan/Annual Plan implementation within the Fields of Activity set out above.

Bylaws

5. Authority to review bylaws and to recommend to the Council that new or amended bylaws be made including but not limited to the review of bylaws made pursuant to rules under the Land Transport Act 1998, (primarily relating to speed limits) and bylaws relating to parking.

Legal proceedings

6. Authority to commence, compromise and discontinue mediations, legal proceedings, prosecutions and other proceedings within the Fields of Activity.

Fees and Charges

7. Except where otherwise provided by law, authority to fix fees and charges in relation to all matters within the Fields of Activities.

Resource Management/Environmental issues

8. Authority to make submissions on behalf of the Council in respect of any proposals by another authority under any legislation, or any proposed statute which might affect the District’s environment or the well being of its residents including such matters as adjacent local authorities’ district plans, any regional policy statement, and Regional Plans.

Bylaws

Legal proceedings

6. Authority to commence, compromise and discontinue mediations, legal proceedings, prosecutions and other proceedings within the Fields of Activity.

Fees and Charges

7. Except where otherwise provided by law, authority to fix fees and charges in relation to all matters within the Fields of Activities.

Resource Management/Environmental issues

File Ref: 18/813

REPORT TO: Strategy Planning and Partnerships Committee

MEETING DATE: Thursday 16 May 2019

FROM: Regulatory Solutions Manager

John Payne

Business Analyst

Cambell Thorsen

SUBJECT: On-Street Parking Meters

1.0 SUMMARY

1.1 The purpose of this report is to obtain a decision from Council on the replacement of the Hastings CBD single bay lollipop parking meters.

1.2 This proposal arises from the existing parking meters being well past their life expectancy and the mechanical inserts no longer being produced.

1.3 Council is required to give effect to the purpose of local government as prescribed by Section 10 of the Local Government Act 2002. That purpose is to meet the current and future needs of communities for good quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost–effective for households and businesses. Good quality means infrastructure, services and performance that are efficient and effective and appropriate to present and anticipated future circumstances.

1.3 The objective of this decision relevant to the purpose of Local Government is the provision of quality infrastructure and local public service.

1.4 This report concludes by recommending that either the single bay lollipop meters in the following locations (East to West) be replaced by Pay by Plate parking meters and the existing time restrictions remain or that all Council operated parking meters be replaced:

	STREET	LOCATION	Lollipops Removed	Machines Installed
1	Heretaunga Street East	From Karamu Road South to Russell Street South	17	4
2	Queen Street East	From Karamu Road South to Russell Street South	19	3
3	Russell Street	From Eastbourne Street East to Queen Street East	26	6
4	Market Street	From Eastbourne Street West to Queen Street West	29	7
5	Heretaunga Street West	From Market Street South to Nelson Street South	49	8
6	King Street	From Eastbourne Street West to Queen Street West	39	8
	TOTAL		179	36

Map 1

Red = existing lollipop meters - Proposed machine sites.

Dark Blue = existing lollipop meters – Proposed to remain

2.0 BACKGROUND

2.1 1 November 2015, Hastings District Council implemented a free parking trial across the CBD public parking resource. In order to understand the effects this trial was having on parking occupancy and duration of stay trends, Traffic Design Group (TDG) was commissioned by Hastings District Council to conduct a series of parking monitoring surveys.

2.2 Surveys were undertaken both prior to, and during the free parking trial, so as to allow a comparison of data sets. Key conclusions were:

· Parking occupancy rates over the whole survey area increased by about 7%.

· The free parking trial resulted in the displacement of some parked vehicles from the fringe parking areas into the main shopping parking areas.

· The average duration of stay increased.

· Retail spend was up 7.6%, however the retail spend was also up in other areas where there was no free parking. The positive indicators from increased retail spend cannot be directly linked to the free parking trial.

2.3 The review of the free parking trial points to achieving mixed results. On the basis of data analytics there is no evidence to support the conclusion that the trial produced significant greater retail activity or vibrancy in the City Centre.

Parking Revenue

2.4 The free parking trial resulted in a loss of $942,000 revenue. Parking revenue is used to cover costs of operation, maintaining existing assets and any surplus assists in strategic property purchases for future parking needs, funding various laneways and up-dating parking technology solutions.

2.5 Following the free parking trial Council resolved to go back to paid parking. Staff were instructed to investigate cost effectiveness of installing both on and off street electronic payment parking technology solutions.

2.6 Attached are two business cases (Attachments 1 and 2): One investigates in-ground parking sensor technology and the other Parking Machine technologies.

2.7 Global Integrated Technology Solutions New Zealand Limited undertook a survey of Hastings CBD February 2018 to evaluate the removal of the current parking devices (Eagle CK Single Bay Meters) and installing replacement parking technology (Pay by Plate Machines) and give Council an estimate for comparison purposes for the business case.

2.8 The existing single bay meters were installed in about 1995/1996. They were upgraded when the New Zealand coinage changed in 2006. They have a life expectancy of about 20 years. Many of the meters have been repaired/replaced and with the harsh Hawke’s Bay climate the LCD screens are faded.

2.9 There are currently 508 single bay meters in the Hastings CBD. One of the options is to leave 329 operational in the dark blue area identified in Map 1. However, given the costs of maintaining these 329 meters, consideration should be given to replacing them all.

3.0 CURRENT SITUATION

3.1 Given the meters are failing at a greater rate than earlier (due to age), Council no longer has spare stock.

3.2 Council currently runs Eagle CK Digital Single Bay Parking Meters. Internal mechanisms are no longer in production. Officers have been unable to source alternative replacement mechanism (new meters). There is a US meter known as ‘Liberty’ meters. This mechanism would fit inside existing lollipop meters however, the agent who has provided New Zealand with meters for the past 35 years is unaware of these meters being sold outside the US and would be reluctant to import these for the following reasons:

· They are not designed to take NZ coins

· There are no specialist/support in New Zealand to service the meters

· Single Bay meter technology has been superseded and is now non-existent in Australasia.

3.3 Any mechanisms would require a completely new programme, back office software and auditing system, which means Council would either have to run two systems, or replace all 508 units.

3.4 The supplier no longer has Eagle CK Digital Single Head Meters and has not sold any for the past three to four years.

3.5 The current meters are run by battery. These need to be replaced annually and often more frequently as the meters age and deteriorate. The screens are faded and difficult to see through and the housing leaks which causes the batteries to deteriorate more quickly.

3.6 Council also has 9 off-street Pay & Display machines. These are also starting to reach their life’s end. The main boards are no longer in production for the MPC104 model, the type HDC has.

3.7 Parking machines can function in several different ways. If a decision is made to install parking machines, a further decision will need to be made on the most appropriate parking and payment methods.

4.0 PARKING TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP 14 MARCH 2019

Council held a workshop on 14 March 2019. The following concepts were discussed:

4.1 Staying with the current system (single bay lollipop meters)

4.1.1 The internal working mechanisms are passed their life’s end as is the external housing (about 23 years old) and are no longer in production. Officers have been unable to source new mechanisms but even if we could, we would have to replace all 508. It is unknown how new ones (if we can find any) would work with regard to reporting, auditing, servicing etc. This type of parking enforcement is rapidly disappearing from around the country and most of the old meters have been scrapped.

4.1.2 There are now no spare parts, dead and dying machines have to be decommissioned. The average income from a single bay meter is about $700 per annum.

4.1.3 Replacing all the single bay meters and 9 pay and display parking machines (in our off-street car parks) would ensure HDC was clear of old technology and associated maintenance costs. It would also help to reduce street clutter.

4.1.4 Our current service Contractor is retiring March 2020. If Council stays with single bay meters it would need to engage another party to undertake repairs, maintenance and coin management and reporting.

4.1.5 Councillors requested staff bring this report to Council with a summary of the options. There appeared to be support for the Pay by Plate machine option. Councillors also wished to see options before them for parking machines which included the four main payment methods – Coins, ParkMate, Paywave and Credit Card.

4.2 Replacing 179 single bay meters and 9 off-street pay & display machines with 45 Pay by Plate meters

4.2.1 A Pay by Plate meter is one where the user inputs their registration plate number into the machine.

4.2.2 Council would need to complement this with a ‘Maintenance and Service Contract’ for two systems (on and off street machines and the remaining single bay meters). A dual-maintenance system is likely to be more expensive.

4.2.3 Council could use the spare parts from the 179 lollipops to service the remaining 329 lollipops, however these are deteriorating now at a greater rate due to being past their use by date. Council may be lucky to get 3-4 more years out of them.

4.2.4 Pay by Plate Meters will bring a lot of value for on street parking and will also de clutter the pathways of all of the current lollipop meters.

4.2.5 Pay by Plate meters have direct integration with AD-Riley (the ticketing system HDC currently uses). This would give Council a complete set up, ready to go.

4.2.6 The Pay by Plate machines have a life expectancy of about 12 – 15 years and can have updated technology installed.

(Summary sourced from Business Case)

4.3 Install in-ground sensors

4.3.1 The costs (capex and opex) outweigh the benefits.

4.3.2 There is some uncertainty in the credibility of the data, which may not withstand legal challenge. New technology is aimed at resolving this with triple detection so the user can rely on the integrity of the data (ultrasound, infrared, magnetic).

4.3.3 Some Councils are looking at removing their sensors as it is already old technology and only provides a part solution to their parking needs.

(Summary sourced from Business Case)

4.4 Advantages and disadvantages of the various systems:

4.4.1 Single Bay Lollipop Meters

Disadvantages

- No longer supported

- No spare parts

- Only one payment option

- Unit required for each parking space (street clutter)

- Antiquated technology (limited data sets)

- No receipt options

- Operator often has no coins

- Can’t operate licence plate recognition (LPR) technology

Advantages

- Simple to use

- Easy to check compliance (visible)

- If one meter fails it only effects one parking space

4.4.2 New Digital Column Parking Meters

Outlined below are the different methods of machine operations:

· Pay by Plate (Car number plate inputted into parking machine)

Disadvantages

- Drivers need to know their registration number

- E-costs ($0.10c cost to Council on credit card transactions)

- 3% bank cost to user

- If a meter fails it can affect several spaces (can pay at any machine)

Advantages

- Easy to use LCD steps

- Multiple payment options (coin, paywave, credit card)

- Receipt by e-mail (optional, one time set up)

- E-reminder parking about to expire

- You don’t have to return to your vehicle

- Spaces don’t need to be marked

- Paperless

- You can pay/top up at any machine

- Drivers generally know their plate number

- Can operate LPR technology

- The system is integrated with the ADR ticketing system (currently used by HDC)

- Data sets available to analyse parking data

- Can monitor machines from the office in live time

· Pay & Display

Disadvantages

- You have to return to your vehicle to display the ticket

- Paper (costs, use, maintenance, weather)

- Additional element of ‘display’

- If a meter fails it can affect several spaces (can pay at any machine)

- Can’t operate LPR technology

- No receipt options (Can keep your dash board ticket)

Advantages

- Easy to use LCD steps

- Spaces don’t have to be marked

- Napier City currently use (but reviewing)

- We currently use Pay & Display in our Off-Street (consistency)

- No need for bay numbers

- Can monitor machines from the office in live time

· Pay by Bay (Parking bay number inputted into parking machine)

Disadvantages

- Some people find it complicated (especially visitors)

- Each space has to be marked (plates come off, marks fade)

- E-costs (system/time to check)

- Bay tags can become souvenirs

- If a meter fails it can affect several spaces (can pay at any machine)

Advantages

- Easy to use LCD steps

- Don’t have to return to your vehicle

- Paperless

- Pay at any machine provided you know the bay number

- Can monitor machines from the office in live time

- Receipt by e-mail (optional, one time set up)

- Can operate LPR technology

5.0 OPTIONS

5.1 Option 1 – Replace all 508 single bay meters and 9 off-street pay & display machines with 74 Pay by Plate Parking Machines (Red and Dark blue area Map 1). Payment options Coin, Paywave, Credit Card and ParkMate.

5.2 Option 2 – Replace the central CBD single bay meters (179) and 9 off-street pay & display machines with 45 Pay by Plate parking machines (Red area Map 1). Payment options Coin, Paywave, Credit Card and ParkMate.

5.3 Option 3 – Status Quo – continue to use the existing single bay lollipop meters.

6.0 SIGNIFICANCE AND ENGAGEMENT

6.1 The matters in this report are not significant in terms of Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy.

6.2 Although this is an operational matter staff will undertake an educational approach by:

· Delivering flyers

· Setting up a display unit in the empty Envy Shoes Shop for the pubic

· Inviting CBD Business Association, Grey Power etc. for personal presentations

· Radio and newspaper publicity

· Ensure Enforcement staff and City Assist can help the public to operate the machines

7.0 ASSESSMENT OF OPTIONS

7.1 Option 1 would see a complete renewal of the technology with a full maintenance service contract for one system. Remove all 508 single head meters and 9 off-street pay & display machines, replaced with about 74 parking machines.

7.2 Option 2 the proposal to install parking machines would see 179 meters removed from the central CBD and 9 off-street pay & display machines, replaced with about 45 parking machines. The 179 meters could be cannibalised for spare parts to service the remaining 329 meters. The community may find it frustrating there being two different parking systems (some pay by plate machines, some single bay lollipop meters).

7.3 Option 3 would see a decrease in parking revenue as the single bay meters fail. This will progressively become more frequent.

7.4 Parking machines are now the main parking meter method used throughout New Zealand and Australasia. Initially this started as Pay & Display, however the most popular method is now ‘Pay by Plate’ and is used extensively throughout Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch, Nelson to name a few.

7.5 The machines are powered by a 10 Watt Sola panel which charges two twelve volt batteries. Given that the pre-work has already been done (sites selected) it would take about six weeks to become operational after determining a supplier.

7.6 The particular model of off-street parking machine, MPC 104 is also coming to end of life. Although still able to be repaired you can no longer get main boards and repairs have to be sent to Switzerland. The current machines only allow for coin operation.

7.7 The current contractor wishes to retire March 2020. Council will need to be operational in all aspects of the service before this date; maintenance of lollipop meters and parking machines, coin management (collection, sorting, counting and banking and reporting).

7.8 Proposed time schedule of implementation:

Approval by Strategic Planning & Partnerships Committee	16 May 2019
Issue tender notification	July 2019
Finalise tender	September 2019
Instalment and implementation	November 2019

8.0 FINANCIAL

Table 1

8.1 The current maintenance and service contract costs HDC $43,056 per annum.

8.2 There is currently $540,000 in the Parking Machine Reserve account to fund upgrading parking technology.

8.3 Funding from the replacement needs to be provided for in the 2019/20 Annual Plan.

9.0 PREFERRED OPTION/S AND REASONS

9.1 Option 1 – Replace 508 single head meters and 9 pay & display machines with 74 machines and use the Pay by Plate option with coin, paywave and credit card payment facilities.

9.2 Pay by Plate multiple space terminals are cheaper to run than single head lollipop meters.

10.0 RECOMMENDATIONS AND REASONS

A) That the report of the Regulatory Solutions Manager titled “On-Street Parking Meters” dated 16/05/2019 be received.

B) That the Strategy, Planning and Partnership Committee recommend to Council that the expenditure for the replacement of parking meters be provided for in the 2019/20 Annual Plan:

C) That the Committee resolve to adopt Option 1 – Replace all 508 single head meters and 9 pay & display machines with 74 machines and use the Pay by Plate option with coin, paywave and credit card payment facilities.

D) That the Committee resolve to go out to tender to replace the 508 single bay meters and 9 pay and display machines with 74 machines and operate:

a) Pay by Plate

b) Digital column parking machines to have coin, paywave, credit card and Parkmate payment facilities.

E) That the Committee endorse the proposed time schedule of implementation as outlined in the table below (as per Paragraph 7.8 of the report in A) above:

Approval by Strategic Planning & Partnerships Committee	16 May 2019
Issue tender notification	July 2019
Finalise tender	September 2019
Instalment and implementation	November 2019

With the reasons for this decision being that the objective of the decision will contribute to the performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective and appropriate to present and future circumstances by:

i) Providing parking technology within the district that is safe and readily available to motorists.

Attachments:

1	Business Case Pay by Plate Parking Machines - April 2019	REG-22-10-19-3109
2	Business Case In-ground Sensors - July 2017	REG-22-10-17-2405

File Ref: 19/411

REPORT TO: Strategy Planning and Partnerships Committee

MEETING DATE: Thursday 16 May 2019

FROM: Environmental Policy Manager

Rowan Wallis

SUBJECT: Variation 7 to The Proposed Hastings District Plan - Seasonal Workers Accommodation

1.0 SUMMARY

1.1 The purpose of this report is to obtain a decision from the Committee on whether to adopt a Variation to the Proposed Hastings District Plan for public notification under the Resource Management Act 1991 (the RMA) process.

1.2 The purpose of the Variation is to provide for seasonal worker accommodation in the Proposed District Plan at a scale that meets the needs of employers while managing the effects of the activity in the different zones.

1.3 This matter arises from workshops that Council held with stakeholders on the increasing demand both now and in the future, for seasonal worker accommodation, and the need for a greater level of certainty in the district plan on where this demand might be met and the activity status for it.

1.4 The Council is required to give effect to the purpose of local government as prescribed by Section 10 of the Local Government Act 2002. That purpose is to meet the current and future needs of communities for good quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost–effective for households and businesses. Good quality means infrastructure, services and performance that are efficient and effective and appropriate to present and anticipated future circumstances.

1.5 The objective of this decision relevant to the purpose of Local Government is

Regulatory functions which help to prevent harm and help create a safe and healthy environment for people, which promote the best use of natural resources and which are responsive to community needs.

1.6 This report concludes by recommending that Variation 7 Seasonal Workers Accommodation as shown (Attachments 1 and 2) be adopted for public notification subject to the requirements of the Resource Management Act 1991.

2.0 BACKGROUND

2.1 The horticulture industry in the district is experiencing boom times. This is particularly true of the pipfruit industry. In the last planting season over 1 million new trees were planted in the district and this is likely to occur again this season.

2.2 This level of growth provides some major challenges for landowners and contract employers in finding staff to harvest and pack the fruit. The Registered Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme has been introduced by central government to recognise the challenges in finding sufficient employees over the peak of the season to meet demands. This scheme provides for employers to recruit workers offshore to undertake planting, maintenance, harvesting and packing of the crop. With the employment of these workers comes the need to provide accommodation.

2.3 Currently around 4,000 RSE workers are employed and the industry predicts that the need for seasonal workers could double by 2022. This signals the need for significant investment in accommodation to provide for these workers.

2.4 Meetings with stakeholders identified that there were some specific types of accommodation models that they wished to adopt. These include providing for accommodation in small self-catering clusters on the site where they would be working and then a larger camp model in a central location where they would transport workers to the properties required.

2.5 Meeting seasonal workers accommodation needs has also placed significant pressure on the existing rental housing resource. There is a shortage of rental accommodation in the market place and it is hopeful that this variation will assist in relieving some of that pressure.

3.0 CURRENT SITUATION

3.1 Currently seasonal worker accommodation is provided for through a variety of means

· Orchard based accommodation

· Residential rental

· Motel accommodation

· Hostel type accommodation

· Industrial buildings refitted for residential purposes

3.2 The Proposed District Plan does not provide for seasonal worker accommodation apart from in the Plains Production Zone where it is a permitted activity up to 125m² in gross floor area. This provision was drafted prior to the growth in the RSE scheme and the objective of this provision was to ensure that the scale of the building did not occupy too great an area of the versatile soils which it was servicing.

3.3 In all other zones seasonal workers accommodation is not provided for and therefore it triggers the fall back rule whereby any activity not specifically catered for is treated as a non-complying activity. This has created something of an anomaly in the residential environments where seasonal workers living in a dwelling have effects that are no different to any traditional residential activity provided that the numbers involved are similar. For this reason for consent purposes seasonal worker accommodation has been interpreted as a residential activity up to a certain scale and thereafter it is treated as a non-complying activity.

3.4 Variation 7 seeks to give certainty to the landowners and employers that are providing for the accommodation needs of seasonal workers. As such it makes specific provision for seasonal workers accommodation within the Plains Production zone at an increased scale and within the General Industrial zones of Omahu and Irongate and the Light Industrial Zones. The Omahu and Irongate areas do not make provision for wet industry and it is therefore more appropriate that this land is used for seasonal workers accommodation rather than the limited amount of wet industrial land that remains.

3.5 The following table provides a comparison of the current district plan status for seasonal worker accommodation and what is proposed under Variation 7.

	Proposed District Plan	Variation 7
Plains Production Zone	Permitted up to 125m² gross floor area.	Restricted Discretionary Activity up to 80 persons.
Omahu and Irongate Industrial	Non-complying activity	Restricted Discretionary activity
Light Industrial Zones	Non-complying activity	Restricted Discretionary activity

3.6 Variation 7 also tidies up an anomaly with how seasonal workers accommodation is provided for in the residential environments. There is currently no provision for seasonal workers accommodation within the residential zones. However taking a pragmatic approach it is considered to be a residential activity up to a certain level. The guideline threshold currently being used for the number of seasonal workers allowed for as a permitted activity within the residential zones is 15. Beyond this number the activity becomes non-complying. It is considered however that this number is not consistent with the level of effects associated with residential activity within the residential environments. To better provide for seasonal workers accommodation it is therefore proposed to make provision for it as part of the definition of residential activity within the residential zones and up to a maximum of 8. Beyond that figure it would be non-complying. This would also ensure that it does not have a competitive advantage over others in the rental market.

4.0 OPTIONS

4.1 There are two options available. The first is undertake the variation to provide for seasonal workers accommodation not only in the Plains Production zone but also those in the Light Industrial zones and the General Industrial zones of Omahu and Irongate.

4.2 The second option is to retain the status quo, leaving seasonal workers accommodation as a non-complying activity in all zones other than the Plains Production zone.

5.0 SIGNIFICANCE AND ENGAGEMENT

5.1 This proposal is significant in terms of Council’s Significance & Engagement Policy and consultation will be undertaken under the public notification provisions set down for plan changes/variations under the Resource Management Act 1991.

6.0 ASSESSMENT OF OPTIONS (INCLUDING FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS)

6.1 Option 1 allows for Recognised Seasonal Employers and other seasonal worker employers to meet the accommodation needs of their workers. The accommodation models that have been identified by the employers require larger areas of land and this creates a conflict within the Plains Production Zone. The variation allows for a scale of development within the Plains Production zone that safeguards the versatile land and then provides for the larger accommodation facilities within the light industrial zones and the general industrial zones of Omahu and Irongate.

6.2 Option 1 provides a level of certainty for accommodation providers for where seasonal worker accommodation is appropriate and also on the scale that is appropriate in the various zones where it is provided for.

6.3 Option 1 will facilitate the development of the larger accommodation models being proposed thereby taking pressure off the existing rental accommodation and assisting with the housing issues facing the district. It will assist in meeting two of council’s main outcomes in the LTP, being “Providing diversity in housing choice” and “Building a resilient and job rich local economy.”

6.4 Retaining the status quo will not assist in achieving either of the above outcomes set out in the LTP. Option 2 will not assist Council in meeting the sustainable management of the natural and physical resources (the versatile land) of the district, as it will have a direct impact on the ability of landowners to get workers to harvest their crops.

6.5 Stakeholders have been consulted in the preparation of the Variation and have supported the direction that is being adopted. The notification of the variation will allow further input by the stakeholders and also the wider community.

7.0 PREFERRED OPTION/S AND REASONS

7.1 Option 1 to proceed with the Variation is preferred, as it will provide for sustainable management of the versatile land of the district by meeting the accommodation needs of seasonal workers in locations and at a scale where the environmental effects are minimised. The option will assist in meeting the Council’s LTP outcomes for building a resilient economy, and providing housing choice.

8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS AND REASONS

A) That the report of the Environmental Policy Manager titled “Variation 7 to The Proposed Hastings District Plan - Seasonal Workers Accommodation” dated 16/05/2019 be received.

B) That Variation 7 to the Proposed Hastings District Plan and the Section 32 Evaluation Report, be adopted for public notification pursuant to Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991.

With the reasons for this decision being that the objective of the decision will contribute to the performance of regulatory functions by:

i) Ensuring that Council provides for the sustainable management of the natural and physical resources of the District under the Resource Management Act, by providing for seasonal workers accommodation in locations and at a scale where the environmental effects are minimised.

Attachments:

1	Section 32 Evaluation Report - Variation 7 Seasonal Worker Accommodation (Final)	ENV-9-19-9-19-2	Separate Doc
2	Variation 7 Seasonal Worker ~ Amended Plan Provisions for Variation 7 PDF Version for Agenda	ENV-9-19-9-19-6	Separate Doc

File Ref: 19/429

REPORT TO: Strategy Planning and Partnerships Committee

MEETING DATE: Thursday 16 May 2019

FROM: Environmental Policy Manager

Rowan Wallis

SUBJECT: National Planning Standards

1.0 SUMMARY

1.1 The purpose of this report is to inform the Committee about the National Planning Standards that were recently gazetted and released by the Minister for the Environment and the Minister of Conservation and which will have a significant influence on the future work stream of the environmental policy section.

1.2 This issue arises from the release of the National Planning Standards which were gazetted on 5 April 2019. The National Planning Standards were part of the package of changes under the Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2017.

1.3 The Council is required to give effect to the purpose of local government as prescribed by Section 10 of the Local Government Act 2002. That purpose is to meet the current and future needs of communities for good quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost–effective for households and businesses. Good quality means infrastructure, services and performance that are efficient and effective and appropriate to present and anticipated future circumstances.

1.4 The purpose of this report relevant to the purpose of Local Government is the performance of a regulatory function through the provision of a District Plan which will help to create an attractive and healthy environment for people, which promote the best use of natural resources and which is responsive to community needs. This report concludes by recommending that this report be received for information purposes.

2.0 BACKGROUND

2.1 The first set of National Planning Standards were publicly notified on 6 June 2018 with a submission period closing on 17 August 2018. The intent behind the standards is to provide national consistency for the structure, form, definition and electronic accessibility of RMA policy plans and policy statements so that they are simpler and more cost effective to prepare and easier for plan users to understand and use. The standards are to be rolled out in a series. The first set of Standards have been drafted on the premise that the public will mainly access RMA plans and policy statements through ePlans in the near future.

2.2 This council made a submission on the Draft standards.

2.3 In its submission the Council outlined that in principle it was supportive of the intent and objectives of the National Planning Standards, but submitted that in their current proposed form that the outcome will be contrary to the overall objectives sought.

2.4 The key points of the submission were:

· The draft standard proposes to simplify the number and naming of zones which does not work successfully for this Council’s ‘Place Based’ planning approach. The zones are often based on density rather than on topography, location or community outcomes.

· The draft standard provides very little distinction between the Rural Zone and the Rural Production zone. This is not compatible with this Council’s Plains Production zone which has very real differences to our Rural Zone.

· Under the Standards Council has one year to implement the ePlan requirements. With the go live of our ePlan in February of this year, Council largely already meets this requirement, with a more advanced version being operated by this Council than what’s needed under the Standards.

· The draft standard is not explicit whether Marae and Papakainga Housing site within the Sites of Significance to Maori section in the draft standards. This does not seem to be the best fit.

· Suggested changes to the definitions to avoid Council having to re-write parts of its plan to ensure that the policy approach is consistent with the terms defined in the standard.

2.5 While the above points are significant, the issue of most concern was the proposed implementation timeline. Under the draft, this Council would have had 5 years to implement the Standards as it does not technically meet the proposed criterion being “The council has notified, or is due to notify, the decisions version of an RMA plan, or a partial decision that encompasses the majority of the plan, between April 2016 and April 2019”.

2.6 While Council has recently undergone a major plan review at substantial cost with decisions notified in September 2015, it falls slightly outside the April 2016 criterion date.

3.0 CURRENT SITUATION

3.1 With the gazettal of the first set of Planning Standards it is evident that Council’s submission was not entirely successful.

3.2 The following outlines the key parts of our submission and the response that has been received.

· Simplifying zones – Our submission was that the move to simplify the number of zones was not aligned with our community’s desire for ‘place based’ planning. There has been very little recognition of this and the new zone framework that we are required to implement remains narrow and density based.

· Distinction between Rural and Rural Production Zone – the submission was that there is little distinction between the Rural Zone and the Rural Production zone. There has been no movement to provide for areas that have highly versatile land and seek to recognise that through individual zoning.

· Providing for Marae & Papakainga housing – The submission sought clarity on where these important features of the Plan would fit. There is no explicit direction given on this matter in the standards, however under the district wide matters there is now a widening under the Historical and Cultural Values Section that provides for ‘areas of significance to maori’.

· Timeline for implementing the Standards - Under the draft this Council had been given the standard 5 years to implement the new Planning Standards. In our submission we sought to be included within the list of authorities who had recently completed a review of their plans, who had an additional 2 years for implementation. We were not successful in our submission.

3.3 The need to implement the National Planning Standards will impact on the work stream of the Environmental Policy unit. There are different implementation timeframes applied to various parts of the National Standards.

3.4 One year out from gazettal (gazetted 5 April 2019) - we must have a plan that meets electronic accessibility and functionality requirements. Our ePlan more than meets the functionality requirements, however there is some checking to do making sure our data standards are uploaded to data.govt.nz to meet the accessibility requirements.

Five years out from gazettal – we must have adopted the Plan Structure and Format changes (includes new simplified zoning) as well as the noise and vibration metrics.

Seven years out from gazettal – we must have adopted the new definitions.

3.5 A large proportion of the changes are classed as ‘mandatory directions’ and as such there is not a requirement to advertise them for submission under the normal First Schedule process of the Resource Management Act. However if existing zones cannot be replaced with a new zone description and a further zone is needed this will require the first schedule process to be followed.

3.6 As you are aware the Council has agreed that we should be undertaking a rolling review of the District Plan and that we are likely to be commencing with the Landscape and Wahi Taonga sections, once the remediation of the Te Mata track is completed and we can again begin dialogue with iwi and hapu. This will need to proceed through a first schedule process and once this is completed priorities may need to shift to implementing the National Planning Standards.

3.7 The workstream priorities endorsed by the Council at the Strategy Planning and Partnerships meeting in November 2018 were as set out in the table below;

Task		Suggested Priority
a.	Ensuring that ePlan is entirely up to date.	1
b.	Appeals on the Proposed District Plan and Howard Variation	2
c.	Making the Proposed District Plan Operative	3
d.	Changes to the Central Business District (Inner city living)	4
e.	RSE Workers Accommodation Project	5
f.	Variation to tidy up matters in the Proposed Plan	6
g.	Forestry Slash (the hazard effects on waterways created by forestry prunings and thinnings)	7
h.	Introducing National Planning Standards	8
i.	Variation to amend the Light Industrial Zone provisions	9
j.	Wāhi Taonga Project	10
k.	Implementing the Medium Density Strategy	11

3.8 To recognise the work that is required to implement the National Planning Standards the following amendments to the workstream priorities for the Environmental Policy Team are suggested.

Task		Suggested Priority
a.	Ensuring that ePlan is entirely up to date.	1
b.	Settling Appeals on the Proposed District Plan	2
c.	Making the Proposed District Plan Operative	3
d.	RSE Workers Accommodation Variation	4
e.	Implementing National Planning Standards	5
f.	Variation to tidy up matters in the Proposed Plan	6
g.	Landscape Section/ Wāhi Taonga Review	7
h.	Variation to amend the Light Industrial Zone provisions	8
i.	Implementing the Medium Density Strategy	9
j.	Forestry Slash (the hazard effects on waterways created by forestry prunings and thinnings) if required as a result of joint monitoring approach with HB Regional Council	10

4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS AND REASONS

A) That the report of the Environmental Policy Manager titled “National Planning Standards” dated 16/05/2019 be received.

B) That the Committee notes and endorses the priorities outlined in the table below:

Task		Suggested Priority
a.	Ensuring that ePlan is entirely up to date.	1
b.	Settling Appeals on the Proposed District Plan	2
c.	Making the Proposed District Plan Operative	3
d.	RSE Workers Accommodation Variation	4
e.	Implementing National Planning Standards	5
f.	Variation to tidy up matters in the Proposed Plan	6
g.	Landscape Section/ Wāhi Taonga Review	7
h.	Variation to amend the Light Industrial Zone provisions	8
i.	Implementing the Medium Density Strategy	9
j.	Forestry Slash (the hazard effects on waterways created by forestry prunings and thinnings) if required as a result of joint monitoring approach with HB Regional Council	10

C) That the Committee notes the obligation set out in the legislation to amend the district plan to meet the new standards and this has influenced the establishment of new priorities.

With the reasons for this decision being that the objective of the decision will contribute to meeting the current and future needs of communities for performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and business by:

i) Setting priorities for the policy work that is required for the Council to meet its regulatory functions, and deliver outcomes to the community, in a timely manner.

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Hastings District Council

Lyndon Road East, Hastings