This page is not a current Christchurch City Council document. Please read our disclaimer.
26. 2. 97
JOINT CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL AND
CANTERBURY REGIONAL COUNCIL COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 17 DECEMBER 1996
The 6th meeting of the Joint Christchurch City Council and
Canterbury Regional Council Committee
was held on Tuesday 17 December 1996 at 9.30 am
PRESENT: CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL
Councillor Carole Evans (Chairman) (to 11.40 am),
Councillors Oscar Alpers (from 9.40 am to 11.20 am),
Anna Crighton (to 11.48 am), Pat Harrow
and Denis O'Rourke.
CANTERBURY REGIONAL COUNCIL
Councillors Diana Shand (to 11.55 am),
Richard Budd, Sir Hamish Hay (to 12.00 noon),
Richard Johnson (from 9.45 am to 11.25 am)
and Neil Cherry.
APOLOGIES: Apologies for lateness were received and accepted from Councillor Oscar Alpers (CCC) and Richard Johnson (CRC)
1. MINUTES OF MEETING - 15 OCTOBER 1996
The minutes of the previous meeting of 15 October 1996, as circulated, were taken as read and confirmed.
2. MATTERS ARISING
Nil
3. DEPUTATIONS AND PETITIONS
Nil
4. AVON RIVER FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND OPTIONS DOCUMENT
Laurie McCallum, Natural Resources Planning Manager, CRC and Bob Watts, Planning Manager presented their report on the investigations that had been carried out on Avon River flooding. The process followed was similar to that adopted for the Styx River.
4 Cont'd
Reference was made to maps, one detailing the river catchment and the other the river and its other tributaries flood plain. The latter depicted the maximum development scenario in the event of sea level rise.
The issues and options document, once approved by the respective Councils would be released for publication.
In the discussion on the report that followed, members raised the matters of:
Resolved: That the Avon River floodplain management issues and options document be forwarded to the respective planning committees of the Christchurch City and Canterbury Regional Councils for approval and public consultation thereon.
Evans/Cherry
5. AVON AND HEATHCOTE RIVERS ESTUARY RESERVES
It was agreed that this item be held over to the March meeting of the Joint Committee.
6. NATURAL RESOURCES REGIONAL PLAN - AIR - CONSULTATION DRAFT UPDATE
Lynda Weastell, Resource Management Planner, CRC, through a series of overhead transparencies summarised the main points contained in her report on:
1. The need for a regional air plan and its content.
2 Effects, planning and certainty under the RMA.
The Need for a Regional Air Plan and its Content
Apart from the statutory requirements of the Clean Air Act and the Resource Management Act a regional air plan was required to deal with the issues of:
(i) Adverse effects of low ambient air quality.
(ii) Adverse effects of localised discharges to air (including smoke, odours, dust and air toxins).
(iii) Adverse effects of changes in concentrations of gases in the atmosphere, globally.
In addition a consultative draft air document dealing with emissions from domestic heating, transport, industrial and trade processes, and outdoor burning is being prepared.
The suggested structure for the NRRP-Air Document was explained including the difficulties experienced in dealing with air quality issues.
7. EFFECTS PLANNING AND CERTAINTY UNDER THE RMA
This report described the uncertainty about the environmental effects of many contaminants discharged to the air. This uncertainty becomes a problem when trying to manage the discharge contaminants into the air based on their effects.
The report established a framework for dealing with this uncertainty in a justifiable and consistent way. The framework is to be used by staff in determining which contaminants will be included in developing policies and methods for managing discharges to air.
In summarising the report Linda Westall advised that :
The process for grouping the Draft Regional Air Plan was described and she emphasised that the plan must be in place before the discharge of any contaminant into the air can be controlled.
The questions that had been asked in looking at the issues were:
1. What is the existing air like?
2. What are the relative contributions to existing air pollution?
3. What type of air quality is desirable for the area?
4. What changes to the existing air quality are required?
5. How long can the air quality be maintained for?
6. How can the required reductions from each sector be made?
There are a number of issues arising including:
Restrictions on the use of domestic fires and wood burners. The economic and social cost of any change and methods available under the Resource Management Act.
External services.
There are a number of problems to be looked and a working party was being set up to look at alternatives.
In respect of the two reports presented, comments were made in respect of:
The need to address the problem of air quality rather than put it off because the problem appeared too great.
Public support for action to be taken.
The use of associated organisations to progress the changes needed.
The need to change the law governing the activity if it was inappropriate.
The need to follow the process correctly to avoid later legal challenge.
Whether the more important problems could be targeted first.
The benefit of getting the right message out to the public at an early date.
Just what was the actual effect on the health of the local community from contaminants in the air.
The use of a publicity campaign in advising people not to undertake certain activities during periods of high pollution.
The use of loans and subsidies to assist people in the replacing of appliances to meet appropriate standards.
The Regional Council representatives commented that they would be grateful for any actions that the Christchurch City Council might be able to take in its sphere of operations, that would lead to a reduction in air contaminants.
In this regard it was suggested that the Environmental Committee should consider the issues raised with the assistance of the City Council's trading enterprises.
Resolved: That the recommendations contained in Report No 1 - The need for a Regional Air Plan and its content and Reports No 2 -Effects planning and uncertainty under the RMA, be supported by the Joint Committee.
Cherry/Budd
Councillor O'Rourke abstained from voting.
8. 1997 MEETING TIMETABLE
A draft timetable for suggested meetings in 1997 was tabled for consideration.
Resolved: That meetings of the Joint Committee for 1997 be held at 9.30 am on the following days.
Harrow/O'Rourke
At this point in the meeting Councillor O'Rourke assumed the chair.
9. PASSENGER TRANSPORT UPDATE
In addition to the written report from Ian McChesney, Energy Transport Policy Manager, Canterbury Regional Council, covering:
A further report from Tony Francis, Passenger Transport Adviser, dealt with:
Mark Bachels further updated the situation in respect of several of the points within the two reports.
Significant changes would be required right along the routes being looked at for upgrading and there had been several major changes in the Christchurch passenger operators.
Transfund was looking for submissions by the 24 December 1996 on funding issues.
Tony Francis tabled an additional report listing nine passenger transport projects presently being undertaken by City Council staff.
Questions were asked by members in respect of:
In conclusion it was advised that a new passenger transport plan had to be in place by 1999 and to assist in passenger transport matters the Regional Council had advertised for a planner in this field.
It was suggested that Lucas Sikiotis, Christchurch City Council who had a background in the consultative process could speak on this matter at the joint committee's next meeting.
The Chairman in closing the meeting advised that the City Council in keeping with its strategy on public transport was obliged to do something in the next six months, provided the public were in agreement. He suggested that this could be likened to starting with a mini and later building a Rolls Royce.
The meeting concluded at 12.05 pm
CONSIDERED THIS 26TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 1997
MAYOR