Minutes of a meeting
held in the Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 30 Laings Road,
Lower Hutt on
Thursday 28 February 2019 commencing at 1.00pm
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PRESENT: |
Deputy Mayor D Bassett – Hutt City Council (Chair) |
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Mayor W Guppy - Upper Hutt City Council (until 3.15pm) |
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Mayor M Tana - Porirua City Council |
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Cr I Pannett - Wellington City Council (from 1.15pm) |
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Cr J Brash - Greater Wellington Regional Council |
APOLOGIES: There were no apologies.
IN ATTENDANCE: Cr R Leggett (Alternate Porirua City Council)
Mr D Wright, Chair, Wellington Water Ltd
Mr C Crampton, Chief Executive, Wellington Water Ltd
Mr
M Kinvig, Group Manager, Network Strategy and Planning, Wellington Water Ltd
Mr M Ford, Chief Financial Officer, Wellington Water Ltd
Mr A van Paassen, Communications Engagement Manager, Wellington Water Ltd
Mr K Dentice, Senior Advisor Whaitua Relationships, Wellington Water Ltd
Mr D Baxter, City Engineer, Wellington City Council
Mr
C Laidlaw, Chair, Greater Wellington Regional Council
Ms S Gain, General Manager Corporate Services, Greater Wellington Regional
Council
Ms W Walker, Chief Executive, Porirua City Council
Mr P Kelly, Chief Executive, Upper Hutt City Council
Mr
B Hodgins, Strategic Advisor, Hutt City Council
Ms V Napier, Mayor South Wairarapa District Council
Ms K Stannard, Divisional Manager Democratic Services, Hutt City Council
Ms H Clegg, Minute Taker
PUBLIC BUSINESS
1. APOLOGIES
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Resolved: (Deputy Mayor Bassett/Mayor Guppy) Minute No. WWC 19101 “That the apology received from Cr Pannett for lateness be received.” |
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
3. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS
There were no conflict of interest declarations.
4. Minutes
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Resolved: (Deputy Mayor Bassett/Cr Brash) Minute No. WWC 19102 “That the minutes of the meeting of the
Wellington Water Committee held on |
Cr Pannett joined the meeting at 1.15pm.
The meeting adjourned at 1.20pm and resumed at 2.40pm.
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5. |
Wellington Water Ltd's Draft Statement of Intent 2018-21 (19/244) Report No. WWC2019/1/44 by Wellington Water Ltd |
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The Chief Executive of Wellington Water Ltd (the company) elaborated on the report. Members discussed the process for the draft Statement of Intent (the draft SOI). The Chair confirmed that the Chief Executive of Hutt City Council would distribute the draft SOI to the shareholding Councils. Members noted the deadline of 12 April 2019 was tight. However they believed their Councils would be able to provide feedback in time. Cr Pannett provided feedback on the draft SOI which included statements on carbon emissions targets, mitigation measures and how engineering and holistic views of water management were to be combined. In response to questions from a member relating to customers’ homes and businesses being protected from flooding, the Chief Executive of the company explained some flooding may still occur and that the planned modelling studies would be completed in two years time. He added the results of these studies would then be developed into constructive evidence with solutions for each shareholding Council to enable them to make informed decisions. He also added that the draft SOI was evolving with the company’s input into Councils’ District Plan Changes to include sustainable methods of water management. The Group Manager, Network Strategy and Planning of the company advised officers were working closely with developers, who were generally interested in sustainable water management methods. He confirmed the company would provide feedback to the Councils in this regard. Cr Brash considered that the company should be a member of the Climate Change Working Group. She also advised that she had written to the Minister of Civil Defence asking when central government would be installing water storage tanks into its rental properties. Cr Brash noted that she was awaiting a response. In response to questions from members regarding engineering gender equality, the Chief Executive of the company advised that the company had a good partnership with Engineering NZ. He also advised that the new alliance partner had an effective programme for apprentices. He agreed to reflect these actions in the draft SOI. He agreed that adjustments with regard to costs would be actioned. |
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Resolved: (Deputy Mayor Bassett/Mayor Tana) Minute No. WWC 19103 “That the Committee rreceives, considers and provides feedback on Wellington Water Ltd’s draft Statement of Intent by 12 April 2019.” |
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6. |
Wellington Water Ltd's Half Year Report (19/241) Report No. WWC2019/1/38 by Wellington Water Ltd |
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The Chair of Wellington Water Ltd (the company) elaborated on the report. He acknowledged the efforts of all involved at reaching this point. Mayor Guppy expressed concern that the company had lost credibility in Upper Hutt due to lack of action over long term water leaks. He highlighted the repeated requests to the company for repairs to be undertaken. The Chair of the company acknowledged the situation and stated that the company was working on ensuring operational matters were improved. Mayor Guppy left the meeting at 3.15pm. In response to a request from a member, the Chair of the company agreed to provide notes to accompany the company’s Financial Statements in the future. |
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Resolved: (Deputy Mayor Bassett/Cr Pannett) Minute No. WWC 19104 “That the Committee receives and considers the Half Year Report attached as Appendix 1 to the report.” |
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Wellington Water Ltd's Planning for the 2021-31 Next Long Term Plan (19/247) Report No. WWC2019/1/39 by Wellington Water Ltd |
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The Group Manager, Network Strategy and Planning, Wellington Water Ltd (the company) elaborated on the report. In response to a question from a member, the Group Manager, Network Strategy and Planning acknowledged the local body elections taking place in October. He agreed a briefing of all members could occur shortly after that. He confirmed the additional leadership required from members was for specific projects. He further agreed that more information would be provided to members to enable informed and educated feedback. In response to a question from a member, the Group Manager, Network Strategy and Planning, confirmed the recommendations from the Whaitua projects would be incorporated into the company’s work plans. |
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Resolved: (Deputy Mayor Bassett/Cr Brash) Minute No. WWC 19105 “That the Committee: (i) agrees to the overall process outlined for Council, Wellington Water Committee and mana whenua engagement on the Long Term Plan;
(ii) acknowledges this process is going to all councils before being reported back to this Committee; and
(iii) agrees to the first presentation to be provided to Councils in February/March/April.” |
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8. |
Wellington Water Ltd's Sustainable Water Supply (19/243) Report No. WWC2019/1/40 by Wellington Water Ltd |
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Resolved: (Deputy Mayor Bassett/Cr Pannett) Minute No. WWC 19106 “That the Committee: (i) lies the item on the table due to time constraints and the fact that not all members are present to debate the item; and (ii) agrees that a workshop on this item be held prior to the next scheduled Committee meeting.” |
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Wellington Water Ltd - Receiving Environment Water Quality (19/246) Report No. WWC2019/1/41 by Wellington Water Ltd |
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The Group Manager, Network Strategy and Planning, Wellington Water Ltd elaborated on the report. In response to questions from members, the Group Manager, Network Strategy and Planning clarified that flood protection studies would commence in the next financial year along with collaboration with Greater Wellington Regional Council officers. He confirmed that additional information would be presented to the next Committee meeting. |
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Resolved: (Deputy Mayor Bassett/Mayor Tana) Minute No. WWC 19107 “That the Committee receives and notes the report.” |
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Wellington Water Ltd's Communication Strategy 2019 (19/242) Report No. WWC2019/1/42 by Wellington Water Ltd |
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The Chief Executive of Wellington Water Ltd (the company) explained that the company was requesting feedback on ways to better communicate with Councils and customers in the year ahead. The Communications Engagement Manager of the company explained the Communications Strategy related to the Statement of Intent and the 3 Waters Strategy. In response to questions from a member, the Communications Engagement Manager confirmed the stakeholders included Councils, communities, the consumer panel and mana whenua. He added that in order to avoid mixed messages, additional communication would be undertaken. The Chief Executive of the company advised there were more crews now working, with a goal of reducing response times to attending issues. In response to members questions regarding aspirational targets and identification of the “brand”, the Chief Executive of the company commented the system in place for responding to an incident was an integrated delivery model. He advised that each Council also needed to educate their communities. |
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Resolved: (Deputy Mayor Bassett/Cr Brash) Minute No. WWC 19108 “That the Committee considers the draft communications strategy (attached as Appendix 1 to the report), in particular the three objectives.” |
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Wellington Water Ltd's Company Update (19/249) Report No. WWC2019/1/43 by Wellington Water Ltd |
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The Chief Executive of Wellington Water Ltd (the company) elaborated on the report. Mayor Napier of South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) thanked the company for attending Martinborough’s recent water crisis so promptly and providing the water bladders. She added the incident had heightened the public’s understanding of water resilience and the need for facilities and expertise. She advised the consultation document for SWDC’s proposed membership of the Committee had been released last week with initial positive feedback received. In response to a question from a member regarding sea level rise, the Chief Executive of the company advised each Council needed to formulate its own response with the company providing assistance. |
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Resolved: (Deputy Mayor Bassett/Cr Brash) Minute No. WWC 19109 “That the Committee: (i) notes and receives Wellington Water Ltd’s (the company) Company Update report; and (ii) acknowledges the work of the company’s team in terms of the Martinborough town water supply incident.” |
There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 4.00pm.
Deputy Mayor D Bassett
CHAIR
CONFIRMED as a true and correct record
Dated this 29th day of May 2019