December 2014
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Welcome to the first e-newsletter from Nelson City Council’s Building, Planning, and Environmental Programmes teams that make up the Strategy and Environment Group. We will send you this collection of news on a quarterly basis and include contact details at the start of each section for you to be able to find out more. Please email jane.loughnan@ncc.govt.nz if you have any feedback on this format or suggestions of topics for future editions.
On behalf of the Strategy and Environment Group, I hope you have an enjoyable festive season and some quality relaxing this summer!
Clare Barton
Group Manager Strategy and Environment
Introducing Nelson City Council’s Strategy and Environment Group, led by Clare Barton (fifth from left).
Building
Contact details:
Manager Building: martin.brown@ncc.govt.nz ph 5460302
What’s new from the Nelson Building Consent Authority (BCA)
Check out what the Building Unit’s new ‘GoGet’ system has been doing for processing building consents.
In June this year, the BCA moved from processing building consents as hard copies to processing these on an electronic system called ‘GoGet’. This is the first step towards a fully electronic system. The BCA’s plan is to get a project for online processing of building consents (including receipt of electronic documents) underway at the end of next year, so implementation is likely in 2016.
The good thing about the system is it creates a processor friendly interface for the check lists, used for processing consents, more robust final electronic records, and with ‘time in the saddle’ more efficient processing of building consents.
We have found some initial challenges but these have been worked through and resolved. The BCA is now seeing the system bed in nicely, which is not bad for its first six months.
I’ve got my building consent but I cannot build as I have outstanding planning issues or a Section 37 certificate.
In reviewing compliance with the Building Act 2004, and through discussions with the Ministry (MBIE), the BCA has changed one aspect of its practice around building consents. The BCA is required to issue building consents even if planning issues have not been completely resolved.
If resource consent has been requested but not completed, prior to the building consent being issued, this will trigger a certificate being raised under Section 37 of the Building Act 2004. Firstly this incurs a cost to the customer, but more importantly it means that building work cannot commence.
If it has not been possible for the planning team to determine if a resource consent is required (as they may be waiting for information from agents or customers) the building consent may be issued even though work is not allowed to commence.
These situations could be avoided with some upfront work by your agent or by meeting the Nelson City Council duty planners before the building design is completed.
The Nelson Resource Management Plan (NRMP) contains all the planning conditions and rules which relate to all land titles. Referring to these when designing will inform whether a resource consent may be required.
Speaking with duty planners once you have a design plan will assist you.
Additionally if a Property Information Memorandum or PIM is requested as your agent is designing the property, this will also assist you. Please note there is a charge for this and a time frame of 20 days.
As this change has impacted several customers, the BCA has provided more guidance which can be found on the Council’s website- http://nelson.govt.nz/building-and-property/building-consents-2/whats-new
Works that do not require a building consent, (exemptions)
The BCA is currently reviewing types of building work which the Council, has the discretion to not require a building consent. This will be progressed early next year and you will be updated in our next SHARE e-newsletter.
When are photos okay?
With recent building inspections capacity stretched and target timeframes being longer than desired, the building unit staff members are being requested frequently if they will sign off on photos from builders, instead of having inspections.
This can provide difficulty at code compliance issue stage as a random unreferenced photo for instance, of a cavity of detail which has been closed in by the time an inspection is made, could leave the BCA struggling to be satisfied on reasonable grounds for compliance of that element.
As such the BCA will only accept photographs where a building inspector has specifically requested or allowed a builder to do this. This will be to confirm work has been undertaken in a certain area. As such it should be clear as to where this area is, with a good description and a photo where it can be seen in context to other building elements.
Updates…
First quarter statistics for building consent and amendment applications received in comparison with other similar sized councils.
What’s to come
IANZ Accreditation – Re-assessment –
The Nelson Building Consent Authority will be making preparations in the early part of next year to be ready for the IANZ re-assessment for accreditation.
The Building (amendment) Act 2013
The Building (Amendment) Act 2004 Changes for Building contractors from 1 January 2015
After January 1 2015, any work over $30K (inc GST) will mean that under the Building Act 2004 you are a building contractor and need to have set up a contract for this work with the customer. Otherwise you will be tied to a default contract under the Building Act 2004. It is worth noting the builder is also responsible for obtaining any building consents and advising the customer around any changes they make to the work, which will be subject to building consent.
There are also other disclosures of information and approval requirements. Where a contract is not produced, some fairly strict requirements are implied as well as some requirements on defect periods and payments. Follow this link to get more information.
The Building (Dam Safety) Regulations 2008 and Building (Amendment) Act 2013
All owners of dams need to be aware of changes due to be enacted next year for classifiable and referable Dams. Please follow the link below to the legislation to understand what this involves - Building Act 2004
http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2004/0072/latest/DLM1220579.html
Building (Dam) Safety Regulations 2008
http://legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2008/0208/latest/DLM1382001.html?src=qs
The Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill
We have been advised that this will come into force early to mid next year. It will see changes requiring all buildings that have not been assessed for earthquake performance needing to have an Initial Seismic Assessment (ISA) undertaken within five years of the date of enactment. Likely time limits to complete works to buildings, determined to be earthquake prone, will be required within 15 years. See the link below to the proposed legislation changes. Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill
http://legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2013/0182/latest/DLM5616102.html?src=qs
Building Unit process changes – what’s changed this quarter and how it affects you
Under the Building Act 2004, the Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) must be applied for only once works are completed. The BCA will accept at final inspection stage and when all inspections have been passed. Current practice sees these coming in early but as further information is required these do not start on the statutory clock anyway. The overall experience should remain similar and turnaround times should not be affected but it will mean we are aligned with the Building Act 2004.
GoGet For Inspections –
In November 2013, building inspectors changed to electronic devices to undertake building inspections. This has been up and running for around a year now so the BCA will be reviewing this shortly to fine tune the system and make sure it is working effectively and efficiently. This is going to be investigated over the next six months and a project will kick off any recommended changes towards the end of 2015.
Planning
Contact details:
Manager Consents and Compliance: mandy.bishop@ncc.govt.nz ph 5458740
Manager Planning: matt.heale@ncc.govt.nz ph 5395506
What’s new
Consented Development
Chorus was issued district-wide resource consent for any works within root zones of heritage trees for their broadband work. Nelson City Council also obtained district-wide resource consent for works to heritage or landscape trees that are dead or damaged. Council has applied for consents for wastewater pipeline works in the Corder Park area and some variations to the Maitai Walkway consents.
The annual Port Nelson Street Motorbike Races held on 2 January has obtained resource consent for the next 10 years.
Talleys has been granted consents to dredge the Coastal Marine Area to create deeper berthing docks at the wharf area and to extend the wharf area.
A new refined fish oil processing facility in Venice Place has been approved for Seadragon Marine Oils Ltd, and an associated air discharge consent was also granted for the steam discharge (no odour discharge is anticipated).
An eight lot subdivision with an associated comprehensive housing development in Golf Road obtained resource consent.
Iwi Liaison
A number of hui have been held with Iwi to discuss significant resource management issues for the Nelson Plan and the key projects identified in the Environment AMP. Officer training has been undertaken to better understand the implications of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the implications of Treaty Settlement legislation. For more information on Treaty Settlement go to: http://maps.marlborough.govt.nz/treaty/portal/
Plan Change 16 – Inner City Noise
Plan Change 16 – Inner City Noise revises the inner city noise standards. The approach recognises that both those producing and receiving noise in the Inner City Zone have a responsibility for its management. It also recognises that the Inner City Zone provides a central area containing diverse activities which enhance vitality and vibrancy, while also providing for a standard of amenity appropriate to the location.
This Plan Change was made operative on 1 December 2014. For more information on the Plan Change, please click here or contact Reuben Peterson, 546 0295 or email Reuben.Peterson@ncc.govt.nz.
Updates
The Nelson Plan
Update on the Nelson Plan
At the end of 2013, Nelson City Council decided to combine the Regional Policy Statement and the Nelson Resource Management Plan into an integrated second generation plan review called the "Nelson Plan".
Essentially the Nelson Plan will outline how we collectively will manage our built environment and natural resources.
Council has started the review by defining significant resource management issues for Nelson and determined key strategic outcomes that the Plan will look to achieve.
The Plan aims to create a city that is a vibrant, attractive place in which people can live, work, and play, and in which businesses can operate successfully now and into the future. Natural resources should be managed in an integrated and sustainable way to maintain and enhance natural, ecological, recreational, human health and safety, and cultural values.
Stakeholder engagement and community consultation is planned to run from late 2014 to mid 2015. Council workshops are planned for May/June 2015 to consider feedback ahead of citywide consultation which will be carried out later in the 2015/16 financial year.
The aim is for notification of the Nelson Plan to occur mid 2016. Following notification, the community will have further opportunities to provide feedback through submissions and further submissions. More information about this process will be provided closer to the time.
The focus of the initial engagement has been on seeking feedback from key stakeholders with an interest in the natural resource area. While some discussions are underway on city development issues such as Wakapuaka, Stoke, and the Central City, it is envisaged that these discussions will ramp up at the beginning of 2015.
For more information on the Nelson Plan review, please click here or contact Matt Heale, Manager Planning, on 03 539 5506 or email Matt.Heale@ncc.govt.nz.
Resource Consents Application information
Please remember that the quality and completeness of resource consent applications impacts on how fast and smooth the process will be. For example, information from experts will be required for activities affecting natural resources.
Resource Consents Stats
Since July between 25 and 35 resource consent applications have been issued each month, 99% of these are on time (within 20 working days) and require no notification.
What’s to come
Resource Management Act amendments
It is expected there will be a number of changes made to the Resource Management Act in 2015. Refer to the Ministry for the Environment website for more information.
Environmental Programmes
Contact details:
Manager Environmental Programmes: dean.evans@ncc.govt.nz, ph 546 0339
What’s new
Nelson Nature
Nelson Nature is a new project proposed to kick off in July 2015 that will provide a much expanded and improved biodiversity programme for Nelson. As a unitary authority, Nelson City Council has obligations under the RMA to ‘protect areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna’ on both Council and private land.
The proposed programme will address all areas of biodiversity (including streams and rivers, forest remnants, water catchment areas, wetlands and coastal margins) from the mineral belt to the boulder bank, and from Cape Soucis to the Waimea Inlet at Champion Road.
The programme will enable Council staff to work constructively with its neighbours and private land owners to enhance, protect and restore what remains of our native ecosystems.
Project Mahitahi/Maitai
Project Maitai/Mahitahi is Nelson City Council’s name for a programme of work to improve the health of the Maitai River. Although the programme is focused on the Maitai River, it is actually a catchment programme including Brook and York Streams, Groom and Sharlands Creeks and other tributaries.
The project is delivered in partnership with community group the Friends of the Maitai, with input from key stakeholders and interested parties. It featured as the river of the month for November on the LAWA website.
Project Maitai/Mahitahi is focussed on the ten key initiatives below, however this will evolve over time as projects are added or completed.
Community Projects: matched funding for community projects that will help meet the goal of Project Maitai/Mahitahi.
Riverside Planting: planting native trees, shrubs and grasses on the river banks to cool the water and provide habitat for native species, and to act as a filter to reduce contaminants and other materials entering the river.
Maitai Dam: improving the water quality from the Maitai Reservoir so that it doesn’t affect the river.
River Flows: changing flow rates from the Maitai Reservoir so they are more like natural river flows.
Stream Biodiversity: helping native fish and healthy stream critters make the Maitai their home.
River Gravel: understanding the importance of gravel movement in the river and how gravel could move down the river in a natural way, without causing a flood risk or a barrier to fish migration.
E. coli Chasing: finding out where the bacteria in the swimming holes downstream of Riverside Pool are coming from, and sorting the problem.
Forestry Review: managing the potential impact of forestry/harvesting operations on the river.
Stock Fencing: making sure cattle can’t get into the river
Brook Culvert: making the Brook Stream as fish friendly as possible, while still reducing flood risk
If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions on Project Maitai/Mahitahi or any of the other Environmental Programmes please contact us using the contact details provided.
Recreational Bathing Monitoring
The summer recreational bathing water monitoring commenced on 1 December, which includes weekly monitoring at four beach monitoring sites at Monaco, Tahunanui, Nelson Haven and Cable Bay. Four popular bathing holes are monitored in the lower Maitai between Maitai Camp and Collingwood Street Bridge and at Hira Reserve and Paremata Flats Reserve on the Wakapuaka River. The weekly water monitoring results will be available on the Land, Air, Water, Aotearoa website http://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/nelson-region/ from 15 December, and also available on the Council website.
Air quality monitoring
Winter started with an unseasonably warm May and June period and while temperatures were beginning to fall during July, the weather remained unsettled with above average wind. Meteorological conditions were not conducive to the concentration of air pollutants. In the winter of 2014 there were only two breaches of the National Environmental Standards for air quality (NES) in Airshed A (Victory/Toi Toi, Washington Valley area).
In Airshed B (Tahunanui) a very similar pattern prevailed. There were no winter breaches of the NES. One breach of the NES occurred in spring during a warm blustery SW day and is likely to be related to entrained dust from roads and yards rather than combustion sources.
Heritage Project Fund
The Council provides grants to maintain, repair, restore, stabilise or to provide advice and work for seismic strengthening for heritage buildings, objects and sites that are identified in the Nelson Resource Management Plan. This year $63,963 has been allocated to 17 heritage building owners. Applications for next year’s funding round will open in March 2015.
For more information on Council’s financial assistance for heritage buildings go to: http://nelson.govt.nz/building-and-property/property-land-use/property-ownership/heritage-property-ownership-2/heritage-financial-aid/
Ecofest featuring Growables
Council’s flagship sustainability event Ecofest took place at Founders Heritage Park on Sunday 16 November. This year Ecofest combined with Nelson Growables to create a new look event. Around 2000 people attended and feedback received from members of the public was very positive. New for 2014 was the Get Moving bike crèche offering a free bike service to anyone cycling to the event. This attracted over 140 cyclists on the day. Future options for Ecofest are now being considered.
Bronze Awards for Nelson Enviroschools
Three Enviroschools (Nelson Intermediate School, Hampden Street School and Grove Street Kindergarten) have successfully completed their Bronze Awards this term. The Bronze Award is given by those centres that can clearly demonstrate a commitment to sustainable behaviour change.
Actions undertaken have included reducing waste to landfill through increased recycling and diversion of food waste to composting and bokashi systems; development of edible gardens; implementation of water-saving systems to reduce pressure on mains water supply and promote good resource management; projects to improve the health of the York Steam; and understanding Māori perspectives around sustainability.
Create Your own Eden composting workshops
The Spring series of Create Your Own Eden home composting workshops has proved to be very popular with all workshops well attended. Three workshops took place during October and November and Create Your Own Eden also exhibited at Ecofest. These free workshops provide participants with information and training on how to divert food and green waste from landfill, turning it into compost for the garden. Participants receive a free compost bin from the workshop to help them get started. Feedback from the sessions has been very positive. A further series will be run during Autumn 2015.
Sustainable Building Design
The award-winning Eco Design Advisor service continues to be in high demand. This service provides independent advice, at no charge, on how to best use energy, water and materials on home improvement, building and renovation projects, to ensure better use is made of resources.
TV One's Seven Sharp current affairs programme ran an item on Nelson Eco Design Advisor Richard Popenhagen, calling him a "heating guru". See the item on demand here. The programme did a follow up visit after insulation was installed. See the item here.
If you are a building professional, contemplating building new or a homeowner, contact phone Richard Popenhagen on 546 0251 or email: richard.popenhagen@ncc.govt.nz to arrange a consultation either at the Council or at your business or home.
What’s to come
Forestry
Two meetings have been held with the Maitai Forestry Operations Team as part of Project Maitai/Mahitahi to look at actions that could be undertaken to help reduce the impact of forestry on the Maitai River.
A field trip is proposed in January to look at sites within the Maitai catchment in order for the project group to gain a better understanding of the issues around forest management and to help identify actions that could help reduce sediment, slash (branches and debris) and nutrients from entering the river.
DoC hosted a meeting in December to consider control of wilding pines. This is an issue that needs to be addressed by DoC, Nelson City Council, forestry companies and private land owners as to how these escapees can be eradicated, and how control operations can be aligned to achieve efficiencies and the best outcomes.