Outcome Six: Environment
Taiao
A flourishing natural environment | He taiao e puāwai ana
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Key
2022-2025Year of deliveryAdaptationMitigationBiodiversity and sequestrationWe integrate native regeneration and carbon removal6.1
Collaborate with regional partners to undertake a review of the impact of climate change on indigenous ecosystems in the district.
UPDATEUpdate
2 September 2024Council has funded an ecological research study through a project with Southern Lakes Sanctuary, Mana Tāhuna Charitable Trust, and WAI Wānaka, to assess potential ecosystem and fauna attribute mapping and identification of potential invasive predator elimination sites within the district. The final report was made available in November, with the GIS mapping tool available on the QLDC Spatial Data Hub (https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/87611f79878744679176d30cfb066eb4).
More information is available here:
https://www.scene.co.nz/queenstown-news/local-life/ground-breaking-report-released/
2022-20246.2
Partner with Kāi Tahu, and work with our community, Otago Regional Council and Central Government to create an integrated work programme to deliver climate, biodiversity and wider environmental outcomes throughout our district. The work programme will align with the Pledge to Nature, ANZBS, the Otago Biodiversity Strategy and consider:
- The Grow Well | Whaiora Spatial Plan Priority Initiative 15 (develop open space network plans).
- Balancing competing objectives around carbon sequestration, fire resilience and regeneration of indigenous terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.
- Strategic direction and/or recommendations from the 2020 Sequestration Study, Tree Policy, the Otago Ecosystems and Habitat Mapping, the Blue-Green Network and other relevant plans and strategies.
- Prioritising nature-based solutions in policy, planning design and decision-making (NERP13 Action 4.1).
- Eco-sourcing native plant species and increasing nursery capacity.
- Predator and pest control.
- Catchment rehabilitation initiatives.
- Protecting ecosystems and species of national or regional significance e.g. alpine tussock land, and wetlands and braided river bird species.
- Collaboration with conservation trusts to achieve landscape-scale outcomes.
UPDATEUpdate
2 September 2024The strength of partnerships between Council, iwi, ORC, DOC and local conservation and biodiversity restoration organisations has continued to grow.
> Members from various QLDC teams recently took part in the initial hui for the Otago Regional Council (ORC) Integrated Catchment Management Plan programme which has been launched for the district (https://upper-lakes-orcnz.hub.arcgis.com/).
> Council officers have attended and taken on a coordination role for Te Rōpu Whakamana te Taiao, a group of key conservation organisations and officers from QLDC, ORC and DOC, looking to transform the long-term economic prosperity of the district's conservation sector so that it has the capacity to protect, restore and enhance Te Taiao for future generations.
> QLDC continues to attend quarterly meetings of the Otago Biodiversity Forum which includes officers from ORC, DOC, LINZ and Aukaha.
> Council officers are also involved in the Waiwhakaata Lake Hayes Strategy Group, the Whakatipu Wilding Control Group (WCG) and work with other volunteer conservation groups.
2022-20256.3
Use the work programme to direct QLDC’s planting and plant and animal pest control programmes and to inform the biodiversity and sequestration actions for the next Climate and Biodiversity Plan.
UPDATEUpdate
2 September 2024QLDC continues to support community and volunteer groups revegetation efforts through provision of plants, materials and in-kind support. Currently there are 36 groups in the Whakatipu Basin and 10 groups in the Upper Clutha Basin which have agreements in place to undertake planting and pest control on Council land. QLDC supports Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust which has 15 planting sites in the Upper Clutha, and the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust which has 5 keystone sites in the Whakatipu Basin.
The Upper Clutha Wilding Tree Group is a newly formed volunteer group who are working in the Upper Clutha to enhance native biodiversity by removing wilding plant species from Council reserve areas.
2022-2024We integrate native regeneration and carbon removal6.4
Conduct a review of how Council can adopt more environmentally friendly methods of controlling pest plants to minimise and/or eliminate the use of agrichemicals such as glyphosate. This will involve trialling and monitoring new technologies and methods such as wilding, meadowing, alternative agrichemicals and weed control methods.
UPDATEUpdate
2 September 2024Project scoping and literature review of best practices relevant to our District has been completed.
Contractors are required to provide agrichemical use data to QLDC and the Parks contract renewal process is underway.2022-20246.5
Integrate the protection, restoration and enhancement of blue-green networks and indigenous biodiversity corridors into stormwater management, infrastructure design and management of parks, reserves, and open spaces.
UPDATEUpdate
2 September 2024As part of the Spatial Plan and Climate & Biodiversity Plan programmes of work, a draft Blue Green Network Plan has been developed alongside a Kāi Tahu values report. Finalisation of the Blue Green Network Plan is expected later this year to align with the Spatial Plan Gen 2.0.
2022-20256.6
We integrate native regeneration and carbon removal
2022-20256.6a
Regenerate Coronet Forest as an exemplar of native biodiversity and a recreational hub.
UPDATEUpdate
2 September 2024Following completion of the early harvest of Coronet Forest in May 2023, a contract to “recloak” Coronet Forest with indigenous species was awarded to Te Tapu o Tāne and e3Scientific Limited in April 2024. The first year of work will involve planning, pest control and site preparation, with native plantings expected to commence in March 2025. This is a partnership project between QLDC, Mana Whenua, Te Tapu o Tāne and Citycare Property, with the expertise of e3Scientific. Te Tapu o Tāne Limited is an Iwi-owned and operated charitable company.
COMPLETE6.6b
Develop and implement plans to protect, restore and enhance other Council land that has high biodiversity potential, Including Mt Iron, Matakauri Wetland, Ben Lomond, and Queenstown Hill.
UPDATEUpdate
2 September 2024> Mt Iron – developing RMP which will identify key areas for protection. Scoping Rabbit fencing opportunities and other pest management requirements. Wilding conifer control to be undertaken to protect kanuka stands.
> Matakauri Wetland - further planting, pest management and weed clearance has taken place to further enhance the wetland.
> Albert Town Lagoon – Effective control of small willows and the removal of a large dead willow from the lagoon area has been carried out. Further weed control is planned for summer.
> Pigeon Island - Large scale weed work on both Pigeon and Pig Island (both boom spray and lancing) was completed. May undertake further weed work as required.2022-2025We increase the impact of our local conservation organisations6.7
Support capability building for staff, volunteers, and board members within local conservation trusts through initiatives such as governance training, conservation standards workshops, conference funding and knowledge sharing.
UPDATEUpdate
2 September 2024The Governance Mentoring programme has been delivered in partnership with Community Governance Aotearoa and mentoring Foundation NZ. This was made available in 2022 and 2032 with uptake from people across a range of sectors. The 2023 cohort included mentees from Sustainable Queenstown, Generation Zero, WoolOn Creative Fashion Event, WAO, Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust, Food for Love Wanaka.
2022-20256.8
Create a live schedule of all biodiversity related community and QLDC projects underway in the district. Understand stage of development, barriers, opportunities and how QLDC can support. Develop clear criteria for assessment.
UPDATEUpdate
2 September 2024QLDC continue to work with Kāi Tahu, our community, ORC and central government to understand how best to support climate, waste and biodiversity action in our district. Check the latest updates page (https://climateaction.qldc.govt.nz/latest-updates/) or connect to our partner organisations websites (https://climateaction.qldc.govt.nz/our-partners/).
2022-20236.9
Invest in a Council Biodiversity contestable fund to support innovative community and business projects that respond to biodiversity loss and restoration.
UPDATEUpdate
2 September 2024Additional funding has been allocated to the 2024 Community Grant fund from the Climate & Biodiversity Plan budget to help support local organisations who are supporting biodiversity protection and restoration efforts across the district. A review of the best model for providing funding support to local partner organisations in the climate action and biodiversity space is also underway. The intent is to adopt a strategic partnership model rather than a contestable fund. This will involve collaboration with other funding agencies (e.g. Community trusts, ORC) to ensure that key funding decisions are strategically aligned to help build capacity and accelerate progress across the district. For more information see our latest updates (https://climateaction.qldc.govt.nz/climate-biodiversity-boost-for-community-funding/)
COMPLETE -
More Outcomes
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1. Leadership
QLDC demonstrates ambitious climate leadership
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2. Transport
Our transport system is low-emission and better connected
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3. Built
Our built environment is low-emission and resilient
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4. Communities
Our communities are low-emission and climate resilient
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5. Business
Low-emission businesses thrive
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