Discretionary pastoral activity decision for Black Forest - Clearing scrub - A5324280

For this decision summary:

• LINZ received the application before 17 November 2022
• the decision was made under the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998 before the amendments taking effect on 17 November 2022.

Clearing scrub

15 years

The Commissioner has determined that the proposed clearing has positive farming benefits, and the conditions will enable any adverse effects to be avoided, remedied or mitigated. Benefits include the removal of exotic weeds which reduce the amount of land available for grazing and that are providing shelter to rabbits and wallabies. Ongoing control of exotic woody weeds will also be of benefit to the inherent values, particularly indigenous vegetation, by removing competition. The method of spraying has been restricted through parts of the Lease to avoid the loss of inherent values that can occur from aerial blanket spraying.

Consent is granted for clearing of scrub, subject to the following conditions:

1. That clearing will only occur within the areas and by the methods indicated as being approved as shown on the map attached.
2. Any clearing/spraying is only targeted at exotic woody weeds, these include sweet brier, elderflower, blackberry, willow, gorse, broom and wilding conifers. No indigenous vegetation shall be specifically targeting by spraying.
3. Even in areas where aerial boom/blanket spraying is granted, it shall only be utilised where there is minimal risk to native vegetation, although it is acknowledged that the occasional individual native plant may be accidentally sprayed and killed during spraying operations.
4. No herbicide spraying shall occur over any rocky outcrops or areas of grey shrubland. For avoidance of doubt, grey shrubland areas shall be any area where the average cover of grey shrubland species e.g. matagouri, Coprosma spp. or any other indigenous species, is 25% or more of the total vegetation cover.
5. No aerial blanket spraying shall occur within 10m of any flowing waterway.
6. No aerial blanket spraying shall occur above 700m above sea level.
7. No herbicide spraying shall be undertaken in windy conditions.
8. The Lessee shall ensure that the GPS records from any helicopter spraying, showing where herbicide has been applied, are retained for at least 5 years after the spraying has occurred and supply these records to the Commissioner upon request. The helicopter company and pilot carrying out the spraying must hold the relevant qualifications/ratings for applying agrichemicals.
9. Any equipment or machinery used for the clearing shall be cleaned of any soil or plant material at a location off Black Forest Station prior to carrying out the clearing.
10. That all contractors and employees working on Black Forest Station in relation to this consent are informed of the conditions of this consent prior to works starting.

The Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998 provides that permission to undertake the activity may still be needed under other enactments.