Discretionary pastoral activity decision - Tracking - A6537710

For this decision summary: 

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

Tracking

5 years with maintenance rights

The Commissioner of Crown Lands has determined the tracking will have significant benefits in terms of allowing more cost-effective wilding pine control and benefit the farming operation by allowing easier and safer mustering of stock in the Middle Gully catchment. It is considered that these farming and biosecurity benefits can be achieved with a less than minor effect on the inherent values provided the conditions of the Notice are complied with. These values include indigenous threatened freshwater fish, seepage wetlands and indigenous shrubland. 

Consent is granted for tracking, subject to the following conditions:

1. Where possible and practical, the track is reformed within the footprint of the original four-wheel drive track and is formed/bulldozed to a width not greater than 4 metres to minimise the clearance of matagouri and other indigenous shrubland. 
2. Soil disturbance and vegetation clearance is kept to the minimum required to meet the Lessee objectives when establishing the track and that appropriate machinery is employed on the task to achieve this. 
3. Instream works to create or maintain fords occur only during the period March – July (inclusive) to avoid the spawning period of northern flathead Galaxias and dwarf Galaxias.
4. There is no dewatering of the channel when creating or maintaining fords, and fish passage will be retained in the waterway. 
5. A maximum of three crossings of Middle Gully Stream and one crossing of the Acheron River are permitted to minimise sediment loading in waterways by vehicles. These crossing points shall be within 20m of the following coordinates (NZTM): 
   1. Acheron River 1616853mE 5346467mN 
   2. Middle Gully Stream 1616392mE 5346300mN; 1616464mE 5347045mN; 1616538mE 5347201mN 
6. The track crosses back over to the true right of Middle Gully below the seep wetlands identified in ‘Map 2’ within this Notice of Decision. 
7. All machinery intended to be used to construct the track is cleaned of plant material and soil prior to entering Muller Station to avoid weed contamination. 
8. Any cuts and fill be battered to ensure stability and shaped, so they blend into the surroundings and are suitable for re-vegetation. 
9. Once the track has been formed, any remaining disturbed ground is oversown and top-dressed following construction, to avoid visible bare ground. 
10. All contractors and employees of Muller Station engaged in the track formation are informed of the conditions of this consent prior to the tracking works starting. 

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