Discretionary pastoral activity decision - Disturbing Soil - A5553907

For this decision summary:

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

Disturbing Soil

10 years with maintenance rights

The Commissioner of Crown Lands considers there are significant farming benefits to the proposed soil disturbance activities for constructing accommodation in the form of a new homestead, a mustering hut and maintaining a protective bund for an existing hut. There are minimal inherent values effected by the proposed activities and the effects can be minimised, mitigated, or avoided through the application of the conditions in the notice. Any remaining effects are minimal and do not outweigh the benefit these activities have to make the land easier to farm through more appropriate accommodation placed in protected, easily accessible, and strategically important locations.

Consent is granted for disturbing soil, subject to the following conditions:

1. That the soil disturbance will only occur within the areas as indicated on the maps attached to the Notice of Decision and shall not exceed an area of 1,000m² within any of the areas indicated.
2. For the house and hut, the colour palette shall be neutral, and the construction method and materials used in such a way so the structures blend in with the landscape. or as per any granted resource or building consents.
3. Any machinery and construction materials brought in to carry out the soil disturbance shall be cleaned of plant material and soil to remove any possible weed contamination prior to carrying out the work.
4. Soil disturbance will be limited to the minimum amount required at each site. For the housing site, soil disturbance is also authorized to prepare the ground for associated infrastructure (e.g. septic tanks, gardens, driveway).
5. Scrub clearance is to be kept to the minimum when reconstructing the bund.
6. Following the completion of work, all bare ground shall be fertilised and seeded with appropriate seed to match in with existing surrounding grasses. All rubbish is to be removed, and sites left in a tidy condition.
7. Damage to archaeological sites should be avoided, or an Archaeological Assessment from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga will be required.

8. In the event of an accidental discovery of any archaeological sites, work must stop. The lessee should then advise Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga of the discovery. 

9. There must be no discharge of sewage from toilets onto the land or adjoining public conservation land.
10. Ensure a kea-safe policy is followed during any building work. This should include:
    • Replacing lead on existing huts and not introducing any lead products to the land.
    • All reasonable endeavours to ensure kea-proof materials are used in construction including avoiding exposed rubber, soft plastics and other similarly vulnerable materials. If the use of these materials in unavoidable, all reasonable steps must be taken to render the materials inaccessible to kea and/or tamper-proof by kea.
11. That all contractors and employees of Glen Lyon Station Ltd are informed of the conditions of this consent prior to the works starting.

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