Discretionary pastoral activity decision - Oversowing and top-dressing - A6001909

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.

Oversowing and top-dressing

Maintaining oversowing and top-dressing

For the part of the consent that was granted

The Commissioner of Crown Lands considers that the benefits to the sowing of seed and topdressing are considerable and will make the land easier to farm.  The areas are within parts of the lease that have already been developed through cultivation, oversowing and topdressing, and with appropriate conditions there should be little to no adverse effects beyond those already occurring.

For the part of the consent that was declined

The Commissioner of Crown Lands considers that for the areas recommended for decline, the adverse effects on the inherent values are significant and that any conditions will not adequately avoid, remedy or mitigate these adverse effects. These inherent values include relatively dense grey shrubland over a large area, which adjoins another larger area of grey shrubland, and an area that has wetland values. 

Consent is granted in part for oversowing and top-dressing, subject to the following conditions:

1. That oversowing and top-dressing is limited to the approved areas as indicated on the map attached to the Notice of Decision.
2. For avoidance of doubt, for any area where a Notice of Decision has previously been issued by the Commissioner of Crown Lands (and as identified in green on the map attached to this Notice), the conditions of the earlier Notice shall take precedence.
3. That, where possible, only a certified seed mix is sown on the approved areas.
4. The application of fertiliser (with or without seed) shall be based on regular soil testing data, processed by industry experts and records kept up to date. These records shall be made available to the Commissioner of Crown Lands or his delegate upon request.
5. No top-dressing or sowing of seed is to occur within 20m of any wetland or permanent waterway.
6. No top-dressing or sowing of seed shall occur over closed canopy, existing indigenous shrubland and beech forest within the approved areas.
7. That, where possible, all top-dressing and sowing of seed shall avoid rocky outcrops and scree slopes.
8. That appropriate maintenance applications of fertiliser are applied to approved areas so as to keep nutrients in balance and enhance the nitrogen cycle.
9. No application of fertiliser shall occur during winter months or during adverse weather.
10. That all contractors and employees working on Glen Lyon are informed of the conditions of this consent prior to carrying out any oversowing and top-dressing operations.

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