Discretionary pastoral activity decision - Tracking - A6274489

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.

Tracking

10 years with maintenance rights

The Commissioner of Crown Lands has determined that the benefits from being able to form the proposed tracks are significant. The proposed tracks will make it safer and easier to move stock around the lease, for farm management, and improve the control of weeds and pests.  Appropriate conditions have been imposed that will ensure the track is suitably constructed and assist in mitigating potential adverse effects. The Director General of Conservation has advised that any inherent values will not be adversely affected by the proposed tracking provided areas of indigenous shrubland, wetland, rocky outcrops or copper tussock are avoided as best as possible.

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

1. The new track formations are limited to the areas as indicated on the map attached to the Notice of Decision. Some minor adjustment is permitted to avoid areas of indigenous scrub, allow for the best gradient or minimise soil disturbance.
2. The track width shall not exceed 6 metres. Where a 6m width is not necessary to allow for truck passage, the track width should be reduced.
3. 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. 
4. The route chosen is to, as best as possible, avoid all indigenous shrubs apart from matagouri less than 1.5m high and all creeks, rocky outcrops, wetlands and copper tussock grasslands.
5. If creeks and wetlands cannot be avoided by route choice, they must be crossed in areas not dominated by indigenous vegetation where possible.
6. There shall be no use of a bulldozer to form the track within 5 m of any permanent waterway. Extra care shall be taken around waterways to avoid or reduce sediment from entering the waterway as much as practically possible.
7. All machinery intended to be used to construct the track is cleaned of plant material and soil prior to entering Matangi Station to avoid weed contamination.
8. The alignment of the tracks shall minimise the slope and requirement for batters and cut and fill. Any cuts and fill are to be battered to ensure stability and shaped so they blend into the surroundings and are suitable for re-vegetation.
9. Any seepages or stream crossings shall be dealt with through the installation of appropriately placed culverts or natural rock armouring.
10. Once the track has been formed, any disturbed ground is oversown with a suitable seed and fertiliser mix to avoid visible bare ground. The area is to be left in a tidy condition.
11. The tracking is to be undertaken to the standards outlined (where appropriate) in sections 4-11 of the Guidelines for the Construction of Access Tracks and Firebreaks (National Water and Soil Conservation Organisation 1980).
12. That all contractors and employees carrying out the tracking work on Matangi Station are informed of the conditions of this consent prior to the tracking work starting.

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