Discretionary pastoral activity decision - Clearing scrub - A6667962

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.

Clearing scrub

5 years

The Commissioner has determined that the proposed clearing has positive farming benefits, and the conditions will enable any adverse effects on inherent values to be avoided, remedied or mitigated. Benefits include increasing in the amount of grazing available to stock once the targeted species have been cleared, a reduction in the amount of cover for pests on the lease, easier mustering of stock through the lease, and less competition for desirable plants such as pasture grasses or native species. The root raking will also help prepare this area for further development.

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

1. Clearing will only occur within the areas and by the methods indicated as being approved as shown on the map attached to the Notice of Decision.
2. Clearing may be carried out by herbicide spraying (both aerial and ground methods) over the entire area (as identified in yellow on the map). Root raking is permitted only within the area as identified in green on the map attached to the Notice of Decision.
3. Any clearing/spraying is only targeted at briar and other exotic woody weeds. Other exotic woody weeds include elderflower, blackberry, willow, gorse, broom and wilding conifers. With the exception of indigenous plants that meet the criteria as outlined in condition 4, no indigenous vegetation shall be specifically targeted by spraying.
4. No herbicide spraying/clearing shall occur where there are contiguous areas of indigenous shrublands comprising of matagouri, Coprosma propinqua (mingimingi), Olearia odorata (scented tree daisy), Carmichaelia sp. (native broom) and Olearia lineata. Where indigenous vegetation is comprised of individual scattered plants, clearing may occur, except for the area identified in the map attached to the Notice of Decision. 
5. No clearing by either spraying or root raking shall occur within 5m of the small patch of Olearia lineata as identified on the map attached to the Notice of Decision. 
6. Preferably, Metsulfuron herbicide shall be used to spray briar, as this tends to have less detrimental effect on indigenous plants such as Coprosma propinqua (mingimingi).
7. No root raking shall occur within 3m of any water race.
8. No clearing shall occur within 20m of Bannock Burn or any flowing waterway.
9. No herbicide spraying shall be undertaken in windy conditions.
10. 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 CCL or his delegate upon request. The helicopter company and pilot carrying out the spraying must hold the relevant qualifications/ratings for applying agrichemicals.
11. Any equipment or machinery used for the clearing shall be cleaned of any soil or plant material at a location off Hawksburn Station prior to carrying out the clearing.
12. Damage to archaeological sites, including the water races, should be avoided. If damage is possible, an Archaeological Authority from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga will be required.
13. In the event of any accidental discovery of any archaeological sites, work must stop, and the accidental discovery protocol should be followed.
14. All contractors and employees working on Hawksburn 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.