Discretionary pastoral activity decision - Oversowing and top-dressing - A7235078

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

10 years with ongoing rights of maintenance

For the part of the consent that was granted

Given the farming benefits of the request and also the advice of the Department of Conservation (DOC), the Commissioner of Crown Lands considers it appropriate to grant this request to sow seed and top-dress on the indicated areas. It is considered that for those areas recommended for approval, any adverse effects on inherent values can be adequately avoided, remedied or mitigated by the proposed conditions. In particular, there shall be no oversowing or top-dressing within 20m of a waterway or wetland, or over riparian shrubland. Being able to oversow and top-dress will benefit the farming operation by allowing more feed to be grown.  This will have benefits on stock numbers and stock condition.

For the part of the consent that was declined

Given the advice of DOC and considering the assessed farming benefits, it is considered that for most areas over 900m above sea level the adverse effects on inherent values would be too great to allow oversowing and top-dressing. The assessed farming benefits are unlikely to be sufficient to warrant the activity occurring at these altitudes. In addition, there are several areas of shrubland, wetland rocky outcrop, scree and waterway where the inherent values are considered to be of high value. For these areas, the adverse effects of oversowing and topdressing are considered to be significant. Therefore, the Commissioner of Crown Lands has decided to decline oversowing and top-dressing consent for these areas as indicated in this Notice of Decision.

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

1. That oversowing and top-dressing will only occur within the approved areas as indicated on the maps attached.
2. That, where possible, only a certified seed mix is sown on the approved area.
3. No top-dressing or sowing of seed is to occur within 20m of any permanent or ephemeral waterway, wetland, or riparian shrubland. In additional, all practical attempts will be made to avoid top-dressing or sowing seed over rocky outcrops and scree slopes.
4. Any 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 and available.
5. No application of fertiliser is to occur during winter months and/or adverse weather.
6. That all contractors and employees of Mt Dalgety Station are informed of the conditions of this consent prior to commencing any oversowing or top-dressing.

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

Consent is declined for oversowing and top-dressing in areas identified in red.