Discretionary pastoral activity decision - Clearing scrub - A7306027

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

Ongoing

The Commissioner of Crown Lands has determined that the benefits to farming from allowing the lessee to control exotic woody weeds and trees on Little Mt Ida pastoral lease outweigh the desirability of protecting inherent values, provided more diverse and mature indigenous vegetation by-kill is minimised or avoided.  Exotic woody weed and tree control has benefits to indigenous vegetation and conservation on the lease and in the wider area, provided it is undertaken sensitively.  The conditions setting out the approach to be taken will minimise the potential for adverse effects on inherent values, and there is provision for the consent to be rescinded or varied if conditions are not generally adhered to.

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

1. For the purposes of this consent, the scrub species targeted for clearance are gorse, broom, briar, horehound, hawthorn, other exotic pest trees, and wilding conifers.  These are collectively described as “exotic woody weeds and trees”.
2. The threatened native species Coprosma intertexta, coral broom and desert broom are to be avoided, unless a chemical can be used that has been proven to not kill these species.  Refer to the photographs attached for identification purposes.
3. Indigenous vegetation by-kill from exotic woody weed and tree clearance is permitted in the following circumstances:
4. If the indigenous vegetation by-kill is no more than the occasional individual plant and is unavoidable.
5. If the indigenous vegetation by-kill is young matagouri less than 1.5m high intermingled with exotic woody weeds and trees, it may be patch-sprayed. Patch-spraying is defined as targeting specific smaller areas where exotic woody weeds and trees are located.
6. Within indigenous shrublands up to 2.5m high, individual exotic woody weed and tree plants may be spot-sprayed only to keep by-kill to the absolute minimum. Spot-spraying is defined as targeting individual exotic woody weed and tree plants, with a maximum spot-spray application area of 4 square metres (2m x 2m).
7. No by-kill of indigenous shrublands 2.5m high or more is permitted, with the exception of individual wilding conifer control. Individual wilding conifers may be controlled by targeted ground methods including cutting by saw, stump painting, drilling and filling, and basal bark spraying; and by targeted aerial spraying with a hand-wand or equivalent.  Indigenous shrublands 2.5m or more by-kill associated with wilding conifer control is to be kept to an absolute minimum.
8. The lessee is to make an assessment of each area proposed for exotic woody weed and tree control, to determine which of the circumstances in conditions (iii) and (iv) apply, and ensure that the control work is undertaken accordingly.  A copy of this consent is to be provided to any applicator or contractor.  If the indigenous vegetation by-kill would exceed the circumstances set out in point (iii) and (iv), then a separate consent to clear indigenous vegetation must be applied for.
9. The lessee is to keep a record of any aerial spraying undertaken, including the location, chemical type and application rate, preferably with the aerial GPS mapping, and make it available to LINZ on request.
10. Scrub clearance methods are to be used that ensure any necessary indigenous vegetation by-kill is in accordance with the conditions of this consent.
11. Spray applicators should be experienced in precision agricultural chemical application and equipment should be regularly calibrated.   
12. Herbicides specific to the exotic woody weed and tree species targeted are to be used wherever possible to reduce indigenous vegetation by-kill.
13. Spraying water surfaces is to be avoided.
14. This consent may be rescinded or varied by the Commissioner of Crown Lands if the conditions are not generally adhered to.

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