Discretionary pastoral activity decision - Top-dressing - A7775173

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.

Top-dressing

Ongoing

For the part of the consent that was granted:

The Commissioner of Crown Lands has determined that maintaining top-dressing of this area has significant benefits to farming the land and is also important for sustainably farming the land.

For the part of the consent that was declined:

A number of inherent values were identified in the area as follows:

• Shrubland and tussock grassland ecosystems supporting flora and fauna, particularly in the steep lower slopes
• Native flora species including populations of four At Risk - Declining plant species
• This site provides habitat for native fauna species including the At Risk – Declining New Zealand pipit, and four Threatened or At Risk freshwater fish species
• The lower slopes contain scattered seepage wetlands, which are classified as endangered ecosystems, ranked as Naturally Uncommon
• High natural landscape values, particularly in the upper and lower parts of the application area
• Vegetation on lower slopes lies within a Chronically Threatened land environment.

Many of these values are represented in the waterbodies, rocky outcrops and standing bush. Not applying fertiliser to these areas and a margin around them will assist in retaining inherent values that it is desirable to protect.
 

Consent is granted in part for topdressing, subject to the following conditions:

1. Top-dressing is limited to the approved area as indicated on the map attached. 
2. Top-dressing is not to occur over waterbodies, rock outcrops or standing bush and a 20m buffer zone is to be put in place around these features.
3. The oversown areas are maintained with adequate fertiliser to maintain the grasses and clovers. This should be a minimum of 125kg sulphur super every third year or as indicated by soil testing.
4. All contractors and employees of Kia Mana Milltrust Agricultural Holdings Limited Partnership, or its successors, are informed of the conditions of this consent prior to any top-dressing operation commencing.
5. For the avoidance of doubt this consent replaces all previous consents for top-dressing on the Balmoral (Otago) lease other than for the Homestead Block.

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

Consent is declined for top-dressing in the area shown in red on the attached map.