Discretionary pastoral activity decision - Cultivation - A5959723

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.

Cultivation

10 years

For the part of the consent that was granted it was considered that there are significant farming benefits to the proposed cultivation at the areas recommended for approval. Appropriate conditions can be applied to avoid, remedy or mitigate any adverse effects on the land. We consider that the proposed cultivation will make it easier to farm and will help provide more abundant and better quality feed for stock. This will have benefits in terms of better animal performance and health.

For the part of the consent that was declined it was considered that for the areas recommended for decline, the adverse effects on the inherent values are significant and that any conditions will not adequately avoid, remedy or mitigate these adverse effects. These inherent values include:

• The presence of threatened plants and fauna.
• Some of the densest/most intact areas of red tussockland.
• The presence of silver beech forest, regenerating broadleaf forest, a range of shrublands, shrub-tussockland, red tussockland, hard tussockland and peatbog.
• Areas of red tussock fens (a wetland type), along with bogs and other wetland types.
• Ecosystems of high natural character/inherent value.
• Indigenous vegetation and landscapes that are currently unfragmented.
• Indigenous vegetation and associated ecological sequences.

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

1. That cultivation and cropping is limited to the approved areas as indicated on the map attached to the Notice of Decision.
2. Cultivation methods may include discing, rolling and direct drilling. Preference shall be given to minimum tillage techniques when possible.
3. For avoidance of doubt, this approval also authorises the application of fertiliser and sowing of seed over the approved areas. Any seed applications shall be of a certified seed mix (i.e. free of impurities), where possible. 
4. No more than two years of annual or short term grasses may be planted when cultivating for permanent pasture renewal. 
5. The return cultivation cycle is restricted to not more than once in every 10 years. During such re-cultivations, existing vegetation may be sprayed with species specific chemicals.
6. All wetland/bog areas within the approved areas are not to be disturbed and there shall be no cropping or cultivation within 20m either side of any waterway or wetland.
7. Cultivation will only occur when soil conditions are moist and there is little to no wind.
8. That a fencing pattern is established across the approved cultivated areas where required to exclude wetland areas from any developed cultivated lands.
9. All machinery brought to the site to carry out any of the work should be cleaned of any earth and plant material prior to access to prevent the introduction of weeds from off site.
10. Continued inputs of maintenance fertiliser are applied to extend the effective life of the permanent pasture to reduce the need and frequency for renewal cultivation. 
11. Good management practices are to be undertaken to avoid excessive pugging that could result in sediment, E.coli and nutrients reaching waterways and wetlands.
12. The Lessee shall keep records of the areas cultivated annually and provide these records to the Commissioner of Crown Lands or his delegate, upon request, to ensure ongoing compliance with this consent.
13. That all contractors and employees working on Beaumont Station are informed of the conditions of this consent prior to cultivation commencing.

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