Discretionary pastoral activity decision - Forming tracks - A5002079

For this decision summary:

• LINZ received the application before 17 November 2022
• the decision was made under the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998 before the amendments taking effect on 17 November 2022.

Forming tracks

10 years (with maintenance rights)

The benefits from allowing the lessee to expand the lease’s tracking network significantly to provide an alternative access route to the back country, and improve access for weed, pest, stock and grazing management, will increase the resilience of the farming operation and make it easier to use the land concerned for farming purposes. The conditions recommended will promote good management practice and mitigate effects on inherent values.

Consent is granted to form tracks, subject to the following conditions:

1. The consent is limited to forming tracks up to 5m in width (including batters and spill over) on or near the red lines on the attached plans.
2. Clearance or disturbance of the following is to be avoided or kept to the absolute minimum required (if safe and practical to do so):
   • Mature shrublands, forest, riparian indigenous vegetation and wetlands.
   • Lookout Stream and any riparian vegetation within 5m.
   • McRae River and larger tributaries, as shown by light blue dots on the plans.
3. The rock outcrops shown outlined in yellow are to be avoided where possible. Any spoil from the track formation is not to cover or disturb any rock outcrops.
4. Unstable and erosion-prone areas are to be avoided.
5. No additional material should be deposited into streams other than rocks. Any stream works including culverts should be carried out and maintained in a way that protects fish passage.
6. Uphill batters are to be sloped off or struck back to minimise slumping and allow re-grassing.
7. Tracks are to be sloped at approximately 3-4cm per metre (2 degrees) in towards the bank and a water table constructed to provide free drainage of water to safe disposal via culverts and/or frequent cut-offs.
8. Any culverts and cut-offs to be constructed with adequate protection at inlet and outlet to prevent erosion. Run-off transfer should be to an area where any sediment can settle or be filtered by vegetation before it reaches a waterway.
9. Culverts, if appropriate, are to be of a suitable size for the waterway and not perched, to maintain fish passage.
10. Disturbed soil is to be re-seeded with a certified weed and impurities-free permanent pasture mix as soon as possible after completion of the activity.
11. Tracks must be maintained and kept clear of debris that could impede drainage.

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