Discretionary pastoral activity decision - Clearing scrub - A5150698

Following changes to the Crown Pastoral Land Act that took effect on 17 November 2022, Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand now publishes summaries of decisions on applications for consent to undertake activities on Crown pastoral land, on behalf of the Commissioner of Crown Lands. The new requirement is outlined in s22D of the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998.

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.

Clearing scrub

10 years

For the part of the consent that was granted

The Commissioner of Crown Lands has determined that there are benefits to farming from allowing the lessee to clear scrub on the approved areas to keep grazing areas and mustering routes open and enable construction of new fences as part of a development to improve pasture quality.

Being able to carry out this activity will therefore make it easier to use the land concerned for farming purposes, and the conditions recommended will promote good management practice and mitigate effects on inherent values identified in the area.

For the part of the consent that was declined

The Commissioner of Crown Lands has determined that these areas contain inherent values related to indigenous vegetation, rocklands, wetlands, waterways and habitat for flora and fauna that are desirable to protect and that would be adversely affected by granting consent to clear scrub.

Consent is granted for scrub clearance by spraying within the areas shown outlined in blue on the plans attached, subject to the following conditions:

Spraying scrub along a line up to a maximum width of 15m may be undertaken within the areas shown outlined in blue with a cross hatch on the plans attached.

1. Spraying is to be avoided on: 
   • scrub on rocklands and erosion-prone areas,
   • scrub within 10m of any wetlands and 5m of any waterways, and
   • water surfaces.
2. Spraying methods are to be adopted that ensure only the approved area is sprayed. Spray applicators should be experienced in precision agricultural chemical application. 
3. A written record of spray applications, preferably with GPS mapping, is to be maintained and provided to LINZ if requested.
4. Where possible, scrub specific herbicides are to be used.

Section 17 Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998 provides that permission to undertake the activity may still be needed under other enactments.

Consent is declined for scrub clearance by spraying within the areas shown outlined in pink on the plans attached.