Discretionary pastoral activity decision - Oversowing and topdressing - A5532655

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.

Oversowing and topdressing

10 years with maintenance rights

For the part of the consent that was granted

Consent is approved to oversow and topdress on Rostriever pastoral lease within the areas outlined in blue and continue to maintain oversowing and topdressing within the area outlined in green, on the attached plans 1-4.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands has determined that there are benefits to farming from allowing the lessee to oversow and topdress in the lower altitude hill country of the lease to improve the quality of feed in extensively grazed areas and increase the resilience of the farming operation. 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

Oversowing and topdressing is declined in the areas shown outlined in red and pink on plans 1-4 attached to this decision summary.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands has determined that these areas contain inherent values related to the naturalness of the landscape, indigenous vegetation, wetlands, waterways, and rocky areas with associated habitat for flora and fauna, that are desirable to protect and that would be adversely affected by granting consent to oversow and topdress. The Commissioner has determined that retaining these inherent values outweighs the positive farming benefits.

Consent is granted to oversow and topdress on Rostriever pastoral lease within the areas outlined in blue, and continue to maintain oversowing and topdressing within the area outlined in green, on the attached plans 1-4, subject to the following conditions:

1. Oversowing and topdressing is approved in the areas outlined in blue on the plans attached subject to the conditions below.
2. Oversowing and topdressing within the area shown outlined in green may continue to be maintained subject to the conditions below.
3. Oversowing and topdressing must be set back a minimum of 10m from permanent and seasonal waterways, seeps and wetlands, are to be avoided.
4. Oversowing and topdressing over rocky outcrops and larger areas of indigenous shrubland over 1.5m in height, is to be avoided where practicable.
5. Oversowing and topdressing is to be carried out by an appropriately qualified operator/pilot capable of precision placement.
6. Species sown may include cocksfoot, timothy, ryegrass, plantain and clovers.
7. Only seed certified as being free of weed seeds and impurities is to be sown.
8. Adequate fertiliser is to be applied to maintain a healthy sward without soil depletion, and soil testing is to be undertaken to inform fertiliser requirements and to avoid over-application of nutrients, particularly phosphorus.
9. That all contractors and employees operating under this consent are informed of the conditions prior to commencing any seed sowing and/or top-dressing.

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

Consent is declined to oversow and topdress in the areas shown outlined in red and pink on plans 1-4 of 4 attached to this decision summary.