LAND INFORMATION NEW ZEALAND BI OSECURITY CONTROL PROGRAMME 2017/18 ANNUAL REPORT OTAGO REGION Prepared for and on behalf of LINZ by: Boffa Miskell Ltd LEVEL 1 | 141 CAMBRIDGE TERRACE PO Box 110 Christchurch 8013, New Zealand Telephone: +64 3 366 88 91 ____________________ Marcus Girvan Date: 4 July 2018 Biosecurity Project Manager Reference: C14086 Boffa Miskell Ltd Status: Final Reviewed by: ___________________ Pete Caldwell Biosecurity Consultant Boffa Miskell Ltd Annual Report LINZ Biosecurity Control Programme 2017/18 Otago Region Table of Contents 1.0 LIST OF LAND DEFINITIONS .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Crown Riverbed and Crown Lakebed ....................................................................................... 1 1.2 Marginal Strips ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Road and Esplanade Reserves .................................................................................................... 1 1.4 Ad Medium Filum Aquae Rights ............................................................................................... 1 2.0 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 The Role of Boffa Miskell Ltd ...................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Contents of this Report ................................................................................................................ 2 3.0 UNDERTAKING CONTROL ....................................................................................................................... 3 4.0 PRIORITY CONTROL AREAS ..................................................................................................................... 4 5.0 COMPLIANCE WITH RESOURCE CONSENTS ..................................................................................... 5 6.0 LIAISON WITH LANDOWNERS / AGENCIES ....................................................................................... 6 4 July 2018 Annual Report LINZ Biosecurity Control Programme 2017/18 Otago Region PART ONE: OVERVIEW Annual Report LINZ Biosecurity Control Programme 2017/18 Otago Region 1.0 LIST OF LAND DEFINITIONS Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) manages over 5,000 properties across New Zealand. These properties total almost two million hectares, which is around 8% of New Zealand’s land area. Examples of these properties include: High country pastoral leases in the South Island Crown forest licensed land Former railway properties The beds of many lakes and rivers LINZ is responsible for biosecurity on land under its management. These are typically areas of unalienated land, such as lakebeds and riverbeds 1.1 Crown Riverbed and Crown Lakebed Land referred to in this report that is managed by LINZ on behalf of the Crown is referred to as Crown land. In riverbeds, Crown land is often not clearly identified. When undertaking pest control programmes, LINZ applies the following criteria: 1.2 Marginal Strips Marginal Strips are lands of the Crown that are generally adjacent to riverbeds and are administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC). LINZ does not have responsibilities on Marginal Strips. 1.3 Road and Esplanade Reserves Road and Esplanade Reserves are land administered by territorial authorities adjacent to riverbeds (being district councils or unitary authorities). LINZ does not have responsibilities on Road or Esplanade Reserves. 1.4 Ad Medium Filum Aquae Rights In areas where a river abuts a property, the adjoining landowner may own the riverbed to the centre of the river. This is a common law right (unless rebutted) and is known as an ad medium filum aquae (AMF) right. Research has shown that AMF rights are prevalent in South Island braided river systems. LINZ does not have responsibilities on AMF areas. Page 1 Annual Report LINZ Biosecurity Control Programme 2017/18 Otago Region 2.0 INTRODUCTION LINZ has responsibilities for managing the control of pests on Crown land. For LINZ biosecurity, Crown land generally comprises of areas of braided river or lake bed. Crown land is subject to high public use and is frequently disturbed, with such circumstances providing ideal habitat for the establishment of many pest species. Such pests can threaten adjoining farmland and conservation land and may also act as sources of new infestations, re-infestation on pest free land, and more generally as a constant source of seed. Given this risk, LINZ undertakes control works to manage pest populations at many sites. Regional Pest Management Plans (RPMP), which are developed by regional councils under the Biosecurity Act 1993, establish priorities and mechanisms to control various pest species. In the RPMPs, some pests are classified according to their threat to economic values, whilst others have been classified according to their threat to conservation or biodiversity values. The National Policy Direction for Pest Management 2015 (NPD), through the Biosecurity Act 1993 seeks to ensure that pest management activities, under Part 5 of the Act, provide the best use of available resources for New Zealand’s best interests, and align with each other (when necessary), to contribute to the eradication or effective management of harmful organisms present in New Zealand. As a result, the Crown is now bound to comply with specified Good Neighbour Rules (GNRs) within the RPMP. Pest control programmes undertaken by LINZ aim to initially reduce infestations of pests to low levels so that ongoing control is at a maintenance level. This strategy reduces ongoing costs and ensures previous pest control investments are protected. 2.1 The Role of Boffa Miskell Ltd Boffa Miskell Limited (BML) was appointed as service provider to LINZ and is responsible for the management and coordination of biosecurity services (pest control) on Crown land. BML assumed the management of these services on 1 July 2009, and as of 1 July 2014 has been further engaged in a strategic partnership with LINZ until 2021. BML’s role includes the following key tasks: Site inspections Preparation of annual pest control programmes Liaison and consultation with interested parties and stakeholders Preparation of tenders and contracts for the engagement of pest control contractors Monitoring and inspection of operations Monitoring of resource consent compliance Preparing annual reports on control works operations at various sites Reporting on other issues relevant to biosecurity operations 2.2 Contents of this Report This report identifies pest control operations carried out on Crown land in Otago for the financial period of 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018. During this period, control works operations undertaken included the following: Aerial spot and boom spraying of gorse, broom, old man’s beard and the lake weed Lagarosiphon major Ground and vehicle-based spraying of gorse, broom, old man’s beard and other woody weeds Diver hand-weeding, suction dredging, bottom lining, mechanical cutting and boat-based submerged boom spraying of Lagarosiphon major Page 2 Annual Report LINZ Biosecurity Control Programme 2017/18 Otago Region Rabbit control via pesticides 3.0 UNDERTAKING CONTROL LINZ’s biosecurity annual programme is implemented across New Zealand, and accordingly the need for individual programmes must be balanced against other priorities nationally. LINZ may respond to a biosecurity issue based on several considerations which are outlined below. LINZ may not undertake control works in some circumstances, which include the following: If the pest identified is not on Crown land The land in question is under a lease/license or subject to an interest which places responsibility on the lessee or licensee to manage the pest(s) The pest falls under other agencies’ or councils’ overriding national or regional jurisdiction LINZ may undertake control works in some or all of the following circumstances where: Directed or indicated as a priority by Government Control works have been carried out historically and ongoing maintenance is required to ensure previous gains in the reduction of the pest are retained The pest has been identified under a RPMP and where the pest has a specified GNR under the regions RPMP The pest is spreading from Crown land to adjacent land, of which that landowner is controlling the pest (LINZ is exacerbating the pest problem) LINZ is a signatory to an Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding which commits LINZ to assisting with control Other parties are contributing to the control of a pest in a coordinated and comprehensive manner The pest is listed in the National Pest Plant Accord The control works are realistically able to be sustained or built on in future years The control will assist in New Zealand’s ability to host international events which contribute to New Zealand’s economy A cost/benefit exercise has identified that the benefits of control greatly exceed the costs Page 3 Annual Report LINZ Biosecurity Control Programme 2017/18 Otago Region 4.0 PRIORITY CONTROL AREAS Sites treated in the 2017/18 season were selected on the basis of recommendations by BML, consultation with interested parties and subsequent agreement and sign off by LINZ. Gorse and broom control and containment was identified as being the highest priority along with old man’s