Crown Pastoral-Tenure Review-Obelisk Stationt
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Crown Pastoral Land Tenure Review Lease name : OBELISK STATION Lease number : PO 264 Conservation Resources Report - Part 1 As part of the process of Tenure Review, advice on significant inherent values within the pastoral lease is provided by Department of Conservation officials in the form of a Conservation Resources Report. This report is the result of outdoor survey and inspection. It is a key piece of information for the development of a preliminary consultation document. Note: Plans which form part of the Conservation Resources Report are published separately. These documents are all released under the Official information Act 1982. December 10 RELEASED UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT DOC CONSERVATION RESOURCES REPORT ON TENURE REVIEW OF OBELISK STATION PASTORAL LEASE PAL 14-04-264 UNDER PART 2 OF THE CROWN PASTORAL LAND ACT 1998 docDM-647761 - Obelisk Station CRR 1 RELEASED UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT docDM-647761 - Obelisk Station CRR 2 RELEASED UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT TABLE OF CONTENTS PART 1 .................................................................................................................................................... 4 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................................. 4 1.1 Background .............................................................................................................................................. 4 PART 2 .................................................................................................................................................... 5 INHERENT VALUES: DESCRIPTION OF CONSERVATION RESOURCES AND ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE 5 2.1 Landscape................................................................................................................................................. 5 2.1.1 Significance of Landscape............................................................................................................ 13 2.2 Landforms & Geology............................................................................................................................ 15 2.2.1 Significance of the Landforms and Geology ................................................................................ 16 2.3 Land Environments of New Zealand (LENZ)........................................................................................ 16 2.3.1 Significance of LENZ................................................................................................................... 18 2.4 Climate ................................................................................................................................................... 18 2.5 Vegetation .............................................................................................................................................. 19 2.5.2 Problem Plants.............................................................................................................................. 22 2.5.3 Significance .................................................................................................................................. 23 2.6 Fauna...................................................................................................................................................... 27 2.6.1 Invertebrate Fauna ........................................................................................................................ 27 2.6.2 Significance of Invertebrate Fauna ............................................................................................... 28 2.6.3 Herpetofauna................................................................................................................................. 29 2.6.4 Significance of Herpetofauna ....................................................................................................... 30 2.6.5 Avifauna ....................................................................................................................................... 30 2.6.6 Significance .................................................................................................................................. 31 2.6.7 Aquatic Fauna............................................................................................................................... 31 2.6.9 Problem Animals .......................................................................................................................... 32 2.7 Historic................................................................................................................................................... 33 2.7.1 Significance of Historic ................................................................................................................ 40 2.8 Public Recreation ................................................................................................................................... 41 Physical Characteristics................................................................................................................................41 Legal Access................................................................................................................................................. 43 Activities....................................................................................................................................................... 44 PART 3 .................................................................................................................................................. 47 OTHER RELEVANT MATTERS & PLANS...................................................................................................... 47 Consultation...................................................................................................................................................... 47 3.2 Regional Policy Statements & Plans ...................................................................................................... 48 3.3 District Plan............................................................................................................................................ 48 3.4 Conservation Management Strategy & Plans......................................................................................... 49 3.5 New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy........................................................................................................ 49 3.6 Protecting Our Places ............................................................................................................................. 50 PART 4 .................................................................................................................................................. 51 ATTACHMENTS ................................................................................................................................................ 51 4.1 Additional Information........................................................................................................................... 51 4.1.1 References..................................................................................................................................... 51 4.2 Maps....................................................................................................................................................... 56 4.3 Photographs............................................................................................................................................ 64 4.4 NGOs Comments ................................................................................................................................... 73 4.5 Appendices................................................................................................................................................. docDM-647761 - Obelisk Station CRR 3 RELEASED UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT PART 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Obelisk Station Pastoral Lease (PL) was inspected on 6 October 2009 and 8 – 12 February 2010 as part of the pastoral lease tenure review. The review was requested by the lessees of the PL, Earnscleugh Station Ltd and is being undertaken under the provisions of the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998. As part of the tenure review process, a range of specialists visited the PL and their reports, identifying the significant inherent values on the PL, have been incorporated into this Conservation Resources Report. The Obelisk PL is located on State Highway 8, some 12 km to the south of Alexandra. The 2774 ha PL is run in conjunction with freehold paddocks and the adjoining Earnscleugh Station. Earnscleugh Station is situated to the north and Obelisk Creek adjoins to the south. The PL is in two parts. Approximately 846 ha located to the east, but not adjoining SH8 and is known as Flat Top Hill (it forms the southern end of this hill). The eastern aspect includes part of the steep sided Roxburgh Gorge down to the edge of Lake Roxburgh. It ranges in altitude from 140 m to 529 m. It is semi arid, with an annual rainfall of 450 mm. It is poorly productive country prone to weed and rabbit invasion. It is characterised by thyme, briar rose and numerous schist tors. The larger portion of around 1928 ha runs from the lower Fruitlands valley at 500 m altitude to the top of the Old Man Range at 1690 m. There is a very strong rainfall gradient with altitude with rainfall up to