Queenstown Lakes District Council has completed their investigation after receiving information that a Significant Natural Area (SNA) near Wanaka had been cultivated.

QLDC has negotiated an agreed plan to remedy the cultivation, which involves an Enforcement Order issued by the Environment Court and includes $92,000 of remediation works.

QLDC regulatory manager Lee Webster said the Council investigated the removal of a protected short tussock grassland and cushion field landscape, classified as an SNA after receiving a complaint from a member of the public.

“The area in question was 10.28 ha of short tussock grassland and cushion field located on the Crosshill Farm owned by Sunnyheights Limited. The investigation determined that much of the area had been cultivated,” Mr Webster said.

“We have since worked very closely with the landowner who has cooperated fully with the investigation and taken a proactive approach to resolving the matter,” he said.

It was established that the removal of the SNA was due to a breakdown in communication between the Landowner’s Lessee and contractors and will not be laying charges. The Landowner is a party to the remediation agreement.

Crosshill Farm’s owner, Sunnyheights Limited through a spokesperson said that “It was an unfortunate and regrettable mistake that any of the SNA was cultivated and since finding out that the contractors had cultivated the SNA, without their knowledge, they have done everything in their power to remedy the situation, including engaging professionals to prepare in-depth ecology reports and remediation plans. They have also agreed to pay the Council’s costs as another gesture of goodwill. Agreed extensive new planting and new fencing of the area will result in an enhancement of the landscape”.

The investigation, which took into account QLDC’s Enforcement Strategy and Prosecution Policy, determined that the most appropriate course of action was a joint Enforcement Order, requiring remediation of the SNA and introducing another area for protection.

“The remediation will involve fencing approximately 3.5 hectares of the land within the SNA, which will protect the remaining cushion plants and tussock landscape, as well as further plantings of native shrubs to the area. A further 6.7 hectares of land to the west of the SNA will also be protected and enhanced by fencing the boundary and planting native shrubs,” Mr Webster said.

“QLDC has an important role to play in protecting and preserving the district’s unique environment. While it’s disappointing when we need to investigate these matters, it’s encouraging to see the landowner taking responsibility, recognising the importance of our natural environment and working with us to address this issue, which will provide a higher level of protection.

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