Southland waterway project underway

Investors in Browns Pastoral Limited Partnership, are embarking on a riparian management project establishing native plantings on a 3km length of the Lora Stream that crosses their property.

Riparian planting of the stream and providing public walking access via an esplanade strip were conditions of the Overseas Investment Office’s approval for Aquila AgrarINVEST II, a group of German investors, to purchase shares in Browns late last year.

Aquila’s investors own 51% of the Brown’s partnership alongside 7 New Zealand investors. The Chairman, Norman Peek, who lives near Invercargill, says the investors have embraced the opportunity to add value to the farm and ultimately improve the stream’s water quality.

“I think most of us see ourselves as the guardians of this land. I think sometimes the public perception is that raw cow effluent is going into waterways but the reality is actually far removed from that.”

The 3km long stretch of the Lora stream that passes through the partnership’s property already complies with Fonterra’s clean streams accord, with a 3 metre wide margin to fences on both sides.

The riparian planting project will take the stream’s water quality to a new level. Environment Southland land sustainability officer, Nathan Cruikshank has developed the plan which will see 1760 native trees, with a current value of approximately $7000) planted over the next 5 years.

The first stage of the project is to remove crack willows and begin a gorse spraying programme to prepare the stream edge for planting. In the next stage an escarpment and a corner of the stream totalling 0.4hectares will be planted in riparian natives including Lemonwoods; Corokia; Cabbage trees; Toetoe and Hebes.

“Trees and shrubs create shade, which means weeds don’t receive sufficient light to grow and that lowers the water temperature to create a better environment for fish and invertebrates,” says Nathan.

The plan includes detail such as ideal spacing for spot spraying, planting technique and the use of protective sleeves. Farm managers, Jamie and Leeanne Hall have taken their three young children fishing along the stream and are looking forward to seeing the project evolve. But Norman Peek says they will not be expected to take on the massive job of preparing or planting the riparian areas.

“We’re much better to subcontract this project to riparian management specialists who have the necessary expertise to ensure a successful outcome.”

The Browns partnership also agreed at its recent AGM to apply to the QEII trust for a covenant over a 4.8hectare stand of native bush, including rimu, at the eastern corner of the property, which means that it will be protected in perpetuity.

The Browns project is one of 12 that Nathan Cruikshank is developing for MyFarm managed syndicates with German investors.

“This is a good opportunity for us – if we can do a good job with MyFarm’s plans and clearly demonstrate the costs and benefits, we will hopefully get more and more Southland farmers on board.”

RIPARIAN MANAGEMENT IN SOUTHLAND

• Environment Southland regulations are that all stock intensively grazed between may and September must be 3m or more back from any waterway.
• Crack willow is now regarded as a pest plant in Southland due to how quickly it can spread and take over waterways. It only takes one broken branch to float down stream and a new tree will start growing again.
• An esplanade strip is a 20m reserve on either side of a water way that moves as the waterway moves. Fencing does not have to be 20 m out. In the case of Browns fencing will be 7m back from the waterway, the remaining 13 metres can be farmed but public access must be allowed along the entire 20 metres.
• Esplanade strips are required on 6 of the MyFarm managed properties which are undergoing new riparian management projects.