Bush & pest monitoring: Keeping landowners compliant

Most regional councils across New Zealand require landowners to meet ongoing consent conditions regarding managing and protecting native bush, wetlands and dunelands. A big part of meeting these conditions can include the requirement for submitting regular Monitoring Reports, written and presented by a qualified ecologist.  

Failing to submit these reports and meet compliance can result in financial penalties. With councils looking to review and tighten their monitoring processes in the near future (the timing of these changes is dependent on the type of area protected), it’s important for landowners to ensure they are meeting their maintenance and reporting requirements on time and accurately.

What are the responsibilities of the landowner?

If your land includes protected indigenous vegetation, wetlands, and dunelands, it is the responsibility of the landowner to actively maintain and protect these areas and/or keep up with the eradication of pest weeds and animals. If you embark on a subdivision or other land development project, you will need to ensure that you, or subsequent landowners, are meeting the regional council requirements to ensure these obligations are being completed accurately and compliantly.

If this is the case for you, you may need to:

• Carry out regular monitoring of bush health and pest weed and animal status.

• Prepare written reports demonstrating compliance.

• Maintain records to show ongoing pest weed and animal control and ecological management activities.

• Submit a certifying report at the end of the monitoring period to confirm all conditions have been met.

• Obtain a completion certificate to release cash bonds that were required for early release of titles, if applicable.

What the Monitoring Reports may need to include

The regular Monitoring Reports to be submitted can require thorough and complex information to be included. This information may include (depending on what is present on your land):

• The effectiveness and condition of fencing.

• The presence and management of pest animals.

• The effectiveness of pest plant eradication.

• Any vegetation clearance, loss, or remediation (including replanting start dates).

• Planting success rates: growth, survival, and analysis of distribution losses.

• Signs of natural regeneration (e.g. canopy closure, understorey development, native bird use).

• Records of fertilisation, weed and pest control, and plant replacement.

• Evidence of pollutants or other threats.

The frequency of submitting these reports will be detailed in the relevant protection document registered on your title. For example, some consents require reports to be submitted 6 monthly for the first 18 months, with annual reports thereafter for the remaining period up to a minimum of 5 years. In other cases, you may only need to submit a report every 3 years.

This process requires not only time and effort, but also a qualified and experienced ecologist who has familiarity with council expectations and reporting standards.

How Buckton can support you

Once your project is underway and you have gained consents, we can make the reporting process straightforward by:

• Tracking your reporting schedule for you, so we know exactly when your reports are due, and you’ll never miss a deadline.

• Collating all the relevant documents.

• Conducting a site visit to inspect your site(s) and assess compliance with ecological and pest management conditions.

• Preparing and submitting certifying reports that meet council requirements quickly and efficiently.

• Assisting in securing your final plant bond release with accurate certification, when necessary.

  
  

By managing the whole process for you, we can save you time and reduce the risk of financial penalties for missed deadlines or non-compliance.

Get in touch with our team today to discuss how we can support you with managing your compliance monitoring requirements.