/·-EPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION REPORT TO KNIGHT FRANK ON

·rENURE REVIEW OF GLENBROOK RUN.

PART 1 : INTRODUCTION

Glenbrook is an Otago University endowment lease located 4km south of Twizel. Glenbrook is located at the northern end of the Benmore Range and encompasses some of the flat alluvial plains south of the Ohau River.

Glenbrook is part of the Omarama Ecological District and the Benmore E D, which comprise part of the greater Mackenzie Ecological Region.

This property was survey in 1983 as part of the Protected Natural Areas Programme. two recommended areas for protection (RAP's) were identified, RAP 4 Spring Creek, and RAP 1 Benmore Range Tops.

PART 2 : CONSERVATION RESOURCE DESCRIPTION

2.1 Landscape

Glenbrook is bounded in the east by the Benmore Range which dominates the entrance to the Omarama and Twizel areas. The large flat outwash plain along side state highway 8 is still largely unmodified except for Power Rylons along the base of Table Hill. This terrace for travellers moving north provides one of the first view of Mt. Cook and the greater Mackenzie Basin.

Table Hill a dry moronic hill dominates the northern boundary of this property. Shelter

belts, power lines, power pylons and the road are the main man made intrusions on the property. While the Benmore Range is tracked they are not obvious from the highway.

The terraces on the property and have been identified in a Boffa Miskell study in 1992 as having high visual vulnerability. Any development could alter the colours, patterns and forms that provide a natural gateway into the Mackenzie and Waitaki Basins.

2. 2 Landform and Geology

Glenbrook has two distinct landforms the dissected block Benmore Range and the moranic hills and outwash terraces. The Benmore Range rises from 350m to 1850m a.s.l. The rounded summits have been shaped by periglacial process, while the slopes have been dissected by fluvial action. The mountains are mainly comprised of Permian greywackes and argillites.

The fluvial process's have formed fans around the base of the mountains. These fans mix

in with the outwash gravel's of Glacial till that form the terraces on the northern part of the

property.

"he soils are variable being Ohau and Tekapo dry hygrous yellow brown earths on glacial till to Omarama yellow grey earths on the lower Benmore Range and Benmore high country yellow brown earths on the higher slopes of the Benmore Range.

2.3 Climate

The majority of the area receives less than 1000mm rain a year. Cold winters, frosts, with some snow, hot dry summers, with low humidity form the main climatic pattern. Hot North West winds in the spring and autumn result in a high soil moisture deficit.

Vegetation 2.4

The vegetation on Glenbrook can be divided into 2 main geographical areas. These are;

Benmore Range, above 1000m narrow leaved snow tussock Chionchloa rigida slowly increases in abundance and stature with attitude. The C rigida gives way to slim leaved snow tussock " C macra" at about 1200 - 1300m along with "Festuca mattewsii". The top of the range between 1160 - 1845m was identified as part of

i)

on RAP 1 in 1983.

The lower hill slopes below 1000m one highly variable with patches of good C rigida on the shady faces and depleted fescue tussock on the more northerly facing slopes. Lower down Sweet Vernal and Brown Top grow between the tussocks at the lower altitudes. Two of the main top hill blocks have not been OSTD. The gullies contain shrublands of predominantly briar and matagouri.

Moranic/outwash terraces, this area is largely depleted fescue tussock grassland, with extensive areas containing hawkweed Hieracium pilossella along with Sweet Vernal and Brown Top.

ii)

Part of this area was identified in 1983 as RAD 4 Spring Creek. This depleted fescue/hawkweed grassland is the only remaining fescue tussock grassland of any significance surviving in the Omarama E.D. This small corner does host some diversity with sedges growing along this margines of Spring Creek and patches of native broom scattered through the area.

Part of the flats around the homestead area are highly modified, having been O.S.T.D and irrigated.

2.5 Fauna

No known fauna of significance has been noted in the property. The birdlife includes the sky lark, chukor, California Quail and the New Zealand Pipit. The property is close to the Black Stilt breeding centre and probably receives the occasional visitor.

The common skink and common gecko are present. Benmore peak to the south of Glenbrook hosts on endemic millipede and a flightless tiger beetle.

6 Existing Land Status

As part of District Plan revision RAP 4 was proposed as a Natural Area of Significance and was extend to lOOOha. this was to encompass the landscape and ecological values of the property. A later reassessment reduced the proposal back to the original lOOha.

2.7 Recreation/Access

2.71 Access

Currently access to the Ohau River, Wairepo Arm and Kellands Ponds is on formed tracks that lie outside of the property boundary. Legal access via formed tracks on to the top of the Benmore Range is currently not available. The lessees have allowed recreational access through their property when permission has been requested.

2.72 Uses

Use of the Ohau River and Ponds which adjoin the property is high, with angling being the main recreation. Picnicing around the Wairepo Arm is also popular.

A low level of use is made of the Benmore Range by trampers and mountain bikers. A recent heli-bike concession has resulted in an increase in use of the tracks on the property. The Benmore Range provides views over the Mackenzie and Waitaki Basins and potential exists for increase use of the range by trampers and mountain bikers and 4WD vehicles. Other activities such as ski touring and parapenting also occur from time to time.

2.73 User Issues

The main issue involves unimpeded public access on to the range. The main access tracks pass through the homestead/yards area. Use of these tracks could result in stock disturbance and would affect the privacy of the area. The flats along the base of the hill are highly developed and are the main focus of the farming operation. Stock disturbance, especially during lambing is a common recreational issue and because of the locality of the tracks and developed pasture, is a more difficult problem to overcome.

Track maintenance for 4WD vehicles and mountain bikes on to Benmore tops is an issues. The current heli-bike operator has graded one track to make it more acceptable for his clients. Part of the track along the ridge is located on the adjoining property and therefore access requires permission from two landowners.

2.8 Existing Management

Management problems that could potentially affect the inherent values on the property are:

i) Rabbits and broom spread into RAP 4 on the flats. Glenbrook is in a high rabbit proneness area, and protection if the RAP could potentially provide some high costs to DOC. Broom is on the adjoining land and could spread on to the RAP.

An irrigation proposal to border dyke the flats would change the nature of the large terrace alongside S.H. 8. And would also affect part of RAP 4.

Spring Creek is a vital water source to Glenbrook and periodically the water course is cleared to ensure that a continuous flow of water occurs. There is a conflict of use here. As any earth disturbance would affect the ledges alongside the water course.

iii)

Wilding pines are a widespread problem in the Mackenzie Basin and while not of concern on Glenbrook, would need monitoring.

iv)

Other issues such as fencing, fire, forestry installations and public use could affect the inherent value on the property.

v)

PART 3 CONSULTATION

NGO consultation on University endowment lands is confined to one informal meeting for information sharing only. There is no public advertising in this process. A meeting was held in Oamaru on 3 July 1996 with only one attendee, the Fish and Game Council officer, Frank Scarf. Notes had been submitted to Knight Frank by Mike Floate for F.M.C.

Points raised were:

9 All land above 1000 - 1100m and all class VIII and most of class VII to be transferred to DOC

» DOC/freehold boundary tie in other runs 9 Access on to the tops and to the existing lagoons, ponds and Ohau River ® All water courses greater than 3m to have marginal strips laid off, and Spring Creek was

mentioned.

A.RT 4 RECOMMENDATIONS AND JUSTIFICATIONS

Some 1700ha of Glenbrook contain significant high inherent values to warrant its protection as Conservation Land in public ownership. The high ecological and landscape values on the property along with the recreation potential results in these high inherent values. The Department of Conservation's recommendations for Glenbrook are as follows:

1) Benmore Range

An area of 1200ha be transferred to the Department of Conservation as Conservation Land. This large area includes 612ha that has been destocked. The Benmore Range proposal has the following values that justify their protection.

0 An area of extensive "Chionchloa macra" that is now relatively rare on any mountain range.

» Extensive periglacial summit of fell fields, herbs and short tussock grassland. 9 Good altitudinal sequence of Chionchloa rigida on the lower slopes grading into C

macra 9 Area was recommended as on RAP in 1983 and this was endorsed by an advisory

committee (PASAC) o Benmore Range has a high natural landscape component and is a focal point for

spectacular views. o Benmore tops have the potential to be an expanded conservation area. And

Glenbrook could be the start of a greater proposal. 9 Tops are a focal point for recreational use by trampers, mountain bikers, skiers

and concessionaires. 9 Area has considerable recreation potential that requires careful management. And

has the potential for round trips.

There are some management considerations associated with this area, they are mainly centred around public use. Maintenance of tracks is an issue, and a strategy for concessions use is also desirable. This proposal largely is confined to existing fence line boundaries as these fences are the transition zone for class VII & VIII country and the line between the OSTD and unimproved country. A block on the northern end of the range has been partly OSTD. This proposal largely follows the wishes of the N.G.O's. The total area would be destocked.

2) Spring Creek

This area is the original lOOha RAP4 Spring Creek identified in the Omarama ecological district, it is recommended that this area be protected as Conservation Land for the following reasons.

9 Only remaining area of Fescue tussock grassland of significance in the E.D. • Area does contain some plant diversity with N.Z. Broom and Sedges along the

water courses 9 Area could be a scientific reference point for unmodified soils as the other terraces

become developed in the area.

e Area is part of the on unmodified landscape which leads into the Mackenzie and Waitaki Basins.

A greater area was proposed as a landscape protection zone under the district scheme and was proposed as a landscape protection zone under the district scheme and was later modified. It is not proposed to relitergate that issue as part of this tenure review.

Protection of this Spring Creek area would require fencing and rabbit proofing. These costs could be borne as part of this exercise. The Department of Conservation would have some ongoing management costs to consider. Rabbits would need controlling if they were considered to be affecting the conservation values of the area, and control would also be desirable from a good neighbour point of view. Fence maintenance would be an on going problem.

Broom is a problem on adjoining land to the south and some monitoring would be required to prevent its spread.

The future of this area is somewhat debatable from an ecological sense. It is highly degraded with a high component of Hieracium. Removal of grazing animals may allow some recovery, or it may continue to decline. Future management would need to be flexible.

The headwaters of Spring Creek are located in this area and its protection may enhance seepage into the creeks. Part of Spring Creek is vital for stock water and periodically the springs and drains are cleared to allow good water flow to continue.

3) Public Access

An access easement into the proposed Benmore Conservation area is necessary and it is proposed that all year round walking and mountain biking access be granted.

It is envisaged that this easement would start on the northern boundary of the property near the Wairepo Arm Road. Access would follow the boundary fence for a distance. And then head south into Sunset Creek to follow an existing 4WD track on to the top of the range. There are problems with this easement in that a major portion of the track along the tops is on an adjoining property.

Signs and styles would be necessary to mark this route. Vehicle access is not a requirement and this could be on a permission bases. Costs of maintaining vehicle tracks is not considered to be a DOC priority. Some access may be required for management purposes from time to time.

This easement does traverse the boundary of a high developed farm land and these is some potential for disturbance to stock during the lambing and marking period.

However it is considered that careful siting and marking of this easement may resolve this issue.

'otential exist for concessionaires and the public user groups to require the same easement. However the hill slope has other tracks available for concessionaires. This northern proposal would have less impact on the farming operation and would not affect the privacy of the homestead.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

Benmore Range an area of high ecological, landscape and recreation value some 1200ha be transferred to the Department of Conservation as Conservation Land.

1)

2) The Spring Creek RAP be transferred as Conservation Land.

3) An easement be formalised along the northern boundary and be managed by the Department of Conservation.

MIKE CLARE Manager Pastoral/SLM