“The large glacial outwash plains of the Mackenzie Basin are home to numerous nationally Threatened and At Risk plant species and other rare fauna which have been under pressure from land use intensification for decades. We are pleased that the Court has recognised this vulnerability and determined that farming activities that impact upon those values require careful management,” says EDS Chief Operating Officer Shay Schlaepfer.  

“The decision relates to Plan Change 18 to the Mackenzie District Plan. It introduces a new regulatory framework for ‘maintenance vegetation clearance’ (including oversowing and topdressing) in the Basin to prevent land-use intensification and the incremental loss of significant indigenous biodiversity values.

“Existing dryland farming practices are still provided for in the Basin, but the consenting pathway set by the Court is nuanced in a way that is receptive to the sensitive ecosystem values.  

“EDS has been advocating for appropriate protection of the Basin’s special indigenous biodiversity and outstanding landscapes for years. This decision builds on our work, and that of others, and is another step closer to ensuring that the Basin’s high environmental values are safeguarded.  

“This is not the end of the story though. The significant indigenous biodiversity values of the Mackenzie Basin remain under threat from invasive species and development. EDS will continue its interest in the Basin. Its unique ecological and landscape values deserve nothing less,” concluded Ms Schlaepfer.