Marlborough Sounds Resource Management Plan 39.1.4.3 Vegetation Clearance 39.1.4.3.1 Mechanical Clearing The clearance of vegetation by hand or mechanical means such as roller crushing is a Permitted Activity provided that blading or root-raking by bulldozer shall not be used to clear vegetation on slopes of more than 20°. 39.1.4.3.2 Burning Period Burning shall not be carried out on Class 7e or Class 8 land, when the Fire Weather Index Parameters for the burn are: a) Drought Code - 200 or higher. b) Build Up Index - 40 or higher as notified by the Rural Fire Authority for the burn area, pursuant to the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977. 39.1.4.3.3 Riparian Areas 39.1.4.3.3.1 Woody vegetation, Sedges (Carex spp.), Native Toe Toe (Cortaderia spp.), and Flax (Phormium spp.), shall not be removed by chemical, fire or mechanical means within riparian management zones as specified in Appendix I and ecology maps in Volume Three. The exceptions to this rule are: a) Existing plantations of commercial forestry trees. b) Other exotic trees occupying less than 100 metres length per kilometre of legal riparian boundary. c) Plant pests (including those listed in regional or national pest management strategies). d) Vegetation within 10 metres either side of the centreline of a public road or which is otherwise impairing the safe and efficient use of that road. 39.1.4.3.3.2 Any trees that can be felled as specified above shall be directionally felled away from the waterbody, except woody vegetation leaning over a waterbody, which may be felled in accordance with safety practices. 39.1.4.3.3.3 Except as above no logs may be dragged through the bed of any flowing river, or through any lake or wetland. 39.1.4.3.4 Revegetation The vegetation cover of a vegetation clearance site shall be restored within 24 months of the end of the operation, to a level where the amount of bare ground is no more than 20% greater than prior to the land disturbance taking place. 39.1.4.3.5 Topsoil Loss Top soil shall not be removed to a depth greater than 20mm over more than 15% of any vegetation clearance site. 39 - 6