Waihi North Project: Assessment of Terrestrial Ecological Values & Effects 62138 WNP AEE 29 5.1.1 Vegetation and Flora The proposed Gladstone Pit area is primarily pasture, with a rock outcrop to the northeast of a pine (Pinus radiata) plantation and two areas of young (c. 15 years) plantings adjoining the southeast of the plantation. Further east of these features is the mining operation’s Processing Plant. The rock outcrop sits beneath a large pine and a small number of other exotic trees where the centre of proposed Gladstone Pit would be. It has a number of native species growing on and around the boulders including a coastal Astelia (Astelia banksii), and several Asplenium ferns (Asplenium flaccidum, A. polyodon, and A. oblongifolium). The epiphytic ferns hound’s tongue (Zealandia pustulata) and Pyrrosia eleagnifolia are also abundant. There are a small number of native tōtara (Podocarpus totara var. totara) and mingimingi (Leucopogon fasciculatus) saplings, and a juvenile māhoe (Melicytus ramiflorus) growing in the area immediately surrounding the boulders. These species, particularly the ferns, are generally considered to be associated with shaded environments, which in the current case is likely to be attributable to the overhead pine and the south-facing aspect of the outcrop. Approximately 0.75 ha of native plantings at Gladstone Pit (planted in 2008, Figure 12) adjoin a restored wetland to the south (see Boffa Miskell 2022b) and are adjacent to a similar area of planting (composition and age) that projects from an adjacent pine plantation.t. The plantings have been undertaken voluntarily and have not been required by a Resource Consent. They are over five metres in height, appear to be in good health, and have become self-sustaining as evidenced by some of the planted species present in seedlings. The canopy is comprised of kānuka (Kunzea robusta), mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium), karo (Pittosporum crassifolium) and tōwai (Weinmannia silvicola). Beneath these, an assemblage of akeake (Dodonaea viscosa), miro (Prumnopitys ferruginea), māpou (Myrsine australis), karamu (Coprosma robusta), and harakeke (Phormium tenax) is thriving. Being a planted composition, some of the expected future canopy species, typical of a naturally regenerating ecosystem, are missing, such as tōtara, kahikatea, rimu and puriri. The planted block forms a protective buffer around the headwaters of a watercourse (watercourse addressed in Boffa Miskell 2022b). The vegetation here is more mature, and includes large mamaku (Cyathea medullaris) and dense Carex stands within the flowing water. The riparian vegetation provides buffer function to support the water quality and aquatic habitat (Figure 11 & 15). A further area of planted vegetation east of the rock outcrop (approximately 0.6 ha) is much younger (planted 2011), isolated from other ecological features including other plantings, and generally provides amenity value to the existing processing area. The pine plantation has very little heterogeneity, although some common native plant species are regenerating around the pine edges, and several Asplenium ferns are present beneath the canopy. Several mature totara trees and occasional rock outcrops occur through the middle of the pine plantation.
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