\\bmlaklfs1\NAT_design$\2021\BM210482_IBo_Waihi_North_Project\Issued\22020617_Final_Landscape_Assessment\BM210482C_001_Wa ihi_North_Landscape_and_Visual_20220617.docx Executive Summary Oceana Gold (New Zealand) Limited (“OGNZL”) commissioned Boffa Miskell to prepare a landscape, natural character and visual effects assessment for a proposal to develop a new underground mine (Wharekirauponga Underground Mine) and a new open pit mine (Gladstone Open Pit), expansion of processing and rock and tailings storage facilities in Waihi referred to collectively as the Waihi North Project. The assessment concludes that: 1. Due to the underground nature of the Wharekirauponga Underground Mine, landscape, natural character and visual effects within the Coromandel Forest Park are largely avoided. The distinctive peaks, ridges and valleys will remain intact alongside its existing broader native forest cover and backdrop consistent with its inherent vivid, wild and remote qualities. No physical modification to existing streams or rivers is anticipated, and potential localised impacts on aspects relating to landscape and natural character will avoid potential for any significant adverse effects and are addressed through appropriate remediation. 2. Beyond the Coromandel Forest Park, the project will remain visually well contained and primarily in the context of established mining activity, resulting in no significant increase in adverse landscape or visual effects. Sympathetic siting alongside identified landscape mitigation will ensure the project avoids significant adverse effects and remains well integrated within its local landscape setting and facilitates positive landscape and natural character outcomes in the long-term. Such outcomes include facilitating greater connectivity between inherent values within the Coromandel Forest Park and the wider surrounding rural landscape. Landscape Context Waihi is situated along the foothills of the Coromandel Ranges and along the edge of primary productive lowlands which extend across terraces along the Ohinemuri River to the south-east. The existing character of Waihi incorporates established mining activity including the proximity of Martha Mine and broader mining artefacts within the town and surrounding areas. Established processing and storage operations are located beyond Union Hill and less visible from the town within a sequence of surrounding elevated landforms. Despite the physical proximity of ongoing mining operations, there are limited views of mining activity from adjacent urban and rural areas. The Coromandel Ranges are located approximately 3 kilometres fromWaihi and are identified as an outstanding natural landscape at the district and regional scales for which s6(b) of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) applies. This landscape contains steep and deeply incised landforms and peaks cloaked in native forest which form the backdrop of views from vast areas to the east. The landform’s volcanic origin and almost complete native forest cover remain clearly legible and the resultant ranges contain a vivid, wild and remote quality. The site and its general location are not located within or near to the coastal environment, however the RMA matters relevant to this assessment also requires the preservation of natural character of rivers, wetlands and their margins (s6(a)). Other matters relevant to this assessment include the maintenance and enhancement of amenity values (s7(c)) and the quality of the environment (s7(f)). These are matters to which particular regard must be had under the RMA. Landscape Effects Wharekirauponga Underground Mine The Wharekirauponga Underground Mine (WUG) is located beneath the Coromandel Forest Park except for four isolated vent raises located on legal road reserve passing through the Forest Park. The sensitive siting of these elements within the extensive homogenous forest cover combined with their comparably diminutive scale will ensure the inherent characteristics and values of this outstanding natural landscape will remain. More substantial surface infrastructure and earthworks are required within the Willows Road site on rural land adjoining the Coromandel Forest Park. This includes a further vent raise and a portal to the underground mine with associated surface infrastructure and rock storage pad from which material from the underground mine will be deposited and later removed during operation. A further portal is located adjacent to the existing Processing Plant. Such landform modification has been carefully considered to minimise wider landscape impacts within its working rural landscape context and enables the successful rehabilitation at the completion of the project. Gladstone Open Pit and Tailings Storage Facility During implementation, Gladstone Open Pit (GOP) will substantially modify an existing working rural area and part of the sequence of rounded elevated landforms which extend to the east of Waihi. This will gradually extend mining activity within a localised area adjoining the existing Processing Plant, and which will remain relatively well contained beyond Union and Winner Hills. During operation, the retention and enhancement of a periphery of vegetation including plantation pine on Winner Hill and expanded native planting along the margins of the Ohinemuri River ensures potential views from surrounding rural areas remain well contained.
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