Boffa Miskell Ltd | Waihi North Project | Landscape and Visual Effects | 1 PART A 1.0 Introduction Boffa Miskell has been engaged by Oceana Gold (New Zealand) Limited (OGNZL) to prepare a natural character, landscape and visual effects assessment in relation to the Waihi North Project. As such, this assessment considers the project in terms of effects on Waihi’s surrounding landscapes including the Coromandel Forest Park, available views, and natural character of affected waterbodies including the Ohinemuri River and its tributaries. Boffa Miskell has worked collaboratively with Frank Boffa and the project team to inform mitigation and longterm rehabilitation opportunities at project completion. The Waihi North Project comprises several interrelated components of extended mining operations and subsequent disposal or reuse of rock and tailings. This encompasses the Wharekirauponga Underground Mine (WUG) comprising a new underground mine beneath the Coromandel Forest Park and associated above ground infrastructure supporting this aspect of mining on adjoining farmland at Willows Road (Willows Road site). An additional open pit (Gladstone Open Pit) is proposed in the vicinity of the existing Processing Plant. The existing Processing Plant and Water Treatment Plant is proposed to be upgraded and will continue to be used throughout the proposed development. Additional tailings and rock storage areas are also proposed within the resultant Gladstone Open Pit (GOP), and at a Northern Rock Stack (NRS) and TSF3 adjoining existing tailings storage facilities to the east of the Ohinemuri River. The first part (Part A) of this report sets out an understanding of the project in its broader landscape and statutory context. Part B of this report sets out an assessment of the project within both individual and cumulative landscape contexts and identifies the level and nature of ntergratedadverse effects. This assessment has involved a combination of visibility analysis, fieldwork and preparation of visual simulations from representative publicly accessible viewpoints to understand the likely landscape and visual effects which result from this project. To assess potential adverse effects, the various elements of this application have been considered in terms of proposed maximum heights and corresponding maximum extents of stockpiled material. Notwithstanding this, it is recognised that activity will occur gradually and sequentially across various stages of development and will not occur simultaneously everywhere all at once. 2.0 Approach 2.1 Overview This assessment has been undertaken and peer reviewed by New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (‘NZILA’) registered landscape architects with reference to best practice guidance, which includes: • Te Tangi a te Manu: Aotearoa New Zealand Landscape Assessment Guidelines (Final Draft subject to Editing, Graphic Design and Illustrations – April 2021), as recently updated by the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA); • Quality Planning, Plan Topics Landscape (2013); and
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