Boffa Miskell Ltd | Waihi North Project | Landscape and Visual Effects | 7 settlement. There are wooden dams from the kauri logging days, pack horse tracks, tram routes, old gold mining roads and sites of logging camps. 3.2.1 Hauraki Landscape Assessment (2006) The landscape character of the Hauraki District was considered as part of the Hauraki Landscape Assessment completed in 20064, extracts from which are included in Appendix 3. Within this assessment, landscape character units relevant to this project are identified as the Coromandel Range, the foothills of the Coromandel Range and the Primary Production Lowlands around Waihi (refer to Figure 4). 3.2.1.1 The Coromandel Range The landscape unit is determined by the volcanic mountain range which form the “distinctive backbone to the Coromandel peninsula”. The landscape unit characterises the Coromandel Forest Park within which a portion of the project would be located. The topography of the landscape unit varies from rolling hills to steep and deeply incised high country up to approximately 700 masl. Pine plantations and, more predominantly, native bush populate the landscape unit which includes mature and semi mature forest. The Hauraki Landscape Assessment also notes that the landscape unit illustrates a homogenous quality due to the extensive forest cover it supports. The landscape assessment concluded that the Coromandel Range is an Outstanding Natural Landscape (ONL), extracts from which are reproduced below: The landscape character of this unit is determined by the volcanic mountain range which forms the basis for it. The ranges form the distinctive backbone to the Coromandel peninsula and continue south into Hauraki District. The range in the Hauraki District is not as high or distinctive as it is in the Thames Coromandel District, though there are still distinctive peaks of between 500 and 700m above sea level. The skyline and ranges form the backdrop for literally hundreds of views from roads and settlements. Driving through the Hauraki Plains the Coromandel Range forms the backdrop to the views looking east. The landform varies from rolling hills to steep and deeply incised high country with gorges and V shaped valleys running through it. The ranges have a cover of native forest, except for some large areas of pine plantations. The bush varies in quality from very mature high quality forest that has been regenerating for around 20 years. The forest cover gives the Ranges a homogenous quality. The Department of Conservation owns a number of blocks on the Coromandel Range. These blocks are referred to collectively as the Coromandel Forest Park and contain within the 72,000 hectares some of the most rugged terrain in the ranges. Among the features of the park are a number of quite difficult tramping tacks, tramping huts, as well as less arduous walks in the bush, and places to picnic and swim. Among the features of the park other than its variety of plant life and native birds are reminders of early history including Maori and European settlement. There are wooden dams from the kauri logging dams, pack horse tracks, tram routes, old mill sites, mining roads and sites of logging camps as well as gold tailings and gold mines. Current professional practice conceptualises landscape as three overlapping biophysical, perceptual and associative dimensions through which landscape character can be described and landscape values can be identified and assessed. A summary of relevant landscape values identified through this assessment is set out below. 4 LA4 Landscape Architects (2006) Hauraki District Landscape Assessment.
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