Boffa Miskell Ltd | Waihi North Project | Landscape and Visual Effects | 11 applied to lakes, rivers, wetlands and their margins. Such matters primarily relate to biophysical and some sensory landscape attributes in identified areas and reflect the extent to which natural elements, patterns and processes occur and have undergone human modification. As such, the highest degree of natural character occurs where there is the least apparent modification. Conversely, rivers, wetland and their margins that have been highly modified will have a lower (but retain some) level of natural character. The geographic areas considered under the assessment of natural character primarily encompasses the tributaries and associated margins of surface water bodies along the Ohinemuri River. This includes the Mataura Stream and unnamed tributaries within the Willows Road site as well as tributaries along the Ohinemuri River and Ruahorehore Stream adjoining and disrupted by the proposed expanded mining, rock storage and tailings facilities. Modification to waterbodies within the Coromandel Forest Park has primarily been avoided by the nature of underground mining with indirect effects related to potential reduced surface water flows which has been limited to the likely permanent loss of a single warm spring with low ecological value7. 4.4 Outstanding Natural Landscape (RMA s.6b) The Coromandel Forest Park is formally recognised as part of an ONL at both regional and district statutory levels. Section 6(b) of the RMA requires the “… protection of outstanding natural features and landscapes from inappropriate subdivision, use, and development” as a matter of national importance that shall be recognised and provided for. The Waikato Regional Policy Statement (RPS) recognises the Coromandel Range and Moehau Range as an outstanding natural landscape (ONFL 5), which is characterised as follows: Massive volcanic landform. Forms the distinctive backbone to the whole peninsula – peaks, pinnacles and rocks. Bush on the tops. Significance to tāngata whenua – pā sites. Remote and wild. High natural character in places. Historic values of early settlement, gold mining and logging Similarly the Hauraki District Plan recognises the landscape features of the District that have been formally identified and assessed by LA4 Landscape Architects (September 2006) and described as8: The Coromandel and Kaimai Range Landscape Unit is determined by the volcanic mountain ranges which form the basis for it. The ranges form the distinctive backbone to the Coromandel Peninsula and continue south into Hauraki District. The landform varies from rolling hills to steep and deeply incised hill country. With the exception of some of the lower slopes which are used for sheep and cattle grazing, the majority of the land is in native forest with some areas of pine plantation. The viewing audience of the ranges is very large, comprising people travelling on many of the roads and state highways, tourists, trampers, and other recreational users within the range, as well as fishing and sailing people out to the east. The ranges are also visible to many people in settlements – for example Paeroa, Ngatea and Whiritoa. The Hauraki District Plan recognises that ONLs may be adversely affected or degraded as a result of inappropriate land use and subdivision activities9. Protection of outstanding natural landscape(s) in the context of the Hauraki District Plan refers to its integrity and associated 7 Boffa Miskell (2022) Waihi North Project: Ecological Assessment. 8 Hauraki District Plan, Section 6.3.1(2((b) 9 Hauraki District Plan Section 6.2: Resource Management Issues, Issue 1.
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