14 Boffa Miskell Ltd | Waihi North Project| Landscape and Visual Effects | undergo change. To inform an assessment of the magnitude of landscape change, it is also important that the size or scale and the geographical extent of the area influenced is defined where possible together with the duration of the effect and whether potential effects are reversible. 5.1.2 Natural Character Effects The assessment of natural character considers any changes in levels of modification and associated condition specific to lakes, rivers, wetlands and their margins. This assessment is undertaken by assessing the abiotic, biotic and experiential attributes which contribute to the existing and post development levels of natural character. This has also been informed by the assessment of aquatic and terrestrial ecological values along the margins of identified waterbodies where relevant. 5.1.3 Visual Effects To assess the overall level and nature of visual effects, the potential visual sensitivity of the identified viewing audience is considered together with the overall magnitude of change resulting from the proposed development. It should be emphasised that views of a development or change do not necessarily equate to adverse visual effects. Visual impact is not always negative and differences in view are not automatically unacceptable. The method used to identify and assess potential visual effects has included desktop visibility analysis followed by fieldwork to identify available views including representative viewpoints and visual simulations used to assist determining the likely magnitude of change. Whilst the visual assessment has not included views from private properties, representative views have been provided from the nearest available public locations in accordance with best practice. During this assessment, several private properties have been visited for the purpose of identifying and verifying potential visual effects. Visual simulations have been used to illustrate a two-dimensional view as depicted in a photograph from a defined viewpoint, they are not a three-dimensional representation or ‘real life view’ as experienced by humans within a landscape. Notwithstanding this, visual simulations are technically accurate and are very useful tools to assist in the assessment of visibility and visual effects and for informing the decision-making process. Thus, the primary purpose of a visual simulation is to accurately portray the proposed activity or change in the landscape. Site photographs were taken with a Canon digital SLR camera fitted with a 50mm focal length lens, mounted on a tripod and panoramic head. A series of photos were taken at predetermined viewpoints, in portrait mode. The viewpoints were situated on public land and the locations of each were fixed using the GPS unit built into the camera. Visual simulations have been prepared from each representative viewpoint based on georeferenced panoramic photographs taken to capture a 90o horizontal field of view and reproduced using a rectilinear projection on a single A3 sheet to compare the existing and proposed views. Where change is observed over long distances, a single frame cropped image at a 40o horizontal field of view has also been included to inform understanding of the extent to which change is visible. This enables the resultant simulation to be held at a comfortable viewing distance when printed at A3 to understand the extent of visual change. In all instances the field of view, projection used and image reading distance has been specified to ensure an observer can correctly reconstruct the perspective seen from the viewpoint location from which the photograph was taken.
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