54 Boffa Miskell Ltd | Waihi North Project| Landscape and Visual Effects | 8.4 Natural Character Effects During construction of the NRS, small areas of degraded and restored wetlands combined with permanent and intermittent watercourses with medium ecological value will be removed as set out in the assessment of freshwater and ecological effects51. In natural character terms, such modification occurs in the context of existing mining activity and associated man-made elements and influences which remain dominant in this rural context alongside opportunities to remedy or mitigate associated natural character effects. As part of mitigating potential natural character effects, substantial replacement planting will be reintroduced around a diverted stream corridor following the perimeter of the NRS and combined with additional planting and associated habitat opportunities along the margins of the Ohinemuri River and within SNA T13UP166 as illustrated on Figure 20: Proposed Integrated Mitigation. Given the proposed integration between the NRS with existing modification alongside enhancement of surrounding streams, the proposed NRS is not considered inappropriate within this more modified rural context and has been configured to ensure no significant adverse effects on natural character will occur. 8.5 Visual Effects 8.5.1 Viewing Audience and Representative Viewpoints Potential views of the proposed NRS are typically contained by surrounding elevated landforms associated with existing mining activity and primarily limited to land owned by OGNZL. To the north of the proposed NRS, however, some public and private views may occur from dwellings within adjoining rural areas within Golden Valley and along the north-eastern edge of Waihi (see Figure 16). Theoretically, views of the NRS are also possible from long distance locations to the south-east of Waihi between Union Hill and Black Hill, however in reality visibility is predominantly contained by the urban form of Waihi and concealed by vegetation retained on the intervening landforms. Accordingly, construction of the NRS is unlikely to generate any material visual change from this area. Some partial views of the NRS will occur from Black Hill through established areas of planting characteristic of this hilltop. Based on the above, the following five potential viewing areas have been identified from which adverse visual effects have been assessed. Visual simulations have been prepared from three representative viewpoints to assist this assessment (see Figure 16). N1: Golden Valley Road (VS15) N2: Northern Golden Valley (VS16) N3: North-East Waihi N4: South-East Waihi N5: Black Hill (VS17) N1: Golden Valley Road (VS15) This viewing area is predominantly limited to transient users of Golden Valley Road passing near the proposed NRS and approximately eight existing rural dwellings within approximately 800 metres, five of which are owned by OGNZL. Views from existing and potential future 51 Boffa Miskell (2022) Waihi North Project: Ecological Assessment.
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