Appendix 3: Vegetation Descriptions for Willows Road Farm and Potential Vent Raise Sites Boffa Miskell Ltd | Waihi North Project | Terrestrial Ecology Values and Effects of the WUG Willows Road Farm: Vegetation Areas 1-7 Vegetation Areas 1 and 2 Vegetation Area 1 comprises regenerated shrubland vegetation contiguous with Coromandel Forest Park. This stand of vegetation is partially fenced to exclude stock. On the drier hillsides the canopy is sparse and dominated by mahoe, lancewood and pigeonwood. The understory is thick with kahili ginger (a weed species), pampas, karamu, and emerging silverferns. Mānuka, bracken and blechnum ferns grow along the fence margins, interspersed with rank pasture grass. A single large rewarewa and rimu provide some buffer to the river. A farm seepage forms a small stream within Vegetation Area 1, joined by another stream in its lower reaches. Several hillside seepages are evident within Vegetation Area 1. Vegetation surrounding the streams and hillside seepages are dominated by ferns, including ponga, whekī, mamaku and gully tree fern. Kahili ginger is prominent throughout. Although Area 1 continues to be disturbed by pigs (rooting noted within the bush), it does have representative composition and an expected species assemblage. This is largely in response to stock exclusion, allowing recruitment and regeneration of mature forest species. Pīwakawaka (fantail) and other unidentified bird nests were observed within Vegetation Area 1. Vegetation communities present within Vegetation Area 1. Vegetation communities present within Vegetation Area 1, Coromandel Forest Park is visible in the background. Vegetation Area 2 was not assessed in detail, but had similar features to Vegetation Area 1, being contiguous with Coromandel Forest Park and fed by small stream seepages. We expect that Vegetation Area 2 would have similar values and species composition. Vegetation Area 3 Mature tree species, such as tawa, rewarewa and kohekohe, dominate the canopy in Vegetation Area 3. The sub-canopy comprises mahoe, tree ferns and epiphytes growing on the trunks of larger host trees. The understory and ground floor are sparse because of heavy stock grazing. Vegetation Area 3 is the largest of the assessed vegetation fragments, being approximately 5.3 ha in size at its outer boundary. A freshwater spring is situated near the centre of Vegetation Area 3, providing suitable habitat for Hochstetter’s frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri). One juvenile frog was found amongst the rocks, suggesting recruitment has occurred in the area.
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