Boffa Miskell Ltd | Waihi North Project | Landscape and Visual Effects | 73 12.3 RMA s.7: Amenity Values and Quality of the Environment During operation, the landscape surrounding Waihi will remain characterised by established rural land use which contributes to its rural character and helps assimilate related mining activity. Whilst the Willows Road site has not be identified as an outstanding natural feature of landscape, the proposed development will maintain the broader amenity values of this existing rural area and link riparian vegetation with the adjoining Coromandel Forest Park to enhance the quality of this aspect of the adjoining rural environment. Part of the topography of the Willows Road site will undergo an apparent change as a result of the project however the siting and form of the proposed WRS is located to ensure this remains relatively well contained. As far as practicable, the areas of proposed disturbance are concentrated in visually contained areas to minimise potential wider impacts on rural character. Once completed, the site will be rehabilitated and retain a final form and landcover which will remain visually integrated within the surrounding landscape in the long term. The proposed modification to landforms adjoining the existing Processing Plant including GOP, NRS and TSF3 remain largely associated with existing mining activity and relatively well contained within a wider working rural context. Within this landscape, rehabilitation offers further opportunities to enhance planting introduced voluntarily along the margins of the Ohinemuri River and facilitates a reinforced landscape framework which continues to contain and address potential adverse effects. At completion, the project will similarly enable a final form and landcover which will become readily assimilated within surrounding areas including enhanced recreation opportunities for the wider Waihi area in the long term. With the above considered, the landscape elements that contribute to amenity values and the quality of the environment will be maintained and enhanced through the duration and completion of the project. 13.0 Summary and Conclusion Overall, the potential for landscape and visual effects are less than might be expected for a project of this nature and scale. Primarily this is due to the existing situation and established mining context combined with the retention of intervening topography and landcover which responds to underlying landscape values and available views. Any impacts within the Coromandel Forest Park will remain very isolated with negligible landscape effects, consistent with protecting underlying landscape values. During operation, views of expanded mining activity beyond the Coromandel Forest Park will be limited. The sequence of elevated landforms within the Coromandel Foothills and to the east of Waihi will gradually assimilate ongoing landform modification and associated surface infrastructure within localised rural areas. For most people living in and around Waihi, the project will remain visually well contained, resulting in no material change or adverse landscape or visual effects. Landscape mitigation will ensure the project remains well integrated within its local landscape setting and facilitates positive outcomes in the long-term.
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