Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 47 Union Hill Heritage Management Plan MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES, CONTINUED Vegetation Objective 1. To ensure that management of the ecological values of Union Hill is appropriate to the management of its heritage values. Relevant Conservation Plan policy Policy 7: Promote the establishment of native vegetation and the removal of plant pests. Implementation Rather than blanket removal of exotic species from all areas of Union Hill, an approach which recognises the contribution that the established exotic trees make to the atmosphere and setting of the heritage remains is recommended. The draft concept plan developed for Vision Waihi Trust (‘Union Hill Visitor Experience, Waihi’) envisaged an ecological zone largely within LINZ land and a heritage zone on WGCL land, and it is recommended that the main focus of ecological restoration is outside the primary heritage zone. Native and exotic vegetation both provide an aesthetically pleasing context for the heritage structures and enhance the experience of visitors to the heritage remains. However, vegetation should not be allowed to encroach on the structures themselves, and large deep rooting tree species, whether exotic or native, should be removed from and not allowed to establish in the immediate vicinity of the heritage structures, as they have the potential to damage them. Any new planting of native tree species carried out for enhancement or ecological restoration purposes should take into account the potential for disturbing archaeological deposits and minor heritage landscape features, to ensure that damage is avoided. The removal of plant pests such as Chinese privet, tree privet, woolly nightshade, black wattle, convolvulus, honeysuckle and tradescantia would generally be desirable throughout the WGCL land to prevent them acting as a seed source for surrounding areas. However, this would need to be part of a plant pest control programme for the wider area, including the LINZ and DOC land, to be effective. The following recommendations are made: Weed control and tree removal carried out on or in the vicinity of heritage structures should be undertaken using methods that do not damage the structures (as outlined under Maintenance, above). Deep rooting native tree species should be prevented from establishing themselves on heritage structures or within c.5m of heritage structures (see Maintenance, above). Continued on next page
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