LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT OF THE CLUTHA MATA AU RIVER LANDSCAPE, CENTRAL OTAGO DISTRICT for the Clutha Parkway Steering Group JUNE 2006Landscape Assessment of the (Clutha Mata Au River Landscape Anne Steven Registered Landscape Architect Wanaka B ‘Third Report forthe (Clutha Parkway Steering Group June 2006Landscape Assessment of the ‘Clutha Mata Au River Landscape Contents PART1 AND 2 ray 12 13 24 22 23 24 25 268 27 28 29 PART3 PART 4 4a 42 43 PARTS 5A 52 53 ba 55 58 PARTS ea 62 63 cy 65 66 EXECUTWE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY Study Background ‘Stugy Ares Report Stucture Purposes of Assossment Method ‘Approach ‘Study Lirations Glossary of Terms ‘The Messing of Natural Character Rivers as Natural Features Meaning of ‘Outstanding Natural Meaning of Marain ‘THE CLUTHA RIVER LANDSCAPE DESCRIPTION Introduction ‘Approach Landscape Character Areas and River Sections Section Ceseriptions NATURAL CHARACTER, Intodueton Natural Character ofthe Cltha River Natural Character ofthe Primary Setting ‘Threat Natural Characor Processes of Landscape Change to Retain and Enhance Natural Character Vuinerabe River Landscapes OUTSTANDING NATURAL LANDSCAPE Introduction Fladings Lite of Assessment ‘Comparison wth Other Landscape ‘Aseesemonts ‘Status ofRiver Landscape Sections not ‘Meeting Outstanding Criteria (Outstanding Natural River Landscapes 64 61 ei 4 2 62EXECUTIVE SUMMARYEXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction and Purpose This report documents the tid of three landscape studies of the Clutha River landscape, Completed forthe Clutna Parkway Steering Group. The frst study completed in April 2008 Uefined the river landscape as a corrdor of land withthe rver as its contra feature. The ‘second study completed in May 2008 documented review of existing landscape studies ‘evant othe river landscape, “This study sets out to desunbe the rver landscape and to assess its quality. In particular natural characteris analysed, to identity what conttbutas to it and what is detracing from ‘This is because preservation ofthe natural character of rivers and thoir margins is a section 6 matter of the Resource Management Act and is thus a prime objectve of local author. “The rver landscape i also assessed to determine i any part of is deserving of outstanding landscape status, ‘Study Area ‘The study ree s that part ofthe river condor landscape and is viewshed within the Central (Otago District. kis expected that wll be caried out in the other two distncts containing the ‘ver landscape, Queenstown Lakes and Ciutha dss, thus completing a rver-wide study. CClutha Mata Au Context ‘The Clutha River Mata au is one of New Zealand's major rivers, in terms ofits physical parameters and the regard in which itis held. I is 2 natural feature of significance, for a ‘number of reasons not te Teast ils powerful volume of swift curert and its remarkable turquoise clear waters, in stark conrast fo the Som-arid land it passes through. I is also ‘scmirable i its antoulty ast pre-dates the mountains i passes through - deep antecedent ‘gorges are typical, The river Is unique in Otago and essential to its character. The river fandscape embodes large paris of the cultural history of Central Otago (gold mining, lorcherding, HEP development). Iin@ descriptive manner, te river flows trough tree major topographicicimate zones. Its headwaters lo in the westem alps wih high rainfall and permanent snow snd foe. it then ‘rosees the grain ofthe crirl Otago range and basin county ~gravelfiled tectonic basins ‘atterating with schist fault block mountains studded in tors. This is the country of climatic ‘extremes ~ the hottest, the coldest, the driest place inthe country. The third zone isthe east (Otago greywacke downlands and fertile food-prone coastal plan where th diver spits into ‘wo branches, the Matau and the Koau, The rver Hse isa single thread channel generally, ‘wth only one lage braided section, Its channel s ether cut in schist or greywacke bed rock ‘oroutwash gravels. Redical landscape change has marked the more recent history of the river landscape ~ fst uring in preEuropean times changing woody cover to grassland and serub; then Conversion of indigenous cover to exDtc cover and introduction of cultural elements with European exploitation along wih widespread alluvial mining: foloved by changes due to HEP dovelopmentin the 1940-1990's with te constuction ofthe Roxburgh and Ciyce cams; ‘along with development of basin floor land for orchards, vineyards and inigated pasture. Further subdivision of land fr intonsive production and ifestyie purposes isa contemporary ‘process coupled with large scale Risch imigation development Large parts ofthe rverwide HP proposals however have nat bean implemented, and thay were, there would be major landseape change with much of the natal ver end marginal features ciszopearing under lake water. Landscape Description [Before landscape assessment could be undertaken, tho river landscape had to be described,fan inventory. A spatial fremework frst had to be devised. The iver landscape and ts Viewshed were divided ino 9 landscape characier areas (geographic areas of homogenous landscape charactor at a broad scale) and 9 river sections ~ those pats ofeach landscape character area within the river landscape condor defined in the May study. Tho river sections were further divided ino 22 reaches ~ a finer dvsion based on character. Aland ‘ype framework defined by lan Lynn of Landcare Research was.a major reference for veloping the landscape description framework. combined wih Ecological Regions and Districts. Previous landsocpe studhes were also referred to But none on iis Own Was considered appropriate to ur, Each river section is described inthe same way. It is given a distinguishing name and its key characteristics are listed is ‘signature), The descripton is broad but comprehensive ‘covering landform, water elements, vegetation cover, natural pattems and processes, and ‘tural elements and pattems of use. Special sites, areas and routes are identiied, gleaned ftom existing inventories and personal observation. A map Is prepared for each secton defining the ver landscape coridor and viewshed and identifying the section and special features. Other laneiscape Framework units that apply fo each section are listed for reference (land types, ecological region and districts, and landscape character areas defined by Department of Conservation ints Conservation Management Strategy and by Bota Miskell in their Otago regional landscape study). Each landscape character arealsection is then described in terms of rine landscape quality tributes - ‘naturalness, dstncveness/ividness/memorabity, uniqueness, legbilty, ‘coherence. complexiydversiy/mystery, open character, openness and solitude. A low ‘moderate-high rating is gen for each attribute and an overall composite rating is given, ‘These attributes are considered relevant to ver landscapes, as measures of their aesthetic ‘and experiential quality. Nauralness is explored in greater depth for each section and, in @ ‘more anaijical way, n a separate chapter folowing. This 6 because the preservaton of etural character of rivers and their margins is a matter of national importance under the Fesource management framework. Is also found that fa high degree of tural charactor exists then mary of the other atrbutes would be rated highly also. Nauraness is considered 2 key indicator of aesthetic qual. ‘The river landscape is assessed Inthe final section ofthis report fo determine if any par of it Js deserving of outstanding andscape status, Vulnerable landscapes are also identified Findings Landscape quality was variable along the rvor landscape condor (890 Table 4.1). It was found that a singular rating could not always be given, as atrbute strength varied slong the fiver landscape as well as from the river to the crest of the view shed. For example, aturainess and openness nould be high through most ofthe river landscapes but low where there was a bull up area. This is because of the scale of assessment. Assessment at he fiver reach scale would probably resolve tis Few ‘ow ratings were given. A patiom of landscape quality emerged. Higher ratings were ‘generally given in the gorge and hill country sections, and ower ratings in the more heavily ‘modified intermontane basin areas. it was also found that qualties would be generally higher around the river ise (great influenced by the ver) but might decrease through the ‘surrounding landscape of developed basin floor then increase again on the surrounding ‘ange land especially win alttude. Tis was expected. The excepton to the pattern is the ‘uppermost two sections inthe Upper Clitha basin. The sections from Sandy Pont on the lstit boundary tothe haad of Lake Dunstan are lose developed and retain higher degross ‘of many of the atiibutes. The presence of wilows along the fiver was found ta dacreaze the ‘tength of some values paricularlylepbilty and coherence as they frequently prevent visual ‘access to the ver and adjacent areas. It must be noted tat the quality ratings are more indicative then defntive especialy for the fier landscape sections. Te feld work was rapid and incomplete and the time avalabe to “analyse the landscape was limted. Whilst is not anticipated further detailed study section by section (at a reach leve) would greatly alter the findings, its expecied they would berefined and beter expiainec ‘Special features, sites, areas and routes were found to be a mix of natural and cultural, as ‘expected, They were present in every section Natural Character [No part would have @ natural character similar to that of our national park areas, for example Mi Aspiring Park in the rivers heedwaters. All iver landscape areas have been modified ‘mainty by extensive pastoral use (repeated buring and grazing particulary) and more Intensive orcharding and gastocal use as well as HEP development and mining. A high’ rating is therefore within the context of the ver landscape. There were only discreet nodes of low degrees of natural characer, at te township and dam areas. Most of the river landscape had a moderate to high degree of natural character, The highest degrses of natural character were found in the gorge and hill country arees, 9s expected, and also ‘betwen Sandy Pot and Lake Dunstan. “The river has a natural appearance along almost its entre length, despite the fact itis nat in iis natural state fom the Hawea River confluence down due to HEP develooment. Only at the dams is human Interference vary obvious. The lakes are man-made, replacing the natural ‘iver, ut their appearance is stl natura. They could equaly be the result of a natural Tandside wi a damming effec, as would the Dark and lake shore erosion and ‘sedimentation effects ‘There are a numberof cultural elements within the iver landscape thet detract from natural ‘character. These are deserved in detain Part. Two cual eloments Wore not considered to detract signficanty ~ the stone-buil relics fom the 19 century mining period, and the bridges. The stingers of wllows are considered to detract from natural cheratoer even ‘hough they are a natural st-spread element They dominate the ver landscape preventing visual access and the presence of other riparian vegetation especially indigenous. Conservation and extensive pastoralsm land uses are found to support the retention of ‘natural character to a much greater degree than more intensive land uses, as expected. The Fighest degree of natural characteris enjoyed in the Roxburgh Gorge river landscape, Natural character 15 supported least by intensive land uses particulary those utlsing fepettive ordered layouts ‘eg, orchards and vineyards) and comprising @ high number of ‘cultural elements, ‘A range of thea! 1o the preservation of natural character are Identified. These incude ‘spraying and buming of native woody vegetation and tussock cover (although the latter ‘would occur rarely now wiin the rive landscape), grazng, development for intensive use {(Cultvaton,ingaton, fencing into paddocks, etc), exotic tee planting (especialy plantations ‘and geomstric woodbs), access tracking (a prominent feature affecing the more natural ‘aro28) and insensitive fence ines, widing tree and pest plant spread, gravel extraction and mining, taling areas (bslareed against heritage valve), stuctures across or along the river _and residential development cose to the rver and development of recreational facies. ‘These are actual as well ax potential threats In the background ofcourse, there isthe mejor threat of furner HEP development which would cause inundation of much ofthe river and its ‘marginal features, as thas already done in the Cromwell and Roxburgh gorges. ‘Analysis of the teats in terms of elements, pattems and processes in the landscape enables the ideniicaton of processes of landscape change thst would suppor retention oF preservation of natural cheracter, through reversing the "iveat processes. Such processes fre those that Increase the presence of indigenous species, those that achiove a more verse range of species (both Nora and fauna) those that achieve more natural pattems of dstrbuton of elements, and those that Imit the inroducton of cultural elements. ard ‘actives into the landscape.In summary, processes of landscape change that support the retention and fenhancement of natural character include: ‘= acquisition of land cr retention of Crown land for nature conservation and ecological Festoraion ‘+ active programmes of ecological restoration within river landscape areas especialy Fipaian restoration ‘+ extensive pastorasm with careful management of buming (f any) and grazing of tussock lands ‘= carefully and sensitvaly designed more intonsve land uses including residential or style devetopmerts occurring witin a ecological framework Including an adequate fiver landscape bufr and sufcent set back of man-made structures and domestic activity ‘+ informal low key development for recreationalemenity use employing senstive and Creative design wih strong response to place ‘+ creative even bold design for arg structures associated wit the river ‘+ discreet and ste sersive design of smaller scale stuctures that need to be by the ver “+ restoration of cstuted areas ‘Vulnerable landscapes are those landscapes that have high values the loss of which would be signifcant; combined wih a landscape character that isnot capable of readly absorbing ‘change {more natural open landscapes for example); and pressure for development. Where these tree factors exist, landscapes are vulerabie \Vulnerabe river landscaper are considered tobe 11 the Upper Cluta sextions between the head of Lake Dunstan and Sandy Polat where ther is threat to landscape values from subdivision of land into esiye blocks and from iigation development 2 the section from Rigney to Beaumont . Here the threat is loss of the kanuka ‘woodlands and forest remnants due fo spraying and grazing; piantaton forestry: and the upgrading of the Milennium track, all of which would significant detract from atural character. “To protect these vulnerable landscapes and preserve their values, measures wil be required to conil and cirect development and land use Itis beyond the scape of ths report to specifically sot out such measures but suagestions are made in Part, These reate to contol and guidance of subdivision for Mestye blocks, ligated development. pastoral development by spraying, plantation foresty and level of development of recreation facies. ‘As with landscape qualty assessment, the analysis of natural charactor and landscape ‘ylnerabilty and the identifzaion of supporting processes and elements is fey broad:-brush ‘duo tothe limited fold workane ne avalabi. The information givon is generalized. Whitt is useful in sooping the range of iesues hand and in giving tection for changes in policy ‘and rules, managerentplars, or the preparation of voluntary guile ins, further work should be done on a section by section basis to derive more section specific and robust information tobase such changes on, Outstanding Natural Landscapes “The final section of this repo evaluated the river landscape to determine if any parts deserved outstanding natural landscape status. Eight sections or part sections were found to have outstanding natural landscape value. These were. ‘the Upper Cltha ver terrace lands+ the Cromwell Valley oubwash terraces (all four of them) 1. the lower Dunstan Range slopes, Bendigo area, head of lake Dunstan and Mahaka Katia raterve + the Cromwell Gorge the Roxburgh Gorge 2 sections ofthe river iandscape at Roxburgh, Island Hil, Dumbarton Rock the Rigney-Craig Fat area the Beaumont Gorge “The remaining sections of the river are considered to have ‘significant landscape’ status, for \which specie landscape pallies and rules should be developed. The rer itself isirefutably ‘2 signficant feeure and because is values cart be separated from ils landscape seting— ‘theme dscussed in the fist study ~ it isthe river landscape (He river plus its primary ‘Setting thats the unit of consideration. ‘This assessment has @ mederato degree of concurrence with previous assessments (refer the s2cond study roport). No assessment ofthis ype Nas been carted out at this level over ‘the entire river The most relevant study isthe Central Otago Rural Landscape Study being Undertaken concurrently by LA4 and for which the frdings are not yet known beyond proiminary level. That ety agreed thet the river was a signcant feature, end there is Bgrsement over outstanding areas. Tis study identies futher areas of outstancing value. ‘The 1865 Bennett study ca not assess landscape for outstanding value (asi pre-dated the RMA) butitaid cary outa detailed quaity atibute assessment over the river downstream of the Roxburgh Dam. This shy’ findings concur with assessments in that study generaly. ‘The Otago Regional landscape study didnot identify any part ofthe river coridor landscape {2s outstanding ata egiona level except those parts ofthe Old Man Range that alin it. ‘A veal description of oustanding areas was given in the isthmus study and this study ‘concurs withthe areas Istes ‘The delineation of areas cf oustanding natural rver landscape ie deliberately mapped st +250 000. There is not suficient information tobe more precise about @ boundary and such ‘a boundary may not realy xist as landscapes of diferent character tend io blend into each ‘ther. tis also possible there wil be outstanding landscapes inthe hinterfand identified in the UM landscape study that willbe contiguous. Its expected that further study of the ‘Sections identfed at his broad scale as being outstanding wil enable a map-abe ine to be ‘Setermined, suitable for vanslaon into dst planning maps and poi CONCLUSION To conclude, this study has developed an understanding of what the river landscape Is and how it is changing it provides a spatial framework for analysis and assessment ‘that is capable of being urther refined. t provides a broad scoping of the landscape ‘management issues at stake with respect to natural character and, by inference, to landseape qualty. Outstanding landscape is identified. This study is a spring board for mora detailed investigations into selected sections.