Landscape Environmental Baseline Report Final
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AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PROPOSED SECOND RUNWAY LANDSCAPE BASELINE REPORT Client: Auckland International Airport Limited Project: Proposed Second Runway Report: Landscape Baseline Report Status: Final Date: 23 October 2015 Author: Gavin Lister and Matthew Jones Isthmus PO Box 90 366 Auckland 1142 +64 9 309 7281 [email protected] 151023_3346_GL_AIAL Second Runway_Landscape and Urban Design Baseline Report_p.2 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ 5 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 7 ANALYSIS OF EXISTING LANDSCAPE .................................................................................... 8 ‘Northern Area of Influence’ ............................................................................................... 8 Northern Landscape ........................................................................................................... 8 Natural features ............................................................................................................................ 8 Activities and aesthetics ............................................................................................................... 8 History ........................................................................................................................................... 9 Future airport urban centre .......................................................................................................... 9 Eastern Landscape (Pukaki Creek, Pukaki Lagoon, Crater Hill, Waokauri Creek) .................... 9 Natural features (volcanic craters and tidal creeks) ..................................................................... 9 Activities and aesthetics ............................................................................................................. 10 History and cultural associations ................................................................................................ 10 Natural Character of Pukaki and Waokauri Creeks .................................................................... 11 Western Landscape (Maungataketake headland, Manukau Harbour)................................. 11 Natural features (Manukau Harbour, volcanic features, fossil forest, ecology)......................... 11 Aesthetics .................................................................................................................................... 12 Wider Landscape Context ........................................................................................................... 12 Cultural and historical associations ............................................................................................ 13 Recreational use ......................................................................................................................... 14 Natural Character of the Manukau Harbour coast..................................................................... 14 ‘Southern Area of Influence’ ............................................................................................. 16 Southern Landscape (Manukau Harbour and Wiroa Island) ................................................ 16 Natural features (Manukau Harbour, Wiroa Island, ecology, volcanic features) ....................... 16 Aesthetics .................................................................................................................................... 17 Cultural and historical associations ............................................................................................ 17 Natural Character ....................................................................................................................... 17 South-eastern Landscape .................................................................................................. 18 Natural Features ......................................................................................................................... 18 Aesthetics .................................................................................................................................... 19 Cultural and historical associations ............................................................................................ 19 Natural character........................................................................................................................ 19 151023_3346_GL_AIAL Second Runway_Landscape and Urban Design Baseline Report_p.3 Wider landscape context ............................................................................................................ 19 EVALUATION OF LANDSCAPE SIGNIFICANCE AND NATURAL CHARACTER ........................... 20 Landscape significance ............................................................................................................... 20 Natural Character of the Coastal Environment .......................................................................... 20 Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes ......................................................................... 21 CONSTRAINTS .................................................................................................................. 22 Visibility and ‘audiences’ ............................................................................................................. 22 Landscape constraints ................................................................................................................ 23 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................. 24 ‘Northern area of influence’........................................................................................................ 24 APPENDIX 1: SOURCES ...................................................................................................... 25 APPENDIX 2: LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY ................................................... 27 151023_3346_GL_AIAL Second Runway_Landscape and Urban Design Baseline Report_p.4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 This report assesses the existing landscape that would be potentially affected by a proposed alteration (relocation and/or extension in length) to the Designated Northern Runway at Auckland International Airport (Proposed Second Runway). 2 For the purpose of the assessment the existing landscape was divided into five geographic areas: a) The northern landscape (existing airport land), b) The eastern landscape (beyond the eastern end of the airport including Pukaki Creek, Pukaki Lagoon, Waokauri Creek and Crater Hill); c) The western landscape (beyond the western end of the airport including the Manukau Harbour and shoreline); d) The southern landscape (south of the airport including the airport shoreline, Wiroa Island and Manukau Harbour); and e) The south-eastern landscape (the eastern shore of the Manukau Harbour in the vicinity of Puhinui Reserve and beyond). 3 The northern landscape presents few constraints to development. The topography is subdued, there are few remaining natural or cultural features of any note, the character is strongly influenced by the adjacency of the existing airport, and much of the area is covered by the existing designation for the Designated Northern Runway. 4 The eastern landscape has important biophysical, aesthetic and cultural values, and presents significant constraints. However, the landscape is inwardly focused so that development could be carried out within airport land close to the edge of Pukaki Creek without significant adverse effects. Promotion of the eastern landscape’s existing rural character would both maintain the existing landscape values and minimise reverse sensitivity effects that might arise from development of the land for sensitive activities which conflict with operation of the Proposed Second Runway. 5 The western landscape has the highest landscape value and likewise presents significant constraints. Any reclamation into the Manukau Harbour would potentially affect feeding grounds for wading birds (refer to the ecological baseline report) and the Ihumatao Fossil Forest (a significant geological feature) with implications for both landscape and natural character matters. With regards perceptual aspects, a distinction can be made either side of a line drawn between the headland at Maungataketake and the Existing Runway: Development inland of such a line would be confined to a bay where the character is already influenced by the airport, whereas development seaward of such a line would extend into the wider harbour which would amplify adverse landscape effects. 6 The southern landscape likewise has important biophysical and aesthetic values, and presents significant constraints. In contrast with the eastern landscape, the area to the south is open and has high visibility. Reclamation into the Manukau Harbour would be visually prominent, would occupy a relatively larger portion of the harbour (including feeding grounds and habitats of migratory wading birds - refer ecological baseline report), and would result in partial destruction of Wiroa Island as a coastal feature. 151023_3346_GL_AIAL Second Runway_Landscape and Urban Design Baseline Report_p.5 7 The south-eastern landscape similarly has important biophysical, aesthetic and cultural values. Because of its location, potential effects are more likely to arise from