Info on threatened Coromandel areas

Parakawai Geological Reserve near Whangamata

• the only gazetted geological reserve in the whole Coromandel. Made a reserve in 1980 due to its nationally important features
• famous for the almost unique columnar jointing. The columns are almost perfect hexagons. This draws many tourists and scientists. Very significant area to Ngati Pu.
• high recreational use. DOC has invested in track upgrades and new bridges, to make areas even more accessible. Many visitors come for the walk, to see the rocks and use the swimming holes
• a kauri grove, and tall rimu and kohuhu present. North Island Brown Kiwi, Helm’s butterfly and there has been a significant find of the rare paua snail.
• Any mining in this area would damage the scientific, aesthetic and recreational value of this area
• “Outstanding” landscapes – Stephen Brown Landscape architect

Otahu Ecological Reserve

• Gazetted in 1976 as an ecological area (396 ha)
• Very significant area to Ngati Pu
• Has high vegetation values for the region and is important as it covers an entire catchment.
• Classified by IUCN as an area for scientific research, environmental monitoring and educational use.
• Many large stands of kauri and mixed podocarp/hardwood
• Hochstetter’s frog NI brown kiwi, paua snail, long tailed bat
• Never been mined, recommendations exist to enlarge the ecological area
• “Outstanding” landscapes – Stephen Brown Landscape architect

Hikuai / Broken Hills near Tairua:

• Water Quality – Clear, clean fresh water.
• Native Bush – 100 year old regenerating Kauri forest within Coromandel Forest Park.
• Camping – existing DOC Campground immediately adjacent.
• Tourism – Popular recreation, tramping, swimming, kayaking, historical mine walks.
• Landform – stunning prominent pinnacles and bluffs.  – “outstanding” landscapes Stephen Brown Landscape architect
• Birds & Wildlife – Abundant native birds. Also Kiwi, native bats, Archeys and Hochstetter Frogs.
• Effects on sedimentation and kai moana in Tairua Harbour.

Thames

• Mining and even exploration increases risks of flooding and the more lethal and destructive debris flow
• Millions spent on soil conservation and bridge raising etc (Peninsula Project) could be jeopardised
• “Outstanding landscapes” – Stephen Brown Landscape architect
• One of few places where native forest extends from sea level to ridge line
• High recreational use. Doc walking tracks link to proposed new hut at Crosbies clearing and other popular tracks
• Regenerating podocarp forest
• Conservation land very close – borders Thames township

Matawai (309 Road)

• includes some fine sections of young native forest.
• skirts Castle Rock, a notable landmark and significant in the history of the tangata whenua.
• catchment area for the Matawai Stream which runs into the Waiau River, source of 80% of Coromandel’s town water supply.
• Outstanding landscapes – Stephen Brown Landscape architect

Tokatea – Kapanga (near Coromandel town)

• Steep with numerous small streams that feed into the main river of Coromandel Town, the Whangarahi;
• forms magnificent backdrop to Coromandel Town. Outstanding landscape Landscape architect
• predominantly regenerating bush
• in torrential rainfalls, the unstable nature of the land results in frequent major slips.
• Kiwi Recovery Programme operating with support of the local community.
• one of the few recovering populations of kiwi in the country.

Hauraki Hill (Jack’s Point ) in Coromandel town

• right  in Coromandel town
• beside an oyster farm  and  other  mussel farms in harbour
• harbour is source of kaimoana;
• 1000′s of young kauri have been planted;
• DOC-maintained scenic walkway crosses the area.
• adjacent to wharf, beside Coromandel harbour

Waiomu – Thames Coast

• Mining and even exploration increases risks of life- taking floods as have occurred at Waiomu in the past.
• De-watering the proposed mine will have major impact on the precious adjacent Waiomu Ecological area which includes the Waiomu Kauri Grove.
• Fractured nature of the rock at Monowai would make re-sealing the mine to prevent toxic acid mine drainage virtually impossible as was highlighted at earlier hearings to reopen Monowai.
• Millions spent on soil conservation and flood prevention could be jeopardised
• “Outstanding landscapes” – Stephen Brown Landscape architect
• One of few places where native forest extends from sea level to ridge line
• High recreational use of Kauri Grove Track. Doc walking tracks link to proposed new hut at Crosbies clearing and other popular tracks
• Regenerating podocarp forest

Tapu area

Tapu

• Local residents have been doing active forest protection for more than 20 years
• planting natives & animal pests rodent and mustelid control .
• DOC has been doing the animal pest control (possums and goats) and weed control (Pinasta Pine) since 1999
• Increased numbers of the native bird-life and the native forest is recovering.
• Kiwi have been heard on Te Kaka very recently
• a number of families drawing their drinking water from the Te Kaka stream which will be adversely affected by mining
• people living on the valley floor who would be directly impacted upon by any changes from mining on the hydrology upstream especially during any of the severe cyclonic rainstorms